"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves." Judges 3:7-8

"And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD." Judges 3:12

"And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan ...." Judges 4:1-2

"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel." Judges 6:1-2

"And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him." Judges 10:6

"And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years." Judges 13:1

Obviously our journey ahead is one that will illustrate the propensity of mankind to sin.

But it will also illustrate the Grace and Mercy and Love and Forgiveness of an Almighty God!

The summary of Judges can perhaps best be verbalized this, using the words of its own inspired author:

"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6

And again, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 21:25

Sounds like much of the world today!

Sure the Lord has packed tons of godly information and warning and encouragement in the twenty-one chapters that lie ahead.

Let's study together.

                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3:

The writer, whose name I  no longer remember, said that the theme of the Book of Judges was "The Canaanization of the Israelite Society." In other words, God's People becoming more and more like the heathen nations around them!

Judges, in fact nearly all the Books of Scripture, warn against this sin.

Paul gives us a classic New Testament example. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Second Corinthians 6:17-18

Becoming, in today's spiritual terminology, "like the world."

If the author I mentioned is correct, and he is at least partly so, there must be examples galore in the Book of Judges, illustrations of Israel's syncretism.

Judges 3:5-6 provides us with a good starting place. Let's read it together, paying attention to the loose ways of God's people here.

"And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites. And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods."

Three things need to be noticed here.

They "dwelt" with the wicked people of the land, land God had given the Jews! The verb is "yashab," meaning "to remain, to permanently settle, to abide, to inhabit." Too comfortable in the environment of sin!

Next they allowed intermarriage with the gentiles of the area. Allowing their sons to marry heathen girls and their daughters to marry sinful boys. God disallowed this practice early in the Old Testament record.

Then, almost automatically it seems, the Israelites were soon worshipping the idols, the gods and goddesses, of the Hittites and Amorites and others. This is an affront to Almighty God, a slap in His Face! This little word "served" here translates the Hebrew root "abad," being a "slave" to someone or something! And at least five times in the Bible it is rendered as "worshippers!"

And the lessons here for us?

1. Be careful where you live, spiritually!

2. Pray godly mates into the lives of your children and grandchildren.

3. Under no circumstances ever follow or even develop affection for any god but the One True God. Our sweet Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ His Son!

Wow!

The book of Judges ... already much more practical than is usually thought! Because it is God's Word!

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4:

The first five Books of the Bible are often referred to collectively as the Pentateuch. That's Greek for "five scrolls," the five Books of Scripture Moses wrote.

Recently as we've been studying the Book of Judges I noticed something. The similarity between the Book's opening verse with the initial words of the Book of Joshua is striking.

Here's Judges 1:1. "Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?"

Now here's Joshua 1:1. "Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister."

Chronologically ... after the death of Moses.

Then ... after the death of Joshua.

Hence we have proof that these Books are pure history! Catalogues of the happenings in Israel in those ancient days.

But here's a new word we've discovered.

The author of one of the commentaries we use employed the word "Hexateuch." The dictionary helps again. The noun means "six scrolls." And the old rabbis used it to describe the first half-dozen Books of the Old Testament.

Wow!

It's wonderful that we have an accurate, inspired, inerrant record of God's dealings with mankind through the centuries.

He, our Lord, is Faithful.

He is kind and gracious and loving.

And He is also Holy and Righteous.

He too is consistent.

Praise His Name today!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, THUMBS AND TOES:

It seems that much of Israel was contaminated with idol worship during those days! And Gideon's Father was one of the participants.

And one of the first things this newly commissioned man of God must do is ... of course ... get rid of all false gods.

Some act of separation may often follow, immediately follow, upon the heels of a call to serve God, a call to preach!

Gideon is to "throw down" this bogus altar, dedicated to the Canaanite darling, their little god Baal.

Then God asked, commanded, him to build a true altar on the rock foundation that was by then exposed.

Next the grove of trees nearby was to be leveled. That would have included a pole carved in the name of another of their gods, well a goddess in this case.

And once the directions had been given, obediently, Gideon followed the commands of the Lord.

Gideon is a man, or at least belonged to a family, of some means. He is taking "ten men of his servants" to help him hew the trees and destroy the altar! Not every Israeli family had ten servants!

But there's one negative point. Honestly, we are told that Gideon did this task at night, because he was fearful of doing so in the daytime. He is still battling some apprehension, still somewhat fearful.

Of course a commotion ensued when the city dwellers found that their system of worship had been destroyed!

Gideon was discovered to be the culprit and his immediate death was demanded. He had tampered with their gods and goddesses!

