Post by arthurpare on Nov 8, 2012 21:14:19 GMT -5
Courtesy of Bob Bailey:
Greetings!
Last week we looked at the book of Joshua and saw God fighting for his
people as they took possession of the promised the land. At the end of
Joshua, the land is at rest from war and the people renew their covenant
to serve the LORD their God.
This week we look at the book of Judges, chapters 2-16. From the start we
are told that all is not well - the people have actually failed to take
the land, they are serving Baal, and God will no longer fight for them.
Though God repeatedly delivers them, in the end the land is not at peace
and the people are at war - with each other.
In Judges, we read the familiar stories of Ehud, Deborah/Barak, Gideon,
Jephthah, and Samson and watch the people break faith and fall farther and
farther away from God while God continues to deliver them.
Here is a link to read Judges chapter 2 online. From the web page, you can click to the chapters that follow. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%202&version=ESV
Here are a few things to think about as you read:
Watch for the repeated pattern of rebellion, oppression, outcry, and deliverance.
Why does God use sinful, weak, and flawed people to deliver Israel?
Is it important that Samson is a Nazirite?
Why do the people keep "doing evil the eyes of the LORD?"
Why does God keep delivering them?
Greetings!
Last week we looked at the book of Joshua and saw God fighting for his
people as they took possession of the promised the land. At the end of
Joshua, the land is at rest from war and the people renew their covenant
to serve the LORD their God.
This week we look at the book of Judges, chapters 2-16. From the start we
are told that all is not well - the people have actually failed to take
the land, they are serving Baal, and God will no longer fight for them.
Though God repeatedly delivers them, in the end the land is not at peace
and the people are at war - with each other.
In Judges, we read the familiar stories of Ehud, Deborah/Barak, Gideon,
Jephthah, and Samson and watch the people break faith and fall farther and
farther away from God while God continues to deliver them.
Here is a link to read Judges chapter 2 online. From the web page, you can click to the chapters that follow. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%202&version=ESV
Here are a few things to think about as you read:
Watch for the repeated pattern of rebellion, oppression, outcry, and deliverance.
Why does God use sinful, weak, and flawed people to deliver Israel?
Is it important that Samson is a Nazirite?
Why do the people keep "doing evil the eyes of the LORD?"
Why does God keep delivering them?