WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE A SECOND HAND
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
This is based on the book of Judges from the
N.I.V. translation of the Bible. It records
history from about 1200 B.C. or 43 lifetimes
ago. Our comments are in brackets.
After Joshua died the Israelites asked the Lord,
Who will fight the Canaanites first? He replied,
Judah, I've given the land into their hands.
Judah asked the Simeonites to help subdue the
territory allotted to them in return for them
doing the same for the Simeonites. They agreed.
The Lord gave them victories at Bezek,
Jerusalem, Hebron and Debir. The descendants of
Moses' father-in-law went up from Jericho with
the men of Judah to live near Arad.
Then Judah went with the Simeonites and had
victories at Zephath, Gaze, Ashkelon and Ekron.
The Lord was with Judah, but Judah was unable to
subdue the plains where the people had iron
chariots. Nor could the Benjamites dislodge the
citizens of Jerusalem.
Judah successfully attacked Bethel. The Lord was
with them. They also made forced labourers of
citizens of Mt Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim.
Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth
Shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam or Megiddo. Later
they pressed them into forced labour.
Ephraim didn't subdue Gezer.
Zebulun didn't subdue Kitron or Nahalol but they
subjected them to forced labour.
Asher didn't subdue Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Aczib,
Helbah, Aphek or Rehob.
Napthali didn't subdue Beth Shemesh or Beth
Anath. But they too became forced labourers.
Dan was confined to the hill country and
couldn't subdue the plain.
(Chapter 1)
Then an angel of the Lord spoke to Israel near
Gilgal,
-I brought you out of Egypt
-and led you to this land saying,
-I'll never break my covenant with you.
-You shall not make a covenant with the people
of this land.
-But you've disobeyed me - why?
-So I'll not drive them out before you - they
will be:
-Thorns in your sides.
-A snare to you.
Then the Israelites wept aloud and offered
sacrifices to the Lord.
Israel served the Lord during the lifetime of
Joshua and the elders who outlived him. But
after that whole generation died, the next
neither knew the Lord or what He had done for
Israel. They:
-Did evil in God's eyes.
-Served the Baals.
-Forsook the Lord.
-Worshipped other gods.
-Provoked the Lord to anger for forsaking Him.
So God
-handed them over to the raiders who plundered
them.
-sold them to their enemies.
-was against them when they went out to fight
to defeat them.
-did as He said He would.
They were in great distress.
So the Lord raised up judges saving them from
their enemies while the judge lived. The Lord
had compassion on them as they groaned under
oppression.
But they would not listen to them and
-prostituted themselves to other gods.
-Quickly turned from the way their fathers
walked.
Then when the judge died they:
-Returned to ways more corrupt than those of
their fathers.
-Refused to give up evil practices and
stubborn ways.
So the Lord was very angry with Israel and said
-Because they have violated the covenant I
laid down for their forefathers
-and haven't listened to Me
-I'll no longer drive out the nations Joshua
left when he died.
-I'll use them to test Israel to see
-whether they will keep the way of the Lord
and walk in it as their fathers did.
(Chapter 2)
The Lord left nations in the Promised Land to
see if Israel would obey the Lord's commands
given their forefathers through Moses. And also
to teach warfare to the descendants of
Israelites who had no previous battle
experience.They intermarried with these nations.
So Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord,
forgetting the Lord their God and serving the
Baals (sungods) and Asherahs (fertility
goddesses). The anger of the Lord burned against
Israel so He sold them into the hands of the
king of Aram for 8 years. When they cried out to
the Lord, He raised up a deliverer named
Othniel. He was Caleb's nephew. The Spirit of
the Lord came upon him. As Israel's judge he
saved them. He attacked and defeated the king of
Aram. The land had peace for 40 years 'til
Othniel died.
But again Israel did evil in the eyes of the
Lord. So the Lord gave the king of Moab power
over Israel for 18 years. Again Israel cried out
to the Lord and He gave them a left handed
deliverer called Ehud.
-Israel sent him with tribute to Eglon, king
of Moab.
-Ehud made a double edged sword 45 cm long and
strapped it to his right thigh under his
clothing.
-He presented the tribute to the fat king.
-He left but later returned alone saying he
had a secret message for the king.
-The king was sitting alone in the upper room
of his summer palace.
-Ehud approached and said, I have a message
from God for you.
-The king rose from his seat.
-Ehud drew out the sword, plunged it into the
king's belly, the handle sank in after the
blade which came out his back. He didn't
pull the sword out. Fat closed over it.
-Ehud went out shutting and locking the doors.
-Servants came, found the doors locked, waited
an embarrassingly long time, got a key,
entered and found the king dead.
-While the servants waited Ehud escaped.
-Returning, he rallied the Israelites.
-He said, Follow me, the Lord has given
Moab into your hands.
-They killed 10,000 Moabites.
-Moab was made subject to Israel.
-Israel had peace for 80 years.
Then Shamgar saved Israel by killing 600
Philistines with an ox goad.
