Judges 10 Grieving God
Channel: Mike Attwood
Date: 2022-05-20

This chapter can be divided as demonstrating the deliverance of Israel and their subsequent distress.

In the first five verses we are told of two judges:  Tola and Jair.  They are called "minor judges" because so little is written about them, but this does not mean their role was in any way insignificant.  In fact, it tells us a great deal of the peace and stability they brought to the nation.  The names of both of these judges call to mind aspects of the Lord Jesus, the prince of peace.

After this Israel entered a time of complete apostacy.  They turn their back on the true God and go after seven others:  Baalim, Ashtaroth, Syria, Zidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia.  They had enjoyed 45 years of peace and prosperity, but did not take time to thank the Lord for the stable leadership and time of peace.

The Ammonites are coming from the East.  The Philistines are coming from the west. 

Ammon attacked for 18 years, and then the children of Israel cried unto YHWH, giving a detailed confession.  YHWH reminds the children of Israel that he delivered them many times, but they had forsaken him, and thus He says He will not deliver them.

The children of Israel had lost all feeling for him, and He felt their sufferings to a depth they would never know.  His soul was grieved for Israel.  God's people have the ability to emotionally affect God.  The New Testament directs us, "grieve not the Spirit of God", so we have the capacity to grieve the heart of God.

The story of the prodigal son is not so much about the son, but the father whose heart was grieving for his wayward son.  This is the heart of God, one who is deeply grieved by the misery of His people.  God is not in any way indifferent.

If we could only learn that we should not put our confidence in men, but in the Lord, to look to Him alone to free us from our captivity and our bondage.