Cry Out

Judges 3:9
“When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them…”

As I read through the book of Judges, I am confronted with mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is a sad and tragic story of repeated failure. Over and over, we are told of the compromise of the people of God, and the suffering they experienced as a result. We are told, much of the reason for their repeated failure, was that they did not know how to fight. Instead of realizing they were facing spiritual battles, and engaging in conflict against compromise, they simply gave in. Judges records the story of failure which is often repeated today.

On the other hand, this book fills me with hope. Eight times, in eight different settings, we read of Israel “crying out to the Lord.” Each time, they were crying from a condition of self-inflicted suffering. They refused to listen to the Word of God, got involved with people and practices that were sinful, and suffered the inevitable consequences. Yet, in their suffering, they cried out to God, and He was faithful to come to their aid, and raise up a deliverer.

We should be greatly encouraged by this. If we are honest with ourselves, we will acknowledge we are a lot more like Israel than we wish. The temptations that surround us have too often ensnared us. We find we are entangled with the same sins from which we were once delivered. If that is the case, cry out to the Lord for deliverance. Jesus promised another Helper to aid the believer in His walk through this life. That Helper is the Spirit of God, who wants to give us the power to overcome those easily besetting sins.

Will you cry out to Him today?

Pastor Jim