Judges

I have been experimenting with a more extemporaneuous style of preaching. What I've posted below is just an outline:


Judges: The Cycle of Sin

Introduction: (Use story of Balloonist)

Date: internal evidence: -“in those days there was no King…”

-Reference to Jerusalem in 1:28

-300 year time span

-Very little revelation during this time


Author unknown (may have been Samuel)


12 Judges- Three best known are Gideon, Deborah and Samson

“Deborah’s song of victory (ch. 5) demonstrates the high degree of literary skill at this early period…. It also shows clearly that women have made great contributions to God’s work across the centuries.” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary)


Key characteristic is Israel’s lack of cohesion, their failure to be ruled by God- sets the stage for Israel’s call for a King in 1 Samuel

Key Phrases: “In those days there was no King in Israel, everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” 17:6; 21:25

“Then the children of Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served” other gods (2:11;3:7; 3:12; 4:1 etc)


READ 2:10-23
ISRAEL’S CYCLE OF BACKSLIDING AND REVIVAL

Frame it with 2:1-3 (God’s use in lingering idolatry)

A. The Decline:

1. Great Victory







2. Generation Passes Away and Another one Falls Away (v. 10)






3. Growth of Syncretism and Resurgence of Idolatry






4. Grieving God and Stoking His Anger






B. Bottoming Out and Being Restored



5. Domination and Captivity to Other Nations as well as Unfruitfulness, Futility and Confusion









6. Distress and Crying Out









7. Deliverance





Conclusion:

Application to personal cycle of rebellion and revival