summary and goal - the woodlands...

55Session 5

SESSION 5

And There Was No King…We Need Deliverance from Ourselves

Summary and Goal

Without a king, the Israelites did what was right in their own eyes, leading to an ongoing cycle of sin, judgment, and deliverance. God raised up deliverers who brought temporary peace but ultimately demonstrated their own need for salvation. The Book of Judges shows us the idolatry that results from rejecting God’s authority. As those who follow King Jesus, we are freed from this pattern of sin and empowered to do what is right in God’s eyes.

Steps to Prepare

1. Read the main passages for this lesson, recording your insights and questions:

- Judges 3:7-11 - Judges 16:21-30 - Judges 21:25

2. Study the Expanded Lesson Content (pp. 58-65).

- Determine what elements of this lesson are most applicable to your particular group. - Consider ways to personalize the lesson content for you and your class.

3. Review the Teaching Plan (pp. 56-57).

- Refine the lesson plan based on your group’s particular needs. - Adjust the plan if necessary.

4. Pray for the Lord’s guidance as you lead your group through this material.

Lesson Outline

1. The absence of a king leads us to do whatever we want (Judg. 21:25).

2. Doing whatever we want leads to a pattern of judgment and deliverance (Judg. 3:7-11).

3. Imperfect deliverers cannot bring about lasting salvation (Judg. 16:21-30).

© 2014 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

56 Leader Guide | Fall 2014

Introduce the LessonUse Lord of the Flies to illustrate the evil that lies in the hearts of people and the need for God’s rule and authority (leader p. 58; personal study guide [PSG] p. 45).

Imagine a society without any authority or rule. Would this society be free? Why or why not?

Connect this lesson to the biblical story line (leader pp. 58-59) and summarize it for your group (leader p. 59; PSG p. 46).

1. The absence of a king leads us to do whatever we want.Set the Book of Judges in its historical context (leader p. 59), and then read the book summary from Judges 21:25. Discuss the phrase Whatever you want (leader p. 59; PSG p. 46).

What would your life look like if you could truly fulfill every inclination of your heart without the fear of consequence or outside authority?

Explain that the description “whatever he wanted” was not a description of blessing but of judgment (Judg. 2:11-13) (leader p. 60; PSG pp. 46-47).

What are some ways we are tempted to do what is right in our own eyes? What are the dangers of deciding for ourselves what is right for me or right for you?

2. Doing whatever we want leads to a pattern of judgment and deliverance.

Explain the recurring pattern in Judges—sin, judgment, repentance, rescue (these supply the blanks on PSG p. 47). Read Judges 3:7-11, asking your group to mark the pattern elements by number. Show how the pattern doesn’t make sense in light of God’s goodness and faithfulness. And yet God remains faithful to discipline His children (leader pp. 61-62; PSG pp. 47-48).

What are the consequences for persistent rebellion against God? Do you see God’s discipline in your life as a blessing or a curse?

For Further DiscussionWhy is it not right just to “do what comes naturally”? What are some consequences of living this way?

For Further DiscussionHow did the Israelites’ half-hearted obedience (i.e. disobedience) lead to their temptation to idolatry—the decision over who will be king: God or self?

For Further DiscussionWhat are the similarities and differences between the story of the judges and the story of Jesus?

And There Was No King…

Teaching Plan

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Point out that God often uses the very thing we desire instead of Him to discipline us that we might turn to Him once again. Because God is faithful, He will never leave us in our idolatry (leader p. 62; PSG pp. 48-49).

What are the signs that we are rejecting God’s authority and substituting our own?

Note the spans of time for repentance to occur and for the peace granted in the first two cycles of the Book of Judges. Then highlight these truths (leader pp. 62-63; PSG p. 49):• God will not tolerate His people rejecting His kingship. • Repeatedly rejecting God will harden us and cause us to refuse repentance more

and more. • God longs to keep His promise to His people. • God’s grace is always greater than our sin.

What is the impact of these truths on your own struggle against sin? How does continual repentance change the pattern of sin?

3. Imperfect deliverers cannot bring about lasting salvation.

Show how the judges themselves were also in a downward spiral, with Samson being the most flawed. We fail too but find forgiveness in the strength and power of Jesus through His Spirit in us. This forgiveness should not lead us to sin more but give us the strength to fight (leader pp. 63-64; PSG pp. 50-51).

