Bible in a Year: Judges
Monday - Please read Judges 1-3
Warning! Big $5 seminary words ahead! So if you’ve been reading the Bible these past few weeks, you may have asked, “What does God look like?” After all, Moses talked with God face to face. There’s a word for that. It’s called, “theophany.” A theophany usually starts with the word “appeared” (Gen. 12:7-9). We normally do not get a description of what God looked like, because to look upon the face of God would mean death. (Ex. 33:20). In these cases, it’s not what God looks like that’s important. It’s what God says. In the first five books of the Bible, God had a lot to say. But when we get to Judges, God doesn’t talk much and what God says, the people sure didn’t want to hear. (Judges 2:22)
Tuesday - Please read Judges
Warning! Another big $5 seminary word. Yesterday we talked about a theophany, or how God “appeared.” Today I want to share with you the word “anthropomorphism.” That’s a mouthful. The writers of the Bible use this word to describe God. God’s hands, back, face, mouth, feet, ears, eyes, walking in the Garden and stamping on the winepress. In Judges we see many examples of this. In Chapter 2, God was angry. The words used are literally “God’s nostrils flared.” Like a bull when it gets mad. In chapter 5 we see that God “lives” in the desert and curses enemies. Makes me wonder, when we don’t understand God, why do we make God understandable? Maybe we just need to accept God at “face value.” :)
Wednesday - Please read Judges 13-16
By the time the story of Samson rolls around, the Hebrews are in bad shape. They have turned away from God. Their lives were so miserable that they would rather wallow in their own self-pity then to cry to God for help. They would rather worship a false idol then bow to the Creator and Deliverer. So God lays the groundwork for the people to be free. It won’t come to pass until King David, but the legend of Samson would inspire generations. One important note; Samson’s life started badly and ended worse. Even though blessed with amazing feats of strength, he never helped unshackle the people from the bondage of the Philistines. Instead, he used his gifts for his own glory. What’s in your heart is way more important than what you can do.
Thursday - Please read Judges 17-18
t’s just getting worse and worse in the world. Crime is rampant, people are turning away from God. Prayer is abandoned and scripture is forgotten. Wait. You guys know I’m talking about Judges, right? I’ve got one last seminary word for you. It’s “apostasy.” Basically it means someone who chooses to turn away from God. They know better, but they’re filled with their own self-worth instead of grace. These chapters are all about apostasy and the dangers that come from it. When someone thinks they can make it in the world on their own and start to worship the wrong things. The fame and fortune that come from that sin is fleeting and in the end, they lose everything. (You all know I’m talking about Judges, right?)
Friday - Please read Judges 19-21
There’s just no way to say this. It’s bad. Really bad. And, it’s tough to read. The last verse in Judges says “all the people did what was right in their own eyes.” The moral and spiritual decline had reached its deepest valley. No one cared for anyone else, much less wanted to help. The holy men (Levites) were anything but holy. When we set our own standards of morality, the bar will surely be low. If there is any lesson from this horrible chapter in Hebrew history, it’s that sin will spread like a virus to infect many. A sexual sin against one led to the killing of thousands which led to sexual sins against hundreds as the Hebrews tried to cover up their own guilt. That’s what happens when we do what’s right in our own eyes.
