From the book of Exodus through the book of Joshua, the Bible reader learns of a special relationship that God initiated with the children of Israel. He brought them out of Egyptian slavery and into the beautiful land of Canaan. They had so much going for them.
Then, you get to the book of Judges. Seven times in that book, you read “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.” Things seemed to improve slightly and briefly, especially under the reign of David, but then we start reading that same expression again. From Solomon down to Zedekiah (Judah’s last king), we read it 24 more times—“he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”
So, didn’t God get tired of them? Did He just give up on them? Consider this rehearsal from Nehemiah: “Yet when they returned and cried out to You, You heard from heaven; and many times You delivered them according to Your mercies” (9:28). Thank God for His mercies! Thank God for His “many times” that He delivers His penitent children!