Old Testament Study of Judges Compiled from Preaching

Old Testament Study of Judges Compiled from Preaching at DBC Pastor Kevin Maki 2006

Where does Judges fit in history?

Judges: Strict Dispensational Time Genesis 0 to 2356 yrs; m gdo Kin Gra ce Judges ~400 yrs. Law Cov ena nt ent Gov ernm nce scie Con Inno cen ce God starts in revelation and ends in judgement. Ex. to Malachi Gospels to Rev. to 4018 yrs; 33 A. D. to now!

Judges: Dispensational Time 0 to 2356 yrs; m gdo Kin e Gra c Law ena Cov Genesis Judges ~400 yrs. nt ent Gov ernm nce scie Con Inno cen ce God starts in revelation and ends in judgement. Ex. to Malachi Gospels to Rev. to 4018 yrs; 33 A. D. to now!

God said to the people…

God’s command to Israel Deut. 7: 2, 3 a, 5 b “And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; 1) thou shalt smite them, and 2) utterly destroy them; 3) thou shalt make no covenant with them, 4) nor show mercy unto them. 5) Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; 6) …ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

Mistakes that people made…

Judges 1: A little compromise Compromise#1 v. 3 Ask Simeon to help do Judah’s job! Compromise #2 v. 16 As Judah goes up against the Canaanites, they are joined by some friendly Canaanites. Moses’ family = Kenites (Gen. 15: 19)

Judges 1: A little compromise Compromise#3 v. 19 Leave Canaanites (Chariots) in the valley! Compromise#4 v. 21 Leave Jebusites to live in Jerusalem Compromise#5 v. 25 Leave one man (and family) alive to re-establish Luz

Judges 1: A little compromise Compromise #6 Tribute is collected instead of destroying cities. God’s command Deut. 20: 11 Israel’s response, Judges 1: 28, 33 Compromise #7 One tribe gave up their inheritance, v. 34

Judges 3: The cycles of trouble v. 5, Compromise #8 Israel lived among enemies v. 6, Compromise #9 Israel intermarried enemies Result? served the idols v. 7 used their hands: to do evil in God’s eyes used their minds: to forget God and learn idols What have you done/thought this week?

Judges 4: Reaping what is sown Summary Sisera’s mistakes #1 Surround troops in a mountain, v. 13 #2 Park chariots near a river, v. 13 #3 Enter tent of a strange woman, v. 18 #4 Accept drink from a strange woman, v. 19 #5 Having a woman “guard” with a lie, v. 20 #6 Laying down on the job, v. 20 #7 Sleeping, v. 21 A military man knows better than THAT.

Godly characters in the book…

Judges 1: A little compromise v. 12 Reward for battle: Achsah v. 13 Caleb keeps his word and Othniel gets a godly wife (God’s command!) v. 14, 15 Proper influence from a godly woman: a) On her husband – “moved him to ask” b) On her father – WAITED to speak “What…” c) On her family – “a blessing”

Judges 1: A little compromise v. 20, Caleb’s leadership: 1) An old man > 80 yrs. (Josh. 14: 6 -8) 2) A humble man; supporting God’s selection of leadership: Moses, Joshua, Othniel 3) A giving man: to deserving family 4) A persistent man: “give me this mount!” 5) A thorough man: expel 3 sons (Josh. 15: 14) 6) A brave man: not afraid of giants (Nm. 13: 33, Dt. 9: 2)

Judges 3: Cycles of trouble Judges 3: 10 Did it take 8 years? Othniel the perfect judge: 1) Proven in war (ch. 1: 13) 2) Married a believer: Achsah 3) The Lord “raised” or established him 4) The Lord’s spirit came upon him 5) Leads Israel to complete victory in God’s time NO COMPROMISES

Judges 3: Cycles of trouble Judges 3: 16 Skills of Ehud the judge 1) able to make his own weapon 2) designed a special weapon: A) 2 edges (not common at that time) B) concealable (~9 inches “gomed”) C) matched the victim 3) prepared to get his weapon past security 4) gathered information about the king

Judges 3: Cycles of trouble Judges 3: 15 -30 Ehud: not so perfect judge 1) Compromise#6 involved with “tribute” or tax 2) No mention of the “Spirit of the Lord”; uses deception after the Lord “raises” him. 3) Ehud does give credit to the true Lord (v. 28) with Israel but not before the King (v. 20) “God” <430> can be used of “gods”

Judges 3: Cycles of trouble Judges 3: 31 Israel is delivered (again? ) by a minor judge! Enemy #1 Mesopotamia Tribe: Judah Enemy #2 Moab Tribe: Benjamin Enemy #3 Philistine (sea people) Judge: non-Israelite Shamgar uses an oxgoad to “teach” a lesson. 600 is a common troop size. Luke 4: 18 “preach” deliverance to the captives!

