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JUDGES

CHAPTER 10

1 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. 2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

Not much is said about the next two judges. But without saying much, God says a lot. After Abimelech's ambition comes these judges with willing servitude.
Actually the name "Tola" means worm. Our positioin before God is as a WORM, for we are nothing except His creation. Let us therefore put our lives to His service Who formed us out of the dust of the ground and gave us life.
Being a son of Isaachar's tribe, Tola was willing to come to the central area of Mt. Ephraim so that he would be more available to all. When he died he was buried there.
He fought no great battles of history, but Tola served God faithfully. God records only some good of his service; but God records nothing bad of his service! How unlike the leaders of today!!

3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

Here is Jair, a Gileadite from East of Jordan in the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh's territory on that side of the River. In Numberse 32:41 his ancestor is said to have taken the cities of this area for Machir's possession.
Of Jair (the judge) it is said he had 30 sons who were assistants to him in his judgeship. What an admirable man!! He had sons who were trusted and revered. What an honor to have 30 sons of trustworthy nature!!
Nothing grand is said about his battles or wars. But he served all Israel for 22 years, and NOTHING bad is said of his work!
Through these two judges God kept Israel from destroying themselves with idol worship, and protected them from their enemies for 45 years.

6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. 7 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. 8 And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

Again, we have that cycle: obedience, prosperity, laxness, disobedience, and discipline.
Such a short span of time (45 years), and they were so lax in the worship of God that they were easily detoured to worship fables and lies. (Verse 6 - "..they served Baalim..")
God is angry, the Bible says, with sinners EVERY DAY (Psalm 7:11), and will not let sin go without punishment (verse 7).
God allowed the Philistines and the Ammonites to bring oppression against Israel for eighteen years.
The Ammonites became so strong during this time they even invaded the ares on the West side of Jordan (Benjamin and Ephraim).

10 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. 11 And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. 13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. 14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

Seems like everyone wants God to be SAVIOR but not LORD. They realized their sin, and cried out to God for forgiveness.
But God wants faithfulness, not shallowness. He told them to go and ask the gods they'd been worshipping for deliverance.
When we get in trouble today, do we believe our "gods" will deliver us? Someone might ask me, "What gods?"
Well, how about: TV, movies, gambling, sports, recreations, work, home, yard? The average American will spend 15 to 17 hours watching TV, and less than 1 hour reading God's Word!
Can you imaginge movies or TV saving us from the problems in our lives?
The gambling industry offers "free" money. Rat traps offer FREE CHEESE too! But I've never seen a happy mouse in a mouse-trap!
Well, the people of Israel realized that was foolish too.
((I heard about a man who had an operation. He awakened after the surgery and the blinds were drawn, it was very dark in the room. He asked the nurse why. She said, "Well, there's a fire across the street. We didn't want you to wake up and think the operation was a failure!"))

15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. 16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. 17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. 18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

Israel determined that GOD was best for them, and whatever HE wanted was what they wanted. Verse 16 says they "put away the strange gods..." and worshipped God alone.
Then God's heart was heavy for them, and helped them.
What would happen in America if just Christians would put away the "strange gods"? REVIVAL!!
Verses 17-18 are a "lead-in" to a section of Scripture that begins with chapter 11 and goes through chapter 12, verse 7.
The Israelites have prayed, and put away the strange gods. Now they look to God for deliverance.
the war is obviously there, and Israel is looking for God to bring up a "judge" or deliverer (verse 18).
The next chapter is the story of that deliverer. He was spitefully treated, but he became the one who saved them from their troubles. That story very much depicts Jesus Whom WE have spitefully treated, but came to SAVE US!

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