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In Judges chapter 2, we have a question that God asks of the nation of Israel in verse 2. It is a question that is hard to hear, but is essential for revival in each of our lives.  The question the Lord asks is this: “…why have ye done this?”

By application, this question could be asked of us as well when we sin. The thought of the Savior asking me directly this question is one that makes me shudder. The truth is, though, the Lord has a great purpose in asking this question. Here are several that I realized as I read this sobering question:

  1. He asks this question for us to recognize our sin.

First, He asks this question of His people because they needed to recognize their own sin. During Wednesday night prayer and Bible study, I was shocked by the simple truth that the Laodicean church failed to recognize their own poverty, blindness, nakedness, and wretchedness (Revelation 3:17). These were the very words the Lord used to describe the state of that local church body. The truth for you and me is that the grace of God is shown in His revealing sin in our lives through His Spirit and His Word. God loves us enough to show us when we err.

  1. He asks this question for us to recognize our Savior.

It is a terrible thing when we hurt others and do not know it. All through the Old Testament, you can see the heart's cry of God to His people; they hurt Him greatly (Isaiah 1:2-4; Hosea 11:1-3; Jeremiah 31:20). When we sin, we break fellowship with the Lord. In verse 2 of Judges 2, the Lord reveals His concern for His people. In verse 1 of the same chapter, He reminds the people of His love for them. He states, “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.” God committed Himself to them, but sadly they were not committed to God.

  1. He asks this question so that we realize the suffering.

Verse 3 tells us, “Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.”

All through the book of Judges, you see the suffering of the people because of sin. They were hindered and captured by the idolatry of the nations around them. When we sin, we rarely consider the suffering that follows as a result of our sin. The Lord reveals to us the ends of our choices.

  1. He asks the question so that we might return to the Savior.

Lastly, this kind of heart-searching question is intended to wake us up and give opportunity to return to the Savior. God’s desire for every Christian is a restoration of fellowship with Him. Notice how the people responded:

Judges 2:4-5 “And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 5  And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.”

Let us likewise, in light of God’s Word and this soul-searching question—seek to restore fellowship with Him, if our fellowship is broken…this is what revival is all about (2 Chronicles 7:14; James 4:8). The good news is God tells us exactly how to restore fellowship with Him. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)