Judges

Key Phrase: But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways

Intro

A judge rules the Israelites as the first form of government for God’s chosen people. Not a system of judges, but a singular judge. These judges do not rule continuously, nor are they perfect.

When the Israelites turn from God, enemies threaten them. Then, God raises up a judge to rescue the people. When the people obey God, they have peace during the lifetime of the judge. Some judges are famous, like Samson who is known for his strength. For the highlights, we focus on Samuel, the last of the judges.

Judges

Judges 2:7 And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him—those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. . .

10 After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.

11 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal. . .

14 This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them. . .

16 Then the Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. . .

18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. . .

 Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. . .

 1 Samuel 1:1 There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramah in the region of Zuph[1] in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not.

6 So Peninnah would taunt Hannah and make fun of her because the Lord had kept her from having children. . .

10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut[2]” . . .

 19 The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea, 20 and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,[3] for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.” . . .

 1 Samuel 2:11 Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest. . .

 26 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.

1 Samuel 7:5 Then Samuel told them, “Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.) . . .

 7 When the Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they learned that the Philistines were approaching. . . 

 10 Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them. 

 15 Samuel continued as Israel’s judge for the rest of his life.

 1 Samuel 8:1 As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. 2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. 3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

 4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”

 6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. . .

 1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.[4]

Connect

Failing to recognize that God is their King and Protector, the Israelites reject the system of judges and ask for a king because they want to be like other nations. So, God gives them a king for their second form of government.

Footnotes

[1] 1 Samuel 1:1 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads in Ramathaim-zophim; compare 1:19.

[2] 1 Samuel 1:11 Some manuscripts add He will drink neither wine nor intoxicants.

[3] 1 Samuel 1:20 Samuel sounds like the Hebrew term for “asked of God” or “heard by God.”

[4] 1 Samuel 10:1 Greek version reads over Israel. And you will rule over the Lord’s people and save them from their enemies around them. This will be the sign to you that the Lord has appointed you to be leader over his special possession.