**Judges 3: 7 - 11**
Othoniel!
You may remember Othoniel from a few posts back. (sometimes spelt Othniel in different translations). He was the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother (most likely the Caleb who was the non-doubter, a man full of faith, when the people first came to Canaan and got all worried about the giants there).
Well Othoniel becomes the very first God ordained judge of Israel! The "Lion of God" as his name means, the Jesus type the first wise judge in the promised land. How fitting."The Spirit of the Lord came upon him" and he delivers Israel out of the hands of Aram king.
The land then has peace for 40 years until Othoniel dies.
I like to point out that Othoniel had the Spirit of the Lord upon him. The very first of many. He is no ordinary judge. People could follow or not follow a judge, it was not coerced, but when someone has the Spirit of the Lord on them there is something that draws you to that person. Jesus as the first of a new kind of person, his Spirit draws us to him. He brings peace.
Othoniel however as the real person could not live forever, peace only reigned for 40 years. But Jesus, He lives forever! As long as I live under His wing I experience peace and constant perfect-present deliverance.
Whenever we read old testament i think its important to note that Jesus said the lowest in the kingdom of God is greater than all these past people (up to John the Baptist being the greatest, Matthew 11:11) (it would seem pointing at those under the old covenant). What we see in the OT is a shadow of what we have in Christ! Why why why would we go back to EVEN WORSE covenants of kings, tyrants, governmental democratic majority subjugation, the OT displays a shadow of what could be, now as Children of God ALL filled with and free access to the Holy Spirit! How can we endorse to going back to living under such a regime.
Level 1 (the worst): State rule
Level 2 (the shadow): Judge system, theocracy
Level 3 (the best): Spirit ruled, individual access to and complete trust in, God not state.
Monday, April 27, 2015
A pattern emerges
**Judges 2: 6 - 3:6**
After Israel's disobedience to God in entering into a covenant with the people of Canaan, one where the people where subdued to forced labor the Israelites began a cycle which continues throughout the book of judges for 400 years.
1. That is Israel turns from God and idol worships
2. God gives them over to their enemies
3. Israel turns back to God
4. God raises up a judge who delivers them from their enemies, Israel has peace for a time..
5. Return to 1.
There are some other small things that pop out in this passage however that i would like to highlight.
A generation (ch 2 vs 10)
It seems that it took a whole generation to pass followed by a new generation who neither knew the Lord or what he had done before bad stuff happens. There is a clear turning from the Lord as a result of generations losing their previous generations knowledge. A lesson to take from in regards to our own lives and our children's lives. Passing on knowledge not purely scientific but ethical and moral knowledge, knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done. This is where longevitiy of a healthy society comes from.
On a political note, people forget how bad state can be settle in with democracy and other forms of 'soft' government and so forget the danger, violence and coercion state inevitably brings about.
The Judges
God's response is to raise up judges who deliver them from their issues. It's important to note that the judge is raised up by God! Not by man. There is no voting here. The judge would have also provided much needed wisdom for addressing many contractual and community conflicts. The people of Israel had to trust God for their safety. It was God who raised the judges.
Whenever the judges died it seems the people turned back to idol worship. Because God was angry at their idol worship he then says something very interesting,
"Because this nation has violated the covenant that i laid down for their forefathers and has not listened to me, i will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their forefathers did."
God leaves the remaining nations as a litmus test for the people of Israel. To see if they will turn to the idol worship and wrong ways of those nations and thereby disobey God. As seen in 1 Samuel 8, to see whether they will call out to be like those nations in having a king! something God disapproved of. Essentially also a form of idol worship. Looking to the king for safety vs looking to God.
After Israel's disobedience to God in entering into a covenant with the people of Canaan, one where the people where subdued to forced labor the Israelites began a cycle which continues throughout the book of judges for 400 years.
1. That is Israel turns from God and idol worships
2. God gives them over to their enemies
3. Israel turns back to God
4. God raises up a judge who delivers them from their enemies, Israel has peace for a time..
5. Return to 1.
There are some other small things that pop out in this passage however that i would like to highlight.
