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In today’s passage we’ll hear the story of Gideon, a judge who was raised up after the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.  It is apparent from the opening verses that this oppression was severe: if People of the East were destroying Israelite crops as far as Gaza, then the oppression spanned the entire southern half of the country. 

There is a helping of comfort food in chapter 6, which bears the flavor of a recipe we saw in the Pentateuch.  The LORD reminds Israel that it was He who brought them out of Egypt and gave them this land.  Then Gideon converses with a man sitting under a tree, but doesn’t know he’s an angel of the LORD.  The angel gives a frightening sign – fire is involved! – and Gideon is terrified to find Himself in the presence of the LORD.  This offers hope: if the LORD has followed the formula to this point, perhaps He will follow through and again rescue His people.

Alas, I will not spoil the narrative for you.  Listen closely to the unfolding story and see if you can discern themes beyond a simple “God raises up a deliverer” story.  Pay attention to the LORD’s abundant dialogue and how He deals with Gideon.  Pay attention also to the dialogue in the second half of the story, when the Midianites – the presenting enemy – virtually fade into the background.  And listen for the inconsistencies within Gideon’s own life, and how they might serve as metaphors for what is going on in Israel at large.

Our verse for this week is John 3:35: The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 

Judges chapters 6 through 8.  Now let’s read it!

As you’ve seen throughout the Books of Moses, authors of Biblical narrative often refrain from making value judgments about their characters – sometimes maddeningly so.  However, since the covenant foundation was laid in Exodus, authors have been more freely making statements about God’s purposes or perspective.  These are often a mixture of observations and prophetic word, and help to frame the stories in which they’re embedded. 

An example of this is at the beginning of chapter 3.  When the author lists the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them…It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.  This is a curious observation, especially because “In order to” signifies God’s purpose.  

The tone of Judges is different than anything we’ve read before.  The author is clearly writing from the LORD’s perspective, relating stories that either provoke or support the LORD’s action.  The author is also clearly not a bystander, but skews his commentary condescendingly against these past Israelites.  The disturbing and descending violence of each episode makes the author’s, and the LORD’s, point: something is not right here.  Keep this in mind as you wrestle with the question: What does it mean that the LORD wanted this generation “to know war?” 

Now to today’s reading.  The middle section of Judges – through chapter 16 – is driven by a recurring cycle first laid out with the calling of Othniel.  Listen to the descriptions: The LORD’s anger was kindled and He sold Israel to a foreign ruler; When the people cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel…The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel…So the land had rest for forty years.

The cycle resets multiple times through chapters 3 and 4.  Chapter 5 is a break in the action: a song, celebrating the victory of Deborah and Barak.  As with the song of Moses in Exodus 15, and the verse celebrating the victory over Gibeon in Joshua 10, this song offers a significant contemporary analysis of the event.  Take note of their observations: how “when new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates;” and that “from heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.” Also listen for a new tension, one that will become more prominent in future episodes. 

Our verse for this week is Psalm 138:8: The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.  Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Judges chapters 3 through 5.  Now let’s read it!

At the conclusion of Joshua, the author celebrates the fact that: 

Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel.

However, the first few chapters of Judges paint a bleak picture.  Israel does not remain faithful; in fact, they descend further and further away from the LORD.  A cycle of distress, rescue, temporary faithfulness and then corruption drives the narrative.  

One of the purposes of the book of Judges is to serve as a bridge between Joshua and Samuel – between conquest and kingdom.  The author will often allude to the days “when there was no king in Israel” – noting that this is written during the era of the Israelite kingdom, which will emerge in the book of Samuel.  

In chapter 2, the camera pulls the LORD into foreground.  The issue at the core of Judges is expressed by the angel of the LORD in chapter 2: “I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?”   

What indeed!  Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.  

Remember that the primary character of the Bible is the LORD.  If a judgment is made, it’s going to be from the LORD’s perspective.  Listen to how Israel’s wanderings are described and to how the LORD responds to them.  See if you can detect a pattern of when He delivers them from harm, or allows them to suffer in it. 

Our verse for this week is Psalm 138:8: The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.  Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Judges chapters 1 and 2.  Now let’s read it!