Judges

In Judges their rebellion of provoked the Lord to smite.

We will begin with the names and references to fourteen heroic men and one outstanding woman, they stood as shining lights against the darkness of the times in which they lived. Israel alternated between sincere repentance before the Lord and rapid relapses to rebellion against the Lord.

Certainly the picture we see is very dark and full of shadows however men shining as bright lights pierce the swirling darkness on a regular basis. In the Lord’s work this phenomenon has occurred through the pages of history to this present time.

1 OTHNIEL. 3.9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

2 EHUD 3.15  But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the  children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.

3 SHAMGAR 3.31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

4 DEBORAH 4.5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

5 GIDEON 6.36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

6 ABIMELECH 9.1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

7 TOLA 10.1 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.

8 JAIR 10.3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.

9 JEPHTHAH 11.11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

10 IBZAN 12.8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

11 ELON 12.11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.

12 ABDON 12.13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

13 SAMSON 16 30 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.

14 ELI  1 Samuel. 1.17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

15 SAMUEL 1 Samuel 7.15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

So we have the names and personalities of the heroic judges who were raised up to become deliverers of Israel, whenever they sincerely repented of their sins and rebellion.

The dark side of the picture is especially emphasized.

The message throughout is of dark human failure and the light of divine mercy and deliverance.

Israel when not at war with others was fighting among themselves!

In the opposition of Mesopotamia - the Judge was Othniel

In the opposition of Moab - the Judges was Ehud, and Shamgar.

In the opposition of Jaban and Sisera - the Judges was Deborah and Barak.

In the opposition of Midian – the Judge was Gideon

In the Civil War – Judges was Abimelech, Tola, and Jair.

In the opposition of the Philistines and Ammon – the judges was Jephtha, Ibzan, Elon , Abdon. and Samson.

The power of prayer becomes a real cry to God. The emergencies of the times gave real energy to prayer.

The Lord raised men and woman up in times of national crisis. It is never too dark for light to shine. It is never too perplexing for believing prayer to be made.