Old Testament 1 Lesson 8
Old Testament 1 Lesson 8.pdf
Old Testament 1 Lesson 8.pdf
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Acknowledgments<br />
Living Logos was the heart-work of Bro<br />
Dale Starks and Sis Josephine Starks,<br />
missionaries to Singapore in the early<br />
1980s. As the original authors of this<br />
devotionals, the Starks meant for<br />
these self-study materials to help new converts<br />
(and matured saints alike) get a hold of an<br />
understanding of God’s written Word. Since Sis<br />
Stark’s passing in 2013, the couple had graciously<br />
entrusted Tabernacle of Joy with its copyright.<br />
Therefore, with every print run, we would like to<br />
honour their life work and sacrifice in bringing the<br />
gospel to Singapore. This copy is an updated and<br />
revised version. Be blessed as you immerse yourself<br />
in the Word and allow God to transform you into<br />
the likeness of Jesus Christ.<br />
1
<strong>Lesson</strong><br />
<strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> 1<br />
Eight<br />
<strong>Old</strong> <strong>Testament</strong> 1<br />
THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES (CONTINUED)<br />
Judges, Chapter 8, describes several other conquests by Gideon<br />
and his men. His victories were so impressive that the men of<br />
Israel wanted to make Gideon their king. His answer was:<br />
...I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the<br />
LORD shall rule over you<br />
— JuDGes 8:23<br />
The children of Israel had peace for forty years - during the rest<br />
of Gideon’s lifetime. But when Gideon died, they went right<br />
back to their worship of Baal, forgetting the LORD who had<br />
delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies (Judges<br />
8:33-34).<br />
Gideon had 71 sons. One of them was Abimelech, by his concubine<br />
at Shechem. Abimelech wanted what Gideon had refused<br />
- to become king of Israel. He murdered all his brothers,<br />
except one. Jothan, his youngest brother, escaped. Shechem<br />
was one of the cities of refuge. It had become the civil center<br />
for a time, just as Shiloh was the religious center. After three<br />
years of rule under Abimelech, the men of Shechem turned<br />
against their king and sought to destroy him, just as they had<br />
earlier aided him in destroying his brothers (Judges 9:1-23).<br />
Abimelech killed many of the Shechemites by burning down<br />
the stronghold where they were gathered. Then, he went up<br />
to Thebez and took that city. However, many of the people<br />
there gathered into a strong tower. Again, Abimelech was<br />
determined to destroy the people by burning down the<br />
building where they were gathered. He came near the building<br />
with a torch, but a certain woman with a millstone (a large<br />
rock used for grinding) cast it down upon his head, breaking<br />
his skull. As he did not want it to be known that a woman<br />
had killed him, he commanded his armour-bearer to slay him.<br />
When the men of Israel saw that he was dead, they returned<br />
home. (Judges 9:24-57)<br />
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Although Abimelech did reign over Israel for three years, because of the<br />
nature of his reign he is not commonly regarded as one of the judges of<br />
Israel.<br />
THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH JUDGES<br />
Tola, a man from the tribe of Issachar, judged Israel for twenty-three years<br />
until he died. There was a time of peace under his leadership (Judges 10:1-<br />
2).<br />
Jair, a Gileadite, became the seventh judge and ruled for twenty-two years<br />
until the time of his death. This man was especially known because he had<br />
thirty sons, and each son had his own city and rode on a donkey (Judges<br />
10:3-4).<br />
THE FIFTH SERVITUDE<br />
Again, the children of Israel forsook the LORD and worshipped the gods<br />
of the land they possessed: Baalim, and Astaroth, the gods of the children<br />
of Ammon, the gods of Syria, the gods of Zidon, the gods of Moab, and the<br />
gods of the Philistines (Judges 10:6).<br />
The anger of the LORD again waxed hot against them, and God delivered<br />
them over into the hands of the Ammonites. All the tribes that were<br />
east of the Jordan River were ruled by them for eighteen years. Then,<br />
the Ammonites passed over Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and<br />
Ephraim.<br />
Finally, the children of Israel began to call upon the LORD. The LORD<br />
reminded them of all that He had done for them, and how ungrateful they<br />
had been (Judges 10:7-12).<br />
...I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let<br />
them deliver you in the time of your tribulation<br />
— JuDGes 10:13-14<br />
But Israel acknowledged and repented of their sins, and put away the false<br />
gods that were among them. Only then did God give them the assurance<br />
that He would be with them and fight for them (Judges 10:15-16).<br />
68
THE EIGHTH JUDGE<br />
Jephthah was the son of Gilead by a harlot. Because of this, he was cast<br />
out by his brethren. They told him that they did not want him to have any<br />
inheritance in their father’s house. Nevertheless, the Bible says of this man<br />
that he was a mighty man of valour (Judges 11:1).<br />
After he was cast out by his brethren, he gathered to himself other men<br />
who were outcasts, and were considered vain or worthless people. He soon<br />
engaged in raids throughout the surrounding countryside, and gained a<br />
reputation as a leader.<br />
After Ammon began to make war with Israel, the elders sent for Jephthah.<br />
They apologized for the part they had in expelling him out of his father’s<br />
house, and promised to make him their captain. If Israel was victorious over<br />
the Ammonites, he would continue to be their leader (Judges 11:2-11).<br />
Then, Jephthah made a foolish vow. He promised God that if God would<br />
give them victory over the Ammonites, he would offer the first thing that<br />
came forth of the doors of his house to meet him as a burnt offering. God<br />
did give Israel the victory. When he returned home, his daughter and only<br />
child came out to meet him with timbrels (tambourines) and dancing,<br />
celebrating his victorious return from battle. However, Jephthah was very<br />
sad. Perhaps he had expected an animal to be the first thing to come forth<br />
to meet him, but it was his only child! Nevertheless, he kept his vow and<br />
offered her unto the LORD as a sacrifice (Judges 11:30-40).<br />
It is doubtful that God was pleased with such a sacrifice. God does not want<br />
us to make vows and then break them. But it does seem that it would have<br />