What are the signs we are taking God’s forgiveness for granted? Samson’s sin was irrational. In what ways do our own sinful choices fail to make sense rationally?

Read Judges 16:21-30, asking your group to listen for the consequences of treating sin lightly but also for a display of God’s enduring faithfulness. Note that it is when Samson became weak that he truly became strong (leader pp. 64-65; PSG pp. 51-52).

What is the significance of Samson the Deliverer’s need to be delivered?

ConclusionRecap this lesson with the truth that God is strong when we are at our weakest through repentance of sin with deep humility. All the judges pointed to the true and better Judge whom we need to crown as King—Jesus Christ. He helps us do what is right in God’s eyes (leader p. 65; PSG p. 52).

Apply the truths of this lesson with “His Mission, Your Mission” (PSG p. 53). See sidebar for direction.

For Further DiscussionAs a child, what was your perception of Samson? Was he a superhero or a flawed leader? Why is it important to communicate faithfully what the Bible teaches?

For Further DiscussionHow is our mission impacted by doing what is right in God’s eyes? Where do we discover what God wants from us?

His Mission, Your MissionLead your group through “Live on Mission” (PSG p. 53).

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Optional: Read the quote by Richard Lovelace (leader p. 63; PSG p. 53), and ask the following questions:

• How might people express an inner conviction that they are searching for the “right ruler” to heal what’s wrong with the creation?

• How have you found Jesus to be the Ruler we all need?


Opening Illustration and Introduction

A nuclear war has broken out. While the rest of the world is in chaos, a group of well-educated, well-behaved English schoolboys crash into the paradise of a deserted island with no adult survivors. What will happen next? Will they rally around each other and create a utopian society of peace?

In 1954, William Golding graphically played out this scenario in his book Lord of the Flies. Instead of creating a new society of harmony and peace, these little boys fight for power, hunt and kill each other, and even cut off the head of a pig and sacrifice it to an imaginary and yet utterly real “beast” on the island. Golding uses this beast as a symbol for the evil in the heart of every person, even children, and ultimately shows the consequence of what the world would look like if all rule and authority were removed or rejected.

Golding’s book, selling more than 15 million copies, is popular not because it’s so unbelievable but because it’s so frighteningly possible. The underlying moral logic of this story is an imaginary outworking of the truth about the nature and condition of our own hearts. We are people who constantly reject God’s rule and authority over our lives.

Imagine a society without any authority or rule. Would this society be free? Why or why not?

Lesson SummaryIn the previous session, we saw how Adam and Eve rejected God’s good

rule over their lives and were forced to leave the garden of Eden. As the biblical story line progresses, we see how humanity descended into deeper and deeper sin. But God chose not to leave humanity in their sinful state. He chose Abraham to become the father of a great nation—the nation of Israel.

Voices from the Culture

“I believe man suffers from an appalling ignorance of his own nature. I produce my own view, in the belief that it may be something like the truth.” 1

–William Golding


Expanded Lesson Content

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When Abraham’s descendants were enslaved, God rescued them and brought them into His promised land. Yet the Israelites resisted God’s law and chose to disobey.

In this session, we will see how, without a king, the Israelites did what was right in their own eyes, leading to an ongoing cycle of sin, judgment, and deliverance. God raised up deliverers who brought temporary peace but ultimately demonstrated their own need for salvation. The Book of Judges shows us the idolatry that results from rejecting God’s authority. As those who follow King Jesus, we are freed from this pattern of sin and empowered to do what is right in God’s eyes.

1. The absence of a king leads us to do whatever we want (Judg. 21:25).When we encounter the Israelites in the Book of Judges, we see that

God has been faithful in keeping His promises. Through the faithful leadership of Moses (and Joshua, after him), the Israelites have entered into their promised paradise, a land flowing with milk and honey. God first conquered the slave masters of Egypt, and then He brought down the great walls of Jericho so the people could finally take possession of the land of Canaan.

