LOOK | WHAT DOES IT SAY?
THINK | WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The chronology seems a little strange here. One of the parenthetical remarks in Judges 20:27 says that Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the High Priest at this time--this reflects a time not long after the wilderness journeys had been concluded, and is obviously much earlier in Israel's history than the "300 years" between the conquering of the land and the time of Jephthah that we saw in previously in Day #86. Steinmann seems to have made some kind of mistake here.
They did what they thought was the right thing. One interesting thing to me is the constant refrain, repeated after the most horrible episodes in Judges, that the people were doing what they thought was right. The absolute worst things in the entire book of Judges were done by people who were trying to be moral. Isn't that horrible? Jephthah's tragic sacrifice of his daughter was based on what he culturally believed was the right thing to do. The leaders' convoluted decision-making, which resulted in the "best solution" being to slaughter an innocent village and abduct their daughters in order to provide wives for the wicked people of Benjamin, was similarly tragic. If they continued on this way, they would have eventually killed the whole project of Israel on their own, and the epitaph on their national tombstone would have been, "they were trying to do the right thing." This is what the result is for us every time that we try to proceed from something other than the Word of God which he has given to us. We do not have the wisdom apart from God that we think we do. Knowing this should make us, as a group, a "Bible people"--people who put a premium on seeking God through accurate knowledge of his Word (worship through learning), putting what he has revealed into action (worship through morality), and then thanking him for his guidance (worship through experience)--with all of these put together, all defined by God, and not by us. This is how we find God's blessing: by seeking a tombstone that says "he sought the Lord all his days," instead of one that says "they were trying to do the right thing."
They did what they thought was the right thing. One interesting thing to me is the constant refrain, repeated after the most horrible episodes in Judges, that the people were doing what they thought was right. The absolute worst things in the entire book of Judges were done by people who were trying to be moral. Isn't that horrible? Jephthah's tragic sacrifice of his daughter was based on what he culturally believed was the right thing to do. The leaders' convoluted decision-making, which resulted in the "best solution" being to slaughter an innocent village and abduct their daughters in order to provide wives for the wicked people of Benjamin, was similarly tragic. If they continued on this way, they would have eventually killed the whole project of Israel on their own, and the epitaph on their national tombstone would have been, "they were trying to do the right thing." This is what the result is for us every time that we try to proceed from something other than the Word of God which he has given to us. We do not have the wisdom apart from God that we think we do. Knowing this should make us, as a group, a "Bible people"--people who put a premium on seeking God through accurate knowledge of his Word (worship through learning), putting what he has revealed into action (worship through morality), and then thanking him for his guidance (worship through experience)--with all of these put together, all defined by God, and not by us. This is how we find God's blessing: by seeking a tombstone that says "he sought the Lord all his days," instead of one that says "they were trying to do the right thing."
"We shall surely die, for we have seen God" (the Angel of the LORD). In Judges 13, the identity of the stranger is slowly revealed. First he comes as a "man of God." Then we are told that he is "the angel of the LORD." Then when asked, he says that his name is "too wonderful" to speak--which is strange, because we know the names of at least two biblical angels, those being Michael and Gabriel. Something is going on here. Finally when he goes up with the flames to heaven, those who see him announce that "we have seen God" and that the man/angel is to be identified as "the LORD... [who] announced to us such things as these" (Judges 13:22-25). The text allows this identification to stand, and provides no corrective comment asserting the contrary. This means that not only did Manoah and his wife think that God physically appeared to them as a man, but so (apparently) did the final author/editor of the book of Judges. This is the one who is with God (distinct from him), and yet mysteriously is God (identified as him), who many years later would eventually "become flesh and dwell among us" (John 1:14). GotQuestions.org states that "The precise identity of the 'angel of the Lord' is not given in the Bible. However, there are many important 'clues' to his identity. There are Old and New Testament references to 'angels of the Lord,' 'an angel of the Lord,' and 'the angel of the Lord.' It seems when the definite article 'the' is used, it is specifying a unique being, separate from the other angels. The angel of the Lord speaks as God, identifies Himself with God, and exercises the responsibilities of God." How this works would eventually give rise within Judaism to "two powers" or "Jewish binitarian" theology in the time before Jesus, and within the Christian Scriptures would become the foundation for the doctrine of the Trinity. He is present, not just in the pages of the New Testament, but also pops up and makes appearances throughout the Old Testament as well.
DO | HOW DO WE RESPOND?
How can we respond in our worship, attitude, and actions? IN OUR WORSHIP this reading should cause us to turn to God and seek his wisdom, his presence, his blessing, and his Word. Let's not just merely settle for doing whatever we think is best. Let's seek the Lord together.
PRAY | HOW DOES THIS BRING US TO GOD?
Whether in response to anything pointed out here, or to something else in your Bible reading time, take a few moments before you close up your Bible to pray in response to God. If you need a format for prayer, both the ACTS, CALL, and PRAY methods are helpful ways to stay consistent.
-Sean
-Sean
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