Judges 4-6

Today we begin to study two of my favorite judges who also happen to be among the most famous. Deborah and Gideon make two important points about how Christians should live and several minor points about things that may interest you. Hang on to your hat's, this one's a little long.

God’s message to me: Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth, was a prophetess and judge of Israel. As a Baptist, there are many in my faith who would disagree with women in leadership positions but, clearly, God does not ban them from such positions. While it is rare for women to fulfill these roles Deborah was a prophetess, a judge and leader, and, when forced to action by the inaction of men, she became a military commander.

Gideon asked for signs. First, he laid his sacrifices on a bare rock and when the Lord touched the rock with a staff fire came out of the rock and burned up all the offering. After calling together an army Gideon tested God again. He placed a fleece in the open and asked God to put dew on the fleece(Sheep’s wool) and not the ground around it. The next morning the ground was dry and Gideon squeezed a bowl full of water out of the fleece. Asking God not to be angry, Gideon reassured himself asking God to place dew on the ground but not the fleece. The next morning the fleece was dry and the ground around it was wet.

When facing a tough decision and asking God’s guidance, there is nothing wrong with setting a test and assuring results. Continued testing after a clear answer is wrong, as is ignoring the answer when you get it but, seeking a clear answer is never wrong.

Promises: The song of Deborah includes, not only praise for those who took part and great praise for those who played key rolls but also, curses on those who failed to join the war. Only two tribes contributed greatly to the victory and no allies came at all.

Commands: Do not tolerate false gods. I hate to repeat this but, the Taliban were right to destroy the idols to Buddha carved into their mountain. The Lord called Gideon to tear down the alter to Baal, build an alter to God, cut down the Idol of Ashteroth and use it for firewood to burn an offering to God. When people called for Gideon's execution for destroying the alter and idol his father called him Jerubbaal (let Baal plead) saying, if Baal and Ashteroth had power they could kill him themselves for his attack on them.

Timeless principles: Barak the son of Abinoam of Kedesh in Naphtali was the military commander charged with overcoming Jabin’s army. He refused to go to battle unless Deborah went with him. (apparently he didn’t have faith in a woman as prophet or judge either)

Deborah was quite willing to go but reminded him that, if she did, he would gain no glory for the win. Barak and his army defeated and killed all the army and chariots of Jabinand the General, sisera ran away on foot. Heber the Kenite was of the children of Moses’ father in law. His people were at peace with king Jabin. When Heber’s wife Jael offered Sisera a hiding place as he passed their tent.

He went in and she covered him with a blanket. He asked for water and she gave him milk. He fell asleep and she hammered a tent peg through his head “nailing him” to the ground. The Israelites continued their campaign against Jabin until he and his people were destroyed but Jael got credit for killing Jabin’s general and Deborah got credit for leading the nation to victory. After that the land had peace for 40 years.

How can I apply what I’ve learned: Don’t be afraid to “test the spirits”. “Laying a fleece before God”, whatever form the test may take, is not only acceptable it is often the only way that you can be certain of God’s intent. Gideon met face to face with the Angel of the Lord and watched as he brought fire from a rock to incinerate an offering. Even so, God did not consider it improper for Gideon to set a test to be sure it was God’s will that he lead the Israeli Army.

more to learn for in-depth study: After Ehud died the Israelites fell back into sin against God were given to Jabin, king of Canaan ruling from Hazor and his general Sisera. With 900 chariots of iron the enemy oppressed Israel for 20 years.

Quick review: The children of Israel continued to serve God until Joshua and the other elders died who had seen the great works of God in the wilderness and in conquering the promised land. After that they began to serve the Baals and the Ashteroths and turn away from God. Before the turned against God they had consistently defeated the enemies they went against while those they allowed to remain were put under tribute. When the Israelites turned against God they began to lose their fights and their enemies became strong enough to oppress them.

The King of Mesopotamia became their oppressor for 8 years. Othniel the son of Kenaz, youngest brother of Caleb became the first judge of Israel. The spirit of the Lord was on him and he led the Israelites to victory in war against the king so the land had rest for 40 years. When Othniel died the Israelites turned back to false gods and Eglon, King of Moab gathered the people of Ammon and Amalek to defeat Israel. For 18 years he oppressed Israel until God raised the next judge, A man of the tribe of Benjamin named Ehud the son of Gera. The bible notes that this man was left-handed. Ehud made a double edged dagger around 18 inches long (for a look at something similar look up Arkansas Toothpick on the web). Ehud convinced Eglon he had a secret message for him and the king sent everyone out but him. Ehud told the king he had a message from God and he took the dagger out and buried it in Eglon. Eglon was a fat man and the blade and hilt were pushed all the way in so that they were hidden in the body and the king died. Ehud locked the doors and went out the window, meeting with the Israeli troops and leading them to battle against their oppressors. 10,000 Moabite died in the battle and the land had peace for 80 years.Shamgar, son of Anath killed 600 Philistines with an ox Goad (cattle prod) and only got one verse in the bible to cover his time as judge.

coming up: We won’t get to finish the story of Gideon today but we will start it. After the Israelites began to sin against God again The Midianites became their oppressors for seven years. The Midianites came in such numbers that the Israelites could not count them. The would loot their territory taking all the crops and livestock. The Israelites were forced to make their homes in the caves and rocks. This technique can be seen in the city of Petra which is entirely carved into the wall of a canyon. This was their defense but they could not protect their livelihood. God sent an unnamed prophet to remind them that his oppression was because they served a false god of the Amorites.

The Angel of God, came to Gideon, son of Joash the Abiezrite while he was threshing grain. He called Gideon a mighty man of valor and told him that he should go out and defeat the Mideanites because He had sent him.

Gideon was hiding in the winepress to thresh the grain so that the Midianites wouldn’t find it. He asked how he could be expected to accomplish this great feat. He was the least of his fathers house which was the weakest clan in one of the weakest tribes. The Lord said He would be with him and Gideon would be victorious. He asked for a sign. It is here that we get the name Jehovah-Shalom (the Lord is Peace)

tomorrow: Judges 7-8