November Dates to Note: MEETING WILL BE HELD: November 2014 Judges Discussion Guide Date: Time: Place: Person to Contact with Questions: PASTOR S INTRODUCTION TO Judges: 1. Read Judges. Monday, November 3, 7:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall, West Campus BEFORE YOUR SMALL GROUP MEETING a. We suggest you read through Judges: Theme and Purpose on page 4 and Who or What Is...? on page 5 before you begin your reading. b. Use the To Guide Your Reading section on pages 6-8 to help you think through what you read, paying particular attention to the questions in boldface. 2. If possible, attend, listen to, or watch the DVD of the Pastor s Introduction to Judges. 3. Read and recite this month s memory verse often! It is: And the Israelites said to the LORD, We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you; but deliver us this day! Judges 10:15 Our goal and prayer is that you will walk away from each study having had at least one important insight that informs your faith and your knowledge of God s Word. In other words, we hope you will discover a message just for you! 1
Welcome AT YOUR SMALL GROUP MEETING Welcome to the November meeting of your Living the Message Bible discovery group. In order to keep to your agreed-upon time frame, place a clock where it is clearly visible or ask someone to be timekeeper and let the group know when 15 minutes remain for discussion and closing. Opening Prayer Pause to quiet your hearts and minds with a few moments of silent prayer. Then have someone open with his or her own prayer or pray the following together: Dear Heavenly Father, There are challenges in this book that we are studying today. Help us to avoid being bogged down in what we do not like or understand so that we may more fully hear what you would have us learn from it. Guide us to see not the violence so much as your faithful love and promises love and promises that do not fail no matter how often we fail you. In Christ s name we pray, Amen. This Month s Memory Verse Recite this month s memory verse (including the book, chapter, and verse) together as a group. And the Israelites said to the LORD, We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you; but deliver us this day! Judges 10:15 Getting Under Way This month we will be studying a series of heroes whom God sent to fight for his people. In a spirit of thanksgiving, share someone who has been a hero in your life (a character in the Bible, history, or someone who came to your rescue). Setting the Scene Before beginning discussion, invite your small group facilitator and anyone else who attended, listened to, or saw the DVD of the Pastor s introduction to Judges to share what they learned. Discuss Together Go to To Guide Your Reading on pages 6 8. Discuss together the questions in boldface and/or others of the questions that particularly struck members of your group. Remember, a good discussion on fewer questions is better than rushing through all the questions. If you wish, ask if any of the questions (boldface or not) were of particular interest to someone and begin there. Following your discussion, go to For Next Month on the next page for reminders about your next meeting and closing prayer. 2
FOR NEXT MONTH Our next meeting will be in December: Date: Time: Place: Person to Contact with Questions: December s Reading Assignment: Luke 1: 46-56 Mary s Magnificat December s Memory Verse: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Luke 1:46b-47 Save the date! Next Pastor s Introductions: Monday, December 1, 7:00 p.m., Room 482-486, Mpls. Campus CLOSING PRAYER Gather requests for prayers, encouraging both things for which God s help and guidance is needed and things for which people are grateful. If someone is comfortable doing so, ask that person to pray aloud a prayer bringing these concerns to God, or take time for silent prayer during which these concerns can be brought to God. End with a prayer of your own, by reciting the LORD s Prayer, or by praying the following together: Dear Lord, So much of the pain and strife in life is because we do not keep you king in our lives. Or, we fail to keep promises, allow pride to get in the way of reconciliation, and trade momentary pleasure for the satisfaction and joy of living in Christ-like ways. As we leave this this place, we ask that you will stay close to us, guiding us to your purposes, and giving us strength and peace to face whatever challenges, fears, or sadness is in our lives. Thank you for the gift of studying your Word and our time together and for all your many gifts, great and small. In your name we pray, Amen. Ponder FOLLOWING YOUR SMALL GROUP MEETING Do your troubles in life come more from your circumstances or are they mostly of your own doing? As God sent Judges to help the Israelites (whose troubles were nearly always of their own doing) what help do you need from God? 3
Judges Theme & Purpose Dr. Mark Throntveit, Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Luther Seminary, shares that Judges contains some of the oldest material in the Bible, including the Song of Deborah (Judges 5), which may date as far back as 1125 B.C.E. However, as Throntveit notes, the refrains of the narrator in Judges, In those days there was no king in Israel (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25), and mention of the captivity of Israel (18:30) and the destruction of Shiloh (18:31) indicate a much later time. Thus, Judges contains very old traditional material as well as later theological reflection and came together over a period of several centuries with a final editing in the seventh or sixth century B.C.E (www.enterthebible.org). Judges covers the history of God s people between the death of Joshua and the time of Samuel. Unlike under Moses and Joshua, there is no single leader uniting the tribes there was no king in Israel. Without such a leader to unite, lead, and hold them accountable all the people did what was right in their own eyes (21:25). This is an enormous departure from their vows at the end of the book of Joshua, in which they promise to serve God and obey God s laws. While they evidently kept this vow during Joshua s life (Judges 2:6-10), following his death, they fall into a destructive cycle of behavior: The people disobey God s commands and worship other gods; God allows them to suffer the consequence of their disobedience, including