A Father’s Compassion

By now, the book of Judges has become somewhat predictable. In our last study, we saw Israel turn again to idolatry, whereupon God again brought the people under oppression. At this point in the typical Judges narrative, Israel cries to God for help, and that is indeed what happens in today’s passage. However, the author of Judges here draws the curtain back as never before to reveal the manner in which the Israelites approach Him to seek deliverance.

On the surface, the Israelites seem to come penitentially, confessing that they have transgressed God’s command by committing sins of omission (“ ‘we have … forsaken our God’ ”) and commission (“ ‘[we have] served the Baals!’ ”). However, this statement looks backward only, making no provision for future behavior changes. Thus, God does not accept their confession. Speaking to His people by some unspecified means, He reminds them (as He did earlier through a human prophet, Judg. 6:7–10) that He has delivered them from oppression in response to their cry multiple times, and yet they have turned back to idols every time. God now makes clear that He will not be trifled with in this way. “ ‘I will deliver you no more,’ ” He declares. “ ‘Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.’ ” These horrifying words bring what seems to be an encouraging response. The Israelites again confess their sin, acknowledge that God has every right to judge them in any way He sees fit, and once again pray for deliverance. Then they do something we have never explicitly seen in Judges—“they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD.” This is a true reformation of behavior. And yet, it is possible that they have done this before, for each time they abandoned God they turned from Him to idols, seemingly indicating they had put away their idols previously.

This passage ends on a wonderful note of hope. God, we are told, “could no longer endure the misery of Israel.” This beautiful description of God’s compassion for His people dashes any notion that the Israelites earn divine deliverance by their repentance. Rather, it shows that the deliverance God is about to send, like all divine acts of redemption, flows solely from grace, the grace of a father who is full of love for his wayward and suffering children.