A generation (ch 2 vs 10)
It seems that it took a whole generation to pass followed by a new generation who neither knew the Lord or what he had done before bad stuff happens. There is a clear turning from the Lord as a result of generations losing their previous generations knowledge. A lesson to take from in regards to our own lives and our children's lives. Passing on knowledge not purely scientific but ethical and moral knowledge, knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done. This is where longevitiy of a healthy society comes from.
On a political note, people forget how bad state can be settle in with democracy and other forms of 'soft' government and so forget the danger, violence and coercion state inevitably brings about.
The Judges
God's response is to raise up judges who deliver them from their issues. It's important to note that the judge is raised up by God! Not by man. There is no voting here. The judge would have also provided much needed wisdom for addressing many contractual and community conflicts. The people of Israel had to trust God for their safety. It was God who raised the judges.
Whenever the judges died it seems the people turned back to idol worship. Because God was angry at their idol worship he then says something very interesting,
"Because this nation has violated the covenant that i laid down for their forefathers and has not listened to me, i will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their forefathers did."
God leaves the remaining nations as a litmus test for the people of Israel. To see if they will turn to the idol worship and wrong ways of those nations and thereby disobey God. As seen in 1 Samuel 8, to see whether they will call out to be like those nations in having a king! something God disapproved of. Essentially also a form of idol worship. Looking to the king for safety vs looking to God.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Forced Labour and Covenants
**Judges 1:19 - 2:5**
Fresh start and promise
From other readings in the Bible it appears that God requested that the Israelites perform quite a difficult task. That is to drive out the nations of Canaan. God had promised the land to the Israelis. This was a fresh start to be a nation with no king but Yahweh. A non human. The creator of the universe. It appears that the nations of Canaan were heavily steeped in idolatry and submission to kings with dozens and dozens of kings. Any child born into such a society would immediately be subjugated to such practices of the time some even to sacrifice as a form of worship.
Forced Labour (1:28 - 35)
But for all the various reasons, it is clear that the Israelites did not follow through and drive them out completely. Rather they kept many many towns around and began to subject the inhabitants to forced labour. Rather than start a new free society subject to the One, Yahweh, they began to subjugate people to themselves. At first it appears that it is purely a strength based thing, and all though it is, "When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labour but they never drove them out completely" on closer inspection we begin to realise there's more to it...
Covenants (2: 1 - 5)
In response to this disobedience, the Angel of the Lord speaks to the people, "I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."
So it appears the Israelites rather than drive out and start afresh, they instead made covenants with the Canaanites which somehow left the Canaanites in forced labour. A pact, a deal, perhaps under threat? Do this or else. Covenants of this sort are always happening among 'authorities' and the people. Pay up or else. Join the army or else and so on.
The Israelites went there to break their altars, change this way of authoritarian life but instead in disobedience began to absorb that life. Long term slaves rather than one time enemies. The Canaan gods became the Israelite gods...and a snare.
This snare is echoed in 1 Samuel 8:19-20 when after being warned about the dangers of having a king the people respond, 'no! we want a king, then we can be like the other nations.'
They want gods, little gods, this acceptance of the little god, human kings queens is a rejection of the one and only true king. Yahweh. Jesus Christ.
An interesting phenomenon about the staying power of setting up such gods. Judges 2: 4 -5 show the people weeping as they realise their disobedience. This is echoed in 1 Samuel 12:19 where the people respond as they see their disobedience in asking for a king and their rejection of God as one and only King. Why is it that they don't just reverse the decision/situation? Break the covenant with the Canaanites, stop the covenant with the king?
As we observe in all governmental and authoritarian states, once instigated, legislated and covenanted, reversing such things is difficult.
This may also reflect our modern day blase approach to covenants (on a side note, like marriage!). We don't truly understand the seriousness of swearing by things. Is it any wonder then that Jesus in the sermon of the mount says, do not swear by heaven, the city or the king. Just let your yes be yes and no be no.
