Bible Survey #20 - Judges Part 1

Downward

The Lord led His people forward during the generation of the conquest of The Promised Land. But Israel forgot God over and over again, and worshiped the deities of the Canaanites. They also imitated the practices of the people in the land, and soon found themselves in troubles that were larger than they could handle.

Then they cried out to the Lord, and God provided a judge for that generation who served as a savior of the people. But when each judge died, the people soon returned to their sin, descending downward in their disobedience, and becoming worse than their fathers. They brought against themselves the anger and discipline of the Lord, until they cried out to Him once again.

This downward spiral continued over many years between the days of Joshua and the coming of Samuel, the final judge who anointed first Saul and then David as kings. The gift of judges during those years was evidence of the faithful mercy of the Almighty toward the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The Lord gave leaders like Ehud, Deborah, and Gideon. During the first half of Judges, the enemies were outside oppressors. But as time moved on, it was increasingly obvious that the bigger enemy was within.

Send us a savior. Conquer all our foes.

Return to us, and lead us back to life.

When we turn far from you, we live as slaves.

O God of all the judges, hear our cry!