Weepers

“As soon as the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept.And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the LORD.”Judges 2:4,5

When God’s people entered the Promised Land, we might have expected them to be filled with thankfulness.We might have expected their lives to reflect thankful and loving hearts.However, what we find is disobedience:Israel didn’t drive out the inhabitants of the land as they were commanded to do.God wasn’t sleeping when this happened.No, we’re told in the opening verses of Judges 2 that God sent his angel to reveal his judgment on them for their failure.

Traditionally, the Angel of the LORD in the Old Testament has been identified with the preincarnate Son of God.The Angel of the LORD is often identified with God himself, yet in some instances it’s also clear that he is different.His precise identity remains unclear, but the fact that he authoritatively speaks for God is clear.The content of his message is equally lucid.There’s no question about what God wants to say to his people through this messenger.

This Angel of the LORD indicates God’s displeasure.The people have disobeyed the requirements of God’s covenant.Yet that covenant still stands.It stands with both its blessings and curses.In the beginning of Judges 2, it’s the curses which stand out. Yahweh promises Israel the nations will always be there as a thorn in their side.They’ll be as traps or snares.

In response, the people weep.The weeping stood out as something so significant that the place was named for their weeping:Bochim.This is a Hebrew word which means “Weepers.”Was this a godly sorrow over sin?Was this a sorrow that God had been slapped in the face and offended with Israel’s failure?Or was this the type of sorrow over sin where the sinner feels sorry for himself because he was caught and has to suffer the consequences?In 2 Corinthians 7:10, we read “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

The Scriptures don’t tell us what lived in the hearts of the Israelites.With so many individuals, there were bound to be differences.Further, we have to be careful about speculating where the Scriptures are silent.However, we are told that as a whole they offered sacrifices to God.This indicates, at least, something looking like communal repentance.Finally, there was a realization that the way things were going wasn’t right.Yet, God didn’t reverse his judgment.Why not?

Sin always has consequences, even when there is sincere repentance.By his atoning sacrifice, Jesus takes away the sins of our youth, but oftentimes we have to live with the consequences into adulthood and beyond.For example, couples who are sexually intimate before marriage often experience difficulties in later years.Individual believers who smoke or abuse other drugs often have health troubles at some point that may be directly related to their past or ongoing addiction.Numerous other examples could be given.

But why does the Lord not take away not only our sin, but also its ongoing consequences?After all, it’s in his power to do it.The answer to this can only be:he does it for the amplification of his glory in us.When we struggle with the consequences of sin, we’re reminded of how we live in a broken world.We’re reminded to constantly flee to the Saviour – the one in whom we shall some day be perfected and glorified.We don’t depend on ourselves for redemption and strength, but only on him.As we do this, God is more glorified through us.The magnification of God’s glory could be the only answer for Israel in Judges 2 and it can be the only answer for us.It isn’t a hopeless answer. You see, the glory of God guarantees that the weeping of those who believe shall someday be turned to rejoicing.As our Saviour said in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”