Judges 1:1-15
There is a big difference between the books of Joshua and Judges. Joshua shows Israel victoriously taking possession of the land of Canaan. Judges gives us an account of the people dwelling in their inheritance. On the surface, they appear to cover the same subjects. But even at the beginning of Judges there are certain signs which show that we are no longer in Joshua’s times. Even though Judah takes zealous action against the Canaanite, he seems to depend less on the LORD than on his brother Simeon. Then the enemy king is left alive but he is treated in a barbaric manner.
The glorious period is obviously over; we are going to witness Israel’s decline.
In the same way this has happened to the Church, responsible before God. Her power, and to a great extent, her collective blessing have both disappeared today. But God has not changed. His power is still available to the individual believer. Othniel taking possession of Debir is an example of this. Blessing is also within our grasp. We only have to ask like Achsah does (v. 15). It comes to us by the Spirit of God, who like the "brooks of water" promised in Deuteronomy 8:7 refreshes our souls by the word of God. At the beginning of the year, let us ask our Father for this blessing.