Judges 2:1-5 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt… I. Observe, first, THAT THE REPROVER OF THE PEOPLE IS TERMED "AN ANGEL." "An angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal." But the first utterance carries us to the thought of One higher than angel or archangel. The speaker describes Himself as the deliverer of Israel out of Egypt, and He finishes with the denunciation, "Ye have not obeyed My voice." The burden of His prophecy is worthy of the Divine speaker, for it is the simple enunciation of the fundamental truth of all religion — man in covenant with God, and bound to comply with the terms of that covenant. II. Consider THE RESULT OF THE PROPHESYING. The general result was but transitory. The people wept and sacrificed unto the Lord. But no amendment ensued. The whole effect was a momentary outburst of feeling and a hasty sacrifice. Most true picture of the reception of the Word of God in after-time. It is sensational or emotional religion against which Bochim is our warning. There are two principal elements of this fruitless sorrow. 1. The first is want of depth of soul. 2. The second is the "after revolt of the human mind against the supernatural." Godly sorrow issues in a repentance not to be repented of, in that thorough turning of the life to God's service from which, in the hottest fire of temptation, there is never a turning back to the way of evil again. (Bp. Woodford.) Parallel Verses KJV: And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. |
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