(Chapter 3)
After Ehud died, Israel did evil in the eyes of
the Lord. So the Lord sold them into the hands
of Jabin the king of Canaan. Sisera, his army
commander, had 900 iron chariots. He cruelly
oppressed Israel for 20 years. So Israel cried
to the Lord for help.
Deborah, a prophetess was leading Israel at this
time. She said to Barak, The Lord, the God of
Israel commands you to take 10,000 men to Mt
Tabor. I'll lure Sisera and his army to the
Kishon river and give him into your hands.
Barak refused to go unless Deborah went with
him. She agreed but told him, because of his
attitude (lack of faith in God) he wouldn't get
any honour because the Lord will hand Sisera
over to a woman.
They went to Mt Tabor and Barak gathered 10,000
men. Sisera's army with his 900 chariots went to
the Kishon river. Deborah told Barak to attack,
because the Lord has given Sisera into your
hands.
-He did and the Lord routed Sisera's army. Not
a soldier survived.
-But Sisera fled on foot.
-He came to Heber's tent. He was a friend.But
also a descendant of Moses' brother-in-law.
-But only Jael, his wife, was home.
-She met him and offered to hide him in the
tent (a safe place because the only man
permitted to enter a woman's tent was her
husband or father).
-But he didn't know that she remained true
to her family's previous alliance with
Israel (she may even have been an
Israelite).
-He pleaded for a drink.
-She gave him milk and covered him up.
-He told her to stand in the tent doorway
and answer no to anyone who asks, Is
anyone here?
-Then, exhausted, he fell asleep.
-And Jael took a hammer and tent peg and
drove it through his temple into the
ground
-and he died.
-Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera.
-Jael went out to meet him.
-She said, I'll show you the man you're
looking for.
-He went in with her and there lay Sisera,
the peg through his temple, dead.
So the hand of the Israelites grew stronger
against Jabin the Canaanite king, until they
destroyed him.
(Chapter 4)
That day Deborah and Barak sang this song:
-When Israel's princes lead
-and the people willingly follow
-Praise the Lord!
-Hear and listen kings and rulers
-I will sing and make music to the Lord the
God of Israel.
-O Lord, the One of Sinai, the God of Israel
when you went out
-the earth shook
-the heavens poured
-the mountains quaked.
-Until Deborah arose:
-Roads weren't safe from the enemy
-nor was village life.
-War came to the city gates because Israel
chose new gods.
-The people were defenceless.
-Nobles and commoners, listen to singers
reciting the righteous acts of the Lord and
His warriors.
-The people of the Lord at the city gates
shout:
-Wake up Deborah (take action). Break into
song.
-Arise Barak - take our captors captive.
-Then the people of the Lord came to me from
-Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh (Makir),
Zebulun, Issachar, and Napthali.
-But Reuben, Gad, Dan and Asher failed and
stayed home.
-The battle was won by the waters of
Megiddo.
-The heavens fought against Sisera.
-The river Kishon swept them away.
-March on my soul; be strong.
-Then thundered the horses' hoofs -
galloping, gallant as His mighty steeds.
-Curse Israel's town of Meroz, said the
angel of the Lord:
Because they did not come to help the
Lord.
-Most blessed of women be Jael:
-He asked for water.
-She gave him milk in a bowl fit for nobles.
-Her hand reached for the tent peg,
-her right hand for the workman's hammer.
-She struck Sisera, she crushed his head.
-She shattered and pierced his temple.
-At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay.
-At her feet he sank, he fell; there he sank
there he fell, dead.
-Through the window, the lattice, peered
Sisera's mother:
-She cried out, why is his chariot so long
coming?
-Her wise ladies reply; indeed she tells
herself,
-Are they not finding and dividing the
spoils?
-Girls for the men?
-Colourful, embroidered garments for my
neck?
-So may all your enemies perish O Lord.
-But may those who love you be like the sun
when it rises in its strength.
Then the land had peace for 40 years.
(Chapter 5)
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the
Lord. So for 7 years he let the Midianites
oppress them. Israel had to shelter in mountain
clefts, caves and strongholds.
The Midianites and their allies like swarms of
locusts, invaded, ruined their crops, killed all
their livestock, ravaged their land and
impoverished the Israelites.
When the Israelites cried out to the Lord He
sent them a prophet who said, This is what the
Lord, the God of Israel says:
-I brought you out of Egypt.
-I snatched you from the hand of all your
oppressors.
-I drove them out and gave you their land.
-I said, I am the Lord your God; do not
worship the gods of the Amorites.
-But you have not listened to me.
The angel of the Lord came and sat down under an
oak near Nazareth. It belonged to Joash. His son
Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press to
hide it from the Midianites.
-The angel said, The Lord is with you mighty
warrior.
-Gideon replied, If so:
-Why has all this happened to us?
-Where are all the wonders our fathers told
us about?
-The Lord has abandoned us and put us into
the hand of Midian.
-The Lord turned to him and said
-Go in the strength you have and save Israel
from Midian.
-Am I not sending you?
-Gideon replied:
-How can I save Israel?
-My clan is the weakest in Manasseh
-and I'm the least in my family.
-The Lord answered:
-I will be with you and
-you will strike down all the Midianites
together.
