Today we're beginning the Book of Judges, a book, some might call a heartbreaking sequel to Joshua. We'll do an overview of this book of The Bible, discuss chapters one through three, and it won't be difficult to highlight the need for a rescuer in Jesus Christ as we prepare our hearts for Easter.

While we might think of the word judges in a judicial sense, these were more political and military leaders. Although we concluded the book of Joshua with the people promising that they would stay obedient to the Lord. Here in Judges, we see the consequence of the Israelites allowing some of the Canaanites to remain within their midst in the Promised land as God had frequently warned them.

Today's Reading: Judges 1-3

Scripture Read or Referenced:

Judges 1:19-22

Judges 2:1-5, 10, 11-23

Romans 7:15-8:2

**Did you catch our special Easter episode of Again with incredible author Patti Rokus? You can listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-again-podcast-for-christian-moms-encouragement-in/id1700555502?i=1000757474370

Or watch here: https://youtu.be/yhEcfdVf6tM

And catch her amazing Easter video here: https://youtu.be/LFhwEBLqMTM

Would you like to know more about this partnership we have with the Lord in our parenting? This quick episode explains how this study can guide moms, bless your church, and actually help the leaders! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-again-podcast-for-christian-moms-encouragement-in/id1700555502

Want a pretty printable reading plan? Find our free Bible-reading Resources here: www.entrustedministries.com/podcast

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

Welcome to The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries.

2

I'm Stephanie Cocks, and today

we're beginning the Book of

3

Judges, a book, some might call

a heartbreaking sequel to Joshua.

4

We'll do an overview of this book of the

Bible, discuss chapters one through three,

5

and it won't be difficult to highlight

the need for a rescuer in Jesus Christ

6

as we prepare our hearts for Easter.

7

While we might think of the word

judges in a judicial sense, these were

8

more political and military leaders.

9

Although we concluded the book of

Joshua with the people promising that

10

they would stay obedient to the Lord.

11

Here in Judges, we see the consequence

of the Israelites allowing some

12

of the Canaanites to remain within

their midst in the Promised land

13

as God had frequently warned them.

14

Being in such close proximity to the

depraved and abominable practices that

15

were common in these pagan religions

rubbed off on the Israelites, and

16

that reminds me to give a little heads

up that I'll briefly mention some

17

content that's best for mom ears.

18

In this judges teaches us how desperately

we need a deliverer and a savior.

19

In fact, the Hebrew title actually means

delivers or saviors as well as judges.

20

This book spans about 350 years between

the time of Joshua to the time that

21

a kingship was established in Israel.

22

And the specific date range for this book.

23

Would extend from about 1400 BC

to 10 51 BC Some of these judges

24

served concurrently in different

regions, so there's a little

25

bit of overlap in their reigns.

26

14 judges.

27

Are introduced, but six

are most highlighted

28

and it will be apparent how God

can use even the most sinful of

29

people to accomplish his purposes.

30

This shouldn't make us question

his character, but rather trust in

31

his power to accomplish his will.

32

Often the spirit of God will rush upon

a person to do what God intends, but

33

it's not necessarily indicative of

that person's character or worthiness.

34

The author of Judges is anonymous,

and historically, some dues

35

believe that Samuel wrote the book,

36

but what matters more is we

see this obvious sin pattern

37

the main theme we'll see is how God's

people desperately needed to deliver.

38

We've already read about how God

used Moses to deliver his people out

39

of slavery, and that Joshua helped

deliver his people into the promised

40

land, and in judges we'll keep reading

how humans fail to give a full rescue

41

for what the people really need.

42

Though it does point to the necessity

for a king to reign in Israel, ultimately

43

we're pointed to a greater king than

mankind could ever provide us with.

44

We are desperate for Messiah.

45

Let's read some portions of scripture

from these first three chapters.

46

In chapter one, God sets Judah

apart to Fight for the Nation,

47

in chapter one, 19 through 22, and

the Lord was with Judah, and he took

48

possession of the hill country, but

he could not drive out the inhabitants

49

of the plane because they had chariots

of iron, and he was given to Caleb, as

50

Moses had said, and he drove out From

it, the three sons of Annick, but the

51

people of Benjamin did not drive out

the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem.

52

So the Jebusites have lived

with the people of Benjamin

53

in Jerusalem to this day.

54

the house of Joseph, also went up against

Bethel and the Lord was with them.

55

Here's just a note about the

foreshadowing going on here.

56

God is elevating a Judah to be the line

through which he'll send the Messiah, and

57

Benjamin is appearing as someone that did

not conquer the Canaanites in their midst,

58

beginning in chapter two.

59

There's an account of the first

of three Christ Hanes and Judges.

60

A theophany is when God himself

appears, but a Christ dae is when

61

it is a pre-incarnate Christ.

62

Now, the angel of the Lord went up from

Gilgal to Baum and he said, I brought you

63

up from Egypt and brought you into the

land that I swore to give to your fathers.

64

I said, I will never break my covenant

with you, and you shall make no covenant

65

with the inhabitants of this land.

66

You shall break down their altars.

67

But you have not obeyed my voice.

68

What is this you have done?

69

So now I say I will not drive them

out before you, but they shall

70

become thorns in your sides and

their God shall be a snare to you.

71

As soon as the age of the Lord spoke these

words to all the people of Israel, the

72

people lifted up their voices and wept,

73

god is remaining completely faithful to

the warnings he gave them over and over

74

And listen to this tragedy in two

10, and all that generation also

75

were gathered to their fathers, and

there arose another generation after

76

them who did not know the Lord or

the work that he had done for Israel.

77

this verse makes me angry because

God was so clear they were to teach

78

their children about his faithfulness.

79

When they sat, when they rose, when they

stood, when they walked on the way, how

80

was it possible that in such a short time,

there would be an entire generation that

81

didn't know what God had done for them?

