An Overview of The Bible
Judges: part four
Chapters 17-21
Judges 1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the Lord, “Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites?”
• Othniel sets the pattern
• Ehud uses uniqueness (left-handed/Eglon)
• Shamgar cattle prod —> 600 Philistines
• Deborah & Barak
• Gideon – the coward/killer)
• Abimelech; Tola; Jair
• Jephthah – the hillbilly mafia don
• Ibzan; Elon; Abdon
• Samson – the womanizing over-the-top violent strong man
• Eli; Samuel…
• The final section shows Israel as a hole hitting ROCK BOTTOM
Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.
• Ch 17-18 First Story
• Micha (an Israelite) builds a temple to an IDOL
• Mercenaries from the tribe of DAN plunder the temple
• They then go burn down the peaceful city of Laish and kill all of it’s people.
• When Israel forgets God, “MIGHT makes right”
• Ch 19-21 Second Story
• This is an awful and tragic account
• This is what leads to Israel’s first CIVIL WAR
• This sets up the origin of David’s Family (Ruth) and the monarchy (1Samuel).
• Judges is one giant tragedy and a sobering explanation of the human condition. It is proof that we need God’s grace.
• God has sent a KING who will rescue His people.
