Judges 3:10

Spirit of the Lord. God did not reserve the special endowments of the Holy Spirit for NT times alone. Anciently, as well, He equipped His servants for their tasks through the bestowal of the Holy Spirit.

Othniel is truly an outstanding judge in that no indiscretion or unhallowed deed is recorded of him. On many of the other judges, notwithstanding their victories, fell the shadow of error, of grief, or of a tragic end.

Judged Israel. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel, he first judged Israel and then went out to war. This indicates that he put things right among the people before he essayed to fight the enemy. This is as it should be. Sin, the worst of all enemies, needs first to be conquered. Only with this foe subdued can we expect victory over the enemies abroad.

Went out to war. We do not conquer by sitting still even if the Spirit of the Lord has come upon us. Action is required by those who have the presence of God’s Spirit with them. The Spirit of the Lord is the originator of everything good and of all great achievements, but He works through human agencies.

His hand prevailed. No details are given of this war, but it must have been a struggle of no mean magnitude considering the status of the oppressing king. However, now that the Lord was again helping the Israelites, their efforts were crowned with victory.