Day 89: Israel's Cycle of Disobedience

 Today's readings: Judges 1-3, Ruth 1, and Psalm 133.

I. Judges 1 describes the period after Joshua's death, when the tribes of Israel continued the conquest of Canaan but did not completely drive out its inhabitants. So, in other words, only partial obedience to God's commands which leads to many future troubles as a result.

The next chapter explains why Israel's situation deteriorates after Joshua's generation dies. It begins with a visit by the "Angel of the Lord," who reminded Israel of what God had done for them and His command to destroy all pagan idols. They wept, but they would soon fall into idolatry. The end of the chapter recounts how God raised up judges, who would repent enough to sway God's anger, but then fall back into idolatry upon the death of each one, leaving God angry with them.

Judges 3 begins the story of individual judges during this time, and recounts the pagan nations that Israel allowed to remain in the land. They fell into grave sin, and God withdrew His protection from them in punishment. They suffered calamities as a result. At the end of the chapter, Ehud and then Shamgar brought relief to Israel in God's name.

We have, as the BIY Companion, Vol I, puts it: "a cycle of disobedience, distress, repentance, the Lord's intervention with a redeemer, and renewal" (p. 190). This is actually seen throughout much of the Old Testament.

II. Ruth 1 begins a story that occurred during these troubled times. Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his sons go to Moab when a famine strikes Bethlehem. He dies, as do his sons, after marrying Moabite women. Naomi returns to Bethlehem, releasing her daughters-in-law to remain in their homeland. Ruth refuses, giving the famous line:

Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16)

The women arrive in Bethlehem, with Naomi bitter over what has happened to her. 

As the BIY Companion, Vol I, notes:

The story of Naomi and Ruth shows that only true worship of the Lord and belonging to his covenant matters in the end, not ethnic origin. When Ruth proclaims that "your God will be my God," she is essentially converting, becoming a member of the covenant. Through the line of Ruth will come David, as well as his descendant Jesus. So the Savior of the world comes from a woman who begins life as a Moabite but who dies in covenant with the Lord. (p. 190)

III. Psalm 133 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A wisdom psalm. It compares the blessing of family unity to sacred oil running down from the head of the high priest onto his vestment and to dew coming down from the heights of Mt. Hermon to moisten the hills of Zion. (p. 945)

That's all for today!