Joshua/Judges

Joshua 14 - 22 After completing the main campaigns of conquest, the people receive their inheritances. Vs. 2 “Their inheritance was by lot, just as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes.”

The Inheritance is given out All the tribes of Israel will receive their allotment of the land. Manasseh and Ephraim are Joseph’s sons and they receive the inheritance. Levi is the only tribe who will not receive an inheritance.

Caleb’s request Vs. 6 – 15 Caleb remembers the faithfulness of the Lord to him when he spied out the land. The Lord promised Caleb land (the land of Hebron) Joshua gives Caleb the land of Hebron.

The Allotment of the Land Over the next several chapters, we see the 12 tribes of Israel receiving their allotment of the land. This teaches us that God is faithful to keep his promises. It took many years, but God fulfilled his promise

The Tribe of Levi The Tribe of Levi does not receive an allotment of the land, because their role is make intercession for the people.

Joshua Closing Challenge Joshua 23 vs. 1 “A long time afterward, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years.” Joshua is nearing the end of his life. The LORD gives rest or peace from Israel enemies. Joshua summons the elders of Israel to challenge them.

Joshua’s Closing Challenge 3 truths Joshua reminds the people of Israel: The LORD’s fights for them. (vs. 3) The LORD fulfills his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the allotment of the land. (vs. 4 - 5) The LORD’s commandments are good. (vs. 6 – 16)

Joshua’s Closing Challenge In Joshua 24, Joshua calls all of Israel together and gives his final speech to them. He reminds them of the faithfulness of the LORD (vs. 1 – 13) Then he challenges them to continue to serve the LORD. (vs. 14 – 18) The Israelites tell Joshua that they will continue to serve the LORD.

Introduction to Judges Authorship: the author of Judges is anonymous. Jewish scholars ascribed the authorship to Samuel, but Scripture provides no proof of this. Another option is that Judges was authored in blocks and then compiled together. Could have been finalized before the Babylonian Captivity. Most likely before David took the city of Jerusalem (Judges 1:21)

Introduction to Judges Date: 11th century BC Named after the 12 leaders of Israel between Joshua and Samuel. What do we mean by the term ”judges?”

Introduction to Judges The term ”judges” confuses us as the contemporary reader, because we think of judge in terms of the branches of Government. The Ancient World did not have the executive, legislative, or judicial branch In the Ancient World, all authority would rest on one man and he would govern according to foundation of the law. Judges chronicles the rise and rule of these leaders

Introduction to Judges Judges details the downward spiral of the people of Israel spiritually, morally, and nationally. The continuously turned their backs to God and their apostasy grew worse and worse. The consequences were severe for the people breaking the covenant.

Introduction to Judges Two times Judges mentions the lack of a king (Judges 17:6; 21:25) as contributing to Israel’s problem. The purpose of Judges: to show the need for a righteous king to lead God’s people faithfully. In the absence of godly leadership, everyone tended to do “what was right in their own eyes.”

Introduction to Judges Chapters 1 – 3:6: Israel’s Apostasy Chapters 1:1-2:5, How it began Chapters 3-5, Recurring pattern explained Chapters 3:7-16:31: Downward Spiral, Period of Judges Chapters 17-21: Example of corruption Chapter 17:1-6, Corruption of a household Chapter 17:7-13, Corruption of a Levite Chapter 18, Corruption of a tribe Chapter 19-21, Corruption of a society

Major Themes in Judges 1. God relentlessly offers his grace to people who do not deserve it 2. God wants lordship over every area of our lives, not just some. 3. God is in charge, no matter what it looks like 4. We need a true Savior, through which all human saviors point, through both their strengths and weaknesses. Adapted from Tim Keller’s book Judges for You

Judges 1: The LORD promises continuing conquest Vs. 1, “Who will go up first for us against the Canaanites?” The LORD chooses Judah to go up first. The LORD promises absolute victory for Judah. (vs. 2)

Half-hearted obedience Judah immediately fails. Why? Vs. 3-4, Judah asks Simeon to go with them Common Sense: This is smart Spiritual Sense: This is half-hearted obedience. They fail to trust the LORD

Caleb: What Israel should be like Vs. 12-13, Caleb offers his daughter in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher. Othniel captures Kiriath Sepher and Achsah is given to him as his wife. They ask for the land and it is granted to them. Othniel and Achsah represent radical faith and whole-hearted obedience vs. the half-hearted obedience to the LORD.

Judah’s failure to trust the LORD Vs. 19, “The LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.” Judah fails to trust in the LORD’s strength. Judah does not trust God, so they fail to secure their inheritance so that they can worship God without compromise.

The Ripple Effect of Half-Hearted Obedience Vs. 22 – 36 The tribes of Israel fail to complete their conquest and settlement of the land. Repeated phrase “did not drive out” The people of Israel failed to drive out the inhabitants that God told them.

Lessons from Judges 1 1. Half-hearted obedience is full disobedience 2. We must continually rely on the LORD’s strength in our lives. 3. Disobedience leads to disastrous results.

Judges 2: Israel’s continual disobedience The LORD rebukes Israel for their disobedience and tells of Israel’s consequences for their disobedience. Vs. 11 “And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.” Vs. 12, The Israelites forgot what the LORD had done for them and chased after their own desires.

Judges 2: Israel’s continual disobedience Vs. 14 The LORD turns them over to their sinful desires and they are defeated by their enemies. These are the same enemies that the LORD had promised victory over. Vs. 15, “the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned.” Israel’s disobedience leads to their defeat.

Judges 2: the LORD raises up judges Vs. 16 – 23, These verses summarize what the LORD will do over these next few chapters.

The Judges Cycle: