Judges 3 – 5 Broken People – Faithful God
The book of Judges is named after a group of leaders who led Israel after Joshua’s death. During Joshua’s farewell address Israel had committed themselves to honor and serve God. Joshua 24:14-18 As is the case with nations and individuals, that promise was soon broken. Through the grace of God Israel would be disciplined by God. Joshua 21: 25 is a verse that captures the situation in Israel, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
There is a pattern that emerges from Judges. Keep this pattern in mind as you read this book.
1. God is faithful to His children and will keep every promise.
2. The people abandoned the Lord’s instruction.
3. God punished them by raising up a foreign power to oppress them. He quits fighting their battles.
4. The people cried out to God for deliverance and mercy.
5. God raised up a deliverer, or judge, for them to follow.
6. The people follow the judge and repent. This leads to peace and the favor of God.
7. After a time the people forget and return to step 2.
This is the pattern for the Israelites in the book of Judges. This can also be the pattern of our lives.
1. God is faithful to us offering us salvation and strength to live a life that honors Him.
2. We choose to follow our own way and turn away from God’s plans for our lives.
3. God disciplines us as an act of love and we feel the consequences of our sin.
4. We cry out to God for mercy.
5. God shows us the way back to Himself.
6. We repent and recommit our lives to Him.
7. We forget the mercies of God and return to sin and return to step 2.
Clear Application for Today
We must understand this process and take whatever means necessary to stay close to God. It is better to live a life that honors God than it is to live a life where we follow our own desires.