Introduction

• When you think of the book of Judges …
  
  
  
  • What event comes to mind?
  
  
  • What character comes to mind?
  
  
  • What quality of God comes to mind?
  
  
  • What spiritual takeaway comes to mind?
  
  
  
  


• Judges depicts a bleak chapter in Israel’s history: one of idol worship and faithlessness, necessitating God’s continual intervention to punish and deliver the Israelites from oppression.
  
  
  
  • Psalms 106:34 , 37-38
  
  
  • Ruth 1:1
  
  
  
  

Historical context of Judges

• Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt and then thoroughly and repeatedly warned against the pitfalls of living in Canaan.


• Deuteronomy 4:1, 9, 23-24; 11:18-23, 26-28


• Covers a period of about 300 years and depicts part of the transition from “house of the father” (e.g. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to tribal confederacy to dynastic monarchy.


• First event chronologically – Judges 2:6


• The Israelites go from a time of relative unity (under Moses and Joshua’s leadership) to assimilating with heathen nations to anarchy and civil war.

What did the judges do?

• God intended for judges to lead throughout Israel (Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 17:8-13).


• Described using one or two Hebrew words – the first associated with saving or rescuing and the second with dispensing judgment.
  
  
  
  • Both found in the accounts of Othniel and Deborah (Judges 3:9-10; 4:4, 9-10), but more often the judges are said to serve as deliverers, (military) leaders, or decision makers.
  
  
  
  

Outline of Judges

• Chapters 1-2 – Roots of Israel’s apostasy


• Chapters 3-16 – The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy


• Chapters 17-21 – The depths of Israel’s apostasy


• Latter parts of the narrative focuses on two points (Judges 21:25 )
  
  
  
  • “in those days there was no king in Israel”
  
  
  • “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”
  
  
  
  


• Several graphic descriptions of God’s judgment (Ehud and Eglon) but also of wanton violence and depravity (Levite’s concubine).

General observations

• God’s intervention does not imply either commendation or condemnation.
  
  
  
  • Judges 14:4
  
  
  
  


• God’s silence does not imply either commendation or condemnation.


• Imagine trying to please God while living in Israel during this time.


• God’s people need godly leaders.


• Worldly surroundings negatively influence us.


• We must take God’s warnings seriously!

Class goals

• Better understanding of the text and its place in the Bible story.


• Greater appreciation for God’s character.


• Increased knowledge of the divine perspective on human nature.


• Learn how to escape the trap into which the Israelites fell (Judges 8:34 ; II Peter 1:9).