Judges

JUDGES

(A Catch-Up Review) 

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer


Psalms 19:14 (NIV)

Of you the followers of the Read Through The Bible in 2010 blog I ask your forgiveness for my in attention to the blog which is now almost three books behind. I am now attempting to catch up. I am sorry.

Johnnie

“There is much in Judges to sadden the heart of the reader; perhaps no book in the Bible witnesses so clearly to our human frailty. But there are also unmistakable signs of the divine compassion and long-suffering ... . As the lives of these lesser-saviours are considered, there may be a realization of the need in modern times of a greater Saviour, of unblemished life, who is able to effect a perfect deliverance, not only in time but for eternity.”


—Arthur E. Cundall
MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jdg 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Although Judges is anonymous, the Jewish Talmud and early Christian tradition say that Judges, Ruth, and Samuel were all written by Samuel. This view may be supported by 1 Samuel 10:25, which indicates the prophet was a writer. Also the internal indications of date of writing fit in with Samuel’s time at the very least.
MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jdg 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Judges is a tragic sequel to Joshua. In Joshua, the people were obedient to God in conquering the Land. In Judges, they were disobedient, idolatrous, and often defeated
MacArthur, J. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible : New American Standard Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

While this book of Judges includes many familiar events, it illustrates again and again the results of disobedience. As Arthur E. Cundall says “no book in the Bible witnesses so clearly to our human fraility..”. Although our culture is far different and the “times have changed” we still demonstrate the human frailties mentioned, so we should continue to follow Joshua’s lead “…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."  Josh 24:15 (NIV)