The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Judges

  • A Light in the Darkness

    “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
    1 Corinthians 10:11

    God often reminded His people what He expected of them. Before they were led into the land God promised to them, see what He told them: “Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes” (Deuteronomy 12:8). He also told them: “… thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 13:18).

    Not too long after the people were given these warnings, we read about a particularly tragic time. It is recorded in the book of Judges. A dominant theme is found within this book: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Notice that it doesn’t say they did wrong; they thought what they were doing was right. Although it didn’t appear wrong to them, it was wrong in God’s eyes. They did not obey the commands God had given them. We can read that the Israelites had rejected God as their king. They chose to be friends with the enemy nations. They also continually chose to turn to the enemy’s idol worship. However, we understand that God never left His people. When the enemy oppressed, God sent a judge (a champion) to deliver them from the hands of their enemies. Gideon and Samson are probably the most familiar judges. The book of Judges reveals some terribly vile things that took place. One excessively despicable event even led to civil war within the nation, almost annihilating one of the twelve tribes.

    God’s people were supposed to reveal to the world the love of God for those who follow and obey His Words. “1. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2. And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). But instead, they rejected God and His Word to do what they thought was right. “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Because of this, we read what God said the consequences of not obeying the word of the Lord would be. “62. And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God. 63. And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought …” (Deuteronomy 28:62-63a). They were not a light, revealing God in the world. 

    There are so many examples in the Bible of which we should take notice. They are there to remind us of what happens when we cease to obey God’s Word and choose our own path. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Jesus wants Christians to be a light in this world. “14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). When the Christians in the churches cease to be obedient to God’s Word, it is much like a light that is put under a bushel. Compromising Christians hurt themselves, their families and their churches. Worse than that, they can also contribute to the decay of a whole nation. We can see this pictured in the book of Judges.

    Are you a compromising Christian, hurting loved ones and contributing to the decay of a nation?

    Or are you a light, showing Jesus in this world?

  • Remembering the History

    “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent …”
    Revelation 3:3a

    Do you remember anything you have learned from the Bible? It is important to daily read God’s Word. If you do not read it, you will not remember it. Remember is the key word. If we do not remember and hold fast to what we learn from God’s Word, we will never grow in Christ. The more we learn about God’s Word, the more we will want to be like Him. By learning the history in the Bible, we will understand the significance of why things happened. God had a plan, which is hard to understand unless you learn the Old Testament history. While it was happening, men did not fully understand what that plan was, but through faith, they believed. The more we learn, the more pieces of the puzzle we can fit together. Each piece helps us become better students of God’s Word, which helps us become better Christians.

    For instance, remember the book of Judges. The dominant theme within the book is this: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Notice that it doesn’t say they did wrong, men thought what they were doing was right. But also notice this: “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves” (Judges 3:7). Although it didn’t appear wrong to them, it was wrong in God’s eyes. They did not obey the commands God had given them.

    There was a vicious cycle that occurred in Judges:

    • The people forsook God.
    • God allowed the enemy to oppress the people.
    • The people cried out to God.
    • God sent a deliverer (a judge) to end the oppression.

    In Judges, the people as a whole rejected God.

    But then we remember the book of Ruth. It is a breath of fresh air in a time of turmoil in the nation of Israel, for it is a picture of redemption. Ruth was a Gentile (a Moabitess) who lived in a pagan land. She did not know the true God. When an Israelite family moved to Moab because of a drought in Israel, Ruth married into this family and heard of God. When her husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law died, she returned with her mother-in-law to the land of Israel. Because she had recognized a light in her dark world, she wanted to follow that light. She had learned of God and did not want to lose that. Her view is clearly stated: “16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17.  Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16-17). It was there after being redeemed by a kinsman, that she forever became a part of Jesus’ genealogy. She was the great-grandmother of King David.

    One important thing about studying the history in the Bible is to be aware of God’s plan for His people. As we consider what God’s Word says, we should understand how it fits together, much like pieces of a puzzle. As we try to keep in mind and hold fast to the things we learn from God’s Word, it will help us recognize God’s plan for our lives. We must remember what God’s Word says.

    Have you recognized God’s plan in your life?

    Also published at Lighthouse Gospel Beacon.

  • Lesson 5 (Lesson 31): Ruth: A Picture of Redemption

    Key Verse

    “As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.”  Isaiah 47:4

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they know what a “redeemer” is.

    redeemer:  basically means that of buying something back.

    After you help them understand the word “redeemer”, explain to them that Jesus (the Lord of hosts) is our redeemer.  He bought every one who belongs to him with his blood on the cross (I Peter 1:18-19:  “18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” and Ephesians 1:7:  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”)  We have learned that we all deserve the punishment of death (because of sin.)  Jesus paid the penalty, for those who believe, and died in their place which “bought” us back.  We will see a picture of redemption (buying something back) in the book of Ruth today.

