The Book of Judges Table of Contents: Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 3:1-7 3:7-11 3:12-31 Chapter 4 4:1-24 Chapter 5 5:1-7 5:8-31 Chapter 6 6:1-12 6:12-16 6:16-24 6:24-32 6:33-35 6:36-40 Chapter 7 7:1-8 7:9-14 7:15 7:16-25 Chapter 8 8:1-21 8:22-35 Chapter 9 9:1-57 Chapter 10 10:1-18 Chapter 11 11:1-28 11:29-40 Chapter 12 12:1-15 Chapter 13 13:1 13:1-25 Chapter 14 14:1-4 14:5-11 14:12-20 Chapter 15 15:1-20 Chapter 16 16:1-31 Chapter 17 17:1-13 Chapter 18 18:1-31 Chapter 19 19:1-30 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapters 20-21 Chapter 1 Introduction to the Book Entitled Shopethaim in Hebrew, the Book of Judges speaks of judges not in a judicial sense, but rather in a heroic sense. That is, Old Testament judges didn’t wear black robes, sit on a high bench, or hold gavels. They were deliverers—which is what shopethaim means. The twelve men and one woman whose stories are told in this book were the instruments through which God judged those who had wandered away from Him, and through which He delivered those who were held captive, yet sought Him. These thirteen judges lived between the time of Joshua and Samuel—during a span of four hundred years. The author of the Book of Judges is believed to be Samuel. Tradition seems to indicate that he indeed was the writer, although of this we cannot be absolutely sure. Throughout this book, we will see a cycle that is repeated seven times, a cycle very similar to the one in which we so often find ourselves: • First, we see the people of Israel serving God. • Next, we see them surrendering to sin. • Then they are enslaved by sin. • Fourthly, they are sorry about their sin. • And finally, they are saved from their sin. If there’s one message to be found in the Book of Judges, it’s that sin doesn’t pay. Sin will wipe you out and trip you up. The good news, however, in the Book of Judges is that, although the people of Israel stumbled into sin and became enslaved by sin, they were also delivered from sin when they called upon the Lord. And, praise God, that is true of us as well. Judges 1:1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?” Begins with Death Book of Judges begins like the Book of Joshua, a new beginning begins with a new trust, a new way of seeking after the Lord. The Lord will continue to do this is our lives too. Israel after 40 years of following Moses (from Egypt’s enslavement to the wilderness), would then follow the leading of Joshua. Moses would speak to God on their behalf, Moses would call upon God on their behalf and manna from heaven would come every morning, and water from a rock to sustain them. Forty years of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, until Moses died. Then under Joshua, he would seek the Lord on their behalf, and the Jordon River would part, walls would tumble, the sun would stand still, enemies would be defeated, inheritances would be received. All under the leading of Joshua, who sought the Lord on their behalf, and by faith they followed the word of God spoken from God to Joshua. Joshua 1:1–3 (NKJV) 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. No Superstars But now Joshua is dead. If we read the life of Moses and Joshua we see they really were just common men, being used extraordinarily (supernaturally) by God. Really, when we look at Moses and Joshua they fall under that superstar category in our eyes, but in all reality they were just simple men being used by a God who wanted to do something. May I say this today, especially in our cultural we live in today, God doesn’t need superstars, His Word is more than enough to accomplish all that He wants to do ….. through anybody that is willing. We want superstars, we want people to point to and say look at them, but God proves he doesn’t need superstars. His heart, His Son, that he gave is the only superstar the world needs to ever see to have a changed life. So if anyone in Israel looked to Joshua as a superstar, he is dead now, and they will have to call upon the Lord for themselves now, and we see here in chapter one verse one, that is how it begins. Judges – Hero’s As we have said, “Judges” means “deliverer, as in a heroic”. So we will read of 13 hero’s in this Book of Judges, and what we will see is that they are just common people who all believed one thing, God is who He says He is, and will do all that He says He will do. They are hero’s of the faith, which immediately reminds me of Hebrews chapter 11. Let’s turn there and see some hero’s, and what they did to make them hero’s of the faith in God’s eyes. What we find will be somewhat surprising. Hebrews 11:1–10 (NKJV) 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Do You Believe in Creation? Do you believe that God spoke and the world was created? Do you believe the creation account? Then list yourself her in this Hall of Faith, a Hero of Faith. Genesis 1:3 (NKJV) 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. Have You Brought the Lamb? What was the difference between Abel’s offering and Cain’s? Cain came with the work of his flesh, the sweat of his brow, and he said here Lord see what I have done, see what I can do in my own power. Whereas what did Abel bring, what did Abel present to the Lord as a peace offering, Abel brought a lamb. All the way back in Genesis it has always been a lamb that brought oneness and fellowship with the Lord, all the way through to Jesus who was and would be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Have you brought the Lamb (Jesus the Lamb of God as your way to peace and oneness with the Lord), then list yourself her in this Hall of Faith, a Hero of Faith. Genesis 4:2–5 (NKJV) 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. John 1:29 (NKJV) 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Are You Waiting for the Rapture? Enoch taken off the earth before the flood would be poured out upon the sinful and rebellious earth. Enoch is the OT picture of the NT Rapture where God will take His children (those that please Him because they have received the Lamb of God) up to heaven before He pours His wrath out upon a sinful Christ rejecting world. Do you believe in the rapture? Then list yourself her in this Hall of Faith, a Hero of Faith. Genesis 5:21–24 (NKJV) 21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.