JUDGES LESSON 2
We will begin this lesson in Judges 2:1 "And an angel of the LORD
came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of
Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your
fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you."
We see, in this chapter, a going back and re-capping of what had
happened up until this point. The angel of the LORD had spoken to
Joshua at Gilgal, soon after they had entered the land. This is
undoubtedly speaking of that time. The penman is stating the fact,
again, that it was actually the LORD who had brought them out of Egypt
to the promised land. God had fulfilled His part of the covenant.
Judges 2:2 "And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of
this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my
voice: why have ye done this?"
God had told them, from the very beginning, to make no league
with these people. The Israelites were to destroy everything in this
land that was pertaining to false gods. The sad thing is, that they
have disobeyed God in this. They have let the people live in harmony
with them, and they have even allowed the heathen false gods to
remain.
Judges 2:3 "Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from
before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their
gods shall be a snare unto you."
The name "Bochim" in verse 1, means weeping. We see, now, why
they are weeping. These people would remain as a thorn in their sides.
The evil, false gods would not have been a snare, if they had
destroyed them, as God had commanded them to do. God has graciously
given them this promised land, only if they obey Him.
Judges 2:4 "And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake
these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up
their voice, and wept."
This message is the Word of God. We have it in written form, and
we do not listen to the Words any better than these Israelites did.
They weep, because God is displeased with them, but they do nothing to
try to make it right. They should repent, and destroy these false
gods. Christians today are too tolerant with things we know for sure
are against the will of God. We might weep that God is displeased with
us, but we must repent and change our way of life to please God.
Judges 2:5 "And they called the name of that place Bochim: and
they sacrificed there unto the LORD."
They did weep for a moment, and they did sacrifice unto the LORD.
The tabernacle was at Shiloh, so perhaps, that is where they
sacrificed. It could have been in the same vicinity.
Judges 2:6 "And when Joshua had let the people go, the children
of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land."
It was Joshua who had actually separated the land by lot to each
tribe. After it was divided, each family had to go in and take their
land. It would have been no trouble at all, if they had stayed loyal
to God. God fought for them, and they won.
Judges 2:7 "And the people served the LORD all the days of
Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had
seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel."
The people were loyal to God, as long as Joshua was alive to
guide them. Those who remembered the great miracles, like the crossing
of the Jordan River on dry land, and the sun standing still for the
battle, would all be loyal, and help the others stay loyal. With their
guidance, Israel served the LORD.
Judges 2:8 "And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD,
died, [being] an hundred and ten years old."
Joshua went the way of all men. He died at the old age of 110.
Judges 2:9 "And they buried him in the border of his inheritance
in Timnath-heres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the
hill Gaash."
Timnath-heres and Timnath-serah were the same place. He was of
the tribe of Ephraim, and was buried in that tribe's territory.
"Timnath-heres" means portion of the sun. Some believe this place to
be where the sun stood still in the battle, when Joshua prayed to God.
Judges 2:10 "And also all that generation were gathered unto
their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which
knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel."
This is saying that, the generation that came after Joshua, and
the elders, did not know the LORD. Perhaps, their parents had not been
diligent in training them, or perhaps, they did not believe their
parents. They were not eye witness to the wonders the LORD had done,
and did not believe. It is important for each generation to make the
next fully aware of the LORD. Christians are told everytime they take
communion, to do it in remembrance of Jesus. Some children grow up
taking communion, and never know exactly why they are taking it.
People should be taught about communion at a very early age.
Judges 2:11 "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of
the LORD, and served Baalim:"
Men have a part of them that demands to worship something, or
someone, that is not fallible like themselves. If they do not know of
the One True God, they will seek another. That is when they find a
false god to worship. It is no different now. Children get into Satan
worship looking for God. The church must wake up, and minister to our
youth. They must be taught of the Lord Jesus Christ, so they will not
look elsewhere.
Judges 2:12 "And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers,
which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods,
of the gods of the people that [were] round about them, and bowed
themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger."
This is just the same as saying, they conformed to the world
around them. Everyone else was doing it, so they did, too. They wanted
to be like everyone else. God had separated them out as an holy
people. They have gone back with the world to unholy living. They have
broken the first commandment. Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other
gods before me."
Judges 2:13 "And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and
Ashtaroth."
