Scripture Text: Judges 1:1-3:31
Memory Verse: “Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: ‘I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, “I will never break My covenant with you.”’” Judges 2:1
Introduction:
After the death of Joshua, the tribe of Judah took the leadership in warring against the Canaanites in the south. In spite of God’s promise of victory, Judah sought the assistance of the tribe of Simeon, showing that their faith lacked complete dependence on God’s Word.
The Angel of the Lord rebuked the people at Bochim for their disobedience. He came up from Gilgal to Bochim. Israel had gone from the place of victory to the place of mourning. They had failed to drive out the Canaanites and to destroy their idolatrous altars. Therefore, the Lord would refuse to drive out the inhabitants of the land but would instead allow them to harass the Israelites. The previous generation had not taught their children to fear the Lord and to keep His commandments. The neglect of the fathers led to the apostasy of their sons.
Because Israel persisted in disobedience, God decided to allow the nations to remain in the land as chastisement upon His people. Punishment for disobedience was not the only reason the Lord did not drive out all the Canaanites. He left them to test Israel.
The people did evil in the sight of the Lord by marrying the heathen and then worshiping their idols. God punished Israel by delivering the nation into the hand of Cushan for eight years. In response to the penitent cry of His people, the Lord then raised up Othniel, a nephew of Caleb, to deliver them from their enemy and to usher in forty years of peace.
In the second cycle, Israel was subjugated by the Moabites for eighteen years. God raised up a military leader by the name of Ehud, from the tribe of Benjamin to defeat the Moabites. Israel then enjoyed rest from war for eighty years.
Studying the Word
Lesson Study
- After the death of Joshua, what changed concerning the unity of the nation of Israel? (Judges 1:1-26; Ephesians 4:3, 13; Psalms 133:1)
- Why is it so important to avoid compromise with the enemy and to defeat the enemy completely? (Joshua 1:27-36; Deuteronomy 7; Joshua 23; Revelation 18:4-5)
- When we fail to be a separate and holy people, what are the results? (Judges 2:1-15; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)
- How and what did God use to test Israel? (Judges 3:1-4; Hebrews 12:1-11; Proverbs 3:11-12)
- Why was it necessary for God to raise up judges? (Judges 2:16-21; 1 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 5:6; Jude 1:20)
Applying the Word
The book of Judges records that Israel went through six major cycles of behavior. The pattern of behavior was apostasy (rebellion), bondage (servitude), crying out to the Lord (repentance) and then God’s deliverance (Salvation). (Judges 2:11-19) Compare this cycle of behavior with that of the cycle of becoming a born-again believer.