Tag Archive | The book of Judges

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 96

Apr5

    Day 96 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year and have begun a new month. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 96 – Judges 19 – 21 (A very bad incident, civil war, and kidnap)

Wow, can it get any worse? Today’s reading, the last in Judges, shows how morally low people can get without the knowledge of God.

Chapter 19 tells a story about a Levite that parallels the story of Sodom in Genesis 19. A Levite’s concubine runs away to her father and he goes after her. After several days, the father allows him to take her away. On the way home, they stop in a town of the tribe of Benjamin. An old man advises him to spend the night INDOORS!  The reason is that the town is full of craving homosexual men! Like at Lot’s door in Sodom, these men demand that the old man send the Levite out so they can “have their way with him.” The Levite sends out his concubine instead and they ravish her all night so that she dies at his doorstep. (Can you believe it??)

He loads her body on his donkey and goes home, where he cuts it in pieces and sends one to each of Israel’s tribes. (Gag!)  In Chapter 20, the tribes muster soldiers to go after Benjamin to destroy them all. After two costly defeats, they use an ambush technique we saw Joshua do against Ai, and nearly wipe out all the Benjaminites – only 600 left. 

Remorse then hits the other eleven tribes, and in Chapter 21, they devise a plan to give these 600 min, wives to carry on the line. They notice that one city in Israel did not send soldiers to fight. So they go and kill all the men and married women, and steal 400 virgins for the men of Benjamin.  But, alas, there are still 200 wifeless men! What to do??

They hear of a festival in Shiloh. They wait in ambush (a different kind) for the young women to come into the vineyards dancing… and grab 200 of them.  With these new wives, the 600 of Benjamin return, rebuild their towns, and live in them.

The last verse in Judges says it all. “In those days there was no king in Israel (and) everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”  

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 94

Apr3

    Day 94 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year and have begun a new month. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 94 – Judges 13 – 15 (Samson, good & bad)

Chapter 13 begins with the people of Israel doing EVIL in the sight of the LORD. So, the LORD gives them over into the hand of the Philistines for 40 years.

The Philistines occupied five cities near the Mediterranean coast: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron. It’s possible that they were oppressing Israel from the West at the same time as yesterday’s reading about the Moabites and Ammonites on the East of the Jordan River – a pincer or squeeze situation.  

God raised up a Danite judge, Samson, who is probably the most familiar (and possibly the worst). His story begins with a barren woman whom the Angel of the LORD promises a son. And he is to be a Nazarite from the womb. (Numbers 6:2-8 details the Nazarite prohibitions about eating grapes, cutting hair, and touching dead bodies – all of which Samson fails.)  Samson’s parents seek to train him up in a godly way, and at first, we see the LORD blessing him and stirring him to service.

In Chapter 14, Samson oddly seeks a Philistine woman as his wife. His parents object, but verse 4 reveals that this was of the LORD, as an opportunity against the Philistines. (His ways are mysterious, for sure!)  On the way with his parents to make the marriage deal, a roaring lion came at Samson. Empowered by God’s spirit, he tore the lion to pieces with his bare hands. Several days later, as he returned for his wedding feast, he saw the lion’s carcass in which a swarm of bees had set up house.  He swiped a handful of their honey to enjoy on his journey.  Later, he thinks up a riddle to ask as a way to get “loot” from his Philistine family. 

"Out of the eater came something to eat.
Out of the strong came something sweet."

None of the guests could guess the riddle, and since they didn’t want to lose 30 costly garments, they threatened his bride to find the answer. Afraid, she obeyed, and Samson was tricked.  He knows what they did, and IN ANGER, with the Spirit of the LORD on him, he struck down 30 men of Ashkelon and took their spoil.  Thinking Samson would not return, the bride’s father gave her to the “best man.”  After all, a feast had been prepared. Can’t let it go to waste!

Chapter 15 tells how Samson returned after a cooling-off period to claim his wife and consummate his marriage, only to find his wife had been given to another. Furious, he catches 300 foxes, ties their tails together, and lights a torch between them. The foxes run wildly through the fields of ripe grain, burning it all with the olive orchards.  In retaliation, the Philistines burned his wife and her father. For that he killed all of them. 

