To Christian readers Judges is interesting, sometimes inspiring, but also puzzling. What message should we take from it? How are we to understand the ambiguous spirituality of the judges themselves? What was God doing during this wayward period between Joshua and Samuel? With wit,insight and sensitivity to the narrator's art, Wilcock answers these and other questions. God himself is the Judge, he argues, who transcends the uncertain record of human judges. God is always ready to respond to those who call on him, he takes the initiative and uses raw human resources to preserve Israel from her enemies and shape the nation for his purpose. Michael Wilcock is former director of pastoral studies at Trinity College, Bristol, and is currently vicar of St. Nicholas' Church, Durham.
