><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Judges) CHAPTER 1:1-2:5 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Judah began well. Why did they fail to complete their task? Ought their advance to have been checked by 'chariots of iron'? Cf Dt 20:1 Jos 17:16-18;Jdg 4:13-15;Mt 9:29;Heb 11:33. 2) Notice the general movement from south to north in Chp1. Can you document a corresponding deterioration in the situation as the chapter progresses? 3) What charge did the angel of the Lord bring against Israel? What were the consequences of their failure? What may we learn from this concerning the folly of compromise? Cf Heb 12:14-17; Rom 6:16. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Judges) Chapter 1:1-2:5 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1,2,3) The Lord chose Judah to go against the Canannites and they were very successful, but unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots. There were things Israel did which were not obedient to God. Therefore, they were not completely successful. I think this is so often the case in life. Obedience is such an indicator, I believe, of how much we love God. Many of the other tribes of Israel were also unsuccessful in war. The angel of the Lord speaks to them at Bokim, telling them that in punishment for their disobedience, they will have to bear their enemies as a thorn in their side. It is really a warning to me to be obedient, or bear the consequences. More than that though is that we show our love for God by obedience, I Jn 5:3: "This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world." May we be victorious and inspired by deep love and devotion to the One who loved us while we were yet sinners. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Judges 1 - 2:5 Israelites Co-exist with Their Enemies At this time, the Israelites were surrounded with enemies. From the north along the Great Sea down to the southern coast, there were Sidonians, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivities, Philistines and Amalekites. On the east side of the Salt Sea there were Amontites, Moabites, and Edomites. Among them, the Canaanites were the most influential ones. Their religion idealized evil traits; they were cruel in war, sexually immoral, selfish, greedy and materialistic. The religions of Israel and the Canaanites just could not co-exist. However, the Israelites did not defeat them totally because it was their human desire to use them as forced labor and request their tribute. Meanwhile, they were also a very strong enemy and Israelites did not exercise faithfully to put their trust in God for chasing them out. Because of their disobedience, the Lord said "I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you." Judges 2:3. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1:1-2:5 -------------------------------- We are about to see the cycle of Judges which is as follows Israel serves the Lord --> Falls into sin/idolatry-->Enslaved-->cries out to the Lord-->God raises up a Judge-->Israel delivered-->REPEAT FROM BEGINNING... The book of Judges chronicles the period in the history of Israel where they had no distinct leader spiritually. With the emergence from Egypt lead by Moses, then continued by Joshua, the people were able to remain spiritually focused. Upon Joshua's death, they were lacking a defined leader and thus begins the period of the Judges. We will see 12 individual judgings in the book of Judges. Each one follows the cycle above. Most of the Judges times were more than 10 years. Only Jephthah, Ibzan, and Abdon were less than 10yrs. Throughout the book, the children of Israel are at war with the current occupants of the Promised land. This is the period during which they would attempt to occupy the land promised to them by God. 1-3) As with many examples in the Old Testament and stories in the OT, this one begins well. Judah is the first to go in to possess the land. They first go in and take Bezek, but are not able to completely take Jerusalem. They cut off the thumbs and big toes of Adoni-bezek. This was traditionally done to degrade the man(big toe) and to make him unable to use a weapon(thumb)[Ryrie Study Bible]. They were unable to defeat the enemy completely though due to the superior technology of the enemy. We too are often thwarted by Satan due to fear and lack of faith that God can overcome any obstacles. As they moved south to north, the Israelites encountered more and more resistance and left more and more remanants of their enemies alive. This was the problem that the children of Israel needed to overcome. Their fear would lead to the remnant of their enemies being 'a thorn in their side'. In Chp2:1 the angel of the Lord charges them with the following: 'I will never break My covenant with you, 2 and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done? 3 "Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.'" This is the lesson of compromise with the enemy. By compromising our faith and trust in the Lord, we open up a snare to be caught and trapped by false gods. We must be on guard in our lives not to allow false gods of the inhabitants of the land become our gods. Money, quest for power, quest to build the physical body - These are all 'gods' worshipped by those inhabitants of the 'land'(the world around us) which can ensnare us as be a thorn in our side. Let us tear doen their altars, make no covenants with them and obey God that He may help drive out the enemy from our midst. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Judges) CHAPTER 2:6-3:6 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Backsliding, judgement, deliverance, renewed backsliding-trace this unvarying cycle in the history of the period, as summed up in this section. What sort of spiritual life corresponds to this in the life of the individual? Cf Col 3:5,6;Rev 3:1-3. 