Worksheet - Judges 20 - 21

Apply 1 (mini lesson) From reading Judges 20 - 21 Study Questions:  Samson died after being the judge over Israel for 20 years.  The remaining chapters of Judges show a very dark time in the history of Israel, for their idolatry had led them so far from God that they were not even crying out for deliverance any longer, but settling in with the idolatry and heathen lifestyles of all around them.  A key repeated phrase for the remaining chapters of the book of Judges is first stated in Judges 17:6 saying that there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his "own eyes".  We saw last week what Proverbs 14:12 tells us happens when we judge by our own eyes rather than God's about what is right or wrong.  Proverbs 14:12 - "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."   We saw in the last lesson how the man named Micah set up worship as "he saw it" in his own home with a house to his gods of silver and yet he hired a Levite to be the priest over it.  He was mixing different religions together hoping to get something right.  Along came the tribe of Dan and they wanted the gods and the Levite priest to come to their new place of dwelling so he left the house of Micah and  went with them.  Now, we come to chapters 20 and 21 at the end of our course in Judges... Let's review the horrible event that has just happened in the city of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin from the facts given in chapter 19 of Judges.  A Levite was traveling through the area with his concubine and could not find a home willing to take them in for the night for lodging.  They thought they would just sleep out on the street in the town square, but an old man begged them to not do that and come to his home instead.  He was willing to help them out.  However, the 'men' in the town saw the Levite 'man' and came to the old man's house to ask that he be brought 'out' to them.  We saw that they wanted to have relations with him just like the men did with the male angels that were visiting Lot's house before the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah.  As Lot did, in Genesis 19, this old man does in Judges 19 ... they both offered their virgin daughters 'instead' of the guest 'male', but they do not want a woman but a male.  The old man put the guest male's concubine out there instead of him.  They abused her all night and in the morning she was holding on to the threshold of the home and finally died from her injuries.  It is such a sad story.  Well, to get the attention of all the tribes in Israel so that they would know just how bad the sons of Benjamin from the city of Gibeah had treated them and what they had done to his wife (concubine, a legal wife), the Levite cut his dead wife up in 12 pieces and sent to each tribe.  Judges 19 ends with verse 30 - All who saw it said, "Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day.   .... Consider it ..... take counsel ..... and speak up !"  ... That is something I would like to say about so many things that happen in our nation today. What does Jesus say our world will become like before He finally returns for us?  What events does He refer back to?  Luke 17:24-30 How does Paul describe the last days to Timothy as far as the behavior of mankind goes?  2 Timothy 3:1-8 What does Peter tell us Lot went through everyday in regard to the lawless lifestyle in Sodom & Gomorrah?  Describe how He helped Lot and the reason why, and what will eventually happen to these unprincipled men who indulge in corrupt behavior and despise authority...  2 Peter 2:6-10 In Judges 20, the tribes of Israel "do decide" to "speak out" and they come together as one man, in unity, to the Lord at Mizpah.  The chiefs of all the people "took their stand".  How many foot soldiers were there that drew the sword for battle? Judges 20:2 - The sons of Benjamin heard that the tribes were gathering and wanted to know - "How did this wickedness take place?" ... so the Levite, who was the husband of the woman that the men of Gibeah had murdered, told them how he came to spend the night there with his concubine and although the men wanted to kill him, they ravished her in this way until she had died.  What did the people say in one voice concerning this? Judges 20:8-11 Men were sent through the entire tribes of the sons of Benjamin and were asked the question:  "What is this wickedness that has taken place among you?" ... and then they were each encouraged to ... "deliver up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel." (v.12,13).. What did the sons of Benjamin do concerning the request to handle this in a civil and right way?  Judges 20:13 - Not only that, but what else did the tribe of Benjamin decide to do in order to protect the criminals of their own from the other tribes of Israel?  Judges 20:14-18 - We have a CIVIL WAR going on when this could have been handled and the crime taken care of.  The sons of Israel went to Bethel and inquired of God to ask who should go up first against the sons of Benjamin.  What tribe did God say should go first?  Judges 20:18 - How many sons of Israel fell on the first day of battle and what did they do in response?  Judges 20:19-23 - What did the Lord tell them to do once again? Judges 20:24 -   How many of the sons of Israel fell in the battle on the second day they fought Benjamin?  Judges 20:25 - This time, all the people of Israel went to Bethel instead of Mizpah.  Bethel was where the ark of the covenant was and the priest was there to make the appropraite offerings before the Lord on their behalf.  What did the Lord reveal to them through Phinehas, the priest, when they inquired of the Lord about the battle against Benjamin; if it should continue?  Judges 20:26-28 - The sons of Benjamin took down about 30 men of Israel and thought "They are struck down before us, as at the first.", but the sons of Israel thought of a way to trick them.  They acted as though they were fleeing the battle and drew the sons of Benjamin outside of the city to the highways.  