"And His soul could no longer endure
the misery of Israel."

April 20, 2001

A study of Old Testament history reveals there was a time when Israel suffered a dual oppression by the Ammonites and the Philistines. The inspired writer described Israel as being "severely distressed" (Judges 10:9, NKJV) by these oppressors. As usual in times of trial, Israel cried out to the Lord for help. In times past the Lord had heard and answered Israel’s call, providing relief from the oppression they were encountering (Exod. 2:23; Judges 3:9), but this time was different. Israel had given themselves over to the worship of idols and false gods. In fact, they had forsaken the Lord completely for these various idols. Because of this the Lord revealed to Israel that He would not deliver them from this oppression, but that they should call upon their false gods to help them in their time of distress. Notice, the response of Israel. "We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray." So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD." (Judges 10:15_16a NKJV). Israel, it seems, realized that these false gods could not help them and whatever the outcome they were determined to serve the one true God.

In the church of our Lord, it seems as if some are worshiping at the altar of materialism and pleasure. It appears, that to some, God has taken a secondary position to the earning of monies and to the pursuit of recreation. God realizes that we need certain things to live and promises to provide those things (Matt. 6:25-34) and even the Lord took time to be by himself to refresh himself (Matthew 14:23). However, to some, work and recreation have become almost gods, occupying a large percentage of their lives. And like Israel, it is usually only during a time of crisis that these individuals realize their need for God. How many of us have heard the suffering say, "I would give all I have to relieve this pain." And who has ever heard the dying say, "I wish I had spent more time at work?" It is at these crisis points that many reexamine their priorities and, if it is not too late, like Israel, turn back to serving God.

Israel had turned back to God without, it seems, any promise of deliverance from their oppression. However, the last sentence of verse sixteen in chapter ten gives to us a view of how gracious, merciful, and loving our God is. Even though He had seemed to forsake Israel as they had forsaken Him, when Israel confessed their sins and repented from them, the inspired writer penned of God, "And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel." (emp. rlb). God delivered Israel from their oppression and He will deliver all who forsake their false gods and come to Him in obedient faith. Truly, we serve a wondrous God.