Read Judges 10:6-18

⁶ The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him. ⁷ So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites, ⁸ and they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

The cycle of disobedience continues even as Tola and Jair helped lead the Israelites. Once they were gone, the Israelites were back to their old ways. And this time, the author specifically tells us the gods they are serving. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against them.

We see the emotions of God. In our rebellion, He feels hurt and angered because of what we are doing to ourselves when we serve other gods. As a result, God gave them over to the Philistines who oppressed them for eighteen long years.

Keypoint #1: Fearing men who lead us won’t lead to a change of worship. Fearing God would lead us to true worship.

¹⁰ And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” ¹¹ And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? ¹² The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. ¹³ Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. ¹⁴ Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” 

When the people realized what they have done again, they cried out to the Lord. At this point, we cannot say they have godly sorrow in them. Only time will tell. God then told them the consequence of their rebellion and sin. He reminded them of how faithful He is to them even if they remain faithless to Him. And God told them to cry out to their gods – who has done nothing to lift them out of their oppression.

Keypoint #2: Only God can deliver us out of oppression. All their gods bring oppression and chaos, only God of the Scripture brings true freedom.

¹⁵ And the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.” ¹⁶ So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel.

Keypoint #3: With their pain, they removed all the foreign gods they worshipped and served the Lord knowing only He is the true source of deliverance to their oppression.

Talk it over:

1. How is your worship before God?
2. Have you encountered moments where God allowed hardships and oppression to happen because of your unwillingness to follow Him? How was your experience? What was your turning point?