Now Gideon's Father comes to the rescue. His name is Joash and it means "Jehovah's Fire," or something close to that. But yet the man had allowed a false religious shrine to be constructed in his backyard!

All this of course is documented in the Scripture printed at the beginning of today's lesson.

Joash stands up for Gideon, using a brilliant piece of logic in doing so. "Can't Baal defend himself? Does that god need someone to 'save' him? Leave my son Gideon alone. If Baal wishes to harm him, then so be it. If not, let God be God!"

Apparently Gideon passes his test. He is still supposed to lead the Jewish army forces into combat against the dreaded Midianites.

Yet he is still worried!

His faith must be stronger.

And God in Heaven, tenderly and patiently, will allow for Gideon's weakness here ... until he can grow into more maturity.

What a magnificent God we serve!

                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Probably what was really happening here, at least on the side of Gideon's family, is something called "syncretism." Worshipping in one religious tradition, by one set of convictions, then mixing in aspects of other religious beliefs into that main belief system one has adopted. Like a Baptist wearing or praying rosary beads! May God deliver us form such careless living.

LESSON 15, GIDEON ENCOURAGED:

The Lord sure knows how to encourage a person! One of the very Names Scripture ascribes to our Triune God is "Comforter." Yes, the Holy Spirit, God the Third Person.

In the life of the Old Testament Judge we call Gideon, God's ability to encourage is seen quite clearly. Gideon was a man of weak faith, needing proof after proof or sign after sign that God was really going to give Israel's modest army victory over the teeming forces of Midian.

After a series of persuasive nudges and the very night before the war was to commence, God did the following for his man. "And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host. And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude. And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. And ...." Judges 7:9-16

Gideon was, God's idea mind you, to sneak near the encampment of the enemy. Not going alone, either. Then do some eavesdropping!

God had it so arranged that two nervous Midianite soldiers were talking ... so that they could be easily overheard. And Gideon was all "ears!"

One soldier had dreamed a little story, a parable. About a round loaf of bread that rolled into a Midianite army tent, knocking the thing over and rendering it absolutely useless.

The other soldier interpreted the dream, a big thing in those superstitious days. Why, that overcoming loaf of bread, destroying everything in its path, was nothing other than the Israelite army! And its leader Gideon!

Well, that did it!

Gideon is a changed man! "And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian."

Then Gideon, with a small band of troops selected by the Lord Himself, charged into the fray! And they won the victory.

Largely because the Lord God encouraged the heart of His Judge for that hour. And amazingly it looks like God condescended to the level of pre-monarchial Israel to deliver His message of hope!

A dream!

A cake of barley!

A flattened tent!

And the whole thing symbolizing Gideon smashing the wicked Midianites!

Gideon needed this kind of help and support to do the job God needed him to complete.

David did not need so much help. He could, according to First Samuel 30:6, "encouage himself in the Lord!"

But not Gideon!

Here's the good news. God can, and will, uplift and strengthen and encourage His people!

And He still does so today.

The Psalmist once called God "the Lifter Up of my head!" That's found in Psalm 3:3, I'm pretty sure. All this means is that God is our Great Supporter, Helper, One Who helps us rise out of the ashes or dust of despondency!

Again, He's the Encourager!

Praise His good Name!

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Someone write us today and tell us about a time God recently encouraged you! We would love to hear your story as you glorify our great Lord.

LESSON 16, GIDEON'S END:

The Old Testament Judge we call Gideon was successful, at least as far as defeating the Midianite army was concerned. His victory in fact earned him great popularity within Israel.

Here's an example, and the Text for today as well. Read with us the whole paragraph in order to better understand the Lesson.

"Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon." Judges 8:22-28

The people wanted to make Gideon a King, their King! More than a one man term too, Israel wanted to institute a Gideonite Dynasty! "Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian."

But Gideon, wisely it appears, declines their offer. "Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you." He sure uses the right words! The man knows how to "talk" the right way!

But though he has refused the monarchy, he is tempted by the lure of wealth! The conquering general or judge or leader "smells" money! "And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks." Bounty seized from the prisoners of war!

One commentary says this is the equivalent of forty-three pounds of gold. Figure this at today's prices! Gideon asks for millions of dollars!

But that's not the worst of it! Next: "Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house." The man who "knows better" created an ephod, probably a vest like garment that really represented a whole system of idolatry, and his entire family began to worship the thing! Truthfully the whole nation fell into the demonic trap.

So Gideon the hero really became Gideon the backslider! Maybe even Gideon the apostate!

Still, God's Grace is evident for His people. "Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon."

