The book of Judges

Judges - Background

Judges picks up the story of Israel after the death of Joshua (Jud. 1:1), just as Joshua continues the story after the death of Moses (Josh. 1:1). This is a book of defeat and disgrace; the key verse is (17:6) - "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

it's been sometime since we blog. My reflections is on the book of judges. The book of judges must not be viewed in a chronological order, it must be read, bearing in mind the myraid of activities revolving around a story. Judges as opposed to common understanding, do not fulfill the function of a judge in legislation/administration of justice. Judges, come from the hebrew word 'lead', they were leaders God raised in times of Israel's troubles to deliver them. Some common recurring themes.

Cycle of Sin and God's mercy to deliever His people
1. Israel slipped into sin of idolatry again and again --> cried for help -->God raised a judge---> God delivered Israel --> Israel Sin = This is an evident cycle, usually accompanied by Ïsrael did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Which brings me to my second point. Israel went through this 7 times. God provided 13 judges, of which one is a woman.

The lack of a central body - the church
2. They did evil in God's eyes, but in their eyes, it was right. The last judge, or 13th judge is Samson. God unravel that a nation'problem of sin can also be an individual's problem. Samson was the epitomy of such. He married a Philistine wife because it was right in his eyes. Judges 14:3. Frankly, this is the result of neglecting God's orders to the Israelites, to worship in a central place - the tabernacle. Notice that worship in the tabernacle was neglected/not mentioned in the book of judges. Each Israelite, despite knowing God (Since they know who to call for help) walked in their own ways, according to what is right in their own eyes. Hence the importance of a church.

Beholding the King
3. The book of judges is also a lead in to the books of Kings. Just as i was meditating on the song "Behold the King", which we have been singing, God brought me to the book of judges. Following the lack of a central body, God did provide leaders to lead his people. However, the people need more than leaders, they need a king. A king enthroned in the church, a central place, a centred God. The times in the book of judges are noted as a time “when there was no king in Israel (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).”Have we rejected God as our King?

-I ask myself today if i had lost my King? Have i behold my King?
-Have i been doing things that are right in my own eyes but not in His? I need to repent if so.

a pretty good summary can be found at the link below:

http://biblia.com/jesusbible/judges.htm