Judges

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

      The original readers were the Israelites probably between the time of Saul or David's reign. This would have been a history of their ancestors and how they lived under the time of the judges. They needed to know and understand their history when God was their king. At this time God had been denied as king and they asked for a man to be king. They seemed to think this was better for them than having God as king.

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

      The author of Judges knows the area of Israel very well. He must have been an Israelite because of the details that he gives about places and families. Most credit this book to Samuel. At the end of the book the author seems to give his insight on what kind of government he thought was better. In Judges 21:25 he says “in those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” This can be interpreted that everyone was sinning and doing what they wanted because there was no king, when in fact there was a king, the King of Kings.

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

      The main theme of this book is a cycle of disobedience. First, the people sin, usually by worshiping idols. Next, God is angry with them and leaves them. He judges them by sending another nation to enslave them. After a while the people begin to mourn and cry out to God for repentance. God hears them and restores them by raising up a judge that He pours His Spirit on. The judge dies and they return to disobedience. God gives many reminders to His people, there is a lot of killing throughout the book, much like Joshua. God speaks through His prophets, the people He chooses to lead the nation.

Summary: Judges is a book about God's patience though the Israelites continue to worship other idols and forget everything that the Lord had done for them.

What is the primary reason this book is written?

      I think the book of Judges was mainly given to the Israelites to give them a history of their time before their monarchy. God wanted them to see His original design for them, something that they turned from as a nation. I think there's plenty of warning in this book for when they disobey God. He is faithful and just to punish them but also to forgive. We get a good idea of His patience with them and His love for them, especially when He is grieved over their situation. This book is written to show how far God will go to restore His people and how much He will take. The Israelites rejected Him time and time again, but God's character was much more than just a surface thing. God restores them over and over and gives them chance after chance. All while loving them with a great love.

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

      God is a restorative and gracious God. This book is largely about God redeeming man. Man sins and God restores them in their forgiveness. In God's form of government, He gives clear guidelines and allows the people to choose what they will do. If they sin there is punishment, if they are righteous there is blessing. God blessed Joshua and the nation because he did what was right in the Lords sight. However, in Judges the nation sins, and God punishes, but He is always there to quickly restore His people. He is patient with Gideon as He keeps seeking confirmation from God and uses him to conquer Midian. In Judg 10:16 God is grieved by the misery of the Israelites. This tells me that God did not take pleasure in punishing Israel, but it actually grieved Him to see them suffer, even at His hand. At the end of the day, God is just. He is just in His punishment and in His restoration.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      We see a need for a mediator. When the people had someone to mediate for them they would obey God, but when there was no judge, or no leader, they sinned. They fled from God and worship other gods. There is a void that is needing to be fulfilled, but wont be until the day of Christ. Also, many of the judges bring the Israelites out of captivity or oppression and lead them back into obedience with the father. Each of them act as a messiah that saves the people from their enemies.

Personal Application

      Sometimes I forget that I am very much like the Israelites. As much as I criticize them, I am incredibly like them. I can be quicker to complain than to give thanks to God. I have to learn the same lessons over and over. I can lose sight of what matters most and I can waste my time on things that I've made into idols. My personal application for this book is simply to look at the Israelites and learn from their mistakes. To be someone who can overcome the seemingly stupid ways of the Israelites and be more like the men who led them. The man who did what the Lord commanded. Men like Joshua who simply did his mission. He did what the Lord asked of him in his life and that was enough.

Point of Passion

      New York City is a city founded on Christian principles. Back in the 1600's it was place of Christian lifestyles and Christian morals. There have always been great men of God that came to the city and called people to Jesus. Before it was a huge city it was a small community where everyone knew each other and where the church was a foundation for the community. Over time the city grew and the close knit communities were harder to come by. Like the Israelites in the time of the judges, the city has turned from God and from Christian lifestyles into pagan living. They now worship shoes, clothes, money and all things material. It used to be that people were content and happy and thankful for what they had. They didn't have much and sometimes having a head over their head and a community to come along side them was enough. Now we're not happy unless we have the newest iphone, newest shoes, or that we are in with the newest styles. None of which brings happiness. The Israelites never found happiness in turning from God and they refused to obey Him long enough to find happiness in obedience to Him. So basically its time to be intentional about uniting communities together and to living a life in complete opposite to the worldly ways of most in the Bronx especially. It's to remember your roots and look out for one another, love one another and worship God with one another. You will find you're true fulfillment not in things, but in God and in the principles He has laid out for us. They don't limit us but they free us.