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Judges 8

Gideon’s army finishes off the enemy and deals with Israelites who did not help. Gideon declines being king but falls into idolatry.

  • Why did Gideon refuse to be king?
  • What was Gideon’s failure?
  • How did Israel fall away from the Lord? What lessons can you learn from this for yourself?

Judges 7

The Lord pares Gideon’s army down to 300 and gives them a great victory over Midian.

  • Why did God say that Gideon had too many soldiers?
  • What would the trumpets and torches signify (v. 16)?
  • As you read verses 19ff, keep Leviticus 26:8 & Joshua 23:10 in mind.

Judges 6

Israel is oppressed by Midian; God calls Gideon to destroy Baal’s altar and deliver Israel.

  • What was the ministry of the prophet (vv. 7–10)?
  • The “angel of the Lord” is best understood as being an appearance of Christ before His incarnation. Compare v. 11 with verse 14.
  • The various tests that Gideon asked God to do are not to be followed in our lives. These demonstrate Gideon’s lack of faith, not the strength of it!

Judges 4

Israel is oppressed by Jabin and Sisera, and is delivered by Deborah and Barak.

  • Israel is seen “in the sight of the Lord.” Do you see yourself “in the sight of the Lord”?
  • Note verse 7—who is in control?
  • Who received the credit and glory for victory (v. 23)?

Judges 5

Deborah and Barak’s song of victory.

  • Note verse 31; there are only the Lord’s enemies and those who love Him. Which describes you?
  • What is the point of the figure of speech about those who love the Lord (v. 31)?

Judges 3

The Lord tests Israel’s obedience by the remaining nations. Israel is oppressed because of their sin. Three judges deliver Israel: Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar.

  • Joshua’s campaigns did not eliminate every Canaanite; those battles effectively “broke the back” of Canaanite resistance, and the various tribes were to “mop up” the rest.
  • Why did the Lord leave the nations (v. 4)?

Judges 2

The Lord rebukes Israel for their compromises. Joshua and his generation die. The cycle of apostasy and deliverance is described.

  • “Judges” were individuals specially chosen and equipped by the Lord for delivering Israel from their enemies and encouraging faithfulness to the covenant. They were in different parts of Israel.
  • “Bochim” (v. 5) means “weepers”; “served” (v. 11) can also be translated “worshiped”
  • What was the cause of Israel’s deliverance (v. 18)?

Judges 1

Judah and other tribes conquer more area but they fail to drive out the Canaanites completely.

  • Note verses 27 and following; what effect would not driving out the Canaanites have on the tribes (cf. Deut 20:16–18)?

Joshua 23

Joshua charges Israel to obey the Lord.

  • Of all the things that Joshua would encourage Israel to do, what does he tell them to be firm on?
  • Why is not associating with the nations so important (v. 7)?
  • The word “cling” is used several times in vv. 8–11. What is involved with that?

Joshua 24

Joshua reviews what the Lord did for Israel and urges them to follow Him wholly, which they commit to do. Joshua and Joseph are buried.

  • How were the first two kings destroyed whom Israel fought against (v. 12)?
  • What is involved in fearing and serving the Lord (v. 14)?

Daily Devotional for June 17-23

You can view and/or download the next daily devotional here or under the downloads and literature tab.

Joshua 15-20

Read: Joshua 15:13-19; 18:1-10; 20

Joshua 15—The borders and cities of Judah.
Joshua 16—The borders of Ephraim.
Joshua 17—The borders of Manasseh; they are unwilling to drive out the Canaanites to have more territory.
Joshua 18—Joshua commands the rest of the land to be divided; the borders of Benjamin.

  • While traveling the Ark was surrounded by Israel’s tribes, but now three of each were settled, v. 1
  • “Here [at Shiloh] the ark continued about 300 years, till the sins of Eli’s house forfeited the ark, lost it and ruined Shiloh, and its ruins were long after made use of as warnings to Jerusalem” (Matthew Henry), v. 1
  • The status quo is easy to continue in, even with God’s promises and provision
  •  “Many are diverted from real duties, and debarred from real comforts, by seeming difficulties” (Matthew Henry), v. 3
  • “What we have in the world we must acknowledge God’s property in, and dispose of it as before him, with justice, and charity, and dependence upon Providence” (Matthew Henry), v. 6
  •  “When we are in the way of our duty we are under the special protection of the Almighty” (Matthew Henry), vv. 8–9

Joshua 19—The borders of the tribes of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan.
Joshua 20—Six cities of refuge are established to provide protection and ensure justice.

  • God provides for His people’s every need
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