December 8

THE CALLING OF THE JUDGES

Judges 1-2

God wanted the nation of Israel to be a people set apart unto Him, and be separate from the world.  Instead, they were living for themselves, and not for God.  That’s why He instituted the judges.  The judges were called to point the people back to God.  They were just ordinary people, who, were to uphold His name, and contend for the faith.  Whenever the Israelites had a dispute, they went to the judge, and the judge gave a verdict according to God’s law.  The people had to obey what the judge said.

The people however didn’t always follow God’s law, or His judges.  Even though He commanded them to be separate, they quickly forgot, and turned to idols.  This made God angry, so He raised up Israel’s enemies in order to punish them.  These nations invaded the land and oppressed the people.  The Israelites did remember the Lord, and turned to Him for help.  That’s when God called His judges to save the nation, and lead Israel forth into battle. The Lord drove out the foreign invaders before their armies, and the people could once again take possession of their inheritance.

We are all sinners, and are in need of a deliverer.  Jesus Christ, who is the Great Judge, is our deliverer.  When Jesus died on the Cross, He pronounced judgment on sin.  When we will agree with the verdict that we are guilty before a holy God, and repent of our sins, then He will save us and we can live in freedom.  God, in His infinite love, freed the Israelites from their earthly bondages.  Now, He wants to free us from spiritual bondage.  God is in control—He knew what was best for the Israelites, and He knows what’s best for us.

~ Jason Frantz