This was heartbreaking to read, but then there were glimmers of hope. Essentially the second half of Judges is a deterioration of the people of Israel. I think I can empathize a bit with God here because I had such hopes for the people reading about Gideon and Deborah and Ehud. I forgot that those are the bright spots. Then comes Samson. Samson is a character I've never much like nor respected. I often ask, why God, why would you use such a man who is clearly only searching after the lusts of his own heart. Why would you make him leader of your people and bestow on him the gift of your spirit? I mean, this guy goes after prostitutes, thinks he's got it all and no one can challenge him. He's cocky and proud and.... not all that different from me, at least in the attitude of our hearts.
Samson thought he had it made, he was chosen by God, a judge, had the power of the Spirit of God, which he mistook for his own and he thought he was rather clever. Now those are all characteristics I can identify with, completely, and God used Samson to carry out his will. Now, I'm not justifying Samson, but I think I understand God's perspective, with bleeding heart, He bestows on Samson His Spirit. In the end, Samson is humbled, by Delilah and the Philistines. Even then he doesn't fully come to realize that all of this was really about God and not about him. He begs God one last time for his strength, to avenge the Philistines taking his eyes. God grants it so that Samson might destroy more Philistines in his death than he ever did in his life. It's disappointing and humbling at the same time. God may I truly realize your gifts in my life and seek to follow you with my whole heart and not abuse you and the power of your Spirit. May my body truly be a worthy dwelling place for your presence within me.
The rest of Judges is heart wrenching as you see just how far the Israelites have fallen. The last story has to do with the rebellion of the Benjamites (ch. 19-21) and it is a story that is very reminiscent of the tale of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot. The end is different. The Benjamites are not wiped off the face of the earth, but instead are put to the sword by their fellow Israelite brothers. The passages say again and again how the Israelites wept and wailed for their fallen brothers. I felt like weeping too. How could you betray the LORD your God so easily and quickly. Do you not know what he has done for you? And then I catch myself because it's so easy for me to forget. It is a good eye opener to say the least and it makes me realize how awful I am to the God who has done such great things. I seek God only when it's convenient for me. I lose faith when the slightest thing goes wrong. I question and I struggle and I stumble and still God is there. In the end He still shows mercy despite my down falls. Praise be to you, O God!
Then the stories move upward in hope and healing a bit. Ruth, which again just shows how God's mercy extends to all people who seek to follow Him with their whole heart. Now reading as I have been I noticed a few things in Ruth that I might have otherwise overlooked. Naomi changes her name to Mara, which is a place name for the Israelites when they complained against God because the water was bitter (check out Exodus). Secondly, the whole kinsman redeemer thing makes so much more sense. I think Ruth sleeping at Boaz's feet may have to do with the whole sandal thing in marrying a widow of a family member, maybe not, but I like my dreams. :) However, this whole kinsman redeemer thing is about this law from Deuteronomy 25 dealing with the widow and Lev 25, the act of redeeming another, particularly in your family who has become poor.
It is such a lovely interchange between Boaz and Ruth and the way things work out. Boaz praises Ruth for not going after younger, more attractive men, which she could have, but instead she honors Naomi and him. Then he does the right thing, he asks the relative who is closer to Naomi than he if he wishes to redeem Naomi's husband's land and take on Naomi and Ruth. He'll take the land, but not the women, which Boaz is more than happy to honor both. I think he's a good guy and Ruth is a humble and wonderful woman, both good examples, I think. So in the end, it all works out and Ruth gives birth to Obed, who is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David. God's pretty cool. :)
Then we end with Samuel. It is a rather bittersweet story. What's up with all these barren women? And polygamist husbands who have one fertile and one non-fertile wife and of course they love the non-fertile one more... I digress. So Hannah, the wife of Elkanah (who doesn't understand why Hannah needs a child, isn't he enough for her? Silly man.), pleads with God to let her have a child and she will dedicate him to the LORD. She does on both accounts. Again, God honors those who seek him with their whole heart. Blessed be Hannah and blessed be the LORD who hears our hearts and our troubles and does not abandon us.
She has a son, Samuel, who will be the last judge of Israel. Samuel, who makes a much better example and loves to serve the LORD as opposed to the priest's corrupt sons. Samuel, who will usher in the kings of Israel. And that my friends means there is more to come...
Almost all caught up. I think perhaps, two posts tomorrow, God willing, and we'll be all squared away. :)
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