Day Eighteen --  The "Shophetim"

Judges 3:28 to Judges 15:12

As we enter into the heart of the Book of Judges the unity of the Israelites and their commitment to the LORD begins to unravel.  They have come through two long periods of strong purposeful leaders. Moses and Joshua and had keep them focused on serving the LORD and in attaining their freedom and inheritance in the land of Canaan.  Now as the separate tribes settle in they become unfaithful and do "evil in the eyes of the LORD."

The result of the Israelites' unfaithfulness is that God withdraws his protection and allows them to be dominated by other peoples and nations.  That is until the people once again cry out to the LORD and he would raise up for them a judge.  Shophetim, the Hebrew word for "Judges" from which we get the name for this book, means more than persons who maintain justice and settle disputes.  It also means those who liberate and deliver.  The judges that God raises up lead the Israelites into battle to settle the disputes that they have with other peoples who are dominating them.  The judges then rule over the Israelites for a period of time helping to maintain the peace and integrity of the community.  But no matter how righteous the judge, the faithfulness of the people never seems to last.  If the Covenant is to endure it seems obvious that it will up to God to make it happen.