Gideon did not finish strong. He became weaker as the years progressed. Paul the Apostle, on the other hand, had the goal of finishing his course or life valiantly! Ending his earthly journey or race still being faithful to the Lord Jesus Who saved him.

Let us adopt the same mindset!

Unlike Gideon, like Paul. Better yet, like Jesus who was the Supreme Example of Faithfulness! Jesus, the Son of God.

                        --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 17, TOLA:

The next Judge after Gideon is named Tola. He is barely mentioned in one way, but has vast significance in another. Let us tell you about him. First using Scripture, of course.

"And there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir." Judges 10:1-2

The Text actually says "And after Abimelech" Tola arose. But we have not in this survey studied Gideon's son, who is technically not a Judge anyway. He was a renegade. Probably his story is given in Judges to illustrate how far downhill the leadership quality had devolved. Conditions are worsening as God's people become more and more like the heathen nations around them.

Anyway, Back to Tola. The first point of interest is the name itself, the meaning of his name. "Tola" is spelled in Hebrew, transliterated, "tola." It is pronounced "to-lah," accenting the last syllable. The name is used in Scripture six times, all as proper names. It's also the name of Issachar's firstborn son.

But more than that, "Tola" is actually and precisely identical to another Hebrew noun. That "tola" means "worm!" This man, the Judge, has a name that indicates "lowliness, humility, poverty of spirit."

Now comes a bit of typology.

We have here a man who "saved" Israel, whose name means "worm." But then again that's true of Jesus Who saved sinners! Psalm 22, word for word expressing Jesus' thoughts as he offered Himself on Calvary, uses "tola" or "worm" as a name for our Saviour. Yes, Psalm 22:6 has our Lord saying "I am a worm."

Tola the Judge is a picture of Jesus the Saviour!

This noun when used as an adjective gives us the words "crimson" and "scarlet" too. Colors Biblically associated with Jesus' Blood as he shed it on the Cross.

Our man Tola here is the son of "Puah," a name meaning "splendid" according to Strong's concordance. But then again this word is derived from a verb that means "shattered, broken in pieces, cleaved." I see Glory after Suffering here!

But Tola's Grandfather's name was "Dodo," a relative to the Hebrew word for "love!" Red-hot passionate love, "boiling" by definition, that fervent!

These are among the generations of "Issachar," one of Jacob's sons whose name means "payment, reward, remuneration." The composite is suggesting there is great wealth and blessing at the heart of this Tola story. At the foot of the Cross where God's Worm died for you and me!

And I'll declare. "Shamir," the Judge's hometown, means "thorns!" Furthermore, needing little if any explanation, "Ephraim" means "double" as in "double blessing" or "doubly fruitful!"

This Tola had a twenty-three year reign, victory over the enemies for over two decades! A man of peace. The True Tola, the Lord Jesus, has provided us victory eternally!

Our Tola, the man Judges 10 sets before us, "died" after a useful life of service. Our Lord died too, but rose again the third day! Rose for evermore, to function as our great High Priest in Heaven at the Right Hand of God!

Some will say I've read too  much into today's Text. Really there's a lot more I'd like to say.

But Jesus is here for sure.

In one of the most obscure Rulers Israel ever had.

Really we think Jesus is the Center of all Scripture!

Praise His Name.

                     --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 18, JAIR:

The portion of the Book of Judges which we are now studying lists two of the most unknown Judges. Tola we noticed yesterday. Today it's "Jair."

Here's the Scripture: "And after Tola arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord ...." Judges 10:3-6

The Judge named "Jair" was apparently a relatively successful leader of Israel. His name significantly means "enlightens!" And he was certainly a better governor that the man who followed him, that being Jephthah.

Jair's being a "Gildeadite" identifies him as a descendant of the sons of Joseph. He's of the tribe of Manasseh. "Gilead" literally means a "rocky" region. Our hero here leads Israel, protects them and guides them for twenty-two years. No American President has ever held office that long.

Not only that, Jair was a family man. Though perhaps not completely monogamous, he fathered thirty sons! No mention of the girls, if any! This was certainly a patriarchal age, maybe too much so. To own a little colt in those days, one a person could ride at will, was a sign of some degree of prosperity.

Then for each of Jair's boys to control a city, and for us to be told so, is significant. He raised his family to be responsible in the affairs of life. Even after Jair's death quality leadership for Israel, it's possibility, existed. But somehow the Nation missed this fact.

The compound term "Havothjair" just means "the cities of Jair." His dynasty had virtually provided stable government for Israel those two decades!

