The Book of Judges Series – Revival in the Land 5/9/21 “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did
what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6; 21:25 (NASB)
Introduction-“Who will go up for us…” (1:1-3)
I. Background of the period of the judges-The reason for Israel’s apostasy (1:4-3:6)
A. The political background-Hostilities between Israel and the Canaanites (1:4-36)
B. The spiritual background – Israel’s conduct and God’s response (2:1-3:6)
II. History of the period of the judges-The record of Israel’s apostasy (3:7-16:31)
A. 1st apostasy-Mesopotamian oppression-Othniel’s deliverance (3:7-14) B. 2nd apostasy-Moabite oppression-Ehud’s deliverance (3:12-30)
C. 3rd apostasy-Canaanite oppression-Deborah/Barak (4:1-5:31)
D. 4th Apostasy-Midianite oppression-Gideon’s deliverance (6:1-8:35)
Addendum: This “cycle” is different – “The Enemy Within” – Conspiracy (9:1-10:5) E. 5th apostasy-Ammonite oppression-Jephthah’s deliverance (10:6-12:7)
Addendum: Less well-known judges served between cycles of decline (12:8-15) F. 6th apostasy-Philistine oppression-Samson’s partial deliverance (13:1-16:31)
III. The results of Israel’s apostasy – Spiritual, social and political chaos (17:1-21:25) Introduction – Many expositors believe chapters 17-21 are not chronological
A. Spiritual and moral Chaos – Micah ‘s idolatry and private priest (17:1-13)
- Micah steals 1,100 pieces of silver from mother – Then confesses (vv.1-2) 2. After returning the silver, idols made and “new” religion created (vv.3-6) 3. Micah chooses a Levite to replace his son as his personal priest (17:7-11)
Conclusion: Micah expected blessing because of his corrupt religion (17:12-13)
B. Social Chaos – Danite apostasy and migration (18:1-31) C. Political Chaos – The Benjamite war (19:1-21:24) - The reason for the war-The atrocity in Gibeah (19:1-20:14)
- The execution of the civil war in Israel (20:15-48)
- The results of the war-The preservation of Benjamin (21:1-25)
Conclusion : The reason for the tragic consequences during the time of Judges (21:25)
Key Verse(s) * “No king” or guidance of any kind —> moral and spiritual chaos Judges 17:5-6 (NASB) * Stolen and returned silver used to create ‘Burger King’ religion “And the man Micah had a shrine and he made an ephod and household idols and consecrated one of his sons, that he might become his priest. In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
Judges 17: 13(NASB) * Uses God’s covenant name to falsely claim God’s blessing “Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, seeing I have a Levite as priest.” *Note: Micah claims God’s blessing even though what he is doing is an abomination
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NASB)
Judges 17:1-13 “My Religion, My Way!”
“Now the angel of the LORD…said…’I will never break My covenant…’”
Judges 2:1 (NASB)
Key x-References– Worship of the one true God is specifically prescribed by God *Exodus 20:4 (NASB) *The 2nd of God’s 10 Commandments – No idolatry!
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.”
Deuteronomy 4:15-18 (NASB) *The true God has no form – no visual representation “So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth…”
*“Seeing is NOT believing!” But NOT seeing is believing – cf. Hebrews 11:1-3
Leviticus 19:4 (NASB) *Micah could – and even should – have known better!
“Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods; I am the LORD your God.”
Deuteronomy 27:15 (NAS) *Micah claimed blessing for what God called abomination “Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’”
Jeremiah 10:2-9 (NASB) *How can anything created by man be worshipped by man? “Thus says the LORD, ‘Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them; For the customs of the peoples are delusion; Because it is wood cut from the forest, The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. They decorate it with silver and with gold; They fasten it with nails and with hammers So that it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good. There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your name in might… There is none like You. But they are altogether stupid and foolish In their discipline of delusion—their idol is wood!’”
Jeremiah 51:14-16 (NASB) *Things should never be considered a substitute for God! “Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish.
The portion of Jacob is not like these; For the Maker of all is He, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name.”
Hosea 8:6-7 (NAS) *Empty or vain religion can have disastrous consequences!
“For from Israel is even this! A craftsman made it, so it is not God…For they sow the wind And they reap the whirlwind.”
Deuteronomy 12:13-14 (NAS) *God is sovereign – He decides what true worship is “Be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every cultic place you see, but in the place which the LORD chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.”
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB)