Bible Survey #21 - Judges Part 2

No King

After the death of Gideon the deepest problems in Israel come increasingly from within. The people honor Gideon's request, but that leads to the creation of an idolatrous object. Later Gideon's son, Abimilech, tries to set himself up as a Savior, but he is willing to kill his own people to usurp a position of power that is not rightly his.

The stories of Jephthah and Samson provide us with accounts that seem deliberately ambiguous. Yet beyond the moral fog, the Judge emerges as one who bears the cost of salvation for us. Jephthah's victory costs him his daughter. Even more, Samson wins his greatest battle in a way that costs him his own life.

The epilogue of this book leaves us off at a very different place then where we started. Good moral order has disintegrated. Acts that are seen as pious on one level are also transparently idolatrous or wicked. Unrighteous men rail at the decline of those around them, but seem to think that they are not part of the problem.

Israel has no human king. Everyone does what is right in his own eyes. We end Judges with the bizarre depravity of Gibeon, the place of Saul's people. We then begin the next book in Bethlehem, where we are introduced to the heritage of our true King and Savior.

No Gideon or Samson can defeat

The evil enemy within our hearts.

The Savior of mankind is God's own Son.

Come soon, O great Redeemer from above!