A Survey of Judges

The book of JUDGES is the saddest book in the Bible because it describes the horrifying consequences of sin in those who profess to be God's people. The book covers almost 400 years of Israel's history in the Promised Land—from the death of Joshua to just before Samuel (1400 B.C. – 1050 B.C.). This period might be called the ‘Dark Ages' of Israel… The JUDGES were people that God raised up as leaders—to deliver His people from those who were oppressing them… No one really knows who wrote this book—though many believe it was Samuel (last judge)… While the book of Joshua is a book of victory—the book of Judges is about failure…

Theme: the tragic consequences of SIN…

Key Verses: Judges 17:6… 21:25 – “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Outline:

Chapters 1-3:6 … Israel's Failure – God's covenant people were unfaithful and disobedient…

Chapters 3:7-16:31 … Israel's Apostasy

Chapters 17:1-21:25 … Israel's Anarchy – “There was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”