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Judges 6:7–10
“And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD because of the Midianites, that the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel” (Judg. 6:7–8a).
In the pattern that prevails throughout the book of Judges, the Israelites’ cry to God for rescue usually triggers His sending of a deliverer. But there are exceptions. We already have seen that when the Israelites cried to God as they suffered under Jabin king of Canaan, that He brought not a deliverer but Deborah (Judg. 4:3–4), a prophetess through whom He subsequently called Barak to be the deliverer. Likewise, God now sends not a deliverer but a prophet in response to Israel’s cry after seven years of Midianite oppression. But this prophet comes with an important message not just for the one who will be the next deliverer but for the entire nation.
The prophet’s brief message, like that of the Angel of the LORD (Judg. 2:1–3), is one of indictment. Like the Angel, he focuses on the great things God has done for the Israelites in their recent past—freeing them from Egypt (where they were much more oppressed than at the present), delivering them from all their enemies, and giving them the land of Canaan. The message seems to be that since He has helped them in the past, He is capable of helping them again in this time of need. But the Israelites must see that God is not just their big protector in the sky, waiting at their beck and call to get them out of trouble. They must remember that His mighty acts of the past were accompanied by a covenant with stipulations. As the prophet, speaking for God, puts it: “ ‘ “I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed My voice.” ’ ” In fact, they have actually worshiped the gods of the Amorites. That is why they are oppressed.
Thus, the prophet’s mission is “to convince them of sin, that, in their crying to the Lord, they might confess that with sorrow and shame, and not spend their breath in only complaining of their trouble,” Matthew Henry writes in his commentary. “They cried to God for a deliverer, and God sent them a prophet to instruct them, and to make them ready for deliverance.”
Does the prophet’s message bring Israel to repentance? We are not told. Nevertheless, as we saw in Judges 2:15–16, God’s great love for His people drives Him to save them even before they feel the least sorrow for their sin, and He now sets in motion the calling of Gideon.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
The prophet’s indictment cannot be refuted. Israel is guilty, and the prophet’s next words logically should be “Therefore … destruction.” But grace is given instead. So it is with us; Christ died for us “while we were still sinners” (Rom. 5:8), then changed our hearts to enable us to sorrow for our sin. Praise God for His grace to you today.
for further study
- Psalm 25:8
- Psalm 51:13
- Luke 15:2
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
- 1 Timothy 1:15