Judges

The book of Judges describes a situation where God repeatedly shows compassion for His people who continually turn away from Him. (Judges 2:16) ¹⁶ Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. (Judges 2:19) ¹⁹ But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. This situation parallels with the theme of the Old Testament: God’s enduring guidance of His wavering people. We could look at the judges sent by God in this book as metaphors for situations put on His people today. When life is going well (presence of judges) people fall away from God and His provision because they are pleased that their desires are filled. Then, God sees fit to draw His people closer to Him through troubles (absence of judges) people realize the absence of God’s provision and turn back to Him. God’s mercy then provides relief (another judge) and the people once again turn from God as oppose to worshipping Him and His gifts and grace and mercy.

This situation also holds true in the Egyptian Plagues in Exodus where the pharaoh agrees to obey in the face of calamity and then turns away when the plague has resided. It is clear that human nature does not change. Lucky for believers, neither does God’s unconditional love, grace, and mercy.

(Proverbs 29:18) Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.