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Bible Studies a Magazine for the Exploration of the Word of God [Acts 17: 11]

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Bible Studies a Magazine for the Exploration of the Word of God [Acts 17: 11] Bible Studies A magazine for the exploration of the Word of God [Acts 17: 11] THE BOOKS OF JUDGES AND RUTH VOLUME 56 Published by HAYES PRESS 8, ESSEX ROAD, LEICESTER LE4 7EE. ENGLAND CONTENTS GROUP STUDY: THE BOOKS OF JUDGES AND RUTH Page Judges 1: 1-2: 5; 18: 30 Introduction and ordering of the books 20: 28; Ruth 1: 1 3 Judges 2: 6-3: 31 Rule of the Judges: Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar 18 Judges 4: 1-5: 31 Deborah and Barak Judges 6: 1-8: 35 Gideon 34 Judges 9: 1-10: 5 Abimelech, Tola and Jair 46 Judges 10: 6-12: 15 Jephthah to Abdon 63 Judges 13: 1-15: 20 Samson—on the brink 74 Judges 16: 1-31 Samson—over the edge 86 Judges 17: 1-18: 31 Micah and the Danites 98 Judges 19-21 Israel and the Benjamites 111 Ruth 1: 1-2: 23 Departure and return 122 Ruth 3-4 Redemption 134 147 Editorials Doing things properly 145 Dwell in the Land 133 First and Last 1 God is Faithful 17 How not to do it 61 If I tell of Gideon 45 Lead thy captivity captive 33 Leaders to follow 73 Samsom: failure and success 85 Strength in separation 97 There was no king 121 To serve a living and true God 109 Comments 14, 30, 43, 58, 70, 83, 95, 106, 119, 129, 141, 156 Questions and Answers 32, 60, 72, 108, 120, 132 Other Contributions Government and kingship in Israel 144, 157 Israel's besetting sin 110 The close of the book 146 Editorial movements 62 Erratum 96 Bible Studies A magazine for the exploration of the Word of God [Acts 17: 11] EDITORIAL 8801 FIRST AND LAST It is readily apparent that the book of the Judges changes its style at chapter 17. The preceding chapters present a largely historical narrative of events which took place over hundreds of years whereas the later chapters detail a few events which occurred in a short space of time. The former part is mostly about Israel's strife with her external enemies but the latter part is about trouble within the nation. What is perhaps most eye-catching, however, is that the events of the closing chapters took place early in the rule of the Judges as the men- tion of the grandsons of Moses and Aaron (Jud. 18: 30, 28: 30) as well as the capture of Laish (cf, Jud. 18: 7 et seq. and Josh. 19: 47-8) show. Furthermore, it is clear that the state of affairs described in the final chapters actually obtained throughout the period of the Judges (18: 30-1, 17: 6, 18: 1, 21: 25). Thus the book of Judges presents a two-fold account of this period of Israels history. On the one hand there is the straight-forward historical record and on the other there is an unveiling of more secret things of moral and spiritual significance. Such a two-fold account of the same events is not uncommon in the Scriptures. For example, there are two accounts of the creation of man. The tale of Abraham begins with a historical record of his leaving Ur (Gen. 11: 31-2) followed by the Lord's dealing directly with him (Gen# 12: 1-9). On a larger scale the Chronicles deals with the events of the Kings but seen especially from the perspective of the house of God. Without anticipating too much our studies later in the year concerning the latter part of the book we may say that similar perspectives are brought before us in the book of the Judges. In pass- ing we wonder if a similar two-fold account is being kept by the Lord with respect to our own lives, especially in regard to our attitude is the house of God. 1 A second comparison suggests itself from the fact that the lax state of spiritual appreciation in Israel described in Judges 17-21 obtained throughout the period when Israel were alternately at war and at peace with their external enemies; for the record of the New Coven- ant people of God in the Acts of the Apostles is one of alternating strife with their external enemies and difficulties within the new nation. Paul knew something of this in his personal spiritual warfare: "without were fightings, within were fears11 (2 Cor. 7: 5). We may therefore antici- pate such two-fold sources of strife amongst the people of God today, both in assembly life and in personal life. Finally, we might well ask ourselves why, if such a critical state of affairs occurred at the beginning of the period of the Judges and continued throughout it, the fact is not revealed to us