A people who experienced God’s salvation, a people who experienced God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises, a people now living in the promised land—all should be well, right? Perhaps we’d expect the Book of Judges to be a description of a utopian society filled with peace and happiness. But here is the description from Judges 21:25:

25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever he wanted.

Growing up, I loved asking my parents for something and hearing them reply, “Whatever you want.” At a restaurant: “Mom, what can I order?” My mouth would water if she answered, “Whatever you want!” At a toy store: “What can I get for my birthday?” I would burst with excitement if my dad answered, “Whatever you want!” Even as adults, we don’t outgrow the thrill of being able to get whatever we want, do whatever we want, and go wherever we want.

Imagine receiving a massive inheritance of millions of dollars to spend on whatever you want. What if more limitations could be removed? What if even the law of the land no longer applied to you?

What would your life look like if you could truly fulfill every inclination of your heart without the fear of consequence or outside authority?

Further Commentary“Lest the reader fail to grasp the point of the final narrative and the Book of Judges as a whole, the narrator concludes with the refrain heard earlier in 17:6. This refrain must be interpreted as a commentary on the events of this chapter. Nothing about the foregoing events is right in Yahweh’s eyes. These are apostate Israelites acknowledging no king, neither divine nor human.” 2

–Daniel I. Block


The description in the Book of Judges that “everyone did whatever he wanted” is not a description of blessing but of judgment. Throughout the Book of Judges, God shows us what life would be like if we let the desires of our hearts instead of God rule us. What did the Israelites look like when they rejected God’s kingship over them and pursued their own desires? Here’s a summary from Judges 2:11-13: “The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. They worshiped the Baals and abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods from the surrounding peoples and bowed down to them. They infuriated the Lord, for they abandoned Him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.”

Even though the Israelites occupied the promised land, they didn’t fully conquer the land of Canaan. Because of their half-hearted obedience, they permitted foreign nations to live among them. The Canaanite culture proved to be a source of constant temptation.

Imagine for a moment a group of people who were raised in a Third World country, people who have struggled to have clean water to drink and food to eat or a roof over their heads. Now imagine they are dropped off in a place like Las Vegas. What temptations would they face?

The Israelites saw all that the Canaanites had, and they wanted it all. In a sense, they were saying to themselves, “We want to worship gods that will give us all that stuff!” So the Israelites rejected God’s kingship and authority over them and did whatever they wanted. Literally, in the Hebrew, everyone did “what was right in his own eyes.”

They began worshiping the Baals and the Ashtoreths because they determined that it was right for them to do so. They themselves became their own final authority. Their sin was the rejection of all outside rule and reign, except for the desires of their own sinful hearts.

This is the picture of what we will ultimately end up looking like if we continue in our pursuit of the things our hearts desire. On the surface, the fight may seem like it’s between wanting God or wanting that fancy house, but at the root, the fight is for who will be King.

Will God be my King or will I be the king? Will God determine my future and my wants or will I? Will God determine whom I should marry or will I? Will God determine how much I should give or will I? Will God determine where I live and work or will I? Will God be my final authority or will I do whatever I want? Sin always wants to kill the true King so we can sit on the throne ourselves.

What are some ways we are tempted to do what is right in our own eyes? What are the dangers of deciding for ourselves what is right for me or right for you?

Further Commentary“Baal was the Canaanite god of storm and rain, while Ashtoreth (also known as Astarte) was his consort, the goddess of love and fertility. Both of these deities were worshiped under a variety of local manifestations and were perceived as the key to agricultural success in the land of Canaan.” 3

–Iain Duguid, HCSB Study Bible

Voices from Church History“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ ” 4

–C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Voices from Church History“Once for all, then, a short precept is given thee: Love, and do what thou wilt: whether thou hold thy peace, through love hold thy peace; whether thou cry out, through love cry out; whether thou correct, through love correct; whether thou spare, through love do thou spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.” 5

–Augustine (354-430)

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2. Doing whatever we want leads to a pattern of judgment and deliverance (Judg. 3:7-11). The Book of Judges shows us a pattern:

1. Sin: The Israelites would do what was evil in the Lord’s sight by trading God’s rule and reign for their own and worshiping the gods of the foreign nations.

2. Judgment: As a way of disciplining them, God allowed the very nations that had lured His people to then conquer and oppress them.