10,000 choice men from all of Israel came against Gibeah and the battle became fierce.  How many did the Lord take down from the tribe of Benjamin that day?  Judges 20:35 - Remember the number they started with?  Look back at Judges 20:15.  What is the difference, showing how many are left now?  The next section goes back and describes how the Lord helped Israel to ambush the sons of Benjamin.  600 of the men fled and hid in the wilderness in the rock Rimmon and remained there four months.....  In Judges 21, we see all of Israel before the Lord in Bethel weeping because one tribe was now missing from their tribes.  They wondered what they would do to give the remnant of Benjamin, the 600 that had hidden themselves "wives".  Why could they not give any of their own daugthers?  Judges 21:1 - They investigated to find out if there were any families who had not come to gather as one to punish the men of Gibeah of the sons of Israel for what had been done to the Levite's concubine and the fact that the sons of Benjamin would not take care of it themselves delivering up the worthless men who did the criminal acts...they found out that the family of Jabesh-gilead had not come.  Therefore, they struck them and only let the young virgins who had not known men survive.  Those 400 virgins would be given to the 600 men of Benjamin that was left .... but that was 200 that still would not have a wife to continue the name of the tribe with children, etc... How did these 200 men get themselves a wife?  Explain from Judges 21:19-24 How does this sad book in Israel's history end?  What does the final verse, verse 25 of Judges 21 remind us of yet once again? Judges 21:25 -    Apply 1:  Why is it easier to "tolerate" sin among the brethren than to confront it and deal with it?    Read & comment on:   Judges 20:13 - Compare and comment on:   1 Corinthians 5:1-13 - Ephesians 4:14-15 -   How can you apply this to your life? ...    Your summary of all of today's lesson:      Your prayer for today:       The purpose of the Apply 1 mini lesson is .....to help you focus on at least "one" thing that you can apply to your life from the chapters read today.

Worksheet - Judges 17 - 19

Apply 1 (mini lesson) From reading Judges 17 - 19 Study Questions:  1.  Samson died after being the judge over Israel for 20 years.  The remaining chapters of Judges show a very dark time in the history of Israel for their idolatry had led them so far from God that they were not even crying out for deliverance any longer, but settling in with the idolatry and heathen lifestyles of all around them.  A key repeated phrase for the remaining chapters of the book of Judges is first stated in Judges 17:6 - What does it say? According to Proverbs 14:12, what happens when we choose a path that looks right in our own eyes?  2.  We are told of a man named Micah who lived in the hill country of Ephraim.  He had stolen 1100 pieces of silver from his mother who cursed about it in front of him and then he confessed that he had stolen it. She blessed her son in the name of the Lord and yet dedicated some of the money to have a graven image and a molten image made by a silversmith for their idol worship. Micah also had a shrine (house) built to house the gods and made an ephod (apron) like the priests of Israel had worn and consecrated one of his sons to become his priest.    There are so many things wrong with this picture !!  We see stealing...idolatry...lying...cursing...mixed in with limited knowledge of the Lord and His ways.  What had God instructed Israel about in Leviticus 26:1 concerning these kind of things?  3.  A young man who was from the family of Judah, who was a Levite, was traveling through the land of Ephraim, looking for a place to stay and he came to the house of Micah.  Micah "hired" him to live there with them to be a father to him and a priest to him.  What would he "pay" him that was obviously from his mother's money jar?  Judges 17:10 - 4.  Once again, with limited knowledge of God's words and ways, Micah feels that just because he will have a "Levite" serving as priest now, his way will be "prosperous" (v.13).. but in reality, this is not the tabernacle of God where the priest was to perform his services ... and this was not a priest of the sons of Aaron, but we learn of his name and origin later and know that he would not have been from the house of priests...and these idols were forbidden by God.  What do the following verses tell us happen when we do not have the full and correct knowledge of God? Isaiah 5:13 - Hosea 4:6 - It's important that we "know" God through His own revelation to us through His prophets and apostles and that we "worship" Him according to His instructions, not our own.  It "matters" that we obey Him and not just use His Name as some formula and make Him into "our own image".  What will happen to those who never really know God, but claim to know Him, and yet still live a life of "lawlessness", according to Jesus? Matthew 7:21-23 - What kind of worshipers does God seek to have and truly bless? John 4:19-24 - It is easy to try and make God in "our own image" instead of submitting to Him as ones who are made in "His" image.  Amen? 5.  The tribe of the Danites were seeking an inheritance for themselves and had sent out five men from Zorah & Eshtaol, to spy out the land and search for a place.  They came to the hill country of Ephraim and to the house of Micah to lodge there.  They recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite, and asked him why he was there and what he was doing.  His words were:  "Micah hired me and I have become his priest."  Rather than realizing what was so wrong with this picture, the Danites just thought they also could get a word from the Lord for the desires they hoped to fulfill, so they asked him to inquire of God for them to know if the way they were going would be prosperous.  The man told them they had God's approval.  Should they trust his word to them?  