Testing and the First Judges

Testing and the First Judges from Jacobs Well.

THE JOURNEY DOWNWARD

     The Purpose of Testing

     Getting Civilized

OTHNIEL

     Ideal Judge / Ideal Provision

     The Importance of Leadership / Temporary Impact

EHUD

     Unlikely Hero, Strange Victory

     Ehud’s Revelation: The Comic Deceitfulness of Idolatry

SHAMGAR

     (Even More) Unlikely Hero, Strange(r) Victory

THE POINT OF THIS?

     Jesus: Spirit-Giver, Eternal King

          Unlikely Hero, Strange Victory over Idolatry

     Us: Unlikely Victors in Jesus

COMMUNITY MEDITATION

KNOW

• What are the idols in our culture that can appear most seductive to you? What evidence is there that those idols offer misleading hope of fulfillment? Help one another “unveil” the deceit of the idolatry in our lives.
• Consider Jesus’ provision over and against the false promises of the idols you’ve just discussed. How is Jesus better?

FEEL

• Do you think there’s anything in your life that God may be using to “test” you?Do you think of yourself as an unlikely member of God’s plan to redeem the world? What makes you feel inadequate? How do you think God would respond to your objections?
• The Book of Judges begins with conflict and ends in chaos? How can we find encouragement in this? If this was the only chapter of the story, how would we feel?

LIVE

• Waging war against indwelling sin is primarily a fight to worship the actual God rather than false imitations of God. What practical steps can you take to pursue right, rather than misguided, worship this week? Go beyond simple answers and get very practical here.