till the end of the book. We suggest the answer to this is to be found in the fact that the sad state of affairs so revealed is recounted there as a contrasting background to the rise to the throne of the man after God's own heart, even David, who had such a clear grasp of the purpose of God in the house of God in his day. In detail, the contrast may be seen by com- paring the kind of people who inhabit the closing chapters of the book of Judges with those who grace the succeeding book of Ruth; a book written (amongst many other reasons) to herald the rise of David. Thus, we have much to look forward to in this year's studies. Although much of it may be of a sombre nature it is helpful to remem- ber where things are leading to. Perhaps, too, we may see something of a similarity between these things and our own day. We are certain that the darkness of the day, the difficulties of the way, the troubles from without (and within) will serve only to form a background against which the coming of David's Greater Son will shine all the brighter. He who has framed the Scriptures in such a marvellous way and who opens our eyes and hearts to see something of His works and ways in His Word has framed the ages and placed our lives in them with as much precision and purpose. The two are not unrelated either for the more we are masters of the written Word the better equipped we will be to see God's purpose in His Son in relation to our lives. I. E. P. 2 JUDGES AND RUTH: INTRODUCTION AND ORDERING OF THE BOOKS (Judges 1: 1-2: 5; 18: 30; 20: 28; Ruth 1: 1) From Aberdeen: It has been suggested that the story of Ruth took place after Ezra returned with the remnant from Babylon. Examination of the first chapter of Ruth shows that the story took place "when the judges judged*1 (Ruth 1: 1). Indeed, it has also been suggested that the setting of the story is located in the first half of the book of Judges* In the book of Judges we are introduced to the behaviour of Israel after the death of Joshua. A new generation grew up after all Joshua's contemporaries had died and this new generation "knew not the Lord11 (Jud. 2: 10). In their ignorant condition they forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtaroth (Ashtaroth, it is said, were figures which were equivalent of the goddess of fertility). This provoked the Lord to anger and the story of Judges is one of departures, followed by divine anger and, when in a low state, the Lord time after time sends deliverers or "judges". Trouble came from Israel's failure to drive out completely the inhabitants of the land. These remaining people were to exert evil influence on God's people in days to follow. The fact that great milit- ary victories were achieved (Judah slew 10, 000 Canaanites in Bezek) proved two things; that the Lord was with His people in battle and that, though small in number, this remnant of the Canaanites was able to cause great vexation to Israel's welfare and spiritual condition. The gravity of leaving the task unfinished is underlined by repetition of the scripture "Ephraim drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer... Zebulun drave not out... Asher drave not out... ". The Lord was with them as we are told (1: 19, 22) but how far were they prepared to carry out His will? For us this has a very personal application. No doubt we are under continual test. The trouble that a small number of foes can cause is concisely summed up in the saying of Solomon, "Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking savour" (Ecc. 10: 1). Perhaps the book of Judges teaches us to beware of the enormous strength of those foes within - the flesh or the old man as it is called. Until our present earthly experience ends there is a need to keep con- stant check on whatever contrary things remain, things belonging to the old man. In summary, in the time of the Judges the Canaanites were as thorns in the sides of the Israelites and we can see a similar problem in our experiences today. James Johnson 3 From Birkenhead: The book of Judges is more than just a historial record. It recounts God's dealings with Israel and other nations, illustrating and revealing His character and work. It covers roughly the period from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy under Saul. The period was one of tribal discord, defeat and famine, inter- spersed with merciful deliverance by God in response to the penitent cry of His people.
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