Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1902-11-14
The SABBATH SCHOOL
international Lesson Comments For
For November 10.
subject: The Time of the Judges, Judges
ill.,, 7.l9-GoIdeu Text, Pisa. lO7, 70
siemory Verses, Is, l9-Comme ntary
On the Days Lesson.


Exploratory. Judges were the rulers
or leaders of Israel during the time from
Joshua to Saul, about 300 years. There
were intervals during which Israel was
without rulers, and there were long inter
walls of foreign servitude and oppression
under which the Hebrews groaned without
deliverance. There was no central govern,
ment, and too generally "evcry man dld
that which was right in his own eyes.
That is, every man was largely his own
master, lawgiver and executive. There
was no magistrate that welded power IN
all the land and whom all the tribes
obeyed. Fifteen judges are named III the
Bible, beginning with Othniel, some TWEEN.
ty years after Joshua, and continuing until
the coronation of Saul. The rebuke the
angel gave at Bochim Tvs l-5) was not un'
til some time after the death of Joshua,
which shows that the first verses of the
lesson are not in chronological order; -.
7. "Served the Lord" During the life
time of Joshua, and all who lived while he
ruled, Israel had a good reputation for
faith and piety. They regarded all the won
derful blessings of God, and honored Him
by godly lives. From this we see how
deep was the imprint left upon the nation
by this great and good man. "That out
lived Joshua" They lived probably TWEEN.
ty or twenty-five years after the death OF
Joshua. They are here referred to as orig.
inal witnesses of the miracles attendant
upon the conquest of Canaan. Their pres
ence and testimony kept the Hebrew ma.
ton from degeneracy and backsliding, as
the presence of the apostles, eye witnesses
of Christ's majesty, preserved the Chris.
tian church from corruption and heresy.
8. "Joshua-died." His character was
almost faultless. |. He was. a man OF
strong faith. 2. He was very courageous.
8. He was unselfsh A. He was faithful.
5. He was an illustrous type of Christ.
He led the people into Canaan, led them
to victory over their enemies and gave
them rest His death was a stroke to the
religious interests of Israel.
9. "Timnath-heres" The situation OF
this place is uncertain. Jewish tradition
fixes the place about nine miles south OF
Shechem.
10. another generation-which knew
not" Regardless of all the teaching and
training which the new generation had re.
ceived from their departed fathers they
showed very little reverence for the reli-
gion they so much enjoyed. Thus it is said
they knew not the Lord. The history of
the wonderful deliverance which God had
wrought for Israel from Egypt to Canaan
had very little hold upon this goddess gen.
Grafton who lived after Joshua. They
were too ready to yield to the corrupting
influences of the idolatrous people around
them.
IL. "Did evil" This was the general
complaint against them. All evil is before
God and He could see where it began. "In
the sight of the Lord" In the presence of
His commandments, and in view of His
works of goodness and His past punish
&c -, hi, totr r6
God. 1t was rebellion to His face. Practi
cal inhdelity follows quickly upon the heels
of speculative infdelity. Decay of morals
inevitably shows decay of faith. A curious
proof of this fact is embedded in almost
every language in those words whose pri-
mary Specification implies unbelief. and
whose secondary meaning is impressive OF
practical wickedness. For example, "mis-
creant" first signifed 'misbehever," then
"a vile wretch;" the word "unprincipled'
first had reference to speculative religious
7 opinions" then passed over into its more
common Specification of "prohigate' and
vicious" Served Baalim." Baalim is
the plural of Baal and signifies Cords"
Nothing could have been worse than this
'The worship of Baal was grossly lcen.
tious worship, fatal to the morals of all
who took part in it, and therefore rightly
! an abomination in the eyes of the Jews"
Never was there such folly and ingrati
tude. The people deliberately ignored God
and broke His law.
y. ''Forsook the Lord" They did not
say there was no God, but when they took
up the worship of false gods they forsook
Jehovah. They could not forsake His wor-
ship without forsaking Him. Though they
had been joined to the Lord in covenant,
they forsook Him, and multiplied unto
themselves many gods. Brought them
out" God had been gracious to them, and
with mighty hand had delivered them
from Egypt and given them the land Of
Canaan, and yet they do not hesitate to
forsake Him and His worship. "And pro.
voked the Lord" This was not passion or
| vindictiveness, but a feeling Of intense in.
digndtion against sin. The very nature of
| God is opposed to sin. He is displeased
with sin and must punish it, and thus
prove His purity and His love of virtue.
! 49, "Ashtaroth" This is the plural
form of Ashtoreth, the female divinity of
the Zdonians, and consort of Baal. Her
worship was very ancient and abominable.
IA, Is. Greatly distressed" All of
ment for their evil deeds. They were
sold" that is, absolutely given up into
the hands of their enemies.
l6. RAISED up judges" Though Israel
brought their own distress upon them,
God showed pity and compassion. He did
not send angels or any, foreign power, but
raised up men among themselves and quail.
flied them fS,r| the place. The judges. had
no power no make laws. God gave them.
They we're not given to explain law, for
that was the duty of the priests. But they
were called to uphold the law, to defend
their religion, and to fix all punishment on
crimes.
II. would not harken." So perverse
and stubborn were they. They were bent
on their own ruin and would not listen to
the judge who had delivered them. "Bowed
themselves" They Frustrated themselves,
probably touching the forehead to the
ground in their heather worship.
49, 'The Lord was with the judge"
Nothing of importance was accomplished
but by Gods help. The same is true to.
day. at repented the Lord" When God
saw their suffering and heard their cries
He delivered them from their enemies
Strictly speaking God does not repent He
is Interchangeable. But as we change He
metes out blessing or punishment accord
ing to His Interchangeable law.
10. when the judge was dead" Thus
we see the powerful influence one man can
have in church or state.