The Israelites have entered and subjugated a large part of the Promised Land. They have reconfirmed their covenant with Yahweh. But will the next generations be faithful to heed the warnings of Moses and Joshua?
With this question we enter the sixth section of the Bible, the book of Judges, which we will read from March 16 to 22. Here are some observations that will
help us understand it better:
1) The main events of the unit: The declining spiral of sin in Yahweh’s
people
2) Yahweh’s attributes which stand out: His patience and mercy
3) Yahweh’s main work: The discipline and salvation of His disobedient people
4) The main participants: The judges of Israel
5) The main reference to Jesus Christ and the gospel: And the angel of the LORD said to him, ‘Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?’ (Judges 13:18).
6) Key observations: You will see a cycle formed through six stages: 1) Israel’s disobedience, 2) punishment sent by Yahweh in the form of foreign oppression, 3) Israel’s crying out to Yahweh for relief from their oppressors, 4) the arrival of a judge chosen by Yahweh, 5) salvation from the foreign oppressors and 6) reestablished peace… until the cycle starts again with new disobedience by Israel.
When you see this cycle in the readings, notice that it is not a complete circle but a spiral in decline. Israel’s spiritual condition is degenerating over time. Some of the judges themselves will show less integrity and holiness with each generation. The nation of Israel is sinking in a more profound spiritual crisis with each turn of the spiral.
Therefore you will read some variation of the following verse several times: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Joshua 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). It expresses the longing for a Savior, a Redeemer who can rescue the people out of the swamp of their sin and establish and exercise Yahweh’s dominion over the entire nation. This desire will be fulfilled partially with the arrival of each judge, but it will not be fulfilled completely until we enter the seventh unit of the Bible.
With this question we enter the sixth section of the Bible, the book of Judges, which we will read from March 16 to 22. Here are some observations that will
help us understand it better:
1) The main events of the unit: The declining spiral of sin in Yahweh’s
people
2) Yahweh’s attributes which stand out: His patience and mercy
3) Yahweh’s main work: The discipline and salvation of His disobedient people
4) The main participants: The judges of Israel
5) The main reference to Jesus Christ and the gospel: And the angel of the LORD said to him, ‘Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?’ (Judges 13:18).
6) Key observations: You will see a cycle formed through six stages: 1) Israel’s disobedience, 2) punishment sent by Yahweh in the form of foreign oppression, 3) Israel’s crying out to Yahweh for relief from their oppressors, 4) the arrival of a judge chosen by Yahweh, 5) salvation from the foreign oppressors and 6) reestablished peace… until the cycle starts again with new disobedience by Israel.
When you see this cycle in the readings, notice that it is not a complete circle but a spiral in decline. Israel’s spiritual condition is degenerating over time. Some of the judges themselves will show less integrity and holiness with each generation. The nation of Israel is sinking in a more profound spiritual crisis with each turn of the spiral.
Therefore you will read some variation of the following verse several times: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Joshua 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). It expresses the longing for a Savior, a Redeemer who can rescue the people out of the swamp of their sin and establish and exercise Yahweh’s dominion over the entire nation. This desire will be fulfilled partially with the arrival of each judge, but it will not be fulfilled completely until we enter the seventh unit of the Bible.
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