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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday October 28, 2012

____________________________________________________________

THE DOMINO EFFECT

(Spiritual confusion is contagious)

Judges 17 & 18:30-31

In Judges Chapters 17-18, we can clearly see how the knowledge of GOD, and HIS will, had been lost over time. These two chapters are perhaps, Scripture’s greatest example of “spiritual confusion” within the community of GOD. In fact, only in this, the 21^st century, can we find a generation as confused as this one was about GOD. It was a time when pagan concepts had totally diluted the religious consciousness of GOD’s people, much like we see in the Christian Church today.

When we begin to mix the “Holy” with the “profane”, it won’t be long before we become spiritually confused, and incapable of distinguishing the difference between the two. That is why it is so important to GOD that we stay focused on HIM, and not on our peers, or ourselves (Psalm 118:8 & Psalm 146:3), and, we are not to take anything from the world and use it in the church (3 John 1:7), be it money, music, miming, clubbing, dances, etc. If it was created for use in the secular world, and contains anti-CHRIST elements, then it shouldn’t be used in the Christian Church, which is supposed to be the “Body of CHRIST”. Now this all seems like “common sense” to some, however, common sense is not so common anymore, especially in the Christian Church. Our desire to have what someone has, and, to do what others do, more often than not, leads us into the Luciferic realm that is controlled by satan. Who we view to be a symbol of success, by the world’s standard and definition of what success is, must not be confused with success by GOD’s standard and definition of the word. 

These chapters of the Book of Judges also show us, that, the attitude, “what I do has nothing to do with anybody else!” is ridiculous, especially when it is the attitude of one who is in leadership of his home, church, job, community etc. It is a self-centered, prideful expression that is most often used to justify one’s own sinful behavior. However, Scripture clearly teaches us that “there can be no such thing as sin that is of non-effect”.

In Judges 17, a man named Micah, who lived in the hill country of Ephraim, heard his mother put a “curse” on the thief who had stolen her eleven hundred pieces of silver. Little did she know, at that time, that, Micah, himself, had taken her precious silver. She had apparently used some sort of magic spell, or witchcraft to do this, and it apparently frightened her wayward son enough that he quickly returned his mother’s stolen property to her. His mother’s blessing on him (v. 2) for returning the silver was probably her way of nullifying the curse. Here we see further spiritual confusion when, after calling for the LORD’s blessings on her son for admitting his guilt, she then takes some of the silver (200 pieces), and constructs for him, an image, and an idol for him to worship.

Further exacerbating the situation, Micah takes these idol gods and places them in his house, setting up a shrine as a base for sacrificing to them, and also making a so-called sacred ephod, along with installing some other household idols. And why stop there? The domino effect is just beginning. Micah then installs his own son (who was not a Levite) to be the “father” and the priest of his newly created shrine, because, in those days, Israel had no king, and also had abandoned the GOD of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and so, “everyone did what seemed right in their own eyes” (Vs. 3-6).

For those who study GOD’s Word here in the 21^st century (with the exception of Catholics), we know that JESUS tells HIS followers, in Matthew 23:9, “never to address anyone here on earth as “father” for only GOD in Heaven is your FATHER” (NLT).

Then we see in verses 7-12, as the devil would have it, one day a young Levite, from Bethlehem no less, arrived in Ephraim looking for a place to settle, and he just happened to stop by Micah’s place as he passed through. Bethlehem was not one of the places that were assigned by GOD for the Levites to live in (Joshua 21 & Numbers 35), and so this particular Levite was already living out of the will of GOD before he came there. In fact, by coming there to the hill country of Ephraim, he was still wandering outside of the will of GOD, because he wasn’t suppose to live there either. However, the spiritually confused Micah hires him anyway, and pays him ten pieces of silver per year for his services. He even thinks that the LORD will bless him for his actions (Vs. 10-13).

When we socialize and mix with the world too much, we ultimately will desire to be like them. And before we know it, we begin incorporating their ways and habits back into our repentant lifestyles. We can’t be a friend of the worldly, and a friend of GOD, at the same time, we have to choose one and reject the other. That is why, even when evangelizing, JESUS warned HIS apostles that they were not to hang out with too many worldly people, for an extended period of time (Mark 6:10-11). We are not to mingle and linger too much in the world, after we have pledged our lives to CHRIST JESUS.

