Proverbs 26:11 — As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
Myra and I have reached the Book of Judges in our annual read through the Bible. I’m sure you remember it. In some ways it’s the saddest story in all the Bible. After the trek through the wilderness, Israel has reached and entered the Promised Land. Under the leadership of Joshua and those who knew him, much good work has been done displacing the Canaanites. Now what?
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim: and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger. (Judges 2:10-12)

And then, as you no doubt recall, the Israelites entered a dreary cycle. They sinned. The Lord turned them over to one or more enemies — Philistines, Moabites, the Amorites … Then they repented and turned back to The Lord. He took pity on them and sent a judge to relieve their misery. And then they ran astray again and the whole sorry process started again. It’s neatly summarized in Judges 2:15-19.

So the Israelites were really dumb, ungrateful and wicked weren’t they. I can really get on my high horse and beat up on them now can’t I? Well, let me think about that a bit.

There are some things I do from time to time that I wish I wouldn’t. I can lose my temper. I can get depressed. I can be selfish. I can be unkind. (If you don’t believe me, you can talk to Myra and get a witness …). I sense the Lord not responding in my quiet time, or when I’m praying or worshiping. I lose the joy of the Lord. After a while, I admit the problem and repent. I sense the approval of the Lord again … all is well for a while. Then I sin, and the whole sorry process starts again. Sounds familiar doesn’t it.

The Book of Judges isn’t just history. It’s not just there to let us know that the Israelites weren’t very smart in those days. It’s an example and a warning. Don’t fall into the dreary cycle. It’s no fun.