The Judge

The other night, Janice and I got in to bed after putting the kids to sleep and I decided to open up the Bible and read out loud to her. I asked her if there was anything in particular she wanted me to read, she said, "No, I'll probably fall asleep anyways." So, I thought for a moment and David popped in my head. So, I opened up to 1 Samuel and started reading. I think it was about the 6th or 7th chapter. I dont remember. I tried to look it up just now but my Blackberry is acting up and wouldn't let me. Well anyways, where I started reading, the Israelites were being harrased by the Philistines and things looked hopeless. (My Blackberry started working again, it's Chapter 7) Samuel (one of the judges of Israel) gathered all the people of Israel together and told them that if they would reject their false idols and return to the Lord and worship Him again that he would save them from the Philistines. So all Israel did just that and fasted and prayed. They REPENTED of their sin as well. They admitted they were wrong and worshipped God. When the Philistines heard that Israel had gathered together they decided to attack them. Israel heard about their plan and were afraid. They asked Samuel to pray for them continually. Samuel then sacrificed a lamb and prayed for them as the Philistines attacked. The Bible says in verse 10, "Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel."

Pretty cool stuff. Quite dramatic. Quite relevant. Janice and I talked about that for a few minutes; how it paralleled our nation in many ways; but I continued on to chapter 8. In the very next chapter after an amazing act of God in chapter 7, the people of Israel cry out to Samuel that they want a King to rule over them like all the other nations. Samuel was furious and talked to God about it. God told him to go ahead and appoint them a king even though they are rebelling against God by wanting a king. He told Samuel to make sure they knew what dangers were inherent with a king. He would enslave them and impose his own desires upon them. Samuel told the people all that God had said and yet still wanted a king. So Samuel anointed Saul as the first king over Israel.

What does this have to do with anything you might ask. Well, let me tell you. Fast forward a couple thousand years to the time that Jesus came along. The Jews were looking for a King once again. All the prophets foretold of a ruler that would come, the Messiah. He would come and save Israel. The Jews were being mistreated once again and wanted a political leader to come and overthrow the evil Roman empire. They were looking for their Messiah to come as a warrior and take the throne of Israel and rule forever. They were looking for a king and, once again, God sent them a judge. All the prophets of the past, Samuel, Samson and countless other unnamed Judges were sent with the instructions of God. The people of Israel rejected God and desired a king. Once again, God sent a judge in Jesus and the people missed him because of their desire to be like all the nations around them.

We need judges to be sent to our nation. To instruct us in the ways of God once again. Maybe they are already around. Maybe we have rejected them and looked in the wrong direction. Maybe we are being swept up in the crowd of what everyone else is doing and we have missed the judges. Maybe we're too caught up with politics to see the spiritual judges around us.