THE CYCLE OF THE FALLEN

Passage: Judges 2:11-23

Key verse: 17

NIV

11 Then the Israelites did evil(A) in the eyes of the Lord(B) and served the Baals.(C) 12 They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods(D) of the peoples around them.(E) They aroused(F) the Lord’s anger(G) 13 because they forsook(H) him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.(I) 14 In his anger(J) against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands(K) of raiders who plundered(L) them. He sold them(M) into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.(N) 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against them(O) to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.(P)

16 Then the Lord raised up judges,[a](Q) who saved(R) them out of the hands of these raiders. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted(S) themselves to other gods(T) and worshiped them.(U) They quickly turned(V) from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands.(W) 18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved(X) them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented(Y) because of their groaning(Z) under those who oppressed and afflicted(AA) them. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt(AB) than those of their ancestors,(AC) following other gods and serving and worshiping them.(AD) They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn(AE) ways.

20 Therefore the Lord was very angry(AF) with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant(AG) I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me, 21 I will no longer drive out(AH) before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. 22 I will use them to test(AI) Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.” 23 The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.(AJ)

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Footnotes
  1. Judges 2:16 Or leaders; similarly in verses 17-19
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Israel's Unfaithfulness

11 (A)And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 (B)And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. (C)They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and (D)bowed down to them. (E)And they provoked the Lord to anger. 13 They abandoned the Lord (F)and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth. 14 (G)So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he (H)gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. (I)And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, (J)so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. 15 Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, (K)and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.

The Lord Raises Up Judges

16 (L)Then the Lord raised up judges, (M)who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for (N)they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. (O)They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, (P)the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. (Q)For the Lord was moved to pity by (R)their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. 19 But (S)whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. 20 (T)So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he said, “Because this people (U)have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice, 21 (V)I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 in order (W)to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did, or not.” 23 So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

These verses provide a fitting introduction to the rest of the book of Judges. These verses point out the cycle godless people go through. First, they sin, then they get into trouble because of that sin, then they cry out for help. But once their trouble is over, they turn right back around and do those same things over again. This is what the people of Israel did. They did not know the Lord (1:10). So, they did evil in the sight of the Lord. They chased after the gods of the people around them, forsaking the Lord God. Because of this, the Lord gave Israel into the hands of their enemies. The hand of the Lord was continually against them.

What happens when the hand of the Lord is against you? You can do nothing. When the Israelites went to war, they were struck down. They were in great distress. So, the Lord raised up judges who saved them out of their enemy’s hands. As long as the judge lived, they would follow the Lord, but as soon as he died, they would again turn away from the Lord and invoke his wrath. Because of this, the Lord disciplined them. The Lord did this to teach them obedience to him. He wanted to teach them to listen to him and obey his words.

Prayer: Father, we are stubborn and rebellious people who so easily are turned from you. Forgive us and help us to listen to you. Bless us with godly leaders.

One Word: Repent our stubborn hearts and listen to the Lord