Application for our day and age…

Judges 2: The sorrow of man v. 4, 5 Israel’s response: 1) scream and cry! 2) name the place: “weeping” 3) MISSING STEP 4) make a sacrifice to the LORD What was missing? 2 Cor. 7: 10 [more support: Matt. 5: 24; 1 Sam. 15: 22]

Judges 2: The sorrow of man Are you missing the same step as Israel? Without true REPENTANCE there will never be true CHANGE.

Judges 2: The sorrow of man v. 8 Joshua: the last record near the age limit 120

Judges 2: The sorrow of man Review v. 6 “…the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. ” v. 10 When Joshua (and Caleb) died why did the Next generation NOT know the Lord and the Lord’s works? 1) Parents’ compromise – bad example 2) Parents’ neglect – lack of teaching 3) Childrens’ purpose – possess land

Judges 2: The sorrow of man Reward REPENT Obey Sin Listen Deliver Punish

Judges 4: Reaping what is sown v. 8 Barak is not surprised. Why? Notice the question again: v. 6, 7 “Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded…” Barak does not give a “yes” or “no” answer.

Judges 4: Reaping what is sown v. 8 Barak was wrong to reply with conditions. IF you come with me, I will obey God. IF you do not come with me, I will disobey God. Smart move, huh?

Some simple summaries…

Judges 3: Cycles of trouble Judges 3: 11 Timeline: 1) Joshua dies. 2) 8 yrs. punishment 3) 40 yrs. rest after delivered 4) Othniel dies. Cycle#1 Sin 40 yrs Deliver 8 yrs Punish

Judges 3: Cycle #2 of trouble An “offering” to the fatted “calf”. The fatted “calf” is “offered”. The judge escapes. The body is found. Israel is delivered! Jude 23

Judges 3: Cycles of trouble Judges 3: 31 - 4: 1 Timeline: 1) Othniel dies. 2) 18 yrs. punishment 3) 80 yrs. rest after delivered 4) Minor judge: Shamgar 5) Ehud dies. Cycle#2 Sin 80 yrs Deliver 18 yrs Punish

Judges 4: Cycle #3 of trouble An “oracle” is “offered” and re-negotiated. The enemy assembles. The judge strikes. Israel is delivered! A body is found. Jude 22

Judges 4: Cycles of trouble Judges 4: 2 -24 Timeline: 1) Ehud dies. 2) 20 yrs. punishment 3) 40 yrs. rest after delivered 4) Minor judge: Jael? 5) Deborah/Barak die. Cycle#3 Sin 40 yrs Deliver 20 yrs Punish

Very interesting things to learn…

Judges Puzzles #1 Caleb=“dog” Why? Gentile! Gen. 26: 34 Esau’s wives: both Hittites Heathen Tribe: Kenezites Josh. 14: 6 Jephunneh the Kenezite’s son = Caleb #2 Missing tribe? Levi (given to the Lord; Num. 1: 49, 50) Replaced by? Joseph had 2: Manasseh/Ephraim (Gen. 48)

Judges Puzzles #3 Which covenant? (Judges 2: 1) a) Noah’s from Gen. 9: 15 b) Abram’s from Gen. 15: 18; 17: 2 c) New from Jer. 31: 31, 32 d) #4 Normal use of “provoke” <03707> refers to people “provoking” God except: 1) Hannah (1 Sam. 1: 6) 2) Sanballat (Neh. 4: 1) & Asa (2 Chron. 16: 10)

Judges Puzzles #5 Use of word “hands” or “hand” for: deliverance A) God: 0 + 4 = 4 B) Enemies: 9 + 22 = 31 C) Israel: 16 + 38 = 54 #6 Where is the “city of the palms” Hint: Deut. 34: 3 Why no longer named Jericho? Hint: Josh. 6: 26; 1 Kings 16: 34

Judges Puzzles #9 Compare Josh. 1: 3 and Judges 1: 6 (make sure to note: toes = foot). What is shown about Israel and their enemies? Answer: God allows Israel to possess whatever their “feet” touch and cuts off enemies “feet. ” #10 What happened to stop the wheels of Sisera’s chariot on the way home to Mom? Judges 5: 21

Judges Puzzles #8 Judges 4: importance of “feet” Ch. 4: 10 – Army submits under Barak Ch. 4: 15, 17 – Sisera runs away from Army Key Ch. 5: 27 – Sisera “submits” to Jael (death!) #9 Compare Josh. 1: 3 and Judges 1: 6 (make sure to note: toes = foot). What is shown about Israel and their enemies?