Sunday School Lesson

1. Judges 1 – 3
Introduction to the Book of Judges
“Rebellion’s Cycle”
January 22, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
https://www.allenschool.edu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/number-1.jpg

3. The Glory of God!
http://christianitymalaysia.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/glory-to-god.jpg

4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do it all to the glory of God.

5. January Memory Verse
1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes
all things, endures all things.

6. References
• MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible
(Nashville, TN: Nelson Publishing, 1997).
• The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008).
• Missler, Dr. Chuck. The Book of Judges, Session 1;
YouTube Video.

7. Introduction to Judges
• Judges is the story of Israel after Joshua lead them
into Promised Land.
• Israel is a theocracy with God protecting them directly
and they are to follow His commandments.
• The Book of Judges covers Israelite history from 1400
BC to 1100 BC.
• Probably written by Samuel (Last Judge).

8. Biblical Definition of a “judge”
• Definition = a collective term applied to a diverse
group of “Leaders” appointed by God.
• Their mission was rescuing God’s people from the
neighboring enemy (civil and military).
• They were not always spiritual leaders, but followed
God’s calling for the mission.
• There are 12 judges mentioned in Judges.

9. Summary of Judges 1:1-36
• After Joshua’s death, God appoints Judah and
Simeonites to drive out the Canaanites.
• God gave them successful battles, but they were
unable to conquer the plains because of enemies’
chariots.
• Israelites did not fully drive out the Canaanites from
the Promised Land.
• Israel compromised with enemies and allowed them
to remain in land.

10. Summary of Judges 2:1-5
• The angel of the Lord comes to the people and tells
them they have disobeyed God by not driving out the
occupants of the Promised Land.
• The angel reports that God will not break His covenant
even though they have broken theirs.
• The people weep loudly and name the location Bokin,
meaning “weepers.”

11. Introduction to Judges 2:6-23
• The writer (Samuel) provides a narrative summary of
the Book of Judges.
• The writer presents a “cycle of sin” of the Israelites
over these 300-400 years.

12. Judges 2:6-8 ESV
6 When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of
Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of
the land. 7 And the people served the Lord all the days
of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived
Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord
had done for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the
servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years.

13. Judges 2:9-10 ESV
9 And they buried him within the boundaries of his
inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of
Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. 10 And all
that generation also were gathered to their fathers.
And there arose another generation after them who
did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for
Israel.

14. Duties of Israelites as God’s Chosen People in
Deuteronomy 6
1. Love and Obey God – Deut. 6:1-5
2. Teach God’s Law to Your Children – Deut. 6:6-9
3. Be Thankful – Deut. 6:10-15
4. Separate Yourselves from Pagan Worship – Deut.
6:16-20

15. Judges 2:11-13 ESV
11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight
of the Lord and served the Baals. 12 And they
abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had
brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after
other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who
were around them, and bowed down to them. And
they provoked the Lord to anger. 13 They abandoned
the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.

16. Baal

17. Baal Worship
• The god worshipped by the Canaanites.
• Believed to give “fertility” to the womb and life-giving
rain to the soil.
• Pictured as standing on a bull (fertility & strength).
• Storm cloud was his chariot; thunder his voice;
lightning his spear and arrows.
• Worship involved sacred prostitution and child
sacrifice.

18. New Testament Explanation of Idolatry
Romans 1:25 NIV
25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and
worshiped and served created things rather than the
Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

19. Baal Child Sacrifice

20. Baal Worship Today?

21. Ashtoreth Worship
• Female consort of Baal.
• Associated with the evening star and goddess of
fertility and war.
• Worship involved male and female prostitution.
• Sexual expression in every form as a means of
worshipping.

23. Judges 2:14-15 ESV
14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel,
and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered
them. And he sold them into the hand of their
surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer
withstand their enemies. 15 Whenever they marched
out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as
the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to
them. And they were in terrible distress.

24. Judges 2: 16-17 ESV
16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out
of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they
did not listen to their judges, for they whored after
other gods and bowed down to them. They soon
turned aside from the way in which their fathers had
walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the
Lord, and they did not do so.

25. Judges 2:18 ESV
18 Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the
Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the
hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the
Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of
those who afflicted and oppressed them.

26. Judges 2:19 ESV
19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and
were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other
gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did
not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.

27. Judges 2:20-22 ESV
20 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel,
and he said, "Because this people have transgressed my
covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not
obeyed my voice, 21 I will no longer drive out before
them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died,
22 in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take
care to walk in the way of the Lord as their fathers did,
or not."

28. Judges 2:23 ESV
23 So the Lord left those nations, not driving them out
quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of
Joshua.

30. The Worst of Times for Israel
• Instead of spiritual fervor, there was spiritual apathy.
• Instead of obeying the Lord, there was apostasy.
• Instead of law and order, there was anarchy.

31. Key Summary Verse in Judges
Judges 21:25 ESV
25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone
did what was right in his own eyes.
• Modern day definition for “relativism” – There is no
absolute truth.
• Relativism = You define truth for yourself.

