FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
WE’RE NOT REALLY GOING TO STUDY JUDGES, ARE WE?
At Forge, Pastor Pete has begun a new study on the book of Judges – now how exciting is that, right? I mean, who gets up on any given day and says, “I think I’ll spend this week reading the book of Judges?”. Not me, I can assure you. But then I asked myself, why do we avoid certain books of the Bible? Well, for me, it’s because it’s not “exciting” enough. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read the book of Judges many times in my life, but truth be told, I couldn’t tell you one key point I learned that was worth sharing.
So, I decided to change that.
I decided, since Pastor Pete was starting this new series, to re-read the book of Judges, and really, really concentrate on what the key message was for me, and for you. Full disclosure, my eyes were opened in a way they’ve never been before – as it relates to the book of Judges – but some of that eye opening was from week one of Pastor Pet’s message.
My take is that the book of Judges conveys five key messages to Christians:
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS and DELIVERANCE
The book of Judges highlights God’s faithfulness to His people even when they repeatedly turned away from Him. Despite Israel’s (and our) disobedience and idolatry, God raised up judges/leaders to rescue them from oppression and bring deliverance. Important to us is that this emphasizes God’s unwavering commitment to His covenant and His willingness to rescue His people when they repent and seek Him – this is a huge call to the men of Forge and Christians everywhere.
CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE
Judges reveal the cyclical pattern of disobedience, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that the Israelites experienced. The Israelites would often fall into idolatry and turn away from God, leading to their subjugation under foreign powers – welcome to America 2023, right? The book of Judges warns us about the consequences of forsaking God’s commands and highlights the need for steadfast obedience.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP and AUTHORITY
The book of Judges demonstrates the significance of having godly leaders who follow and uphold God’s law. The judges were chosen by God to administer justice, lead the people, and guide them back to the right path. Their leadership was instrumental in bringing about deliverance and restoration. This emphasizes the need for wise and righteous leaders in society today.
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY and HUMAN FRAILTY
Throughout Judges, we see how God’s sovereignty remains constant, even in the midst of human failings and weaknesses. The judges themselves were flawed individuals, and their stories highlight the human condition and the need for God’s grace. It reminds Christians that God can use imperfect vessels to accomplish His purposes and that His power is made perfect in human weakness.
THE DANGERS OF CULTURAL ASSIMILATION
This was the big one as it relates to modern day society. A clear lesson from Judges is the danger of assimilating into the surrounding culture and adopting its values and practices. Israel’s repeated cycles of disobedience were often a result of their intermingling with the Canaanites and embracing their pagan practices. This serves as a warning to Christians to remain distinct from the world and to stay faithful to God’s commands.
That’s it. Amazing what God can reveal when you pray, read, and listen. The good news of course is that the book of Judges encourages Christians to remain faithful to God, learn from the mistakes of the Israelites, seek godly leadership, and trust in God’s deliverance and faithfulness, even amid challenging circumstances.
Joe Bouch
