Jdg 3:12 -31  The Lord Raised Them up a Deliverer, Ehud

[Study Aired March 8, 2021]

Jdg 3:12  And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 
Jdg 3:13  And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. 
Jdg 3:14  So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. 
Jdg 3:15  But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. 
Jdg 3:16  But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 
Jdg 3:17  And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. 
Jdg 3:18  And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. 
Jdg 3:19  But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. 
Jdg 3:20  And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. 
Jdg 3:21  And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: 
Jdg 3:22  And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. 
Jdg 3:23  Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. 
Jdg 3:24  When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. 
Jdg 3:25  And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. 
Jdg 3:26  And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath. 
Jdg 3:27  And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. 
Jdg 3:28  And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. 
Jdg 3:29  And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man. 
Jdg 3:30  So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. 
Jdg 3:31  And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. 

As shown in the review of verse 11, the rest that the Israelites had under various judges is a period where the enemies are restrained from attacking Israel. This rest is therefore absence of war.  It is therefore physical and is not the spiritual rest for God’s people that we are looking forward to. This spiritual rest is ceasing from our own works. That is, coming to see that it is not what we do by our own strength that matters, but what God does through us (His handiworks) is what is important. So then, our rest in Him does not depend on human will or exertion, but of God who shows mercy.

Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Rom 9:16  So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (ESV)

Jdg 3:12  And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 
Jdg 3:13  And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. 

As indicated in the last review, the forty years of rest with Othniel as judge (verses 9–11) is not a period to be clothed with the Lord’s righteousness as the Israelites’ raiment never waxed old meaning they had their own standard of righteousness which is the law.  It was therefore just a matter of time for the Israelites to be under bondage to sin again. In this case, they were oppressed by the Moabites who were descendants of Lot’s son Moab. So the Moabites were fleshly related to the Israelites. This is to confirm to us that the enemy we are dealing with is our own flesh.

The enemies possessed the city of palm trees which was Jericho. Jericho was the first city that the Israelites possessed when they crossed the Jordan River. So the Israelites being dispossessed of the city of palm trees is another way of saying that we end up going back to our vomit at certain stages of our walk with Christ. Peter gave us the synopsis of how we end up going back to our vomit. It all starts when we pay more attention to the great swelling words of vanity perpetuated by our leaders in Babylon than the true word of God. As a result, we are lured through the lusts of the flesh to follow the way of Balaam who loved the wages of unrighteousness and therefore we end up becoming entangled in sins which we had escaped.

Deu 34:3  And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Jdg 3:14  So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. 

In verse 14, the Israelites served Eglon, the king of the Moabites for eighteen years. This is insightful as the number eighteen signifies a period in our lives when we are under satanic oppression resulting in us being powerless before the enemies within and wallowing in our own vomit. Remember that there was a woman in Jesus’ time who had the spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. Surprisingly, it was Jesus who saw her and came to her aid. In like manner, Jesus sees our situations and will not leave us alone to be oppressed by our enemies if we are destined to overcome them.

Jdg 10:8  And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

Luk 13:10  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
Luk 13:11  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
Luk 13:12  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
Luk 13:13  And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luk 13:16  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Jdg 3:15  But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. 

God is in the business of raising His elect to lift us out of our bondage in every generation. In this particular case, God raised Ehud to deliver His people from servitude under Eglon the King of Moab. The name Ehud means union. So Ehud represents our union with Christ. Ehud was a Benjamite, which emphasizes the fact that he is God’s elect. On a positive note, the tribe of Benjamin is another symbol of God’s elect as demonstrated by the fact that Benjamin was given food five times more than his brothers and was loved dearly by his father Jacob – more than his other brothers except Joseph.

Gen 43:34  And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

Another characteristic of Ehud was that he was left-handed. Two places in the Book of Judges (Judges 3:15 and Judges 20:16) succinctly take note of the extraordinary left-handed abilities of the tribe of Benjamin. This characteristic of the tribe of Benjamin is significant and symbolic. We can understand what the left hand stands for in Genesis 48:18, where Jacob was blessing the children of Joseph, but chose to place his left hand on the eldest and the right hand on the younger grandson. What Joseph said there was very insightful.

Gen 48:17  And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
Gen 48:18  And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

What these verses mean is that the right hand corresponds to being first born and therefore being privileged with the birthright or double portion. The flip side of this is that the left hand represents those without the birthright. So Ehud being left-handed means that he was not to be called and chosen to lead Israel, but God chooses the stupid things of this world to confound the wise. In our case, we were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel (because we were “left-handed” and therefore do not have any birthright) but by the grace of God, we who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ!!

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

A key feature of those who are Benjamites and left-handed is that they can sling stones at a hair’s breadth.

