Syncretism – Page 6 – Old Testament Survey

Judges 3

One thing to add about the judges, we are not to think of them being consecutive or in order ruling over all of Israel. Each judge judged portions of Israel, some at overlapping times.

This opening paragraph is quite odd. God is stating that He purposely left the nations before the Israelites to training them for war to defend the nation against intruders and to test the loyalty of the people. The ending paragraph states they failed the first command against syncretism. They intermarried those in the land resulting in false worship. Paul would later ask what part does the Holy Spirit have with Baal [actually Christ and Belial] (2 Corinthians 6.14-15)?

Othniel is found in Judges 1 and Joshua 15 (and is mentioned in 1 and 2 Chronicles). He is the one who married his uncle Caleb’s daughter. Looking at these verses in light of the pattern we see:

Relapse: Israelites forgot God and served the Baals and Asherahs
Retribution: Oppression by the King of Aram (Cushan-Rishathaim)
Repentance: The people cried to God to deliver them
Rescue: The Holy Spirit came upon Othniel who delivered them
Rest: 40 years of peace

In watching this pattern unfold, each time, watch who is doing all the action other than the sinning. It is always God allowing, giving, raising, etc. He is the sovereign in control of all things; He is not the author, but He is in control.

Ehud is mentioned again in the Scripture in a list of descendants.

Relapse: They did evil in the eyes of God
Retribution: The King of Moab ruled Israel with the Ammonites and Amalekites
Repentance: The people cried to God to deliver them
Rescue: Ehud killed Eglon (king of Moab) with deceptive tactics (being left-handed was different and he used the way God created him to accomplish God’s purposes, no one else could have done what he did)
Rest: 80 years of peace

Shamgar is only mentioned here and in the song that Deborah sings in Judges 6.

Nothing is stated about the Israelite’s relapse, retribution, repentance, or rest. It merely states that God rescued the Israelites from the Philistines.

Our next look at the book of Judges will take a close look at a woman judge, Deborah.

Judges 1-2

I am starting Judges today and will continue for nine more days. Moses died and had his replacement in Joshua. Joshua dies and there is no one to replace him. What transpires is interesting and we call it the book of Judges. What happens when there is an absence of leadership? Someone will arise.

Judges 1-The two tribes enveloped within each other make a pact with each to fight for each other until their land is cleared of all the “-ites.” Simeon fights for Judah, then Judah reciprocates and fights for Simeon. They destroy all in the land, almost. That is the epitome of syncretism–“almost.” We have gotten rid of almost all our sin . . . destruction seems to loom in the syncretic philosophy.

If God was going before them (end of Joshua), why couldn’t Judah drive out the inhabitants of the plain (19), why couldn’t Benjamin drive out the Jebusites (21), why couldn’t Manasseh drive out Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo (27), and et al? Does making them your slaves count as destroying them? This is indeed the chapter of the “almosts” or the “did nots.” It seems there were small pockets, seemingly insignificant to the Israelites (with the exception of the overwhelming chariots), and all would later become points of contention and destruction for the Israelites. This raises the question: What areas of our lives are we not destroying because they appear to be too strong or too insignificant? These are our pet sins or worst habits. It returns the topic to the question: Why did the Israelites fail in occupying the land?

Caleb gives his daughter to marry his youngest brother’s son–his nephew.

This brings us to the answer.

Judges 2-The Israelites did not obey God’s command. When we disobey His commands, we tend to lose the power or the will to do the great things He has planned for us (2 Corinthians 10.12-13 implies this). The only power we have is after we have repented and returned to what He has commanded and called fur us to accomplish.

Isn’t verse seven a bit haunting? Look at it closely and you can see what it implies. As long as Joshua or those who remembered (remember this is a key word in our faith) Joshua were alive, the Israelites did what God commanded. The implication is when those who knew Joshua died, so did the remembering of all that God did for them. When this happens, sin follows. This is not the first time God introduces this concept in the Bible. Another example is when the Pharaoh who knew Joseph had been replaced by another leader who did not know Joseph, the Israelites were enslaved (Exodus 1).

