the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
Judges 10:1-18
Two judges are named at the beginning of this chapter: Tola and Jair, who are both well-respected men. Then the moral decline resumes once again. When Israel is in this state of degeneration, they are eager to serve the gods of as many other nations as possible. Then as before, the LORD uses their enemies to chastise them. This time it is the Philistines and the children of Ammon. To have worshipped the idols of these two nations does not do Israel any good at all. We should notice that the tribes on the far side of Jordan are the first victims (v. 8). They are literally "crushed" (AV margin) (v. 8). In the end they confess: "We have sinned . . .". We know that this is always the "password" for coming back to the Lord.
And God replies severely, even perhaps ironically: "These gods that you have chosen for yourselves, now is the moment to call on them; let them save you now." This shows that confession alone is not enough. They must also get rid of the idols (cf. Genesis 35:2). This is the touchstone of a true work in the conscience. The people understand this. Then we hear this comforting word – "His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel" (v. 16). What tenderness God feels for His miserable people! Will He feel any less nowadays for His children?
