The Period of the Judges: Spiralling Out of Control

[I recently wrote a short piece on Judges and Ruth for something I’m currently working on, and thought I’d post it here.]

Towards the end of his life, Joshua gathers the people together and recites the story of all that God has done for them. Affirming that he and his household will serve the Lord, the people respond by saying that they too will stay faithful (Joshua 24:1-28). Knowing our own capacity for self-delusion, we’re perhaps not surprised to learn that, after Joshua’s death, they stray from the Lord. This leads into an era when there is no national leader or central government, with little unity between the tribes. Early military successes give way to failure, and moral apathy takes hold. Then, as now, neglect of the covenant relationship with God spills over into society.

Still, God doesn’t abandon his people. They are disobedient to him, and he allows them to be defeated by enemies, but he responds to their cries for help by raising up a a ‘judge’ through whom he brings deliverance – only for the people to turn away from him again. This pattern can be seen in the account of the first judge in 3:7-12, but the cycle is repeated throughout the book.

Except that, if anything, it becomes a downward spiral. The final chapters (Judges 17-21) portray the inevitable breakdown in episodes of idolatry, lawlessness, and civil war. The horrific story of the gang rape and dismemberment of a nameless woman (19:1-30) shocks us into realising how far the people of God have failed in their calling to be a holy nation, with everyone doing what is right in their own eyes (17:6; 21:25). Alas, no judge arises to meet this progressive anarchy, and a recurring refrain – ‘Israel had no king’ (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25) – strongly hints that something else is needed.

There is brutality, but there is also blessing. The first verse of the book of Ruth invites us to read the story that follows in the light of what we know of the period of judges. As we do so, the shameful, violent treatment of a woman gives way to tender, honourable conduct towards women. And through it all, the sovereign God works out his purpose with the inclusion of a Moabite ‘outsider’ into the fold of the covenant people – not only as one who is herself a sign of the fulfilment of his promise to bless the nations, but from whom King David (Ruth 4:17-22) – and Jesus himself (Matthew 1:5) – is eventually born.