Content Essay Judges Assignment

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Feb 20, 2024

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Content Essay: Judges Assignment Jermaine Erving Pearson OBST 515: Old Testament Orientation 1 September 15, 2023

1 The Book of Judges, found in the Old Testament portion of scripture, was written after Joshua’s death. Hamilton tells us, “This Book of the Bible stands out from its predecessor in the canon by virtue of its title. Unlike ‘Joshua,’ whose title is simply the name of a prominent individual, ‘Judges’ is named after an office, ‘judge,’ which is put in the plural.” 1 Judges is written narratively and shows what happens when God's people do not solely depend on Him to guide them through life. The Canaanites had influenced social and moral behaviors that led Israel to forsake God and go after idols. This leads Israel to be dominated by other nations. Israel worships Baals and fertility gods from all the neighboring nations. This direct disobedience causes God to stop protecting his people, which results in suffering, defeat, and oppression. Younger says, “Although Israel’s degeneracy directly challenges God’s rule, it cannot undo his sovereign kingship.” 2 God’s love and compassion are seen through the Book of Judges, which ultimately paves the way for the one and only leader, Jesus Christ, to step on the scene many years later, offering authentic leadership and deliverance from being oppressed. What is the recurring cycle that appears in the Book of Judges? How does this relate to the theology of the Book of Judges? In the Book of Judges, we see the Judge's Cycle of sin, repentance, and salvation. For example, when reading the Book of Judges, you will notice that Israel does evil and worships the Baals. We then see God becoming very angry, which results in the handing of Israel over to enemy nations. Israel then cries for help. God hears their cry and raises a judge who will deliver Israel from the enemy. After God delivers the children of Israel, you will notice that Israel 1 Victor P. Hamilton, Handbook on the Historical Books (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001), 97. 2 K. Lawson Younger Jr., Judges, Ruth , ed. Terry Muck, Revised Edition., The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 26.

2 unfortunately returns to the worship of foreign gods. Younger says, “Ironically, it is the judges themselves, specifically in the last three cycles, who lead Israel down the path of covenantal unfaithfulness: Gideon makes a golden ephod to which all Israel prostitutes itself in worship; Jephthah makes a rash, foolish, and manipulative vow that leads to child sacrifice just like those who worship Milcom, and he engages in intertribal warfare; and Samson does what is right in his own eyes (one of the strongest and most common forms of idolatry).” 3 This directly relates to the theology of God's grace, shown through the Book of Judges. We see over and over the grace of God being poured out over Israel as a nation. God takes pity and has compassion for His people. God's grace allows Judges to be raised, and ultimately deliverance occurs. We see several times through the Book of Judges where they cry out to God, confess their sins, or repent. Let's look at Judges 3:9. This scripture passage shows how the Israelites cry out to God, and God gives grace and raises a deliverer for the people, Othniel, who then saves them. In Judges 4:3, we see an example of 20 years of oppression, yet Israel cries to God for help, and he rescues them. Finally, we can look at Judges 6:6, where the Israelites are impoverished because of the Midianites; once again, they cry out to the Lord for help, and the grace of God shows up to help them. Is there any prophetic significance to the recurring cycles in Judges and the concluding statement of Judges 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”? If so, explain how, and if not, then explain why not. 3 Ibid., 58.

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