Samson gets a bad wrap from many pastors and commentators. He is often credited with breaking his Nazarite vows. He is portrayed as a drunkard with no care for the uncleanness of corpses. The only part of the vow that
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S3 E51 – The Weakness of the Strong – Judges 14
S3 E50 – Becoming Judge – Judges 13
In this chapter we begin the story of the final and the most popular judge of Israel. Samson, the strong man who we know to have been a man of great strength. But the story of Samson does not begin
Read moreS3 E49 – A Conflict of Pride – Judges 12
Just after Jephthah’s great victory he, like Gideon is confronted by the tribe of Ephraim for the slight to their honor of not being invited to the war. Unlike Gideon, Jephthah decides to escalate the confrontation into war, and the
Read moreS3 E48 – The Hero’s Tragedy – Judges 11
Jephthah is a Biblical character that is often trotted out as the epitome of the tragic hero. A man who gives his all, including those he loves, for the success that he so desperately craves. The tragedy of Jephthah is
Read moreS3 E47 – The Broken Pattern – Judges 10
Throughout the book of Judges we have seen a pattern that was spoken of clearly in chapter 2, and which has been repeated throughout the book. Well, this chapter we see the pattern begin again, but when we examine it
Read moreS3 E46 – The Hero’s Downfall – Judges 9
The story of Gideon is over, but for the first time in the course of Judges, we are told a story that does not include a single Judge. Instead, we are treated to a narrative that covers the lives of
Read moreS3 E45 – The Hero’s Homecoming – Judges 8
The initial battle for Israel is over, but there is more fighting to be done. Just like the heroes of legend and popular media, Gideon is on a journey, and as the war wraps up, he takes those final steps
Read moreS3 E44 – The Hero’s Weakness – Judges 7
The story of Gideon is one of the more famous stories in the book of Judges. It is the story of a commander who is forced by God, to whittle down his own forces before facing an enemy of massive
Read moreS3 E43 – Courage and Doubt – Judges 6
The next judge in the book of Judges is Gideon. A mighty man of valor who will fight the enemy before him with only a small band of unarmed combatants. A man who is called by many a coward when
Read moreS3 E42 – The Story of the Song – Judges 5
Judges 5 is a unique chapter in the book of Judges. While every other chapter is narrative and tells of the exploits of one judge or another, chapter 5 is a song that was sung by Barak and Deborah in
Read moreS3 E41 – Who’s the Judge? – Judges 4
In chapter 4 we are introduced to a new judge for Israel. And the identity of this judge is quite controversial. The common assertion that is made is that it is Deborah who is the judge of chapters 4 and
Read moreS3 E40 – Imperfect Saviors – Judges 3
There are 12 Judges spoken of in the book of Judges but we only read stories of 6 of them. And when we stop and examine the sort of men that we are told of in these longer narratives, we
Read moreS3 E39 – The Cycle of Sin – Judges 2
There is in the stories of Judges a cycle that repeats over and over and over again. It is a seven step cycle that starts and ends with Israel in a state of sin and seeking salvation. And this cycle
Read moreS3 E38 – The State of Sin – Judges 1
The book of Judges is a difficult read for many Christians. This book is violent and disturbing and often confusing. It is the most R rated book in the Bible and few of the stories contained in this book end
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