Judges 2:22

King James Version (KJV)

That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

That through them I may prove Israel - There appeared to be no other way to induce this people to acknowledge the true God, but by permitting them to fall into straits from which they could not be delivered but by his especial providence. These words are spoken after the manner of men; and the metaphor is taken from the case of a master or father, who distrusts the fidelity or obedience of his servant or son, and places him in such circumstances that, by his good or evil conduct, he may justify his suspicions, or give him proofs of his fidelity.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

We have a general idea of the course of things in Israel, during the time of the Judges. The nation made themselves as mean and miserable by forsaking God, as they would have been great and happy if they had continued faithful to him. Their punishment answered to the evil they had done. They served the gods of the nations round about them, even the meanest, and God made them serve the princes of the nations round about them, even the meanest. Those who have found God true to his promises, may be sure that he will be as true to his threatenings. He might in justice have abandoned them, but he could not for pity do it. The Lord was with the judges when he raised them up, and so they became saviours. In the days of the greatest distress of the church, there shall be some whom God will find or make fit to help it. The Israelites were not thoroughly reformed; so mad were they upon their idols, and so obstinately bent to backslide. Thus those who have forsaken the good ways of God, which they have once known and professed, commonly grow most daring and desperate in sin, and have their hearts hardened. Their punishment was, that the Canaanites were spared, and so they were beaten with their own rod. Men cherish and indulge their corrupt appetites and passions; therefore God justly leaves them to themselves, under the power of their sins, which will be their ruin. God has told us how deceitful and desperately wicked our hearts are, but we are not willing to believe it, until by making bold with temptation we find it true by sad experience. We need to examine how matters stand with ourselves, and to pray without ceasing, that we may be rooted and grounded in love, and that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. Let us declare war against every sin, and follow after holiness all our days.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

22. Prove Israel. The object of leaving these heathen nations was not to ascertain whether Israel, thus exposed to close and constant contact with heathenism, would remain faithful to its own religion. “God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man” (James 1:13). Rather, from the first it was evident that Israel was not remaining faithful. God left the nations as instruments to afflict the Israelites, to punish them, and to teach them that the way of apostasy does not pay. Through the afflictions God was endeavoring to turn the minds of His people back to Him. This seems to be the connotation the word “prove” holds here. It means “to try” in the sense of bringing trying experiences that will awaken the people to their true state.

Similar experiences have been the lot of men in all ages. Periods of suffering and disappointment have served to turn the thoughts of the tempted back upon the seriousness of duty and the great purpose of God in their existence. These experiences were not to show up men’s characters to God, for He knows their hearts, but rather to “prove” to them their true estate.

Notwithstanding the repeated failures of Israel during this period, the discipline was not an entire failure. The chastisements by foreign nations must have wrought salutary changes in the lives of some of the Hebrews. The stern and consistent punishments, no doubt, instilled in many the feeling that the way of sin was a way of sorrow. To borrow Bunyan’s phrases, God made “By-path Meadow” rougher than the “King’s highway.” After having been seized by “Giant Despair” several times, the Israelites were often glad to return again by the way they had departed. These chastisements taught the people sufficiently hard lessons so that by the time of Samuel the Israelites seem to have made some progress spiritually. At the end of the period of the judges, when Samuel’s judgeship was ushered in, we hear less of apostasies than formerly. Furthermore, all these troubles tended to cause different tribes to draw closer together, so that by Samuel’s time a strong nationalistic feeling was discernible.

Keep the way. The natural tendency to do “every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes” (Deut. 12:8; cf. Judges 17:6; 21:25) was fully demonstrated by Israel during the centuries they were ruled over by the judges, and later under the monarchy. The ways of a man are usually “right in his own eyes” (Prov. 21:2). As a result, “all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Isa. 53:6).

