Tag: Judges

Reflections on Judges 1-2

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Judges begins promisingly as Judah continues the conquest of the land.  But Israel’s failure to take the land and serve the Lord soon follows.

  • Incomplete obedience – Israel took much of the land, but failed to take all of it. Even when they grew stronger than their enemies, Israel allowed the Canaanites to continue in the land.  Israel started well, but they didn’t finish what they started.  What has God called you to do?  Are you working to finish the task?  Are you seeking to fully obey God’s Word, or are you cutting corners along the way?
  • Next generation – What a great tragedy is found in 2:10! Joshua’s generation failed to teach their children the way of the Lord.  In the span of one generation, Israel goes from following the Lord to abandoning the Lord.  What are you doing to teach the next generation about God?  How are you supporting your church is this process?
  • Need for leadership – Before Moses died at the end of Deuteronomy, he passed the leadership of the people on to Joshua. When Joshua dies, no one takes his place.  There is a great vacuum of godly leadership.  What is your church doing to pass on the torch of leadership to the next generation?  How can you help?

Judges 1-5: Unfaithfulness

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1-2) Though Israel started well, they quickly became unfaithful to God.  What phrase is repeated in 1:27-33 that shows their first step of unfaithfulness?

What second step of unfaithfulness do you see in 2:11-13?

How is the second step related to the first?  What can we learn from this?

In what ways can the people around us lead us astray today?  What steps can we take to minimize our culture’s pagan influence in our lives and families?

(2) What tragedy do we find in v10 that further leads to Israel’s unfaithfulness?

What application is there in this verse for parents?  The church?  Youth?

(2-4) Judges 2:11-19 describe a continuous four-part cycle found throughout the book of Judges.  Describe each part of the cycle.

Summarize how this cycle plays out in the following passages:

3:7-11 –

3:12-30 –

4:1-24 –

(4-5) Despite their unfaithfulness, God did not desert them, but continued to deliver them from their enemies.  What assurance did Deborah give Barak (4:14)?  How does this assurance encourage you today?

How did Deborah and Barak respond after God delivered them (chapter 5)?  Are we quick to do the same?

Examples of Grace 10

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

The book of Judges gives us a repeated example of grace.  The people rebel against God, and so God sends judgment.  Finally, the people call out for help.  God could have let them continue to suffer the results of their sin.  He could have let the enemy continue to dominate them.  Instead, God shows his grace.  He raises up judges through whom he rescues his people.  God sends deliverance.  Likewise we too have rebelled against God and deserve only judgment.  But if we cry out to him, God will send us deliverance.  He has raised up Jesus to rescue us from our sin and the devil.  We don’t deserve it, but God sends his grace.