Judges is a unique book in Scripture.

Commenting on this fact, Dale Ralph Davis writes that Judges is "so earthy; so puzzling, so primitive, so violent - in a word, so strange that the church can scarcely stomach it."

 

Judges describes a chapter in the life of God's people characterized by violence, apostasy, chaos and mayhem. During this period, God's people were a loose confederation of 12 tribes, bound by a common religion.

As you read Judges, page after page describes how God's people flirt with disaster. Instead of remaining faithful to the Lord, they tolerate pagan religious practices and compromise with cultural moral and religious practices that contradict God's Word and his will. Rather than follow the Lord, God's people follow the culture.

Yet, the Lord faithful raises up leaders to provide for his people - leaders such as Othniel, Ehud, and Samson. 

Today, God's people have the same temptation - to accept religious beliefs and immoral practices that are opposed to God's Word and his will. In fact, acceptance in our culture is often measured by tolerance.

However, Scripture is clear that God measures our faithfulness to him, not by tolerance but by obedience.

Jesus Christ said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Following Christ means following his Word.

May the Holy Spirit give us strength to resist cultural compromise and be faithful to Jesus Christ and his Word.