Know Your Bible Devotions for WomenSample

WHAT IS JUDGES ALL ABOUT?

After Joshua’s death, the Israelites lost momentum in driving pagan people out of the promised land. “The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem” (Judges 1:21) is a statement characteristic of many tribes, which allowed idol worshippers to stay in their midst—with tragic results. “Ye have not obeyed my voice,” God said to His people. “They shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you” (2:2–3). That’s exactly what happened, as the Israelites began a cycle of worshipping idols, suffering punishment by attackers, crying to God for help, and receiving God’s aid in the form of a human judge (or “deliverer”) who restored order.

Lesser-known judges include Othniel, Ehud, Tola, Jair, and Jephthah, who had only one child, a daughter, whom he foolishly vowed to sacrifice to God in exchange for a military victory (Judges 11:30–40). More familiar figures in the book are Deborah, the only female judge, who led a military victory against the Canaanites; Gideon, who tested God’s will with a fleece and defeated the armies of Midian; and the amazingly strong Samson, who defeated the Philistines. Samson’s great weakness—his love for unsavory women such as Delilah—led to his downfall and death in a Philistine temple.

The ancient Israelites got into trouble when they “did that which was right in [their] own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25) rather than what God wanted them to do. Let’s not make that mistake ourselves!

Prayer: Lord, I want to stay far away from the temptation to do what is right in my own eyes. I want my life to please You, even in the moments when no one else is watching. Help me to hold firmly to Your path!