03: The era of the Judges & the Cycle of sin (Judges 2:1 – 19)

The Book of Judges begins with the Israelites' incomplete conquest in chapter 1. Chapter 2 introduces a new era: the era of the Judges, characterized by a notorious cycle of sin. In the Book of Joshua, the narrative of faith, victories, and repentance culminates in a renewed commitment to the Lord. However, the Book of Judges reveals a downward spiral, with the cycle of sin intensifying over time, ultimately leading to national apostasy and collapse.

πŸ‘‰ Read Judges 2:1 - 19


Q1. What was their disobedience that made the Lord said He would not not drive the Canaanites out?

They were supposed not to make an agreement with the Canaanites but to tear down their altars. 

Bokim means “weepers.” Why did they weep? The Lord would not help them anymore? Or they might serve other gods? 

This passage explains the cause of their incomplete conquest: they could not drive out their enemies because, due to their sins, the Lord did not remove them.

It is unusual for the Bible to mention the route of God's messengers. They usually appear out of nowhere, deliver God's message, and disappear. So why does the author note that the angel of the Lord came from Gilgal to Bokim? Gilgal was where the Tabernacle was set up when they entered Canaan. Why didn’t he appear at Gilgal when they were gathered for an offering? Though the Bible doesn't explicitly explain why the Lord spoke at Bokim instead of Gilgal, we can assume their gathering at Bokim might have been related to their disobedience. Perhaps they were making a peace treaty with the Canaanites there or celebrating their peaceful settlement in the land through the treaty. At that very moment of disobedience, the Lord warned them.



Q2.  What would be the spiritual challenge for the new generation? (v7, 10)

Joshua and his generation who had experienced God died. V10 addresses this problem once again.

God wants our faith and commitment to be as steadfast as that of the eyewitnesses of His power. By the truth of the testimony and the power of the Spirit. 


Q3.  Please correct the underlined parts in the following sentences according to the Bible.

  • The Lord was angry with them because they didn’t worship Him
  • The Lord handed them over to their enemies because He didn’t want to keep his promise.
  •  In times of trouble, they repented and the Lord sent leaders.
  • The Lord delivered them when they followed the leaders
  • As the cycle of sin-punishment-cry-salvation repeated, they returned to the Lord very slowly.  


The Lord was angry with them because they worshipped other gods. -> It is abandoning the Lord

The Lord handed them over to their enemies just as He had foretold. -> Still they were the Lord's people.

In times of trouble, they cried, and the Lord sent leaders. -> The Bible didn’t say they repented. They cried to the Lord to get out of the suffering.

The Lord delivered them when their leaders were alive. –> They did not obey their leaders (17). Verses 16 and 18 repeatedly state that the Lord raised up leaders and was with them. It wasn’t that human heroes appeared and saved the nation; salvation came from the Lord. He saved them out of compassion for their cries. Since their deliverance depended on the leader's life, they needed an immortal leader. So do we—and we have one.

As the cycle of sin-punishment-cry-salvation repeats, the next generation will again act more wickedly than the previous one.   -> The author concluded, “they did not give up their practices or their stubborn ways.”


They sought the Lord for wealth and safety. Thus, they turned away whenever they found a better option than the Lord, who seemed demanding and clingy. Unless your highest goal is the Lord God Himself, you cannot break free from the cycle of sin.

Doesn’t the Cycle of Sin accurately portray our spiritual lives, not just their spiritual status?

How the Lord deals with such sinful people, as you will read in the following chapters, hints at how He guides us.


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