EXTRACTS

Ques. What does it mean, to judge Israel?

JT To deal with everything that arises, according to God. It does not mean punitive judgment. When the Lord was brought before the high priest, one of the officers which stood by struck Him, because they thought He was railing on the high priest. But He said, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil—but if well, why smitest thou me?” He was not defending Himself. He was asserting judgment where judgment should have been, but where it was not. The high priest represented the position of a judge, but he was wanting in judgment; judgment was not there. And so Micah says, “They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek”, Micah 5: 1. The Judge of Israel was at the bar externally; He was annunciating judgment. And that is the principle we get in Judges and in Samuel. Samuel refers to the raising up of Moses and Aaron, and Jerubbaal, and Bedan and Jephthah and himself (1 Samuel 12: 6, 11, 2), to meet the situation. It is one of the greatest principles, really, in the maintenance of the testimony, that there should be the elements of judgment, because things are constantly arising requiring judgment. So the Lord asserts it in the presence of the high priest—“If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?”, John 18: 23. He was the Judge of Israel.

J. Taylor (Vol. 25, p.57)

I think it is very touching to see that He addressed them in such an endearing way, and that He had such consideration for their need. I believe that if we are to help one another, there must be a ministry of Christ. If there is failure, and you minister Christ to a brother you give him a certain moral power to judge himself. The probing did not take place until they had dined.

J. Taylor (Vol. 6, p.489)

Edited and Published by J. Strachan, 59 Frederick Street, Dundee, DD3 9DE, Scotland Printed by Crystal Stationery, 22 Western Road, Billericay, Essex CM12 9DZ, (T) (01277) 650661