Judges 1:1-3:11 - Outline

[Jim Watt]

“*TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES*

*Jim & Marie Watt*

*Tel: 253-517-9195 - Email: jmbetter at gmail.com*

*Web: www.2rbetter.org*

August 26, 2011


 *MAY 1 - JUDGES 1:1-3:11 - PROLOGUE: EXPLANATION - PLUS OTHNIEL*


 *1. 1:7 (1:1-10) JUDAH: AT WAR WITH THE CANAANITES. And Adoni-bezek said,
“Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up
scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me.” And they
brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there (ESV). *This is poetic justice!
So often Father, You return to us what we dispense to others. Help us to
walk by the Golden Rule. Help us to submit to Kingdom principles. *Hallowed
be your :name.*


 *2. 1:13 (1:11-16) CALEB, OTHNIEL AND ACHSAH. “And Othniel the son of
Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his
daughter for a wife.” *How open is a father to the requests of his
daughter! Father, this is the way You are to us, the bride of Your Son! We
bless You for what You are and say! *Your :kingdom come.*


 *3. 1:20 (1:17-36) FAILURE OF ISRAEL TO EVICT THE INHABITANTS. “And Hebron
was given to Caleb, as Moses had said, And he drove out from it the three
sons of Anak.” *We bless You for Caleb Father, who set such a marvelous
example for Judah! Too bad the rest of the tribes couldn’t have following
in his train! *Your :will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.*


 *4. 2:3 (2:1-10) ANGELIC WARNING: CAREFULNESS DURING JOSHUA’S LIFE. “So
now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become
thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” *How
important for Your people to have strong, godly leaders, Father. How prone
we are to wander without them! Please grant us then, strong leaders! *Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.*


 *5. 2:12 (2:11-19) APOSTASY, JUDGMENT AND JUDGES: A PRINCIPLE. “And they
abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of
the land of Egypt. They went after the gods of the peoples who were around
them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.” *Why
are we Your people like this, Father? After Babylon, Israel learned their
lesson; for there You rubbed their noses into idols until they were
sickened of them. *And forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our
:debtors.*


 *6. 2:21-22 (2:20-3:4) NATIONS LEFT TO TEST ISRAEL. “I will no longer
drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, 22 in
order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the
way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not.” *Enemies left in the land:
to prove faithfulness and to teach them how to war! How wise on Your part,
Father! *And bring us not into temptation.*


 *7. 3:9 (3:5-11) FIRST APOSTASY, SERVITUDE AND JUDGE. “But when the people
of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the
people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger
brother.” *Here is the first of the Judges, the first oppressor, and the
beginning of the sequence of judgment for sin, and deliverance for
repentance. Through it all is seen Your Sovereignty, Father. *But deliver
us from the evil one!*


 *NOTE**: 2:16 (2:11-19) JUDGES: GOD’S COMPASSION ON ISRAEL. **“Then the
LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who
plundered them.” *You remember our frame Father, that we are but dust. You
do not deal with us according to our desserts!


 As soon as Joshua and his elders died - immediately Israel departed from
the LORD, and commenced taking up with the remnant of the 7 Canaanite
nations - that they had failed to drive out.


 In Jesus’ first parable of the four soils - in soil 3 He lays out what the
thorns of the world are to us: “the *cares* of this age, and *the
deceitfulness of riches*, and the *lusts* of these *things* entering in,
choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful,” Mark 4:19 (4:10-20).


 Adam’s race, of which we are a part, *still* have this 3-fold temptation
facing us! The deceitfulness of riches is a synonym for *covetousness;* and
covetousness is a synonym for *spiritual idolatry*. We do not like to face
up to this truth, for even Jesus’ 12 disciples did not like to hear what He
said to the rich young ruler who turned away!


 Seven times in the Book of Judges - Israel turned aside because of this
3-fold temptation. And seven times she repented - and 7 times God in His
mercy raised up a Judge who first delivered them!


 Henry Blackaby first wrote a course for individual believers entitled
“Experiencing God”. But he followed this up with a second course - looking
into the Book of Judges, its 7 Judges - and the 7-fold lessons for you and
me.


 I personally find the Books of Joshua and Judges extremely challenging. It
pays to *meditate* over these readings, and like George Muller, allow the
Holy Spirit to transform them from mere lessons - to *living words*, -
burning in our hearts, and lifting us to the level of our Risen Lord!


 And now - our Psalm for the day: *121:3-4 MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD. **“He
will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
**4 **Behold,
he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” *Father, You are the
safety and security for all travelers. We can go in and out in Your Name,
and be perfectly secure. We rest in You in Christ. *Hallowed be your :name.*



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