-Gideon replied:
-If I've found favour in your eyes,
-give me a sign it's really you talking to
me.
-Please don't go away until I come back and
set my offering before you.
-The Lord said, I'll wait.
-So Gideon went, prepared a young goat, made
bread without yeast, put the meat in a
basket, the broth in a pot, brought them out
and offered them to Him under the oak.
-The angel of God said to him:
-Place the offerings on this rock.
-Pour out the broth.
-Gideon did.
-With the tip of His staff the angel touched
meat and bread.
-Fire flamed consuming them.
-The angel disappeared.
-Gideon said, Ah sovereign Lord! I have seen
the angel of the Lord face to face.
-The Lord said. Peace. Don't fear. You'll
not die.
-So Gideon built an altar there and called it
The Lord is Peace.
-The same night the Lord said to him:
-Take the second bull from your father's
herd - the one 7 years old.
-Tear down your father's altar to Baal.
-Cut down the Asherah pole beside it.
-Build a proper altar to the Lord on the top
of this height.
-Use the wood of the Asherah pole to offer
the bull as a burnt offering.
-Gideon took 10 servants and did as
instructed.
-But he did it at night fearing his family and
the men of the town.
-Next morning the men of the town asked, Who
did it?
-They found it was Gideon.
-So they demanded Joash bring his son out to
be killed.
-But Joash replied to the hostile crowd:
-Are you trying to save Baal?
-If he's really a god he can defend himself
when someone breaks down his altar.
The Midianites and their allies invaded and
camped in the valley of Jezreel.
The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and he
-blew a trumpet and sent messengers calling
the Israelites to arms, they went up to meet
him.
-Said to God:
-Confirm that you'll save Israel by my hand
as promised by making this fleece wet that
I leave on the ground overnight, but the
surrounding ground dry.
-That's what happened. He squeezed the fleece
and got a bowl of water.
-Then he said to God:
-Don't be angry with me, just one more
request.
-To-night make the fleece dry and the ground
covered with dew.
-God did so that night. (Chapter 6)
Early in the morning Gideon and his men camped
on higher ground about 4 miles to the south of
the Midianites.
-The Lord told Gideon he had so many men that
a victory might make Israel think it was
done in their own strength.
-So tell all who fear to go home.
-20,000 left leaving 10,000.
-Still too many, God said.
-Take them to the water and I'll sift them for
you.
-Gideon did.
-There the Lord told him those who cup water
in their hands to drink would be the ones to
save Israel and defeat the Midianites.
-There were 300 of them.
-The rest, who knelt and drank directly, were
sent to their tents.
-Gideon and the 300 took provisions and
trumpets from the others.
-Midian's camp lay below in the valley of
Jezreel.
-That night the Lord told Gideon
-to get up and go down against the camp I'm
giving into your hands.
-If you're afraid
-go down to the camp with a servant
-listen to what they're saying and
-you'll be encouraged to attack.
-So he went down to the camp outposts.
-The valley was full of the enemy - as
thick as locusts.
-He arrived to hear a man recounting this
dream to a friend. A round barley loaf
came tumbling into our camp. It struck
the tent so forcefully that it
collapsed. His friend said, This is the
sword of Gideon. God's given the whole
Midianite camp into his hands.
-Gideon worshipped God.
-Returning to Israel's camp he called out,
-Get up, the Lord has given Midian's camp
to us.
-He divided the 300 in 3 groups of 100.
-He put trumpets and empty jars with
torches inside in the hands of each man.
-Watch and follow my lead, he said.
-When I get to the edge of the camp do
exactly as I do.
-When I and my 100 blow our trumpets
-from all around the camp you do the same
and shout, For the Lord and for Gideon.
-Gideon and his 300 arrived just after
guard was changed in the middle of the
night when the camp was asleep.
-They blew their trumpets and broke the
jars.
-Grasping torches in their left hands and
holding in their right hands the
trumpets they were to blow, they shouted
A sword for the Lord and for Gideon.
-Each man held his position around the
camp.
-All the Midianites ran, crying out as
they fled.
-The Lord caused the Midianites to turn on
each other with their swords.
-The army fled back towards the Jordan.
-Israelites from Napthali, Asher and
Manasseh were called out and pursued
them.
-Gideon called Ephraim to cut them off at
the Jordan crossings.
-They did, killing two Midianite leaders.
(Chapter 7)
The Ephraimites criticised Gideon sharply for
not asking them to fight Midian. He replied that
they had killed 2 Midianite leaders which was
more than he had. So their resentment subsided.
Gideon with his 300, exhausted but keeping up
the pursuit of 2 Midianite kings, crossed the
Jordan. He asked for bread at Succoth. Being
refused, he promised to tear their flesh with
desert thorns and briars after the Lord had
given him the two kings.
He made the same request at Peniel and got the
same answer. So he told them, When I return in
triumph I'll tear down this tower.
The two kings had 15,000 men (120,000 had
already fallen). Gideon made a surprise attack,
routed the army, pursued and captured the two
kings.
On the way back he taught the men of Succoth a
lesson as promised by punishing them with desert
thorns and briars. Likewise at Peniel, he pulled
down the tower and killed the men.
