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The Book of Judges

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The Book of Judges 1 Survey of the Old Testament – The Book of Judges INTRODUCTION: The events described in the book of Judges took place during the period between after the Joshua’s death to the period before the birth of Samuel the prophet. The time during which God gave Israel “judges” to deliver them from oppression by their enemies in Canaan. Judges has 21 chapters. AUTHOR: Likely to be Samuel or Ezra. DATE WRITTEN: 1086-1035 B.C. (?) PURPOSES: To review Israel's history following the conquest and prior to the Monarchy; and to demonstrate the consequence of sinful rebellion, in spite of God's repeated gracious provision of political and spiritual leaders. MAIN THEME: This book records for us the work of 13 of the 15 judges called by the Lord, who were actually military leaders during this period of the history of Israel. It also portrays for us the roller coaster ride of history depicting the rise and fall of Israel as God’s people where we will see a series of relapses into idolatry and then followed by oppressions by Israel's enemies because of their evil ways. It was during these different periods where we will find a number of heroic judges whom God had raised to become the deliverers of Israel, when Israel was sincerely penitent of their sins. ISRAEL’S 13 JUDGES 3:9 - Othniel 3:15 - Ehud 3:31 - Shamgar 4:4 - Deborah 6:13 - Gideon 9:1 - Abimelech 10:1 - Tola 10:3- Jair 11:1 - Jephthah 12:8 - Ibzan 12:11 - Elon 12:13 - Abdon 14:1 - Samson OUTLINE: This book consists of three major periods. I. The Period Immediately after the Death of Joshua: 1:1-2:10. Introduces the book of Judges and describes the pattern of disobedience which existed among the Israelites. It begins by explaining that the enemies of Israel were never fully defeated in the land given to them by God. Failing to complete that conquest was, already, a form of disobedience. As Israel continued to disobey the Lord, God allowed various judgments to take place among His people. II. The Period of the Seven Apostasies, Six Servitudes and Civil War: 3-16. This provides the history of Israel's judges. (1) The first servitude to Mesopotamia - Judge: Othniel, 3:5-9. (2) The second servitude to Moab - Judges: Ehud and Shamgar, 3:12-31. (3) The third servitude to Jaban and Sisera - Judges: Deborah and Barak, 4:1-23. (4) The fourth servitude to Midian - Judge: Gideon, 6- 7. (5) The civil war - Judges: Abimelech, Tola, and Jair, 8:33-10:5. (6) The fifth servitude to the Philistines and Ammon - Judges: Jephtha, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, 10-12. (7) The sixth servitude to the Philistines - Judge: Samson, 13-16. 2 III. The Period of Confusion and Anarchy: 17-21 This period provides an insight into the sinful state of Israel during this time. Events recorded in these chapters are not directly related to the other occurrences of the book (Judges 17-21). Two specific incidents are recorded. The first is the account of the idol worship of Micah and the Danites (Judges 17:1- 18:31). The second event begins with a gruesome crime which led the nation of Israel into a civil war. Retaliation against the Benjamites nearly destroyed the entire tribe (Judges 19-21). The book of Judges concludes with the fitting words, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). TO WHOM WRITTEN: The nation of Israel. KEY WORD: Apostasy. KEY VERSES: 2, “16 Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do so. 18 And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.” 10, “15 And the children of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray."” 21, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” GREAT LESSONS: When we do not obey God’s word completely, he sees this as rebellion We cannot win without God Numbers do not necessarily equal strength We must teach the truths of the Bible to the next generation No matter where we are in life, God will always be there to help when we turn to him We reap what we sow Life will become chaos and confusion without God’s word being put into practice SPIRITUAL MESSAGES: 1. Human failure, divine mercy, and deliverance. 2. The power of prayer in emergencies when it becomes a sincere cry to God. Note the repeated statement that Israel cried unto the Lord and how God responded. PROMINENT PEOPLE: Othniel Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Barak, Gideon, Abimelech, Tola, ]air, Jephthah, Samson, Delilah. Sunny Leong The Point Church of Christ Mid-Week Bible Discussion 27 May 2020 .
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