January 1, 2025

Judges 2:1-5  (HCSB)
Pattern of Sin and Judgment
2 The Angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land I had promised to your fathers. I also said: I will never break My covenant with you. 2 You are not to make a covenant with the people who are living in this land, and you are to tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed Me. What is this you have done? 3 Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a trap for you.” 4 When the Angel of the Lord had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. 5 So they named that place Bochim and offered sacrifices there to the Lord.

Dwayne Koelling
The Hebrews are told by the Angel of the Lord that they have failed to be obedient because they haven't driven out their and God's enemies. As punishment, God is going to leave the enemy in their midst. God wanted them removed to protect His people and now He's going to use them to test His people. What was their response? Weeping. So great a sorrow that the area here is named Bochim, which means "weeping". Sin and disobedience always lead to sorrow and weeping. What we need to learn here is that our remorse for our actions must be followed by true repentance, an effort to turn away and no longer do those things that are causing our shame and sorrow.
We don't see it in this section of scripture, but the Hebrews' sorrow was just an emotional response to the consequences of their sin. They failed to change their ways. If God's people fail to turn away from their disobedience, God in His love and justice will continue to discipline them until a true repentance is accomplished. How many times must we have to endure correction until we experience a complete rejection of our disobedience?