Jdg 20:16  Among all this people [the Benjamites] there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

The seven hundred left-handed Benjamites represent the elect in every generation. The stone we are slinging is Christ who is the word of God, and by this we are able to subdue the enemies within as stated in Zechariah 9:15. To sling stones at hair’s breadth means to be able to handle the word of God such that one can divide the soul and the spirit and of the joints and marrow, and be able to discern the thoughts and intents of one’s heart.

Zec 9:15  The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Verse 15 says that the Israelites sent a present to their tormentor Eglon, king of Moab, by Ehud. The sending of the present to Eglon signifies that we have accepted our status as servants of the flesh. Since they sent it through Ehud, and Ehud means union, it means that at some point in our lives, we accept to live in union with the flesh.  In other words, we are saying like people of the world, that there is no way we can make war against the beast. Remember that when Jacob was going to see Esau, he sent a present to him first, and when he met him, he bowed seven times and referred to himself as a servant of Esau. This is to show us how we bow down completely to the flesh in our lives at a certain stage of our walk.

Jdg 3:16  But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 

The dagger represents the word of God. Hiding the dagger under his raiment is another way of saying that the preparation of God’s elect through the revelation of Jesus is done in secret, but our righteousness (represented by our raiment) is what must be seen by all. Nobody lights a candle and puts it under a bushel. The making of our mouth into a sharpened sword is done in the shadow of God’s hand as He hides us. For when it pleased the Lord to separate Paul for the gospel, Paul went to Arabia to prepare. However, later his deeds (righteousness) became known to all the churches.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Isa 49:2 in He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.

Gal 1:15  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16  To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Gal 1:17  Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jdg 3:17  And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. 
Jdg 3:18  And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. 
Jdg 3:19  But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. 

After bringing a present to Eglon, Ehud sent his fellow Israelites away and returned to carry out his personal vendetta. This is to affirm to us that the enemy is within and not outward. If it is outward, then others can join us to get the victory, but since the enemy is within, we cannot beckon others to fight our battles for us, but must depend on God to help us win the war within.  This is what Ehud did.

Jdg 3:20  And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. 
Jdg 3:21  And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: 

In the absence of everybody except Eglon, Ehud thrust his dagger into Eglon’s belly. The thrusting of the dagger into the belly is of significance. Paul makes it clear through the spirit that those whose God is their belly are mindful of things of the earth. So it is the word of God (dagger) which puts to death our “belly” which stands for our earthly mindset and desires which become our God.

Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Jdg 3:22  And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. 

Here in verse 22, we are told that all the handle of the dagger went inside Eglon’s stomach,and the fat closed over the blade so that Ehud could not pull the sword out of his belly. This means that it is the whole counsel of God’s word that puts to death the enemy within. The dagger being covered by fat so that it cannot be pulled out is another way of saying that when the word of God is sent from the mouth of an elect, it will not return back void but will accomplish that for which it is sent. In this scenario we are dealing with, Ehud was able to put Eglon, the King of the Moabites to death. So will we also put to death our fleshly desires and mindset through the word of God. But it takes the whole counsel of God’s word to accomplish that!!

Act 20:27  for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Isa 55:10  “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
Isa 55:11  so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Jdg 3:23  Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. 

Verse 23 says that Ehud shut the doors when he put the dagger into Eglon’s stomach. The defeat of the enemy is done in “closed doors.”  It is a personal victory that must be wrought before people see it later in our lives. In other words, the war must be won within before it becomes outward. For example, before David fought Goliath, nobody knew that David had killed a lion and a bear before. He won the victory within before it became outward with the killing of Goliath.

1Sa 17:26  And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

1Sa 17:32  And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
1Sa 17:33  And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”
1Sa 17:34  But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock,
1Sa 17:35  I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.
1Sa 17:36  Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
1Sa 17:37  And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

Jdg 3:24  When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. 
Jdg 3:25  And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. 

The defeat of the enemy is an internal process which takes a lifetime. We all must be first servants of Eglon for awhile before we realize that our evil lord (the old man) has fallen down dead on the earth (within our members). It takes time for this victory to become outward, that is, for people to know that we are dead to sin. At the right time, our internal victories will become outward – for a city set on a hill cannot be hidden and men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel.

Mat 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jdg 3:26  And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath. 

Verse 26 says that Ehud was able to escape during the period that the servants waited to open the door. This is to assure us that in tarrying to overcome the flesh, God will always provide a way of escape for every temptation we encounter so that we can bear it and win the war.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Jdg 3:27  And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. 

In verse 27, Ehud blew a trumpet.  The question is, “What does it mean to blow the trumpet?” In the Bible, the blowing of a trumpet is a symbol to signify an alarm of war, a call to assemble or a command to march. In this particular case, the blowing of the trumpet was about gathering together and a call to war against the Moabites. As an elect, one of our functions is to blow the trumpet to remind our brothers and sisters of this war against the flesh (Moabites). This war is not fought on an individual basis in the sense that we need each other for encouragement, supply of equipment (the word of God), etc.  Our gathering together is for every joint to supply us the needed weapon (the word of God) to defeat our flesh in this war.

