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The Book of Judges recounts a period in Israel's history after Joshua's death, detailing a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance through charismatic leaders called "judges" who led the Israelites against their enemies.
<aside> <img src="/icons/book_red.svg" alt="/icons/book_red.svg" width="40px" /> Judges 2:7-15 (NKJV) The Story pg. 109-110
So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 8 Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. 11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Ba als; 12 and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. 13 They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.
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The children of Israel did not know God, His ways, or miracles, and chose not to serve him.
They chose to worship the false gods of their neighbors.
God sold them into the hands of their enemies.
<aside> <img src="/icons/book_red.svg" alt="/icons/book_red.svg" width="40px" /> Judges 3:5-7 (NKJV)
Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods. 7 So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/search_gray.svg" alt="/icons/search_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Compromise
accepts standards that are lower than is desirable.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/book_red.svg" alt="/icons/book_red.svg" width="40px" /> Songs of Solomon 2:15 (NLT)
Catch all the foxes, those little foxes before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming.
<aside> <img src="/icons/book_red.svg" alt="/icons/book_red.svg" width="40px" /> 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NLT)
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
What “little foxes” do you need to surrender to God before they destroy the vin
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<aside> <img src="/icons/book_red.svg" alt="/icons/book_red.svg" width="40px" /> Judges 3:9-11 (NKJV) Pg 110-111
But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz. 10 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him. 11 So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
There is a true remnant of Christianity in certain spaces and places all over the world. Commit to praying for them that will make them strong like Othniel.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/book_red.svg" alt="/icons/book_red.svg" width="40px" /> Judges 3:12-30 The Story pg. 111
12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, and the Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil. 13 Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms. 14 And the Israelites served Eglon of Moab for eighteen years. 15 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab. 16 So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot[b] long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. 17 He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat. 18 After delivering the payment, Ehud started home with those who had helped carry the tribute. 19 But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, “I have a secret message for you.” So the king commanded his servants, “Be quiet!” and he sent them all out of the room. 20 Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly. 22 The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied. 23 Then Ehud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine. 24 After Ehud was gone, the king’s servants returned and found the doors to the upstairs room locked. They thought he might be using the latrine in the room, 25 so they waited. But when the king didn’t come out after a long delay, they became concerned and got a key. And when they opened the doors, they found their master dead on the floor. 26 While the servants were waiting, Ehud escaped, passing the stone idols on his way to Seirah. 27 When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills.
28 “Follow me,” he said, “for the Lord has given you victory over Moab your enemy.” So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the shallow crossings of the Jordan River across from Moab, preventing anyone from crossing. 29 They attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped. 30 So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.
<aside> <img src="/icons/book_red.svg" alt="/icons/book_red.svg" width="40px" /> Psalm 139 13-15 (NLT)
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/book_red.svg" alt="/icons/book_red.svg" width="40px" /> 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NLT)
27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world,[h] things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
What traits, characteristics, or abilities has God used in your life to be a blessing to other?
<aside> <img src="/icons/book_red.svg" alt="/icons/book_red.svg" width="40px" /> Judges 4 The Story pg. 111
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