Would you?  Why should they or why should you?  Can there be false priests, false prophets, or false teachers?  Yes, they are called "hirelings" because they do it for pay and not in obedience to God and His commandments. Have you ever heard a "presumptious prophet or prophecy" given as though the Lord Himself is speaking directly through a person to you?  I think those people should be very careful to act as though they are speaking directly from the Lord.  I am not saying they are "not", but I "am" saying that we should rely wholly on things spoken from the Bible alone to guide our lives by.    For me, if I sense the Lord wants me to share something with another, I don't "presume" that I have permission to say "Thus saith the Lord" to them ... instead, I go find the verse in the Bible that supports my thoughts and then I give them the actual "Word of God" and I don't have to worry that I have taken the Lord's Name presumptiously on my lips to them.  The events of their life can play out and God can lead them by His written word.  Amen? Look this verse up and give your thoughts about these things: Deuteronomy 18:20 - 22 - Even in our day, what do so many people want when they attend a church service or they are in the presence of hearing God's Word read or spoken of? 2 Timothy 4:1-4 - 6.  It is important to note that Dan 'did' get an inheritance from Joshua.  It's not that they didn't have an inheritance given them when the others got theirs, but rather that they did not hold on to their inheritance by faith and obedience, but compromised the Word of God and did not drive the enemy of the land out.  Later in time, they were driven out of their own land and became the servants of the Amorites.   Read about their God-given territory and why they were not living on it and enjoying the blessings of God from the verses below: Joshua 19:47-48 - Judges 1:34-36 - 7.  The five men departed Micah's home and came to Laish.  What did they find out about this place?  Judges 18:7-10 - 8.  The family of the Danites with 600 men armed with weapons of war set out to settle in the new area they had found and desired to have.  They passed through the hill country of Ephraim on their way and came by Micah's house.  What did they steal from his home and who did they take with them?  Judges 18:14-26 - 9.  They came upon the people of the city of Laish and overtook it, destroying it with fire.  They rebuilt the city, named it Dan, and lived there.  The people of Laish had lived quiet and secure lives and had no one to defend them because they thought they were in a safe place where they dwelt.  It is awful that Dan took their land and they did nothing to deserve that they take it from them in that way.  It was not part of the inheritance that God gave them through Joshua when they all entered the Promised Land.  What did the sons of Dan set up for themselves there and how long did they worship these idols?  Judges 18:30 - 10.  Where was the house of God at this time where they could go and have the ordained worship to God that He had commanded they do?  Judges 18:31 - 11.  In those same dark days, while there was no king in Israel, and every man did what was right in their 'own' eyes, we are told of a Levite and his concubine.  Explain from a Bible dictionary what a concubine was: 12.  This concubine was unfaithful to her legal husband and played the harlot, being gone from him for four months.  He arose to talk kindly to her and get her back.  His father-in-law was glad to see him and tried to get him to stay with him for as long as possible.  Finally, this Levite took his concubine and departed on a journey.  He did not want to stay in Jerusalem which was occupied by the Jebusites at the time, but thought it would be more hospitable to go to as far as Gilbeah where the sons of Israel were; the sons of Benjamin.  Surely they would be more hospitable to them.  However, they could not find a home that was willing to take them in.  They were about to stay in the city square on the street for the night when an old man came from working his field and noticed them.  He asked who they were and where they were from.  He told them he would take care of all of their needs if they would come stay at his house, but not to spend the night in the open square of the town.  What did the worthless fellows of this city want from the visiting man that had come to stay with the old man?  Judges 19:22 - This is so similiar to what happened in Sodom & Gomorrah with Lot.  The response to give a virgin daughter instead of the man is the same response that Lot gave if you know that account from Genesis 19:1-11 ... The old man offered these worthless fellows his virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine.  They would not listen to him, but he forced the man's concubine out to them and they abused her all night long and let her go at the approach of dawn.  She fell down at the doorway of the man's house where her master (husband) was.  When he came out ready to travel again, he found that she was dead.  He put her on the donkey and took her to his home. 13.  When he arrived home, what did he do to alert the other tribes in Israel of what had been done in the city of Gibeah among the sons of Benjamin? What did he want this to cause them all to do?  Judges 19:29-30 -    Apply 1:  What must Christians do to protect themselves and their families from the ungodly influence of today's "humanism" and "new age" idolatry and philosophies?   Read & comment on: Judges 17:6 - Judges 18:1 - Judges 18:30-31 - Judges 19:1 - Judges 21:25 - Compare and comment on: Proverbs 14:12 - Deuteronomy 4:15-20, 23-24 - Colossians 2:6-10 - Colossians 2:18-19 - 2 Timothy 2:15 - Romans 12:1,2 -   How can you apply this to your life? ...    Your summary of all of today's lesson:      Your prayer for today:       The purpose of the Apply 1 mini lesson is ..... to help you focus on at least "one" thing that you can apply to your life from the chapters read today.

Worksheet - Judges 15 - 17

Apply 1 (mini lesson)  From reading Judges 15 - 17 Study Questions: 1.  While Samson was away, his father-in-law gave his new wife to one of his companions.  He said that he thought Samson hated her intensely, but this upset Samson that his wife had been taken from him and he was not allowed to see her.  What did he do for revenge of what had happened to him?  Judges 15:3-5 2.  When the Philistines realized that Samson was the one that had done this to their produce, they found out the reason was because his wife's father had given her to his companion.  What did they do to his wife and her father?  Judges 15:6   This was the very thing they threatened her with before if she did not find out Samson's riddle (look back at Judges 14:15)   3.  In revenge toward them for killing his wife and her father, Samson struck them ruthlessly with a great slaughter.  He went down after that to live as a refugee in the cleft of the rock of Etam.  The Philistines camped in Judah and spread out in Lehi.  The men of Judah wanted to know why they were coming up against them.  They said they wanted to bind Samson to do him harm in return for the harm he had caused them.  3000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam where Samson was living and they bound him with 2 new ropes to turn him over to the Philistines.  What did they remind Samson about?  Judges 15:11 -   4.  What was Samson able to do after he was bound with 2 new ropes and handed over to the Philistines by the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him?  Judges 15:14 -   5.  How did Samson single handedly with the help of the Lord take care of 1000 Philistines?  What did he kill them with?  Judges 15:15-17 -   6.  After this, Samson became very thirsty and called to the Lord telling Him that he was dying of thirst even after the great victory He had given him.  What did the Lord do for him in answer to his prayer?  Judges 15:19- 7.  How long did Samson judge the sons of Israel in the day of the Philistines?  Judges 15:20 -   8.  Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there and was with her.  The Gazites were lying in wait to capture him all night long.  At midnight, Samson took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two posts and pulled them up along with the bars; put them on his shoulders; and carried them up to the top of the mountain opposite of Hebron.  Wow, what strength the Lord had given him.  The Philistines wanted to know where his strength came from so that they could strip him of his strength and capture him.  When they found out that he was seeing a woman in the valley of Sorek whom he loved, they talked to her and offered her alot of money to find out where his strength was so they could capture him.  She was willing to take their offer.  Her name was Delilah.  What was the first thing that Samson told her in regard to his strength when she asked him?  What happened when they tried to bind him this way?  Judges 16:6-9 - 9.  What was the next thing that Samson told her in deceit but she believed him and tried it?  Judges 16:10-12 - 10.  Delilah told him to stop deceiving her and tell her how he could be bound.  Samson 'deceived' her yet once more.  What did he tell her and what did she try?  Judges 16:13-14 - 11.  Delilah is so upset with him and says to prove that he truly loves her, he must tell her where his great strength comes from.  It says that she pressed him daily until his soul was annoyed to death (v.16).  So finally, he told her "all that was in his heart".  What true confession did he give to Delilah?  Judges 16:15-17 - 12.  When Delilah realized he had truly told her what was in his heart and was not lying to her, she called the lords of the Philistines up and they brought her money in their hands.  She made him sleep on her knees (possibly through wine or something of that nature) and had a man come and shave off the seven locks of his hair.  She began to afflict him (not sure how?) and his strength left him.  When Samson woke up, he thought he could shake himself free "as at other times", but what sad news did he not realize yet? Judges 16:20 - 13.  We have a great lesson in pride and self-sufficiency here.  Many times we know the Lord is 'helping' us through things that are difficult for us and we give Him the honor and glory.  It is easy to start believing that the strength is coming from within our own self and forget about giving the glory to God.  What happens when we try to exalt ourselves and we have pride? Comment on these verses: Proverbs 11:3 - Proverbs 16:18 - Proverbs 29:23 - Judges 7:2 - Zechariah 4:6 - 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 - 14.  The Philistines not only captured Samson, but they gouged his eyes out.  How awful!  They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains.  What kind of labor was he forced to do in prison?  Judges 16: 21 15.  Samson's hair began to grow back during his time in prison although he would never see again.  The lord of the Philistines had assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to thank him for delivering Samson into their hands.  They asked that Samson be brought out to 'amuse' them and 'entertain' them.  They made him stand between the two pillars of the temple.  The house was literally full of men and women and all the lords of the Philistines were there celebrating.  About 3000 men and women were on the roof as well looking in on it all.  Samson asked the boy who was holding his hand to let him 'feel' the pillars that the house rested upon so he could lean on them.  At this time, Samson called upon the Lord.   