82

It's an absolute parental failing.

83

If you're feeling convicted that your

children don't know God's word or don't

84

know about his faithfulness to your

family, there is no better time than now.

85

Continuing in verse 11.

86

And the people of Israel did what

was evil in the sight of the Lord and

87

serve the Baals, and they abandoned the

Lord, the God of their fathers who had

88

brought them out of the land of Egypt.

89

They went after other gods from

among the gods of the peoples who

90

around them and bowed down to them

and they provoked the Lord to anger.

91

They abandoned the Lord and served

the bales and the astronaut.

92

So the anger of the Lord was kindled

against Israel and he gave them over

93

to Plunders who plundered them, and

he sold them into the hand of their

94

surrounding enemies so that they could

no longer withstand their enemies.

95

Whenever they marched out, the hand

of the Lord was against them for

96

harm, as the Lord had warned and

as the Lord had sworn to them and

97

they were in terrible distress.

98

Then the Lord raised up judges

who saved them out of the hand

99

of those who plundered them.

100

Yet they did not listen to their

judges for they hoarded after

101

other gods and bowed down to them.

102

They soon turned aside from the way

in which their fathers had walked,

103

who had obeyed the commandments of

the Lord and they did not do so.

104

Whenever the Lord raised up judges for

them, the Lord was with the judge and

105

he saved them from the hand of their

enemies all the days of the judge.

106

For the Lord was moved to pity by

their groaning because of those

107

who afflicted and oppressed them.

108

But whenever the judge died, they

turned back and were more corrupt than

109

their fathers going after other gods

serving them and bowing down to them.

110

They did not drop any of their

practices or their stubborn ways.

111

So the anger of the Lord was

kindled against Israel and he said.

112

Because this people have transgressed

my covenant that I commanded their

113

fathers and have not obeyed my voice.

114

I will no longer drive out before

them, any of the nations that Joshua

115

left when he died, in order to test

Israel by them, whether they will

116

take care to walk in the way of the

Lord as their fathers did or not.

117

So the Lord left those nations not

driving them out quickly, and he did

118

not give them into the hand of Joshua.

119

The Israelites are falling into every kind

of sin that these pagan nations committed

120

child sacrifice and cult prostitutes,

wickedness of the highest degree,

121

and we read about this cycle, the

Israelites sin, then they'll be ruled and

122

oppressed by another nation or people.

123

Then they'll cry out to the Lord

and finally God will raise up

124

a judge to help them, but then

they'll go back into a cycle of sin.

125

It goes over and over

seven times in this book.

126

I don't have enough time to read Judges

three to you today, but if you have

127

kids that are old enough, if any of

them ever says that the Bible is boring,

128

this would be a story you could point

to and say, oh, it is absolutely not

129

because Ehud a left-handed man who was

a benjamite, and that's ironic because

130

Benjamin means son of my right hand.

131

God uses him to deliver the people.

132

Not only does he kill their oppressor.

133

Lon King of Moab while

he's using the facilities.

134

When he sticks his sword into LAN's

stomach, he was so fat the rolls

135

actually covered and engulfed the blade.

136

It's a pretty wild story.

137

In all seriousness, after all of

the sin and depravity it makes me

138

think of some moments of seeming

hopelessness that Paul writes in

139

Romans seven, beginning in verse 15.

140

For, I do not understand my own

actions for, I do not do what I

141

want, but I do the very thing I hate.

142

Now if I do what I do not want, I

agree with the law that it is good.

143

So now it is no longer I who do it,

but sin that dwells within me for I

144

know that nothing good dwells in me.

145

That is in my flesh for, I have

the desire to do what is right,

146

but not the ability to carry it out

for, I do not do the good I want.

147

But the evil I do not want

is what I keep on doing.

148

Now, if I do what I do not want,

it is no longer I who do it, but

149

the sin that dwells within me.

150

So I find it to be a law that when I want

to do right, evil lies close at hand.

151

For I delight in the law

of God and my inner being.

152

But I see in my members another law

waging war against the law of my mind.

153

And making me captive to the law

of sin that dwells in my members,

154

wretched man that I am who will

deliver me from this body of death.

155

Thanks be to God through

Jesus Christ, our Lord.

156

So then I myself serve the law

of God with my mind, but with my

157

flesh, I serve the law of sin.

158

There is therefore now no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus.

159

For the law of the spirit of life

has set you free in Christ Jesus

160

from the law of sin and death.

161

Whether it's impatience at our kids

being jealous or critical of someone

162

because of their social media post.

163

Or coveting something we don't have.

164

We are depraved and in desperate need

of a savior, but thanks be to God for

165

his indescribable gift of Jesus Christ.

166

Let's pray.

167

Heavenly Father, as we delve into

what could seem a discouraging book

168

of the Bible, we thank you that you

are a God that is moved to pity when

169

you see us in these cycles of sin.

170

You so often move to rescue us even

before we acknowledge you, but

171

we cry out that we desperately

need your spirit to transform us.

172

Help us to not be satisfied or

complacent with where we are, but

173

may we be increasingly transformed by

your word, the patterns of sin in our

174

lives that we're modeling for our kids.

175

We ask that you would bring change.

176

And give us hope that your spirit

can have victory in us and provide

177

the strength to pursue righteousness

when we're so often tired and weary

178

from all that's on our plates.

179

Jesus, help us to be faithful

to lift you high, as we were

180

warned that the generation didn't

know about your faithfulness.

181

We pray against that in our own homes.

182

Give us clarity and direction about

exactly how you would have us teach

183

and train our children that they

would know the promises in your word

184

and your goodness in their lives.

185

Thank you, Jesus, that you

freed us from the power of sin.

186

It's in your name we pray.

187

Amen.