Micah, and anyone else, who does not know and study the Word of GOD will most assuredly be duped by satan into accepting his worldly agenda. He can even make one think that he is conforming to something that is OK by GOD, because anyone, who doesn’t know what “the real thing” looks like, can’t possibly recognize “counterfeit” when they see it.  

Sadly, we see in Judges 18:30-31 just how the “domino effect of sin” festers, and then manifests itself, far into future generations. And that is because, then and now, “GOD’s people continue to perish from a lack of knowledge”. We must carefully study, research, and inspect everything before we let it into the church, examining it by the standards of GOD’s Word, even if, and probably, especially if, we see other churches, that we deem to be successful, doing it.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday October 21, 2012

____________________________________________________________

TRIVIAL PURSUIT

(Investing your life and treasure into what is most important)

Judges 16

Of the 340-year period of Israel’s history that is recorded in the Book of Judges, the 40-year stint of oppression that the Israelites suffered at the hands of the Philistines in Judges Chapters 13-16, is the longest stint that GOD’s chosen people had to endure at one time. Here, in these chapters, the author of GOD relates the, now familiar, story of Samson, who judged over Israel for 20 of those years.

Samson, whose name means “distinguished”, was a man whose great physical strength, and equally great moral weaknesses, made him famous throughout the land in his day. He is the last judge mentioned in the Book of Judges, and even though his parents (Manoah and his unnamed wife) showed evidence of their great faith in GOD, Samson seems, quite clearly, to be a product of his era. The LORD had instructed Samson’s parents, prior to his birth, that he should be raised as a “Nazirite”. This meant that Samson would be dedicated to GOD from birth, and would serve as an example to Israel, and personify a commitment to GOD forever (Judges 13:3-5).

Samson however, fell far short of this mark throughout most of his life, as his passion for, and trivial pursuit of pagan women led to, first, his physical blindness and enslavement (the Philistines gorged out his eyes-Judges 16:21), and then, ultimately, his dramatic demise during the festive atmosphere of the celebration of his capture, which took place in the pagan worship temple of Dagon, which he himself, ultimately destroyed (Judges 16:23-31).

In the dramatic conclusion to Samson’s colorful life (Judges 16:28), he utters an orison to GOD asking for physical strength. GOD answers his prayer favorably, by empowering him with the physical strength necessary, to push down the pillars that supported the Philistine’s pagan temple. That one great act of faith (his prayer) may have cost Samson his life, but it ultimately won him a place among the “heroes of faith”, that are mentioned by the author, of the New Testament Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 11:32).

Out of Samson’s weaknesses, he was ultimately made strong by the power of GOD. He was a person with great potential, who fell short, because of his sin and disobedience to GOD. And despite being mighty in physical strength, he remained spiritually weak, and was never able to resist the temptations of certain forbidden females.

His life is a clear warning against the dangers of self-indulgence, trivial pursuit of the flesh, and lack of self-discipline. Fortunately for him, he was able to come to his senses, in the end, and realize, from WHOM his strength came, and, that that strength was given to him, to serve GOD THE GIVER, and also, to serve his fellowman.

Samson’s captivity, and GOD’s taking away of his strength, caused him to reflect on his dependence on the LORD to survive. Nevertheless, GOD used Samson’s weakened state to lure the Philistines into a state of complacency, and thus, set the stage for their ultimate demise.

Sadly, Samson’s final concern was for revenge, and I guess, this bloody personal request for satisfaction, is what separates him from the ethics of CHRIST, and all of the other New Testament heroes, such as Stephen. They (JESUS and Stephen) requested the FATHER’s forgiveness, for those who inflicted a much less deserved harm on them, just prior to their deaths.

We may never possess the superior strength of a Samson, nor, may we ever know the superior wisdom of a Solomon. But, certainly GOD blesses each of us, with talent and potential, that may be uniquely our own. When we begin to seek GOD, and ultimately, establish a lasting, personal, experiential relationship with HIM, HE then begins to show us, just how HE wishes to use us, and, exactly what unique gifts and talents HE has embodied within us.

