The repetitive cycle of sin

Judges 2:16-19 (NCV)

Then the Lord chose leaders called judges, who saved the Israelites from the robbers. But the Israelites did not listen to their judges. They were not faithful to God but worshiped other gods instead. Their ancestors had obeyed the Lord's commands, but they quickly turned away and did not obey.  When their enemies hurt them, the Israelites cried for help. So the Lord felt sorry for them and sent judges to save them from their enemies. The Lord was with those judges all their lives. But when the judges died, the Israelites again sinned and worshiped other gods. They became worse than their ancestors. The Israelites were very stubborn and refused to change their evil ways.

Under Joshua’s leadership after all the conquests of pagan tribes in the Promised Land, Israel prospered because Joshua trusted and followed the Lord God.  However, after Joshua, as this passage declares, the Israelites became unfaithful and disobedient.  Their sins led to being conquered by enemy nations.  The Israelites under such submission realized their sinfulness and cried for help.  The Lord “felt sorry for them” and rescued them through various leaders called judges.  The book of Judges describes this cycle of sin:

(1) Israel chose to abandon God--SIN                                                 

(2) God allowed other nations to subdue Israel--SUBMISSION                                                         

(3) Israel cried out for help—SORROW

(4) God sent a judge to rescue Israel---SALVATION

(5) Israel lives in peace and serves the Lord---SECURITY        

 In Judges this cycle of sin was repeated at least six times—Judges 3:5-9 (Judge was Othinel), again 3:5-9 (Ehud and Shamgar), 4:1-13 (Deborah), 6-7 (Gideon), 10-12 (Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon), and 13-16 (Samson).  This dark period of repetitive cycles sin-submission-sorrow-salvation-security (or can use 5 “R’s”—rebellion, retribution, repentance, restoration, rest) lasted for 350 years between the death of Joshua and the emergence of Samuel. 

You may think that this cycle of sin may have applied thousands of years ago, but does not apply today.  Oh, how wrong you are.  The book of Judges provides a wise warning to us today.  The Israelites needed human judges to save them whereas today we need (and have) a Savior judge, Jesus Christ, to save us.  However, although saved forever when you believe in Christ as your Savior, you still can lapse into this vicious cycle.  After the initial glow of salvation wears off,  you become complacent, you backslide, and you drift away from your faith.  Sin takes over and makes your life miserable.  Then you come to your senses and cry out for help.   The faithful Lord comes through time and again to your rescue.  It’s not that you lose your salvation and need to regain it, but the cycle of sin in your life does cause you to lose your assurance of salvation. 

How can you stop this cycle from occurring in your life time and again?  You know the answer---you must discipline yourself to keep serving the Lord, keep reading and applying His Word, and staying in fellowship with other believers who can stimulate and encourage you.  You need to be accountable to someone who, like Joshua, can inspire you to remain faithful and obedient.

Is America becoming like the Israelites in Judges?  Is our nation becoming so complacent, faithless, and disobedient that God will allow another nation to conquer us?  You say “no way”, but you cannot possibly know.  History repeats itself.  The worst thing an individual or a nation can do is to decide that faith in and obedience of God is no longer needed.  Pray that this never happens to you or our nation.