Consistent with the cycle of judges, peace among the Israelites is eventually disrupted because they turn away from God to follow sin instead.
During this time in God raises a judge and this time, it’s a woman.
Judges 4:4-5 | Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment.
God gives Deborah his plan for rescuing his people from Canaan. She tells a man named Barak—
Judges 4:6b-7 | “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”
Barak doubts God’s promise and wants Deborah, God’s judge, to go with him. Perhaps he feels that her presence will ensure his safety. He may even trust Deborah’s relationship with God more than his own. But because of his doubt, Deborah explains—
Judges 4:9a | “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.”
Read the rest of Judges 4 & Judges 5 to see how this exciting event unfolded!
Psalm 20:7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Discussion
1. Thinking in terms of trusting God, who do you relate to more in this story, Deborah or Barak? Why?
2. Can you describe a time God called you to do something and you said no? What did you miss out on because of saying no?
3. Can you describe some of the promises God has made in His word?
4. God does not break His promises! How can you take refuge in knowing that? How can you apply this moving forward with doubts you might have in trusting God?
Deborah
February 9, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald
Focused & Devoted : Ending the Cycle
March 23, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald • Hebrews 12, Matthew 18, Ephesians 5
What have you learned and taken away from the Israelites sin cycle? How has that impacted the cycles you might find yourself entangled in? What have you been doing to stay removed from the cycle of sin? Be specific.
Jesus
March 16, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald
We’ve examined so many flawed heroes - men and women that God used to rescue His people and to lead them back to following Him. All of the judges we’ve looked at were flawed— fallible people who struggled with sin just like you and me. Some of them followed God wholeheartedly and others fell away from him, just like many of the kings who would come after them. God’s choice to use them reminded us over and over again of our theme verse— 1st Corinthians 1:27 | Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. The weaknesses or flaws of these heroes remind us of the strength of God and further highlight the perfection of our final judge. After this judge, no other judge would be needed. This judge would be the final rescuer and He came with a clear mission: Luke 19:10 | For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. The “lost” are those who have not been rescued, or made right in God’s sight, and are still living separated from God because of their sin. That sin and separation results in death— Romans 6:23a | For the wages of sin is death… Each person’s eternity— whether they died rescued and will spend it with God in Heaven or died lost and will spend it apart from Him in Hell— will be determined when Jesus conducts His final judgment.
Samuel
March 9, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald • 1 Samuel
Last week, we looked at Samson, who was Israel’s final judge in the book of Judges. But right after that time, a man named Samuel is raised by God to serve as the last judge (1st Samuel 7:5-6, 15-16) and the anointer of the kings (1st Samuel 10 & 16) who would rule over God’s people in the judges’ place. He was also the first prophet (1st Samuel 3:20) and a Nazarite (1st Samuel 1:11) like Samson. Samuel’s birth was miraculous (1st Samuel 1:1-20) and his place as an important man in Israel began when he was very young! You see, when his mother Hannah couldn’t have children, she prayed to God asking for a son. She promised that the boy, if given to her by God, would be given back to Him. 1st Samuel 1:11b | He will be yours for his entire lifetime… But that didn't guarantee that Samuel would choose to follow God. Join us as we look at the life of Samuel and what we can learn from him. Discussion Would you say you have your own relationship with Jesus or is it one that your family/leaders want for you? What is the difference? What does a life sold out to Jesus practically look like? Based off your response would you say you are walking worthy of that calling? Why? Following Jesus can be hard at times and the Lord might ask you to go to places, people, situations you might not otherwise be comfortable with. Can you give an example of a time you were called by the Lord to a tough situation? How did your relationship with the Lord strengthen through the trial? How do you plan to put your faith into action today? Judges 11:2b "When these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said [for you are the son of another woman]. " Jephthah’s own family rejects him and he runs away from his brothers to the land of Tob. You may have guessed that if Jephthah is going to become Israel’s judge, they must be in trouble. The Bible says—Judges 11:4 | At about this time, the Ammonites began their war against Israel. The Ammonites were very cruel oppressors. Throughout the Old Testament we see their shockingly inhumane practices. It must have been pretty bad because —Judges 11:5-6 | When the Ammonites attacked, the elders of Gilead sent for Jephthah in the land of Tob. The elders said, “Come and be our commander! Help us fight the Ammonites!” The leaders of Gilead want Jephthah the mighty warrior! This seems like a great opportunity for Jephthah, right? But Jephthah is like, ‘not so fast.’ Thankfully, there's more to this story! Join us!