JESUS CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES
JESUS CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
March 18, 2025
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
As we study the Book of Judges, I am reminded that Amanda Grace prophesied last week that America will experience a “civil war” within our justice department in the courts.
Jesus Christ is seen in the Book of Judges as our Judge-Deliverer upon whom the Spirit of God came bringing our deliverance from servitude to sin and Satan. The scripture notes that The Spirit of God came upon each judge except for Abimelech.
Chapter 1 of Judges is a miniature history of the total period of the Judges. The author is unknown, but the authorship is usually attributed to Samuel. Judges covers approximately 400 years from the death of Joshua to the death of Samson.
The background of the book of Judges is the “Iron Age” or “war age” of Israel.
It describes the period of transition from Joshua to the kingdom. It is a record of the dark ages of Israel. The people had forsaken the LORD (2:13), and the LORD had forsaken the people (2:23).
No great prophet had for a long time been raised up to teach them their duty to Jehovah and to one another. They got so accustomed to war and cruelty that survival by this means was second nature to them.
There is no strong leadership.
1. Joseph the great statesman was dead.
2. Moses the great deliverer was dead.
3. Eleazar the great Priest and Religious leader was dead.
4. Joshua the great Soldier was dead.
The commonwealth of Israel was wretchedly corrupt and oppressed with anarchy. There was some religion as the Tabernacle service continued. There was no common head or council. The tribes acted separately and even warred with each other. The government was not constant but was occasional and primarily local. Israel forsook their King and Husband (1 Sam. 12:12).
Joshua had destroyed the Canaanites in some sections of the land, and had kept others in subjection. After his death, the Canaanites remained in considerable numbers. But God had commanded Israel to utterly destroy the enemy and drive them out of the land (Deut. 7:2-4).
In Judges 1-4, we see the principle of independence from God. This rebellion aligns Israel with their enemies and they identify with the heathen instead of being separated from them. These were sins of omission.
We cannot shudder at their ways, unless we first condemn ourselves and the rulers of our age for our sins against God and our fellows, with all our superior advantages. Human nature without God reverts to barbarism.
The age of the Judges corresponded with the first part of the Prophet Elijah’s vision on Horeb---when he saw the wind, the earthquake and the fire breaking the mountains and rending the rocks. They had not heard, as we have, the still small voice of the Gospel of love, peace, and forgiveness.
Because of sin, man is always prone to wander from God. Departing from God leads to servitude and oppression. In chapter three, God manifests His grace by raising up a savior to bring man back to God.
OTHNIEL
In chapter 3:5-11, we meet the first judge to deliver Israel, Othniel.
The children of Israel had been in servitude to the King of Mesopotamia for eight years. The LORD sold them into the hand of the king.
3:9-11: The children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Calbe’s younger brother. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war; and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia into his hand. The land rested forty years, and Othniel, the son of Kenaz died.
Othniel fulfilled his kingdom assignment.
EHUD
Judg. 3: 12-30: the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel…they served Eglon he king of Moab 18 years (the number of bondage).
When the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up Ehud, a Benjamite, (the son of the right hand) and was a man “Ish” notable man of high degree. He was left-handed…Ehud made him a dagger. After presenting a gift to Eglon, he asked for a private interview. With a powerful thrust of the dagger into the belly of the king, he slew the king and delivered Israel. Ehud escaped…he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim… he said, “Follow after me for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand” …they slew 10,000 men, all lusty, and all men of valor. Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel and the land rested forty years.
SHAMGAR
3:31: After him was Shamgar, the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad, and he also delivered Israel.
This is all that is known of Shamgar. The ox goad is also the word of God in Ecc. 12:11: The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one Shepherd.
After the death of Ehud, a righteous judge of Israel, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. The Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin (carnal mind) king of Canaan. The captain of whose host was Sisera.
DEBORAH AND BARAK
Judges 4 & 5: the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead. And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
The Word of God went to war through the prophetic gift of Deborah in the battle against the “Canaanite Army” (sexual perversion, idolatry, Baal worship–storm god). Idolatry results in war and weakness.
Sisera kept Israel under subjection for 20 years. He had 900 chariots of iron (bondage). Those chariots of iron became the downfall of his army.
Then enters Deborah a prophetess and judge of Israel. She is the first prophetess mentioned in the Bible since Miriam in Ex. 15:20. She is the only woman in the line of judges and the only judge who was a prophet until Samuel. Deborah would be worthy of special mention even without her military exploits, because she was a woman.
The question she faced was whether Israel could exist as a nation split in two by a powerful Canaanite force. In calling for mobilization in Yahweh’s name, she prophetically stood for all that God had set forth in his original covenant with Israel.