What did he ask of the Lord?  Judges 16:28 - 16.  Samson grasped the two middle pillars and said "Let me die with the Philistines!"... He bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it.  How great a victory was this in Samson's death as his purpose was to begin to deliver the Israelites from the power of the Philistines?  Judges 16:30 - 17.  Samson was buried between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father.  How many years had Samson been the judge of Israel at his death?  Judges 16:31 -     Apply 1:  How can a Christian resist temptation and not give into the lust of the flesh?    Read & comment on: Judges 16:15-17 Compare and comment on: Psalm 119:9 - Matthew 26:41 - Luke 11:1-4 - 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 - 2 Timothy 2:22 -   How can you apply this to your life? ...    Your summary of all of today's lesson:        Your prayer for today:       The purpose of the Apply 1 mini lesson is ..... to help you focus on at least "one" thing that you can apply to your life from the chapters read today.  It would be great to take the time to look up the verses and answers the short survey each day.  I think this will be a great guide to helping you journal your thoughts.  Usually once you begin to open up on a subject, more things come to your mind to say or pray about.  Love you, Brenda

Worksheet - Judges 12 - 14

Apply 1 (mini lesson)  From reading Judges 12 - 14 Study Questions:   1.  Why were the men of Ephraim upset with Jephthah after his victory over  the sons of Ammon across the river Jordan?  Judges 12:1 -   2.  What reason did Jephthah give the Ephraimites for not calling them to go with him to battle?  Judges 12:2-3   3.  Jephthah and the men of Gilead fought against Ephraim and defeated them.  They captured the fords of the Jordan opposite Ephraim.  How did the men of Gilead kill 42,000 men (refugees) of Ephraim at the fords of the river? Judges 12:4-6 4.  How long did Jephthah judge Israel before he died?  vs. 7 -   5.  Who judged Israel after Jephthah and for how long? vs. 8-10   6.  Who judged Israel following him and for how long? vs. 11-12   7.  After this, what judge followed and for how long did he judge the sons of Israel?  vs. 13-15     *** This is a good time to review the judges that Israel has had up to this point.  Make a list of them and how long each one served as judge, beginning with Othniel in Judges 3 and stopping at the 12th one in Judges 12.  *** 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.) 5.) 6). 7). 8). 9). 10). 11). 12). 8.  Why did the Lord give Israel into the hands of the Philistines?  How long did they serve them before the Lord delivered them?  Judges 13:1 -   9.  This time, the Lord chooses a couple to give a baby boy to that He will set apart inside the womb to be a Nazirite to Him and the one that will begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines. (Judges 13:5).  This will be the man Samson.  What do we learn about his father and mother?  Judges 13:2 - 10.  Who appeared to the mother of Samson when she was barren and what did he say to her? Judges 13:3 - 11.  What instructions did the Lord give concerning Samson when he was still in the womb; in fact before he was even conceived in the womb?  Judges 13:4-5 12.  When Samon's mother-to-be shared with his father-to-be (Manoah) about the man of God that visited her, what did she tell him about the man she saw and about his instructions to her?  Judges 13:6-7 13.  When Samson's father-to-be (Manoah) heard that his wife had been visited from a messenger of God concerning a son they would have, he wanted to hear from him also to verify what was said and what would happen.  What was Manoah's prayer to the Lord concerning this and how did God respond to his prayer?  Judges 13:8-9 14.  Finally, Manoah returned with his wife, and was able to communicate with the messenger from God.  He wanted to know what the boy's mode of life and vocation would be.  All the messenger told him was for his wife to pay attention to all that he had already told her about the boy being a Nazarite, meaning separated to God for his life's call, and that she should observe all that he told her while the baby was in the womb and beyond that.  Manoah asked that he stay and allow them to prepare him something to eat.  What did the messenger tell Manoah at that time?  Judges 13:16 - 15.  Manoah did not realize that this was the angel of the Lord he was speaking to.  He asked him what his name was and how they could honor him when his words came to pass.  What did he say back to them? Judges 13:18 - 16.  What did the angel of the Lord 'do' as Manoah offered the goat and a grain offering on the altar to the Lord in his presence?  Judges 13:19-20 17.  What did Manoah and his wife do when this happened before their eyes and what did Manoah fear might happen because of this awesome experience?  Judges 13:20-22 - 18.  Manoah's wife, Samson's mother-to-be,  believed that God would not kill them since He had given them this word about having a son and what to do concerning their son.  When the woman gave birth, they named him Samson.  As he grew up, the child was blessed by the Lord.  What happened when he came into manhood and he was in the camp of Dan between Zorah & Eshtaol according to Judges 13:25 ? 19.  Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman there from the daughters of the Philistines.  He came back and told his parents that he wanted to have her for a wife.  His parents could not understand why he could not find someone from their own people for a wife rather than from the "uncircumcised Philistines".  