But then, as with every human leader, Jair died. The city in which he was buried, "Camon," means "raised!" The root verb inherent here is "qum," that is "to arise" but also "to be established." Even "to continue, to abide."

I'm wondering something. With the city of Jair's burial being specifically mentioned here, immediately following the story of Tola yesterday ... could these two Minor Judges be picturing for us the Real Deliverer of Israel?

He is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Tola, that red blood, symbolized the Cross!

And Jair, buried in a place that means "arise," symbolizing the Resurrection of our dear Lord!

If so, we've come across a precious little treasure trove here in the early verses of Judges chapter ten!

Wow!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 19, JEPHTHAH:

The Judge who becomes today's focus is Jephthah. And it looks to me like each new leader during this time in Israel's history is a little less capable that the one who preceded him. At least that's the case with the major Judges. Especially so with Jephthah.

Israel as a nation is deteriorating spiritually and politically and practically every other way too. As I told you earlier, one writer calls this spiritual decay "the Canaanization of Israel." Becoming more and more like the world!

The name Jephthah means "He opens." Or one source says "Breaker-Through." Another, "Whom God sets free."

Jephthah is the child of a harlot. And his brethren, all full-blooded Jews, drove him away as a mere half-breed! He had to leave town!

Thus the man lived in the wild. For sure arid and rocky and hard was his environment. Yet Judges 11 tells us that he was a "mighty man of valor," a great soldier, a real fighter! A war machine!

And a gang of "vain" men gathered around him as he "raided" the countryside, an ancient Robin Hood type character it seems.

Then one day an enemy came to attack the area of Israel where Jephthah's family lived, the land of Gilead. Those predators were the people of fairly nearby and very wicked Ammon.

They wanted to rule over Israel, to tax them strenuously. Maybe even confiscate their possessions.

Looks like war might be the only solution here. Defend that property! Protect those wives and children and grandchildren! Keep that farmland!

But the people of Gilead had no one to lead their army!

In fact, they had no army!

So they came to Jephthah and asked for help! Yes, they approached this now-turned-outlaw folk hero and asked him to lead an attack against the Ammonites! They man they had once run out of their country!

Then Jephthah, after some shrewd bargaining, got himself declared the head of all Gilead, really a commander-in-chief!

Notice he's really not a Judge over all Israel, just part of the people, part of the land. But we can study this later. Back to our Text.

A deal is struck and war is declared!

"Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon. Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands." Judges 11:29 and 32, this is what got Jephthah mentioned in Hebrews chapter eleven!

War over, that quickly!

And remember, Jephthah certainly knew how to fight!

But he did one thing that was exceedingly unwise. More than that it was down-right heathen!

In trying to bargain with God, he promised to sacrifice whatever first came out of his house when he returned from the war. "And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering." Judges 11:30-31

Well, Jephthah and the forces of Israel won the war! Relatively easily, with God's help, no doubt.

But when he came home, of all things, his daughter was the first thing out the door! "And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter." Judges 11:34

And now, to make a long story short, after a brief time Jephthah did sacrifice his daughter on an altar to God.

God of course is not pleased. God would not allow Abraham to sacrifice Isaac if you remember. God does not require or even desire human sacrifice. The Bible strictly forbids it.

Yes, Judges 11:39 plainly says "He carried out his vow to her."

She's now dead. At her Father's own hand. What dark days those were.

That's how ignorant Jephthah was spiritually.

He had the spirituality and mentality of a Baal worshipper. Of a follower of Chemosh, the goddess to whom the ancients gave their children in sacrifice. The mindset of a Canaanite.

Is there a moral here? A point to this sad story? What does God want us to learn from these traumatic events?

Surely.

That's the kind of leadership a Nation gets when she forsakes her God, the true and living God. When, as was the case in the days of the Judges, "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6 and 21:25

A strange mixture of proper Old Testament Practice and improper heathen behaviour blended into the same mind and heart, that of Jephthah's.

All I can think to say right now is this. God help America! God help the West! God help anyone who has turned away from Him and now lives only according to man's standards!

We Americans are likely on the same downhill slope on which Israel found herself all those long years ago. And the only answer is Revival.

Repentance and Revival!

And just like He was again and again through the Book of Judges ... God is still gracious and forgiving and willing to accept His heartbroken people's cries for mercy.

Amen.

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 20, IBZAN:

The Judges name is "Ibzan." All we know of him is found in three short verses. "And after Jephthah Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem." Judges 12:8-10

The name means "whiteness." Then again, quite typically, another teacher says it means "swift." Either way he comes and goes as Israel's ninth Judge. He lives in Bethlehem, "house of bread" in Hebrew. And that definition is not contested.

