Judges

1. What do you see in this book that tells you about the original reader?

From the text we know that this was written to the Israelites before Israel became a kingdom.

1. What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

From the text we can gather that the author knows a lot about history of the people, the geography of the area they are in and details about what's going on in the area. He seems to be very hands on and heavily involved or knowledgeable in the goings on of the community.

3. What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the “main idea?”

The main idea of Judges is the cycle that the Israelites follow-Blessing from the Lord, fall to idolatry and sin, suffer the consequences of their actions, repent and turn back to God, and then are delivered by the judge of the time (2:7-19). This happens six times in the book of Judges.

They didn't know Him; there was a generation that seemed to have not been told about who He was. They fell away and couldn't remember. But it wasn't about the laws, it was about their hearts. God saw that for them, the depths and the heart convictions weren't there. He wasn't as much concerned about what they were doing, but was deeply grieved because they didn't know Him.

During the book of Judges, God appoints 12 judges- Othniel , Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Adon, Samson. These Judges lead the people into battles, saw victories over enemies and continued to direct the people in the ways of the Law.These men and women were appointed to judge the people based on the Law. I believe this was partly so that the people would be given the opportunity to make their own choices. God was giving them the opportunity to choose their lifestyles. Would they choose His ways or their own? This also taught them to see what it was like to have God as their King.

One sentence- A cycle of broken people choosing to fall away from God, crying out for mercy, suffering consequences, being delievered and finding the Lord.

4. What is the primary reason this book was written?
   To show the Israelites what it means to be governed and ruled by God. And it also shows them what it looks like when a nation gives in to worship of other gods and idolizing self above Him, they receive punishment.
5. What does this book show about the character and nature of God?
   All in all we see a faithful God. He is captivated by His people. Even in the midst of their pain and sing He hears their cries and answers quickly (6:7). He again shows that He is much bigger than the other gods (6:25-26) and again proves to them that they shouldn't trust in the things He can so easily destroy.
   He is grieved by their misery (10:16). They continually fall away, sinning and worshipping foreign idols, and He has to allow them to suffer the consequences for their actions, but He is greived by their misery. He loves them and He doesn't like to see them suffering.
6. What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

He always pulls us back, always restores and always answer despite our failures and sins. His love is extravagant; He places things in our paths to teach us in a way that couldn't happen unless we were relying on Him. He shows us the dependence we must have on Him and that it's from a place of love that He rescues.

7. Personal Application:

God gives us the opportunity to seek Him and walk according to His will or to choose our own way. But He has put so much effort into teaching us and training us in the way we should go, but when it comes to a time of solo flying will everything that He's done for us and shown us actually stick or will we turn to our own strength and understanding?

8. Point of Passion:
   We see a generation lost in the years that have passed. The value of the Law and the testimonies of God through the exodus have not been passed down properly and thus the cycle gets worse. I see an extreme value in men and women being so grounded in knowledge of the word and clinging to the promises, teachings and miracles of the Lord and being sure that they are passed on to their children and their children's children. But there has to be away to communicate it and have it stick in their hearts so that they never stray. The biggest way I know to do this is to live by example and always bring every situation back to the Lord, allow the children to participate in the on goings and hear from the Lord themselves. It's crucial that as parents they work together in unity and greater understanding of God and His ways. Walking in humility, grace towards their children and modeling discipline after that of the Lord. Teaching them what is expected, showing them how to do it and allowing them to make choices. I think THE most important thing a parent can teach their child is that ultimately they are in the Lord's hands, He has amazing things for them and they can trust Him.