Fr. Kevin – Saint Anne Catholic Church

Walk Through the Bible, Part XX

“But he answered, it is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of
God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
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.
A pattern of infidelity
As you read the book of Judges, it isn’t hard to recognize a pattern. The Israelites promise to live according to God’s
law and honor the Covenant. Some time later, the people slide into sin, mostly in the form of worshipping other gods.
God punishes the people by using the surrounding nations to raid or sometimes conquer the Israelites. They cry out to
God to save them. After a time, God raises up a Judge who, in turn, raises up an army to drive out the invaders. The
people see God’s power, promise to obey the Law and honor the Covenant, and the pattern begins again.
It is easy to wonder why the Israelites continue to fall into sin and we might believe that we could have done better
until we remember our own patterns of sin. That’s where this book can be helpful to us, a modern reader. Despite the
people’s unfaithfulness, God continues to invite them back. Do they (and we) suffer because of their sin? Sure, there
are worldly consequences to our sin, and we might well bring heartache to ourselves and those we love because of our
choices. And yet God’s love doesn’t go away or even diminish. God’s grace and forgiveness is always available.

Walk Through the Bible, Part XIX

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.