Day 92: Jephthah's Vow

 Today's readings: Judges 9-11, Ruth 4, and Psalm 137.

I. Judges 9 tells the story of Abimelech, one of Gideon's sons, and describes his rise and fall as a ruler in Israel. He began his usurped reign by murdering his brothers, which reminds me of many Ottoman rulers who would seize the throne centuries later. Yet he missed one, the youngest: Jotham, who would curse Abimelech and Shechem for this murderous sin. God must have heard him, because rivalry between the two arose within 3 years. Shechem rebels, Abimelech destroys it, and finally, Abimelech was killed while laying siege to Thebez.

In the next chapter, we are first given two judges who arose: Tola and Jair, leaders of Israel for 45 years of relative stability. What happened next shouldn't be too surprising given the narrative to date: Israel fell into idolatry again. God allows them to be oppressed by the Ammonites and Philistines as punishment. When the Israelites call out to Him in distress, He delivers this rather biting line:

Go and cry to the gods whom you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress. (Judg 10:14)

Yet, when they repent and "serve the Lord," God "became indignant over the misery of Israel." The chapter ends with the forces of Israel's foes encamped at Gilead, while Israel was at Mizpah, wondering who would lead them in battle.

In Judges 11, the answer is found. Jephthah, who had been driven out by his brothers for being illegitimate, was nevertheless chosen to lead Israel's forces. He was victorious, but had made a rash vow to sacrifice the first thing that came out of the door of his house. I'm sure he was thinking it would be one of his animals, but it wasn't. His daughter, his only child, was the first out the door. She was sacrificed as per his thoughtless vow.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, agrees:

"Heroes" of the Bible can be good and strong in some ways but can also be foolish and unfaithful. This rash vow of Jephthah is an example to avoid. We always want to make wise promises to the Lord rather than acting rashly. God does not desire the death of the living but that all might have fullness of life. (p. 196)

II. Ruth 4 concludes this charming short story of Ruth and Boaz with redemption, marriage, and the birth of a child who becomes part of the lineage of David and ultimately Jesus Christ. Boaz redeems Ruth, the two marry, and they have a son, Obed. The book ends with the genealogy of David down through Obed.

III. Psalm 137 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A lament psalm. Its setting is the Babylonian Exile in the sixth century B.C., when Jewish captives wept over the fall of Jerusalem and refused to sing songs of joyful praise at the behest of their captors. It ends with an imprecatory prayer in which the Psalmist expresses an intense desire for justice. His hope is that God's punishment on Zion's conquerors will equal the magnitude of the atrocities committed against its inhabitants. (p. 948) 

That's all for today!