oppression; the people cry to God for help and deliverance; God chooses a judge to lead them in battle against their oppressors; the judge dies and the cycle repeats. Who are these judges? Dr. Throntveit explains that the Hebrew word shophet refers to someone who vindicates or sets things right and is used for military and political leaders as well as those who administer justice. Only Deborah, Throntveit notes, is portrayed as administering justice. In Judges, military and political leadership are far more important. Surprisingly, none of the twelve leaders of Israel whose stories fill these pages are actually called judge after the introduction (2:16-19), though nine are said to have judged Israel, and the Lord is called judge in 11:27. Judges, then, is a collection of stories about these leaders whom God lifts up to answer the peoples cries for help. To the degree that they succeed in that mission, they are heroes. Many also, however, are so extremely flawed that there s little to like. As for the people, it can be hard to feel any sympathy when again and again they fall back into old patterns, refuse to learn from their mistakes, and cause misery not only for themselves, but future generations. And yet, God uses these flawed leaders for his holy purposes and remains loyal to the covenantal promises made to the people so long ago. Who but God, we might ask, could be so merciful, forgiving, loving, and faithful to such a people? The editors who compiled the book use these stories to help us understand what led to Israel s destruction and exile. At the same time, the stories also promote the concept of monarchy (18:1), and indeed in time, the people themselves will demand a king to lead them, which God will provide in the person of Saul (1 Samuel 8 and 9). For the modern reader, difficult issues arise regarding how God works in the world and what it means to live faithfully: Does God take land from and/or destroy one people to benefit another? Is political or military victory a sign of God s favor? What is the connection between faithful living and prosperity? In order to be faithful to God, must we avoid contact with those of other religions? Where in Judges do we see God as revealed in Christ? The book of Judges also calls us to ask a number of questions of ourselves, such as: How do I measure up in terms of faithful living? Who or what is king in my life? What cycles of dysfunction are in my own life or faith? How do I show love, mercy, and forgiveness to those who disappoint me? How am I opening myself to know how God might use me? Content on this page draws heavily from www.enterthebible.org s summary and overview of Judges, written by Mark Throntveit, Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, and is used with permission. 4
Who or What Is...? Baal. While El was head and father of the other Canaanite gods, Baal (Hadad) was perhaps the most important, because he controlled rains and the fertility of the lands and livestock. Gods similar to Baal and/or regional names for Baal included Melkart, Chemosh, Milcom (Moloch, Molek). The Canaanite goddess of fertility was Asherah. Because fertility of crops, livestock and humans was so important to survival, it was very tempting for God s people to add them to their prayer and worship arsenal. Deuteronomistic History. This term was first used in the 1940s by theologian Martin Noth, who saw that the Old Testament books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings contained common theological and literary elements. Together, these books make up one long history of Israel, often referred to as the Deuteronomistic History. With Deuteronomy serving as a preamble thus the term Deuteronomistic and 2 Kings as a conclusion, the books provide a history of Israel from the exodus from Egypt to the Babylonian exile. In this history, we see the peoples repeated pattern of apostasy leading to the punishment of oppression, followed by a cry to God for help and God s eventual deliverance. In stressing this pattern, the writers of this long history of Israel (the Deuteronomistic Historians) explain how and why the eventual destruction of Israel came about. Judge. The Hebrew word here, shophet, refers to one who vindicates or sets things right and is used of military and political deliverers as well as magistrates. In Judges, only Deborah is seen as administering justice; the rest provide military and/or political leadership, which is seen as more important in the book. While nine of the twelve leaders are said to have judged Israel, none of them actually are called judge after the introduction (2:16-19). Commonly, these judges are distinguished as either minor or major. Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, the five minor judges, appear as leaders in lists (10:1-5; 12:8-15) that contain information about their birth and burial, families, and tenure, but little else. Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson, the five major judges, are military leaders related to particular tribes who seek to resolve situations of conflict. Some consider Shamgar a minor judge, thereby balancing the categories at six apiece. Nazarite. Nazarites, like Samson, were set apart for God s purposes and had to follow special rules. Among other things, they were not to cut their hair, drink wine, or have contact with dead bodies. To see a more complete description of how they were to live, see Numbers 6:1-21. Spirit of the LORD. This refers to the power of God at work in the world. Twelve Tribes. The twelve tribes of Israel are descended from the sons of Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel. The standard listings (Genesis 35:23-26; Deuteronomy 27:12-13; 1 Chronicles 2:1-2, Ezekiel 48:1-7) correspond closely to Jacob s twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. In other accounts, such as in Joshua, Levi is not listed because as priests of all the people, Levi s descendants are given 48 cities spread throughout Israel rather than a single parcel. To make twelve, Joseph is in effect given a double portion in that his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, who had been adopted by Jacob, each receive allotments. Vow. Hebrew thought held that a vow made to God could not be taken back once spoken. In the story of Jephthah, it is the daughter who is to be sacrificed who insists he keep his vow. Content on this page draws from www.enterthebible.org s summary and overview of Judges, written by Mark Throntveit, Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, and is used with permission. 5
