Israelites, Nephites reacted similarly in their times of judges
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The apostasy that occurred among the children of Israel as they moved into Canaan could have been averted.
"The Lord had directed Israel into the promised land and had provided them with a political covenant," states the Church Educational System's Old Testament Student Manual."He was to be their divine sovereign. Their temporal leaders were to be ruling judges, under whom the people retained religious and political liberties. (Such a form of government was advocated in the Book of Mormon by King Mosiah. [See Mosiah 28.])
"Israel's political covenant showed the mercy and long-suffering of the Lord and would have been the best possible government in Israel. As can be seen in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, however, under the rule of the judges the people must demonstrate loyalty to the Lord and His commandments for this ideal form of government to function properly. Since Israel usually broke their covenant during the reign of the judges, the governmental system did not function properly, and Israel fell out of favor with the Lord."
The history of the Israelites during the reign of the judges was similar in many ways to the history of the Nephites before the resurrected Savior appeared and taught them.
"The account of the reign of the judgesT is a story of one continuous cycle of apostasy and repentance," states the student manual. "When the Israelites turned from the Lord, their enemies began to prevail. (Judges 2:14-15.) Suffering under oppression and war, the people would cry unto God and He would raise up a Deborah or a Gideon to deliver them. But once peace and security were reestablished, the people turned again to their former ways. (Judges 2:16-19.)
"The story of the time of the judges is thus primarily a sad and tragic one, although in this period lived some of the most remarkable men and women of the Old Testament. In their lives of courage, faith, and personal greatness, as well as in the lives of those who forsook the Lord and pursued selfish ends, are many lessons of importance for saints today."
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(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the Gospel Doctrine course of study.
Information compiled by Gerry Avant
Sources: The Spirit of the Old Testament, by Sidney B. Sperry; Studies in Scripture, Vol. 3, edited by Kent P. Jackson and Robert L. Millet; and the Church Educational System's Old Testament Student Manual.