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Ellen G. White
Patriarchs and Prophets, 544-5

God had placed His people in Canaan as a mighty breastwork to stay the tide of moral evil, that it might not flood the world. If faithful to Him, God intended that Israel should go on conquering and to conquer. He would give into their hands nations greater and more powerful than the Canaanites. The promise was: “If ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, ... then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as He hath said unto you.” Deuteronomy 11:22-25. PP 544.1

But regardless of their high destiny, they chose the course of ease and self-indulgence; they let slip their opportunities for completing the conquest of the land; and for many generations they were afflicted by the remnant of these idolatrous peoples, that were, as the prophet had foretold, as “pricks” in their eyes, and as “thorns” in their sides. Numbers 33:55. PP 544.2

The Israelites were “mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.” Psalm 106:35. They intermarried with the Canaanites, and idolatry spread like a plague throughout the land. “They served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils: ... and the land was polluted with blood.... Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against His people, insomuch that He abhorred His own inheritance.” Psalm 106:36-40. PP 544.3

Until the generation that had received instruction from Joshua became extinct, idolatry made little headway; but the parents had prepared the way for the apostasy of their children. The disregard of the Lord's restrictions on the part of those who came in possession of Canaan sowed seed of evil that continued to bring forth bitter fruit for many generations. The simple habits of the Hebrews had secured them physical health; but association with the heathen led to the indulgence of appetite and passion, which gradually lessened physical strength and enfeebled the mental and moral powers. By their sins the Israelites were separated from God; His strength was removed from them, and they could no longer prevail against their enemies. Thus they were brought into subjection to the very nations that through God they might have subdued. PP 544.4

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Ellen G. White
The Adventist Home, 205

The God of Heaven Hears Your Prayers—You cannot bring up your children as you should without divine help; for the fallen nature of Adam always strives for the mastery. The heart must be prepared for the principles of truth, that they may root in the soul and find nourishment in the life.³ AH 205.1

Parents may understand that as they follow God's directions in the training of their children, they will receive help from on high. They receive much benefit; for as they teach, they learn. Their children will achieve victories through the knowledge that they have acquired in keeping the way of the Lord. They are enabled to overcome natural and hereditary tendencies to evil.⁴ AH 205.2

Parents, are you working with unflagging energy in behalf of your children? The God of heaven marks your solicitude, your earnest work, your constant watchfulness. He hears your prayers. With patience and tenderness train your children for the Lord. All heaven is interested in your work.... God will unite with you, crowning your efforts with success.⁵ AH 205.3

As you try to make plain the truths of salvation, and point the children to Christ as a personal Saviour, angels will be by your side. The Lord will give to fathers and mothers grace to interest their little ones in the precious story of the Babe of Bethlehem, who is indeed the hope of the world.⁶ AH 205.4

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Ellen G. White
The Adventist Home, 221

Train Children for Usefulness—The father, as the head of his own household, should understand how to train his children for usefulness and duty. This is his special work, above every other. During the first few years of a child's life the molding of the disposition is committed principally to the mother; but she should ever feel that in her work she has the co-operation of the father. If he is engaged in business which almost wholly closes the door of usefulness to his family, he should seek other employment which will not prevent him from devoting some time to his children. If he neglects them, he is unfaithful to the trust committed to him of God. AH 221.1

The father may exert an influence over his children which shall be stronger than the allurements of the world. He should study the disposition and character of the members of his little circle, that he may understand their needs and their dangers and thus be prepared to repress the wrong and encourage the right.⁵ AH 221.2

Whatever may be the character of his business, it is not of so great importance that he be excused in neglecting the work of educating and training his children to keep the way of the Lord.⁶ AH 221.3

Become Acquainted With Varied Dispositions—The father should not become so absorbed in business life or in the study of books that he cannot take time to study the natures and necessities of his children. He should help in devising ways by which they may be kept busy in useful labor agreeable to their varying dispositions.⁷ AH 221.4

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Ellen G. White
The Retirement Years, 119.2

I beg of you not to reproach your father. You should not feel as you do, for your father has done nothing that God condemns. His condemnation exists only in the minds of men. He has in no wise dishonored his children. He is keeping the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. The Lord is opening the way before him, that he may do a great and good work for His people. Christ is his Saviour, and in beholding Christ he will be changed into His image. RY 119.2

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Ellen G. White
Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, 65.3

Lose sight of everything but one thing, that is, How is it with my soul? Should sickness and sudden death come to me now, what is my hope of entering the mansions Jesus has gone to prepare for those who love Him? Shall Jesus have died for me in vain? Will you choose your way, your will, and refuse to keep the way of the Lord? TSB 65.3

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