After Joshua and the elders of Israel who entered the Promised Land died, a new generation of Israelites chose to follow the land’s customs and worship pagan gods. They abandoned the Lord and forgot His glory and power which delivered them from Egyptian bondage; they forgot the Lord’s work in conquering their new land. In judgment, the Lord repeatedly brought them under the oppression of other nations. In despair, the people repeatedly called to the Lord for help. The Lord gave them judges to rule over them and lead them out of their enemy’s control. Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. But 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 stop any of their practices or their stubborn ways (Judges 2.18-19). They forgot the Lord’s mercies.
These blessed and rescued peoples wrote a sad commentary by continually choosing to return to despicable ways, loving what could offer them nothing, and rejecting the Lord who had graciously loved them. Those claiming Christ can have the same tendency to write a sad history. Having been delivered from the enemy’s bondage, redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ and cleansed of all sin by His shed blood, and given new life and the hope of an eternal inheritance, believers can continually revert to patterns of sin, worshiping pagan gods of the culture. In misery they may call on the Lord for relief from their self-inflicted pain, only to return to sin when the crisis is past. May this never be so. May our eyes keep focus on our Savior with a firm heart’s desire to stay true to our Lord, walk with Him, and enjoy His full love and grace, as we anticipate eternity in His presence.
Remembering God’s grace – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry
