Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction to the Unit

“Called to Be Strong” introduces the era of the judges.

The book of Judges continues the history of Israel after Joshua’s death.

God raised up a series of national leaders called judges.

Empowered by God, judges delivered the people from their enemies.

Please note: The most difficult aspect of teaching this month’s lesson is not conveying the message, but adequately conveying the message through the lens of the Scriptures.

Most people do not have a good grasp on the Book of Judges.

JUDGES, BOOK OF.

The seventh book of the Hebrew Bible and second book of the Former Prophets in the Jewish canon of Scripture adopted by the early Christian church as the OT.

Judges is a collection of stories about persons and events of the premonarchy period in ancient Israel, arranged to present an edifying history of the period extending from the death of Joshua to the establishment of monarchy as told in 1 Samuel.

The historiography of Judges is essentially religious, displaying various qualities of leadership along with problematics of Yahwist peoplehood, when “there was no king in Israel,” and each one “did what was right, as he saw fit” (17:6; 21:25).

The title “Judges” reflects a public activity and/or office of the leaders, especially in times of hardship and oppression, about whom the stories were told.

The authority of the leaders is dependent upon Yahweh, whose role as divine warrior is subordinated to his role as divine judge (11:27) and subject to the general duty of law, whether local or international, to conform with standards of justice (Good 1985: 399).

JUDGES, BOOK OF.

The seventh book of the Hebrew Bible and second book of the Former Prophets in the Jewish canon of Scripture adopted by the early Christian church as the OT.

Judges is a collection of stories about persons and events of the premonarchy period in ancient Israel, arranged to present an edifying history of the period extending from the death of Joshua to the establishment of monarchy as told in 1 Samuel.

The historiography of Judges is essentially religious, displaying various qualities of leadership along with problematics of Yahwist peoplehood, when “there was no king in Israel,” and each one “did what was right, as he saw fit” (17:6; 21:25).

The title “Judges” reflects a public activity and/or office of the leaders, especially in times of hardship and oppression, about whom the stories were told.

The authority of the leaders is dependent upon Yahweh, whose role as divine warrior is subordinated to his role as divine judge (11:27) and subject to the general duty of law, whether local or international, to conform with standards of justice (Good 1985: 399).

A. Outline of Judges

Robert G. Boling., “Judges, Book of,” ed.

David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 1107.

Without a Doubt

The Lesson Aims do a wonderful job of helping us to digest the scripture, along with what this lesson seeks to teach us through the text.

If I was to rename the points of this lesson, they would be:

The Social Problem: The people’s unfaithfulness to God

The Spiritual Call: One that Does not make sense according to the people’s social status quo.

The Selfless Decision: He chose to bring God’s spokesperson, as that would assure victory.

Teaching Old Testament texts like these require a plot-twist.

We no longer need a person to ensure God’s presence with us.

We no longer need a person to fulfill God’s direction for our lives.

God is ALWAYS with us, by His Spirit, given through His son, Jesus Christ.

Wrestling with Doubt

It becomes evident here that God always raised leaders to guide his people...... as a result of their disobedience.

The people have turned from God.... AGAIN!

So as God punishes them, He still holds Himself to His covenant WITH them.

There is peace wherever there is obedience (See “The Biblical Context” on Page 14).

As a result of their disobedience, there is need for another Judge, Gideon, the fifth judge of Israel.

A big point to this lesson is found in verse 14, “Go in the strength you have...” - There was a great difference between reality and his perceived reality.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is called doubt.

He thinks he can’t, although He already had the power to complete the task WHILE he was doubting.

Asking for a sign is a big issue throughout scripture.

It is normally viewed as one’s search for assurance as a result of doubt of God and his power.

Seeming (Divine) Absence

Certain Assurance (that God is with Him)

Shaky Acceptance (of God’s Promise)

Building Trust

This is a simple narrative with a lot of beauty and truth within it.

Will we allow broken relationships to be mended (when we have been hurt)?

Will we mend broken relationships (when we’ve hurt others)?

You need to read and include verses 12-28 of the text.

It is a vital portion that fills in the gaps between points (found in the commentary at the bottom of page 24).

A Closing Thought

People called to be leaders may question the motives of their supporters.

People are just as quick to jump off the bandwagon as they did jumping onto it.

How do these leaders know if their supporters’ motives are sincere?

Jephthah was concerned about the intent of the elders, the same ones that had allowed Jephthah to be cast out of his hometown.

He discussed the inconsistencies in the behavior of his supporters and established conditions of his leadership.

In the end, it was God’s ratification of their agreement that solidified the relationship.

Destined for Greatness

Once again, the people turn their back on God.

And also, again, God calls another leader.

This time, God chooses to call a leader by way of his mother.

THIS LESSON IS ABOUT SAMSON, THE POINT OF IT LIES WITHIN VERSES 6-23.

“God specializes in making something out of nothing.”

Barah - to create out of nothing.

--- This was a divine habit.

The declaration of Samson’s destiny is given prior to his first breath.

It is about the plan for Samson’s life, but it is also about the faith, or lack thereof, of Manoah and his wife.

Manoah is satisfied once he “sees God for himself.”

Great characteristics of God’s divine nature are at work here.

The narrator’s concern is not primarily the human characters (except to show their weaknesses) but on the divine force behind the events.

The role of God is highlighted in many ways:

1.

The choice of a barren woman as the agent through whom the deliverer will come to the nation, which recalls God’s miraculous work in providing Sarah with a son.

2. The initiative that Yahweh takes in providing a deliverer, despite Israel’s lack of desire for deliverance (v.

2).

3. Yahweh’s prescription of the lifestyle and conduct of Manoah’s wife and her son (vv.

4–5, 13–14) and her explicit recognition of this prescription (v. 7).

4.

Although the messenger of Yahweh remains anonymous, the riddle of his identity keeps the reader focused on him throughout the chapter.

Manoah’s dim-wittedness serves as a foil for the messenger who retains control over the pace and direction of the narrative.

5.

The narrator’s recognition of the close relationship between Yahweh/God and the messenger/“man of God,” who speaks for him, particularly in vv.

8–9.

6.

The claim of the name “Wonder[worker]” by the heavenly visitor (v.

18).

7. Manoah’s (and his wife’s) growing awareness of the identity of the messenger, moving from “man of God” (vv.

6, 8) to “Wonderful” (v.

18), to “messenger of God” (v.

21), to “God” (v.

22), as the source of these events.

8.

The fulfillment of the promise in Samson’s birth (v.

24a).

9. Yahweh’s blessing of the child as he grows up (v.

24b).

Daniel Isaac Block, Judges, Ruth, vol.

6, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 398–399.