1. Sermon
INTRODUCTION

2. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

3. There is no God, so everyone did what was right in his own eyes
There is no God, so everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” If there is no God, then everything is permissible.

4. Principles of Interpretation Beware of the illegitimate totality transfer Interpret the narrative in light of the indicative Interpret the less clear in light of the clear

5. The text must interpret our experience, not our experience interpreting the text. Approach the book in a fresh way Judges shows us that we must be careful about putting the Triune God into a theological system.

6. We must interpret Judges and all of Scripture with humility
We must interpret Judges and all of Scripture with humility!! We need to read the text with Hebrew Eyes

7. Judges is a book “from God about God” – Alec Motyer
Judges is a book “from God about God” – Alec Motyer. The period of Judges covers about 400 years from the settling of the Land of Canaan to the establishment of the Monarchy

8. In Hebrew, the title “shophetim” means judge, leader, liberator or savior The first part deals with the events from the conquest of Canaan to the death of Joshua, 1:1- 2:10

9. The Second part shows how God liberates his people in choosing and sending judges who will accomplish the salvation or liberation- 2:11-16:31 A cycle of disobedience, discipline, repentance, grace, deliverance and a period of peace….then repeat….disobedience….

10. The Third part, Chap 17-21, tells of two episodes that underline the disorder that was reigning in the tribes of Israel before the establishment of the monarchy …“every man does that which is right in his own eyes.”

11. Who were the “judges?” Othniel (3:7-11) Jair (10:3-5) Ehud (3:12-30) Jephthah (10:6-12:7) Shamgar (3:31) Ibzan (12:8-10) Deborah (4:1-5:31) Elon (12:11) Gideon (6:1-8:35) Abdon (12:13-15) Tola (10:1-2) Samson (13:1-16:31)

12. Since there was no Moses and no king-- who “judged” Israel during that time? As the history unfolds, even the “heroes”, the judges, become increasingly dysfunctional and flawed.

13. The Bible is not a “Book of Virtues” THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THAT THERE IS NO MORAL OF THE STORY.

14. Will we follow the cultural mantra of “I did it my way” or will we walk by faith in Yahweh?