Step 5: The Judges

Introduction

Review: Steps of the Bible

The Beginning - creation - sin - new world after the flood - nations at the tower of Babel

4000 -2000BC

4004-1996BC

The Hebrew Fathers - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 12 sons of Jacob/patriarchs

2000-1600BC

1996-1635BC

The Exodus - 120 years

1635-1451BC -approximately 185 years

The Promised Land - Israel conquers the land God promised them

1451-1428 approximately 23 years

The Judges

1427-1043 approximately 400 years - exact 385 years

The Kingdom

The Exile

The Restoration

The Coming of Christ

The Great Commission

Last week we covered step 4 the promised land and we saw Israel conquer the land that God gave them.

This week we look at Israel living in the land, a step we call the Judges.

The book of Judges paints a sad picture in Israel’s history as we learn that former victories do not necessarily dictate future successes. The theme of the book of judges depicts in a spiritual sense: the defeated Christian life. For us, the people of Israel vividly convey the results of doing what is right in your own eyes. The last verse of Judges summarizes this sad book. Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

In this dark period of Israel’s history, we do have a glimmer of good in the story of a kinsman redeemer. The Book of Ruth is a foreshadowing of our great Redeemer purchasing us back with his own blood as Boaz redeems a Moabite widow named Ruth to be his wife.

The period closes with Samuel the last judge of the period anointing Saul to be King of Israel.

Theme the defeated Christian life.

1. Delay to obey God and take the land. (Judges 1:1-3:6)

Explain

Israel come in the Land.

The twelve tribes have been divided out the land. Judah and Simeon conquer more cities of their inheritance, but the other 10 tribes delay and compromise about what God told them to do. To delay is to disobey.

The tribes of Judah and Simeon take some of the enemies in their tribal allotment.

The delay affects not only taking the land, but visibly affects the lives of the citizens in the nation. They suffer spiritually. They delay because they are.

Deadbeats - it is easier to be lazy and sit at home.

Defeatist - it’s to hard to defeat the enemies God told us to beat.

Down-player - it isn’t that big of a deal if we don’t wipe them out. We’ll put them under tribute and tax them. Besides I think that is more humane.

Argue

Why couldn’t they beat their enemies? They didn’t keep God’s Word. Joshua 1:8-9 It was good for all of Israel. Joshua 23:10 “10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.”

Why was it then that they didn’t take out all the enemies. They didn’t obey God’s commands and their hearts were towards sin. Whenever we don’t want to obey God, we are committing some sort of idolatry: bad attitude; phone; undisciplined, money, job, etc.

Illustrate

Two-minute timer to get a job done. So likewise, God gives us space to repent.

Apply

Delaying to obey God is disobedience.

Partial obedience is disobedience. Deuteronomy 6:5 “5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Compromising with sin and sinful people is disobedience. Stand for humbly and uncompromisingly for truth. 1 Peter 3:15 “15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Judges 2:19 “19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.”

When confronted with sin do you turn away from sin and run back to God?

2. Defeat of Israel by their surrounding enemies. (Judges 3:7-16:31; Ruth 1-4)

Explain

Starting in Judges 3:7-16:31, the downward spiral in the nations culture and worship grows worse and worse. There are several downward spirals in Judges. Each spiral consisted of seven steps.

Right with God

Compromise through intermarriage and idolatry.

God is angry

God allows Israel’s enemies to enslave them.

The people of Israel repent.

God raises up a judge and delivers them from their enemies.

They have peace and rest in the land till the judge dies. Then the cycle repeats.

There are judges mentioned that happen between the spirals.

The most famous of the judges is Samson. The strong man who womanized with the non-believers. Samuel is one of the last judges. He had put his sons, Joel and Abia as judges. They were greedy of money, bribes, and perverted judgement. (1 Samuel 8:2-3)

Ruth is a gem in a dark history.

Ruth a Moabite widow is loyal to her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth 1:16–17 “16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

Although the Israelites were not to marry Moabites. Naomi’s sons did and died. Whether as a consequence for the foreign wife is not clear. However, what is clear is that God’s grace extends to Ruth who honors her mother-in-law.

She becomes King David’s great grandmother and is part of the line of our Savior.

Argue

Why did it get worse? Weren’t they being affirming? Weren’t they being open-minded?

God told them to remove all traces of Canaanite culture. Numbers 33:52–53 “52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places: 53 And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.”

They adopted some of it for themselves and mixed it with the worship of the LORD. They were judged.

God is not pleased with being part of your focus. He demands all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

2 Corinthians 6:17–7:1 “17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Why did God show grace to Ruth?

God was giving a picture of his future salvation, not only to the Jews, but also to all who believe his Son Jesus Christ.

Illustrate

Apply

We live in dark times as well, yet in these dark times you and I don’t have to conform to the culture within which we find ourselves. We can boldly hold to the values of God’s word without apology. Daniel 11:32 “32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” (see also Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15)

A testimony of honoring parents is richly rewarded by God. Ephesians 6:1–3 “1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” How is your relationship with your parents?

What do I do if I feel like I am in a downward spiral. First of all confess your sin to God and those whom you have sinned against. Get help from a person who will help you walk right and check up on you. Remove all provisions for that sin from your life.

3. Depravity of Israel as the culture becomes exceedingly wicked. (Judges 17:1-21:25; 1 Samuel 1-7)

Explain

Judges 17 Micah thinks he has the LORD’s blessing because he has a young Levite to serve his family in his house of false gods.

Micah has repurposed God to his own imagination. CREATIVE, but DISOBEDIENT alternatives

Example: A child reasoning with his parents, instead of obeying right away with a good attitude.

Exodus 20:4–5 “4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”

The children of Israel were to go up to Shiloh to worship, but he sets up gods in his own house. CONVENIENCE

Micah thinks God is happy with him for having a Levite priest. CONCEITED.

Judges 18 Dan forcefully takes the young Levite priest with Micah having a force to week to take him back.

The Danites rob Micah’s house and take his priests and God’s. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. BRAWN

God’s Word should keep you in line as it did Laban. (Genesis 31:29)

The Danites steal in broad daylight. BOLD

Exodus 20:15 “15 Thou shalt not steal.”

The Danites refuse to give the Levite and the stolen idols when confronted. BELLIGERENT

They threaten Micah’s life if he tries to get his idols and priest back.

Angry

Judges 19 The degradation of women to concubines and the degradation of men as protectors. Sodomy prevalent in Gibeah. The traveling Levite has his concubine gang raped and killed by sodomites that he gave them to save his own skin.

Judges 20 The rebellion of Benjamin to deliver the sodomites up for murder. Civil war erupts and many die roughly 86,000 die and the tribe of Benjamin is nearly wiped out except for the 600 that found refuge in the rock Rimmon.

Judges 21 The compromising way of finding wives for the 600 men.

The period is aptly described with Judges 21:25 “25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Argue

Illustrate

Apply

Do you have conceited worship in your life? Do you tolerate sin and try to worship God?

Are you characterized by belligerence? Are a sweet submission to God’s Word.

Do you honor your wife as the weaker vessel? Be first to step up and protect her from harm emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Do you tell the whole story to make yourself look good? Be honest. Ephesians 4:25 “25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”

Do you compromise so much that there are no good solutions? Proverbs 4:27 “27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.”

Additional Notes

Plan to Apply