Samson had not himself asked for the gift of great strength, but rather, it was granted to him from birth. The “Nazirite Vow” was not his own, but rather, had been laid upon him by his mother. Nevertheless, it is just that way with every human being, as we are all born with gifts from GOD, to be used in service of HIM, and our fellowman.

Remember, Samson never quite lived up to his full potential, because of his self-indulgent sins and disobedience to GOD. He never seemed to realize the true source of his superior strength, until the end. When we come to rest in the thought, that our strength is in GOD, and not in ourselves, we will, at one and the same time, have come to realize the full purpose for which we came into the world. Perhaps William Barclay said it best, when he wrote, “The great paradox of Christianity is that, the only way to victory is through surrender, and the only way to power is by admitting one’s own weaknesses”.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday October 7, 2012

____________________________________________________________

FAMILY FEUD

(Reject selfish ambition, lest you die by it)

Judges 9

Judges chapter 9 chronicles the story of Abimelech, a son of Gideon’s by a Canaanite servant girl, who grew up to have a selfish ambition to become ruler over Shechem. Shechem was a member of a league of Canaanite cities that were allowed to exist inside Israelite territory. Gideon had died, after judging over Israel for forty years, and the Israelites had already returned to their old forbidden practices of worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal-berith, who was the god of that Canaanite league of cities, their official god also. They had abandoned the LORD, the GOD of their ancestors, and also were no longer loyal to the family of Gideon, despite all the good he had done for Israel.

One day Abimelech went to Shechem to visit his mother’s brothers, and while he was there, he told them to ask the people of Shechem who would they rather have rule over them, him alone, or, would they prefer to have seventy different rulers, namely his half-brothers. He then urged them to keep in mind that he is their own flesh and blood (Canaanite).

And so Abimelech’s uncles spoke to the people of Shechem regarding this matter, and they chose to submit to the authority of Abimelech because he was their relative. Abimelech also, apparently, had no issue with the people worshiping the Baals. They even gave Abimelech seventy pieces of silver from the Baal temple treasury, which he used to hire a gang of criminals to kill 70 of his half-brothers, who worshipped the GOD of their father Gideon. They stood each brother on a rock, one at a time, and killed them all except the youngest brother, Jotham, who managed to escape the mass murder and hide. Then all the people, of both Shechem, and Beth-milo called a meeting and agreed to make Abimelech their king (Judges 9:1-6).

In verses 7-21 we see one of the rare Old Testament parables being uttered by Jotham, after he had learned of the deaths of his brothers. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, parables are used basically the same way. They are merely story-like illustrations that are used to parallel a “real-life situation” alongside an “abstract concept”. Here in this parable the “trees” represent the people of Shechem, who want for a king, and the thornbush, which is useless because it bears no fruit, represents Abimelech. The thornbush is also dangerous because of its thorns, and because it is dry and susceptible to wild bush fires. This parable is used by Jotham to predict that Abimelech would ultimately destroy, both Shechem, and, himself, by way of his own selfish ambitions.

Taking up at verse 22, after Abimelech had ruled over Israel for only three years, the LORD stirred up trouble between himself and his followers, the people of Shechem, and they rebelled against him. In the events that ensued, GOD punished both Abimelech, and the men of Shechem for the murders of Gideon’s 70 sons, through a natural expression of their own character. The Shechemites had a bad habit of robbing travelers along trade routes, and Abimelech, through his wickedness, collected a cut of the proceeds in return for protection against prosecution. Now the LORD would use those character flaws against both parties, as the rebellious men of Shechem now sought to ambush Abimelech himself, along those same routes.

It was about that time that a man named Gaal came to town and gained the confidence of the people. Soon, he led the men of Shechem into battle against Abimelech, but he was soundly defeated and ran out of town. The next day Abimelech completed his annihilation of Shechem’s warriors and captured the city (Vs. 42-44). And so, just as Jotham’s parable had predicted, the “fire did come out of the thornbush, and devour the cedars of Lebanon” (v. 15).

