Judges 1-5 (The Daily Walk Bible).

Judges 2:11-23 shows us the continuing cycle in Judges: (1) the Israelites do what is evil in the sight of God; (2) God allows the nation (tribe) to be conquered and oppressed by a neighboring nation; (3) the people cry to God; and (4) God sends a judge to deliver them.

Does this sometimes play out for us in our lives as well? First we sin. Then the indwelling Spirit is grieved and we no longer experience the love, joy and peace of God in our lives. Next we are convicted of our sin and we cry out to God in repentance. Finally, our day to day relationship is restored and we experience His blessing once again. Unfortunately, this cycle tends to repeat over and over and over again.

How do we break this chain? By doing was Jesus says in Luke 9:23 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” We devote each day to God and intentionally live for Him!

When we read through Judges we have to think of Israel not as one big country, but at a group of related tribes. When we do that the timeline and the details begin to make more sense.