Introduction
After Moses led Israel out from Egypt he died. Joshua and the rest of Israel arrived at the Promised and cast out most of the Cannaites, but some land was not claimed yet. Joshua cast lots and divided the land among the tribes (Jos 18:6)
(ESV) Judges is named after an interesting collection of individuals who led Israel after Joshua’s death until the rise of the monarchy under Samuel (up to about 1050 B.C.). In this time of national decline, despite their promise to keep the covenant (Josh. 24:16–18) the people turned from the Lord and began to worship other gods. “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (17:6; 21:25). A pattern repeats throughout the book: 1) the people abandoned the Lord; 2) God punished them by raising up a foreign power to oppress them; 3) the people cried out to God for deliverance; and 4) God raised up a deliverer, or judge, for them. The author of the book is unknown, although some Jewish tradition ascribes it to Samuel.
Repeated phrases:
(1) The Lord gave or handed the land over to Israel v.2,4
On one hand, the land would be theirs for sure. And on the other hand, they needed to invade the land v.3-4.
1:2 The LORD said, “The men of Judah should take the lead. Be sure of this! I am handing the land over to them.”
1:4 The men of Judah attacked, and the LORD handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them.
Reflection: God gave them the promise, but they needed to fight and claimed the promised land. God was faithful in a sense that He fulfilled His promise to Abraham. However, man also has our responsibility.
God's role: He appointed the leader, and encouraged them. He was with them.
Thank God for giving us all the promise in the Bible, e.g. the Holy Spirit will guide the children of God to be sanctified in our livings. I believe that they will all be fulfilled. Because I believe I will take the responsibility to do man's job, e.g. to obey to the Holy Spirit when I face temptation to sin.
(2) Different strategies for fighting
a. Judah and Simeon combined effort to help each other v.3-8, 17-18.
b. Caleb (Within the Judah's tribe) set up a reward-system to those who helped him to attack v.12-13.
Reflection: The different strategies were successful. We can all use our wisdoms (as long as they are Biblical) to accomplish what God wants us to do.
Two sisters (in Christ) and I have known each other since College time. We all live in different countries and serve the Lord in the children ministries. We share resources and ideas of how to do ministry on zoom. They also pray for our VBC!
(3) Overall success v.19
Judah wiped out some powerful kings v.5-7 and lands v.8,18. The key is
1:19a The LORD was with the men of Judah.
However, they still have some land that they could not conquer for their technology was below the level of the Cannaites.
v.19b They conquered the hill country, but they could not conquer the people living in the coastal plain, because they had chariots with iron-rimmed wheels.
(NAC) no matter how technologically superior to the Israelites, should have been able to withstand Judah’s attack. This verse must be read in light of Josh 17:18, "The whole hill country will be yours; though it is a forest, you can clear it and it will be entirely yours. You can conquer the Canaanites, though they have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels and are strong.”
according to which Joshua had encouraged Ephraim and Manasseh by specifically declaring that the Canaanites’ superior strength and their possession of iron chariots would be no hindrance to the Josephite tribes’ conquest of the river valleys and plains.
Then why could they not take the lowland? Why is Yahweh’s presence canceled by superior military technology? The narrator does not say, but presumably the Judahites experienced a failure of nerve at this point, or they were satisfied with their past achievements.
Reflection: Is there any "chariot with iron-rimmed wheels" in your life? Something you think is too difficult and therefore you are ready to give up and not even try it? Scriptures said, " you can conquer...though they have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels and are strong." With the presence of God we have fought the good fight with some many wars, and we should not be scared of these iron-rimmed wheels' chariots now.
Audrey
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