Once again the Isrealites sinned against the LORD by worshipping the Baals and the Astartes, as well as the gods of Syria, of Sidon, of Moab, of Ammon, and of Philistia. They abandoned the LORD and stopped worshipping him. So the LORD became angry with the Israelites, and let the Philistines and the Ammonites conquer them. For eighteen years they oppressed and persecuted all the Israelites who lived in Amorite country east of the Jordan River in Gilead. The Ammonites even crossed the Jordan to fight the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel was in great distress.

Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD and said, "We have sinned against you, for we left you, our God, and worshipped the Baals."

The LORD gave them this answer: "The Eqyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed you in the past, and you cried out to me. Did I not save you from them? But you still left me and worshipped other gods, so I am not going to rescue you again. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them rescue you when you get in trouble.

But the people of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do whatever you like, but please, save us today." So they got rid of their foreign gods and worshipped the LORD; and he became troubled over Israel’s distress.

Judges 10:6-16

The Old Testament Book of Judges is a depressing account of God’s people locked in a recurring cycle of rebellion, punishment, repentance, and deliverance. Not much has changed for any of us, has it?

Sin brings pain – to us, and to God.

Our Daily Bread – August 2, 2003