The same old song and dance continues as Israel participates in “doing evil in the sight of the LORD” (6:1), their oppressors cruelty is unbearable (6:2-6), and God again responds to Israel’s cry for rescue (6:7) by sending them a prophet (6:8-10) foretelling what God would do (6:11-7:25).  What results?  Israel again experiences peace for forty years until they again forsake the LORD (8:1-35).

Israel’s faithfulness was abysmal, absolutely horrid.  But the cycle is very predictable: forsake the LORD God by neglecting His word, forget therefore His past tender mercies through acts of power, and the result is death.  It’s always death.  God’s word was not heeded by our first parents Adam and Eve that resulted in the death of all mankind (Gen.3); God’s word was not heeded over and again in Hebrew history and the result is always death.  Why?

Perhaps it’s because the Designer knows best how the creation best flourishes.  Perhaps it’s because the soul that’s created to delight in the Creator ultimately instead choses to delight in the creature ultimately, that the problems predictably snowball.

NOTE: usually the cycle of peace and bondage lasted a generation or two.  Each generation has the responsibility to pass on God’s word to their kin and friends, when that is neglected, death is embraced.  Solomon wrote that those who despise wisdom love death and this theme is repeated a billion times over daily in the lives of broken human beings.

May we as believers not emulate Israel’s idolatry o God!

(SDG)