Later, the Philistines came to Judah searching for Samson to kill him. The men of Judah gave him up!!!  As the Philistines requested, they bound Samson with new ropes and turned him over to the enemy. 

However, when they roared with glee, the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon Samson, and he burst the robes as if they were straw on fire. They melted off his hands.  With those hands, he took the jawbone of a freshly dead donkey, and with it, he killed a thousand Philistines. 

After all that killing, he was thirsty and called out to the LORD.  Graciously, the LORD split open a rock and poured out water so Samson could drink and be refreshed. 

A flawed hero, full of arrogance, but still used by God. Gives US hope, doesn’t it?

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 93

Apr2

    Day 93 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year and have begun a new month. Praise God! What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 93 – Judges 10 – 12 (8 more “bad” judges, Jephthah’s vow)

I know it’s been only a few weeks since we witnessed Moses leading Israel on the East side of the Jordan, and conquering the kings/nations that opposed them there, but did you realize it’s been 300 years??? (11:26)

Chapter 10 tells of two more Judges that arose to “save” Israel from their enemies (which they were supposed to have driven out)!  Tola, a grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, and Jair from the Trans-Jordan tribes.

After these two died, “Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia.” They left God and God’s anger flamed against them. He allowed these people to oppress and crush Israel for 18 years. The severely distressed people of Israel cried out to the LORD, admitting their sin. This time, God told them to go to the gods they worshiped and ask THEM for help.  But Israel persisted in their confession and repentance, pleading to be delivered.  And God pitied their misery.

Chapter 11. This is when Jephthah, a mighty warrior, rose to lead Israel to war against their enemies. (God did not appoint him but allowed it.) Jephthah led a successful military campaign. Israel re-took the land they’d lost to the intruders. HOWEVER, before going to war, Jephthah made a very terrible vow. He vowed that if the LORD would cause him to be victorious, the first thing that came out of his house on his return would become a sacrifice. He, of course, expected it to be an animal. (In his house? Yes, some were kept in a barn-like area beneath the living quarters.)

When he returned victoriously, his only child, a daughter, came out of his house to celebrate his wonderful victory, and Jephthah was horrified.

LET’S STOP HERE.

First, the LORD in no way allowed human sacrifice. Deuteronomy 18:10.

Second, Leviticus 5:4-6 allows a person to escape a “rash” vow, that would cause him to sin. He can confess his sin and bring a lamb or goat to the priest for a sin offering. The priest will make atonement for him…..and he is released from the vow.

Obviously, Israel was so far from knowing The Law given to them through Moses, that Jephthah felt he HAD to go through with his vow.  He gave his daughter a two-month reprieve to grieve her loss of the opportunity to marry. When she returned, he “did with her according to his vow that he had made.”

Chapter 12 continues with Jephthah’s brief “rule” as judge, foolishly warring against the Israelites of another tribe. After six years he died.

Next, Ibzan judged Israel for seven years and died.

Elon judged Israel for ten years and died.

Abdon judged Israel for eight years and died.

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The first verse in the next chapter says, “And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.”  Little did they know that they were about to get their WORST Judge of all.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 91 & 92

Apr1

    Day 91 & 92—  We have been reading the Bible daily for a quarter of the year. Praise God! What have you learned about God?  About yourself?  (Note: SUNDAY’s readings are combined with MONDAY’s)

   Day 91 – Joshua 6 – 7  (Midian & Gideon)

In Chapter 6, the “cycle of sin” repeats.  After 40 years of “rest” under Deborah, “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.”  And Israel was brought very low because of Midian.

When the people cried out to the LORD, He heard and sent a prophet to admonish them. 

Then “the angel of the LORD” visited the fearful, doubtful Gideon and called him a “mighty man of valor.”  This story shows the immense patience that God will show towards one of His chosen servants, as first Gideon, whines and complains, then doubts the presence and words of the LORD.

