CONTENT ESSAY-Judges

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Dec 6, 2023

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CONTENT ESSAY: JUDGES Rebecca Elkins OBST 515: October 14, 2023

Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 Judges Recurring Cycle ................................................................................................................ 1 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................... 5 ii

1 Introduction The book of Judges records a narrative of Israel’s existence in the land that God had promised. Its premise seems to be written as a lesson for the modern-day believer warning of the consequences related to religious apostacy and moral depravity. This book provides the people with the justification for a monarchy and grants their wish for a ruler, king, or judge; yet, they would be disappointed to learn that there are no kings who are righteous until King David's reign. The book of Judges is not intended to change or hide anything; rather, it allows the evidence of God's faithfulness and righteousness to be fully seen in the context of its actions. Character and moral issues are prevalent during this time. A pattern of repeating cycles can be seen in the first book of Judges, starting with downward spirals of debasement that point to its theology, followed by the prophetic need for a King, and ending with the collection of the Old Testament's narrative of God's love for His people and the gospel message. Judges Recurring Cycle The book of Judges shows a recurrent pattern of judges who, rather than banishing the Israelites' gods, guide them further into their own self-interest as well as further from repentance of their transgressions. God's compassion and grace for the Israelites are demonstrated by his goodness and kindness even though they were stuck in their ongoing sin. God brings judgment on them, the people seek repentance, and God is gracious with his deliverance. The narrative of Othniel, the first of the recurring cycles of Judges, opens with the Israelites doing what was "evil in the sight of the Lord" (3:7). This is followed by God becoming enraged and the nation being conquered by neighboring nations (3:8). The people then cry out to the Lord, nevertheless, God sends Othniel, a judge, to deliver them from their enemies (3:9-10).

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2 The six major Judges, Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson, represent a dangerous combination of moral decay, theological compromise, and social unrest in the six cycles of Judges. An additional perspective on these cycles can be found in Lee Roy Martin's twofold idea, “I argue here that the cycle in its two primary movements (sin/punishment and cry/salvation) registers a deep theological tension within the character of Yahweh himself, an irreconcilable conflict between his anger and his compassion.” 1 It is widely agreed upon that these cycles are associated with the theology that holds that God is gracious, kind, loving, and forgiving; that he also extends grace to his people and tempers his wrath. At crucial moments, six minor Judges join the six great Judges, symbolizing the grace period required for God's splendor to be seen. God does his greatest work through the things that the world considers insignificant. Though the scripture has few verses about them, the six minor Judges were significant because they each contributed to the Israelite story of rescue. However, could they serve as an example of the twelve tribes (6 Major Judges/6 Minor Judges) of Israel contributing to the land's increasing apostasy and need for deliverance? “The literary quota of twelve is likely intended as an indictment against all Israel so that no Israelite tribe is exempted from the growing trend of covenant rebellion (or "canaanization") which characterizes the period. Apostasy was a corporate offense, and every Israelite man and woman holds a stake in the responsibility.” 2 The Israelite people would continue to find disunity in their rebellion. The judges are named for their positions and work in tandem with other biblical books, alluding to the recurring cycles and symbolic meaning found in its pages. “The pairing of books could be justified in the following terms. Joshua and Judges both concern the conquest and its aftermath, with the catalogue of tribal failures to complete the conquest in Judges 1 a significant 1 Lee Roy Martin. Yahweh conflicted: unresolved theological tension in the cycle of Judges. Old Testament Essays, Sabinet. 22:2, (2009). 357. 2 Kenneth C. Way. The Meaning of the Minor Judges: Understanding the Bible’s Shortest Stories . Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. ProQuest. 61:2, (2018). 280.

3 overlap between the books, as is the repetition of the notice of the death of Joshua in Judges 2:6- 10 (cf. Josh 24:29-31).” 3 By use of each judge's guidance, God was carrying out the task he had initiated by establishing the required intimacy with his people. God demonstrated his might through the lives of three of the most well-known judges—Deborah, Gideon, and Samson— despite the fact that none of them was adequate in themselves. They were moderately successful, but they also fell short of victory and fulfilling their commission. “Those who outlive and live after Gideon (8:33–35) look much like the generation that comes after Joshua.” 4 And just as the statement of Judges 21:25 concludes, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Each judge brought about a theological necessity for the promised Savior, even though they did not always help people develop or improve their spiritual virtue or repent of their disavowed behaviors of apostasy. Ultimately, the central topic of the book of Judges and its connection to the rest of the Old Testament emphasized God's merciful and righteous loyalty to his people. Despite the fact that all of God's servants have flaws, God nevertheless uses these flaws to reveal his kindness and to hint at the approaching arrival of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. “When we interpret the Old Testament correctly, without allegory or artificial manipulation but in accordance with Jesus' own teaching, the central message on every page is Christ.” 5 God was executing his plan, which is unaffected by human failure. 3 Gregory Goswell. Making Theological Sense of the Prophetic Books of The Old Testament Canon. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. 64:1, (2021). 80. 4 Victor P. Hamilton. Handbook on the Historical Books. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, (2001). 134. 5 G. K. Beale. Finding Christ in The Old Testament. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. 63:1. (2020). 28.

4 Conclusion Ultimately, whether they were flawless or not, the twelve judges in the book of Judges had an influence on the Israelite community, the tribes, and the arrival procession of Jesus. This work is brimming with realistic details, such as complicated methodologies and startling depictions of brutality and power. The stories of wicked behavior, mixed in with the occasional good behavior and obedience, demonstrate that, in the absence of God, human nature is defective. Throughout the book of Judges, acts of disobedience and rejection unquestionably angered God. In addition to the difficult-to-read stories, hero stories of judges who were faithful, good, and trusting in God are brought to life. It is clear from the pattern of Judges' repeated cycles that its theology is one of God's patience and mercy, followed by the prophetic need for King Jesus, and concluding with the tale of God's love for His people and the gospel message.

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5 Bibliography Beale, G. K.. FINDING CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 63 :1. 2020. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu? url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/finding-christ-old- testament/docview/2394932404/se-2 Goswell, Gregory. "MAKING THEOLOGICAL SENSE OF THE PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. 64:1. 2021. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu? url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/making-theological-sense-prophetic- books-old/docview/2549298782/se-2. Hamilton, Victor P. Handbook on the Historical Books. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001. Martin, Lee Roy. “Yahweh conflicted: unresolved theological tension in the cycle of Judges.” Old Testament Essays, Sabinet . 22:2, 2009. https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC85996 Way, Kenneth C. "THE MEANING OF THE MINOR JUDGES: UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE'S SHORTEST STORIES." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. Proquest. 61:2. 2018. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu? url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/meaning-minor-judges-understanding- bibles/docview/2109286984/se-2.

CONTENT ESSAY-Judges

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