Judges:3

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* Verse 1-7 - As the Israelites were a type of the church on earth , they were not to be idle and slothful . The Lord was pleased to try them by the remains of the devoted nations they spared . Temptations and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of sinners ; and strengthen he graces of believers in their daily conflict with Satan , sin , and this evil world . They must live in this world , but they are not of it , and are forbidden to conform to it . This marks the difference between the followers of Christ and mere professors . The friendship of the world is more fatal than its enmity ; the latter can only kill the body , but the former murders many precious souls . * Verse 8-11 - The first judge was Othniel : even in Joshua 's time Othniel began to be famous . Soon after Israel 's settlement in Canaan their purity began to be corrupted , and their peace disturbed . But affliction makes those cry to God who before would scarcely speak to him . God returned in mercy to them for their deliverance . The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel . The Spirit of wisdom and courage to qualify him for the service , and the Spirit of power to excite him to it . He first judged Israel , reproved and reformed them , and then went to war . Let sin at home be conquered , that worst of enemies , then enemies abroad will be more easily dealt with . Thus let Christ be our Judge and Lawgiver , then he will save us . * Verse 12-30 - When Israel sins again , God raises up a new oppressor . The Israelites did ill , and the Moabites did worse ; yet because God punishes the sins of his own people in this world , Israel is weakened , and Moab strengthened against them . If lesser troubles do not do the work , God will send greater . When Israel prays again , God raises up Ehud . As a judge , or minister of Divine justice , Ehud put to death Eglon , the king of Moab , and thus executed the judgments of God upon him as an enemy to God and Israel . But the law of being subject to principalities and powers in all things lawful , is the rule of our conduct . No such commissions are now given ; to pretend to them is to blaspheme God . Notice Ehud 's address to Eglon . What message from God but a message of vengeance can a proud rebel expect ? Such a message is contained in the word of God ; his ministers are boldly to declare it , without fearing the frown , or respecting the persons of sinners . But , blessed be God , they have to deliver a message of mercy and of free salvation ; the message of vengeance belongs only to those who neglect the offers of grace . The consequence of this victory was , that the land had rest eighty years . It was a great while for the land to rest ; yet what is that to the saints ' everlasting rest in the heavenly Canaan . * Verse 31 - The side of the country which lay south-west , was infested by the Philistines . God raised up Shamgar to deliver them ; having neither sword nor spear , he took an ox-goad , the instrument next at hand . God can make those serviceable to his glory and to his church 's good , whose birth , education , and employment , are mean and obscure . It is no matter what the weapon is , if God directs and strengthens the arm . Often he works by unlikely means , that the excellency of the power may appear to be of God . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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