Bochim

Judges 2 :

1 Then the Angel of Jehovah went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And He said, I caused you to go up out from Egypt, and I brought you into the land that I swore to your fathers. And I said, I will never break My covenant with you,

2 And you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars. But you did not listen to My voice. What is this that you have done?

3 Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they will be like thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.

4 And when the Angel of Jehovah had spoken these words to all the children of Israel, the people lifted up their voice and wept.

5 And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they offered to Jehovah there.

In my study of the Bible, the Lord's speaking was a divine warning concerning my living. Just as the Israelite were warned by Jehovah, so as His child, I am being warned too, especially in dealing with the thing of Egypt, the world. The stupendous effect of the world is inevitable, yet resistible. Time and again, the Lord's heralding of His care and concern preserves me from many untoward incidents. Not that I have resisted each and every temptation that comes my way, but at least the consciousness and conviction itself is a salvation to me. I sure would not love to see God leaving me alone in a sorry state of rebellion and disobedience. May the Lord have mercy on me.

The Lord's love in warning me is to be absolutely for Him. As His redeemed child bought with His own precious blood, He would not see me rot in vain. He would do all that He should to guide me and protect me. He does this through His speaking, as the case was in Bochim.

Bochim means "weepers." The place where the Angel of Jehovah rebuked His people for their disobedience and as a result they cried out to Jehovah and wept. This should not be the case with me nor with any children of God. For this, the Lord spoke through the word as a reminder. 

As a man still in flesh and blood, I do confess there were times of being like the Israelite, not dealing with the sinful things of the world thoroughly. As a result, the very thing not dealt with, keeps haunting as thorns in my side and becomes a snare to me. Unheeded divine warning will always be a hindrance and a stumbling block in one's spiritual journey of life. But for this, much grace from the Lord is needed. In fact, paradoxically, it helps in turning to the Lord for mercy and grace and be delivered from such snares. But always with a price; often of weeping as in Bochim.   

Similar cases are with many seekers of the Lord. With much regret and remorse, some saints have come for fellowship. They all acknowledge their disobedience and rebellion to the word of God. But not too late, they still are shown mercy to turn to God again and have a new beginning altogether. Praise the Lord for His mercy!

May the experience at Bochim be a reminder to all, to heed to the Lord's divine warning in love and turn to Him. May Bochim be a reminder, not an experience, to us all, lovers and seekers of the Lord Jesus Christ!