The verb "judged" translates "shaphat" as it has done many times now. It means "to govern," but also "to vindicate" or defend or fight for a people.

But watch this. Ibzan is placed in the narrative, chronologically too no doubt, just after Jephthah. That's Jephthah who had no children! Who sacrificed, who murdered, his only heir, a pure young daughter.

So the Holy Spirit reminds us that Ibzan had "thirty" sons! Often in Scripture the number "thirty" is associated with "dedication."  The man is, no matter what else, committed to raising a family! Perhaps, though it did not merge with God's Will, he was thinking of building a dynasty. God blessed the man with children!

But there's more, thirty daughters are his also. Of course one might wonder about the wife, or would it be the wives? Sixty children, five dozen offspring! When considering Psalm 127:3-5, "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." Ibzan then was unusually happy.

Then notice too that Ibzan, even with his older children, had control of them. They were not rebels! "And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons." As adults, they are still honoring and obeying their Father. Surely this says something about the man's ability as a parent, as a leader too.

And his "seven" year judgeship surely represents a complete and successful administration, being a blessing to his nation, the people of God, Israel.

But as it is with all human beings, he "died." And was buried in his hometown, another mark of integrity. He lived his whole life in virtually the same place, never blotting his or his family's name!

Little known, maybe even unknown to most, but a man of God who served faithfully in his time. In fact he could be among those the Lord had in mind when He inspired Paul to write these famous Hebrews chapter 11 words: "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, escaped the edge of the sword, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of aliens."

May we have many more like him.

                     --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 21, ELON:

In our trek through the Book of Judges we have arrived at another one of the lesser known heroes, "Elon."

And here's what Judges tells us about our subject for today. "And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun." Judges 12:11-12

His name means "oak," like the tree. Reminds me of what David wrote in Psalm number One about the godly person who meditates in the Scriptures all the time. "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Like an oak tree maybe!

We have some reason to believe that Elon was such a man. Not a single thing is recorded against his character or his judicial administration! Thank God for such a sterling testimony!

Elon is of the Tribe of Zebulun. That's one of twelve groups of Jews, each named after one of the sons of Jacob. Notice the variety of people God used in the Book of Judges. Multiple tribes are represented in that number, indicating that the Lord uses men and women to do his work from every background and every walk of life.

His calling is impartial.

And multifaceted.

Elon led and counseled his Country for a decade, ten peaceful years. Long enough to establish a record of faithfulness. In fact, he presided up until the time of his death. "Faithful unto death," what a testimony!

He was buried in a strange sounding place, to us anyway. "Aijalon" means "field of deer!" You can see the word atop Psalm 22, that great classic about Jesus' crucifixion on Calvary. Jesus is the Perfect little "deer" of God, clean and graceful and sure-footed and serpent-fighting ...  just like that little God-created animal.

Maybe Elon is resting still, his body, in that place. Symbolically looking forward to the day when the true Deer will return to earth, God's Darling Son!

The once-dead, three-day buried, literally-resurrected Saviour of all the world! Yes, Jesus died for everybody.

Elon, historically vague but spiritually bright!

                    --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 22, ABDON:

Scripturally speaking, five of the twelve Judges are barely mentioned, while others are given chapter after chapter of descriptive analysis. Samson consumes four chapters, for example.

The last of these "unknowns" is "Abdon. He was governor only eight years. But apparently he was at least somewhat successful as a leader of Israel. And that's a good thing.

Here is most all the information we possess about the man. "And after Elon ... Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites." Judges 12:13-15

The names are significant here. "Abdon" means "servile." The root Hebrew noun "abad" means "slave." Perhaps we can legitimately wonder if Abdon truly had a "servant spirit." God loves that!

And his Dad was named "Hillel," a beautiful word meaning "praising!" And "Pirathonite" is a term meaning "princely!" What a combination of words! They tell a spiritual story, record a godly life journey!

If one is humble ... having been reared in an atmosphere of praise and joy ... he or she will likely live a princely, majestic life! To the Glory of God!

The noun "nephews" really looks to me like "sons of sons" in Hebrew. Seventy descendants, just like Gideon had!

This heroic man is being portrayed here as a conqueror too. He's buried in the hill of the "Amalekites." These people, descendents of Esau, were really enemies of Israel, again and again. But at least for now they have been subdued. Abdon the fighter, he must have been! Remember though that the Amalekites rise up again later and harass Israel, in the reign of King Saul for example.

