Judges 1-3

I mentioned to my mom yesterday that we were about to start our study on Judges, and she said, "Oh, no!"  I thought this was strange since it's always been one of my favorites.  But she has always shied away from it because of the graphic, bloody violence.  So before we begin, let me give this brief warning.  Judges is an incredibly violent book.  Much like the book of Joshua, God is the general of His army, and this is a record of the battles, and those who led God's army into them.  However, the author of this particular book chose to go into much more graphic detail than Joshua did.  (I looked in my Bible, and the authorship is unknown, but possibly Samuel.)  So there you have it.  You've been warned.

Chapter 1
In verse 2 God says, "I have given the land into your hands."  Here is a glimpse into God's view of time.  It is done, because He knows the outcome.  So why, in verse 3, would they make such a big deal out of it, when God just told them they would be victorious?

Verse 6 And so it begins.  (What did I tell you!!)

When I first read verse 12, I was a little offended that he would offer his daughter as a prize.  But when I thought about it what I know about Caleb and his godliness, I realized that this was his way of finding the one that God had in mind for his daughter.  Caleb was wise and godly, and wouldn't have left his daughter's safety to chance.  He left it to God.  (If this section seems familiar to you, it's a recap from Joshua 15.)

Verse 19 What is an iron chariot when God is your commander and chief?

Verse 27-35  These unconquered people and places bothered me when they were mentioned separately in Joshua.  But now that they are lumped together like this, I know we'll be learning of the consequence soon.

Chapter 2
Verse 2  When God gives clear instructions on something, do it.  And finish it!

Verse 10  It's like at some point the Glory of the Lord just seemed like mom and dad's old stories.  It wasn't ever real to them.  "They did not know the Lord."  I guess you don't need the interference of the media for a whole generation to lose faith. 

Verse 12  Can't you just feel the Lord's anger?

Verse 18 The Lord was moved to pity.  God loves us so much that He is sad when He has to punish us. Grace is when He delivers us from what we rightfully deserve.  God has shown grace since the beginning of sin.  It is not just a New Testament concept.

Verse 21  They are going to pay for this oversight for a long time.

Chapter 3
Verse 6 gives us a picture of being completely intertwined with this culture.  We do the same thing with the unbelieving in America.

Verse 9  No we know why we've been hearing so much about Caleb's son-in-law.  He's Israel's first judge, Othniel.

Verse 10 "The Spirit of the Lord came upon him."

Verses 12-14 mention what happened after the first judge died, and God's response to it.  But before you start to bristle at this "angry" picture of God, read verse 15.  As soon as they cried out to the Lord, he responds and raises up a deliverer for them.  God doesn't delight in punishing people.  He gives us times of adversity to get our attention, because He knows that sin is death.

Ehud is a favorite of mine.  I know it's gruesome.

Verse 16  Keep in mind that Ehud's sword was 18 inches long.  This story is extra cool, because it's an example of the way God can use our differences for His purpose.  Ehud was left-handed, and that's why he bound his sword to his right thigh.  The guards would have checked him for weapons on his left side, but God used Ehud's unusual trait as an asset.

Verse 18 Don't you wonder what the "tribute" was?  Whatever it was, God used it as a trojan horse to get his man inside.

Verse 20-21  God's messages are not always in the form of words, but also action.

Verse 22  Remember, the blade was 18 inches long!  This was a grotesque man.  I told you this book was graphic!

Verse 30  Israel was undisturbed for 80 years.  Have you noticed how the balance of peace and strife has been working out?  Servitude for 8 years, then peace for 40 years.  Then servitude for 18 years and peace for 80!  We serve a generous God.

Verse 31 We learn very little about Shamgar here.  Did he kill all 600 men by himself?  Don't you want to know what that weapon was?  I looked it up and came up with this great description:

"A long wooden pole that has been tipped with a sharpened iron point at one end and capped with a flattened chisel-like blade at the other end. The sharp end was used to poke the tough hide of the oxen to keep them motivated for pulling the plow; the flattened chisel-like blade was used to scrape the plowshare free of roots, thorns, and accumulated clay."  Borrowed from this website.

It's a fierce weapon, but not one of mass destruction.  In fact, it's not actually a weapon at all.  Shamgar might not have even been a warrior.  He was more like a farmer, going to battle with what he had readily available.  Amazing who God chooses for His team.

Next time: Judges 4-5

Comments

[Tina]

Chapter 1: 14-15
I found verse 14 interesting. I agree with you that God allowed Othniel to capture Kiriath Sepher knowing that Othniel was a good man and the one He had chosen for Acsah. The interesting part comes when Acsah URGES Othniel to ask her father for more land and Othniel refuses. I believe that Othneil was correct in his refusal to ask for more land. I'm sure that he was greatful to the Lord and Caleb. But Acsah wasn't satisfied. She went to "Daddy" and asked for more land AND springs. So Caleb not only gave her more land but the UPPER and LOWER springs. I wonder why these two verses were put in here. They seem a little short on history or relevance. Maybe it becomes clearer later on?
Chapter 2:10-15, 16-20
I agree that the next generation just thought that they were just hearing "stories." The struggle, sorrow, joy and triumph were not real to them. They didn't understand all that had happened. Then in verse 16 the Lord gave them another chance. Isn't this like us as parents--Obediance is what a parent expects of their child. We give them the boundaries and tell them of the consequences, and yet they still test us to see if we mean what we say. So, the child suffers the consequences. Then we give them another chance. We set them up to succeed: Tell them what they need to do to show obediance and of the consenquence if they don't. Unfortunately, after some time they forget how they didn't enjoy the consenquence and disobey, again. Will children ever learn the lessons taught by their parents (or history?)
Chapter 3
I do believe we serve a generous God, but what I find through out this chapter that they had (comparitivly) short times of servitude (8 & 18 years) and long times of peace (40 & 80 years.) It seems that God was giving them the consenquences of their actions, but then delievered them and gave them a second chance to obey. When the generation who had suffered for their decisions and choices passed away the next generation forgot and went back to doing what they wanted to do. Interesting!

[Lasso the Moon]

Thanks, Tina! I love your insight on God as our parent. Seeing it from His perspective.