The Bible Jesus Used A Gospel-Centered Glance at the Old Testament Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2011–2012 Jason S. DeRouchie

Judges at a Glance Introduction: Israel’s Canaanization1:1–2:23 The Judges: Yahweh’s Response to Israel’s Canaanization 3:1–16:31 Conclusion: The Effects of Israel’s Canaanization 17:1–21:25

 The nature of the apostasy (2:11–13)  “And the people did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh” (2:11; cf. 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1)  Idolatry: they served the Baals and went after other gods (2:11–12; cf. 3:6; 10:14; 18:24).  One means to Israel’s downfall: Worldly influence through inter-faith marriage. Judg. 3:6–7. “And the daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods. 7 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh.”

 A result of Israel’s downfall: God’s refusal to listen to prayer. Judg. 10:13– 14. “You have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. 14 Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.”  A side word to husbands: 1 Pet. 3:7. Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

 An example of Israel’s downfall: Complete blindness, like the idols they serve (Judg. 17–18). Judg. 17:6. “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judg. 18:24. “You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left?” Judg. 18:30. “And the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan the son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.” משׁה מ נ שׁה

 God’s reaction to Israel’s apostasy (2:14–23)

 The Judges and Israel’s Degeneracy: “And the people did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh” (2:11) JudgeTribe of OriginEnemy OppositionScripture I 1.OthnielJudahMesopotamia3:7–11 2.EhudBenjaminMoab3:12–30 Parenthesis 1: Governorship of Shamgar 3:31 3.Deborah & BarakEphraimCanaan4:1–5:31 II 4.GideonManassehMidian6:1–9:57 Parenthesis 2: Governorship of Tola & Jair 10:1–5 5.JephthahGileadAmmon10:6–12:7 Parenthesis 3: Governorship of Ebzan, Elon, & Abdon 12:8–15 6.SamsonDanPhilistia13:1–16:31

 The Judges and Israel’s Degeneracy: “And the people did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh” (2:11)  Erosion of thought:  Hesitance of Barak (4:8–9)  Idolatry of Gideon (8:27)  Foolish vow of Jephthah (11:30–31)  Samson’s poor choice of women (chs. 14–16)  Benjamin’s foolish defense of the immorality and brutality of those from Gibeah (20:13)

 Erosion of relationships:  Positive: After the story of Caleb’s giving Achsah to Othniel for a wife (1:12–15), there are no satisfying relationships in the book.  A father sacrifices his daughter (11:39)  Samson’s illicit relationships with pagan prostitutes (16:1–4)  Brutal, superficial marriages (14:16–17; 19:4– 30; 21:12–23)

 Exploitation of women  Positive: Caleb’s giving Achsah to Othniel for a wife (1:12–15):  (1) She was blessed by her father (rather than being killed by him!);  (2) She inspired a man to great acts of obedience to God (rather than seducing him);  (3) She married within the covenant community (rather than taking a Canaanite spouse).

 Exploitation of women  Positive: Caleb’s giving Achsah to Othniel for a wife (1:12–15)  Jael forced into the unlikely role of military her because Barak refused to accept his mission without the aid of a woman (4:9).  Jepthah’s daughter becomes the innocent victim of her father’s foolish decision (11:39).  Samson’s wife and father-in-law are burned to death as a consequence of his actions (15:6).  The Levites’ unnamed concubine is denied personhood, brutalized, and dismembered (ch. 19).

 All the women of Benjamin destroyed by civil war (20:48).  The women found from other tribes to replace them were either intentionally orphaned by brutal destruction of their immediate families (21:11–23) or simply kidnapped by desperate Benjaminte bachelors.

 Erosion of rule:  The powerful exploit the weak (18:14; 19:14– 31)  Chaos prevails: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (17:6; 21:25; cf. 18:1; 19:1)  Conclusion: Israel needs a KING!

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 1. Do you ever pray and feel that God is not there?

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 1. Do you ever pray and feel that God is not there? Guaranteed (Physical & visible)

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 1. Do you ever pray and feel that God is not there? Guaranteed (Physical & visible) 2. Are you ever prone toward self-righteousness or tempted with materialism?

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 1. Do you ever pray and feel that God is not there? Guaranteed (Physical & visible) 2. Are you ever prone toward self-righteousness or tempted with materialism? Selfish & Works-Oriented (Materialism; legalism)

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 1. Do you ever pray and feel that God is not there? Guaranteed (Physical & visible) 2. Are you ever prone toward self-righteousness or tempted with materialism? Selfish & Works-Oriented (Materialism; legalism) 3. Do you ever find it easier to please men rather than God or to love yourself over others?

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 1. Do you ever pray and feel that God is not there? Guaranteed (Physical & visible) 2. Are you ever prone toward self-righteousness or tempted with materialism? Selfish & Works-Oriented (Materialism; legalism) 3. Do you ever find it easier to please men rather than God or to love yourself over others? Easy (Ethical relativity)

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 1. Do you ever pray and feel that God is not there? Guaranteed (Physical & visible) 2. Are you ever prone toward self-righteousness or tempted with materialism? Selfish & Works-Oriented (Materialism; legalism) 3. Do you ever find it easier to please men rather than God or to love yourself over others? Easy (Ethical relativity) 4. Do you ever find that following God gets in the way of your own agenda?

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 1. Do you ever pray and feel that God is not there? Guaranteed (Physical & visible) 2. Are you ever prone toward self-righteousness or tempted with materialism? Selfish & Works-Oriented (Materialism; legalism) 3. Do you ever find it easier to please men rather than God or to love yourself over others? Easy (Ethical relativity) 4. Do you ever find that following God gets in the way of your own agenda? Convenient (Anywhere; anytime)

QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 5. Are you ever prone to follow the crowd, even when you know the majority is wrong?

QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 5. Are you ever prone to follow the crowd, even when you know the majority is wrong? Normal (Everybody’s doing it)

QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 5. Are you ever prone to follow the crowd, even when you know the majority is wrong? Normal (Everybody’s doing it) 6. When you are sick, would you rather see a specialist or a general practitioner?

QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 5. Are you ever prone to follow the crowd, even when you know the majority is wrong? Normal (Everybody’s doing it) 6. When you are sick, would you rather see a specialist or a general practitioner? Logical (Specialization system)

QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 5. Are you ever prone to follow the crowd, even when you know the majority is wrong? Normal (Everybody’s doing it) 6. When you are sick, would you rather see a specialist or a general practitioner? Logical (Specialization system) 7. Do you ever turn away from God toward worldly pleasures?

QuestionCharacteristics of Idolatry 5. Are you ever prone to follow the crowd, even when you know the majority is wrong? Normal (Everybody’s doing it) 6. When you are sick, would you rather see a specialist or a general practitioner? Logical (Specialization system) 7. Do you ever turn away from God toward worldly pleasures? Sensuous (If it feels good, do it)

What Made Idolatry So Attractive? Characteristics of Idolatry 1. Guaranteed 2. Selfish & Works-Oriented 3. Easy 4. Convenient 5. Normal 6. Logical 7. Sensuous