I just finished up Judges in my devotional time. A major theme of this book is the cyclical disobedience of Israel. God, in his kindness, has delivered Israel from Egypt. Now, they come into the Promised Land of Canaan but Israel fails to drive out the surrounding nations. As a result, God uses these nations to “test Israel” (2:22). Will Israel become like the nations around them worshipping their gods or will they stay true to Yahweh? Sadly, time and time again their hearts are turned away from God. Consequently, God stirs up the kings of these nations to invade and oppress and rule over Israel. 

• Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia (3:8)

• The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel…(3:12)

• The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan (4:1-2)

• The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years (6:1)

• The people of the Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria...so the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into had hand of the Ammonites (10:6-7)

There’s an important lesson here. Sometimes God’s love is tough. Yet, the hand of our hearts will cling to idols and false gods unless it’s struck with pain forcing its release. God, therefore, issues his disciplinary providence to ultimately bring us back to where we find life. Though Israel’s oppression brought suffering and tears, it brought them low enough where they finally turned back to the living God. 

But there’s another important lesson from this book—satisfying and sweet to reflect on. Each time God hands over Israel to another nation, Israel “cries out” to God. You see this in 3:9, 3:15, 4:3, 6:6-7, 10:10. 

How does God respond? Does he block out their cry? Does he abandon them in their disobedience? Does he give up on them? No. He responds in mercy by raising up a deliverer. Again and again, Israel sins. Again and again, God saves. If there’s something to be gained from the book of Judges, it’s this: God delights to show mercy to those who cry out in their sin for help. He does not refuse care for those who admit they’re sick. What great news! The prerequisite for a relationship with God is not perfection. It’s confession. We do not “get it all together” before we approach him. It is in the very midst of our failures and transgressions that our cry of confession reaches the ear of God and he is moved to rescue us. What we learn from the book of Judges is that sometimes God deals with us in painful ways. But he deals with us in these ways so we can come to him and experience his rescuing and saving. His mercy awaits any and all who “cry out.” 

Like the song sings, “Our sins they are many, his mercy is more.”