the cycle.

The book of Judges records a five step cycle that happened in that time period:  people fall into sin; God disciplines them with foreign oppression; the people cry out in repentance; God raises up a deliverer [a judge]; and then peace is restored.  This happened seven times during the recorded time in Judges.

We can look back in history and see cycles a lot easier than when we are in the midst of our culture and our life.  However, each one of us are guilty of a similar cycle:  we sin; our sin produces a by-product that we don't like [the wages of sin are death]; we ask repentance; and God restores us.

We must remember that with Christ, we are striving for that power over our sin.  We must continue to resist temptation and break the cycle.  Then knowing how hard that truly is...assist others to do the same.