First, Gideon had to pull down his father’s idols and sacrifice to the LORD. Then God was patient with the man through the two nights of fleece laying out, testing God which Israel was never to do., On top of that, in Chapter 7, God won the victory as Gideon obeyed. The Midian army took flight and even started killing each other! Gideon called back the men he’d sent home to chase the enemy across the river and kill the two princes of Midian. Hooray! But wait. So high did Gideon go, and so low would he, Gideon had to reduce the size of his army from 32,000 to 300 men, and he had to go against the huge Midianite army with NO SWORDS, only pots and torches. AND… the powerful Name of the LORD.

Of course, God won the victory, as Gideon obeyed. The Midian army took flight and even started killing each other! Gideon called back the men he’d sent home to chase the enemy across the river and kill the two princes of Midian. Hooray! But wait. So high did Gideon go, and so low will he sink in tomorrow’s reading.

Happy Resurrection Day! Jesus has RISEN!

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    Day 92 – Joshua 8 – 9  (Gideon & Abimelech)

Chapter 8 tells more about Gideon, and it’s not good. He tries to mop up after the Midianite victory, but his fellow Israelites won’t even help him by giving his exhausted men bread to eat. He swears to get even after he catches the enemy kings, and he does.

But power and glory go to Gideon’s head, and when Israel wants him to “rule over us,” he first denies their request, saying, “The LORD will rule over you.” The Next thing we know, however, is that he’s collecting golden earrings from them and making an ephod. (NOTE: This was supposed to be ONLY for the High Priest of Israel.) Soon, the Israelites were worshiping it. (Sheesh!!) But God was gracious and allowed forty years of peace in the days of Gideon.

After Gideon dies, the people turn wholeheartedly again to worshiping false gods.

In Chapter 9, Abimelech, one of Gideon’s 70 sons proclaimed himself their ruler and proceeded to kill all of Gideon’s many sons (except Jotham, the youngest one, who escaped). He killed them all on a single stone, so perhaps this was an “offering” to a false god. Jotham called out against Abimelech, predicting his downfall by fire.

And it happened just as the boy predicted; after Abimelech warred against many cities, killing thousands, he came to Thebez. The people there fled to the tower, but he set it afire. A woman threw out a millstone, which crushed Abimelech’s skull. He ordered his armor-bearer to kill him so it wouldn’t be known that a woman had done the deed. But, alas, the Bible said A WOMAN did it. And so the curse of Jotham came to pass.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 89

Mar29

    Day 89 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God!  TODAY, we begin the eighth book in our Bible reading!

   Day 89 – Judges 1 – 2 (Mopping up, but failing. idol worship and judgment, pleas and rescue)

Chapter 1 begins where Joshua left off, although it is written by a different author. The large tribe of Judah wants to obey God and drive out all the Canaanites in their land. They enlist the tribe of Simeon—living in the middle of Judah territory—and go to war. God gives them victory, even in Jerusalem (but they soon lose that city again). Then, the Judahites help Simeon fight the Canaanites still in their section of land.

All the other tribes fight the pagans in their areas, but every time (except for Issachar), they put the enemy to “forced labor” but are unable to drive them out ultimately.

Because of this, in Chapter 2, God tells them He will not continue to drive out their enemies. Instead, the people they allowed to remain will become “thorns in your sides,” and they will go further beyond toleration to actually serve them.” These useless gods will become “snares” to them.

There is a brief review of the end of Joshua’s life. and the sad proclamation that a new generation rose up “who did not know the LORD or the work He had done for Israel.”  This shows that fathers in the families disobeyed God at the very core of their lives, for they were instructed to teach their children the law of their God, speaking about it when they rose up, went out, ate, and slept. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

But Israel went farther, beyond toleration, to actually serving those idols. They abandoned the LORD their God and went after other gods. And the LORD was angry and let them be plundered by surrounding enemies to the point that they could no longer stand.

Then, out of mercy, God raised up “military leaders” (judges) who temporarily saved them out of the hands of the plunderers.  Safe again, Israel went right back to their old sinful ways. God let their enemies afflict them until they cried out to him again.

The book of Judges records SEVEN such cycles of sin.