Please read through my study questions on Joshua and the Book of Judges and then read Chapters 1 and 24 of Joshua as much as you can of the book of Judges. Of the approximately twelve judges, which one do you find most interesting? What is heroic about this character? What (if any) are his/her "warts"? What do you think is the most important lesson to be learned from the story of that judge? If you prefer, you can comment on Joshua rather than one of the judges.
I find the story of Deborah and Jael interesting (Judges 4) primarily from a female empowerment/contribution standpoint. But the one I find the most interesting all around is the one from Judges 6-8, the story of the prophet of Gideon. In a way, he reminds me a little of Moses, where he initially questions the Lord's plan to use him to save Israel. However, he follows the Lord's instructions in order to save His people. I find it impressive that he refuses the kingship because power can be very alluring. However, I'm a little disappointed that he wanted the gold earrings of the warrior because that sets him up for a life of ease-he doesn't have to worry about upsetting anyone as a ruler, but he has wealth. Another way that this is a vice is that he makes an ephod, and the Israelites are jealous of it. This seems like it sets up their eventual return to their old ways.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked the Deborah/Jael story! I like that whole, "God will give victory into a woman's hand" thing. And with a spike through the head? That's intense! :)
DeleteTyler Munson
ReplyDeleteChapter four was an interesting storyy about Joshua and the 12 stones representing what would become the 12 tribes of Israel. We go through Reuben, Manasseh, Gilgal and the others. This chapter helps set us up for the rest of the book and possibly the Old Testament also. It gives us the the back story of how the tribes came into being.
The character I really enjoyed in Judges was Gideon, chapters 7-9. After Gideon has torn down all of the altars to other Gods, and become leader as entrusted to him, Gideon is told he is to take over the land inhabited by the Midianites. Gideon has the people behind him as he rallies them to make war but God thinks Gideon's army is too large and that he should fight with less men. Trusting God's word Gideon takes the men down to the river to drink anyone that cups their hands and drinks the water must go home those that lap the water like a dog must go and fight, leaving Gideon with 3 men. Trusting God again Gideon and his three men encircle the Midianites after dark and make a war cry that startles them into killing one another. Gideon is my favorite character in the book of Judges as he is one of the brighter spots in a more dark and dreary period of Israel. Judges unlike Joshua is a more serious book and much less triumphant as every time a judges dies Israel commits worse and worse crimes against God not keeping true to their covenant. Gideon is a good bright spot in the book of Judges and makes for a very interesting character.
ReplyDeleteI find Jephthah the most interesting Judge because he was kind of an underdog after being kicked out of his father's house and sent away. He is quite heroic to vow to sacrifice whatever comes out of the door of his house to meet him if the Lord gives him victory over the Ammonites (it ends up being his only child and daughter, but he keeps his promise). Jephthah does not seem to have any "warts" but teaches an important lesson to keep promises and covenants no matter how hard or miserable it may be.
ReplyDeleteI think Jephthah is one of the more interesting Judges in this book. He came at a time when Israel was in need of a rescuer from the Ammonites. He had fallen out of favor with his family and tribe, but when trouble rose they turned to him and promised restoration for his help. This shows he was willing to put aside past differences for the greater good. Another good trait he had was his willingness to try and avoid battle. The first thing he did when raised to commander was write a letter to the Ammonite king asking for a peaceful end to the war. But, when the king refused, Jepththah showed he had the courage to do what was necessary and fought the Ammonites.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I think you could say about him that could be considered a wart is his disregard for what he says. Before he went into battle he made a vow saying that he would sacrifice the first thing to come out of his house if the Lord were to give him the victory. This was a very foolish thing to vow, and it turned out to be a problem for him since his daughter appeared first. Now, Jephthah did keep his word, which can be viewed as a positive, but the fact that he put himself in that position is something about him that could have been better.
John Rawerts
I think that Gideon is particularly interesting because he seems to question God so much. He has to be convinced over and over that God has chosen him to fight the Midianites. I think that he was heroic in the sense that he did eventually go through with what he was supposed to, even if it did take some convincing. That shows some courage. Most important lesson would probably be that God often times uses what seem to be the weak in order to shame the mighty. His works are magnified in this way.
ReplyDelete4 And seven priests shall bear seven rams' horns before the ark; and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the horns.
ReplyDelete20 So the people shouted, and [the priests] blew with the horns. And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the horn, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
An incredible story that reveals the fact that Joshoa was a military genius. Perhaps the walls did not come down at all? Perhaps the messengers simply climbed back up a rope into the harlots house. After 6 whole days of this terrifying display of horn and drum the messengers may have finally gone out and opened the gate. The men on the walls would be distracted by the display and the massive shout would send a final strike of fear into their very bones. This is how I believe Joshoa actually took Jericho. This is how he was able to murder innocent children and women in a city whose walls "fell."
I love the story of Samson, because Samson had some particular "warts", dealing with the ladies. He also had a consistent disregard for what God commanded him to do as a Nazarite. But God still saw him as worthy of using. Samson was called to be set apart from those around him from birth, not to drink anything from the vine (which he did at his exciting Wedding festivities), not to come in contact with dead things (which he did with the lion carcass), and not to allow a razor to touch his head (which he told Delilah about...). But up until the last Nazarite vow he broke, God still used him. I love how it says, "And then the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him." And then he killed thousands of men with a donkey's jawbone... How is that not amazing!?
ReplyDeleteBut his main warts were definitely the women he allowed into his life. Delilah was kind of the worst. It's almost comical reading the story, because we can't help but think, "Really, Samson? You're not realizing what she is doing? Come on..." (Makes you wonder if this is where that "all brawn, no brains" thing came from...)
But this might be my favorite part of the story: that even after Samson has been shaved, captured, blinded, God still uses him. His plea is almost gut-wrenching, " O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged..." And that at the end of his life, after all of his screw ups, the spirit of the Lord still comes mightily upon him, allowing him to kill more Philistines in their temple than he did in any battle. It seems to me like a beautiful story of redemption, despite the flaws.
The story of Gideon was particularly interesting to me. God decided to help the Israelites against the midianites, but Gideon was very weary about attempting this. He did not have the confidence to do so because he did not believe in himself or his family. But after enough tests God proves to Gideon that he is who he is and that Gideon will have support to accomplish this. The battle is pretty strange. Although it was interesting that God had Gideon take only a force of 300 men to fight off a bigger opponent. Which was a way to prove to the people of Israel that this was done by God and not just through their own power.
ReplyDeleteI like the story of Ehud. He is tricky. He keeps the sowrd on his right side. Not the most unique idea, but it worked. He made it possible for a future attack.
ReplyDeleteHe risked his life, just for attempt at peace, or perhaps to make gods favor. After all God had allowed King Eglon to come to power.
So a lesson is that trickery is how to win. Or You have to do what needs to be done if you want to do something right, even if it is hard or dangerous. Oh and luck is important.
I find the story of Samson very interesting because Samson's choice in women is very bad. His trust in women outways his trust God. In the end he loses everything to include his life.
ReplyDeleteOne of the 12 judges I am going to pick is Micah the man who used idolatry to worship, and his warts is that you are not suppose to Idolize which is the first of the ten commandments and the important message in this story not to use idolatry but to just worship the Lord.
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