Fresh start and promise
From other readings in the Bible it appears that God requested that the Israelites perform quite a difficult task. That is to drive out the nations of Canaan. God had promised the land to the Israelis. This was a fresh start to be a nation with no king but Yahweh. A non human. The creator of the universe. It appears that the nations of Canaan were heavily steeped in idolatry and submission to kings with dozens and dozens of kings. Any child born into such a society would immediately be subjugated to such practices of the time some even to sacrifice as a form of worship.
Forced Labour (1:28 - 35)
But for all the various reasons, it is clear that the Israelites did not follow through and drive them out completely. Rather they kept many many towns around and began to subject the inhabitants to forced labour. Rather than start a new free society subject to the One, Yahweh, they began to subjugate people to themselves. At first it appears that it is purely a strength based thing, and all though it is, "When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labour but they never drove them out completely" on closer inspection we begin to realise there's more to it...
Covenants (2: 1 - 5)
In response to this disobedience, the Angel of the Lord speaks to the people, "I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."
So it appears the Israelites rather than drive out and start afresh, they instead made covenants with the Canaanites which somehow left the Canaanites in forced labour. A pact, a deal, perhaps under threat? Do this or else. Covenants of this sort are always happening among 'authorities' and the people. Pay up or else. Join the army or else and so on.
The Israelites went there to break their altars, change this way of authoritarian life but instead in disobedience began to absorb that life. Long term slaves rather than one time enemies. The Canaan gods became the Israelite gods...and a snare.
This snare is echoed in 1 Samuel 8:19-20 when after being warned about the dangers of having a king the people respond, 'no! we want a king, then we can be like the other nations.'
They want gods, little gods, this acceptance of the little god, human kings queens is a rejection of the one and only true king. Yahweh. Jesus Christ.
An interesting phenomenon about the staying power of setting up such gods. Judges 2: 4 -5 show the people weeping as they realise their disobedience. This is echoed in 1 Samuel 12:19 where the people respond as they see their disobedience in asking for a king and their rejection of God as one and only King. Why is it that they don't just reverse the decision/situation? Break the covenant with the Canaanites, stop the covenant with the king?
As we observe in all governmental and authoritarian states, once instigated, legislated and covenanted, reversing such things is difficult.
This may also reflect our modern day blase approach to covenants (on a side note, like marriage!). We don't truly understand the seriousness of swearing by things. Is it any wonder then that Jesus in the sermon of the mount says, do not swear by heaven, the city or the king. Just let your yes be yes and no be no.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Taking down the city of the book!
**Judges 1: 12 - 15
During this interesting episode, Caleb who's name means 'Pagan' or 'dog' (essentially not a very nice name) says he will give his daughter to marry whoever takes Kiriathsepher ('the city of the book'!).
His daughter, Achsah ('anklet', or anklet chain', appears to be associated with 'the prize' or sometimes capture, as in 'fetters') is given to Othoniel.
Othoniel who by the way...means, 'Lion of God'! takes down the city of the book! and wins the prize.
The thoughts that come to mind from this for me are:
1. Othoniel, the Lion of God, a Jesus type trumps the way of the law, the city of the book
2. He wins us! the church, yep dirty dog people who's background is from the pagan world, the gentiles, the dirty dogs! :P We are his prize.
3. The lion of God takes a stand against the city of the book, those who want to control via the law. Should Christians then be in support of such cities of the book? The state?
During this interesting episode, Caleb who's name means 'Pagan' or 'dog' (essentially not a very nice name) says he will give his daughter to marry whoever takes Kiriathsepher ('the city of the book'!).
His daughter, Achsah ('anklet', or anklet chain', appears to be associated with 'the prize' or sometimes capture, as in 'fetters') is given to Othoniel.
Othoniel who by the way...means, 'Lion of God'! takes down the city of the book! and wins the prize.
The thoughts that come to mind from this for me are:
1. Othoniel, the Lion of God, a Jesus type trumps the way of the law, the city of the book
2. He wins us! the church, yep dirty dog people who's background is from the pagan world, the gentiles, the dirty dogs! :P We are his prize.
3. The lion of God takes a stand against the city of the book, those who want to control via the law. Should Christians then be in support of such cities of the book? The state?
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