3. Repentance: This discipline would eventually lead God’s people to repent and cry out to the Lord for rescue.

4. Rescue: God would raise up a judge to restore His people. We see this pattern happening in Judges 3:

7 The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; they forgot the Lord their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs. 8 The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and He sold them to Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim, and the Israelites served him eight years.

9 The Israelites cried out to the Lord. So the Lord raised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, as a deliverer to save the Israelites. 10 The Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and the Lord handed over Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him. 11 Then the land was peaceful 40 years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Have you ever walked through a season of life that followed this pattern? Let’s not forget, the Book of Judges is not just a story about the Israelites who lived thousands of years ago; rather, it’s a story given for us! The apostle Paul claimed Israel’s story was written down as an example for us all (1 Cor. 10:6).

For this reason, when we read about the Israelites, we shouldn’t be quick to judge. We’re tempted to think, How in the world could they do such a thing? How could they experience God’s love toward them in setting them free from their enslavement in Egypt, feel God’s power in bringing down the walls of Jericho, receive God’s faithfulness in giving them the promised land, and then reject Him as King and go after other gods?

But the question should not only be how could they do that but how can we do that? How can we experience God’s love toward us in sending His Son to die for us while we were still sinners, feel God’s power in setting us free from the power of sin and death, receive God’s faithfulness in adopting us to be His sons and daughters, and then still reject Him as our King and go after other things we think will make us happy? Our God would be completely justified in destroying an ungrateful and idolatrous people like the Israelites—and like us.

Further Commentary“Othniel provides a ‘lived illustration’ of the cycles of oppression and salvation (2:11-19). God’s people are not left to chance. It is the Lord who directs their corporate life…The people are handed over to a foreign oppressor (3:8) and then the oppressor is given into the hand of Caleb’s nephew, Othniel (v. 10; cf. 1:12-14). This exchange of power happens because the Spirit of the Lord comes upon Othniel. The Spirit’s actions increase throughout the book as evidence and display of God’s power and faithfulness on behalf of a weak and errant people (e.g., 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14).” 6

–W. Brian Aucker, Gospel Transformation Bible

Further Commentary“When the Israelites turn to other gods, God removes his protection and power from them, and foreign raiders or invaders overrun Israel and oppress them. Then God raises up a deliverer who rescues Israel from their oppressors. In the book of Judges these deliverers or tribal rulers are called ‘judges,’ but only rarely do they actually do any legal ruling or judging. However, soon after the rescue Israel will repeatedly plunge back into idolatry, even worse than before. So God once again removes his powerful protection, another enemy invades, and the cycle repeats.” 7

–J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays


But He doesn’t. The good news we find not just in the Gospels but even back in the Old Testament Book of Judges is that when we are faithless, our God is still faithful. In His faithfulness, He doesn’t destroy us, but He does discipline us. If He were to destroy us, He would not be displaying His faithfulness. If He were to fail to discipline us, He would not be displaying His faithfulness because He would be leaving us in our idolatry.

What are the consequences for persistent rebellion against God? Do you see God’s discipline in your life as a blessing or a curse?

In His wisdom, God often uses the idol we’ve desired as His means of discipline. In other words, He gives us what we ask for. Through this, He shows us how utterly unsatisfying our idols are, and He allows us to experience the folly of going after other gods that we might turn to Him once again.

You may have gone after the god of comfort and wealth only to find that wealth now makes you feel enslaved and fearful. Though living in wealth, you feel poor and are unable to experience the joy of giving to others in need because you think first of yourself and your debts.

Maybe you rejected all biblical counsel from loved ones and went after the god of approval by marrying someone you knew didn’t really love Jesus. And now God is drawing you close to Him as you experience the sadness of having a spouse who cannot relate to you at the deepest level.

We could go on and on. What idol have you pursued? How has God disciplined you? Because He is faithful, He will never leave us in our idolatry. Because He’s faithful, no matter how miserable life seems, there is always hope.

What are the signs that we are rejecting God’s authority and substituting our own?

After 8 years of serving King Cushan, the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and He heard their cries. He raised up their first judge, Othniel, to deliver them, and they had peace for 40 years. But once they had peace and were delivered from the consequences of their sin, the people again turned away from God, and the Israelites were faithless once again.