Ashteroth, was the false goddess of the Zidonians. Baal, a false
god, was worshipped many times in conjunction with Ashteroth. These
Canaanites worshipped Baal above all other false male gods. Ashteroth
was the number one female false god. She was associated with the star,
Venus.
Judges 2:14 "And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel,
and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them,
and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that
they could not any longer stand before their enemies."
In the physical sense, these Canaanites were more powerful than
Israel. They had many chariots and weapons of war, which the
Israelites did not have. When they sinned, and God did not help them,
they were at the mercy of the Canaanites. The Israelites could not win
without the LORD.
Judges 2:15 "Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD
was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had
sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed."
The anger of the LORD brings His wrath. He will not help them,
because they have been unfaithful to Him. In fact, He will fight
against them. The covenant God had made with them was conditional on
them keeping His commandments.
Judges 2:16 "Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which
delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them."
This is what the book of Judges is about. God raised them up, one
at a time to judge the people. God would bless the people, while the
judges were judging. The judges kept them informed more clearly of
their errors. God wants to bless them. He is forgiving. His compassion
for them is shown in the numerous times He forgives them.
Judges 2:17 "And yet they would not hearken unto their judges,
but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto
them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked
in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; [but] they did not so."
It appears, from this, that even the judges had very little
impact upon them. They did not stop worshipping these false gods, even
when the judges were reminding them how sinful that was. To be
blessed, they must keep God's commandments.
Judges 2:18 "And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the
LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their
enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of
their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them."
God loved them. He did not want their enemies ruling over them.
Over and over, God tried to cause them to realize what they were
doing, and repent of their unfaithfulness. They did not deserve it,
but God blessed them during the days of the judges. It seemed the more
He blessed them, the more they sinned. The corrections one judge would
make did not seem to last, and another would come and take his place.
Judges 2:19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, [that]
they returned, and corrupted [themselves] more than their fathers, in
following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they
ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
It appears, from this, that they would slow their false worship
down, while the judge was actively judging them. As soon as he died,
they were back to worshipping false gods again. This stubbornness is
like rebellion. Rebellion is compared to witchcraft. They did whatever
their fleshly desires were.
Judges 2:20 "And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel;
and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant
which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my
voice;" Judges 2:21 "I also will not henceforth drive out any from
before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:"
God hates their sins. He is jealous with a Godly jealousy. God
had been with them, driving their enemies out before them, but they
have broken God's commandments. They have taken up the way of the
flesh, instead of the spirit. They have broken the ten commandments.
God will not help them, until they repent and turn back to Him.
Judges 2:22 "That through them I may prove Israel, whether they
will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did
keep [it], or not." Judges 2:23 "Therefore the LORD left those
nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them
into the hand of Joshua."
If they had kept the commandments of God, He would have driven
all of their enemies out for them. Their unfaithfulness to Him has
caused Him to draw back from them. The Lord must know for sure, if
they are following Him, because they love Him and believe in Him.
Judges 2 Questions
1. Who had the angel of the LORD spoken to at Gilgal?
2. God had fulfilled His part of the __________.
3. Who had they been warned not to make league with?
4. What were they to do with the inhabitants' altars?
5. What were they going to be like to the Israelites, because of
their sins?
6. Their gods will be a _______ to you.
7. What does "Bochim" mean?
8. Who did the angel of the LORD speak this to?
9. What same mistake do we, Christians, make?
10. What should they do, to put them in right standing with God?
11. What did they do, besides weep at Bochim?
12. Where was the tabernacle at the time this happened?
13. Who did the physical dividing of the land?
14. What did each family have to do, after they received their
allotment?
15. How long did the people serve the LORD?
16. How old was Joshua, when he died?
17. Where was he buried?
18. "Timnath-heres" means what?
19. What did the next generation after Joshua do?
20. What are Christians to do, when they take communion?
21. Verse 11 says, they served _________.
22. What fact must the church wake up to?
23. What effect did their worship of false gods have on God?
24. Quote Exodus chapter 20 verse 3.
25. What were two of the false gods named, that they worshipped?
26. What did God do to Israel in His anger?
27. Who did the LORD raise up, that delivered them from their
spoilers?
28. Why did God help them through the judges?
29. What is their stubbornness like?
30. God is jealous with a _________ jealousy.
31. What did God do to Israel for their unfaithfulness?
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