Num 10:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 10:2  Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

Num 10:9  And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Jdg 3:28  And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. 

The outcome of this war against the flesh is that we would be victorious. God has assured us of this victory against the flesh over and over in His words, just as Ehud assured the Israelites of victory against the Moabites. Jesus said that he has overcome the world (the flesh and all its desires). Jesus did not tell us this so that we will just rejoice with Him of His conquest.  He made this statement for us to know that we will also overcome the world. Knowing the outcome is for our benefit.  If we are not certain of victory we would be discouraged along the way and will come to the conclusion that perhaps we are not expected to win this war just as the whole world thinks nobody can fight this beast within us and win. Once we know what is ahead of us in terms of our victory against the flesh, then we will have hope and nobody hopes for what is seen already. For when we hope for what is not seen, we wait for it with patience. We need to be patient in order to win this war against the flesh.

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Another aspect of verse 28 which is important to note is that the Israelites took possession of the fords of Jordan towards Moab, and as a result the men of Moab could not cross the river into Israel. The fords is where the Moabites cross the river Jordan to Israel. Spiritually speaking the fords represent the doctrines of Christ which causes us as Moabites (carnal Christians) to cross over to become an Israel of God. The Israelites taking possession of the ford spiritually means having the mind of Christ. Having the very mind of Christ and knowing His ways are symbolized by the high walls of the New Jerusalem which prevents fleshly desires and pursuit from entering.

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Rev 21:12  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Jdg 3:29  And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.

Moabites represent the flesh and so does the number 10,000 (10x10x10) which consists of multiples of ten. So here we are left with no doubt about the enemy we are fighting – the flesh or the beast within.

Here in verse 29, we are shown the characteristics of those who are able to defeat the flesh – they must be lusty and men of valour. According to Strong, the word lusty means to shine by becoming oily.

Lusty
shâman
shaw-man’

A primitive root; to shine, that is, (by analogy) be (causatively make) oily or gross: – become (make, wax) fat.

Valour also means strength as shown below:

Valour
chayil
khah’-yil

From H2342; probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength: – able, activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, (+) valiant (-ly), valour, virtuous (-ly), war, worthy (-ily).

So in order to be able to defeat the flesh, we must shine by being oily and being men of strength. Being men of strength is like soldiers who are well equipped for battle. To shine by being oily reminds me of when we dwell together in unity.  That is having one mind and speaking the same thing. The scriptures liken this to the anointing on Aaron’s head that drips down to the skirts of his garment. Having unity is having the same mind, and this mind or this oily nature represents the doctrines of Christ which are able to bring us the victory.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Psa 133:1  A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 
Psa 133:2  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 
Psa 133:3  As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. 

The Bible says that God is our strength. In other words, when we are in him as He is in us, then we are dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, and therefore we are abiding under the shadow of the almighty. That is when God becomes our refuge and strength and so we will not be swept away by any evil within or without.

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Psa 46:1  To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psa 81:1  To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Jer 16:19  O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.

Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
Psa 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 

Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 
Psa 91:10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 
Psa 91:11  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 
Psa 91:12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
Psa 91:13  Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 

Jdg 3:30  So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. 

The land has rest for a period of eighty (fourscore) years after the defeat of the Moabites. The eighty years tell us what that period of rest was all about. It is a period when we cannot discern between good and evil as we are not adept at handling the word of God to discern our thoughts and intents of our hearts. It is all because we have not been given eyes to see and ears to hear. This is to bring us to a point when we realize that we are a burden to our king, Jesus. Being a burden to Jesus is the same as saying that we are the worst of sinners!!

2Sa 19:35  I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

On a positive note, however, it is a period during which we come to realize that our natural fleshly strength is failing and is nearing its death, and therefore we need to depend wholly on Christ to deliver us from our enemies.

Psa 90:10  The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Jdg 3:31  And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. 

In this verse, God raised Shamgar as a judge who used an ox goad to defeat the Philistines. The name Shamgar means a sword, which in spiritual terms is the word of God. We know that Christ is the word of God and so Shamgar here represents the Lord Jesus. An ox goad is a traditional farming implement which is a spiked stick which is used to discomfort oxen so as to stimulate an action or drive the oxen to their destination. So what this verse means is that Jesus Christ our Lord uses ox goad (to discomfort us) to drag us to himself to deliver us from our enemies. The ox goad is to be likened to God’s judgment which put to death the enemies or the beast within signified by 600 philistines.  Remember that 600 = 6 X 10. The number 6 represents mankind and the number 10 is about the flesh and so all these wars being waged by the Israelites in the Book of judges or anywhere in the word of God are spiritually about the war within.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw (drag) him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

As indicated, the Book of Judges is about Israel’s cycles of defeat by their enemies and their deliverance through the judges God raised. In studying this Book, we have to pay attention to the details of each cycle of defeat because they provide us with what we need to win this war against the flesh.