ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Falaite ‘Okatopa 22, 2021

pea fokotu‘u ‘e he ‘Eiki ha taukapo ma‘a ha‘a ‘Isileli...ko ‘Otenili

the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel…Othniel 

Fakamaau 3 (Judges 3)

(v. 9-11) Pea tautapa ki he ‘Eiki ‘a ha‘a ‘Isileli, pea fokotu‘u ‘e he ‘Eiki ha taukapo ma‘a ha‘a ‘Isileli ‘a ia na‘a ne fakahaofi kinautolu, ko ‘Ōtenili ko e foha ‘o Kēnasi, ko e tehina ‘o Kēlepi. He na‘e hā‘ele kiate ia ‘a e Laumālie ‘o Sihova, pea na‘a ne fakamaau ‘a ‘Isileli; pea na‘a ne ‘alu atu ‘o tau, pea na‘e tuku ‘e he ‘Eiki ki hono nima ‘a Kūsani-Lisataimi ko e Tu‘i Mesopotēmia: ko ia na‘e mālohi hono nima kia Kūsani-Lisataimi. Pea na‘e nonga ‘a e fonua ‘o fāngofulu ta‘u. Pea pekia ‘a ‘Ōtenili ko e foha ‘o Kēnasi.

(v. 9-11) But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

 

* G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible*

God left certain nations, a company of stem, implacable enemies, in order to prove Israel. The overruling of God is set forth remarkably in this declaration. The people who had refused to cast out the enemies were now to be taught by long-continued conflict with them the lessons of vital importance to their fulfillment of divine purpose.

In what remains of this chapter, the first two movements of failure, punishment, and deliverance are recorded. The first of these occupies verses seven to eleven. Their sin is stated definitely as being that they forgot God.

The statement suggests a gradual deterioration ending in degeneracy. The punishment for this consisted of eight years of oppression. Under this affliction they cried to God and He heard them, and the first of the judges appeared in the person of Othniel, a relation of Caleb. Of him it is said, "And he judged Israel, and he went out to war." Thus the repentant nation was heard and the divinely appointed deliverer set the nation once again in order. Forty years of rest followed.

Then we have the story of the second declension. At the death of Othniel the people sinned again. This time punishment came through Eglon. An illuminative declaration made here is that Jehovah strengthened Eglon.

The one thing most vividly impressed upon the mind in reading these accounts is the fact of the government of God. After eighteen years they cried to Him again and again He heard. Ehud was the deliverer. Probably Shamgar was associated with him in some way in this work. This deliverance was followed by eighty years of rest.

 

David Guzik :: Study Guide for David Guzik for Judges 3

The Lord raised up a deliverer…Othniel: Othniel was the son-in-law of the great hero Caleb (Judges 1:12-13) and his wife was also a woman of faith (Judges 1:13-15).

The Spirit of the Lord came upon him: We don’t know very much about Othniel, but this was enough to know. The Holy Spirit empowered him for the job God called him to do.

Othniel lived the principle of Zechariah 4:6: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, he delivered Israel.

“Since Pentecost (Acts 2) a more general and permanent endowment of the Holy Spirit has been the privilege of every disciple.” (Cundall)