約書亞不像摩西，他並沒有在生前選出一位強而有力的領導者來代替他繼續領導以色列人爭戰。所以當他死後，以色列百姓感到不知所措而求問上帝，誰應當領導他們爭戰。士師記就在上帝指派以色列最大的猶大支派擔任領導之職中揭幕。猶大的順服、信實、忠於上帝和祂的約，是他們得勝的保證。不過，除了猶大的幾場勝利外（1：4、8、12~13、17、25），我們看見大部分的支派都沒有將邪惡的迦南居民逐出該地。事實上，但支派在他們拈鬮分得的地業上甚至還被亞摩利人趕出來。

        以色列人的挫敗是他們悖逆，並與異教敵人妥協的結果。他們不照上帝的命令將迦南人趕出去，只收服他們、讓他們作以色列人的臣屬和苦力（1：28、30、33、35）。不過以色列為此錯誤付出了慘痛的代價，因為正如上帝所警告他們的，這些異教徒成了他們肋下的荊棘（2：3）。

        上帝賜給猶大的首場勝利是戰勝亞多尼比色王。猶大支派竟然砍斷他手腳的大姆指，聽起來有點恐怖，但在當時是一個很普遍的作法，象徵臣服和羞辱。在那個時代這種刑罰使一個人喪失政治、宗教上的職位，也使他無法再上戰場。亞多尼比色王自己也承認他殘害了許多被他擊敗的國王，他的話暗示，他是罪有應得……是上帝對他公正的審判。

        可悲的是，以色列並沒有繼續順服上帝。約書亞和與他同期的長老謝世後，新一代的以色列人就忘記了上帝為拯救他們所行的神蹟和對他們的恩慈。他們甚至忘了與上帝所立的約（2：10）。他們的父母顯然有失職之罪，沒有持續將上帝的道及美德指示他們的兒女（那是摩西多次強調的責任），好使後代子孫不致背道。結果以色列人悖逆上帝，沒有完成上帝託負的使命，他們讓異教徒居住在迦南地上，這就導致他們自己悲慘的敗亡……因為以色列人也成了拜偶像之民。

        上帝的使者來警告他們，呼召他們回轉、效忠上帝（2：1~3）。那位使者一定是我們的救主道成肉身之前的先顯。祂質問以色列人為何不順服上帝。如果他們明瞭上帝為他們所做的一切事，他們一定會順服、忠於祂。然而以色列人沒有遵照上帝的命令拆毀所有迦南地上的偶像和祭壇，反而與該地的異教徒立約。所以，上帝的審判就是，祂也不將迦南地的異教居民逐出，而讓他們留在那裡，成為以色列人的麻煩和痛苦之源（2：3），同時也用來試驗以色列人的信心，看他們是否效忠上帝（2：22）。

        上帝的信息使得以色列人放聲痛哭，他們大概是為自己感到難過，但卻沒有真正的悔改。一代又一代，以色列人陷入更深的罪中，上帝也按著他們所行的懲罰他們。但上帝仍然滿有憐憫，他聽了以色列人的哀求，興起敬虔的士師拯救他們。不過，一旦以色列人重獲平安，他們又很快的忘了上帝，再次陷入拜偶像的罪。這樣的循環在以色列歷史中一再重複上演。

        上帝已經賜給以色列人勝利和安息，他們的責任應是增進個人與上帝的關係，順服祂，繼續將罪惡從他們中間逐出，使他們可以在上帝面前作聖潔的子民，並得以在迦南地上持盈保泰。我們的主耶穌已經為我們得勝了撒但、罪惡和死亡。今日的信徒應從以色列的歷史記取教訓，與上帝維持正確的關係，持守耶穌為我們贏得的勝利。

        主耶穌，您已勝過罪、肉體、和魔鬼。我們每天都需要您的恩典才能持續過得勝的生活。我們決心要永遠服事您、與您同行、並以身教和言教教導我們的子子孫孫。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        Unlike Moses, Joshua had not left a divinely appointed strong leader to replace him and to lead in the continued conquest of the land. Therefore, when he died, the people were perplexed and inquired of the Lord concerning who would lead them into battle. The book of Judges begins with the Lord assigning the largest tribe of Judah with the responsibility of leadership. Their obedience, faithfulness, and loyalty to God and His covenant would assure them the victory. However, with the exception of a few victories for Judah (1:4, 8, 12-13, 17, 25), we see that, on the whole, the majority of the tribes of the tribe of Dan were even driven back from their inheritance by the Amorites (1:34).

        The defeats and failures of Israel are shown to come as a direct result of their disobedience and compromise with their heathen enemies. Rather than driving them out as God ordered, Israel merely put them under subjection as their vassals and made them pay taxes (1:28, 30, 33, 35). However, Israel paid dearly for this mistake, for just as God had warned, the heathen were thorns in their sides (2:3).

        The first victory God gave to Judah was over king Adoni-Bezek. It may seem terrible to hear that Judah cut off his thumbs and big toes; however, at that time it was a common practice, signifying subjugation and humiliation. In those days, such mutilations disqualified a person from both political and religious office, as well as disabling him from ever fighting in battle again. This king himself admitted doing the same to many other defeated kings, and his words implied that he was getting what he deserved – the just punishment from God.

        Sadly, Israel did not continue in obedience to the Lord. After Joshua and the elders who served with him had all died, the new generation forgot the great miracles of God and his goodness in delivering them. They even forgot their covenant with God (2:10). Obviously their parents had failed in their divinely ordered responsibility (which Moses so often stressed) to instruct their children in the ways of the Lord, and to teach them continually about the goodness of their God so there might not be apostasy in future generations. As a result, the Israelites disobeyed God and failed in their mission; they let the heathen remain in the land, and this led to their own disastrous downfall – for they, too, became idol worshippers.

        The Messenger of the Lord came to warn them and call them to return to loyalty to Him (2:1-3). This must have been a pre-incarnate appearance of our Lord and Savior. He questioned them about being disobedient. If they realized all that God had done for them, they should have been loyal and obedient. However, they had not torn down all the heathen idols and altars as God commanded; rather they made peace with them. Therefore, God’s judgment was that He would not drive out the heathen inhabitants, but leave them to bring much trouble and pain upon Israel (2:3), as well as to test their faith and loyalty to Him (2:22).

        The Lord’s message caused weeping, probably because they felt sorry for themselves, yet it did not lead to real repentance. Each successive generation fell further into sin, and the Lord chastised them. But God, in His mercy, heard their cries and would rise up godly judges to deliver them. However, once rest was restored, they quickly forgot the Lord and once again fell into idolatry. This cycle recurred over and over again in Israel’s history.

        The Lord had given them victory and rest, but it was their responsibility to maintain it by nurturing their own personal relationship with Him, walking in obedience to Him, and continually driving out any evil from among them so they might remain pure and holy before God. This illustrates very well the way a believer today can keep the victory and a right relationship with God that our Lord Jesus attained for us when He won the victory over Satan, sin, and death.

        Lord Jesus, You won the victory over sin, the flesh, and the devil. Enabling grace from your hand is needed daily so that we may maintain in our lives the victory You have won. We are determined to serve You and walk with You always, teaching our children and grandchildren every day by example and by word. Amen.