The Relevance of the Book of Judges Today
Spiritual idolatry is spiritual suicide.
The writer to the Hebrews had a profound and universal influence on the history of the Church’s interpretation of the book of Judges. With a method of interpretation that tends to read the TaNaKh in light of the B’rit Chadashah, to this day many readers understand the book as a collection of stirring stories about the exploits of truly honorable heroes. These people are held up as models after whom we should pattern our lives. It is indeed true that all believers are called to a life of faith and that without faith nothing can be accomplished for ADONAI, but this evaluation of Judges is way too positive, especially when we allow the judges to speak for themselves. The primary significance of the book for us today, especially in the West, lies in quite a different direction.
Earlier I mentioned that one of the three themes of the book of Judges is the Canaanization of Isra’el (to see link click Ac – Judges from a Messianic Perspective: Themes); how the Israelites became more and more like the Canaanites and less and less like a Covenant people. This is the key to the relevance of this ancient book for us today. For like the Israelites of the settlement period, we have largely forgotten the covenant Lord, and have come to take for granted his gracious redemptive work on our behalf. Like the ancient Israelites, we are being squeezed into the mold of the ancient world around us. Evidences of the “Canaanization” of the Church are everywhere: our preoccupation with material prosperity, which turns our faith into a fertility religion; our worship that prioritizes feelings over biblical truth and waters down sound theology; our refusal to ADONAI’s call to separate from the world (John 2:15-15); our divisiveness and competitiveness; our moral compromises (see the commentary on Revelation Bb – The Church at Pergamum), as a result believers and non-believers are often indistinguishable; our willingness to stand up and defend agents of evil instead of justice. These and many other lessons can be drawn from the pages of this fascinating book as we proceed.
But the book of Judges teaches us important positive messages as well, especially about God. First, ADONAI calls His people to a covenant relationship with Himself. This relationship is the highest privilege imaginable, and when the recipients of grace hold Him in contempt by abandoning Him for other “gods,” the God of grace is zealous for our attention. Second, Ha’Shem tolerates no rivals (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Bl – Have No Other Gods). We cannot serve Him and commit spiritual adultery at the same time. To do so is to trample His grace underfoot. However, third, ADONAI is still gracious, often treating His people not according to what they deserve, but mercifully giving us what we don’t deserve. Fourth, if anything positive is ever accomplished in the Church, it is the work of God. Human leaders have a profound tendency to disappoint and to exploit the church for their own purposes. Fifth, in the words of Yeshua, God will build His Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Fx – On This Rock I Will Build My Church). The book of Judges presents a picture of a nation called the people of God, but seemingly determined to negate the title if not destroy itself. But ADONAI will not let that happen. He has chosen them to be a blessing to the world (see the commentary on Genesis Dt – I Will Bless Those Who Bless You and Whoever Curses You I Will Curse); He has rescued them from Egypt; He has entered into an eternal covenant with them; and He has delivered the land of Canaan into their hands as an eternal possession (which many refuse to recognize today). In the final analysis, God cannot, and will not, abort His plan. The mission of grace to the world depends upon the preservation of His people (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Therefore, against all odds, and certainly against Isra’el’s desires, the nation survived the dark days of the judges. The true hero in the book is ADONAI . . . and ADONAI alone.4
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