The period of the judges came between the death of Joshua and the time of the kings. This study will cover the fifteen named judges as mentioned in the books of Judges and I Samuel.

SEARCHING OUR MEMORY:

1. How did the book of Joshua end? Joshua 24:31

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURE: Read Judges 1-2

2. 1. What tribe did God tell to fight first after the death of Joshua?

   2. Who did they ask to help them?

3. 1. Who were the enemies? (1:4)

   2. How many men were killed?

   3. Who was the enemy leader?

4. 1. How was Adoni-Bezek punished?

   2. What makes this a hard punishment?

   3. Why did this seem like a fair punishment for this man?

   4. Who did Adoni-Bezek give credit for the vengeance on him?

5. 1. What did Caleb promise to the man who captured Kiriath Sepher?

   2. What are some things you can remember about Caleb before this time? (Numbers 13:27-30, Joshua 14:13)

   3. Who was the winner of Caleb's challenge?
      (More about this person next week.)

6. 1. What happened in verses 23-24?

   2. What incident in Joshua is similar? Joshua 2

7. 1. In verses 19, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32, what did Israel fail to do?

   2. What were some of the immediate consequences?

8. In chapter 2 look at the progression of defeat after Joshua.

   Verse 10: Didn't know ________ or what he had _________ for Israel.

   Verse 11: Did __________ in the eyes of God.

   Verse 12: _____________the God that had taken them out of Egypt.

   Verse 12: _________________ other gods of the people around them.

   Verse 12: Provoked God to _________________.

   Verse 14: God sold them to their __________________.

   Verse 15: The Lord's hand was _________________them.

   Verse 15: They were in great __________________.

   Verse 16: God raised up _________ who saved them from __________.

   Verse 18: God had ______________ on them.

   Verse 19: When the Judge died they returned to ______________.

9. 1. Why was God angry with Israel (v.20)?

   2. How did God use the enemy nations?

SEARCHING OUR HEARTS:

10. 1. Where are you personally in this cycle?

    2. Where do you see our city, our nation, our world, and God's people the church?

11. How can remembering the past help us with the present and the future?

12. 1. What is a covenant?

    2. What is the responsibility of both parties?

    3. When is a covenant broken?

13. What do you see as the "other" gods we are adopting from our heathen neighbors?

14. How do you see ourselves getting more corrupt with each succeeding generation?

SEARCHING OUR LIVES:

This week try to apply this lesson to your life by doing at least one of the following and report to the class next week.

1. Look at the front two pages of a newspaper and highlight the "sins of the nation" that are surrounding us.

2. Take time to write in your own words your personal covenant with God. What is your part and what is His part?

3. Think of a time in your life that you can share where you gave the battle to the Lord and he fought it for you.