Israel’s failure to conquer Canaan had a simple explanation. Most Israelites likely blamed the Lord for breaking His promise that He’d delivered the land into their hand (Judg 1:2). But while Israel was quick to point the finger of blame at God for their failure to live in His provision, the hand of accusation had three fingers pointing back at Israel.

I. The Angel of the Lord (Judg 2:1). This is the first of four appearances of the messenger or Angel of the Lord in Judges (Judg 5:23; 6:11; 13:3). He is mentioned in at least 6 Old Testament books.
This messenger of the Lord has an unusual description. He forgave sin, something only God can do (Ex 23:20-22; Is 43:25); possessed power to give life (6.10" class="scriptRef">Gen 16:10); was all-knowing (Gen 16:13; Ex 3:7); blessed God’s people (Gen 16:7-12; 48:16); and made and kept covenants (Judg 2:1). He is holy (Josh 5:13-15), accepted worship (Judg 6:18-21), and spoke as God (Gen 22:12). He is called the Judge of all the earth (Gen 18:25) and God (Gen 16:13; 32:30; Ex 3:2, 6; Judg 6:22-23; 13:21-22). We believe the Angel of the Lord to be no less than the pre-Incarnate Christ; Jesus appearing in human form in the Old Testament before His physical birth.
When the Bible claims it reveals God throughout its pages (Ps 40:7; Lk 24:27, 32, 44-45; Heb 10:7), we must affirm that the eternal Son of God was actively working in the affairs of this world before His earthly birth, as was the Father and Spirit.

II. The Covenant of the Lord (Judg 2:1-5). A covenant is a promise or agreement confirmed with an oath or sign, and often sealed with blood (Gen 8:20—9:1-17; 15:1-21; Lk 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26).
The Angel freed Israel from slavery in Egypt and brought them into Canaan. His faithful deliverance and leading was proof He had never and would never break [His] covenant with them. But Israel sinned by making covenants with their enemies, refusing to tear down their altars of pagan worship (Judg 2:2). Their compromise began at Bethel (Judg 1:24).
Tolerance of evil isn’t a virtue, it’s a sin of unfaithfulness to God. A little compromise in the name of kindness or mercy brings God’s judgment. Israel’s failure in Canaan wasn’t because God failed, but Israel was unfaithful. We can’t expect to be unfaithful to God and enjoy His fellowship and favor.
God asked Why have you done this? Just as He asked of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:9, 11, 13), and Cain (Gen 4:6, 10). Israel had sinned with an ungodly alliance. God didn’t desert Israel, they’d deserted Him (Ex 23:23-33; Josh 5:14).
When the Lord stopped speaking at Bethel (the House of God), Israel wept and sacrificed to Him. Religious sacrifices don’t substitute for obedience (1 Sam 15:22; Heb 6:6-9). Bochim means weeping (Judg 20:26). Tears are meaningless without a change of heart. The Book of Judges is a record that Israel’s heart didn’t change for the better … it got worse. There’s a vast difference between weeping over consequences of sin or getting “caught” in sin, and turning from rebellion. Like Esau, Israel wanted God’s blessing, but not God! For this there is no sacrifice to cover sin (Mk 10:17-22; Heb 10:26; 12:12-17)!

III. A Faithful Covenanter. If salvation is partly or wholly man’s work and man fails, then salvation fails. But the Bible says salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9); it is His work by grace from beginning to end (Jn 1:12-13; Eph 2:8-9). The unfailing God’s salvation can’t fail, but our enjoyment of salvation can fail.
God is faithful to save. David didn’t cry for God to re-save him, but to restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation (Ps 51:12). Jesus prayed Peter’s faith not fail, thus when Peter denied Jesus and went away weeping, he didn’t need to be re-saved but restored (Lk 22:31-34, 54-62). Also Paul writes that when we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim 2:13) and will finish His work in us (Phil 1:6). God’s character cannot change, even when we sin. Salvation is wholly His, so the One who saves to the uttermost also keeps and delivers us safely into Heaven (Phil 1:6; Heb 7:25; 1 Pet 1:3-9; Jude 1:24-25).