Furthermore, surprisingly too, it's likely that Abdon is named in First Samuel 12:11 along with Gideon or Jerubbaal and Jephthah and Samuel as great deliverers of God's people. But there he is called "Bedan," a name related to "Abdon" but really meaning "judging."

Abdon is like so many of God's workers in the past, present too for that matter. He works in the background. Quietly doing what he was called to do. Letting God take care of the records!

The God Who is so very faithful. The God Whom the Book of Hebrews categorizes: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." Hebrews 6:10

Willing servant today, no matter who you are or where you are, God will reward your diligence too!

                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 23, SAMSON:

Samson, the last Judge to rule Israel, was "called" of God to his specific work. The task of delivering his people from the yoke of the wicked Philistines.

This "call" of God is apparent throughout the whole Samson narrative, Judges chapters 13-16.

Here are some examples. The first of which was before Samson's birth. The angel of the Lord to the child's future Mother: "Lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." Called, like Jeremiah the Prophet, while still in the womb!

Did Samson experience that call? Did he ever had a "relationship" with the Spirit of God? Apparently, yes! "And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol." Judges 13:25, where "began" suggests a series of encounters with the Lord's Spirit.

But, and here's the point of today's whole lesson, Samson never did seem to take his "call" from God seriously.

I have learned studying this Judges material, that whole Old Testament Book, that there exists an entire field of theological study labeled "The Call Narratives of Scripture." Analyses of the numerous times God "calls" one of his children into some specific kind of service.

We have a full account of Moses' Call! And several of the Judges make the list, Gideon perhaps being foremost in  that department. But so were Elisha and Amos and Isaiah and Ezekiel specifically "called" of God. And the New Testament examples can be added to this list, the Disciples and Paul the Apostle among several others.

Paul once wrote a young Preacher named Timothy to "Make full proof of thy ministry." This quote is from Second Timothy 4:5. And to a Pastor named Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it." Colossians 4:17

Of course Samson did not have the benefit of the New Testament. Nonetheless he "knew" God and could have been a powerfully successful leader of Israel.

His exploits against the enemy, the Philistines, were numerous and quite impressive. But most of his forays were because of selfish and sinful situations into which he had implicated himself!

And Samson never even seems to have lived the strict, separated life that God demanded of him. "The no razor and no wine and no touching dead bodies" rule by which the Nazarites lived.

He handles a dead carcass in Judges chapter fourteen, apparently sinning willfully. Yet again Judges 14:19 again tells us: "And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them." God's Grace is amazing!

Still Samson always seemed to live with himself as number one on the priority list. Instead of existing to please the Lord God of Israel, he lived to please himself. In every view, every movement, of the four-chapter Samson narrative in the Book of Judges there is a woman who is close to Samson. From the beautiful woman at Timnath whom he married, a heathen by the way ... to the prostitute in Gaza with whom Samson spent some time ... to the lady named Delilah, all women he should not have been seeing!

I say it again, Samson did not properly value his "call" from God.

He became so calloused at sensing God's Presence that, when his hair was finally shaved off his head, rendering him powerless, Scripture records: "And he knew not that the Lord was departed from him." One of the saddest sentences in the Bible, Judges 16:20.

Once our giant of a man, considering his potential for serving God anyway, once he had been overcome by the Philistines and imprisoned and mocked ... he ended everything by finally calling on God, through still perhaps selfishly so. "And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life." Judges 16:28-31

He sadly died, a suicide, not being faithful to God. Not fully completing the "Call" God had so sweetly given him.

All this should make every Christian reading here today determined! Determined to do what God has given us to do, serving Him!

And Preachers, be sure to make much of your Calling from the Lord!

Let's let Paul speak once more. We can all adopt this great attitude. "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry." First Timothy 1:12

Amen.

                   --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 24, MICAH AND HIS HIRED PRIEST:

The Book of Judges ends with two extended illustrations, actual events from history, that portray life in Israel during her pre-monarchy days. Things were bad, with every man doing what was right in his own eyes. The nation had rejected God as her King, that's for sure.

Chapters 17 and 18 of Judges reveal to us the absolute disintegration of Bible-approved religious life. Compromise at its apex, worship itself being changed into a "customized" affair!

Here's the way the Holy Spirit unfolds this event. Though I am going to put it into my own words. If you want the exact Text, read it verbatim in a King James Bible. The language is beautiful.

A young Jew named Micah (meaning "Who is like God") stole a fortune from his Mother. She cursed the then unknown thief. The impending doom scares Micah and he confesses his wrongdoing.

