Who are the Judges?
With the upcoming movie, SAMSON, right around the corner it's a good time to talk about the 7th book of the bible, the book known as "JUDGES".
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Let's take a look at the official Trailer:
Pretty cool right? Like too cool to be a bible story, right? Well you might think so, but actually as far as action and adventure goes the bible is pretty epic and it gets very action adventure in this book. Samson is only one of the many Judges. When we think of a Judge we often think about a court room or a boring man/woman that makes the rule, but here the book and Israelite terminology means something completely different!
The common Hebrew equivalent for "judge" is "shofeá¹," a term found also in the Phenician as "sufeá¹" (= "regulator"); the latter is a name given to those who had chief control in the Sidonian colonies, and to the Hebrew "shofeá¹" was originally attached a similar significance. They were heroes or Tribe leaders or great soldiers or champions. In other words they were Hebrew Celebrities who carried out God's Justice.
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The book of Judges is about the struggle between the Israelites and God, and the struggle between the Israelites and their neighbors. This pattern is repeated again and again: the people turned away from God; God punished them by sending an enemy to rule them; when the people repented of their sin, God sent temporary leaders (judges) to rescue them. After the judge died, the people returned to their evil ways, and the cycle repeated once again. This continued to happen over a 200-year period. This is one of the clearest examples in the Bible of the tendency of humans, even those who know God, to forget God and go their own way.
The other clear example in Judges is God's constant love and concern for God's people. Despite Israel's repeated unfaithfulness, as soon as they turn back to God, God answers with help. God provided men and women as judges to rescue the people of Israel.
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Who are the Heroes in your Life?
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God places us many heroes in our time of need. If anything, this book helps us to see that when we turn to God he will provide people in our path to help us out. For Pastor Alex it is his dad. Whenever he was in trouble or didn't know what to do, his dad was always there with scripture and prayer and teaching. For Pastor Steven, It is his mom. He writes, "my hero is my mom, she is my hero because she taught me what unconditional love meant and showed me the love of God, she instilled in me qualities that serve me to this day such as determination and hope." Who are the people God places in your life when you are in need? Why don't you find a way to contact them and let them know that, as I am sure they would appreciate it.
The leadership of the judge as the people's sovereign is understood as conferred and empowered by God. Still, the book of Judges ends pessimistically regarding the possibility of the community governing itself faithfully under the institution of the judges, favoring instead kingship.
LEADER: a person with authority or influence over others; a guide or director. Judges in the Old Testament were understood to have been empowered by God.
FAITH: belief and trust in God. Loyalty to God. Firm belief in something without any doubt; strong convictions.
WALK THE TALK: an expression that refers to a way of living or behavior that reflects what you profess to believe. Christians want their lives to reflect what they believe about God.
Judges Sheet:
So who were they?
Let's go over the pictures above:
Othniel, the 1st judge, is first mentioned in Joshua 15:17. The Israelites once again turned to sin and fell under the subjection the king of AramNaharaim in
Mesopotamia. He oppressed them for 8yrs; when they "cried" to God, Othniel was raised up to be their deliverer. He is the only Judge mentioned connected with the Tribe of Judah.
In Judges 3:12-30, Ehud was sent to the Moabite King, but he had a secret weapon. He made a small double-edged sword that he could sneak onto base. Once they met, Ehud told the king he had a secret message for him. The king dismissed his attendants and allowed Ehud to meet him in private. Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you", drew his sword, and stabbed the king in the belly!
Shamgar is a Judge, who repelled Philistine incursions and slaughtered 600 of the invaders with an ox goad. Having once been an opressor a Hittie, the Song of Deborah says that he turned to God and is described as having been one of the prior rulers, in whose days roads were abandoned, with travelers taking winding paths, and village life collapsing.
Deborah is one of the most recognizable figures in the book. Look at Judges 4 for her story. She rocks with GIRL POWER. Most look to her for the definition of a JUDGE. She was not as violent as the judges earlier, dispensing criminals and a wave of her hand. Instead, the biblical Deborah was a renowned prophetess, an honored judge, and an ideal role model for every woman called to lead others.
was a military leader, judge and prophet whose calling and victory over the Midianites are recounted in chapters 6 to 8 of the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible. For more fun check out this clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egGpa9gIhAM
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the 7th judge found in Judges 10,
Tola was from the tribe of Issachar. He ruled for 23 years 1149BC-1129BC.
Tola seems to have been raised to the position of Judge by God. He did what was asked of him by God to rule in God’s wisdom and peace for the people of Israel. It was a break time in the story and a good time of peace!
Jair a Gileadite was Israel’s Judge or ruler for 22 years. Judges 10:3-5 talks of him.It seems a peaceful time for Israel as not much is said about Jair’s time as a judge or leader. Jair had thirty donkeys which means he had a large family and a lot of money only the rich could have so many donkeys. A donkey back then was like an expensive car is a today.
You can find him in Judges 11 & 12. Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. He was a big leader and was a family man with his only beautiful daughter. When an evil king was hurting his people, he made a vow to God, saying, “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the
door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering”...that was a mistake. He thought it would be one of his prize animals. First to come out of his door after he won was his daughter to greet him.
Judges 12:8–10, “Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel. He had 30 sons and 30 daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and by his death 7yrs later his democratic influences stretched all over the map making him a great leader.
We actually only know very little about him. Judges 12:12 – Elon, Judge #12. This little piece is about Elon, God's 12th judge over Israel. God gave him only two verses in the Bible.
CLUES: Elon means oak, strength. Zebulun* means home. Aijalon means antelope or freedom
Judges 12:13-15, we learn Abdon was from the Tribe of Ephraim. He ruled for 8 yrs. Abdon had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 colts of donkeys. Abdon died an old man, and obtained a magnificent burial in Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. He was certainly loved!
The most famous of the judges, Samson, was legendary Israelite warrior and judge, or divinely inspired leader, renowned for the prodigious strength that he derived from his uncut hair. He is portrayed in the biblical Book of Judges (chapters 13–16).