2) What may we learn from 2:7,10 and 3:6 concerning the importance of a) Christian example, b) Christian teaching of the young, and c) Christian marriage? Cf Mt 5:13;Drt 6:6,7;Eph 6:4; I Cor 7:39(last clause); 2 Cor 6:14. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Judges) Chapter 2:6-3:6 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1,2) I think most of us can admit to being like Israel - backsliding, receiving the Lord's grace, then slipping into our old ways again. However, here we see the extent of Israel's actions - intermarriage, and serving the gods of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. One of the hardest things about being a Christian is living a life worthy of the name of Christ. Christ was sinless; we can never be perfect. No matter how hard I try, I always feel that I am falling short in some way. But that is the beauty of salvation - it is NOT by works, but by God's grace. Freely given, not earned. However, if we continue to walk in sin after we know the truth, we cannot expect the Lord to "believe" it when we say how much we love Him. I John 2:5-6 is the standard, to me: "But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Judges 2:6 - 3:6 Covenant is Broken Thou shalt have no other gods before Me, exodus 20:3 Judges 2:12-14 "And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies." God Sent Judges Judges 2:16-18 "Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a-whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so. And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the day of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them." There were three types of Judges: (1) The Priest-Judge (Eli); (2) The Prophet- Judge (Samuel); (3) The Warrior-Judge (Gideon, Samson). God sent strong leaders, judges, to help and guide them. But as soon as a judge died, the people disobeyed God again. This happened again and again as it indicated in our yesterday's E Study notes. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) The Children of Israel were guilty mainly of one thing, disobedience to God. By not doing as He commanded and defeating nations completely, they were going against God's direct command to them. This led them to sin further by commiting idolatry and worshipping the Baals and the Asheroths(gods of the other nations). In Col 3:5,6 we see the equivalence today... 5 ¶ Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, The Baals were referred to in the plural because every nation or subregion had its own Baal. Baal was a god of fertility or agricultural prominence and nature. Ashteroth/Asheroth or Asherah was a female deity represented by a wooden image who was also a god related to the fertility of the land. Worship of both symbolized lack of trust in God to provide for earthly needs. 2) A good Christian home can be so important to the development of a strong Christian. Without a good environment of nurturing of faith, or an equally yoked relationship of marriage, it can be extremely difficult for Christian growth. By marrying those unequally yoked, the children of Israel were allowing their sons and daughters to grow up worshipping other gods. May God give each of us the desire to seek to establish ourselves in environments condusive to our growth in Christ and to seek relationships that build our faith - not weaken it. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Judges) CHAPTER 3:7-31 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Observe what the Lord did against Israel(v8&12), and what He did for Israel (v9&15) What caused Him to do the first, and what caused Him to do the second? What insight does this give into the principles of God's dealings with His people? Cf Ps 34:12-18;103:8-14;2Ch 7:13,14 2) Compare and contrast Othniel and Ehud, both in their achievements and their methods. What quality was present in both men which enabled God to use them? Cf 2Chr16:9 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Judges) Chapter 3:7-31 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1,2) The Lord was angry with Israel, so He raised up Cushan-Rishathaim against them, to make them slaves to C-R. However, when they cried out to the Lord, He delivered them by sending Othniel. The Lord's anger with Israel caused the first action, and His mercy the latter. Although God does punish, He is compassionate when His people cry out to Him. Othniel was Caleb's younger brother; Ehud was "a left-handed" man, the son of Gera the Benjamite - he seemed very clever. Both were available for God's use, and were Israelites. The main thing was that the Spirit of the Lord empowered them to be leaders. Everyone is put in their place by God. If we fully believe this, we should have confidence in all elections that the man/woman chosen BY GOD to lead was put in office for some purpose. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Judges Chapter 3 Nations the Lord left to Test the Israelites 3:1-2 "These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites rwho had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan. He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience." The Lord allows the enemies around us to keep us growing by crying out to the Lord. When we cry unto the Lord, the Lord raises up a deliverer (judge) to save us. The book of Judges is related to Joshua; they reflect the negative and positive ways of Christian lives. JOSHUA is a book recording God's people living victoriously; rest and liberty; belief in God; advanced and heavenly-minded; truthful to God; enjoying God's blessings; empowered by God; oneness with God; not tolerant of sin. JUDGES shows people living in defeat; being in bondage; exhibiting unbelief; slipping; earthly-mind; turning to the god Baal; experiencing grief; weakened by the flesh; were at enmity with God; condoned sin. [World's Bible Handbook] It is mirror for us to examine our Christian and Church life. What Are the Weapons of These Three Judges? The first Judge, Othniel - The Spirit of the Lord, 3:10 The second Judge, Ehud - A double-edged sword, 3:16 The third Judge, Shamgar - an oxgoad, 3:31 Othniel is a godly man who the Holy Spirit came upon to lead God's people for a right life. However, God gave him a greedy wife, Achsah, 1:13, who wanted more. Her father gave her a desert land and she was not satisfied and asked "give us some springs, too," God may not bless a godly man with all the blessings, vice versa is true too. Ehud used his sword with his left hand. God sometimes equips us with unexpected way to attack our enemies. When I was in my teens, I played basketball with my left hand; it is advantageous to be left handed so that the defenders were usually not guarding my left side. We need to attack our enemies beyond their guard. An oxgoad is a rod about eight feet long. It had a nail-like spike on one end with which to prod the slow moving oxen, and sometimes a scraper on the other end for cleaning the plough. [Salem Kirban Reference Bible] Does it mean, laziness is our enemy?! -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 3:7-31 -------------------------------- 1) The enemy was Mesopotamia, the Lord sold the Israelites in to the hands of the Cushan-rishathaim their king. He then sent a deliverer in Othniel to deliver them from the Mesopotamians. The next enemy was the Moabites and Eglon their king. They were under him for 18 years before God sent Ehud to deliver them. The final enemy was the Philistines, the continual enemy of the Israelites. It dos not say exactly why Shamgar was raised, but he was a mighty warrior who struck down 600 Philistines with a oxgoad[8ft spearlike tool used to clean a plow and prod oxen] The judges are an mini-example of Christ. They were raised by God when the people needed a solution that they were unable to provide. They were used by Him and obeyed his purposes. They used the tools God gave them in their ministry. They delivered their people. Just as Moses and Joshua had done the same in delivering their people, so the Judges, and ultimately in the largest scope of the word Christ also delivers us. God worked in different ways in each situation, in the first, He sold the Israelites into slavery. In the second, He strengthened their enemy. The third, He uses one man to help save Israel. 2) Profile of Othniel - Proven Conqueror(Josh 15:13-19) - Spirit of the Lord came upon Him - Weapon: doesn't mention physical weapon. Profile of Ehud - Left handed man (concealed his dagger on the right side/unexpected side) [NOTE: many Benjamites were thought to be left handed or ambidextrous{both hands}] - Weapon: foot long dagger. Profile of Shamgar - Strong warrior - Weapon: oxgoad used to kill 600. We see here two famous Bible characters, Eglon the first fat man mentioned in the Bible, and Ehud, the most infamous left hander. We also have one of the most gruesome murders described in v22. When I was younger I learned to play many sports left handed. I can throw a baseball, bat left handed, and play some basketball ambidextrously. This started out when I learned baseball, since my father is ambidextrous, I used his baseball glove sometimes[held on the right hand]. As he already mentioned in his portion of sharing, being able to play sports left handed has an advantage. It is a different/unexpected direction because there aren't as many left handers out there for you to play against. Ehud had an advantage because he was unexpected in his approach. 2Chr16:9 9 "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. God supports those whose hearts are totally His, may we turn our hearts Godward and fill that God shaped void - that the French Mathematician Blaise Pascal says exists in every man's heart - to God. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Judges) CHAPTER 4 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Why do you think Barak was unwilling to undertake the campaign without Deborah? Does this reveal a defect in his faith? What insight does this give into God's willingness to bear with our human frailty? Cf Ex 4:13-16;Je1:6- 8;2Cor 3:5,6. 2) Who was the real architect of Israel's victory? Cf Ex 14:13; 2Sa 8:6,14;2Chr20:15-17. What practical application has this for us today? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Judges) Chapter 4 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1,2) Barak lacked faith in the Lord. Therefore, he asked Deborah to accompany Him. I wonder how many times we have lost blessings or received less "glory" because of the same reason. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT." Phil 4:6 tells us "Do not be anxious about ANYTHHING, but in EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God..." Just as it was God's victory over the Canaanites, it is God's work in our lives too. But Barak lacked trust in the Lord; I'm sure that his experience would have been much greater if he had confidence in God's power. As Deborah says is v. 9, "...But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman." If we want to experience God's fullest glory in our lives, we have to trust Him. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Judges Chapter 4 Deborah, Prophetess and Judge In those days there was no king in Israel: Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 25:25 In Judges' time, people did not listened to their leaders. In other words, it was a difficult time to be a leader. Under such a circumstance, God raised Deborah to be their Judge: A mother in Israel, 5:7b God did not raise a king to rule them, but a mother to nourish, cherish and caring of His people in love as a godly mother should be; Judge Deborah offered herself willingly, 5:9. She kept her people living in peace for 40 years before the sight of the Lord. A godly mother is different from a worldly mother. In Chapter 5, we are given a comparison of a worldly mother. The mother of Sisera had a son who was around with women and material possessions, 5:30. Even motherhood love is the greatest on the