His Mom blesses him (with no punishment or correction at all) and gives him some of the silver to make an idol! These are supposed to be God-fearing folks! This newly created idol, a false god indeed, was quite convenient for Micah ... since he already had a shrine in his back yard. A self-made little "church" building where he could worship any way he desired! Micah even appointed his son to be "priest" to the whole little man-made "religion" he had devised.

Then one day something better happened. A real Levite came by, wandering the countryside. And Micah offered him a job, a genuine "man of God," a "hired" preacher, one born into the right family, to the descendents of Levi!

Look how far from God's Will and God's Word the people have drifted! Things are growing spiritually darker by the day.

Next in the story. The tribe of Dan, who had failed to drive the wicked heathen out from the land God had given them, began looking for a weak city or defenseless plot of territory even they could commandeer.

As Israel had done earlier in her history, spies were dispatched to survey the land. These men happened by Micah's house. They asked his fake Levite priest for "counsel." He told them to "go in peace" and God would "give" them a place to live. So they did.

Sure enough, they found a secluded, defenseless city named Laish. The spies promptly reported their findings to the whole tribe, to all Dan. Thus a war is about to be fought!

Yet one more trip to Micah's house is necessary. This time to "steal" his idol and chapel and priest! All this for sale ... eventually going to the highest bidder, I guess! Talk about reaping what one sows!

Yes, the priest goes with the biggest crowd, forsaking Micah and opting for the Danites. More prestige, more money no doubt, more popularity!

Afterwards, the Danites do conquer Laish and change its name to, guess what, "Dan!" And it becomes a center for idolatrous worship, leading the Jews further away from Jehovah God.

Then the story ends.

Nowhere in Scripture that I know describes any further or any more wide-spread apostasy.

Religion, personal relationship with God, is virtually non-existent. Everyone is doing things their own way. God's Word is not the standard.

And a nation is about to crumble.

And what happened to Israel back then, could happen again today to any country who forgets and forsakes the God of her youth!

Beware America.

                         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 25, ONE MORE EVENT:

The last three chapters of the Old Testament Book of Judges form a unit of composition. A full narrative within itself. Yet it also ends the downward spiral of Israel, which had been going from bad to worse for many years.

They had rejected God as their Lord, as their King. And every person had begun to do what was "right" in his or her own eyes. That most often means what was "wrong" in the eyes of God!

The life of the Nation is now about as wicked as it can become. We saw yesterday her acceptance of idolatry. Now today she sinks as low as even Sodom and Gomorrah had been.

Here's the story, sad as it is. It's divinely recorded in Judges chapters 19-21, but today's Lesson only begins the tragedy. Yet it's self-contained and delivers quite a sermon to the people of God. The deceptiveness of sin is about to become even more evident.

All this begins with a family dispute. "And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months." Judges 19:1-2, another preacher and another concubine!

The Levite went to his wife's hometown and tried to bring her back home, maybe an honest attempt at reconciliation. But things did not turn out so well. On the way back to the Mount Ephraim area they needed to stop for the night. They thought about staying in Jebus, the ancient name for what later becomes Jerusalem. But back then that city was inhabited by wicked heathen, ungodly people who might not treat a family of Jews hospitably. They travel on a few miles to Gibeah, a city belonging to the tribe of Benjamin.

Then, after finally being invited into a home to spend the night, an example of Bible-taught love and kindness, the unthinkable happens. As they ate supper a knock came at the door. "Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly." Judges 19:22-23

These men, Jews, Benjamites, are demanding a sexual relationship with ... not the concubine ... but the Levite himself!

Look! Israel, or at least part of her, has backslidden so far from God that she now wants to commit sins once unheard of, always condemned by Scripture, and a capital crime as well.

The host offers an alternative. "Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing." Sounds just like the account in Genesis 19 of the Sodom affair!

 What next? "But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go." Brutality!

What about the girl?

"Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light. And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place." The girl is dead! Maybe raped to death! Maybe still alive at daybreak, dying on the threshold! Maybe ultimately slain by her wicked preacher husband! Judges 19:26-28

That's life in Israel, how degenerate it has become!

God's people now are no different at all from the reprobate people of Canaan. What a terrible state of affairs!

May God help us all to live clean and holy lives. Staying away from sin and its consequences.

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 26, CUT TO PIECES:

We just studied a murder. Of a young lady, either raped to death or left abandoned due to her injuries or outright killed by her husband who was a Levite. Judges chapter 19 tells the story.

Once the Levite's concubine, her body, was brought home. Then, in perfect accordance with those days of anarchy and apostasy, the Levite did something unthinkable to his lover. And something "unthinkable" in the Book of Judges would by now be truly astounding!

