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).