Judg 6:10 | KingComments | STEP | The cry of the Israelites is answered by God, but not with a direct deliverance. God’s answer is not what they expected. Before He is going to deliver His people, something else must first happen. To work that out, God is using a prophet for the first time in this book. He wants His people to feel sin in their conscience. Their crying is apparently only the result of their misery and is not caused by its origin. In response to their call God’s holy wisdom reveals, through the prophet, the cause of their misery. The aim is for the people to come to a thorough judgment of this cause. Only then can there be a sustainable recovery. The prophet shows us the work of the Spirit of God Who shakes up the conscience of the people and points out where they have deviated. This is not a task for which the prophet is thanked. Jeremiah has experienced in person how the people of God would like to kill because of the words he speaks on behalf of God. Yes, as long as prophets say things that people like to hear, they have nothing to fear ( ). Such prophets often have great success, but the result is not of long duration. If God sends a prophet to point out the failures to the people, it is that they may see and confess the wrong, so that the way is open again for God to bless them. God’s ultimate goal is always blessing. Therefore, a confession cannot be a fleeting, superficial matter. Such a confession does not work real repentance. If something has gone wrong in the life of a believer, it is necessary not only to confess the mistake, but also to understand its cause. A person is only truly restored when he has come to the sincere acknowledgment that his sin has come forth from his sinful nature. A sin is not a beauty defect, but an expression of the sinful flesh that is not kept where it belongs, namely in death. Those who sincerely acknowledge this will no longer seek excuses for their actions, nor will they seek extenuating circumstances. Honest self-judgment, without declaring others to be guilty or joint guilty, is the best proof of the truthfulness of one’s confession. The name of the prophet is not mentioned, his name doesn’t matter. With a prophet it is all about his message. The prophet does not make a long speech. He bears witness to God’s actions for the benefit of His people in the past. On God’s side there is no failure. He contrasts the faithfulness of God with the disobedience of the people. The good which God has done for them should be reason enough to remain faithful to Him. Moreover, He has warned them not to worship any other gods. But unfortunately, the final word, the conclusion of the prophet must be: “But you have not obeyed Me.” This must penetrate deep into the conscience of the people and do its beneficial work there. In the meantime, the instrument is being prepared for his task. In Gideon, God has chosen to deliver His people.

‏ Judges 6:10

A Prophet and His Message

The cry of the Israelites is answered by God, but not with a direct deliverance. God’s answer is not what they expected. Before He is going to deliver His people, something else must first happen. To work that out, God is using a prophet for the first time in this book. He wants His people to feel sin in their conscience.

Their crying is apparently only the result of their misery and is not caused by its origin. In response to their call God’s holy wisdom reveals, through the prophet, the cause of their misery. The aim is for the people to come to a thorough judgment of this cause. Only then can there be a sustainable recovery.

The prophet shows us the work of the Spirit of God Who shakes up the conscience of the people and points out where they have deviated. This is not a task for which the prophet is thanked. Jeremiah has experienced in person how the people of God would like to kill because of the words he speaks on behalf of God. Yes, as long as prophets say things that people like to hear, they have nothing to fear (Isa 30:10). Such prophets often have great success, but the result is not of long duration.

If God sends a prophet to point out the failures to the people, it is that they may see and confess the wrong, so that the way is open again for God to bless them. God’s ultimate goal is always blessing. Therefore, a confession cannot be a fleeting, superficial matter. Such a confession does not work real repentance. If something has gone wrong in the life of a believer, it is necessary not only to confess the mistake, but also to understand its cause. A person is only truly restored when he has come to the sincere acknowledgment that his sin has come forth from his sinful nature.

A sin is not a beauty defect, but an expression of the sinful flesh that is not kept where it belongs, namely in death. Those who sincerely acknowledge this will no longer seek excuses for their actions, nor will they seek extenuating circumstances. Honest self-judgment, without declaring others to be guilty or joint guilty, is the best proof of the truthfulness of one’s confession.

The name of the prophet is not mentioned, his name doesn’t matter. With a prophet it is all about his message. The prophet does not make a long speech. He bears witness to God’s actions for the benefit of His people in the past. On God’s side there is no failure. He contrasts the faithfulness of God with the disobedience of the people. The good which God has done for them should be reason enough to remain faithful to Him. Moreover, He has warned them not to worship any other gods. But unfortunately, the final word, the conclusion of the prophet must be: “But you have not obeyed Me.” This must penetrate deep into the conscience of the people and do its beneficial work there.

In the meantime, the instrument is being prepared for his task. In Gideon, God has chosen to deliver His people.