What did his parents "not" realize?  Judges 14:4 Many times, we do not understand things that are happening, but one thing we can know as believers, what is God going to do with them in our lives?  Romans 8:28 - 20.  When Samson and his parents went down to Timnah, as they arrived at the vineyards of Timnah, a young lion came toward Samson!  What did Samson do to the lion and how did he have this kind of strength to do it?  Judges 14:6 21.  What did Samson find later when he traveled to Timnah to take this woman for his wife?  What did he do with what he found?  Judges 14:7-9 22.  Samson made a feast for his wedding as the young men customarily did.  They brought 30 men to be companions with him at the feast.  Samson proposed a 'riddle' to them based on what had happened to him, knowing that they would not be able to guess it.  He told them if they could figure it out by the end of the 7th day, the final day of the feast, he would give them 30 wraps and 30 changes of clothes, but if they couldn't figure it out, they were all to give him that same thing.  All agreed to this.  What was the riddle he gave them? Judges 14:14 - 23.  The 30 Philistine companions that wanted to solve Samson's riddle made a threat to his new bride if she didn't get the answer for them from Samson.  What did they say they would do to her and her father's house? Judges 14:15 - 24.  Samson's new wife pressed him each of the three days left and he finally told her the answer to the riddle on the seventh day, the final day of the feast, and then she told the sons of her people that had threatened her.  Consequently they told Samson the answer to the riddle and he told them they would not have known without "plowing with his heifer" - (I find that an amusing statement - lol) - vs. 18... What did the Spirit of the Lord enable him to do in order to get the 30 changes of clothes he owed the men who had solved the riddle?  Judges 14:19 - 25.  While Samson was out fighting to get those changes of clothes for the men who had solved the riddle, what happened concerning his new wife that he hoped to come home to? Judges 14:20 Apply 1:  Why do things not always happen like we think God will cause them to happen?   Read & comment on: Judges 14:4  - Compare and comment on: Job 26:14 - Isaiah 55:9 - Proverbs 16:4 - Micah 4:11-13 - Romans 11:33 - Romans 8:28 - Ephesians 3:20 -   How can you apply this to your life? ...    Your summary of all of today's lesson:        Your prayer for today:       The purpose of the Apply 1 mini lesson is ..... to help you focus on at least "one" thing that you can apply to your life from the chapters read today.  It would be great to take the time to look up the verses and answers the short survey each day.  I think this will be a great guide to helping you journal your thoughts.  Usually once you begin to open up on a subject, more things come to your mind to say or pray about.  Love you, Brenda

Worksheet - Judges 10 - 11

Apply 1 (mini lesson)  From reading Judges 10 - 11 Study Questions: 1.  After Gideon's son, Abimelech, had killed his 70 brothers and set himself up as ruler over Israel, he was finally killed 3 years later as God Himself was taking revenge on him for killing his brothers.  We looked at the fact that we will always reap what we sow and that we cannot escape the judgments of God for our actions.  Who is the next judge that saved Israel after the death of Abimelech, and how long did he serve them?  Judges 10:2 - 2.  Who was raised up to judge Israel after his death?  What was significant about his sons?  How long did he serve as judge over the sons of Israel?  Judges 10:3-5 - 3.  After Jair's death, what did the sons of Israel do "again"? vs. 6 - Review in summary what you learned about these heathen gods from your word studies.  If you didn't do it before, take time to do that with this lesson now: 4.  This upset the Lord and so He allowed another enemy to take Israel captive.  Who did the Lord "sell" them to at this time?  Judges 10:7 - 5.  How severe was Israel's captivity this time and how long did it last before they cried out for the Lord to deliver them?  Judges 10:8-10 - 6.  God did not immediately give them a judge to deliver them this time.  What did He tell them they should do?  Judges 10:10-14 - 7.  As God gave them over to their own ways and their own chosen gods, what kind of heart attitude did the Israelites have?  Did they simply confess or did they do something to show they had truly repented and were serious about it?  What did they do?  Judges 10:15-16. 8.  Has God ever turned you over to your own ways to let your own wickedness correct you?  There comes a time when we must humble ourselves and realize that it is God Himself that we have sinned against and realize the grief we have caused His heart.  Once we do, there is a repentance that is called "godly sorrow" and it has works of repentance to prove it.  Look up the following verses and make comments on them of what you learn about true repentance of the heart: Psalm 51 - This is David's prayer of repentance after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba.  Whose heart was he concerned for in this prayer and what kind of attitude did he have about it? Psa. 51:4 - What kind of heart did David have and what did He know about God's character regarding it? Psa. 51:17 - 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 - Describe the difference given between worldly sorrow of just being 'sorry' and godly sorrow of true repentance of heart: Have you thought about your sin grieving God's heart?  