The book of Judges has a rhythm to it, with a time of shalom and gladness, followed by turning to idolatry, leading to suffering under foreign domination, which continues until a leader arises to enable Israel to free themselves from the oppressors. The mighty victories under Joshua’s leadership do not tell the full story: the conquest of the Promised Land remained incomplete. “Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages … ” (Judges 1:27). “Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon or Ahlab … ” (1:31). Indeed, “the Amorites pressed the Danites back into the hill country; they did not allow them to come down to the plain” (1:34).

At the end of Joshua’s term of leadership, as we figured a few days ago, he would have been in his 70s, but now the text reports to us that he was 110 when he died (2:8) – which is to say, a whole generation’s worth of old age. “The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel” (2:7). But after that, “another generation grew up after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel” (2:10).

“Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals” (2:11). “So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers who plundered them” (2:14). “Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the power of those who plundered them” (2:16). But after they had been once again set free and had lived in shalom for a while under that judge’s leadership, when “the judge died, they would relapse and behave worse than their ancestors, following other gods, serving them and bowing down to them” (2:19).

This pattern recurs throughout the book of Judges, as it does in our own day, and in our own lives. We live in the midst of abundance, and yet turn away; sooner or later hard times come, and we cannot figure out why; God in mercy provides rescue (often not as quickly as we want); and there is again a time of peace. And it seems that each new generation needs to learn this for themselves.

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We want to remain faithful to you, O Lord: but we let ourselves get so quickly distracted by shiny things – out in the world, and within our own hearts. Help us and transform us, we pray, that we may love you first and always.

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