As the kings had not spared his brothers, Gideon
told his oldest son to kill them. He was afraid
to. Taunted by the kings, Gideon killed them
himself.
Israel asked Gideon and his descendants to rule
over them. Gideon said, I nor my son will rule
over you. THE LORD WILL RULE OVER YOU. But he
requested from each man a gold earring from the
plunder. Gladly they gave him 19.5 kilograms of
gold rings. He used it to make a gold ephod
(priestly garment - Exodus 28:6 or pagan object
- Judges 18:14,17). He placed it in Ophrah, his
home town.
All Israel prostituted themselves by worshipping
it there and it became a snare to Gideon and his
family (would you believe that!).
The land had peace for 40 years during Gideon's
lifetime.
Gideon's brother Jerub-Baal had a concubine who
bore him a son named Abimelech. He also had many
wives and 70 sons.
As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites
prostituted themselves to the Baals (local
sungod idols). Making themselves a god they did
not remember the Lord their God who rescued them
from their enemies on every side. Nor were they
kind to Gideon's family.
(Chapter 8)
Abimelech asked the citizens of Shechem if
they'd rather have him rule them or his 70 half
brothers.
-They said, him
-and gave him .8 kilogram of silver from their
pagan temple.
-He used it to hire reckless adventurers.
-He went to his father's home in Ophrah and
killed all his 70 brothers except Jotham,
the youngest, who escaped by hiding.
-Then the citizens of Shechem crowned him
king.
-When Jotham heard he shouted to the citizens
of Shechem from the top of Mt Gerizim:
-If you acted honourably in making Abimelech
king
-and if you treated my father, (who risked
his life and fought to save you from the
Midianites) and his family fairly
-may Abimelech be your joy and you his.
-But if not let fire consume both you and
him.
-Then he fled being afraid of his brother
Abimelech.
-After Abimelech governed Israel for 3 years,
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech
and the citizens of Shechem. He did this to
avenge the crime against Jerub-Baal's 70
sons on both Abimelech and Shechem.
-So Shechem acted treacherously against
Abimelech . In opposition to him -
-they ambushed and robbed passers by.
-Abimelech heard about this.
-Gaal moved into Shechem with his brothers.
-The citizens put their confidence in him.
-Eating and drinking wine in the temple of
their god they cursed Abimelech.
-Gaal said:
-Why should we be subject to Abimelech and
the city governor, Zebul his deputy?
-If Shechem were under my control I'd get
rid of him.
-I'd tell him to call out his whole army.
-But Zebul heard,told Abimelech and suggested-
-he lie in wait in the fields at night,
-at sunrise advance
-and defeat Gaal.
-Abimelech did so splitting his men into 4
companies.
-Gaal was standing at the city gate with
Zebul.
-He said to Zebul, People are coming from
the mountains.
-Zebul said, Nonsense, just shadows.
-Gaal said, People are coming from the centre
of the land and from another direction.
-Zebul said,
-Where's your big talk now?
-These are the men you ridiculed - so fight
them.
-He did, but Abimelech chased him and Zebul
drove Gaal and his brothers from Shechem.
-Next day the people of Shechem went out into
the fields.
-Abimelech set an ambush there with 3
companies.
-Abimelech's company rushed forward and
secured the city gate.
-The other 2 companies attacked those in
the fields.
-So all the people were killed and the city
destroyed.
-Including about 1000 men and women burned
in the stronghold of the temple of
El-Berith.
-Then Abimelech attacked Thebez.
-There was a strong tower in the city.
-Abimelech stormed the tower.
-Approaching the entrance to burn it a
woman dropped a millstone and cracked his
skull.
-Hurriedly he called his armour bearer to
kill him so no one could say a woman did
it.
-So his servant ran him through and he
died.
-So everyone went home.
This was how God repaid the wickedness of
Abimelech of Shechem. The curse of Jotham came
upon them.
(Chapter 9)
Then Tola rose to save Israel for 23 years.
Then Jair led Israel for 22 years.
Again Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
-They served Baals, Ashtoreths and local gods.
-Since they no longer served Him He became
angry with them.
-He allowed the Philistines and Ammonites to
shatter, crush and oppress them for 18
years.
-Israel was in great distress and cried out to
the Lord.
-We have sinned against you, forsaking you
and serving Baals.
-The Lord replied
-Whenever you were oppressed you cried out
for help.
-I saved you.
-But you've forsaken me and served other
gods so
-I will no longer save you.
-GO AND CRY TO THE GODS YOU'VE CHOSEN - LET
THEM SAVE YOU WHEN YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.
-Israel said
-We've sinned, do what you like with us only
-rescue us now.
-And they got rid of their foreign gods and
served the Lord.
-AND HE COULD BEAR ISRAEL'S MISERY NO LONGER.
-The Ammonite army camped in Gilead.
-The Israelites camped at Mizpah.
-The leaders of Israel in Gilead said,
Whoever leads the attack will be head of
everyone living in Gilead.
(Chapter 10)
Jephthah was a mighty warrior.
-His father was Gilead.
-His mother was a prostitute.