earth, unconditional, willingly and sometimes sacrificial. Yet God's love is in much higher degree: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Isaiah 49:15. -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) Out of lack of faith, Barak asked that Deborah accompany him into battle. Since she did that, the victory credit went to her. It reveals the first of the judges' insufficiencies of faith. Sometimes we as Christians like to pray for something and have God show us a sign or make the outcome of a 'casting of lots' the answer to our prayers. God will many times answer us through these mechanisms, but it is almost like parlor tricks or sideshow magic. It really shows our lack of trust and faith that God will do it without these little tests or confirmations. The confirmations are for us, and our lack of understanding, faith, and trust. Isn't the event more blessed if we just trust God to take care of it rather than 'fleecing' the event? As we will see later with Gideon, God may answer this, but it is only a demonstration of our weakness in faith to wait upon the answer without a fleece. It is the same as Moses asking for Aaron to be the speaker for the Exodus. Moses could have done it himself, but his insecurity created the need for Aaron. 2) The real architect behind Israel's victory as in all our victories in life was God. God delivered the enemy into the hands of the Israelites. He has already won the victory in our lives too, we just need to see it that way and to rest in the victory in Jesus. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> (Judges) CHAPTER 5 ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Directing Questions -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) Observe to what dire straits backsliding had reduced the tribes v6-8;cf 3:31;1Sa 13:19.22;2King10:32,33;13:3,7. What parallel spiritual consequences are found in the life of the backsliding Christian? 2) What qualities are praised in the story, and what kind of conduct is condemned? Is there a present-day application in our service for God? Cf Lk 8:14;9:62;acts 15:26. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Comments from (Judges) Chapter 5 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -------------------------------------------- * Blenda Chao -------------------------------------------- 1,2) In v. 6-8, Deaborah sings of the days of Shamgar son of Anath and Jael, the roads were abandoned...this was due to marauding bands from enemy garrisons (acc. to NIV study Bible). This reminds me of my mother's description of communist China in WWII times. She told me stories of how bandits robbed families trying to escape on the streets. It was very dangerous to be on the streets. However, in this case Israel was suffering because of their disobedience. In the song, Deborah rebukes the tribes of Reuben, Gad (Gilead), Dan and Asher did not come to help in the fighting. Zebulun and Naphtali, and Issachar, Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh were praised for taking action. Another town in Naphtali called Meroz was cursed for not helping. Here, Jael is praised for her heroic action of driving the tent peg into Sisera's temple. Applying to us today, it is especially poignant; the tribes who participated were recognized and praised, the ones that did not were rebuked. If the Lord were to say the same of us as witnesses for Him in spiritual warfare or witnessing to the lost, where would ourname be? May we strive to do more for Him each day. -------------------------------------------- * James Chao -------------------------------------------- Judges Chapter 5 Barak - A Faithful Man "And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon and BARAK, and of Samson, and of Jephthac; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:" Hebrews 11:32 Barak was a faithful man who knew that the Canaanite king Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron and a strong commander of the army, Sisera. He trust and obeyed what the Lord asked him to do. "---- When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!" 5:2 God intervened the battle at Kedesh, 4:9, and caused torrential rainfall and earthquake. Remember that we just read Matthew 27:51, when the Father came to earth to judge Jesus, the earth quaked. When the Lord discomfited Sisera and all his chariots, and host, he fled away on his feet, 4:15. His chariot was obviously either overturned or got stuck in the mud. Barak was a man who did all the work and received no credit at that time until Hebrew Chapter 11 was written. As humans, we value our life of our achievements. No achievement means no credit and no glory. Barak was foretold about this, 4:9, it takes a servant heart to accept this fact - "--- There were great thoughts in hearts". 5:15 "Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength." Judges 5: 31 -------------------------------------------- * Alvin Chao -------------------------------------------- 1) Israel had backslidden again and was left without weapons. IT was left unarmed against mighty foes. When we as Christians backslide, we are throwing off our spiritual armor. We must strengthen ourselves daily and put on the full armor lest we be easily turned away and get caught unarmed. 2) Praised: v2 - Leading by leaders, people volunteering Condemned: Inaction from the several tribes. God desires us to be willing servants of His. He does not want us to serve Him out of a guilty conscience, but out of love for Him. It is like the story of the willing servant and the one who was not willing, where the first said he would do the work and didn't, but the other said he wouldn't and came around a did do it. We must have the right mind set to doing the work of God, not only the action of doing the work. v31 Thus let all Your enemies perish O Lord; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might. May the Lord strengthen our love for Him and make us might as the rising of the sun.