And once again, God was faithful. This time the agent of God’s discipline was Eglon, the king of Moab, but like a hardened child, it took the Israelites 18 years to repent this time. The second judge that God raised up was Ehud, and they had peace for 80 years. But this cycle of sin, judgment, repentance, and rescue didn’t just happen once or twice, it would happen 12 times through the Book of Judges.

Voices from the Church“Repentance is a transformation of our loyalties, from a world of idols to the one true King.” 8

–Daniel Montgomery and Mike Cosper

Further Commentary“The Book of Judges provides a theological explanation for Israel’s lack of cooperation and success. While Joshua was alive, God reminded Israel He had brought the nation out of Egypt and into Canaan. He stated He would never break His covenant with Israel and instructed them not to make covenants with the Canaanites or to worship their gods. Israel obeyed God while Joshua and the elders of his generation lived, but following their deaths the Israelites began to disobey God and worship the Canaanite gods…Throughout the time of the judges, the cycle of rebellion, punishment, cry for help, salvation, and rebellion continued. Whenever the Israelites cried out for deliverance, God sent a judge to rescue them. God’s faithfulness stood in stark contrast to Israel’s unfaithfulness.” 9

–Robert Dunston, Biblical Illustrator

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As we painfully read about this cycle happening over and over again, here are some incredible truths we see: • God will not tolerate His people rejecting His kingship. We see this time and

time again for those that are His. It is a monumental waste of time to run away from Him. He will pursue us with His love over and over again.

• Repeatedly rejecting God will harden us and cause us to refuse repentance more and more. The people suffered longer durations and suffered more intensely because it took them longer to cry out to God.

• God longs to keep His promise to His people. Despite their unfaithfulness, He is always faithful.

• God’s grace is always greater than our sin. The rest God provided was always longer than the oppression.

What is the impact of these truths on your own struggle against sin? How does continual repentance change the pattern of sin?

3. Imperfect deliverers cannot bring about lasting salvation (Judg. 16:21-30).As the Book of Judges progresses, we discover that it was not just the

people who were living in sin; there was also a degradation of the judges themselves. These deliverers became more reckless and at times dishonest and bloodthirsty. God still used these judges to bring about salvation for the Israelites, but the Bible shows us that even the deliverers were deeply flawed. The salvation they were able to bring was not lasting.

Samson was the twelfth and perhaps the most famous of all the judges. From birth, he was declared to be a Nazirite, one who was dedicated to God and who abided by three vows: 1. Never defiling oneself by touching a dead body2. Never drinking alcohol or eating fermented foods3. Never cutting his hair

Though Samson was a Nazarite, we find out fairly quickly that he killed a lot of people and was not a novice to drinking. But the one vow he kept was letting his hair grow, that is, until Delilah came along: “So Delilah said to Samson, ‘Please tell me, where does your great strength come from? How could someone tie you up and make you helpless?’ ” (Judg. 16:6).

The back-and-forth between Samson and Delilah, where he deceives her again and again before finally telling the secret of his strength, makes us wonder about the man’s sanity. Reading the account, you want to scratch your head and say, “Samson, you’re being an idiot!” Surely after the second or third time Samson woke up with the Philistines hiding in his room, he should have realized, This woman is trying to kill me! Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice…

Voices from the Church“In the hearts of the people is a groping, inarticulate conviction that, if the right ruler would only come along, the world would be healed of all its wounds. Creation is headless and desperately searching for its head.” 10

–Richard Lovelace


Again, we must remember that this has been written down as instruction for us. Lest we miss the big cycle of sin in the Book of Judges, we get another look at the cycle of sin in the life of Samson. Judges 16 is a picture of Samson failing to take seriously the threats of sin. Isn’t this what we do all the time? We run back to our sin over and over again. We fall for its lies, just like Samson did. We choose to listen to the smooth-talking “Delilah” even though we know temptation leads to disaster. We know in our minds that God is bigger and better than anything sin has to offer, but still we fall for the same lies.

