The LORD Against Israel for Evil - Judges 2:15

In the book of Judges we learned how the people of Israel, “forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies”, and in chapter two and verse fifteen of Judges, we learn, “whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil”, where we read,

Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

The verse reads, “Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, …” The writer began with the words, “whithersoever they went out” which means “and in whatever place or location they, the people of Israel, departed, exited and proceeded forward”, “the hand of the LORD” or “the power, might, strength and authority belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and is the proper name of the One True God” “was against them for evil” which means “existed as in opposition to them, the people of Israel, with that which is bad, disagreeable, malignant, afflicting and ill favored”. The writer shared how every place that the people of Israel proceeded forward was met by the power and might of Jehovah God who was in opposition and ill favored toward them. 

The verse goes on to say, “… and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.” The writer continued with the words, “and as the LORD” which means “and even and in likeness to that which Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “had sworn unto them” or “adjured, took an oath and promised to them, the people of Israel”: “and they were greatly distressed” which means “and they, the people of Israel, existed as exceedingly and abundantly straitened, besieged and vexed”. The writer shared how Jehovah God kept His word that He would be in opposition to them if they forsook Him for other gods, and this caused the people of Israel to be exceedingly vexed. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how the people of Israel suffered great difficulties because they forsook Jehovah God. Instead of loving and serving Him, they began to follow and worship other gods. This caused Jehovah God to rise up in opposition to them, and wherever they went, “distress” was upon them. God didn’t and doesn’t want it to be this way. He gives us His commands because they benefit us, and having Him as our priority through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the grave after three days, gives us access to to His forgiveness of sins, eternal life and His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live according to that truth so we never forsake Him and suffer His distress and ill favor for doing so. (See John 3:16; Acts 1:8)

Next time we learn how, “the LORD raised up judges”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".