Judges 2:16

GOD'S PURPOSE IN RAISING UP JUDGES (Judges 2:16-23)

"And Jehovah raised up judges who saved them out of the hand of those that despoiled them. And yet they hearkened not unto their judges; for they played the harlot after other gods, and bowed themselves down unto them: they turned-aside quickly out of the way wherein their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Jehovah, but they did not so. And when Jehovah raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented Jehovah because of their groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. But it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they turned back; and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their doings, nor from their stubborn way. And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel; and he said, Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died; that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Jehovah to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. So Jehovah left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua."

"And Jehovah raised up judges" (Judges 2:16). "This is the first occurrence of the term `judges' in this book, and it is from this that the Book receives its name."[7]

The author of Judges outlines for us in these words the connection that binds together the various deliverances wrought under the blessing of God upon the judges. The total picture emerges right here:

A judge would rise up whom God would bless in His deliverance of Israel from oppression, but as soon as that judge died, Israel soon relapsed into their customary wickedness. Why did God keep on delivering them? The answer is in Judges 2:18. The Lord simply had pity upon His oppressed people. It should be noted that the various deliverances provided by God's blessing through the Judges were not related in any manner whatever to any merit on Israel's part. Such things as God's character, His previous promises to the patriarchs, and His purpose of providing redemption for "all the families of the earth" (Genesis 12:3) - these alone were the grounds upon which God rescued His sinful people again and again and again. Christians call this the grace of God.

"By them, I may prove Israel" (Judges 2:22). There appears in this verse a very important factor that entered into God's decision to allow the proscribed nations of Canaan that still remained after the death of Joshua to continue contemporaneously with His people Israel in the Land of Promise. God would use those nations to prove the intentions of Israel, whether or not they would truly serve the Lord.

"Without driving them out hastily" (Judges 2:23). Note the last word here, which clarifies God's statement in Judges 2:21 that he would not drive out the nations. It appears here, that God's intention of utterly replacing the pagan nations of Canaan with the Chosen People would still be accomplished, though not "hastily," as would have been the case if Israel's gross wickedness had not resulted in the change. Still the driving out of the seven nations mentioned in Deuteronomy 7:1-2 eventually occurred.