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Judges 1:19-21, The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had chariots fitted with iron.  As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak.  The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.

The period of the Judges is the time from when Moses and Joshua led the nation of Israel and the time of the monarchy.  It's a dark and tumultuous time when the people of God did what was right in their own eyes.  This was a time in which there was a crisis of leadership in Israel and God's people were not following the covenant they made with God. In fact, Judges profiles the Israel's slow progressive decline into idolatry.  There is a fair amount of ugliness in this book. 

Chapter 1 begins with the people of God gathering together at an unnamed holy place.  They are ready to take the rest of the land which God had declared was already theirs.  But this means ridding the land of the Canaanite people.  The tribe of Judah begins the conquest.  It is in this narrative that we read about the people of God finally taking control of both Hebron and  Jerusalem, which was never subdued under Joshua. 

Today's focus verses provide a summary of sorts for the conquest.  It states that God was with them and because of that they were able to take the hill country.  But they weren't able to take the plains because of the iron chariots belonging to the enemy.  Furthermore, the Benjamites were not able to drive out the Jebusites. 

Throughout the book of Joshua, we read about amazing conquests.  Because God was with his people, they were truly unstoppable.  If God could make the walls of Jericho fall down, then certainly iron chariots could easily be defeated.  Thus, we know that something else must be going on here.  The secular nature of the narrator's commentary speaks volumes.  We can guess that the Israelites' defeat was related more to their lack of trust in God than to military superiority.  Thus, victory is incomplete.  This will continue to haunt God's people from this time forward. 

Let's pray...Almighty God, Just like the ancient Israelites, we often fail to fully trust in your power.  Where there is doubt, Lord, sow trust and assurance.  We need you.  More of you, Jesus, and less of me.  I want to trust in you totally and completely. In Your Name, Amen.