The list of Judges that we will be looking at includes:
• Othniel – Judges 3:7-11– he served for 40 years
• Ehudin – Judges 3:12-30 – he served for 80 years
• Shamgar – Judges 3:31
• Deborah – Judges 4:1-5:31 – she served for 40 years
• Gideon – Judges 6:1-9:57 – he served for 40 years
• Tola – Judges 10:1-2 – he served for 23 years
• Jair – Judges 10:3-5 – he served for 22 years
• Jephthah – Judges 10:6-12:7 – he served for 6 years
• Ibzam – Judges 12:8-10 – he served for 7 years
• Elon – Judges 12:11-12 – he served for 10 years
• Abdon – Judges 12:13-15 – he served for 8 years
• Samson – Judges 13:1-16:31 – he served 20 years
This is a total of 296 years that these twelve Judges served. In this series, dealing with these Judges, we want to know WHO THEY WERE and WHY GOD PUT THEM IN THIS POSITION.
Actually the Book of Judges is a history book in the Old Testament of the Bible. However, it is more than a history book, it also teaches us many valuable lessons in the Christian life about our need to trust God more.
The English title "Judges" is misleading. The Hebrew word “Shofet” more often means “champion, deliverer, or military leader.” Only Deborah is represented as "judging" in the modern sense.
When many of us hear the word “Judge” we have a negative thought. Why?
Illus: The question that is being asked by many today is, “Can a person truly get justice in the courts of the United States by our judges?” It appears many times that justice today is for sale.
One thing is for sure; there can be little debate that America’s judiciary system is plagued with PREJUDICE, CORRUPTION AND GREED.
Sometimes it seems that getting a fair shake in court these days depends on who’s representing you and what kind of strings your lawyer can pull. What the lawyer knows seems to be less important than WHO THEY KNOW. Today, the lawyer with the right connections always holds the upper hand over the lawyer that doesn’t have those connections.
From top to bottom and everywhere in between, the legal community is a tight knit conglomeration of cliques and inner circles. If your lawyer is not part of the "in" crowd - the good old boy network where glad handing and behind the scenes dealing rule the day - you may find yourself in a whole heap of trouble if and when you land in court.
What is sad is that as corrupted as our judiciary system might be, other countries are in a lot worse shape than we are. I am not trying to be unkind by saying these things, they are something that many believe to be true and need to be said.
We all have seen people that should have gone to jail or to death row, walk out of our court rooms with their lawyers, smiling. And when this happens we never know what took place behind closed doors.
But many people are really turned off with judges, and when they hear the word “Judge,” bad thoughts enter their minds.
But the Judges we will look at did not sit behind a desk in a black robe; they played a different role.
The Book of Judges covers a period of almost 300 years when Israel had no king. Instead, God appointed special people called “Judges” to lead His people.
WHAT WAS THEIR MISSION?
They were holy men (and one woman), whom God called.
• They led the people in battles
• They helped the people to serve God
When there was a judge before the people of God, the people obeyed God. And God helped the people in their battles against their enemies.
But, when there was no judge, the people forgot God.
Some of the famous judges that we are most familiar with are:
• Deborah (Judges chapters 4-5),
• Gideon (Judges chapters 6-8)
• Samson (Judges chapters 13-16).
In Deuteronomy chapters 27 and 28, we can read what would happen in Israel’s future.
If Israel’s people were:
• Loyal to God, He would bless them
• Not loyal to God, He would curse them
Look at Deut. 28:15-26, we read, “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: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish. And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed. The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.”
In Judges, we can see examples of how those things happened. Sometimes people obeyed God and sometimes they did not obey him.
When they disobeyed God, He allowed their enemies to be strong.
So, the people asked God to help. And then, God would appoint another judge.
Look at Judges 2:16-19, we read, “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 days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. 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.”
Notice, the Lord is the chief Judge.
• He allowed cruel things to happen to Israel’s people before their enemies. He punished them severely.
• He also sent people to make Israel’s people free. There were periods when they had peace.
God had promised to give them the PROMISED LAND. They had to fight many battles to get it and to keep it.
Today we hear a great deal on the news about the Arabs and Jews contending over who owns the promised land.
Illus: Many years ago, the Palestinians and the Israelis were arguing about who owned the promised land.
To work this out, one day the prime minister of Israel sits down with Yasser Arafat to negotiate their conflict.
The prime minister asks if he can begin by recounting a story.
Arafat says, "Of course."
"Years before the Israelites came to the Promised Land and settled there, Moses led them for 40 years through the desert," the prime minister said. "During this period, the Israelites began complaining about thirst. Lo and behold, a miracle occurred and a stream appeared before them. They drank their fill and began to bathe their dusty bodies. When Moses came out of the water, he found his clothes were missing."
"'Who took my clothes?'" demanded Moses.
“‘It was the Palestinians,’” replied the Israelites.
At that point, Arafat objected: "Wait a minute. There were no Palestinians during the time of Moses."
"Precisely," replied the prime minister. "Now that we've got that settled, let's begin our negotiations.”
The promised land has been fought over more than any other real estate in the world. This battle will continue until the Lord returns and sets up His Kingdom on earth.
But during the time of the Judges, God placed these people in this position to lead Israel.
• The judges that God called to rule Israel were very wise
• Were they perfect, absolutely not
• Many judges had strong beliefs
• They very much wanted the blessings that God promised
• They wanted their nation to obey God’s commandments
People did not choose them for their jobs. God chose them. The jobs did not usually pass from father to son.
There were 12 judges (leaders).
Six (6) judges had power that God gave to them. They had a part in very important political events.
They helped God’s people (Jews) to make their home in that country
Some of the other judges were less important. They helped to make sure that people obeyed the law.
Illus: The Book of Judges is like a bridge. The bridge is BETWEEN THE EXODUS AND THE GOVERNMENT BY A KING.
God never made Israel completely free from other nations.
HE HAD A DEFINITE REASON FOR DOING THIS?
He always had other nations He would use as whipping rods when Israel disobeyed him.
Illus: It is the same reason that it is good for parents to have a paddle hanging on the wall. It is a constant reminder that when they disobey they know why that paddle is there.
The children of Israel often needed a good spanking.
Illus: That reminds me of the little girl that hesitantly peeped through the doorway of her father's study.
• "Daddy?" she whispered shyly.
• "What is it, Pumpkin?" replied her father with a smile.
• "Daddy... um..." She swallowed nervously and took a deep breath. Then she quickly blurted, "Daddy you wouldn't spank me for something you knew I didn't do... would'ja???"
• “Of course not, Princess!" chuckled her father. "Daddy would never give you a spanking for something he knew you hadn't done."
• "Are you... sure?" she prompted, anxiously, "Daddy... do you... promise???"
• "Very well then," chuckled her father indulgently, "Daddy hereby promises never to spank his little angel for something she didn't do. Cross his heart and hope to die! There. Does that make you feel better?"
• "Oh yes!" sighed the relieved little girl, handing her father a note from her teacher, "Because I didn't do any of my homework last week!"
When they did disobeyed God, He would chastise them by allowing these other nations to become His whipping rod. Once they repented, He would raise up a Judge to lead them back to obedience.
Conclusion:
We have seen . . .
THE HISTORY OF THE JUDGES
