Judges 1:5-24.
We will find the need more and more, as the Lord’s coming draws nearer, of a quiet walk with God. God has shown us that things will get weaker and weaker at the end, and even those whom we expected to continue may fail. It is then that the enemy whispers, “It is no use, you cannot do anything; you might as well take the easy path with others.” Hasn’t he already told us this? It is not new, and it is not true. We can do something; we can walk with God as Enoch did in his day. But Satan has often used these tactics, and many dear children of God have listened to his lies to their own sorrow and loss. Many boys and girls have been guided by what other children from Christian homes were doing, instead of by the Lord. Many young people have followed the other young people into paths of worldliness and ease, rather than saying, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6. As long as there is spiritual energy things may go on well for a time, and the less spiritual ones are carried along with the others; but unless you, dear boys and girls, and young people, are walking with God in your own soul, you are in danger. As soon as spiritual life wanes in the assembly and among your group of young people, you will not have the power to go on for the Lord and you will find yourself following the crowd.
“O Lamb of God, still keep us
Close to Thy pierced side;
‘Tis only there in safety
And peace we can abide.”
The only source of power is in God Himself. Let us not forget this. Joshua had learned it, and that faithfulness that caused him to go out to the Lord to the tabernacle of the congregation without the camp, while others remained in their tents, characterized his whole life. When the twelve spies returned from viewing the land, he and Caleb were the only ones who counted upon the power of God. Thus he was sustained in his walk of faith, and God was with him.
But many of the children of Israel were leaning upon Joshua. Then when Joshua was gone they leaned upon other godly leaders, but not having learned the secret of walking with God for themselves, everything soon broke down when these godly men were taken. Nevertheless God honored any faithfulness there was, as He always does, and blessed His people while they acknowledged Him. But alas the sources of weakness soon manifested themselves, as we shall see in going through this most interesting book of Judges.
Adoni-bezek is brought before us here to show that we most surely reap what we sow (Gal. 6: 7). He had humbled seventy other kings by cutting off their great toes and their thumbs, and making them eat under his table, and now it came back upon him. We cannot escape this reaping which comes into the lives of both saved and unsaved. It is deeply solemn.
Another little point we notice in our chapter is about the children of Joseph fighting against Beth-el. It says here “and the Lord was with them”; yet when they came near to the city they seemed to forget this and turned to a man coming out, asking his help. This, we shall see, was another case of reaping what they had sown in seeking help from the enemies of the Lord.
ML 07/26/1953