Reformed Free Publishing Association


	0

	$0.00


	All Products

	Specials

	Authors

	Bible Commentaries

	Christian Living

	Church History

	Creedal Commentaries

	Devotionals

	Group Study Materials

	Reformed Doctrine

	Reformed Education


	1. The Impact of the Theory of Common Grace

	2. Reformed Faith of John Calvin, The

	3. Always Reforming

Unfolding Covenant History Volume 5

Ready To Order?

Our Price: $15.99

Email a Friend

Product Inquiry

by David J. Engelsma

240 Pages
Hardcover (2005)
ISBN 0-916206-86-6

DESCRIPTION
Judges and Ruth, the fifth volume in the Unfolding Covenant History series, continues the exposition of Old Testament history from the viewpoint of God’s covenant faithfulness toward his people in the old dispensation. Professor David J. Engelsma now becomes the author, intending to finish in this and succeeding volumes what Professor Homer C. Hoeksema began.

Part 1 traces the dark history of the time of the judges with its recurring themes of Israel’s departure from Jehovah to serve heathen idols, God’s chastisement of his people by delivering them to the persecution and dominance of their enemies, their crying to him for help in their distress, and the Lord’s gracious deliverance of them by various judges. The conclusion of this downward line of the history of God’s people illustrates the necessity of a theocratic king in Israel, as expressed in the words of Judges 21:25: “In those days there was no king in Israel.”

Part 2 explains the familiar but amazing history of Ruth, which illustrates vividly the truth of God’s sovereign redemption in the salvation of the Gentiles and the inclusion of Ruth into the line of the covenant so that she becomes the grandmother of King David, the savior of Israel as the theocratic king and the type of Christ.

EXCERPT FROM THIS BOOK - Introduction to Part 1.
With three other historical books, Judges makes up “the earlier prophets” in the Hebrew canon of scripture. The others are Joshua, Samuel, and Kings. These are regarded as the earlier prophets, not because they were written by prophets (as is the Jewish tradition), but because they are prophetic histories. Judges, in particular, is the history of the covenant and the covenant people in the light of God’s plan of salvation culminating in Jesus Christ and the New Testament church from all nations. Keil and Delitzsch explain:

[Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings] describe the history of the Old Testament covenant nation and kingdom of God in the light of the divine plan of salvation, setting forth the divine revelation, as it was accomplished in the historical development of Israel, or showing how the Almighty God and Lord of the whole earth continued as King of Israel uninterruptedly to fulfill the covenant of grace which he had concluded with the fathers and had set up at Sinai, and built up His kingdom, by leading the people whom He had chosen as His own possession, notwithstanding all the opposition of their sinful nature, further and further onwards towards the goal of their divine calling, and thus preparing the way for salvation of the whole world. These books, therefore, do not contain a general history of the natural development of the Israelitish nation from a political point of view, but trace the history of the people of God, or Israel, in its theocratic development as a covenant nation, and as the channel of that salvation which in the fullness of time.4

The nature of the history of Judges is expressed in the name of the book. The Hebrew word that is translated Judges is derived from the verb meaning “to judge, to govern.” The reference is to the men and women whom God raised up to deliver Israel and to rule Israel during this period. The English word judge can be misleading, since for us it refers to one who decides on conflicts. This is only one aspect of the task of the judge in the book of Judges. The Hebrew word has a wide range of meaning: “defend, rule, act as a lawgiver, decide controversy, condemn and punish.”

Basic to the task of the judge is deliverance of the people of God from their misery. “Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them” (Judges 2:16). The judge delivers Israel from the oppressor and preserves Israel in that deliverance by ruling the people, which rule includes deciding on issues and controversies.

The judge is a “savior” of Israel. This is what the first judge is called: “The LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them” (3:9). “Deliverer” is a translation of a word derived from the Hebrew verb meaning “aid, set free, save.” It is the root of the name Joshua. Also Judge Ehud, Judge Shamgar, and Judge Tola are called saviors of Israel (Judges 3:15, 31; Judges 10:1). Moses prophesied this special office: “And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment” (Deut. 17:9; see also Deut. 16:18 and Deut. 19:17).

As the name judge indicates, it is fundamental to the office that the judge procures right or justice for the people of God. He does this by delivering and by ruling. In delivering Israel from her misery, the judge procures right for Israel only inasmuch as freedom from the burden of oppression and enjoyment of rest are the gracious purpose of God for Israel. Otherwise, right for this people is the well-deserved affliction at the hands of her foes. The right that comes to Israel through her judges is the right of gracious justification. It is the right that is based on the satisfaction of the cross of the coming Messiah. Thus in their work the judges are typical of Christ. And thus this history must be preached.

If Deborah and Barak are counted separately, as a comparison of Judges 4:4 and Hebrews 11:32 shows that they should be, there are thirteen judges. They are Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Barak, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson. Samson is the last judge. Eli the priest and Samuel the prophet also judged Israel, but their judging was subordinate to and probably derived from their being high priest and prophet, respectively. Of five of the judges – Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdom – we are only told that they judged Israel. Nothing is said in the instance of their judgeships about deliverance of Israel from any enemy.

Deliverance as the great work of the judge implies the misery of Israel from which she needs to be delivered. This points to the cycle that constitutes the structure of the history of Judges: Israel’s apostasy, Jehovah’s chastisement, Israel’s repentance, and Jehovah’s deliverance.

4.Ibid., 7.

Related Products :

Unfolding Covenant History Volume 1
Unfolding Covenant History Volume 2
Unfolding Covenant History Volume 3
Unfolding Covenant History Volume 4
Category : Engelsma, David J.
Category : Bible Commentaries

Product Reviews :

Average rating :

Number of reviews : 1
Write a review