JUDGES - Overview
BOOK ORIGIN
• There is evidence in the book of Judges that the writer, who was likely Samuel, composed the book shortly after the events it narrates occurred, between 1045 and 1000 BC <G72>
BOOK OUTLINE
• The outline of contents of Joshua is divided in three parts:
BOOK COMMENTS
** The book of Judges takes place between the death of Joshua and the period leading up to the last judge, Samuel, prior to the rise of monarchy in Israel (Josh 24:29–33; 1 Sam 1:19–28)
• This is the time when the Jewish people were still identified by tribe; Israel as a nation was only formed when tribes came together in the time of David and Saul <D505>
• During this time, various judges – who exercised leadership in several areas of society including legal and military matters – safeguarded and governed the nation
• It was a dark time in the history of God’s chosen people as the writer of Judges conveys with the refrain, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” <G72>
** The book of Judges spans the period between the death of Joshua (about 1375 BC) to the crowning of Israel’s first king, Saul (around 1040 BC) <R1795>
• The book traces the deterioration of Israel’s faith and fortunes and explains why the people of God failed to experience His blessing
• The book of Judges takes its name from the charismatic leaders (national leaders) God raised up when Israel abandoned idolatry and turned to Him for help
• Typically, these leaders functioned as military commanders, religious leaders and governors of the tribes they served
** Just as Moses and Joshua had predicted, the children of Israel started worshiping the gods of the heathens that still occupied the land of Canaan
• The Lord did not completely abandon His chosen people but raised up judges (military leaders) that delivered them out of the hands of those who spoiled them
• The people would repent, worship the Lord, and follow his commandments for awhile
• Sadly when the judge died, the people would corrupt themselves more than their fathers in following other gods
This cycle continued for several centuries. The total time of the judges was about 326 years, from 1376 BC to 1050 BC when Saul became king of Israel. <N154>
GENERATIONS
** We can see a constant cycle of generations in the Old Testament that started with dependence on God but ended in pagan disbelief; we see the same generational cycle today <J102>
• After Israel received the Promised Land, it entered into a tragic cycle of disobedience, judgment by oppressive foreign nations, repentance, and deliverance
• The book of Judges records this pattern, known as the 'cycle of apostasy'
• This cycle will continue until 'the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled' into the end times <J1101>
• Generation 1 = hardship, cry to God ; similar to the Greatest Generation who lived through two world wars and depression
• Generation 2 = feigned belief but more interested in ‘doing it my way’; similar to the Baby Boomers crossing the line into the sexual revolution
• Generation 3 = ignorance of God; similar to those in Gen X who enjoy affluence and don’t even consider God in their daily lives
• Generation 4 = pagan refusal to recognize and believe in God; similar to Gen Z outward denial of all things religious
Judges 3:7 NIV
[7] The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.
Luke 21:22-24 NIV
[22] For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. [23] How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. [24] They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
** Notice that it only took one generation to go from the dedicated times of Joshua to Judges where the next generation did not know the Lord
• Generational cycles were common, as found in the book of Judges
• We know anything can happen when the decline of a society can occur within a generation
• Today we don’t have ‘another generational cycle’ to get things right again with God as happened throughout the Old Testament (Oct 2022)
Judges 3:7 NIV
[7] The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.
CONSEQUENCE OF SIN
** The book of Judges reveals cyclical waves of punishment a society inflicted on itself due to its amoral refusal to believe and follow God, whereas the book of Romans reveals God stepping in to punish and witness His wrath poured out on a people 'gone wrong' <D40>
** Regardless of who sits in the judge's chair in this world, God remains our true judge; Pilate sat on the judgment seat at the time of Jesus trial and judged by self-interest while God continues to judge by His truth
John 19:6 NIV
[6] As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
John 19:12 NIV
[12] From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
** All through the time of Judges, we see that God never gave up on His people Israel regardless of their disobedience to Him and His ways; God issued temporary discipline in order to get them to ‘come around’ and see His truth, but He never gave up on them and won’t give up on them today! <G77>
Jud Overview.
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