Israels Judges

Judges 2: 1 23
Introduction
Last week we examined life after Joshua. God told His people that He would be with them
as He was before. Even then they struggled. Their attempts to capture land and drive out its
inhabitants were mostly unsuccessful. And due to the remaining influence of evil in their
midst the people begin to commit sin and turn from God.
This brings us to our lesson today where we will see how God responds to the rebellion of His
people.
***First, we hear of
I. The Angel of the LORD vv. 1 - 5
The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and
led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant
with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down
their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will
not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."
When the angel of the LORD had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud, and
they called that place Bokim. There they offered sacrifices to the LORD.
Understanding the Word:
1. The Angel of the LORD is an Old Testament appearance of (Jesusa Theophany).
2. We hear, went up from Gilgal to Bokim. This tells us that He is (active on earth).
3. Once there the Angel reminded the people (what God had done for them).
4. What did He accuse them of doing? (Rebellion...Disobeying God).
5. Then He asked, (Why have you done this?) (Why do people sin against God and turn from
Him?) Genesis 3:9, Adam where are you? A penetrating question.
6. What was Gods judgment on the people? (He allowed the pagan people to remain in the
land.)
7. How did the people respond to Gods judgment? (They were broken and wept.)
8. Bokim name means (weepers). The people were crying!
9. Afterward what did the people do? (Worshipped God with sacrifices.)
10. Their repentance appears to have been genuine!

***Second, we hear that

II. Joshua Is Remembered vv. 6 9
After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to his own
inheritance. The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who
outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel. Joshua son of Nun,
the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. And they buried him in the land of his
inheritance, at Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
Understanding the Word:
1. Scripture tells that the people worshipped God (all the days of Joshua).
2. The people continued to serve God as long as a godly influence existed.
3. How old was Joshua when he died? (110 yrs. Old)
4. Where was he buried? (Timnath Heres, Hill Country of Ephraim)
***Third, we hear
III. The People Did Evil vv. 10 13
After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who
knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the
LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them
out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked
the LORD to anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
Understanding the Word:
1. After the previous generation passed a new generation rose up and (didnt know God).
2. Who is to blame for the failure of this generation to know the LORD? (The previous
generation).
3. Who is to blame if the generation after ours does not know God? (We are!)
4. What was the sin of the new generation? (They turned from God to Baal/Satan)
5. Because they began serving Baal the people took the next step and (Forsook God).
6. You cannot serve two masters; you will hold to one and forsake the other! Matthew 6:24
7. The degree of their sin is seen by them (following after and worshipping other gods).
8. What was Gods response? (He was angry)
9. How does God respond to our evil? (With hurt and anger)
***Fourth, we hear of

IV. Gods Punishment vv. 14 15

In his anger against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold
them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. Whenever Israel went out
to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They
were in great distress.
Understanding the Word:
1. What did God first do to the sinful people? (Lifted His protection)
2. Verse 14 says, He sold them to people all around. This means they were taken as (slaves).
3. We also hear that they were (unable to resist).
4. In a complete reversal when Israel went out to fight (God fought against them).
5. How awful to think that God is fighting against you!
6. Knowing that what should the Israelites have done? (Repented and returned to God)
7. How should we react if this ever happens to us? (Repent and return to God).
***Fifth, we hear that
V. God Raises Up Deliverers vv. 16 19
Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. Yet they would
not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. Unlike their
fathers, they quickly turned from the way in which their fathers had walked, the way of obedience to
the LORD's commands. Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and
saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had
compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the
judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other
gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn
ways.
Understanding the Word:
1. In time God (raised up judges /deliverers).
2. How did the people respond to the Judges raised up by God? (They would not listen to
them)
3. What did they continue to do? (Worship other gods).
4. Why? What would cause a person to continue in their sin even after judgment has come
upon them? (Satans grip & pleasure of sin)

5. When God raised up a judge he served God as a Judge/Deliverer of the people as long as
they lived.
6. What did the people do when the judge died? (Reverted to sin)
7. Scripture says, They were (even more corrupt).
8. The last sentence says, (They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways).
***Sixth, we hear that
VI. Temptation Remained vv. 20 23
Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and said, "Because this nation has violated the
covenant that I laid down for their forefathers and has not listened to me, I will no longer drive out
before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I will use them to test Israel and see
whether they will keep the way of the LORD and walk in it as their forefathers did." The LORD had
allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of
Joshua.
Understanding the Word:
1. How did God respond to the peoples continued rebellion? (Anger & Judgment)
2. God then said He would not (remove the evil influence).
3. God said He was leaving the pagan nations in the land to (test the people by tempting
them).
Closing Thoughts:
1. Without godly influence Israel reverted back to sin and turned away from God. Without
godly influence in our lives we run the risk of doing the same. That is why it is vital for us to
maintain a close relationship with God, His Word, and His people.
2. When the people turned away from God and to sin He responded by punishing them. God
acts the same way today and punishes us for our sin if we continue in it and do not repent.
3. Just as Israel repented and God restored them He will also restore any Child who sins and
seeks forgiveness.
Prayer