Why wasn’t Samson ever afraid of the Philistines in the room? Because of his strength. After all, he had killed over a thousand men with a donkey’s jawbone and had carried a gate for 40 miles in order to escape trouble. In the past, he had leaned on his power in such a way that allowed him to escape any real danger.

You and I may not have incredible physical strength, but what great power do we have? We have the power of God’s forgiveness, His mercy, and His grace. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we can be confident of God’s forgiveness. When we, like Samson, are in a place of temptation, we recognize that the end game of sin is to kill us. And yet because of Christ’s Spirit dwelling in us, we have the power to resist, the powerful freedom of knowing that Christ has taken sin’s consequences upon Himself.

God forbid we take God’s power for granted, as if His strength is merely an opportunity to sin more! God’s forgiveness is what gives us strength to fight lies, not fall for them.

What are the signs we are taking God’s forgiveness for granted? Samson’s sin was irrational. In what ways do our own sinful choices fail to make sense rationally?

In the last part of Samson’s life (Judg. 16), we see the consequences of treating sin lightly but also a display of God’s enduring faithfulness:

21 The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles, and he was forced to grind grain in the prison. 22 But his hair began to grow back after it had been shaved.

23 Now the Philistine leaders gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said:

Our god has handed over our enemy Samson to us. 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god and said:

Our god has handed over to us our enemy who destroyed our land and who multiplied our dead.

Further Commentary“The picture of Samson that is portrayed in this chapter is not a pleasant one. This man is indeed all brawn and no brain. He knows Delilah’s motives from the beginning (v. 6), but instead of fleeing from disaster he plays with its agents. Stupidly he plays with his strength and lets others play with it as well. This is more than the seduction of a red-blooded male. It is the seduction of one who claims to be and in the mind of the narrator was called to be the servant of Yahweh. In the end his vitality is drained away, and he is left without strength, without sight, without freedom, without dignity, and without God! But like the fortunes predicted for Israel in Deuteronomy 28–30, for Samson there will be grace in the end. The phoenix will rise from the ashes to see another day…In a concluding note the narrator acknowledges the significance of this act: in his death Samson killed more Philistines than he had slain in his life. In popular circles at least this statement is generally interpreted as a vindication of Samson. While he may have wasted his life, in the end he does indeed begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. But the narrator’s comment should not be interpreted as a compliment. This is a tragic note. This man, with his unprecedentedly high calling and with his extraordinary divine gifts, has wasted his life. Indeed, he accomplishes more for God dead than alive.” 11

–Daniel I. Block

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25 When they were drunk, they said, “Bring Samson here to entertain us.” So they brought Samson from prison, and he entertained them. They had him stand between the pillars.

26 Samson said to the young man who was leading him by the hand, “Lead me where I can feel the pillars supporting the temple, so I can lean against them.” 27 The temple was full of men and women; all the leaders of the Philistines were there, and about 3,000 men and women were on the roof watching Samson entertain them. 28 He called out to the Lord: “Lord God, please remember me. Strengthen me, God, just once more. With one act of vengeance, let me pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Samson took hold of the two middle pillars supporting the temple and leaned against them, one on his right hand and the other on his left. 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” He pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the leaders and all the people in it. And the dead he killed at his death were more than those he had killed in his life.

Samson used to roam free, following every desire of his eyes, but now with his eyes gouged out, he is forced to walk in circles. What hope is there for Israel if even their judges have lost all their strength? It seems as though God has finally finished with Israel, to the point even their judge is living so sinfully that He has left Samson without his noticing (Judg. 16:20). Because of his weakness, Samson is surrounded by his enemies. But he cries out to the Lord, “Please remember me, strengthen me, God, just once more.” God had not abandoned His people; He was faithful to bring Samson to feel something he had never felt before—weakness. And when Samson became weak, that’s when he truly became strong. Samson pushed down the pillars, and the Scripture says that the “dead he killed at his death were more than those he had killed in his life.”

What is the significance of Samson the Deliverer’s need to be delivered?

ConclusionFor Christians, when we’re at our weakest, repenting of sin with deep

humility, there is the greatest hope. You may look at your life and think, But I’m too weak. You can never be too weak because it is then that our God is strong.

Another One was rejected by His people, captured to be killed in weakness, but by His death we received our salvation. Jesus is the One to whom all the judges pointed. He is the true and better Judge whom we need to crown as King. And only when He sits on the throne will we be liberated from the tyranny of our sinful hearts to do what is right in God’s eyes.

Voices from the Church“The ultimate deliverer, Jesus Christ, has no flaws. So his rescue of those who believe in him is complete and everlasting.” 12

–Michael Williams


For helps on how to get started using The Gospel Project, ideas on how to better lead groups, or additional ideas for leading a specific session, visit: www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject.

Study Material - “Judges: Rebellion and Rescue”—Chapter 7 from How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens by Michael Williams

- “The Period of the Judges”—Episode 4, Act 2 from Telling God’s Story by Preben Vang and Terry G. Carter

- “Conquest and Canaanization: Good News and Bad News”—Chapter 5 from Living God’s Story by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays

- Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including “Time of the Judges,” can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project.

References1. William Golding, quoted in William Golding: A Critical Study, by Usha George (New Delhi: Atlantic, 2008), 4.2. Daniel I. Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 1999), 583.3. Iain Duguid, HCSB Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2010), 392, n. 2:6-13.4. C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), 75.5. Augustine, Homilies on the First Epistle of John, 7.8, quoted in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, vol. 7, ed. Philip Schaff (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1888, reprint 2004), 504.6. W. Brian Aucker, Gospel Transformation Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), 304, n. 3:7-11.7. J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Living God’s Word (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), 67.8. Daniel Montgomery and Mike Cosper, Faithmapping (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), 40.9. Robert Dunston, “Time of the Judges,” Biblical Illustrator (Spring 2004): 58-59.10. Richard Lovelace, Renewal as a Way of Life (Downers Grove: IVP, 1985), 41.11. Daniel I. Block, Judges, Ruth, vol. 6 in The New American Commentary, 463, 469.12. Michael Williams, How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), 39.


Tip of the WeekHow Do I Organize Care Groups? (Part 2)

• Contact members weekly. The contact may not be a visit, but some kind of contact should be made weekly to every member. Remember it is about building relationships.

• Make short but frequent contacts. The contacts don’t have to be long letters, visits, or phone calls. Shorter and more frequent visits are probably more productive than one long, infrequent visit.

Sermon Podcasts

Bill Kynes: “A People Without a King”

Hayes Wicker: “A Nation of Thorns and Snares”

Video

Bruce Waltke & George Guthrie: “How Should We Read the Difficult Stories of the Old Testament”

Find links to these at gospelproject.com/additionalresources

Additional Resources

WRITERS

The Gospel Project®Adult Leader Guide HCSBVolume 3, Number 1 Fall 2014

Eric GeigerVice President, Church Resources

Ed StetzerGeneral Editor

Trevin WaxManaging Editor

Daniel DavisContent Editor

Josh HayesContent and Production Editor

Philip NationDirector, Adult Ministry Publishing

Faith WhatleyDirector, Adult Ministry

Send questions/comments to: Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0102; or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com.

Printed in the United States of America

The Gospel Project®: Adult Leader Guide HCSB (ISSN 2163-0917; Item 005438061) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2014 LifeWay Christian Resources.

For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, e-mail [email protected], fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail [email protected], fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address.

We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

All Scripture quotations marked (MSG) are taken from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Unit 1: Kendell Easley is a professor of biblical studies at Union University, in Memphis, Tennessee, and is the director of the Master of Christian Studies and Doctor of Ministry programs for Union’s Stephen Olford Center. He has written ongoing curriculum for more than 20 years. Kendell is married to Nancy, and they have one married young adult son.

Unit 2: Halim Suh and his wife, Angela, have three kids and live in Austin, Texas, where he is pastor of teaching and theology at The Austin Stone Community Church. He is the author (with Matt Carter) of two Threads studies: Creation Unraveled and Creation Restored. Halim has a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Unit 3: Jason C Dukes is married to Jen, and they have six children. He helped start WestpointChurch.org and ReproducingChurches.com and now pastors First Baptist Church, Booneville, Mississippi. He’s the author of Live Sent and Beyond My Church, and he periodically blogs at SENTkids.com.

About the Writers

summary and goal - the woodlands...

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