This week, we
shall continue the study of the Book of Judges of the Old Testament.
Now, the Bible gives us details of this vicious cycle, beginning with the 1st Judge, Othniel:
(1) Detail what you already know about Othniel (Jdg. 1:12-15).
(2) What was your impression of him prior to the reading of him being raised by God as the 1st Judge?
(3) How does this passage change your opinion about him?
(4) How does the Bible describe the sins of the Israelites which resulted in God’s anger?
(5) Why does the Bible say that the Lord, “sold them into the hands of Cush-Rishathaim”? What does being “sold” mean?
(6) How long were the Israelites subjects of Aram Naharaim?
(7) Why did it take eight years before they cried to the Lord?
(8) Why should God hear their cry? Would you, if you were God?
(9) Why did Othniel wait eight years before he took on Cush-Rishathaim?
(10) How long did the ensuing period of peace last?
(11) What have you learned about the Spirit of the Lord?
(12) Pause and reflect on the main message to you today. How may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Aram Naharaim is believed to be in the northern part of Mesopotamia, quite a long distance from Israel.
(1) Do you remember how long did Israel enjoy peace until they “once again…did evil in the eyes of the Lord”?
(2) While judges are not necessarily spiritual leaders, how can one explain the “delay” of the people in rebelling again against the Lord?
(3) Who were the enemies raised by God to discipline them? (If your Bible has maps at the back, do look them up to see where they came from.) Do you agree that it was the Lord who raised Eglon to discipline Israel? Why or why not?
(4) How long did they remain subjects of the king of Moab? How much longer this time did it take for the Israelites cry out to the Lord?
(5) From this detailed account, how much do you know about Ehud, in terms of the following?
a. Who he is
b. Where he is from
c. The preparation he made
d. The risk he took
e. The way he gained leadership among his people
(6) How huge was his victory?
(7) How long did the ensuing period of peace last?
(8) It appears that during this same period of 80 years, Shamgar also was raised by God to save Israel as well. What should the Israelites have learned from these experiences?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
The City of Palms most likely refers to the city of
Jericho.
(1) Do you remember how long Israel enjoyed peace until they “once again did evil in the eyes of the Lord”?
(2) How strong was this new enemy of Israel and for how long did they oppress them?
(3) What do we know about the “judges” through the description of Deborah?
(4) How special was Deborah as a judge?
(5) What was the message given to Deborah by the Lord?
(6) Why was Barak not willing to listen? Can you blame him?
(7) What reason did Deborah give concerning her initial reluctance to go with Barak?
(8) What is wrong with God using a woman to deliver Israel?
(9) What more can we learn about Deborah, as a result?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) In this conflict, the Kenites, who were not part of Israel, were mentioned. Was it a mistake for Israel to have allowed gentiles to remain among them necessarily? (Jdg. 1:16) Why or why not?
(2) How formidable was the army of Sisera?
(3) Why was Barak willing to take on Sisera?
(4) What was the result of his action?
(5) From the biblical account given concerning Jael, how would you describe her in the following terms?
a. Why she would betray a friendship
b. Her courage
c. Her relationship with Israel and their God
(6) Do you think the “woman” referred to in 4:9 is Deborah or Jael? What role did each play in the deliverance of Israel?
(7) What might be the greatest “loss” to Barak? Was it really that of “honor”? (4:9)
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
The Introduction: v. 1
The Song of Deborah, in essence, is a poetic recount of the defeat of Moab’s army, providing insights into this historical event mentioned in chapter 4.
Summon to praise: vv. 2-3
(1) What is the reason given for praising God?
(2) How special is it that the summon to praise is not based on victory?
(3) Whom does Deborah appeal to as her listeners? Why?
The Awesome Power of God: vv. 4-5
(4) Deborah appears to be quoting from Deuteronomy 33:2 to describe the awesome power of God over nature. In the routing of Moab’s army, we did not read of the shaking of the earth nor of the heaven in chapter 4. What is Deborah trying to depict in her poem?
The plight of Israel recalled: vv. 6-8
(5) What was Israel like before God raised Deborah as their deliverer according to vv. 7-8? What kind of a life did they lead in these twenty years? (4:3)
(6) What was the reason given for their plight?
(7) What in particular does v. 8b depict?
The Turning point: vv. 9-12
(8) What does Deborah call herself in v. 7?
(9) How does v. 9 demonstrate the heart of Deborah?
(10) Who are the people Deborah challenges in v. 10?
(11) In what way(s) might you be like these people?
(12) While we are not sure who the singers were, what are they singing about?
(13) How did the people respond to the challenge and why?
(14) How important was their response?
(15) Who makes this wake-up call in v. 12, Deborah or the people? What difference does it make?
(16) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Amazingly, this part of the song reveals that not all tribes of Israel were of one heart:
The soul-searching: vv. 13-18
(1) Who were the people who have decided to come to Deborah according to v. 13?
(2) Deborah names many of the tribes who have participated in the battle. Try to list all the names of the tribes that have come.
(3) Which of these appear to have come willingly and without hesitation?
(4) What happened to the tribe Reuben? Why did they appear to have hesitated?
(5) How does Deborah describe the people of Gilead, Dan and Asher? What is their problem?
(6) How does Deborah shame them with v. 18?
(7) Together with Gilead, Dan and Asher, Judah and Simeon do not appear in the song. What insight have you gained concerning this huge victory?
The Routing of the enemies: vv. 19-23
(8) How does v. 19 describe the futility of the Canaanite kings?
(9) By what has the soul of Deborah been encouraged? Who is responsible for the routing of the enemies as far as she is concerned?
(10) How does she describe the might of the Canaanite force which had many chariots and horses?
(11) We are not sure who the Meroz are (likely an expected ally of Israel), but why are they being cursed? Since the “angel of the Lord” pronounced this curse, what role would He be playing in the event?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Makir (v. 14) probably stands poetically for Manasseh in general, as Makir was the only son of Manasseh from whom all the Manassites were descended; and Gilead refers to the tribes of Gad and half of Manasseh (K&D, 230-1).
(1) Can you recall any other woman being called blessed in the Scriptures?
(2) How special is Jael in the deliverance of Israel, in the following terms?
a. Her nationality (4:11, 17)?
b. Her unusual encounter with Sisera
- A known warrior
- One being pursued
- Who happened to come to her tent
- The alternatives (and excuses) she had
c. How she killed Sisera?
(3) How will you compare her with Rahab of Jericho (Jos. 2)?
The Cursed mother of Sisera vv. 28-31
(4) In these poetic words, does Deborah portray a wailing or a confident mother of Sisera?
(5) What was the outcome of the battle that she was expecting?
(6) Through the words Deborah puts in the mouth of Sisera’s mother, we cannot but feel a sense of sadness—which mother does not mourn the loss of her son. However, Deborah cites the ultimate reason for the outcome of the battle in v. 31. What is it?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?