THE KING’S BUSINESS
29
awful that word may be. There are those today who fancy that God is “too good” to keep the threatenings of everlasting doom that He has declared will be the lot of those who persistently reject His Son, but we may be sure that with us, as with Israel, everything will come to pass exactly “as the LORD has said.” Israel’s condition be cause of their forsaking God was indescrib ably wretched. They “were greatly (sore) distressed.” ' v. 16. “Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges which delivered (saved) them out of the hand of those i that spoiled them.” Though “the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel” in all His wrath He remem bered mercy. He raised up for them judges who were saviours and types of that Saviour whom He has provided for us all, regardless of how desperately and persistently we have sinned against Him (Rom. 5:8). This was an act of pure grace on God’s part. The people deserved nothing but His wrath (Joshua 9:27; cf. Ps. 103:10, 11; 106:45). v. 17. “And yei they would not hearken unto their judges.” Wonder of wonders! They not only despised God’s law but tramp led His mercy under foot. It seem? incred ible, but the mass of men today are just like that. They despise God’s mercy, they will not hearken unto their judges, but God in His mercy raised up for them a Saviour (cf. Matt. 23:37; John 5:40). The words that follow in verse 17 show what turning from Jehovah is, in His sight: it is spiritual harlotry (cf. Rev. 17:1-5). v. 18. “And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge." One thing insured the divinely given judge of success against all opposition, “Je hovah was with the judge.” The people might oppose and turn a deaf ear to him, but God was with him; and God is todaj> with those who are faithful to Him no matter how persistently men may turn a deaf ear to them. The judge’s fidelity to God brought blessing and deliverance to the whole nation as long as the judge lived. “It repented the Lord because of their
groans by reason of them that oppressed and vexed them.” This is a remarkable declaration of the wonderful compassion of God. Israel had brought their sorrows upon themselves because they had forsaken Je hovah who had been their Redeemer. Their oppressions and vexations were the direct outcome of their own deliberate ingratitude and sin, yet their groanings went right to the heart of God. What a wonderful God our God is! (Exod. 2:23-25 ; 3:7, 8; Isa. 63:9). By saying “it repented Jehovah” it is not meant that Jehovah changed His mind (Mai. 3:6; 1 Sam. 15:29; Num. 23:19; Jas. 1:17). It simply means that the sor rows that came upon His people because of their own sin deeply grieved Him, and He turned from the just chastisement He was inflicting upon them to help them (Deut. 32:36; Jer. 18:7-10). There was no change in God. He was the same holy and com passionate God He had always been, but the sorrows of His sinful people went to His heart of infinite love, which was always a heart of infinite love, and He flew to their relief. v. 19. “And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned and cor rupted themselves more than their fathers.” Their repentance was very short lived. They went steadily from worse to worse. Re vivals among them were much like revivals among us today. For a time, under the in fluence of some man whom God is with, men turn to God, but as soon as the man has passed on, the Church and the world return to their compromise, their selfishness and their sin. That has been the history of the Church and the world from the very be ginning of history. They ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.” This is pre cisely the difficulty with men today. They want to have their own way, do their own will, and work in their own strength, in stead of letting God have His way, and work His own work, and do His own will in them.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs