Journey Through Judges and Ruthنموونە

Intro

Nicole introduces this lesson which provides new insights into the character of God, the real Judge, how he rules over unruly people, and how central the principle of retribution is in his rule.

The Judge of Judges

Don’t lose sight of the fact that none of the individual judges in this book are really the main character. Throughout Judges we’re told repeatedly: "YHWH raised up judges.” Yet, Israel’s fate is never really in their own hands. For all that Jephthah gets wrong, he understands one thing. It’s worth returning to one of his comments:

I therefore have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me; may the Lord, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.

Judges 11:27 (NASB)

So who is the real leader in Israel, the real ruler, the real judge? Who is the real charismatic force in the book of Judges?

It’s the LORD. With so much human drama in Judges, we can lose sight of the focal point of all these stories. The primary character is Israel’s God, the Judge of judges.

Jephthah’s reference to YHWH as “Judge” will become increasingly common as we work our way through the Bible. Let’s look ahead briefly to see affirmations of this aspect of God’s character.

Read the verses below and write down your impressions of these references to God as “Judge”:

But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.

Psalm 75:7 (NASB)

You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still.

Psalm 76:8-9 (NASB)

Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?

Genesis 18:25 (NASB)

For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us.

Isaiah 33:22 (NASB)

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

James 4:12 (NASB)

Reckoning & Retribution