Abimelech killed everyone in Shechem, leveled the city, and scattered salt all over the ground (v. 45), an action symbolic of condemning a conquered city to desolation so nobody would want to live there anymore. When the leading citizens (the people who lived in the tower of Shechem) heard what had happened, they hid themselves in the walls of the temple of Baal-berith, their idol god. When Abimelech found out where they were, he and his men cut branches of wood from the trees, piled them against the walls, and set them afire, killing about a thousand men and women, apparently from smoke inhalation (Vs. 46-49).

Abimelech then went on to the town of Thebez and captured it, however, inside the city there was a strong tower, and all of the people took refuge inside of it. When Abimelech went to the tower and prepared to set fire to it, a woman on the roof threw down a millstone that fell on his head and crushed his skull. Abimelech then ordered one of his young warriors to kill him with the sword so that it would not be said that “Abimelech was killed by a woman”. And so the young man did as he was ordered to do, and drove his sword into Abimelech, and he died. Then all of his men left and went back home (Vs. 50-55).

Here in this lesson, we see a story that is both tragic and foolish. Ultimately, Abimelech, through his wicked ways, was able to gain only a few years of rule over a tiny district within the vast land of Israel, that was populated mostly by Canaanites. Oh yeah, he was also able to claim an early demise, a just punishment from GOD, for his shedding of innocent blood. Sadly, Abimelech was able to prove, with his own life, just how harmful “selfish ambition” can be to one’s self, and, to others. In fact, selfish ambition, by definition, is merely a way of wittingly gaining promotion, fame, wealth, etc., at the expense of others.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday September 30, 2012

____________________________________________________________

HOW MUCH AM I WILLING TO RISK?

(Don’t hesitate to rise to the challenge that GOD puts before you)

(Judges 6 & 7)

In the Book of Judges, as it is recorded in the original Hebrew text in chapter 6, verse 13, the word that the author uses for “forsaken” is “nastash” (naw-tash), and it is the only time in Scripture that this particular word is used for “forsaken”. Here it means “to withdraw from”, “reject”, or, “to leave alone”. It describes exactly how Gideon felt about the plight of the nation of Israel, at the time when he was first approached by the angel of GOD. He felt that GOD had forsaken them because of their repeated sin and disobedience against HIM.

In Judges, chapters 6-8, the author of GOD uses 100 verses to relate the story of Gideon’s HOLY SPIRIT-possessed exploits, and, of his 40-year reign as judge over Israel. Chapter 6 opens just as most of the other chapters in this book does, with Israel’s, now familiar, continuing “5-cycle pattern” which consisted of “sin”, “servitude”, “supplication”, “salvation”, and “silence”. First, they would “Sin” against GOD, and GOD would place them into “Servitude” to one of the various pagan nations around them, as a form of punishment for committing those sins against HIM. This would later be followed by Israel’s repentance with “Supplication” to GOD. GOD would then, through HIS ever-present grace and mercy, bless the people with a taste of “Salvation” in the form a mighty Judge, who would rescue them from their oppression. And then finally, they would be able to experience “Silence”, or peace, throughout the remaining life of that Judge. It is a pattern that would continue to repeat itself, throughout the 340 years (1390 B.C. to 1050 B.C.) of Israel’s history that is recorded in the Book of Judges.

In verse 1a, we see that, once again, the Israelites have fallen into sin. We also see in verses 1b-6a, that GOD, as a result, allows them to keep on falling, right into the hands of their enemies, the Midianites. The Midianites were a powerful, nomadic group of people from south of the land of Edom, whose strength was accredited to their army’s unique incorporation of the camel into their military strategy. In fact, this documentation of the use of camels in warfare, here in the Book of Judges, is the earliest known documented case of such, in world history.

In order to understand the Midianite’s military capabilities more thoroughly, one would need to understand the durability and stamina of the camel.  A camel could carry 400 pounds, plus a rider, for a week without drinking, and, could travel up to 100 miles per day. This made their military, a very formidable and superior force in those days. Here in chapter 6, the writer tells us that the Midianites would attack the Israelites at harvest time every year, destroying all their crops and eventually driving them to the brink of starvation.

Then, in verse 6b, we see the Israelites repent and cry out to GOD for help, and GOD, as HE always does, answers their call. HE answers first, by sending in a Prophet, and then, subsequently, HE calls up Gideon, whom HE would use to rescue HIS fallen people from their sorrows.