-Gilead's wife had sons.
-They drove Jephthah away, saying he wasn't
entitled to any family inheritance.
-Later with the Ammonites attacking the
elders of Gilead called for his help.
-He replied, You drove me away, why come to
me now?
-But they asked his help again and offered
him leadership over all living in Gilead.
-He replied, Suppose the Lord gives me
victory, will I really be your head?
-They replied, Yes as the Lord is our
witness.
-So Jephthah went and was made commander and
head - he repeated all his words before
the Lord.
-He sent messengers to the Ammonite king
asking why the attacks.
-He replied because Israel had taken
his land on the way from Egypt to the
Promised Land and he asked it be returned
peaceably.
-Jephthah replied that:
-The king had his history wrong, Israel
had not taken land from the Ammonites.
-The Lord had given them the land.
-Israel had long possessed it.
-I've not wronged you but you wrong me by
waging war.
-Let the Lord decide the dispute.
-The king ignored this message.
-Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon
Jephthah.
-He advanced and vowed that if successful,he
would offer whatever first came out of his
house on his return would be the Lord's
and sacrificed as a burnt offering.
-The Lord gave the Ammonites into his hands.
-Returning home who should run out to meet
him but his only child a daughter, dancing
to the sound of tambourines.
-He tore his clothes and told of the vow he
couldn't break.
-She replied, You've given your word to the
Lord, do to me as you promised.
-But first give me 2 months to roam the
hills and weep with my friends because
I'll never marry.
-He let her go.
-After 2 months she returned and was
sacrificed.
-She was a virgin.
(Chapter 11)
Ephraim called out their forces, crossed the
Jordan and arrived at Zaphon.
-They asked Jephthah why he hadn't asked
their help against the Ammonites and
threatened to burn his house down over his
head.
-He replied that he had asked their help and
not got it.
-But the Lord had given him victory.
-He therefore asked why they had come to
fight him.
-So he fought and defeated Ephraim.
-His army captured the Jordan fords,
identified and killed 42,000 retreating
Ephraimites.
-He led Israel for 6 years.
-After him Ibzan led Israel for 7 years.
-After him Elon led Israel for 10 years.
-After him Abdon led Israel for 8 years.
(Chapter 12)
The Israelites again did evil in the eyes of the
Lord so the Lord let the Philistines oppress
them for 40 years.
Manoah, a Danite, had a barren wife.
-An angel of the Lord appeared to her and
told her
-She would have a son,
-but not to drink wine or fermented drink
-or eat anything unclean.
-Because the boy is to be a Nazirite so,
-no razor may be used on his head,
-because he is set apart to God from birth,
-and will begin the deliverance of Israel
from the Philistines.
-She told her husband.
-He prayed to the Lord.
-Let the man of God come again to teach us
how to bring the boy up.
-God heard and His angel came again to the
woman while she was in the field.
-She hurried and told her husband, He's
returned.
-Manoah got up, followed his wife and asked
the man,
-Are you the one who talked to my wife?
-I am, he replied.
-He asked, When your word's fulfilled
what is to be the rule for our boy's
life and work?
-The angel replied, Your wife must do
all I've told her.
-Manoah asked the angel to stay until a
young goat was prepared.
-He replied, I won't eat. But if you
prepare a burnt offering, offer it to
the Lord.
-Manoah asked his name.
-He replied, it is beyond understanding.
-Manoah sacrificed a goat and grain
offering on a rock to the Lord.
-The Lord did an amazing thing while
Manoah and his wife watched.
-As the flame blazed up from the altar
towards heaven, the angel of the Lord
ascended in it.
-Manoah and his wife fell with their faces
to the ground.
-When he didn't reappear Manoah realised that
it was an angel of the Lord.
-We're doomed to die, he said, we've seen
God.
-But she answered, If so, he wouldn't have
accepted our burnt and grain offering. Nor
told us what he did.
-When born, the boy was called Samson.
-He grew, the Lord blessed him.
-And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir in
him.
(Chapter 13)
He went to Timnah, saw a young Philistine woman,
returned and asked his parents to get her for
him.
-They asked, Why go to the uncircumcised
Philistines for a wife?
-He said, She's the right one, get her for
me.
-His parents didn't know this was from the
Lord who was seeking to confront the
Philistines who ruled Israel.
-Samson went down to Timnah with his father
and mother.
-Alone, a young lion came roaring at him.
-The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in
power.
-He tore the lion apart bare handed.
-But he told no-one.
-Then he went and talked with the woman
and liked her.
-Later returning to marry her
-he looked at the carcass.
-A swarm of bees was in it with some honey.
-He scooped some out with his hands and ate
as he went along.
-And rejoining his parents gave them some.
-But he didn't tell them where it came
from.
-His father went to see the woman.
-As customary for bridegrooms, Samson made
a feast.
-He was given 30 companions.
-I'll tell you a riddle, he said to them.
-If you give the answer in the 7 days of
the feast
-I'll give you thirty linen garments and
sets of clothes.
-If you can't you must do that for me.
-Tell us the riddle, they said.
-He replied, Out of the eater something
to eat, out of the strong something
sweet.
