Today’s passage: Judges 9:22-41

Helpful thoughts:

• Abimilech’s plan seems to have worked…in a way.  He governed Israel for a time.
• In this passage, we see the spark that lights the flame of Jotham’s fable come true.  But, instead of Abimelech, God sets the spark.
• Gaal used the same ethnic argument to rally support from the Schechemites.  Abimelech was only half-Shechemite (His mother).  Gaal used Abimelech’s own argument against him, and it worked on most of the people.
  • Gaal’s prominence was short-lived however.  In what may have been a sort of micro civil war, Gall’s supporters were defeated and Abimelech left Zebul (Who had remained faithful to him) over Shechem while he governed from Arumah (About 5 miles away from Shechem).

Questions to consider:

1. What appears to be happening to Abimelech’s power in the region?  Is his prominence growing or diminishing?
2. In what way does Abimilech’s rule compare or contrast with other leaders in Israel?  Is he a judge like Othniel, Deborah, or even Gideon were?  Or, is he beginning to look more like the kings of the surrounding peoples who were oppressing the Jewish people?  What would be the message we need to learn from any ambiguity in his role?
3. How has Israel lost her identity?  At this point in her history, who or what is Israel?  How does the covenant keeping unchangeable God preserve and define Israel?  And, how does your relationship with Him and your place in the Body of Christ define who you are?  Where does your identity come from?

Today’s passage: Judges 9:1-21

Helpful thoughts:

• Abimelech delivered a campaign speech of sorts to the people of Shechem (The hometown of his mother) in order to woo them first in his quest to rule Israel.
• The mention of the stone on which the brothers were killed paints the gruesome picture of how their murders occurred.  They would have to be captured, brought together, and then slain one at a time on the same stone  used for the slaughter of farm animals.
• Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon and sole survivor, warns the people of Shechem before running away and hiding.
  • They have made a bramble bush their king:
    • Bramble bushes bear no fruit (Unlike the other plants illustrated)
    • Bramble bushes are shorter than trees (How could it provide them any shade?)
  • He issues a curse on the people if they had acted corruptly in Abimelech’s “victory” and coronation (Which, of course, they did!).

Questions to consider:

1. What motivated the people of Shechem to allow for the slaughter of all these men?  What was promised to them?
2. What is the meaning of Jotham’s fable?  What kind of a leader did Shechem deserve due to their actions?
3. How could this passage help you today to think through the nature of politics, government and leadership?  What methods do people/potential leaders use to “get elected”?  What types of things do you look for in candidates?  How can a nation that elects it’s leaders bring negative consequences (“Fires” – vs. 20) upon themselves through their decisions?

Today’s passage: Judges 8:22-36

Helpful thoughts:

• This passage reminds us that Israel’s years of rest were not necessarily years of God-honoring righteous living.  They were simply years where enemy peoples were not invading or warring with them.
• Jerubbaal is Gideon.  He was given this name in Judges 6:32 because the people thought Baal would contend against Gideon after he tore down that altar.
  • One thing Gideon did prevent Israel from doing was worshiping Baal specifically (That ephod on the other hand…).
  • As soon as Gideon died, Israel went back to Baal worship, to the extent of officially declaring Baal-berith their national god!
    • Berith means covenant.  They were worshiping the Baal of the Covenant! (Joshua 24:24-25)
    • As bad as things got during Gideon’s time, it would have been even worse without him!
• Gideon declared he would not reign in Israel (Which was the right thing to say), yet:
  • He requested part of the spoil from every man.  This was a typical show of submission.
  • He kept the royal collars from the camels of the Midianite royalty.  Only royalty had a right to do that.
  • He made his city a center of pagan worship with the ephod.  Worship of that false god would be an act of subservience to Gideon/Jerubbaal.
    • This act also made Ophrah Israel’s capital city.
  • He took multiple wives and had seventy sons.
  • He named one of his sons Abimelech, which either means “My father is king” or “My father is Melech” (A pagan god).  The latter meaning was the same name used by other kings/princes in the region.  Either way, it was a name for royalty.

Questions to consider:

1. What have you learned over the last few days in the narrative of Gideon that was surprising/new to you?  How is Gideon usually perceived today?  What does the Word of God say?
2. Why is it hard to simply declare that Gideon was a “good guy” or a “bad guy”? (In Sunday school classes for instance, children might hear, “Gideon was a mighty man of valor who had faith in God and defeated the Midianites…be like Gideon!”)  How might this generalization mislead us as to the true nature of man, the right application of these Old Testament “Bible stories”, and our need of the Gospel?
3. What is/are the right application(s) of this “Bible story”?  What are you learning that can help you grow as a follower of Jesus Christ?

Today’s passage: Judges 8:1-21

Helpful thoughts:

• The people of Succoth and Penuel are within the nation of Israel.  As Gideon begins to chase after the Midianites on his own, the people lose interest and personal offence is taken.
• Gideon fulfilled his promises and more.  He didn’t just take down the tower in Penuel, he also killed all of its men.  Again, these were Israelites!
• Gideon twice invoked the name of the Lord in order to intimidate people.
• Gideon’s name means, “Hacker”.

Questions to consider:

1. How did Gideon ease the tension between himself and the Ephraimites?  What was the nature of his comments?
2. What was Gideon trying to accomplish by having his son kill Zebah and Zalmunna?  How might the flattering words of these men concerning Gideon and his brothers give us a hint?
3. How are the words of Gideon becoming increasingly separate from his actions?  How is he using the name of the Lord?  How are his promises and flattery proving empty?

