March 14 Daily Devotional

Judges 1–3

During the days of Joshua and his generation, which had seen the mighty works of God, Israel served the Lord. But now Joshua and also Eleazar the high priest was dead, and many other God fearing people had been gathered to their fathers. Since then another generation arose which knew not the Lord nor the works that he had done among Israel. And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed other gods. They turned to the gods of the people round about them, worshiping Baal and Ashtaroth. All the nations around about them, the Egyptians, the Edomites, the Moabites, the Philistines, bowed down to images. Not all of the Canaanites had been driven out. Their idols could be seen under the trees on many high places. The tabernacle at Shiloh was far away from many parts of the land. So it came to pass that the people began to neglect the worship of the Lord and were led to all kinds of wickedness.

To disobey God brings trouble. The anger of the Lord was kindled. It happened just like Joshua had told them. The Lord gave them into the hands of their enemies. The enemies came and took what they had, their sheep and cattle, their grain and grapes and olive oil. So they became poor and helpless. In the days of trouble the people turned to God again. God heard them and raised up some great men to break the power of those who were ruling over them. These men were called ‘judges’. The first of the judges was Othniel, a brother of Caleb, of whom we heard before. Othniel fought against the king of Mesopotamia and God gave him victory.

He ruled Israel forty years even until he died. After Othniel died, the people again began to worship images.

Again they were given into the hands of their enemies. This time the Moabites came against them from the east of the Dead Sea. Eglon was the name of the king, who ruled over Israel eighteen years. The people realized how wicked they had been to forget God. God heard their prayer and gave them a deliverer; his name was Ehud. He managed to get into the summer home of the king and there slew him. After that he blew a trumpet, calling his people together, and he led them against the Moabites. Without a king they were helpless. Ehud drove them out and set his people free. Many Moabites lost their life. After this it was about eighty years before an enemy again ruled over Israel. The next enemies of Israel were the Philistines, who lived on the shore of the Great Sea. They came from the plains against Israel; but Shamgar, the third judge, met them with a company of farmers, who drove them back, and so kept them from ruling over Israel.