Day 93 – Judges 10-12

Talking Points

• The listing of the successive judges is continued, with the length of each term given.
• After a period of 55 years, Israel turns to idolatry…again. They “forsook” the LORD, and are worshiping foreign gods. In judgment of their rebellion, God turns them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites. They face 18 years of affliction and are “crushed” (10:8). A profound question comes to mind: what is so alluring about false gods? What is it that leads people to overlook the greatness of the one true God and worship false gods instead or even in addition to?
• After 18 years, the nation finally repents, crying out for mercy, confessing their sin, and putting away the false gods. Again, God is gracious and merciful. The streak continues: if repentance is sincere, God saves. What seems an exasperating cycle to read through actually is our same hope!
• God raises up another unlikely judge, Jephthah. In his zeal for victory, he makes a rash vow, offering up whatever comes through his door next as a burnt offering to the LORD. Jephthah’s cherished, only daughter is the next one to come out of his house. While there is some debate, the language strongly suggests he carries his vow out. You can feel the sadness.
• It is important to see this vow and its payment were sinful. Jephthah didn’t consult the High Priest. If he had, a price of redemption would have been offered in exchange for the daughter. God does not call for and, in fact, abhors human sacrifice.
• This account reminds us of an important truth. Some events in the Bible are prescriptive, meaning they call for us to do something. Many times, however, they are descriptive, recounting for us the events of history. It is important to discern the difference!

Thoughts

Have you ever made God a promise? “God, if You’ll do that, then I’ll promise You this…” Most of the time, it’s when we’ve run out of options and need Him to work. And, most of the time, we have no actual plan to keep our side of the promise. We desperately proclaim, “God, I’ll get back in church,” or “God, I’ll quit this sin,” or “God, I’ll serve You the rest of my life, if only…”

Is this actually a thing we should be doing? Is God honored by it? Here’s the truth: we do not respond to God hoping He’ll do something. Rather, we respond to God because of what He’s already done and because of who He is. That is worship!

In these verses, Jephthah makes a vow in his zeal to secure a victory. The proper response would have been to commit to God because of his zeal for Him. Jephthah thought he needed to prompt God to act. He missed the truth that God was already the God of deliverance, motivated by His love for His people.

Today, let our commitments to God come from hearts that truly long to worship Him! Let us see Him not as a God who needs pushing into action, but as the God who has acted in great love and grace. He is worthy!