Barak, her general refused to go to war without her.
I do not judge this as unbelief, but wisdom and humility. Barak recognized and respected her gifting and wanted the gift of God (the Word of God) to direct the battle.
4:9: She said I will surely go with you; notwithstanding the journey that you take shall not be for your honor; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
In Barak’s defense, I think he was a man of great faith who was not concerned about his honor, but desired victory over the Canaanite’s. The Holy Scriptures commends his faith not his unbelief. For this, his name is also in the Hebrew 11:32-35, Hall of Faith Fame.
“What shall I say, for time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson…, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness… waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens…”
The glory of victory was shared by two women: Deborah’s call to a Holy War and Jael finished it. However, Barak is the one honored for his faith.
Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. He went up with ten thousand men at his feet. It took faith to call two tribes of Israel together and amass an army of 10,000 based on the spoken Word of God (by a woman).
Deborah went up with him. Sisera gathered together all his chariots of iron and all the people were with him.
Deborah again spoke the word of the Lord to Barak: (Vs. 14) “Up; for this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into you hand; is not the Lord gone out before you?
“Up---this is the day” is the battle cry of the prophetic utterance of the spoken Word of God. After which the conflict moves quickly to its conclusion.
The angels of heaven and the stars in their courses fought for Israel on this day, for this battle was a crisis in the history of the people of God who were the chosen ones to bring the Messiah into the world and produce the Scriptures as a revelation from God.
Israel is the “altar” of God and the furnace of his fire. From Israel came the Messiah, the Word of God, the Kingdom of God on earth, the Church, and the Apostles.
If they had been defeated in this battle, it would have meant the extermination of those who fought as well as the tribes that did not co-operate in the struggle. This verse is just one of many scriptures teaching that wars are lost or won on earth on the basis of wars lost or won in the heavenlies between the forces of God and Satan (Dan. 10:13).
5: 20-21 reads that the stars in their courses fought for Israel. The heavens sent great thunder, lightning, rain, and perhaps even great hail on the armies of Canaan. The great flood in the riverbed of Kishon swept away multitudes downstream to the Mediterranean. On other occasions God sent such storms to defeat the enemy.
God’s control of nature is the key to victory and also his triumph over the storm-god, Baal.
GIDEON
Gideon saved Israel from the Midianites, Amalekites, and the Arabians.
Judges 6:12: The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, and said to him, “The Lord is with you; you mighty man of valor.”
The Angel of the LORD is a visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
6:14-16: Go in your might and you shall save (Israel) from the hand of the Midianites (government); have I not sent you? Gideon said to Him, “Oh my Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” The Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites As one man.”
Gideon’s “might” lay in the fact of a divine commission. He had heard from God. Even though Gideon declares his clan is the weakest and the least, the family probably had some rank in the community. Gideon betrays his aristocratic background by calling ten of his father’s servants. Obviously with so many servants and the ability to offer such a costly sacrifice, Gideon was not drawn from the lower classes.
Those who through faith paved the way for Kingdom order saw their own imperfections and disabilities. Thus, they leaned upon the resources and the strength of Jehovah.
God then safeguards his Glory. 7:2: “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, less Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, My own hand has saved me.”
When the Lord reveals His Majesty, Glory, and great Power, it does not go well for those who try to usurp the glory for themselves.
The Lord sifts Gideon’s 32,000 (already outnumbered by over 4 to 1). The enemy was camped less than five miles away. The first group to be culled were those who were fearful and afraid. “Let them return and depart early.” The rest of Gideon’s army was sifted at the waters of the word. There are ample opinions and observations as to the Lord’s reasoning on this. I choose a simple explanation. Those who got down on their knees leisurely slacked their thirst. Those who lapped were alert, bold, watchful and ready to encounter rough difficulties.
1. 22,000 = fearful
2. 9,700 = undisciplined
3. 300 = Overcomers
The 300 were given all of the supplies of food and trumpets. Three Hundred is the number of complete deliverance.
Their weapons of warfare were unified blasts on the trumpets and the shatters of 300 pitchers/lanterns followed by a thunderous battle-cry, after which the trumpets sounded forth again.
The enemy panicked. They fled. Israel pursued them. Gideon sent a message to mount Ephraim to cut off the waters unto Beth-Barah and Jordan. This they did and slew the two Midianite kings, Oreb and Zeeb. They brought their heads to Gideon.
Gideon received an invitation to kingship which he refused, but wanted the priesthood (ephod). It became a snare to Gideon. He had many wives. His son Abimelech was born by his concubine.
ABIMELECH
Abimelech claimed what his father rejected. As a product of a Canaanite union, he showed the evils of compromise and disobedience to the Word of God in the wholesale murder of Gideon’s seventy sons, except Jothan, the youngest, who escaped. Abimelech’s three-year reign was a quarrel between himself and the men of Shechem, climaxed by Gaal’s rebellion which was put down. Abimelech died ignobly, as he had lived, as he was besieging Thebez. Abimelech’s kingdom was limited to western Manasseh.
Jotham’s parable of the trees (Jdg. 9: 7-15) brought a curse upon Abimelech for the wickedness he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. and all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jothan the son of Jerubbaal.
Jerubbaal was the name given to Gideon by his father when he destroyed the altar of Baal.
TOLA 10: 1-2: After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola, the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he dwelt in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. He judged Israel twenty-three years, and he died and was buried in Shamir.
Tola is the principle of humility.
JAIR 19: 3-5: After him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and he judged Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, they also had thirty towns,.. Jair died and was buried in Camon.
The donkeys were a sign of prestige as well as a sign of prosperity. Jair reproduced himself in his sons, who were rulers indeed.
The judgeships of Tola and Jair are a blessed contrast to Abimelech.
JEPHTHAH – 11-12: 1-7: Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a harlot and Gilead begat Jephthah.
This was the sixth apostasy of Israel. Jephthah saved Israel from the Ammonites. He was rejected by his brothers but when attacked, they called him to be their deliverer. The people made him head and captain over them. Jephthah then confronts the King of Edom with the Word of God. He rehearses the mighty acts of God for Israel. 11:29: The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah…. 11:30: he made a rash vow to the LORD, that if he would give him victory over Ammon, that whatsoever came forth from the doors of his house to meet him, he would offer up for a burnt offering… After the victory, his daughter, his only child, came out to meet him. She was sacrificed on an altar of fire. It was his zeal to vow. It was his sin to vow rashly.
IBZAN
Jdg. 12:8-9: After Jephthah. Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. He judged Israel seven years. Ibzan was buried in Bethlehem.
ELON
(Strong’s H356) Jg. 12: 11-12: – The proper name of Elon is mentioned seven times in seven verses of the Scripture. His name means oak-grove, strength, a chief (politically), a ram (from its strength), a pilaster (as a strong support); an Oak or other strong tree; mighty man, post, lintel; powerful; any embodiment of strength, power or stability. Elon was a Zebulonite principle of communion with God produces strength for ruling with God. Judged Israel for 10 years. He demonstrates the principle of strength. Also, a town in Dan.
ABDON
Jdg. 12: 13-15: his name means service. Was the son of Hillel (praise rejoice, celebrate, shout for joy, shine forth). He had 40 sons and 30 nephews ( literally grandsons) who rode upon 70 ass colts (again denoting wealth and prestige. He judged Israel 8 years and died.
SAMSON
Jdg. 13-16: 1-31: Samson was dedicated to God before birth. He was favored with a spiritual upbringing and knew the things of God. Yet, he became willful, refusing to listen to advice from his seniors. We learn from Samson that following after Jesus Christ can be spurned.
Samson is a man who failed his God, disappointed his parents and fooled himself. Yet he is in the Hebrew Faith Hall of Fame (Heb. 11:32).
His calling and anointing were to destroy the Philistines.
The Philistines were Israel’s constant enemy then and now. David subdued them, but no one has destroyed them. In that context they typify demons with Goliath as their champion (a type of Satan). They had established themselves in Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdon, Ekron and Gath. Israel apathetically accepted this dangerous situation.
It was at this point that Samson emerged to wage a one-man war against them. His actions and exploits read like the story of uncontrollable passion of an out-of-control delinquent.
Samson trifled with the secret of his power and gravitated toward disaster. He loved a woman in the valley of Sorek (reddish, fox-colored, purple, choice vine, noble vine”). Her name was Delilah. She was then approached by the Philistines who offered her 1100 pieces of silver to entice Samson and learn the secret of his great strength.
The loss of the anointing brings spiritual blindness, bondage, and servitude; but that lost power may be restored by restoring the secret of power. Those who lay with the harlot are captured by demons, are bound, blind, and going in circles.
Samson’s prayer in verse 16:28 is man-centered. Nonetheless, God heard his prayer and strengthened him to push on the two supporting pillars. Even though it is man-centered, Samson’s request fulfills God’s purposes to bring judgment on the Philistines and Samson’s destiny.
Jdg. 16:28Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes
Heb 11:32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church, 10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX.
www.eastgateministries.com