    Summary:  During the book of Judges we saw how the nation as a whole had rejected God as their king.  Last week we noticed a couple, Samson’s parents, who heard from God and responded to God’s call.  We saw that God did what He had promised in their lives.  The book of Ruth takes place during the time of Judges.  This book, too, shows us there were people (although few) who still believed God and allowed Him to rule in their lives.

    Because of the turmoil and terrible times during the time of the Judges, Ruth is a breath of fresh air.  The book of Ruth is a picture of redemption.  She was a gentile (a Moabitess) who was living in a pagan land.  She did not know the true God.  When an Israelite family moved to Moab (because of a drought in Israel), she married into this family and heard of God.  When her husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law died, she returned with her mother-in-law to the land of Israel.  Her view is clearly stated in Ruth 1:16-17:  “16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”   It was there, after being redeemed by a kinsman, that she forever became a part of Jesus’ genealogy.  She was the great-grandmother of King David.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  To know Jesus is our redeemer, and that He bought us, if we will believe in Him.  Then, we should live as a light in this dark world so others can know Him.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 31 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 31 – Volume 1 Reinforcement Worksheet 1

    Lesson 31 – Volume 1 Reinforcement Worksheet 2

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we made hanging verse.  We took a copy of the verse Ruth 1:16-17 and glued it to construction paper.  We discussed just what that verse meant, and how important of a decision it was to Ruth.  We also had a coloring sheet.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 4 (Lesson 30): Judges 13-21: The Tragedy of No King

    Key Verse

    “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”  James 4:4

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Help your students understand the verse.  Use the following meanings of the words from the memory verse to help you explain the gravity of this verse.

    adulterers and adulteresses:  one who is faithless toward God

    friendship:  causing the interests of the world to become your interests

    enmity:  enemy

    friend:  loved, befriended, kind

    world: specifically the wealth and enjoyments of this world, this life’s goods

    Keep this verse and the meaning of it in mind as we look at the last part of the book of Judges.  This was the root of the problem – they chose friendship with the world (and the things of the world) over a relationship with God, thereby becoming God’s enemy.

    Summary:  Remember that the time of the Judges was a sad time in Israel’s history.  The dominant theme within the book of Judges – 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”  Notice that it doesn’t say they did wrong, they thought what they were doing was right.  Although it didn’t appear wrong to them, it was wrong in God’s eyes.  They did not obey the commands God had given them.  We see that the Israelites had rejected God as their king.  They chose to be friends with the enemy nations.  They also chose to continually turn to the enemy’s idol worship.  We see how this made them God’s enemy, but we also see that God never left His people.

    We saw last week they had begun a vicious cycle:  the people forsook God, God allowed the enemy to oppress the people, the people cried out to God, and God sent a deliverer (a judge) to end the oppression.  This cycle continued through the rest of Judges.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  The people in Judges had become like the people who lived in Canaan land, the people they did not completely remove from the land.  When they became like them, their hearts were turned from God.  As Christians, we cannot be a friend of the world and God.  We must choose whether God is more important to us, or if it is the things of the world.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 30 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 30 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 1

    Lesson 30 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 2

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we made a coloring book for each child.  Because Samson is such another popular judge, there were many choices of coloring pages.  I chose some that told the story of Samson’s life.  I had a book of construction paper cut and stapled together for them to glue the different pictures into in the correct order.  We colored some of the pictures in them with the time we had left.  They were then able to take their books home to color the rest of the pictures as they had time, helping them remember what we had learned in class that day.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

     

  • Lesson 3 (Lesson 29): Judges 1-12: Decline of the Judges

    Key Verse:

    “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”  Proverbs 15:3

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they can see everything all of the time.  Help them understand that we are limited in what we can see.  God is not.  Help them understand that God can see everything, everywhere, all of the time!  Even when we don’t think God knows what is going on, He does.  Today we see what happens to a people who forgot God.  The people turned their heart from Him and did evil.

    Summary:  Judges was a sad time in Israel’s history.  Notice:  Judges 3:7 “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.”   They did not obey the commands God had given them.  There was a vicious cycle that began of the people forsaking God, God allowing the enemy to oppress the people, the people crying out to God, and God sending a deliverer (a judge) to end the oppression.  (They had a people and land but rejected their God.)  We see the rejection go from actions to a verbal request.  In spite of the people’s rejection of God, we see that God never forsook His people.  He continued to send a deliverer each time they cried out.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  The people in Judges became like the people who lived in Canaan land, the people they did not remove from the land.  When they became like them, their hearts were turned from God and God allowed the enemies to oppress them.  We, today, must not be like the world around us, or they will turn our hearts from God.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 29 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 29 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we made a coloring book for each child.  Because Gideon is such a popular judge, there were many choices of coloring pages.  I chose some that told the story of Gideon’s life.  I had a book of construction paper cut and stapled together for them to glue the different pictures into in the correct order.  We colored some of the pictures in them with the time we had left.  They were then able to take their books home to color the rest of the pictures as they had time, helping them remember what we had learned in class that day.

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.