Who Has the Sword?

When Israel began to settle in the land God had promised them, they had no human king (God was their King). Sadly, they rejected Him as King, entering into repeating cycles of: (1) idolatry, (2) God giving them over to their chosen idol – which couldn’t protect them, so they’d be overrun by their oppressors – until (3) they groaned under their suffering, at which point (4) He would rescue them through a “judge” and they’d return to God, but then (5) the judge’s ministry would end, and (6) Israel would begin the cycle all over again. A key phrase in the history is, “Every person did what was right in their own eyes.” Israel desired to live independently from God, to define truth for themselves apart from His Kingly standard. We’re not Israel, but this same mindset is still alive and well, as seen in expressions like “you do you” or “follow your heart.” Let’s explore the lives of some of the judges in Israel’s history to see how they can point us to the life found in following Jesus, not merely our own desires.