Judges: The Rise and Fall of Judges Devo

November 10th, 2019

Devotional

“Judges: The Rise and Fall of Judges” -

      Judges 2: 6-23

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Monday: “People Worshipped the Lord” - Judges 2: 6-8

  Joshua was the leader God selected to follow in the footsteps of Moses. His story begins though well before the death of Moses, when he was a solider sent to spy on the lands that Israel was to be moving into. He had faith that the Israelites, with the help of God, could defeat those before him. Everyone else, save Caleb, saw giants and said it wasn’t a good idea. 

Joshua’s faith in God carried forth after he was named as the one to follow Moses. The one to take the people across the threshold into the Promise Land. He wasn’t sure he was adequate, but God told him to have courage. Courage that didn’t flow from his own strength and ability by from the power of God.

Joshua’s leadership exemplified trusting God. And because of the leadership that Joshua exemplified, the people trusted God as well - worshipping the Lord alone. 

How are you teaching others to trust in God? 

Prayer: God, we want to know you. We want to trust you. We want to follow you wherever you may lead, no matter what. Give us the strength and courage of Joshua. Give us his conviction to trust in you and you alone. And use us to carry this example out into the world. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Generation” -Joshua 2: 9-10

But the day came when Joshua was called to be the Lord. He died and his leadership of the people was finished. But then something odd happened - another leader was not named. Instead, over time, Joshua’s entire generation was called home. And without a leader, the next generation grew up not knowing the Lord.

It is hard to fathom how quickly such a transition can happen. From those who know the Lord, to those who don’t. From those who trust the Lord, to those who go seeking other gods. Yet, in one sentence the entire vision of the people shifted. 

We need people who will teach new generations about God. Teach them in ways that impact them to carry on the message to the next generation and the next. 

Who taught you about Jesus? How did they help raise up a new generation in the faith?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we forget that we have the responsibility to raise up the next generation. To teach them about you. To disciple them along the faith journey. O Lord, keep us from going down the path where we reach a point where generations do not know you. Use us, we pray. Amen.

Wednesday: “Did What Was Evil” - Joshua 2: 11-13

Without the grounding of knowing God, the people went every which way trying to find meaning and ended up doing the unthinkable, worshipping other gods. Specifically Baals. We have seen the Israelites stumble when it came to worship before (most notably around the golden calf) but here, they have abandoned God. There hearts are so divorced from the way of God that they turn to the gods of the lands for fulfillment. 

When our hearts aren’t anchored in the knowledge and love of the Lord it is easy for us to go astray as well. We may not live in a society where there are multiple deities that are worshipped, like that seen in Judges, but we do live in a world where people worship at the alters of money, success, and fame. We live in a world that, too, tries to pull our hearts away from being focused on God. 

What are some other gods that people worship in today’s world?

Prayer: Lord, protect our hearts. Put a hedge of protection around us so that we stay focused on you. Keep our eyes every focused on the cross alone. Keep us from going astray, we pray. Amen. 

Thursday: “Angered” - Judges 2: 14-15

  Just as the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy come together to tell a story, Joshua and Judges are to be read as a continuation of the same story. With that in mind, if we turn back to the beginning of the book of Joshua we find this well known verse, “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”. (Joshua 1: 9). God was telling Joshua this after Moses’s death and as the Israelites are preparing to move into the Promised Land. We also find the words, “No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you” (Joshua 1:5). 

Now that the people have abandoned God, what God said to Moses is no longer true for them. In fact, when they marched out, the hand of the Lord wasn’t just absent from them, it was against them. And as a result they failed. Time and time again.

  What changed between Joshua and Judges?

Prayer: Lord, help us to stand firm in our obedience to you. Strengthen and uphold us, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Raised Up Judges” - Judges 2: 16-23

  It wasn’t until the people failed that they became distressed and returned to God, crying out. It wasn’t until the people failed, that God raised up judges, or leaders to deliver them. But even having a human leader, just like Joshua, did not help the Israelites at this point, for their hearts were so turned astray. 

It quickly became a cycle.

Going astray. The Lord’s anger. The people crying out. Judges bringing forth deliverance. Only to have the people go astray again.

So it can be in our hearts and lives as well, when we struggle with sin. When we rely on our own might, or the might of another person instead of God, sin can choke out our good intentions to live faithful lives.

What does the cycle of sin look like in our lives or our world?

Prayer: Lord, only you can break the power of sin and death. Only you can remove the chains that choke the life out of us. So, Lord, we come before you today asking you to do just that. Set us free, Precious Lord! Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Judges: Deborah” - Judges 4 and 5