Listen to God’s Judges

July 10, 2011


Background Scripture: Judges 2; 21:25
Lesson Passage: Judges 2:11 – 19

If you continue to do what you have always done, you will continue to receive what you have always received. That simple saying has been stated in many variants for many years yet we never seem to learn its lesson. It appears as though humanity is destined to follow the wrong path and receive chastisement as a result of it. Today’s lesson is a reminder to me that Israel is the church’s example. As such, the church should learn from Israel’s mistakes and fare better. Just as younger siblings are often spared the same chastisements as the older because they choose to learn from the punishment of others, likewise, the church would do well to look to Israel as the elder sibling. Nevertheless, it seems as though some lessons are not learned as a result of mere observation. Today’s lesson from the book of Judges brings us to the edge of a three-century long era in Israel’s history which has an oft repeated cycle of national apostasy, punishment at the hands of their enemy, prayer of distress, and deliverance by God. During these turbulent three centuries, God brought deliverance through his servants the judges. These judges are mostly presented as military leaders who God raised up to overthrow Israel’s adversaries and then they remained as the civil leader over the nation until their death. After the death of the judge, the cycle repeated itself. Our topic says “Listen to God’s Judges”. This was often not the problem as long as the judge lived. The problem stemmed from not continuing to heed the advice and wisdom of the judges after the death of the judges. There are two things that stand out when one studies the book of Judges. First, the problems started after the death of Joshua and his generation who had known the Lord through His many miraculous acts on Israel’s behalf. It leads one to question whether this up-and-coming generation behind the elders had been properly—and especially thoroughly—educated and trained to seek the Lord and His righteousness. Had they been taught the details of God’s dealings with their forefathers from Egypt to Canaan? How real was God to this up-and-coming generation? The second thing that stands out in studying this book is the oft repeated phrase “in those days, there was no king in Israel”. This phrase points towards an unnamed author who lived at a time after the rise of the monarchy in Israel. That time, which had not come at this juncture in the nation’s history, was the time the nation completely rejected the rule of God over them as a nation. So then, the book of Judges records the time when Israel still had a choice to return to God’s rule of the nation so they could continue to live at peace without interruption. Instead, they only called upon God when times were hard and after God delivered them, they rejected His continuous rule over them. This was a mistake they needed not repeat. For in the times of distress, God allowed His spirit to rest on one who was empowered to overthrow their enemy and lead them back to right relationship with God. Much suffering could have been avoided if only they would have listened to God’s judges.

Robert C. Hudson
June 30, 2011

God Gives Victory

June 26, 2011


Background Scripture: Joshua 5:13 – 6:27
Lesson Passage: Joshua 6:2 – 4, 12 – 20

When an all out battle is about to ensue, how can a military person who is present not be for either side? The answer is when he has his own army to command and he is there because he is totally committed to carrying out God’s orders one hundred percent. In other words, he was not there to submit to either side and assist them in carrying out their battle plans because he had his own agenda given by a higher authority and that’s where his loyalty lay. Israel and Jericho appeared to be in gridlock. Jericho was shut up securely and well defended on high ground. Israel’s plans involved marching in silence around the invincible Jericho in obedience to God’s instructions to Joshua. Probably unbeknown to Israel and for sure unbeknown to the residents of Jericho is the fact that there was another army present. That was God’s invisible army. Joshua had been made aware of their presence through their captain. As far as what could be seen, Israel’s actions no doubt were confusing to those inside Jericho. For six days the residents of Jericho witnessed them come out and march around the city one time and leave for the day. Each day this was done, the only sound heard other than that of the feet of those in the procession was the sound of the trumpets (or rams’ horns) from the seven priests marching behind the forward guard and in front of the gold plated box being carried by priests and that was followed by the rear guard. The seventh day, it would not be just one trip around the city but Israel made seven trips around the city and then shouted and Jericho has not been the same since that day. Those high and impregnable walls collapsed and the city that was once a stronghold suddenly found itself vulnerable without walls at all. Israel’s army rushed in quickly and killed all living beings there except Rahab and those in the house with her. Even the animals were slaughtered. That which remained of the city that could be burned was destroyed with fire. A curse was pronounced on anyone who dared to rebuild that city. The news of this quickly spread throughout the land as others awaited their fate. The city was destroyed because the hand of God was against it. Joshua had led Israel to complete obedience to God’s instructions and the results were just as God said they would be. Israel’s devotion or love for God had been demonstrated through their obedience. Although the task of defeating Jericho seemed physically impossible, yet God had not required anything difficult of Israel. Through their simple obedience, the impossible was done. What exactly happened to Jericho’s walls to cause them to collapse? Do you remember that captain who was not for Israel or for Jericho but he commanded the invisible army of God? Israel did not defeat Jericho. God defeated Jericho. But for Israel’s obedience to God, God allowed them to wear the title of champions. Put another way, God allowed Israel to be crowned victors in His stead because of their loving obedience to Him in doing the simple things. “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:3 – 4

Robert C. Hudson
June 7, 2011

New Order of Things

May 22, 2011


Background Scripture: Revelation 21
Lesson Passage: Revelation 21:1 – 8, 22 – 27

As the book of Revelation nears its close, John is shown a new Heaven and a new Earth. Once again, God can look and see that it is good! All evil has been destroyed. Heaven and Earth both proclaim God’s glory and bow to the name of Jesus. Then the New Jerusalem is revealed as the bride of Christ. She will be composed of all that have been washed by His blood. Jews and Gentiles will be one. She will be given an unimaginable glory. John could only describe the majesty of her glory by stating that she will be adorned with all the precious stones of the earth.

As the Church makes her graceful re-appearance, she descends down the atmospheric aisle from Heaven and stops and is suspended between Heaven and Earth. Jesus’ next great display of love to an unwed church will be to meet her for their wedding in the sky. Glorification is the final stage of the salvation plan. It ushers in an eternal state whereby God delivers us from the presence of sin. We are then made like Jesus. In that day, God’s promise is fulfilled. Mankind is again in His image and after His likeness. Sin no longer separates or disrupts fellowship. At this point, the Apostle John has a glimpse of eternity in view. As we look through John’s eyes at the edge of eternity, we must understand that eternity is not a good day or a bad day. It is not a moment in time. In eternity, time has been suspended. There is no aging or the stealthy appearance of aches and pains. The former things have now passed away. All things have been made new. The full scope of eternity is beyond our limited imaginations. Eternity is the culmination of the Good News. John lived in the old earth. God had called him up and allowed him to see the old heaven. This became a needful point of reference for John. He saw the throne of God. He saw the four and twenty elders. He saw the heavenly host and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. During the time of tribulation, he saw the steady march of humanity towards eternal damnation. One of our challenges today is to steer others away from eternal damnation by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. The choice is Heaven or Hell; eternal life or eternal damnation. If we must have an eternal home, why not make it Heaven? Jesus promised to prepare a place for us. Therefore, let us constantly look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Even as we wait for the final redemption of our bodies, we must not be idle in our waiting. There are lost souls that need to know that God loves them and has provided a way out. They need to hear the gospel. We must not take lightly our mandate to deliver the gospel to every creature. This gospel delivery must start with home mission before we concern ourselves with foreign mission. The neighborhood around us must take a higher priority. All of heaven watches with anticipation waiting to rejoice at just one repentant sinner—the fruit, if you will, of our labors that result from the power of the Holy Ghost working through us. After we have completed our works on earth, we look forward to living an eternal life free from the presence of sin. That is God’s new order of things.


Robert C. Hudson
May 14, 2011