The Judges

Judges 1:1, 21:25

The bookends of Judges paint a bleak picture. Joshua has died and the people are questioning - who will fight for us? Who will lead us? Who will guide us? And while the Israelites were anxious about their enemies—perhaps their fears blinded them to the greater enemy inside of them. Perhaps their questions should have been—who will fight for our holiness? Who will lead us in the way of the Lord? Who will guide us into righteousness and justice? The Lord provided for them in the Judges - both as warriors and prophets. Warriors to lead them into battle against their enemies, and prophetic voices to try and call out the sin of the people. However, at the end of the book we find the people are again without a leader, each deciding they would be Judge over their own life. 

Today we find ourselves in a similar situation—each person living by whatever we think is right. Isn’t this the very posture of our first parents in the Garden that brought the curse of sin crashing into our world—a curse that brought death and requires judgment? Praise God! In Christ our true judge has come, abounding in mercy, yet perfectly righteous. He came, first, to offer salvation from our deserved judgment—not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). However, there is a day coming that Paul speaks about in Acts 17:31 when all evil will be rightfully brought to justice. Jesus is the appointed judge, the proof is in his resurrection, who will “judge the world in righteousness”, once and for all taking His throne and rightful place as Judge over all. 

Prayer:

Jesus, remind me that you are the true judge, not my own thoughts or the world around me - lead me into righteousness today. Thank you for receiving the judgment my sins deserve.

Question to consider:

Where in your life do you find yourself prone to do what is right in your own eyes? Take some time to confess and repent.