The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-28
TEACHING POINTS.

INTRoDUCTIoN.-The Time of the Judges was
undoubtedly period of spiritual retrogression.
The nation was apparently disintegrating. Trib.
al independence and Jealousy made Israel the
victim of its foes. 1t became again and again
enslaved TO its allied enemies; for its enemies
had learned from experience the truth which
Israel was forgetting. that in unity is strength.
There was tendency apparent in Israel to for
get allegiance to the One God. to exalt the SEN
sualism of idolatry, which threatened the final
destruction of Israel as nation. The weakness
caused by division,-the fatal weakness which
10 the rival tribes of Canaan caused the Canaan
ties to fall before united Israel,-w now mani
fest in Israel.
~ Wis. The Weeping at Bochim. We
have the outlines OF a striking story. When the
tribes were intent upon material gain and were
compromising and intermarrying with the sur
rounding idolaters, there came stern messen-
ger from the old military center. Gilgal. to Shi-
loh, to call the spiritual authorities to remem-
brance. In plaza of the city this messenger
spoke to a representative multitude. He showed
the Israelites their solemn and unacceptable OBJ
legations as the people of Jehovah. He recalled
to them the advice of Moses, which was so wise
as to be divine. that they should make no league
Land. He told them that this word of God they
had disobeyed. He showed them the natural
penalty of this dsobedience the penalty they
were realizing in their experience. They were
becoming helpless before the foes they had
aforetime conquered. They were lapsing into
enmity against God. They were being chan ged
from conquerors TO slaves. At this truthful rep
resentation of the state of Israel the people lift
I'd aatr unt0 aradu ror1f Inc t1ofr ali
they did. They named the square of Shiloh
where the message was given them Bochim.
Weeping" and imagined that their crying
would save them.
(2) V.6-1O. The Example of Joshua Recalled.
The influence of Joshua had been effective to
hold the nation together during his life. The
elders who were at Shechem pledged to serve
Jehovah. had to the end of their lives remained
faithful. But new generation had arisen and
thrown off the restraints of the Mosaic Law.
We hear nothing in this period of any central
worship of Jehovah being sustained or any high
priest recognized Luxury was doing Its work
The common conscience was becoming dead
ened. The springs of patriotism were failing.
When idolatrous foes attacked. they were pael-
fed by treaties. When the foes persisted the
tribes were willing to become slaves rather than
fight Israel lost its inspiration of faith in Je-
hovah. Alas for Israel.-Are we, as Ameri-
cans. treading the path once walked by old
Israel?
(s.) V. IL. ~. 16. Judges were Raised Up.
But God. while angry with Israel, did not leave
the nation without witnesses. He raised up
men who became leaders of sections of Israel,
sometimes of all the tribes. These men. as
class, were men of God. They were the first
prophets of Israel. They exercised persuasive
rather than military power. They preserved
the traditions of Abraham. Moses and Joshua
They held the nation to It's better past, and pre-
served it for It's better future.