May 4, 2025
“Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.” (Judges 20:13 ESV). This verse captures a tragic turning point in Israel’s history. The rest of
May 2, 2025
“And he awoke from his sleep and said, ‘I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” (Judges 16:20 ESV). Samson had grown so used to God’s blessing and power that he took it for granted. Time after time, he had
May 1, 2025
“And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him” (Judges 13:24 ESV). Samson was born under extraordinary circumstances. His birth was announced by the Angel of the Lord, his parents obeyed God’s instructions with faith and devotion, and the Lord Himself blessed the
April 26, 2025
‘And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”‘ (Judges 6:14 ESV). The Lord told Gideon to go with the strength he had to rescue Israel from the marauding Midianites. But Gideon replied that he was far
April 28, 2024
‘Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”’ (Judges 8:23 ESV). Gideon, the hesitant judge, would not be coaxed into being king. He recognized that it was the Lord, and not the people, who had called him to be
April 26, 2024
‘Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew”’ (Judges 6:39 ESV). Gideon’s fleece test –– Was it
June 4, 2023 | Judges 19-21 |
Unlike the earlier chapters, these final five chapters are so spiritually dark, and Israel has drifted so far from God, that these chapters are almost never preached. Indeed, these final chapters are so disturbing that you may be tempted to cover your ears and look away. Unlike the earlier chapters, in these final chapters, there is no foreign oppressor. The enemy is within, not without. No judges are named. This is Israel on its own. Editorial comment by the author on Israel’s sin is minimal, leaving the reader the burden of interpretation.
Last week, we covered the first “case study” depicting Israel’s spiritual decline into “Man-Made Religion.” Now this week, we’ll look at how Israel’s moral condition has become more like the Canaanite peoples around them than the people God had called them to be as His holy nation, in a sermon called “Man-Made Morality.”
May 28, 2023 | Judges 17-18 |
We Americans love a good buffet! Are you guilty of making up your own religion? Or do you have faith in God as He reveals Himself through His Word and through His Son, Jesus? In Judges 17-18, Israel began to follow a man-made religion that displeased God.
May 21, 2023 | Judges 16 |
What did it take for you to turn to God? Living in America, we are so blessed that we tend to focus on the blessings rather than the Blesser. Outwardly, we look like we have it all together. But on the inside, we’re a mess! Nice job, nice house, nice car… but on the inside… marital woes, family issues, in debt up to your ears… And where’s God in all this? Has God forgotten you? Or like Samson, have you forgotten God?
In Judges 16, God revealed much about Himself in answering Samson’s humble prayer for help. We can see how God reveals Himself to who humbly seek Him.
May 14, 2023 | Judges 14-15 |
Are you struggling today with a compromised faith? Do unbelievers notice that you are different, that you are a committed follower of Jesus? Or is your life indistinguishable from the world?
The Philistines represent the most deadly enemy of all because they have tempted Israel to compromise their faith. Little by little, if they don’t recognize the truth, they will lose their faith as a nation and become just like the world. A compromised faith is much more dangerous and insidious than a persecuted faith. In Judges 14-15, God worked behind the scenes to rescue Israel from their compromised faith that had put them under the rule of the Philistines. We can recognize that God wants us to have an uncompromised faith.