Thoughts on the Cycle of the Judges

"And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. And they abandoned the LORD,the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt.  They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them.  And they provoked the LORD to anger.  They abandoned the LORD an served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.  So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them.  And he sold them into the hands of their surrounding enemies, so that they could not withstand their enemies.  Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them.  And they were in terrible distress" (Judges 2:11-15, ESV).

Thus begins the cycle of the Judges.  The cycle begins with the loss of godly leadership, then the people fall into rebellion and idolatry, then God sends and oppressor to oppress his people, the people cry out for deliverance, and God sends a deliverer who rescues the people.  The reality of the cycle of the Judges foreshadows the experience of humanity.


There is the loss of a godly leader: Adam falls into sin and death enters into the world.  Then his descendants fell into sin and idolatry.  God turned them over to the world, the flesh, and the devil.  Adam's descendants were sorely oppressed, and in need of deliverance.  God sent a deliverer, Jesus Christ.  Now, those who turn to Jesus find deliverance.


The great news is that Jesus' judgeship will never end.  He will reign forever.  The deliverance he brings is complete and eternal.  He has defeated our enemies through his cross. The cycle has been broken, because of Christ's presence within believers, through the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit is working obedience within us, conforming us into the image of Christ.  Although, we may not always see the results immediately, we can rest confidently in the reality that he will bring his good work to the proper conclusion.