The Raising Up of the Judges (Judges 2:1-3:6)

TThis may seem like a strange passage for Easter Sunday – but that is why I have highlighted the key term from verse 16 and 18 – "And the LORD raised up judges."

In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the same word "egeiro" is used that is used in the New Testament for all the passages that speak of how God raised Jesus from the dead.

In one sense, Judges is not speaking of being raised from the dead – these judges are "raised up" in order to deliver Israel from their foes.

Indeed, the problem in our chapter is that these judges keep dying – and so their being "raised up" is only a temporary fix.

But there is another sense in which it is a sort of "resurrection." Because the wages of sin is death. Israel's rebellion ends in death and exile.

We need a judge – we need a deliverer who will be raised up – never to die again! And we need one who will change our hearts – who will raise us up – that we might live before him!