Judges

In recent years, movies and television shows based on books of the Bible have become quite popular. But there is one book that most producers seem to have steered clear of: Judges. This book from the Old Testament records the generations of Israelites immediately after settling in the land of Canaan and contains some of the most memorable personalities in the Bible, like Gideon, Samson, and Delilah. And yet, it is perhaps one of the hardest books of the Bible to read because it is filled with literal blood, guts, and gore.

Judges is the true story of Israel’s slow spiral downward into the very same sins that led God to remove the Canaanites from the land, the story of the Israelites becoming just like them. The story is filled with the repeated cycle of sin, suffering, supplication, salvation, and silence. We find that despite God’s leading and provision, the Israelites turned from him. This led God to withdraw his hand of protection, allowing the Israelites to face the consequences of their sin. But when Israel cried out to God for help, God would raise up a leader (a judge) to rescue them, only for the people to stray from him again, starting the cycle over again, each time descending to still greater depths of depravity.

In this way, the book of Judges acts as a tragedy and a cautionary tale. It is the story of people trying to live apart from God and failing miserably. While it might be shocking and difficult to read at times, it is given to us to guide us, to point us to the ultimate Judge and King who our hearts long for, the one who can break the cycles of sin and shame and bring us true freedom: Jesus.

Over these next 7 weeks, we’ll unpack the stories of the Judges of Israel, learning from their successes and failures, their examples of faith and follies.

September 21, 2025 | Seth Lochmueller | Samson

September 14, 2025 | Seth Neckers | Jephthah

September 7, 2025 | Seth Lochmueller | Gideon

August 31, 2025 | Seth Neckers | Gideon

August 24, 2025 | Seth Neckers | Deborah

August 17, 2025 | Seth Lochmueller | Othniel & Ethud

August 10, 2025 | Seth Neckers | Othniel