The Judge

Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.

I've been devouring the Book of Judges. About how the people of Israel, God's people, whom He led out of captivity in Egypt to the land He promised them. About their constant disobedience now that they were settled in this land...a land where they had not fully banished the other peoples who lived there. How they continually served the gods (Baals) of these people, intermarried with them, and fell into sin because of them. How God was angered by their disobedience and considered abandoning them altogether. About how they would become oppressed and would cry out to God in this oppression, and how He would relent and deliver them.

Israel was a rebellious lot. They fell into idolatry and disbelief. God decided to set up judges to rule over the people, to deliver them from these people. While under the judge things went well; wars were won. But when he died they returned to their disobedience and additional sin...and another judge was brought in to deliver them.

I bring this up a lot...we are to learn from the past. The Bible is filled with "the past" examples of what happens to people when God is ignored or removed. It was only for Israel back then. Since Christ came to be our ultimate Deliverer, we can ALL learn from these experiences. He came for ALL mankind and when we are chosen to enter into relationship with Him we are like Israel, His people, His children. He requires the same obedience...not worshiping foreign gods, not associating with the ungodly being unequally yoked--at least to the point where we become influenced by them. It is still our obligation to point them to Christ.

Christ came to die for our sins because God so loved the world that He GAVE His one and only Son. And Christ willingly GAVE His life for our sins. And He GAVE that those who would believe on Him would be saved. (John 3:16)

Yes, God loves us like we will never be able to understand. And like a father with a child, He disciplines us, even to the point of sending judgment into our lives to make a point. This is for individuals through the trials we each go through or a nation who has decided to eliminate God from everything. We cannot continue to be a great nation, a great people, unless we return to God...humble ourselves...repent of our sins...including those that are so divisive and controversial today...abortion, same sex marriage, removing God from everything; even worshiping other gods, our idols: drugs, alcohol, money, cars, stuff.

Like in the time of Judges, God judged. Don't think He won't judge today either. It is my understanding that the Westboro Baptist Church believes judgment came upon Boston because the state was the first to allow same sex marriage. I'm not going to say yea or nay. If it is of God, He has the right. I don't like that this church is protesting funerals.

It is, however, during times of judgment that people wonder where He is and some may even turn back to Him. It's why He brings judgment. HE is the ultimate Judge. We who are against the blatant sins of this country can point them out. God knows who is for or against Him or the things of God. He will ultimately judge. Until then, we point out. Look at what God did to Israel... He still judges today. Let Him be the ultimate Judge. If He is going to judge each of us we should be fearing Him for our lives.

Judges 2:11-12 - Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger.