Human Heart of Darkness

We come now to Judges, perhaps one of the strangest and most perplexing books in all of Scripture. It contains stories that are familiar to children (Samson) and others that are unknown to even seasoned saints. Within its pages we find great victories and horrendous crimes, sweet songs of praise to God and disturbingly graphic imagery. But perhaps most striking—and this will be our key to understanding the book—it powerfully contrasts the repeated covenant unfaithfulness of God’s people and the unfailing covenant faithfulness of God Himself.

No one knows who wrote Judges or exactly when it was composed. All we can say for certain is that it was put together some time well after Joshua died (Judg. 1:1). Many scholars believe that the author’s inclusion of details reflecting well on the tribe of Judah and poorly on the tribe of Benjamin indicates he supported the right of David (a Judahite) to take the throne rather than Saul’s son Ishbosheth (a Benjamite). If that is so, this is evidence the book could have been written during the years David reigned over only part of Israel from Hebron. Of more importance for us, however, is the author’s concern to show his readers that God meant what He said to Israel in the book of Deuteronomy. God commanded the people not to do what was right in their own eyes (Deut. 12:8); in short, they were to keep His covenant. But the Israelites, failing to overcome the Canaanites remaining in the land after Joshua’s initial conquest, quickly accommodate themselves to their pagan neighbors and adopt their sinful ways. Rather than heeding the covenant, each begins to do what is right in his own eyes (Judg. 17:6; 21:25).

God foresaw it and warned the people that if they were to forsake Him He would forsake them (Deut. 31:16–17). Thus, in Judges, when the Israelites fall into worship of other gods, God allows them to be subjugated by other nations. However, when Israel cries to Him for rescue, He always sends a “judge,” not a jurist but a political/military leader who acts as a deliverer, or savior. And yet, the people always rebel again, constantly falling to new depths. Thus, the author is insistent that Israel needs a king, a divine vice-regent, a man after God’s own heart, to lead it into covenant faithfulness.