The angel of the LORD first appeared to Gideon while he was hiding at the bottom of a winepress, in order to shield himself from the Midianites while he was threshing his wheat. He feared that the Midianites would kill him, just as they had slain his brothers earlier, if he had been seen by them (Judges 8:19).

The angel tells Gideon that the LORD is with him, and Gideon, being puzzled by the remark, asks “Why then has the LORD abandoned us?” The angel, who appears as a “Theophany” (a manifestation of GOD’s own presence), then tells Gideon to “go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you”. Gideon then replies, “But LORD, how can I rescue Israel? My tribe is the weakest of all the tribes of Manasseh, and I am the youngest of my family. The LORD said to him “I AM with you. You will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man”.

There will be times when many of us will feel just as weak as Gideon obviously felt at that time, but the lesson here is that “if the LORD is with us, we always have strength enough to conquer our problems”. GOD never gives us a task to do, without also giving us the power in which to do it. And no test or trial is put before us to make us fail, but rather, they are given to us to make us stronger.

So Gideon and his army of 32,000 men got up early one morning and went down to the Spring of Harod, just south of where the Midianites were camping in the valley near the hill of Moreh. GOD then tells Gideon that he has too many men, and eventually narrows Gideon’s army down to 300 warriors. HE then tells Gideon that, with these 300 men, I will rescue you, and give you victory over the Midianites.

This lesson serves to show us that, when GOD is with us, there’s no such thing, as us being outnumbered. When we have access to GOD’s mighty power, we don’t have to hesitate to rise to any of the challenges that life may send our way. And the risk is never as great as our human thinking leads us to believe. With GOD’s help, Gideon went on to defeat the mighty Midianites, and he judged over Israel, and kept them faithful to GOD, for another 40 years after that. The presence of GOD’s SPIRIT, and, HIS possession of Gideon, was the key to the Israelite’s victory over the powerful Midianites.

Today, we as Christians, have the same powerful advantage, with the same powerful wonderful GOD working in, and through us, enabling us to overcome our own ever-present weaknesses. We too can succeed in GOD’s strength when we have faith enough to apply it to our own lives, and, to our own, seemingly, overwhelming circumstances. And GOD, will never abandon an obedient person, to face alone, the troubles of this world.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday September 23, 2012

____________________________________________________________

FOLLOW THE LEADER

(Follow the leader who follows CHRIST JESUS)

(Judges 4 & 5)

The Prophetess Deborah is the only female Judge in Israel’s history. Her bold leadership encouraged and enabled Barak, her army’s General, to win a great victory over the Canaanite King Jabin of Hazor, and his army general, Sisera, who commanded a force consisting of 900 iron chariots.

The Old Testament account of Deborah’s life serves to illustrate the important truth that, what qualifies an individual for leadership, in the eyes of GOD, is not one’s sexual gender, but rather, it is one’s personal, experiential relationship with GOD, that makes one the most worthy to lead HIS people. Even in a male-oriented society, women with exceptional personal and spiritual qualities have often risen to leadership roles, and in Deborah’s case, her impact is only partly explained by her call as a Prophetess.

Judges 4:8-9 and Judges 5:6-9, suggests that there had been a total breakdown and void of male leadership in Israel, during this period of the era of the Judges. Deborah’s vigorous leadership was instrumental in repairing that breakdown, as she was able to instill pride and confidence back into Israel’s male population, during her forty-year residence as judge.

The esteem, in which Deborah was held, is reflected in Judges 4:8-9, where we find Barak refusing to face their enemies, even though GOD had directed him to, unless Deborah herself, went with him. This type of reaction by Barak demonstrates the dominant role that Deborah had achieved in Israel’s society in those days.

Deborah’s acceptance as leader in ancient Israel, came at a time when such roles were not extended to women, however, her example shows that GOD uses those individuals who are pleasing to HIM, regardless of race, gender, economic status, or even, national origin. This story of Deborah serves to remind us men that, if we don’t step into, and accept our GOD-given roles as leaders in our society, then GOD, can, and will, replace us with our female counterparts on certain occasions.