What does Ephesians 4:25-32 teach you concerning God's heart when things are improper in your life as His child? 9.  Even though God had told them to go to the gods they served to get their help, what did He feel when they showed acts of true repentance from the heart and how serious they were about putting away the foreign gods to serve only Him? vs. 16 -   10.  Israel met together to decide what man among them would begin to fight against the sons of Ammon for them.  In Chapter 11, we are introduced to another of Gideon's sons that was born of a harlot.  What was his name and why was he not among the others we were told that lived in the same place with him?  Judges 11:1-3 - 11.  The sons of Israel went to Tob to ask Jephthah to come and fight for them and they would make him their chief.  Jephthah said "but you hated me and drove me away from my father's inheritance, and now you come to me because you are in trouble?"  He agreed to do it for them if they would agree to make him their head.  First, Jephthah wanted to communicate with the king of the sons of Ammon to see if they could negotiate terms peacefully.  What did he ask the king of Ammon and how did the king answer him back? Judges 11:12-13 - 12.  One thing was for sure, they were not going to give the land of their inheritance from God up.  Jephthah sets the record straight of how they did not take any of the land that belonged to Edom or Moab and how they went around these lands because the kings at that time would not let them pass through them peacefully.  What was the only reason that Israel fought king Sihon of the Amorites?  Judges 11:19-21 13.  How does Jephthah reason with the king of the sons of Ammon in regard to what His God has given them (Israel) and what their god (Chemosh) gives to them? Judges 11:21-27 - 14.  How did the king of the sons of Ammon receive Jephthah's message? Judges 11:28 - 15.  Judges 11:29-33 tells the mighty victory that Jephthah had over the sons of Ammon, and how they were subdued before Israel through him.  How was he able to do this? Judges 11:29 Read Zechariah 4:6 and comment on what the Lord says to His prophet concerning the same thing:    16.  Jephthah made a vow to the Lord before he went into battle.  God didn't ask him to, but he willingly did.  What did he vow to the Lord and how did he have to honor it later? Judges 11:30-39 17.  How did the daughters of Israel continue to remember Jephthah's daughter after that time?  Judges 11:40  ... She was truly someone to remember because of her own willingness to not hold a grudge against her father but to be pleased with how the Lord had used him for their nation.  What did she say in Judges 11:36 ? 18,  It seems hard to find a person who is good to their word anymore, but a vow to the Lord was taken very seriously and not to be broken under the Old Covenant.  What does Jesus teach us about making vows in Matthew 5:33-37 ?  How many times have you promised the Lord that 'if' He would do 'this', then 'you' would do 'that'?  Is is wise to do that?  Why or why not?   Apply 1:  When will God save idolators and people who have refused to worship Him?   Read & comment on: Judges 10:15-16 - Compare and comment on: John 6:37 - 1 Timothy 1:12-17 -   How can you apply this to your life? ...    Your summary of all of today's lesson:        Your prayer for today:       The purpose of the Apply 1 mini lesson is ..... to help you focus on at least "one" thing that you can apply to your life from the chapters read today.  It would be great to take the time to look up the verses and answers the short survey each day.  I think this will be a great guide to helping you journal your thoughts.  Usually once you begin to open up on a subject, more things come to your mind to say or pray about.  Love you, Brenda

Worksheet - Judges 8 - 9

Apply 1 (mini lesson)  From reading Judges 8 - 9 Study Questions: 1.  Gideon and his army of 300 men had caused the camp of Midian to disperse and run for their lives.  After that, Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim asking for their help.  They captured the two leaders of Midian, Oreb & Zeeb, and continued to pursue the Midianites.  How are Gideon and his men described as they continue looking for the kings of Midian, Zebah & Zalmunna?  Judges 8:4-5 - 2.  Gideon requested bread for his warriors from the men of Succoth and also from the men of Penuel.  Both times, he was mocked for not 'already' having the kings in his hands.  Gideon repaid them for their sarcasm and lack of care for him and his men after he took care of the capturing the kings himself.  Zebah & Zalmunna were in Karkor and their armies with them, about 15,000 men.  How many had already fallen?  Judges 8:10 - 3.  Gideon went up into the camp in an "unsuspected" manner, capturing both kings and routing the entire army.  As Gideon was returning home from the battle with the army and the kings in captivity, he saw a young person from Succoth.  What did he find out from him and then what did he do to the men of Succoth and later to the tower of Penuel and those men who had all withheld food from them when they were weary from battle? Judges 8:14-18 4.  Gideon asked the two kings what kind of men they killed at Tabor.  They said  they were like him, resembling the sons of a king.  Gideon said "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother.  If you would have let them live, I would let you live now."  Gideon killed the kings and took the crescent ornaments off of their camel's necks to keep as plunder.  The men of Israel asked Gideon to rule over them because he had delivered them from the hand of Midian.  What did Gideon tell them?  Judges 8:22-23 - 5.  