Judges 1 - Introduction to the Book of Judges | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Judges 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Judges 1 we are reading what are the words of the prophet Samuel. We won’t learn about him personally until the book of Samuel, partially written by him, and partially written by other prophets Nathan and Gad. Samuel is the last of the Judges and the first of the Prophets if you discount Moses. In this chapter we are given an overview of the failings of eight and a half of the tribes to drive out the prior inhabitants of the land before them.This is going to set the scene for the rest of the book where they fall away from the Lord repeatedly in worsening cycles. This is sometimes called the cycle of apostasy, a process which many individuals also go through in their own lives. It is a reflection of lawlessness, not being submitted to God. Judges 1 described the defeat of Adonibezek at the hands of the tribes of Judah and Simeon.Adonibezek was a king who defeated seventy tribal chiefs and tortured them. After his defeat he suffered the same fate as what he inflicted on others. This chapter is a symbol of completion, but completion is mutilated by this king, and this chapter highlights how the tribes of Israel actually failed to complete the job of subduing Adonibezek who symbolises the idolatry… his name is lord of lightning and is a symbol of the false god baal.Even though Adonibezek is defeated and dies at Jerusalem, a symbol of peace, the picture of the failure and inability to complete the job is the big message of this chapter. The consequences of this flow in the rest of the book.