Judges 1:1 ‘After the death of Joshua…’
The two books of Joshua and Judges begin with two very symbolic pictures in the death of two very symbolic characters. Firstly we read that the events in the book of Joshua occur ‘after the death of Moses’. Moses is forever associated with the law of God , and as such is a picture here showing that entry into the Promised Land can only occur after his death. This speaks to us of the utter stupidity of legalism and trying to live and approach God through the ‘good works’ of the flesh.
Moses had to die, and so do we have to die to our own ability to live the Christian life if we are to proceed on in our journey with God. So who could take them in to the Promised Land and into their inheritance? Joshua, whose name means ‘Yahweh is salvation’ was the man who could lead them in. As Moses is a picture of the law, so Joshua is a picture of both Jesus Himself, and of true faith in the grace and salvation of God. Now one of the first things we read in the book of Joshua is that God had given the sons of Israel the Promised Land, but they still needed to personally place their foot on that land for it to be theirs.
Again this is highly symbolic for our lives as Christians for although God ‘has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms’, like Israel we need to place our foot upon these things by faith to experience the benefit of that blessing. Now, that is the picture given to us in Joshua… Moses (the law) had to die and Joshua (faith) would take them in. But here in Judges the book starts with the words ‘after the death of Joshua’, and in a very real sense, goes on to portray that which happens when the Joshua type of faith has died.
Judges 2:1-4 ‘The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.” When the angel of the LORD had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, and they called that place Bochim.’
Gilgal was to be rallying point - a headquarters if you will, for the people of God to strike their enemies and gain God's promised territory...however, because of rebellion and carnality, it transformed into a place of weeping, (Bochim); this means 'The place of weeping'
Gilgal is incredibly significant to us even today because it was in Gilgal where 1) The memorial stones were established (Josh. 4: 19-24)...2) The knife of circumcision was used on the men AGAIN! Josh. 5: 2-9....3) Spiritual progression was continued...the Passover was celebrated there also (Josh. 5: 10)
So what is your current situation? Do you currently have the benefit of dwelling at Gilgal or, like Israel in the book of Judges, have you moved to Bochim ‘the place of weeping’. Bochim is the place that you end up when you have forgotten to take God into account! It is the place where your eyes are focused on yourself and your situation from an earthly point of view. And that will always be the place of weeping! But when you dwell at Gilgal the peace of God will fill your heart and mind because you consider yourself alive to God, His very own possession, and little else matters! The creator and sustainer of the universe is also your Father, and He will do what is right! You don’t need to know all the details or constantly question what He is doing, for you know that He his good, and that in love He will work all things for your good.
