Human depravity leads to a man-made religion
Where does human depravity lead? This is the question to which the writer has been driving. Through the different times of the Judges, he was dealing with this question.
Samson – A Strong Deliverer
Introduction We come to the last of the Judges mentioned in the book of Judges. Samson is probably the best known for his acts of supernatural strength. His life and character is unfortunately defined for many of us by his physical power and his relationship with women. The question we need to ask, however, is […]
Jephthah, the unlikely deliverer
A difficult situation The next major Judge we are introduced to is Jephthah. We encounter him in chapters 11-12 of the Book of the Judges. If ever there was a difficult situation to rise as a leader, it was that of Jephthah. We have dealt with God’s people’s fall back into idolatry to the point […]
Salvation belongs to the Lord
When we think about idolatry, we must always remember that it reaches far deeper than the making of a physical idol. That is always a byproduct of idolatry. At the core of idolatry as Scripture defines it, lies man’s replacing God with what man wants. It is the dethroning of God and the appointment of man and his makings to the throne. In the theme of the book of Judges, it is the denial of the true God as King and replacing Him with the gods of the nations.
Psalm 3 – Salvation Belongs to the Lord
Introduction While Psalms 1 and 2 are written in more general terms, Psalm 3 has a very specific context from which it originated. King David’s son Absalom was in pursuit and David had to flee. This is described in 2 Samuel 15:13-17. The situation and outcome did not look promising. Not only his kingdom, but also his life was […]
What’s in a name?
Think about this. He is the God of the covenant. In Christ He confirmed His covenant. And through saving you, He included you in His covenant. And ultimately, you will rest forever in His presence, which is the ultimate goal of His covenant.
The quest for a deliverer – Believing is seeing
Gideon’s faith did result in victory, accomplishing God’s purposes through him. I this, his faith was victorious. But his carelessness for his own soul and the souls of those who followed him, caused him to become prideful and conceited and to lead a free people back into slavery.
The quest for a deliverer – The Mighty Lord and King
God put Himself on display in these events described in chapters 4 & 5. We come to know Him as the Living God speaking living words, crushing the enemy as the ultimate Lord and Deliverer. Deborah and Barak’s response were praise (5:2-3).
The quest for a deliverer – Setting the standard
The book of Judges makes the reality of human depravity and its consequences clear and looks for the answer to this problem in the most unexpected place. For the author of Judges, the solution is not found in human systems and rules or other man-made solutions. The answer lies in a person, a king, who will deal with the problem of sin and depravity. Therefore, it presents us with the judges, or deliverers, individuals who would be a partial answer to the immediate problem, but a foreshadow of the ultimate King and Deliverer.
Psalm 2 – Living Safely before God
f Psalm 1 teaches is about being blessed, Psalm 2 teaches us about being safe. The last verse of Psalm 2 ties the two together, to imply that true blessedness and being safe in your relationship with God are directly related. Together the two psalms form a very fitting introduction to the Book of Psalms. Taking into account the purpose of the Wisdom Literature, namely living wisely as God’s people, we can conclude that not only does it entails continually meditating on God’s Word, but also living safely before God.