Judges 2

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Spiritual Background on the Time of the Judges

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. There are five steps in the sin cycles of Israel: a. the people would sin by rebelling against the Lord b. the Lord would allow one of the enemies of Israel to gain control and to plunder and oppress Israel c. the people would cry out to the Lord because of the oppression and the Lord would hear d. the Lord would raise up a judge and deliver the people from the enemy e. there would be a measure of rest and revival as long as that judge lived.

  2. There can be sin cycles in the lives of believers.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Have you had a first-generation experience?

QUESTIONS

  1. Why did God command the tribes of Israel to fully conquer and occupy their respective territories?

  2. Why did God permit surrounding nations to come in and oppress Israel?

  3. What did Israel do when the angel of the Lord confronted them?

  4. List or describe the five steps of Israel's sin cycles during the time of the judges.

  5. What happened when a judge died?

ANSWERS

  1. God did not want His people to be contaminated by the idolatry and immorality of the Canaanites.

  2. Because of Israel's disobedience to obey His commands.

  3. They wept and they sacrificed to the Lord. (See Judges 2:4-5.)

  4. a. the people would sin by rebelling against the Lord b. the Lord would allow one of the enemies of Israel to gain control and to plunder and oppress Israel c. the people would cry out to the Lord because of the oppression and the Lord would hear d. the Lord would raise up a judge and deliver the people from the enemy e. there would be a measure of rest and revival as long as that judge was alive. Alliterated: a. sin or rebellion b. servitude or retribution c. supplication or repentance d. salvation or restoration e. silence or rest.

  5. The people would revert to their old ways of rebellion and disobedience.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The sin cycle that Israel went through again and again in the time of the judges can also take place in the life of a believer. Consider these references, stage by stage in the sin cycle: James 1:14-15; Hebrews 12:5-11; 1 John 1:9; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Matthew 11:28-30.

  2. The Lord will bring discipline into our lives. If we repent and cry out to the Lord, He brings deliverance and restoration to our lives, and there is rest. Have you experienced the Lord's discipline? How have you responded?

CHALLENGE

  1. Have you had a first-generation experience in seeing the great works the Lord has done? You can have a first-generation experience if you are willing to step out in faith.

KEY VERSES

  • "You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed My voice. Therefore they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you." Judges 2:2-3

  • "The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua and the elders, who had seen all the great works of the Lord. Another generation arose who did not know the Lord nor the work He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord...they forsook the Lord and served other gods." Judges 2:7, 10-13

  • "I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which were left...so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them...or not." Judges 2:21-22

Judges, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidJUDGES 2