The Bible

 

Judges 2:11-19 : "And They Forsook Jehovah"

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11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.

18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

Commentary

 

Judges Series, Part 2 of 4: Seeking Out a Delusion

By Todd Beiswenger


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The essential issue in this story is that the Israelites want to worship gods other than Jehovah, and they think they'll be happier doing so. We can fall into the same trap, the same delusion thinking that we can be happier doing it our way as opposed to God's way. Eventually when we come running back to God, He'll still help and take us back, but unfortunately for us we still have to live with the regret.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 458; Divine Providence 112; Judges 2:11-19)