INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES

Judges - Everyone Did As He Saw Fit

(KeyVerse= 21:25)

The book of Judges covers the period of history between the death of Joshua and the establishment of the monarchy. Judges 21:25 says, 'In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.' The Israelites under Joshua conquered the land of Canaan, but after Joshua's death, there was no central government; there was no one who taught the people God's word; there was no shepherd and no clear direction. Each man was his own law. The Israelites were influenced very much by the Canaanite culture, and, with no word of God, they fell into idolatry. This happened time after time. Each time, God removed his hand of protection, and allowed hostile neighbors to harass them. When they turned to God in repentance and cried out to him for help, he would raise up a judge, a charismatic leader, to deliver them. Then, for the rest of the judge's lifetime, the land would have peace.

These judges were men of their times. They, too, did what was right in their own eyes. But they were men of faith and they stood out like bright stars in a dark night. The major judges are listed among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.

The need for a king and shepherd becomes abundantly clear, as the way was paved for the establishment of the kingdom.

1. Judah goes first (1-21)

The Lord had given Canaan to the Israelites, but they needed faith to go in and take it. The tribes of Judah and Simeon co-worked to take their portion in the south. They fought, defeated and executed judgment on a cruel and powerful overlord. They even put Jerusalem to the sword, but they could not conquer it. The Benjamites also failed to conquer it and had to live there with the Jebusites. Judah conquered three of the five Philistine cities, but it was a temporary victory. One hero of these battles was Othniel, the first judge. He conquered Debir and won the hand of Caleb's daughter. Caleb was an old man, but he fought giants and took Hebron.

2. The house of Joseph (22-36)

The territory to the north was assigned to the rest of the tribes, led by Ephraim and Manasseh. They conquered the Canaanites, but did not completely drive them out; they used them as servants, and these servants later became a snare. We pay a price for compromise with an easy life.

Application: Lord, help me to claim the spiritual inheritance you promised me--by faith.
One Word: Take the land by faith