This unique and powerful story takes place in the hill country of Ephraim, between Ramah (this is the Ramah that is a city of the tribe of Benjamin) and Bethal, (which means “house of GOD”).  In Judges 4, taking up at verse 4, Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth (where was he?), summons Barak from his home in Kedesh of Naphtali and informs him that GOD had commanded him to assemble 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun to go to war. And, even though GOD promises him victory over King Jabin and Sisera, he still refuses to go to war unless Deborah goes with him. Deborah agrees to go with him, but tells him that, because of his wimpy decision not to go without her, all of the honor for this victory would ultimately go to a woman.

The Israelites went on to defeat Sisera and his army of 900 chariots, killing all of his soldiers, after GOD had confounded them with earthquakes and rain storms, causing their chariots to get stuck in the mud. Sisera, however, escaped and ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber, the Kenite, who was alone at that time. Her husband, Heber, had moved away from the rest of his tribe, and had pitched a tent by the Oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh (Judges 4:11). Heber had been known by Sisera, to be on friendly terms with King Jabin, and so he decided to seek refuge there. Heber’s wife Jael, however, had something different in mind.

Jael invited Sisera into her tent and began to show him warm and polite hospitality. Sisera asked his gracious hostess for some water, and she kindly gives him milk instead. The milk caused Sisera to fall asleep more quickly from his exhaustion, and after he had fallen asleep she took a hammer and a tent stake, and drove it through his temple.

When Barak and his army of men arrived, Jael showed them that she has already slain Sisera. However, without knowing it, she had fulfilled the prophecy of Deborah, where she told Barak that, because of his disobedience to GOD’s command, “the glory of victory would go to a woman”. And so, on that day, GOD released the Israelites from 20 years of ruthless oppression at the hands of Sisera. The Israelites went on to become stronger and stronger, and ultimately, destroyed King Jabin and his army completely.

When GOD is your ally, you don’t need anyone else to help you fight and win your battles, and, when GOD gives you instructions, you don’t need to try to change, or, tweak them. You don’t even, necessarily, need to totally understand them, nor, try and figure them out completely before you begin to act. It is a person’s faith that moves GOD to action, and so, you only need to trust GOD, completely.

The reason GOD allows us to go through, seemingly, hopeless situations, is to show us how powerful HE is, and how impotent we are without HIM. Barak went on to become a man of great faith in the years that followed, and this is verified in Hebrews 11:32.  Ironically, this story begins and ends with men hiding behind the skirt tails of a woman, as first we see Barak hiding behind Deborah, and in the end, we see Sisera hiding behind Jael.

Judges chapter 4 is clearly a story, where the woman takes the lead. Israel, found itself under oppression, because no man was willing to step up and follow GOD completely, or stand up for their own country and families. It has been often said, that, “some things we bring upon ourselves” because of our fear, neglect or ignorance. Israel’s men had grown so far away GOD spiritually, that, HIS natural order and intention for them had actually taken a “satanic flip-flop” (the opposite of GOD) in society.  Men no longer wanted to fulfill their role as family, civic, and church leaders, and so, women had to, in order to survive. Sound familiar?

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

 

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday September 16, 2012

____________________________________________________________

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES

(There are consequences for being unfaithful)

(Judges 2)

In the original biblical Hebrew text, the word used for “Judges” is “Shaphats” and it describes a leadership position that oversees all three aspects of government (executive, military, and judicial) in Israel. The author of the Book of Judges is unknown, but, “Talmudic” tradition seems to accredit the prophet Samuel with its authorship. This book takes up at a period in Jewish history when Israel was at rest. It then, takes us into era after era, where the Israelites repeatedly place themselves in torment by way of their sin and disobedience to GOD.

Joshua, and the leaders who served with him had all died, and the Israelites commitment to the LORD had died with them, or at least, been relaxed considerably. For instance, instead of driving out the remaining Canaanites from the land, as GOD had commanded them to do, the Israelites would sometimes defeat their foes, and then, force them into slavery. They also began to intermarry with the Canaanites, and even adopted their pagan gods and customs along the way. Sometimes, they would just simply refuse to attack their enemies’ fortresses at all.

