A journey through the history of Israel, as they maneuvered through the period recorded in the book of Judges, brings about several questions, and seemingly few answers. When Israel asked for a king, Jehovah said to Samuel, “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them” (1 Sam. 8:7). The apostle Paul indicated that during a certain period, God gave them judges: “And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years: and after these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.” (Acts 13:19-20). During the time of Jephthah (Judg. 11:1), a time of three hundred plus years (Judg. 11:26) is indicated (with additional periods of the Judges yet to pass), when “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Judg. 18:1). As these four hundred plus years are accounted for a pattern of conduct is revealed.
Among the statutes and ordinances given to Israel by Moses (Deut. 11:32), Judges and officers were appointed who would “judge the people with righteous judgment” (Deut. 16:18). If there arose “a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose; and thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days: and thou shalt inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment” (Deut. 17:8-9). During the period of the Judges, there is an expressed pattern of conduct that pervaded, nigh unto each generation: “And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and forgat Jehovah their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth” (Judg. 3:7). On this particular occasion “Jehovah raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel…And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he judged Israel…” (Judg. 3:9, 10).
From this deliverance, “the land had rest forty years” (Judg. 3:11). For forty years Israel had Rest until they Rebelled “again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah” (3:12). Following Israel’s rebellion Retribution came when “Jehovah strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah,” (3:12)…“And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years” (3:14). After the eighteen years of the execution of this retribution, a spirit of Repentance came and “the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah” (3:15). In response, Redemption was extended when “Jehovah raised them up a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera” (3:15), and “Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had Rest fourscore years” (3:30). This cycle of Rest, Rebellion, Retribution, Repentance, Redemption to Rest repeated itself during the generations of eighty-years: Ehud (3:30); forty years: Barak and Deborah (5:31); forty years: Gideon 8:28); with numerous additional Judges.
When considering the nations from 1775 – 2023, (the nation in which our father’s fathers, their fathers, and their offspring’s have been involved), there have been thirteen major wars and The Global War on Terror (GWOT), including Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), which are ongoing conflicts. These battles have involved oppression and freedom (rest), only to be repeated: Rest, Rebellion, Retribution, Repentance and Redemption. A statement, attributed to a number of writers, goes something like this: “The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage” (emph. mine, ret; Alexander Fraser Tyler, 1722-1783). Biblically, Moses to Israel — Deut. 8:7-20.
When considering the path of those who came before, why should the nation expect anything but that which has proven to be true historically: the reason the nation goes in the same direction may very well be a result of man (individually) going in the same direction. When put in the perspective of the church: locally, there is a history of following the same pattern. There was a time when brethren who, at the beginning of their faith, were thriving during suffering and persecution, only to turn away from the faith. The Hebrew prophet admonished brethren, saying, “But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.” (Heb. 10:32-39). What is the process? What image best describes the local work within which you labor?
Ephesus (Rev. 1:2-5) — “I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false; and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name’s sake, and hast not grown weary. But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love. Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.”
Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-10) — “I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.”
Pergamum (Rev. 2:12-16) — “I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner. Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-25) — “I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first. But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works. But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden. Nevertheless, that which ye have, hold fast till I come.”
Sardis (Rev. 3:1-4) — “These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead. Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.”
Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-10) — “I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name. Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-18) — “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.”
Think about it!
Ten Churches of Christ closing monthly (21st Century Christian).
Just keeps getting better!
Infantilization
Isa. 3:12 – “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” Whether they are children or behave like children behave; whether they are women or rule like women would rule. Take your pick and make it sound positive.