-For three days they couln't answer.
-On the fourth they threatened to burn his
wife and family to death unless she got
the answer.
-She threw herself on him sobbing that he
didn't love her or he'd give her the
answer.
-I haven't even told my parents, so why
you, he said.
-She cried the whole 7 days of the feast.
-So on the 7th day he told her.
-And she told her people.
-So the men of the town told him the
answer.
-Samson said, If you'd not ploughed with my
heifer you would not have solved my
riddle.
-Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him
in power.
-He went to Ashkelon
-struck 30 men down,
-took their belongings,
-and gave their clothes to those who
explained the riddle.
-Burning with anger he returned to his
parents.
-Without his knowledge his wife was given
to the friend who attended him at his
wedding.
(Chapter 14)
Later, Samson visited his wife.
-Heading for her room her father stopped him
and said,
-I was sure you thoroughly hated her so I
gave her to your friend,
-take her younger sister instead.
-Samson said, This time I'll really harm you
Philistines.
-So he caught 300 foxes,
-tied them tail to tail,
-fastened a torch to each pair of tails,
-lit them and loosed them in the
Philistines' standing grain.
-It burnt along with vineyards and olive
groves.
-The Philistines asked Who did it?
-Samson, they were told, because his wife was
given to his friend.
-So the Philistines burned her and her family
to death.
-Samson said, Since you acted like this I
won't stop 'til I get my revenge.
-He attacked viciously, killed many then
went and stayed in a cave.
-The Philistines went up ready to attack at
Lehi.
-Judah asked why.
-To take Samson prisoner, they replied.
-3000 men of Judah went to Samson's cave.
-They asked him why had he done this since
the Philistines ruled Judah.
-He answered, I did to them what they did
to me.
-They said We've come to tie you up and
hand you over.
-Swear you won't kill me, he said.
-They agreed.
-And bound him with new ropes.
-Approaching Lehi the Philistines came
forward shouting.
-The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in
power.
-The ropes were as charred flax.
-He grabbed a fresh jawbone of a donkey and
killed 1000 men.
-And said, With a donkey's jawbone
I made donkeys out of them.
-Very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord.
-You've given your servant a great victory,
-must I now die of thirst
-and fall into the hands of the
uncircumcised?
-God opened up the hollow place in Lehi and
water came out.
-He drank and revived.
-Samson led Israel 20 years.
(Chapter 15)
Samson went to a prostitute in Gaza to spend the
night.
-Being told, the people waited at the city
gate,
-planning to kill him at dawn.
-But in the middle of the night he got up,
-Took hold of the doors of the city gate
-together with the two posts and tore them
loose bars and all.
-He lifted them to his shoulders and
carried them to the top of the hill that
faces Hebron.
Then he fell in love with Philistine Delilah.
-Each Philistine ruler offered her 13
kilograms of silver if she could find out
the secret of his strength.
-So she asked him his secret.
-He tricked her with three false stories,
-that binding him with 7 fresh thongs would
do it,
-that binding him with 7 fresh ropes would
do it,
-that weaving the 7 braids of his hair on a
loom and tightening it with a pin would
do it.
-Each time she had men hidden in her room
to overpower him.
-So she tied him to no avail.
-She wove his hair while sleeping.
-But to no avail.
-How can you say you love me when you won't
confide in me? she said.
-With such nagging she prodded him day after
day until he was tired to death.
-So he told her everything.
-She told the rulers who brought the silver.
-She put him to sleep on her lap and
-called a man to shave his head.
-His strength left him.
-Then she called, Samson the Philistines
are upon you.
-He woke and thought, I'll go out as before
and shake myself free.
-BUT HE DID NOT KNOW THAT THE LORD HAD LEFT
HIM.
-The Philistines put out his eyes.
-Taking him to Gaza they bound him with
bronze shackles and set him grinding grain
in prison.
-But his hair began to grow.
-The Philistines gathered to offer a great
sacrifice at the temple of their god Dagon.
-They praised him for delivering Samson to
them.
-They brought Samson out to entertain them.
-They stood him among the temple pillars.
-He asked the servant holding his hands to
place them on the pillars supporting the
temple.
-It was crowded, all the Philistine rulers
were there, 3000 men and women watched
from the roof.
-Samson prayed,
-O sovereign Lord remember me,
-O God please strengthen me just once
more
-and let me with one blow get revenge on
the Philistines for my 2 eyes.
-Then he reached toward the two central
pillars on which the temple stood.
-Bracing himself against them, his right
hand on one, his left on the other, he
said,
-Let me die with the Philistines.
-He pushed with all his might and down came
the temple on rulers and people.
-So he killed more when he died than when
he lived.
-His brothers and father's whole family
brought him back and buried him in the
tomb of his father.
(Chapter 16)
ISRAEL HAD NO KING.EVERYONE DID THEIR OWN THING.
In the hill country of Ephraim, one Micah had a
shrine, ephod and idols in his house and
installed a son as priest. Then he hired a
Levite as his priest. And said to himself, Now
the Lord will be good to me.