We don’t have to read too much further to remove the implication and find that God states it plainly, read verses 11ff. The pattern we see established here will be presented throughout the book. It is, Relapse, Retribution, Repentance, Rescue, and Rest. They/we go back into sin, God judges us for not trusting Him, we repent of our sins, He rescues us from that which oppresses us, we then have a period of growth, but, then, because we do not remember what He has done for us we return to our former ways. This cycle repeats for as long as we refuse to truly honor the Sabbath day of remembering what God has done for us, repenting of those things we did for us and not for Him, seeking His wisdom in how to conquer them, and asking Him to guide you to do those things that He has commanded you to do. When we can look back on our week and say “It is good,” like He did, then our lives are in alignment with His will. When we look back and see that it is not all good, then we repent, plan, and rely on Him to make the next week “good.”

How good is your week?

Joshua 13-17

Joshua 13-This is the second time we read that the Israelites did not utterly destroy a nation. I wonder what is going to become of those listed in verse 13 and how they will affect Israel?

It is better to read this with a map of the lands conquered by Joshua. This is a long list of places, towns, and people.

Joshua 13-This is the second time we read that the Israelites did not utterly destroy a nation. I wonder what is going to become of those listed in verse 13 and how they will affect Israel? The same question could be asked in 14.12, 15.63, 16.10, 17.13

Peter says that we are all priests, like the Levites (13.14, 33; 14.4). Does this mean we should not be concerned with our inheritance on this earth and that we should seek no possessions except the Lord Himself? If so, what does this state our values should be and are we focusing on those values which honor Him?

Joshua 14-Caleb is interesting. This passage shows us that it took five years from the crossing of the Jordan to the conquering of the land at this point. How do I infer this?

Joshua 15-I wonder if my daughter would go for the deal that Caleb set forth and Othniel took. Verse 63 states that Jerusalem could not be conquered. I wonder why God didn’t allow them to take it at this point but allowed David to establish it at a later date.

Joshua 17-The closing is interesting. Why did the tribes of Joseph get more and why did they receive the place they did in the manner God told them? Does God do that for us? Does He have more for us, but we need to ask and work harder for it?

No one was left out from the tribes of Israel. All that God called were blessed.

God continually gave to the Israelites according to His promises, not beyond what He spoke but beyond what they thought. How does that apply to how we should interpret Scripture?

I realize this was not as in-depth as the earlier ones but I do get lazy at times when lists are involved even though I have found some great treasures in lists.

Have a blessed day and possess the promises God has made to us.

Joshua 11-12

Joshua 11 and 12-So far, after the Jericho incident with Achan, Israel has been obedient to God, giving Him the honor for the victories even though they could have said it was in their strength they did these things. The one area they did in their own power, and they knew it, was with the Gibeonites. This chapter summarizes their obedience and then, even, attributes that to God’s power, which shows it is not by our might nor by our power but by what the Lord determines.

This reminds me of the book of Acts, although a violent version of the book of Acts. The church went out to conquer the world for Jesus, to bring them under the dominion of Christ, all under the power of Christ living in them through the Holy Spirit. Here we see Israel, under the power and direction of God, going out to conquer the land for God, bringing it under the dominion of God.

How are we doing in bringing the dominion of God into our world? Are we obedient in what He asks us to do, no matter how hard/harsh it may seem or do we try to get along with as little as we can? Do we recognize His hand in all matters of our life or do we attribute our place, circumstances, abilities, successes, etc. to ourselves? Are we, as it will state in Judges, doing right in our own eyes, which did not turn out too well for Israel? Or, are we joining in the work that God is already doing in the world?

Kind of short and different reading. A list of kings defeated by Moses and Joshua (actually God used them to accomplish His work in the world that He had placed them).

What kind of work is God wanting to accomplish through you in your area of influence?