Category: Judges

The Book of Judges chronicles the leadership of Israel after Joshua’s death, showing how when they sought to rule themselves, they descended into immorality,…

While in the south of Israel the military campaigns were largely successful, because they followed God’s leadership, the north of Israel was not as…

In the first chapter of Judges, we have seen sin and disobedience in Israel’s life. Despite God’s command to drive out the pagan nations…

children will. After Joshua died, that is what happened to Israel. They forgot God. They did not follow him. They failed. This passage emphasises…

Jesus’ death and resurrection is the hinge of history. It is the point all of history builds towards, and it is the point of…

In Judges there are exciting salvation stories, and boring ones. The first example, that of God’s saving Israel through Othniel, falls into the boring…

Judges 3 contains a story which holds plenty of comical relief, along with an element of personal gorishness which surprises and shocks our sensibilities.…

, what he did, and what effect it had on Israel. He only rates a one verse mention. But he is still important, because…

Judges in Chapter 4 God further demonstrates his use of unusual means to save his people; two women. Where the men are weak, fearful,…

Singing praises to God was important throughout history, and in Judges 5 we see another song which sings praises to God for who he…

You would think that after God’s mighty act of salvation, we would stay on the straight and narrow. Sadly, this is not what happens.…

Gideon in his weakness, commissions Gideon with a promise, and assures Gideon with a sign. Gideon realises the heights of God’s holiness and the…

groups. Whether they are an ideology, a practice, or a physical object, idols are very precious to us. When they are shown to be…

The Christian walk can feel like a constant conflict between strength and weakness. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we step out in faith and…

or invading other countries who have something you would like. Weakness is not a virtue, or a place from which victory is expected. Those…

There is truth to the saying that your greatest strength can also be your greatest weakness. In the areas you are most confident, pride…

Why do people seek status and security? Usually, because it places you in a position of strength. With status, you can influence others for…

It is hard to stay strong. Harder still when you were never particularly strong to begin with, and when those around you are weak.…

Our National Anthem asks God (somewhat ironically perhaps, due to our pagan nature) to defend New Zealand. It includes a request to guard our…

God does not always strike with lightning or fire and brimstone. Sometimes, God judges through decline and self-destruction. Sometimes, God uses evil to destroy…

Book of Judges is not like your standard history book. While it covers the high and low points of the Judges period of Israel’s…

In Judges 10, we are exposed to the further decline of Israel’s attitude to God, and their increased apostasy. In the face of stricter…

How often in life do we reject the help or advice of someone until it is past time that we need it? As a…

In our second look at Jephthah’s role as a Judge over Israel, we see the importance of history in the conflict between Israel and…

e all say or do foolish things, or make stupid promises. Sometimes we wish we had stopped rebelling against God earlier, or paid more…

statement is. Likewise, prejudice against those different to us is an ever present truth in this fallen world. In this passage, we see the…

People like to gather power and wealth because it makes them notable, but in the end most will just become a passing mention at…

Samson, the final judge in the Book of Judges, grew up knowing he had a special destiny. In Judges 13, God’s dramatic power to…

In Judges 14, we are introduced to three people or groups with secrets and agendas. Samson has an agenda and secrets. The Philistines have…

Judges 15 continues the story of conflict between Samson and the Philistines. However, this conflict is driven not by ideology or devotion to God,…

Sometimes in life, a person and the events that occur to them ends up being a picture of a group they belong to. In…

The Church is often closest to victory in God when it appears closest to defeat. The Gospel advanced like wildfire in the Roman Empire,…

There is a Golden Age Fallacy; the idea that there was a time in our past better than now. Partly it is driven by…

We live in a terrible, sinful world. Sad and terrible things happen to people because of the sinful, callous, and selfish desires of other…

Judges 20 shows the response of Israel to the appalling events of the previous chapter in Gibeah. The nation largely united to judge and…

The final chapter of Judges shows a situation where nobody in Israel comes out smelling like roses. After nearly destroying one tribe of Israel…