Returning to Corruption - Judges 2:19

In the book of Judges we learned about Israel, “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”, and in chapter two and verse nineteen of Judges, we learn, “when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers”, where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, …” The writer began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and it happened and occurred” ,“when the judge was dead” or “at the time and moment the governor, vindicator, punisher and defender expired and existed without breath, inanimate and lifeless”, “that they returned” which means “that they, the people of Israel, went back, apostatized and reversed”, “and corrupted themselves” or “and destroyed, ruined, spoiled and injured their own selves” “more than their fathers” which means “to a greater degree compared to their, the people of Israel’s, male progenitors and ancestors”. The writer shared at the time and moment Jehovah God’s “judge” died, the people of Israel went back to the ways that ruined and destroyed them to a greater degree compared to their forefathers. 

The verse continues, “… 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.” The writer added the words, “in following other gods” which means “in walking, departing, proceeding and moving toward alternate deities” “to serve them” or “to worship, labor and work for them, the pagan deities”, “and to bow down unto them” which means “and to crouch, stoop and prostrate themselves to them, the pagan deities”: “they ceased not from their own doings” or “they, the people of Israel, did not stop, go away from or desert their, the people of Israel’s, own personal acts and deeds”, “nor from their stubborn way” which means “no and not in any manner separate and apart from their, the people of Israel’s, hard, cruel, severe, obstinate and vehement paths, journeys, directions, habits and moral character”. The writer shared how the people of Israel did not stop moving toward alternate deities to worship, labor and prostrate themselves to them, and they in no way stopped from their wicked and obstinate manner of living. 

When we meditate upon words in this verse, we learn how the people of Israel went back to their sinful and wicked ways after Jehovah God’s “judge” died, and they injured and ruined their own selves to a greater degree than their forefathers. They continued to serve alternate deities as they prostrated themselves to them and committed their wicked acts and deeds. They were obstinate, and would not change from their pernicious way of living. We can only imagine how God responded to this. God wants us to align with His way which is through believing and trusting in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we receive Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the power to remain in our relationship with Him while we never forsake Him for alternate deities in this world. (See Matthew 28:20; John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time we see how, “the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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