33. “Cycle of Democracy”
Alexander Tyler 1747-1813
Two centuries ago, a somewhat obscure Scotsman named
Tytler made this profound observation: "A democracy cannot
exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist
until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the
public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the
candidate promising the most benefits with the result the
democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy
ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a
monarchy”.

34. What are the lessons for us in Judges?
Judges 2:10 ESV
10 And all that generation also were gathered to their
fathers. And there arose another generation after them
who did not know the Lord or the work that he had
done for Israel.
• Do not neglect to teach the next generation.

35. Another Lesson From Judges
Judges 2:1b; 18b ESV
1b I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you,
18b For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning
because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.
• God hears the prayers of His people when they cry
out to Him, even after repeated failures.

36. A Personal Application on Failures in Life
• Reference: SLAYING THE GIANTS IN YOUR LIFE by Dr.
David Jeremiah (2001).
• Chapter 11 – Facing Your Failure.

37. Facing The Giant of Failure
• Facing the Reality of Failure
• Failure is guaranteed: mark it down; expect it early and expect
it often.
• 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ESV
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed,
but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body
the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be
manifested in our bodies.
• James 3:2a NIV
2a We all stumble in many ways.

38. When you experience failure…
• When you experience failure, remember God
understands and His compassion has no limits.
• Psalms 103:13-14
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who
fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

39. Facing the Reasons for Our Failures
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us
an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as
we look not to the things that are seen but to the
things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are
transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Let’s look at the paradoxes in these verses…

40. Paradox – contradiction in terms
2 Cor. 4:17-18
• Light momentary affliction that is seen is temporary.
• Weight of glory unseen at this time is eternal.

41. Facing the Reasons for Our Failures
1. We fail now to succeed later.
•Present affliction means future glory.
•Jesus said that our present suffering will bring
future glory.
•Success depends on the definition.
•What appears as failure may actually be success.
•Failure is not final!!

42. Facing the Reasons for Our Failures
2. We fail in the incidental to succeed in the
important.
•We must view things from a spiritual perspective.
•The earthly things will not matter in the end.
•Your failure may bring more glory to God than
your success.

43. Facing the Reason for Our Failure
3. We fail in the temporary to succeed in the
important.
•Hebrews 12:2 ESV
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

44. Facing the Reasons for Our Failures
4. We fail outwardly to succeed inwardly.
•The world may see failure, but God sees success
•The world looks at the outside – appearances
•1 Samuel 16:7b ESV
7b For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on
the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on
the heart."

45. How to Face Failure
1. Acknowledge your failure.
•Not every failure is sinful – living in a broken
world.
•Can be the result of the sins of others.
•However, if it is the result of your own sin…
•1 John1:9 ESV
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.

46. How to Face Failure
2. Accept God’s Forgiveness.
• God does not deal with us based on our failures, but in
the light of His grace.
• 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some
count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing
that any should perish, but that all should reach
repentance.
• Satan will remind you of failures-God sees the Jesus in
you.

47. How to Face Failure
3. Apply the Lessons of Failure Toward Success.
•In Judges, the Israelites did not appear to learn
from their repeated mistakes
•Proverbs 26:11-12
11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit
is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own
eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

48. How to Face Failure
4. Accept Failure As a Fact of Life, Not a Way of Life.
• Failure is an event, not a person.
• Failure is something you do, not something you
become
• John 18:26-27 ESV
26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of
the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not
see you in the garden with him?" 27 Peter again denied
it, and at once a rooster crowed.

49. How to Face Failure
5. Arise from Failure and Start Again.
•When you stumble, get up and go again
•Jonah failed initially
•Jonah 3:1-3a ESV
1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the
second time, saying, 2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that
great city, and call out against it the message that I
tell you." 3a So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh,
according to the word of the Lord.

50. How to Face Failure
6. Avoid Judging Failure in Others.
• Only God knows the circumstances.
• Luke 18:13-14
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even
lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,
'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man
went down to his house justified, rather than the
other. For everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be
exalted."

51. Closing Thoughts
1. You become like what you are worshipping.
2. A moral failure is not usually a “blow-out”, but a
slow leak.
3. Everything you need to know about living life and
serving God is found in God’s word.
4. Apply scriptures to your life daily.
5. Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray……………………………………..Pray!

52. Overcoming Failure Scriptures
Psalms 37:24 ESV
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
Psalms 103:10 ESV
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Psalms 103:13-14 ESV
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

53. Overcoming Failure Scriptures
Habakkuk 3:19 ESV
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.
Philippians 1:6 ESV
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring
it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 4:16 ESV
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that
we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

54. http://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=JN.YeZK4m9R0ZovA7PRca4vag&pid=15.1
Sunday

55. Judges 4
Willing Servants
“The Prophetess Deborah”
Dr. Bill Boteler
January 29, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

56. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”

57. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life
to pay the penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death
explained in Revelation 21:8.

58. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for
murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars,
their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur,
which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.

59. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his
God and he will be my son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquers.

60. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is
justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”

61. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
If you have questions or would like to know more, Please,
contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/