Father Kevin’s Posts

Walk Through the Bible, Part XIX

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:5)

This is a continuing series of articles that will take us through the Bible looking at the key people and stories. Perhaps this overview will aid your Bible reading and in hearing the scriptures each Sunday.

The Judges

Once the Israelites possessed the promised land, they adopted no formal kind of governance. Since leaving slavery in Egypt there had always been a leader – first Moses and then Joshua – but nothing more than that. After Joshua died, leadership fell to local tribal leaders and seems to have been minimal. Strong, central leadership only came in times of crisis when God would raise up a judge.

The men and women chosen by God to be judges did, as the title implies, settle disputes between individuals and tribes over land and other issues. God also used them to resist other peoples that sought to invade or control their land. Often, the judge would raise up an army and lead them into battle.

Twelve judges are included in the book, though some scholars omit Abimelech. (If you read his story in Judges chapter 9, you’ll see why.) The others are Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson.  Four of these have significant stories that are both entertaining and instructive. Why not read one or two this week?

Deborah – Judges 4 and 5

Gideon – Judges 6-8

Jephthah – Judges 10:6 – 12:7

Samson – Judges 13-16

Next week: The pattern of infidelity.

Walk Through the Bible, Part XVIII

 “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

This is a continuing series of articles that will take us through the Bible looking at the key people and stories. Perhaps this overview will aid your Bible reading and in hearing the scriptures each Sunday.

Joshua’s Farewell Speech

In the last two chapters of Joshua, we read two speeches that Joshua gave just before he died. They may be versions of the same farewell or two different speeches. Both contain the same basic themes: remember, encouragement, and warning.

Joshua wants the leaders and people to remember all that God has already done for them. You see this best in chapter 24 where the first thirteen verses offer a summary of their history from Abraham to the present. (It’s a good review for us, too!) Do you and I take time to remember what God has done for us?

Then, Joshua offers encouragement. The Lord will continue to be a guide and protect them if they will remain faithful to the covenant and God’s laws. In 24:15, he puts it as a simple choice. “And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.”

Finally, Joshua warns them of what will happen if they choose to follow other gods. “When you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.”

The people promise to follow God, but as we continue to read, we’ll find that this isn’t the case. They are enticed by all sorts of things that turn them from God. Is this not a lesson for us as well?