(Chapter 17)
The Danites hadn't possessed their allotted
land. So they sent spies north looking for land
they COULD conquer. On the way they called at
Micah's house and met the Levite who said, Go in
peace, your journey has the Lord's approval.
About 100 miles north they found Laish and its
district suitable. So, returning to Eshtaol they
gathered 600 men armed for battle and headed
back north. On the way they stole Micah's idols
and the Levite gladly went with them as their
priest.
Micah gathered some men and caught up with the
Danites who asked what was his problem. He said,
You took my gods and my priest. What else do I
have? How can you ask, what's the problem? But
he knew the Danites were too strong so he turned
around and went home.
They attacked, burned, rebuilt and settled in
Laish, renaming it Dan. They set up idols and
Jonathan, grandson of Moses and his sons were
priests. They continued using Micah's idols.
(Chapter 18)
A Levite from the hills of Ephraim took a
concubine from Bethlehem. Being unfaithful, she
returned to her father. Her husband followed and
persuaded her to return. Her father's
hospitality delayed his departure 'til late in
the day. So at sundown they reached Gibeah, sat
in the city square, but no-one took them in for
the night. Finally an old man returning from the
fields took them in. But homosexuals pounded on
the door demanding the man be brought out so
they could have sex with him. The old man
offered them his virgin daughter and the
concubine instead - they wouldn't listen. So the
Levite sent his concubine out. They raped and
abused her all night and let her go at dawn. She
returned to the house where her master was
staying, fell and lay at the door 'til daylight.
Her master got up, opened the door and stepped
out to leave. And there lay his concubine,
fallen in the doorway with her hands on the
threshold. He said to her, Get up, let's go. But
there was no answer. So he put her on his donkey
and set out for home.
Arriving, he cut her into twelve pieces and sent
them to the 12 tribes of Israel. Everyone said,
Nothing like this has been seen or done since
Israel left Egypt. Think, consider, tell us what
to do.
(Such was, and will always be, the logical
conclusion of godless humanity, where everyone
does his own thing).
(Chapter 19)
All Israel gathered before the Lord at Mizpah
and asked the Levite what happened. When told,
they decided to attack and destroy Gibeah in the
territory of Benjamin, for all this vileness
done in Israel.
They sent messengers throughout Benjamin asking
about the crime and that those responsible be
surrendered to them, put to death and so the
evil purged from Israel.
But the Benjamites wouldn't listen. They
prepared to fight. So Israel went to Bethel,
where the Ark of the Covenant was, to inquire of
God about fighting them. Next morning Israel
went out to fight near Gibeah. Defeated they
wept and enquired before the Lord 'til evening.
They asked Him, Shall we go up again? God
answered Yes. But the same thing happened again.
So they all went to Bethel and sat weeping and
fasting before the Lord until evening,
presenting burnt and fellowship offerings. They
asked again should they go up. God promised
victory for the next day.
Israel set an ambush, defeated the Benjamites,
put the whole city to the sword and went on to
put all their towns to the sword, burning them.
On the day of battle 25,000 Benjamite swordsmen
fell but 600 fled to the rock of Rimmon where
they stayed four months.
(Chapter 20)
The men of Israel had taken an oath at Mizpah
not to give their daughters in marriage to
Benjamites. They went to Bethel and sat before
God 'til evening weeping bitterly and asking why
this happened to Israel so one tribe is missing.
They presented burnt and fellowship offerings.
They had taken an oath that anyone failing to
rally to the call previously to fight at Gibeah
should be put to death. They found no one from
Jabesh Gilead had come. They attacked with
instructions to spare only female virgins. They
found 400 such virgins who they took to Shiloh.
The whole assembly sent an offer of peace to the
600 Benjamites at the rock of Rimmon. So they
returned and were given the 400 virgins so the
tribe could continue. The people grieved for
Benjamin because the Lord made a gap in the
tribes of Israel. As there were 200 girls short,
they suggested to the Benjamites, that at the
annual festival of the Lord at Shiloh, some
girls be abducted by Benjamites. When fathers or
brothers complain they would be told to do this
kindness for the sake of Benjamin and they would
have kept their oath not to give their daughters
to Benjamin.
So Benjamin returned to their inheritance,
rebuilt their towns and resettled them.
IN THOSE DAYS ISRAEL HAD NO KING; EVERYONE DID
AS HE SAW FIT.
(Chapter 21)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM JUDGES.
1. God runs His universe in a predictable
orderly way according to His word and laws.
Disobedience brings disaster as surely as
night follows day.
2. Think of your body as a map of the Promised
Land. It's one thing to repent of your sin
and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be
saved. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are with
you and in you. But HOW MUCH TERRITORY DO
THEY RULE. 10%? 50%? You'll have no REAL
peace 'til it's 100%.
3. Israel had "arrived." But peace was more
dangerous than war. Because it breeds
materialism, complacency, spiritual play
acting and lack of discipline. But war and 40
years in the desert had forced Israel to rely
100% on God. So the Red Sea and the Jordan
opened. Impregnable Jericho fell.
So friend, praise God when you face an
"unbeatable" foe, a totally "impossible"
situation. And read Joshua 1:1-9. Hear God
say "Stand back, relax, this is MY battle."