To Guide Your Reading Use the following questions to guide your reading and personal reflection, jotting down your thoughts in the space between each question. For those who wish, we have suggested a threeweek schedule to help you in your reading and reflection. Questions in boldface are the ones we suggest you consider at your small group meeting. Groups are free, however, to focus on whatever questions are of most interest and concern to the group. Let the Spirit lead! WEEK 1 JUDGES 1:1 3:6 Judges begins with a double introduction lifting up the political problem of an incomplete conquest of the land of Canaan (1:1-36) and the religious problem of the people's recurrent apostasy (2:1 3:6). While there have been victories (1:1-26), God s people have not taken total control of the land and instead have begun a pattern of unfaithfulness that makes God very angry (2:20). 1. What happened following the death of Joshua (2:6-10)? The writers of Judges seem to argue that the lack of a strong leader was the most important reason for the people turning from God. To what degree is such leadership important? To what degree might it be seen as looking to human strength and guidance instead of God s strength and guidance? How can we assure God remains ultimate leader or king in our lives and faith? 2. What does God do to guide the people back to their covenantal promises? 3. The people have been commanded to remain separate from other groups in Canaan. Why? For most of us in the Western World, it is almost impossible to remain separate from other cultures and religions. If as Christians we could remain separate, what is to be gained from that? What dangers might there be? 6
WEEK 2 JUDGES 3:7 16:31 This long section relates the leadership and exploits of the various judges, or leaders, whom God lifted up to deliver the people. 1. The story of Deborah is told twice: once in narrative form (4:1-24) and again in poetry, The Song of Deborah (5:1-31). If you read the story in the newspaper today, would you consider Deborah a hero or over-zealous aggressor? Would you find yourself agreeing that Jael is among the most blessed of women (5:24) or offended by her violent act? 2. In the story of Gideon (chapters 6 8), what is Gideon s first reaction to being chosen by God (6:14-17)? In the end, what do you admire about Gideon and his leadership? What disappoints you? 3. The story of Jephthah (chapters 11-12) reveals what today we might term a highly dysfunctional family. How do you think this affects Jephthah s actions, including the vow he makes to God (12:29-31)? Some commentators argue that in the original language, whoever in Jephthah s vow is not human-specific and Jephthah easily might have expected that what/who he first would encounter upon coming home would be an animal from the courtyard, not a person. Others argue that since the Spirit of the LORD was already upon him, Jephthah s vow, something which once spoken could not be taken back, showed a lack of faith, and thus the tragic result. What do you think we are to surmise and learn from the story about vows/promises we make to God? 4. In the story of Samson the Nazarite (chapters 13-16), Samson ends up taking God s gifts for granted. What are some ways in which we might do that as individuals? As a congregation? 5. Of the various leaders in these stories, which ones stick out most vividly in your mind and why? What can we learn from these stories about who God uses? About the traits that are most important in godly leadership? 7
WEEK 3 JUDGES 17:1 21:25 Judges closes with two appalling stories of the moral and spiritual collapse that ensued in this time when there was no king in Israel and all the people did what was right in their own eyes (17:6; 21:25), including the near elimination of the tribe of Benjamin. It may be helpful as you read to consider that ancient times were in fact barbarous times. War was horrifically violent, and many things that were acceptable then would be considered criminal now. Also, while there is no denying the horrific violence of these times and in these stories, hyperbole also was common particularly in warfare rhetoric. 1. For a very long time, there had been little or no teaching of proper worship and God s law in Israel, and so perhaps Micah s mother (Judges 17) actually meant the idol she had made from the silver she consecrated to the LORD to be an act of worship. At a child s Baptism, parents, godparents, and the congregation all make promises to bring the child up in a community of faith, help the child grow in the knowledge of the faith, and nurture the child to understand and live in the covenant of Baptism. What does Judges tell us about the importance of keeping these promises? What are some ways in which each of the parties can work to fulfill their promises and hold each other accountable? 2. In The Message of Judges, author Michael Wilcock writes, There is in truth no such thing as harmonious co-existence between church and world, for where there is no conflict it is because the world has taken over. How far can we go in fighting for the one true God and one true faith before moving dangerously close to jihad? How tolerant can we be before we are dangerously close to denying Christ? 3. Reread our memory verse (Judges 10:15). God s people let God down again and again, yet God never gives up on them. While it is easy to become frustrated with a people who seemingly never learn from their mistakes, what similarities, if any, do you see between the situation of God s people then and the moral and spiritual conditions of today? 4. Several times in Judges, we are told that all this took place at a time when there was no king in Israel (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). In 17:6 and 21:25 the book s concluding verse the refrain adds all the people did what was right in their own eyes. The degradation of the nation without a strong and faithful leader sets the stage for the books of Samuel and God granting a king to Israel. How much difference can a faithful leader make if the people he or she rules/leads do not first have God as king in their lives? To end your discussion time, go to For Next Month on page 3. 8