Today’s passage: Judges 7:19-25

Helpful thoughts:

• The three hundred Israelites surrounded the Midianite camp in the middle of the night.
  • They took the jars off of their torches (They had been concealing the light)
  • They broke the jars and blew their trumpets, startling the army below, and announced their arrival.
• The only soldiers with weapons in this scene were the Midianites, and they slaughtered themselves.
• God reduced the numbers of Israelite troops to ensure they would know who won the battle.  Then as the numbers of Midianites plummeted, Gideon called on more men to continue the fight.
• These locations where the slaughter of the princes occurred were named in memory of this particular battle.  The winepress and the rock were not name Oreb and Zeeb before this happened.

Questions to consider:

1. Where is God in this passage?  What does the Scripture say that God did?  Why did Israel win?
2. In what way do you see the prospect of giving Gideon the credit for this victory?  What did he do (Or, what could you say that he did) to ensure victory?
3. Though Israel appears to be “winning” are they winning?  Why or why not?
4. Where would all the “new” soldiers have come from as Israel pursued the remaining Midianites who had fled?  What was Gideon doing in calling them for battle?  What kind of man of valor is he being?  Where is his bravery being shown?

Today’s passage: Judges 7:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• Israel’s army decreased from 32,000 to 300 men by God’s decree.  If they had all fought, they would have taken the credit for the victory.  There were 135,000 Midianite soldiers…
• 22,001 of the Israelite soldiers were afraid.  22,000 of them left because of it.  God told Gideon that He would have victory, but if he was afraid, God would graciously give him one more sign…and Gideon sought the sign.
• Once Gideon was convinced of God’s promise, he was ready to go.  He devised a plan and prepared his small army.

Questions to consider:

1. How would you feel if you were about to lead 32,000, 10,000 or 300 men into real battle against 135,000?  (We can learn from Gideon’s fear in the midst of God’s kindness and faithfulness…and be careful not to be judgmental toward him)
2. Was God surprised by Gideon’s fear?  What can we learn about God from this passage?
3. What seems significant about the battle cry, “For the Lord and for Gideon”?  In what way might it be a positive evidence of Gideon’s growing faith?  In what way might it evidence that Gideon is still not on the same page with God?

Today’s passage: Judges 6:36-40

Helpful thoughts:

• With all the troops gathered under his command, Gideon again battles with his fear.  He develops a test (or two) to make sure God is truly committed.
• Gideon requested God to ensure that He would save Israel by Gideon’s hand, “As You have said.”
  • Gideon wasn’t unsure of the promise.  He knew exactly what God had said.  Gideon was unsure of God.
• The Midianites had set up camp on Israel’s side of the Jordan.  They were coming whether Gideon was on board or not.

Questions to consider:

1. What did Gideon know about his requests for signs?  What does his request for God’s patience reveal?
2. If Gideon continued to ask for more signs, even while knowing he may anger God, what do you think he really wanted?
3. What did God do even though Gideon was being difficult?  Who alone was able to ensure victory?  Whose will could never be thwarted?

Today’s passage: Judges 6:11-35

Helpful thoughts:

• Gideon had enough bravery to rebuke and question the Lord’s command and faithfulness.  But he didn’t have enough valor to go against the Midianites.
• After destroying the altar to the false god, Gideon’s new name encouraged Baal to come punish him.
  • God was preserving Israel while Israel was cursing their own people for opposing false gods.
• It took the movement of God (The Spirit of the Lord “clothed” him) to get Gideon to call the troops.

Questions to consider:

1. How did Gideon first respond to the Angel of the Lord?  What did he expect should be happening if God was involved?
2. What kind of fear did Gideon display?  What kinds of things frightened him?
3. What things would be running through your mind if God decided to use you to free the nation from an incoming enemy army?  How might you have been tempted to fear?

Today’s passage: Judges 6:1-10

Helpful thoughts:

• The Midianites were descended from Abraham by his wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1-4).  Moses married a Midianite woman (Exodus 2:16-22).
• Israel resorted to hiding in caves while all their goods were taken away.  They were brought “very low”.
• Israel cried out for help, but there are still no signs of repentance.

Questions to consider:

1. How did Israel end up being seemingly at the mercy of their distant relatives?  Who gave them over to the Midianites?
2. What made Israel cry out to God?  What was their greatest concern?
3. What was God’s response to Israel’s non-repentant cry for help?  What did He communicate to them?  What should have been the result?

Today’s passage: Judges 5:1-31

Helpful thoughts:

• This song was written and sung as a celebration of victory.
• God is praised along with the main characters in the battle.
  • Certain tribes are called out and publicly criticized for their refusal to join the battle.
  • The era of Israel is named “The days of Shamgar” and “The days of Jael”, bringing to attention these foreigners who perhaps seemed more deserving of praise and recognition than anyone in Israel.
• Special attention is given to the details of Jael’s murder of Sisera and the agony of Sisera’s awaiting mother.
  • This would have been particularly brutal taunting in their context since Sisera the mighty general was killed by a woman…the wife of his ally.
  • The wording used for the “wombs” Sisera’s mother hoped he was finding and dividing among the men was crude.  She was consoling herself by hoping for great atrocity.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways is this song encouraging and in what ways is this song confusing and discouraging?
2. What is the irony of verse 31 (“So may all your enemies perish, O Lord!  But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.”) in contrast with 6:1 (“The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord”) and 4:1 (“And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord”), etc.?  What was Israel asking God to do?  How did they see themselves?
3. When you have a “good” day, does it automatically mean you are good with God and He is good with you?  When you have a “bad” day does that mean you are not good with God and He is not good with you?  How would this view of God trivialize who He truly is?  How would it exaggerate who we are? (Hebrews 12:3-11)