(2 Chron. 20:15, I Sam. 17:47).
(Chapter 1)
4. God will never break His word to you. But if
you break your word to Him (to love Him with
ALL your heart, soul, mind, strength and your
neighbour as yourself) you will be tested
with "thorns and snares" to see if you'll
keep to the way of the Lord or go your own
sinful way.
(Chapter 2)
5. You have the choice of either -
A. Peace through 100% obedience (out of
loving gratitude to God for all He has
done and is doing for you) - or -
B. Severe oppression by the many wiles of
your foe Satan.
(Chapter 3)
6. No matter how tough things may be, or how
little you deserve God's help, He can "do a
Deborah" for you. Believe and ACT on it.
(Chapter 4)
7. And you'll surely have your own "song of
Deborah" to sing. You'll be "like the sun
when it rises in its strength."
8. And for those who promote conflict between
the genders, a reminder that God's perfect
love has no gender, race or other bias.
(Chapter 5)
9. When you feel God has abandoned you look in
the mirror to see the cause and the
solution.
10. And when God says "Go in the strength you
have" to defeat an "impossibly" strong enemy
- obey. Get your eyes off your inadequacy
onto God's adequacy.
A parable to help:
-You are a small monkey travelling through
a beautiful but dangerous jungle.
-Your friend the elephant is God.
-A call on your mobile phone will bring
instant help.
-Only your sin can flatten the mobile's
battery and render you defenceless.
-A dozen big lions encircle you.
-You use the strength you have to call on
the mobile.
-Now the elephant stands behind you.
-The lions look nervous.
-The elephant says to you CHARGE!
-You do.
-The lions scatter.
-You look up and say to the elephant,
joyfully and jokingly WE sure fixed that
lot.
-And your bond is VERY close.
11. But before a spiritual victory must come
spiritual cleansing. The Baals and Asherah
poles must go. It's a dumb (and doomed)
monkey that faces lions confidently with a
dead mobile phone!
12. And when the mobile works God understands if
your heart pounds "just a little." The roar
is blood curdling, the teeth long and
a second call for re-assurance won't anger
Him.
(Chapter 6)
13. And just before the order to charge, with
your eyes fixed on the lions He understood
when your tail stretched back to MAKE SURE
His big strong leg was right there behind
you.
And you'll worship God
Because, against all human reason,
THE OPPOSITION IS DEAD
THE VICTORY IS INEVITABLE.
And God is so beautifully logical (when you
can understand Him). 300 soldiers is about
as many as you can move at midnight without
making enough noise to wake the enemy!
WORSHIP HIM!
(Chapter 7)
14. Immediately "you win" a great victory expect
attacks and no help from your "friends."
It's a vulnerable moment for you so keep
your tail round that big leg AFTER the
victory. See also Chapter 12.
Avoid the "victor's spoils." People always
want to contract out of the demands of a
personal real relationship with God. Much
easier to employ you. So don't believe the
accolades about YOU and YOUR victory on the
7 o'clock news. Like Gideon, say, The Lord
(not I) will rule you.
15. Not even - a few small trinkets! That's all
that the devil needed to neutralise this
man so mightily used by God.
16. Human gratitude? Forget it!
(Chapter 8)
17. If you won't give God 100% control of your
life and instead run it to satisfy your own
egocentric goals it will end in disaster.
(Chapter 9)
18. In such a situation you DESERVE no help from
God. But He has the heart of a loving father
grieving over you His wayward child.
(Chapter 10)
19. Don't make "deals" and rash promises to God.
(Chapters 11 and 12)
20. No matter how bad things are, God knows the
score. Be sure deliverance is on the way.Be
prepared for the Lord to work miracles.
(Chapter 13)
21. If you are an only child you may have been
spoilt by your parents. If so, beware of
self centredness and intolerance of others.
22. The devil wants to destroy you. If he can
do it through your attraction to a woman (or
vice versa) he will. But he can only tempt
you. Samson was aware of his wife's
strategy. A firm decisive NO would have
settled the issue. But he gave in under
pressure. And set the scene for his later
disaster.
(Chapter 14)
23. When you become a Christian, God the Holy
Spirit comes to live in you. Only sin can
short circuit His mighty power. So quickly
confess all sin and all God's resources are
on hand to meet any challenge.
(Chapter 15)
24. A strong body is no substitute for a strong
brain. In view of his experience with his
first wife, Samson's actions with Delilah
were plain dumb. Learn from your mistakes.
Don't repeat them. NEVER stick your neck
twice into the same devil's noose.
(Chapter 16)
25. Never substitute your ideas of how to
worship and honour God for what His word
clearly says. Your motives may be sincere -
AND TOTALLY WRONG.
(Chapter 17)
26. If you don't love and obey God 100% you'll
substitute some form of false god for Him.
And disaster will be inevitable. And when I
say disaster, I mean DISASTER.
(Chapters 18 and 19)
27. Including civil war, brother against brother
church against church etc.
(Chapter 20)
28. And some very unimpressive "logic" resulting
from doing your own thing instead of God's.
(Chapter 21)
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