AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES

TEXT: "Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them" (Jud. 2:16).

INTRODUCTION

1. Joshua has died, the generation that knew Joshua has died, "...and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel" (Jud. 2:10).

2. One was a woman, one was left handed, one had long hair and great strength.

3. The judges were 15 patriots and religious reformers who were raised up by the Lord to be the leaders of His people during that period of time which lay between the death of Joshua and the crowning of Saul as king.

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT JUDGES

A. TITLE AND AUTHOR

1. The title comes from the role played by its 13 prime characters--that of judges that led and delivered Israel.
2. It was most likely written by one of the 15 judges (13 in the book of Judges, and 2 in the book of 1 Samuel), Samuel.
3. Who were the 15 judges:

a. Othniel
b. Ehud
c. Shamgar
d. Deborah
e. Gideon
f. Abimelech
g. Tola
h. Jair
i. Jephthah
j. Ibzan
k. Elon
l. Abdon
m. Samson
n. Eli (1 Sam. 4:18)
o. Samuel (1 Sam. 7:15)

B. DATE AND SETTING

1. The book was written between the close of the period of the judges and the beginning of the reign of the kings--sometime around 1,095 B.C.
2. It covers a period of time from about 1,425 B.C. to 1,095 B.C., some 330 years.
3. During this period there is no "national" leader, each tribe was a law unto itself.
4. The people abandoned God (Jud. 2:10) and then turned as well verses in Judges: "...but every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Jud. 17:6).

C. AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE

1. It was written as a history of the Israelites; but as a second audience it serves as a great example of the cycle man follows in his attitudes toward God.
2. Judges was written to show the consequences of apostasy and to the continuing faithfulness of God.
3. It is a book of cycles:

a. It can be expressed as:

1) God' people would go into idolatry.
2) God's people would be oppressed.
3) God's people would repent.
4) God would raise up a judge to deliver them.
5) God's people would have peace for a time and then begin the cycle again.

b. Or summarized as:

1) Sin: "Israel did evil."
2) Servitude: "Israel served" or the Lord "sold them."
3) Supplication: "Israel cried."
4) Salvation: "Deliverer."

4. It is through these cycles that the patience of God is more clearly seen in the book of Judges than in any other book.
5. It is a reminder to us that we need to develop a God-like patience when dealing with our brethren.

II. AN OUTLINE OF JUDGES

A. ISRAEL'S DEFICIENCY (1-2)

1. The Military Situation (1)

a. Judah and Simeon's faithfulness (1:1-20)
b. Benjamin's unfaithfulness (1:21)
c. Ephraim and Manasseh's unfaithfulness (1:22-29)
d. Zebulun's unfaithfulness (1:30)
e. Asher's unfaithfulness (1:31-32)
f. Naphtali's unfaithfulness (1:33)
g. Dan's unfaithfulness (1:34-36)

2. The Spiritual Situation (2)

a. The Spiritual Sliding (2:1-10)
b. The Spiritual Suicide (2:11-15)
c. The Spiritual Solution--the Judges (2:16)
d. The Spiritual Slander (2:17-19)
e. The Spiritual Scolding (2:20-23)

B. ISRAEL'S DEFECTIONS AND DELIVERS (3-16)

1. Othniel (3:1-11)
2. Ehud (3:12-30)
3. Shamgar (3:31)
4. Deborah (4-5)
5. Gideon (6-8)
6. Abimelech (9)
7. Tola (10:1-2)
8. Jair (10:3-5)
9. Jephthah (10:6-12:7)
10. Ibzan (12:8-10)
11. Elon (12:11-12)
12. Abdon (12:13-15)
13. Samson (13-16)

C. ISRAEL'S DISORDERS (17-21) [Note: the events in these chapters are not chronological but occurred sometime during the first 16 chapters.]

1. Idolatry (17-18)
2. Immorality (19)
3. Insurrection (20-21)

III. THE ONE WORD THEME OF JUDGES: OPPRESSION

A. OPPRESSION IS A CONSEQUENCE

1. The oppression came as a result of Israel's apostasy.
2. They suffered oppression not because of some whim or folly, but as a result of sin.

B. OPPRESSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED

1. When Joshua (as instructed by Moses per God) assembled the nation at Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal to publish the blessings and cursings of Deuteronomy 27-28, we note: "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee" (Deu. 28:15).
2. What curses are those Joshua, Moses, and God?

a. They would be smitten before their enemies (Deu. 28:25).
b. Their sons and daughters would be given to another people (Deu. 28:32).
c. They would be oppressed by another nation (Deu. 28:33).

C. OPPRESSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED

1. They worshiped idol gods which caused the oppression.
2. But where did those idols come from?
3. Oppression was expected because the children of Israel failed to fulfill God's instruction: "But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee" (Deu. 20:17).
4. Israel failed at this (Jud. 1).
5. And God had told them exactly what it would lead to: "That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God" (Deu. 20:18).

D. OPPRESSION, THE EXAMPLE TO US

1. Do we expect oppression in our lives?
2. Have we "utterly destroyed" those things that cause us to sin in our lives?
3. Or have we as the Israelites of old allowed the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites to continue to dwell in our land?
4. What is the result if we have?

IV. THE PICTURE OF CHRIST IN JUDGES: HE IS THE SAVIOR FROM JUDAH

A. EACH JUDGE IS A PICTURE OF CHRIST

1. Not in every action or conduct as the judges were mere men (or in one case women).
2. But each was a picture in that we see the need of a savior; man was unable to handle it alone.
3. Every man doing what was right in his own eyes led to oppression; men following God's chosen deliverer led to freedom from oppression.
4. Christ is that ultimate Judge; the ultimate Deliverer.

B. THE NATION OF ISRAEL IS A PICTURE OF APOSTASY

1. Judges brings forth a picture of "third generation apostasy."

a. The nation was faithful under Joshua (Jud. 2:7).
b. The nation was faithful under those that knew Joshua (Jud. 2:7).
c. Yet, of the next generation it is said "...there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel" (Jud. 2:10).

2. What caused the issue for this "third" generation?

a. Materialism--of which God had warned them in Deuteronomy 6:10-12.

1) But what happened in Judges?
2) They forgot the work God had done for them (Jud. 2:10).

b. Boredom--God warned them against this in Deuteronomy 6:13-15.

1) But what happened in Judges?
2) They became bored with God and began to worship idols.

c. Disobedience--God warned them of this in Deuteronomy 6:17-18.

1) But what happened in Judges?
2) They failed for example to keep the commandment to utterly destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (see Jud. 1).

d. Assumed--they assumed that the values and faith required were being communicated to this "third" generation; and God had warned them (Deu. 6:20-25)!

1) But what happened in Judges?
2) Someone assumed the next generation knew, but the sad truth: "...there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel" (Jud. 2:10).

e. Ineffective Leadership

1) What happened in Judges?
2) Under effective leadership: "And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel" (Jud. 2:7).
3) But under ineffective leadership: "And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way" (Jud. 2:19).

3. What of our own time?

a. Has the church suffered due to materialism (work is more important than God), boredom (worship needs to be more entertaining), disobedience (well the Bible does not say we cannot do that), assuming (assuming someone else will do it), and ineffective leadership (no clear direction, everyone goes and does his own thing)?
b. Has the home suffered due to materialism (work is more important than being at home), boredom (how many affairs are a result of this thought), disobedience (on the part of the child, but also on the part of the parent for failing to correct that disobedience), assuming (that the school or the church will train my child), and  ineffective leadership (if dad is at work and not at home, then how can he be an effective leader)?
c. How do we avoid this pitfall?

1) Know the Word of God!
2) Demonstrate your faith--is Jesus THE first priority?
3) Look for God's providence.
4) Show gratefulness to God for deliverance from sin.
5) Remove yourself from the influence of sin whenever possible.
6) Participate in the works of the church.
7) Know your enemy and his methods.

CONCLUSION

1. Judges is a book that should lead us to question and observe our own lives.

2. Are we living that cycle of Judges: Sin enters, we become oppressed, we call for help, we are delivered, but we then fail to stay the course?

3. How do we avoid being as those Israelites were in Judges, stuck in a cycle of oppression, and living as if we believe in God but do not trust Him--relying on our ownselves.

4. We must learn this lesson and learn it well or the closing verse of our lives may be the same as the book of Judges: "In those days there was no king in Israel: and every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Jud. 21:25).

5. There is a King in Israel now--He is that spiritual King over that spiritual nation.

6. Are you a citizen of that kingdom? Are you doing the will of the king or are you in rebellion, in need of a deliverer?