JUDGING JUDGES

Today, I began reading through the book of Judges, along with everyone in our church that is reading through the Bible in a year. We are just reading it straight through. That brings us to Judges! There are many interesting stories in Judges, and some that may make the first time reader wonder out loud: "What did that just say? Did they really do that? Why?" If these scenes were realistically played out in a movie, it would definitely receive an "R" rating for sexual content and violence and mature subject matter. Reading it makes it seem more tame; and yet it is still quite an "eye full"!

So, what are a couple of things to keep in mind as we read through Judges; and if you are reading with your children, what might be helpful? One thing that you will be able to recognize in the book of Judges is a cycle that occurs over and over in the book. The cycle refers to how the nation of Israel responds to God, and how He responds to them.

The cycle looks something like this: Sin, judgment, confession, deliverance through a judge, time of peace, sin again. Israel will turn away from God, and as promised God will send them into bondage. Later, the people will cry out to God in repentance, and God will raise up a deliverer, a judge, to deliver his people. They are delivered and have a time of peace. But eventually, and predictably, they turn, once again, to their sin; and the cycle begins again. It can be very frustrating, until we are honest and remember that we pretty much do the same thing!

If you are reading it with your children, that is awesome! Yes, there are some tough things in Scripture, but there is no one better to lead your children through the Scriptures than you. It also forces you, as you already know, to think, to study, and to navigate through some tricky conversations (the younger your children, the more tricky those conversations are)!

You can show them this cycle, mentioned above; and also point out, that even though these judges were used by God, it doesn't mean they always did the right thing in the way they went about it. The judges were sinful as well. Take the opportunity to help them point out sin, and the trouble it causes. Also, take them to the end of the book, which explains not only what was happening in the book, but what will happen later:

Judges 21:25 - "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit."

The fact that everyone did what was right in their own eyes explains why we read what we read in Judges. Additionally, we see that when a king does come in Israel's future, that king is to lead people to honor and worship God.

Happy reading (and talking and questions and explaining)!