This Old Testament book of Judges, chronicles the spiritual and political deterioration of Israel over an approximate 300-year span. Most of the book tracks five patterned cycles that served to characterize this era. Those cycles included;

·         “Sin” - The Israelites repeatedly turned to idolatry, and often abandoned GOD’s laws
                    altogether.

·         “Servitude” - GOD then would permit the Israelites enemies to defeat and oppress
                              them for years at a time.

·         “Supplication” - A desperate Israel would turn back to GOD, confessing its sins, and
                                  begging for help.

·         “Salvation” - GOD would send them salvation in the person of charismatic leaders
                              called “Judges”, who would rid Israel of its oppressors, and return the 

                        land to peace.

·         “Silence” - They would then experience a period of silence, or “rest”, in which the
                          Judges would help Israel to remain faithful to GOD, during the

                    remainder of their lifetimes.

The tragedy here in the book of Judges, is that, this cycle, would repeat itself over and over again as the Israelites never relinquished their rebellious ways against GOD. In fact, each downswing became more and more serious, and each of the Israelites oppressions, became more and more severe.

Nevertheless, the book of Judges is illuminating, in that, for all who choose to read and understand its purpose and lesson, it offers and inspires hope, even to the most prolific of sinners. In it we see that, despite the Israelite’s failures, GOD was always willing to continue to give HIS fallen people new chances, by sending to them, HIS Judges (salvation), to rescue them, time and time again.

However, on the flip side, the grim lesson of Judges is that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sin takes on many forms, and it goes from bad to worse, if we allow it to persist in our lives. The more we sin, the easier it becomes to sin, and if we do not rid ourselves of the attraction of sin, by filling our minds and hearts with the word of GOD, it will, ultimately, destroy us.

The “Judges”, from whom this book takes its name, were charismatic leaders, who rebelled against and defeated their oppressors, GOD’s way. And they would later serve as spiritual and political leaders to the entire nation of Israel, or, one or more of its tribal sectors. They, not unlike the later, “Davidic line of kings”, exercised powers similar to those which we now associate with our three branches of government here in the United States (Legislative, Administrative, and Judicial).

All of the events in the Book of Judges take place in the hill country of Canaan, which is still occupied by Israelite tribes today.  During that era, most likely between 1390 and 1050 B.C., the tribes were not united as they are now, and Judges often served only their own districts, and not necessarily, the whole of the land, that was occupied by Israel. And while the years specified in the Judges’ rules, total 410, the discrepancy can be explained by the overlapping of the terms of each Judge. This makes it difficult to fix a date to the terms of any given Judge.

Here in Judges chapter two, the author pretty much lays out the theme for the entire book, as it seems that the Israelites were, as many of us are, still today, bent on self-destruction, through our disobedience to GOD. This recurring chaos seems to hammer home the fact, that, if a man or woman goes their own way, they will drift farther and farther away from GOD, and in the end, the rift will have become so wide, that, eventually, GOD will have been reduced to this obscure figure, that he or she once knew, and of WHOM, at that time, they will only seek to avoid.

It seems as if GOD has placed a hunger and thirst inside of each of us, innately from birth, and the only way to satisfy that hunger or thirst, is by seeking, and ultimately finding HIM. It is for the purpose of GOD that man was ever created in the first place, and just as no man has ever created anything, that weren’t for his own purpose or benefit, then, so it is with GOD. Man was created to serve GOD! And until we can grasp and understand that, we will just continue to meander around, looking for “physical” answers, to problems, that have always been of a “spiritual” nature, or origin.  

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday September 9, 2012

____________________________________________________________

THE DECISION DARE

(Dare to live a Covenant life in CHRIST)

Joshua 24:1-25

Through the permissive will of GOD, man is allowed to do many things, and ultimately, through JESUS’ death on the cross, we also receive GOD’s wonderful and abounding grace. Through HIS grace we are given wills that are free, and through our free will, comes our ability to make choices and decisions.

If we choose the Christian walk, we automatically choose to make ourselves strangers to “worldly behavior”. We give up permanent residency on this earth in order to become citizens of Heaven, and therefore, the laws of GOD become paramount in our existence. In order for “wrong things” to cease to fascinate and have power over us, we must ultimately fall in love with goodness. And when we fall in love with goodness, we are thereby compelled to reject the things that are not of GOD.