been better for Jephthah to have broken such a foolish vow, and repent<br />
of this rash act, rather than kill his daughter. Nevertheless, like Abraham,<br />
Jephthah was willing to offer his only child as a burnt offering, and this does<br />
show his desire to please God!<br />
CIVIL WARS<br />
A civil war is one fought by different sections or factions of the same nation.<br />
During the time of the judges, there were four periods of civil confusion<br />
that caused internal wars. We will study concerning three of them in this<br />
lesson:<br />
1. When Gideon fought against the Midianites, he had gathered men out of<br />
Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh, but had not called upon the Ephraimites<br />
69
70<br />
to join in the battle until he had pursued after the Midianites to the Jordan<br />
River. Then, he asked the Ephraimites to take certain passages, where<br />
people crossed the river. The Ephraimites killed the two prince generals of<br />
the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb, who were attempting to flee from Gideon.<br />
The Ephraimites were angry that they had not been called into the battle<br />
earlier, but Gideon told them, “God hath delivered into your hands the<br />
princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison<br />
of you?” (Judges 8:1-3). By these words of wisdom, war was avoided.<br />
2. The second civil war took place under Abimelech’s rule. He was the one<br />
who killed his brothers so that he could be the lone leader of Israel (Judges,<br />
Chapter 9).<br />
3. The third civil war took place because Ephraim became angry again for<br />
not being called to fight. Jephthah had earlier asked for their help against<br />
the Ammonites when the battle was the hottest, but Ephraim had refused to<br />
come. It seems that they wanted to share in the victory, but not the battle!<br />
Ephraim came to fight against Jephthah and his army. However, God was<br />
with Jephthah, and the Ephraimites sought to flee by crossing the Jordan<br />
River. Jephthah and his men took control of the passages, and every time<br />
someone would come and say, “Let me cross over”, they would be asked,<br />
“Are you an Ephraimite?” If they would say “No,” they would be asked to<br />
repeat the word “Shibboleth”. The Ephraimites could not frame the mouth<br />
right to say this word correctly. They would answer “Sibboleth”. Thus, their<br />
deceit was made known, and they were slain (Judges 12:1-6).<br />
A SPIRITUAL LESSON FOR US<br />
Some day we must cross over “the river of death”. We may call ourselves<br />
“Christians”, but what we really are is what counts! When Jesus Christ<br />
comes back for His church, those who died as true Christians will rise from<br />
the dead. Together with the true Christians who are still living, they shall<br />
be brought into the presence of Jesus Christ for eternity (I Thessalonians<br />
4:13-17).<br />
Many who are Christians in name only will be disappointed on that day, for<br />
Jesus said:<br />
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of<br />
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven<br />
— matthew 7:21
What is the will of the Father? We have previously studied that the Bible<br />
declares to us the will of God. In fact, the Bible is the will of God. It<br />
declares what we must do to please Him. We must turn from our sins, be<br />
baptized in the precious name of Jesus Christ, and be filled with the Holy<br />
Spirit. This gives us the strength to live a different life - a Spirit-filled life, a<br />
victorious life! We will not have to fear when we approach the passages of<br />
the “river of death”.<br />
MORE JUDGES<br />
Jephthah judged Israel for six years before he died and was buried in one<br />
of the cities of Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan River. Ibzan, the next<br />
judge, ruled Israel for seven years, and he died. Elon, a Zebulonite, judged<br />
Israel for ten years until his death. After him, Abdon judged Israel for eight<br />
years. He had forty sons and thirty nephews that rode on young donkeys.<br />
When Abdon died, he was buried in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of<br />
the Amalekites (Judges 12:7-15).<br />
VOCABULARY<br />
conquest —<br />
something conquered, a battle won<br />
civil —<br />
valour —<br />
of a community of citizens, pertaining to the government<br />
great courage or bravery<br />
71
<strong>Old</strong><br />
<strong>Lesson</strong><br />
<strong>Testament</strong><br />
Eight<br />
1<br />
Test<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
11<br />
What was Gideon’s answer when the people wanted him to be king?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
What did Abimelech, the son of Gideon, desire?<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
What evil act did he do to try to bring this about?<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
How was he killed?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
What was Jair especially known for?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
What did the LORD answer Israel when they began to call upon the<br />
Lord after the Ammonites came to fight against Judah, Benjamin and<br />
Ephraim?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
Why was Jephthah cast out by his brethren?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
What foolish vow did Jephthah make?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
Who came forth first to meet him? _____________________________.<br />
Did he keep his vow? ______________________________.<br />
What is a civil war?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
72
12<br />
13<br />
14<br />
15<br />
16<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20<br />
How did the wisdom of Gideon help avoid one civil war?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
Why did the third civil war take place?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
Evidently Ephraim wanted to share in the ________________________,<br />
but not the _________________________________ .<br />
How could Jephthah and his men tell who were Ephraimites and who<br />
were not?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
Not everyone that calls upon the name of the Lord shall _____________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
Only those that do the will of _____________________________ shall<br />
enter_____________________________________________________.<br />
What declares unto us “the will of the Father?”____________________.<br />
What was Abdon noted for?<br />
__________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________.<br />
What was of special interest to you in this lesson?<br />
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