Judges

Judges

Finding the Context:

1.     What do you see in this book that tells about the Original Reader?

The book of Judges was written to the Israelite people. It gives a detailed account of their history during the time that the judges were governing Israel. Because it documents the stories that occurred during the period of the judges, it is possible that it was written during the times of the kings after the judges governed. It also says at the end of the book “In those days, Israel had no king” (21:25). This could be implying that when this was written Israel did have a king.

2.     What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

The author knows quite a bit about Israelite history. He gives a very detailed account of this period of Israel’s history. He mentions names of numerous prophets and individuals and gives detailed accounts of the stories of these people. He also knows the names of numerous kings from other countries. He also gives a detailed account of geographic locations naming cities and information about the regions. He was also very familiar with Israelite culture and was aware of specific details about certain tribes (12:5-6). The fact that he knew so many details about so many aspects of this time period suggests that he lived around the time of the judges or soon after. We know that it was written before David conquered Jerusalem because 1:21 says that the Jebusites lived in Jerusalem and David was the one that drove them out and took over the city.

3.     What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one-sentence summary of the “main idea”?

Judges provides its readers with a detailed account of God reigning as king over Israel while his people halter between obedience and disobedience.

There is a theme throughout this book of disobedience. You constantly find Israel straying from God falling into idol worship and breaking the covenant that they made with God at the end of Joshua. You also see a constant theme of deliverance and faithfulness as God constantly raises up prophets to deliver his people after they have been put into bondage and have cried out to God to deliver them (2:10-19; 6:1,6,7-11; 8:33; 10, -11; 12:11-13:5).

4.     What is the primary reason this book was written?

Judges was written to give the Israelite people a record of their history during the time when they did not have a king. It was also written to show Israel what it was like when God ruled as their king. It gives an in depth account of what it looks like for a nation to be governed by God as king. It also provided the Israelites with an account of their patterns of rebellion, which would serve as a warning to future generations.

Theme Tracing:

1.     What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

You can see from Judges that God is a God who is concerned with justice. You see God stating that He punished Abimelech for murdering his seventy brothers (9:56). You also see that God allows and even commands the Israelites to attack the tribe of Benjamin because of the evil they did to the concubine (19-20).

You also in Judges the jealousy that God has for His people. In Judges they are frequently breaking the covenant that God makes with them by serving idols and disobeying His commands. Over and over again he allows them to go into bondage in order that they will turn back to Him (3:7-8; 10:11-16).

2.     What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

It is apparent that the Israelite people are in need of a mediator. God is constantly sending them prophets to get them out of trouble and when they have a prophet over them they are more prone to seek the Lord. Yet, after the prophet is gone, the people go back into sin. The cycle continues to be repeated over and over again revealing that a better mediator is needed for God’s people.

Application Questions:

1.     Personal Application

The biggest thing that stands out to me from this book is the fact that over and over God continues to remain faithful to His people and bail them out of the situations that they put themselves in. They deserved to be punished the way that they were, but over and over and over God raises up prophets and delivers them. He never stops. He’s always there. It is such a testimony to the faithfulness of God. I am so thankful that I serve a God who doesn’t give up on me the first, second, third or twentieth time that I mess up. He is more faithful to me than I could ever be to Him.

2.     Point of Passion-Christian Leaders

Judges shows over and over again how God calls and chooses those He wants in          leadership. Whether it is choosing the least expected man like Gideon (6-8) or bringing a mighty prophet like Samson into the world (13-16), you can see God over and over again selecting the people that He wants to represent Him before His people. In Judges you see the leaders are not the ones who are ultimately in charge. Rather they are just representatives of God, who is the true King of the nation. This is in fact what leaders are, simple men standing in the gap for the King that they serve.

You also see the Spirit of the Lord is given to prophets who are given a special calling. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jepthah (11:29) and it mentions several times that it was given to Samson (13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14).

The leaders that God appointed for Israel were a key factor in whether or not the people followed the Lord. Often after the leader died the Israelites fell right back into sin. Judges 2:7,10 says that the people served the Lord throughout the time of Joshua and afterwards the new generation that grew up did not know the Lord. Judges 8:33 says that right after Gideon died the people went back into sin. See also 12:11-13:1.