In Joshua 24, some forty years after Moses received the Ten Commandments from the ALMIGHTY GOD on Mount Sinai, Joshua summoned all the people together, including all of the leaders, elders, judges, and officers of Israel, to meet with him at Shechem, just a few miles northwest of Shiloh. As this book of Joshua comes to a close, and, with Joshua himself, closing in on 110 years of age, he now prepares for his home-going by delivering two farewell addresses to GOD’s chosen people.

The, events of this passage takes place where Abraham first received the promise that GOD would give the land of Canaan to his offspring for an inheritance. Abraham built an altar there as a result, that he might demonstrate his faith in GOD (Genesis 12:6-7). Jacob had also stopped there on his way to Padan-aram, where he buried the idols of his family that they had brought with them under a tree (Genesis 35:4).

The first address, which was to the men who would inherit his leadership role in Israel, also turned out to be his final testimony to GOD’s unwavering faithfulness to HIS followers. However, his speech also contained some stern warnings from GOD, of the dangers of abandoning HIS covenant Laws, once HE had called Joshua home (Chapter 23). 

During this convocation at Shechem, Joshua speaks explicitly in the name of GOD, and through him, GOD gives the people an extended review of Israel’s past. Here, GOD takes them back down memory lane, all the way from the time of Abraham’s calling from his father’s house, beyond the Euphrates River, up unto some of their most recent battles with their enemies in Canaan, after crossing the Jordan River.

Joshua goes on to urge them to honor, and to serve GOD wholeheartedly, and, to put away forever, the idols that their ancestors had worshiped back beyond the Euphrates, and even while still in Egypt.

In verse 15, as Joshua finished his divine presentation, he “opens up the doors of the church” and gives all the members a chance to choose sides, as to whom they would serve. Will they choose to serve the ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO had, over the years, carried them on wings like eagles (Exodus 19:4), or, would they continue to try and hold on to their useless idols?

It was a choice that Joshua challenged each and every person to make, and they had to make it, on that day. Joshua then goes on to utter the most famous statement he ever made. In fact, it is one of the most famous declarations of faith, in all the annals of biblical history. Here in verse 15 he declares; “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now dwell”. Then Joshua simply tells his congregation the way it really is in his family, when he declares, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”.

Choice is not offered very often in the bible, and when it is offered, it is somewhat of a privilege. Most of the time, in scripture, it is GOD’s business to do the choosing, just as HE had made Israel HIS chosen people. And sincerely, I think we all do know in our hearts, that choice does properly belong to the ONLY WISE GOD.

The bible both states, and implies, that GOD does not like those who are lukewarm towards HIM. HE much prefers those who are either hot, or cold (Revelation 3:15-16). As far as GOD is concerned, we are either for HIM, or against HIM. There is no “gray area”, and neither can there be a “middle ground”, or “straddling of the fence”.

In biblical times, people worshiped hand carved likenesses of other people (kings, pharaohs, and emperors), animals, or even things. They also indulged themselves in astrology, witchcraft, and sorcery. Most people today worship the “gods of the modern culture” such as people, money, sex, power, jobs, popularity, cars, houses, etc. We also continue to indulge in astrology, witchcraft, sorcery, and magic. Our prospective on life has become scrambled and contaminated. We have either forgotten, or never really known what GOD’s order of importance for mankind is supposed to be. We are made to “worship only GOD”, “love people”, and “use things”, and whenever we get those three things twisted around, we sin against GOD.

And so it is here in this final chapter of Joshua, that, after completing the first phase of their conquest of Canaan, the Israelites, lead by Joshua, chose to worship GOD only, and built an altar to GOD consisting of a huge stone upon which Joshua inscribed the Law of GOD, and rolled it underneath an oak tree that stood beside the “Tabernacle of the LORD”.

Joshua made it very clear what his choice would be. He and his family would “serve the LORD”. Salvation will always be for all mankind, but each individual must “choose freely” to accept it. The right time to come to CHRIST is always “right now”. And the right way to come to CHRIST is always “just as you are”. We only need to make a firm commitment, first with our lips, and ultimately with our heart, soul, and mind, that we will “serve and follow GOD completely”. It’s up to you!

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website