God does not side idly as the Ammonites gather against Israel in Judges 11, for it would seem he is preparing a leader in Jephthah. Much like Jacob, Joseph and David, Jephthah is not the oldest, as a matter of fact is not even held in esteem by this own family and tribe. He is kicked out of this own home and tribe and forced to join a band of mercenaries. However, it would seem that he is blessed by God, and rises to be a leader of these mercenaries and a mighty warrior.
The elders call Jephthah to take leadership of their army but Jephthah feels no compunction to be hasty and negotiates a better deal. He finalizes the deal by witnessing to the Lord, it is God who will determine the deal.
Having secured his place among the Gileadites, Jephthah begins an exchange with the king of the Ammonites who believe that Israel has illegally taken the land which they occupy. Jephthah points out that it is God who has given Israel the land and the the Ammonites should turn to their own gods for land. Jephthah points out that the Ammonites are questioning the Will of God, which means that God must now intercede on behalf of Israel in this dispute.
Appealing to God, Jephthah makes a vow that if God leads him to victory over the Ammonites, that Jephthah will make an offering of the first person to enter his house after the victory. To be honest, this action of willingly offering a person to God is in itself an offense to God for that was a behavior of the people of the land before Israel entered into Canaan. The story continues with Jephthah's victory which now leads to the fulfillment of the vow.
Tragically, it is Jephthah's only child, his daughter who greets him. She is unnamed, yet she truly exemplifies what Israel is to be, for she does not swerve from living up to a vow made to God even though she had all the reasons not to. I do not wish to glorify her death, because it should not have happened, but I do wish to point out her faithfulness as opposed to Israel's which again will spiral down.
Again, infighting within Israel, as Ephraim is upset at being left out, much like with Gideon. Fighting occurs between Ephraim and Gilead, with Ephraim believing that Gilead is not a tribe, which it was not, but just a place where some of tribes of Manasseh, Reuben and Gad settled. As such it does not have standing within the Israelite confederacy.
Whether right or wrong, Ephraim is routed and Israelite sheds the blood of Israelite. For those West Wing fans, here is the reference for shibboleth, which a persecuted Christian community in China uses to demonstrate its credentials to President Bartlett. The word itself refers to the grain portion of a plant.
Before the chapter closes, we hear briefly about Ibzan, Elon and Abdon who all judge over Israel.
Psalm 42-43
It would seem that these two Psalms are linked, perhaps even part of a larger work, as they both contain the phrase, "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?"
Psalm 42 speaks of the longing of one who is removed from God. It would seem that this longing is not just a spiritual longing but the psalmist is removed from the community of Israel. Perhaps he or she is residing in Syro-Palestine with the references listed in v. 6.
The psalmist can remember the journey to the temple, the procession to the House of God, the joy and thanksgiving. The psalmist truly longs to be re-united with God and community as he or she suffers from persecution and harassment from non-beleivers.
Only God can help, and the psalmist puts his or her trust in God to make this happen.
In Psalm 43, the psalmist speaks of the need to be vindicated for the wicked are moving against them. It would seem that God has abandoned them to the wicked but the psalmist holds out hope.
It is God's light and truth that will deliver them. The psalmist longs for this deliverance when they will again be able to go to the altar of God and express joy and thanksgiving.
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