God had said that the men of Israel should drive out the wicked nations in Canaan, and destroy their images (Deut. 7:22-26.)
But some of Israel did not obey Him, and, instead, worshiped the images too, and made friends with their heathen neighbors, following their evil ways.
They had no leader like Joshua or Moses. But they had God’s words written down, if they had only obeyed them.
At last the people of Israel became so wrong that God allowed a heathen king to come from another country and force them under his rule. This was very sad, and they served him eight years, before they prayed to God for help. Then God gave a brave man, named Othniel, the wisdom to deliver them; from the king ( Judges 3:5-11).
And Othniel was the first Judge of Israel and they had peace while he lived.
Afterward God gave other judges. One Judge, named Shamgar, saved Israel from the enemy by using a queer weapon, a stick with a sharp, prong in it, made for driving oxen (Judges 3:31).
One Judge was a woman, Deborah, who believed God would save Israel, and went with the army to a great battle. After that there was no trouble for forty years.
But the people of Israel again worshiped idols and did many evil ways, so God let nations front different parts come to trouble them. Those people camped in great numbers in the land, and took the herds and grain of Israel for themselves.
They destroyed so much that there was not enough food left for Israel, and some even had to hide in dens and caves in the mountains for fear of being hurt.
This great trouble caused the people of Israel to pray to God for help, and He gave them another judge, named Gideon, them. The stories about this Judge very interesting and we will learn of him another time, the Lord willing (Judges 2:16-19 and Judges 6:1-10).
ML 06/26/1938