A Biblical Theology of Mission (Judges and Yahweh as King – Judges 11:23-27)

Ammon is threatening Israel during the time of the judges, claiming that the land on the east side of the Jordan River occupied by Israel belongs to them. Jephthah, the judge in Israel, recounts that Israel took this land from the Amorites without violating the territorial rights of either Ammon or Moab, which bordered this land and has occupied this land for three hundred years without any dispute from Ammon or Moab.

²³ “Now since Yahweh, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over? ²⁴ Can you not just take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever Yahweh our God has given us, we will possess. ²⁵ Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them? ²⁶ For three hundred years Israel occupied Heshbon, Aroer, the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why didn’t you retake them during that time? ²⁷ I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let Yahweh, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.” (Judges 11:23-27)

Though Jephthah acknowledges that Ammon’s god Chemosh gave the Ammonites their lands, as Yahweh had given Israel her lands, and particularly this land that Ammon is disputing about with Israel, he gives Yahweh supremacy over Chemosh, calling Him the Judge in this matter. Yahweh’s judgment should prevail, Yahweh is the supreme king of all the earth.

This belief that Yahweh is the supreme God, king over all the nations, is not held by all the nations. But it should be their belief. And Yahweh is seeking to make this known.

^99:1 Yahweh is king; let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned between the cherubim. Let the earth shake. ² Yahweh is great in Zion, and he is exalted over all the peoples. ³ Let them praise your great and fearful name. He is holy. (Psalm 99:1-3, Lexham English Bible)

¹⁰ Say among the nations, “Yahweh is king! Yes, the world is established so that it will not be moved. He will judge the peoples fairly.” ¹¹ Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice. Let the sea with^[f] its fullness roar. ¹² Let the field with all that is in it exult. Then all the trees of the forests will sing for joy ¹³ before Yahweh, for he is coming; for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his faithfulness. (Psalm 96:10-13, Lexham)

And one day it will be known.

¹⁶ And then every survivor from all those nations coming against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the king, Yahweh of hosts, and celebrate the Feast of Booths. ¹⁷ And then whoever of the clans of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the king, Yahweh of hosts, it will not rain on them. ¹⁸ And if the clan of Egypt will not go up and come in, on them will be that plague Yahweh inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. ¹⁹ This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. (Zechariah 14:16-19, Lexham English Bible)

God is restoring His kingdom on earth, seeking to bring all peoples into submission to His kingship. Israel has acknowledged His sovereign authority and all the other nations will too. He is reaching to the ends of the earth.