Judges 10

(Judges 10:16) 16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel. 

    In the book of Judges, the chosen people’s belief in the true god presents wave-like regular ups and downs pattern.

    The rebellious Israel people begged in the bottom of the distressed, God will then rise a judge to save them and they will serve God again. They will destroy all other gods. Faith shows an upward trend. However, as the grace of peace reaches its peak, those who choose people will do evil things because they don't know how to cherish, and their faith goes to the depths of misery. This recurring pattern is no exception in Chapter 10. This kind of belief is that "the judge is there, the faith is here; the judge is dying, the faith is dying". 

    Tola’s 23 years (Judges 10:1-2) and Jair’s 22 years (Judges 10:3). For 45 years, the brilliance of the colourful, short-lived bubble, has shattered into a phantom. Compared to the faithful and unchanging true God (Deuteronomy 7:9), God knows him and cares about him (Psalm 144:3). 

    Currently, we face lots of tribulations, we are like being in the deep valley but God told us to be of good cheer as God had overcome the world. (John 16:33). After believing in the Lord and being called, We have been given multiply identities. We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God own special people (1 Peter 2:9) What status is each person when he is called, and he still has to keep his status before God (1 Corinthians7:22) For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5) Don't let our heavenly Father who loves us worry for us because of our suffering. (Judges 10:16) 

    (Jeremiah 31:20) 20 Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord

Translated by 余姿瑩