Although Gideon was not going to become their ruler, he told them he would accept a gold earring from each of their spoils from the war.  The weight of the gold that was collected was 1700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments from the camels, and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian and the neck bands that were on their camels' necks.  What did Gideon make with all of this and what did it bring upon him and his household?  Judges 8:27 - 6.  How long did the land have rest after Gideon and his men subdued the Midianites? Judges 8:28 -   7.  Gideon (who was called Jerubbaal also) went and lived in his own house.  He had many wives who had given him 70 sons as direct descendants.  He had a concubine from Shechem who had bore a son to him by the name of Abimelech.  Gideon died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.  What happened as soon as Gideon died? Judges 8:33 -34 - 8.  Did the sons of Israel show respect and kindness to the household of Gideon after all he had done for them?  Judges 8:35 -   9.  The son of Gideon's concubine, named Abimelech, went to his mother's relatives in Shechem to ask if they wanted all 70 of Gideon's sons to rule over them or to have only his rule over them since he was their bone and their flesh.  They wanted him as their leader and gave him silver from the house of their god, Baal-berith which which he hired worthless and reckless fellows to go with him to his father's house at Ophrah and kill the 70 brothers that were Gideon's sons.  They killed them all on one stone.  Who escaped and hid himself .. and  what was his name? Judges 9:5 - 10.  The men of Shechem and all Beth-Millo assembled together and made Abimelch king over them by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.  What did Jotham, Gideon's youngest son, do when he heard about this?  Judges 9:7-20 (describe the parable he gave and what he said should happen to Abimelech if he was not dealing in truth and integrity for his father's name and household) ..... 11.  After making this announcement, Jotham fled to the city of refuge called Beer to be protected from his brother Abimelech.  Abimelech ruled over Israel as king for 3 years.  What did God send to stir up violence between Abimelech and the men of Shechem that he ruled over?  Judges 9:23 -   What was the purpose in doing this? Judges 9:24 - 12.  The men of Shechem set an ambush against Abimelech, robbing any who passed by, and it was told to Abimelech.  Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his relatives, and crossed over into Shechem.  The men of Shechem put their trust in him.  Gaal told them "Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem, and do not serve Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon)"...  The ruler of the city was Zebul and he was angry at the words of Gaal and sent messengers to Abimelech "deceitfully" saying that the whole city was stirred up against him...Abimelech got his people together to fight Gaal.  Abimelech chased him and he fled; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate.  Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.  On the next day, Abimelech divided his people into 3 companies and rose up against the people of the city when they came out to the field and killed them.  Abimelech fought against the city and killed the people in it.  Afterwards, he razed the city and sowed it with salt.  What did the leaders of the tower of Shechem do when they heard about all of this? Judges 9:46 - 13.  When Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together in one place, he went up to Mount Zalmon with his people and took an axe in his hand, cutting down a branch from the trees and asking all the people to do the same thing.  They put all the wood on the inner chamber of the tower and set the chamber on fire, so that all of the men of the tower of Shechem would die.  There was about 1000 men and women inside the tower that died at that time.  After this, Abimelech went to Thebez and captured it.  There was a strong tower in the center of this city where all the men and women with all the leaders of the city went inside it and were on the roof of the tower.  Abimelech approached the tower to burn it as he had the one in Shechem, but a "certain woman" did a most noble and courageous act.  What did she do that stopped Abimelech and saved her people?  Judges 9:53- 14.  Abimelech did not want it said of him that he was killed by a woman.  What did he ask his armor bearer to do to him? Judges 9:54 - 15.  When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed and went to their homes.  Who was repaying Shechem for their misfortune and why?  Judges 9:57 - Who was repaying Abimelech's wickedness and whose blood was he avenged for?  Judges 9:57 - Apply 1:  Do most people even realize the eternal significance of their actions in this life?   Read & comment on: Judges 9:56 - Compare and comment on: Numbers 32:23 - Jeremiah 2:19 - Matthew 25:31-46 - Revelation 20:11-15 - Revelation 22:12 - Galatians 6:7-8 -   How can you apply this to your life? ...    Your summary of all of today's lesson:        Your prayer for today:       The purpose of the Apply 1 mini lesson is ..... to help you focus on at least "one" thing that you can apply to your life from the chapters read today.  It would be great to take the time to look up the verses and answers the short survey each day.  I think this will be a great guide to helping you journal your thoughts.  Usually once you begin to open up on a subject, more things come to your mind to say or pray about.  Love you, Brenda