Here's what the narrator, the writer of judges tells us: "And when he (the woman's husband, the Levite) was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds." Judges 19:29-30

The man cut the dead body into twelve pieces!

He then posted a piece of her to each of the twelve divisions of Israel, to each of their tribes.

As we shall learn tomorrow, he did this apparently to provoke the Nation to war! To attack the city, Gibeah, that was harboring the perverted murderers of the girl. Better said, to punish the men who raped her repeatedly, all night long, her last night on earth.

In today's Lesson I simply want to emphasize, or at least notice, how low moral and cultural and social life had fallen.

Human life now means virtually nothing.

No respect at all is here shown to a dead body.

Mutilate it.

That's what always happens to our treatment of each other ... when we forget God. When other men and women become only to us "animals" who have evolved from some lower life form!

When the community of humanity no longer considers each other "created" in the Image of Almighty God!

Just results of fate, luck, a roll of the dice.

Truth be told, all the way through the dark Book of Judges women are basically mistreated. Ignored, used, belittled, killed ... made subservient to the wishes of someone in power.

And this event caps them all.

What's the answer to this dilemma?

Here's one. Wait 'til Jesus comes! He, our precious Saviour, elevates womanhood as no one before had ever done. He shares with Moms and Sisters and Grandmothers and friends time and consideration and kindness and power and best of all, eternal life!

Let's all respect one another. Especially as Christians. The New Testament gives us well over a dozen commands about how we should treat "one another." And Paul is replete with such information and encouragement too.

Let's not cut our brother or sister to pieces. "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." Paul in Galatians 5:15, reflecting the condition in some of the Churches of his day.

Let's love and honor them, fellow children of the Lord.

                    --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 27, HUMAN INVENTIONS:

Concerning that Levite, Judges chapters 19-21, when his concubine was murdered ... he cut her bones and body into twelve pieces and dispatched its members to the uttermost parts of Israel. A piece of her to each tribe.

This caused an emotionally charged gathering of all the Nation. Those cruel perpetrators, the rapists and murderers, must be brought to justice. An impromptu army was formed and after three attempts the guilty party, the Tribe of Benjamin, was decimated. Really, a whole Tribal Family in Israel was reduced to barely 600 men! Yes, men only. All the others, including women and children, having been killed by their own Jewish relatives!

This dire situation leads the elders of Israel to pose a question. The Tribe of Dan was literally on the verge of extinction, the Tribe that was later to produce Saul the first King of the Monarchy and Paul the preaching Apostle of Jesus Christ!

Six hundred men, hiding in a cave for fear ... must become fathers of children! Many children, as many as possible!

But the bulk of Israel, the "eleven" Tribes not counting Benjamin, had made a vow, a fearful promise to each other and to God. They would not under any circumstances give any of their daughters to the Benjamites! Not after the horrendous sin they had committed or allowed to be committed.

Now we have the only surviving men of a whole Division of Israel, Jacob's delightful son Benjamin, and no possibility of their marrying Jewish girls!

This is practically genocide!

So the elders, the leaders, came up with a solution, quite a humanistic one too. God is silent through all of this, strangely silent!

One city, Jabesh Gildead, did not help in the war. So the Israelites mobilized their fighting forces and killed every person in that city! Except their marriage-age virgins! That way, foolish as it was, they gleaned 400 potential wives for the Benjamites! Talk about doing things "right" in one's own eyes, and "wrong" in the eyes of God!

Four hundred women, but still two hundred to go!

Where can they be found, that many more Jewish virgins?

This Nation "on its own" devises another brilliant idea! There's a "feast," the word being used possibly indicating a party rather than a worship observance dedicated to God, happening up at Shiloh, the Jewish City where the Tabernacle then rested, the Ark of the Covenant anyway.

The Israelite leaders, their "supreme court" at the time, advised the remaining two hundred sons of Benjamin to go "kidnap" they a wife from the host of dancing girls who would be enjoying the frivolity at the "feast!"

The Benjamite boys grown into men were glad to oblige! Thus each man could marry and have a family!

Thus ends the Book of Judges! With heathen intellectualism reigning supremely! Man is on the throne, each man a law unto himself!

And God is ignored.

Yet national life continues.

And everyone lives a Canaanized lifestyle.

No wonder God is about to raise up Samuel. Revival was the great need of that age.

And folks, America is living right now in the spirit of the Book of Judges.

Especially in chapters 19-21 I think. And the last verse Judges? Appropriately, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

God help us.

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell