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Have you ever said, "I'll never do that again," and then done it again? Maybe you left an assignment until the night before, promised yourself you'd start early next time, and then did exactly the same thing. Temptation, doing it, regret, a promise, doing better for a while... and then back again.
After the tabernacle, Israel travelled through the desert and finally entered the land God had promised Abraham. You'd think the story would get happier from here. Instead, Israel got stuck in a cycle, and it was much more serious than leaving homework too late.
What you'll learn
- The five-stage cycle that keeps repeating in the book of Judges
- Why it's a downward spiral, not just a circle
- Why Israel needed a better rescuer than the judges, and how Jesus is that rescuer
A generation that forgot
After Moses died, Joshua led Israel into the promised land, and his generation served the LORD. But then:
"After that whole generation had also been gathered to their fathers, another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works that He had done for Israel." (Judges 2:10)
Remember the Passover? Children were meant to ask about it every year, and parents were meant to tell them the story (Exodus 12:26–27). Somewhere along the way, the telling stopped. A whole generation grew up not knowing God or what he had done.
The cycle of Judges
Judges 2 sets out a pattern that repeats through the whole book:
| Stage | What happens | Judges 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Sin | Israel turns to other gods (the Baals). | vv. 11–13 |
| 2. Slavery | God hands them over to enemies who oppress them. | vv. 14–15 |
| 3. Crying out | Israel groans under their oppressors. | v. 18 (see also 3:9) |
| 4. Saviour | God raises up a judge who rescues them. | vv. 16, 18 |
| 5. Silence (peace) | The land has peace while the judge lives. | v. 18 |
A "judge" in this book isn't mainly someone in a courtroom. It's a leader God raises up to rescue Israel.
"Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them." (Judges 2:16)
A spiral, not a circle
Here's the worst part:
"But when the judge died, the Israelites became even more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They would not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways." (Judges 2:19)
Each time, Israel went back to even worse ways. So the cycle isn't really a circle. It's a downward spiral.
The judges in action
Here are five of the judges, in the order they appear:
| Judge | Passage | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Othniel | Judges 3:7–11 | The "textbook" judge: every stage of the cycle is clear. The Spirit of the LORD comes on him. |
| Ehud | Judges 3:12–15, 28–30 | A left-handed man God uses to free Israel from Moab. |
| Deborah | Judges 4:1–10 | A prophet who leads Israel. The army commander, Barak, won't go into battle without her, and God gives the victory. |
| Gideon | Judges 6:1–16 | Hiding in a winepress and full of doubt, but God calls him a mighty warrior. Later he makes a gold object that Israel ends up worshipping (8:27). |
| Samson | Judges 13:1–5; 16:28–30 | Huge promise and huge strength, but he does whatever he wants. His life ends in tragedy. |
Notice what happens as the book goes on. The judges get more and more flawed. Othniel is faithful; Gideon slides into idol worship; Samson mostly follows his own desires.
But notice God, too. He keeps rescuing, again and again, even when Israel doesn't deserve it.
The book ends with a sad line that sums it all up:
"In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25)
Israel thinks the problem is that they have no king. In the next part of the story, they get one.
A better rescuer
What was wrong with the judges as rescuers? Two things:
- Their rescue didn't last. When the judge died, Israel went straight back to other gods (Judges 2:19).
- They couldn't change hearts. They could defeat enemies, but they couldn't stop Israel loving other gods. Some of them couldn't even change their own hearts.
Israel needed a rescuer whose rescue would last forever, and who could change people from the inside.
| The judges | Jesus |
|---|---|
| Rescued from enemies for a while | Rescues from sin and death forever |
| Died, and the rescue ended | Rose again and always lives |
| Often flawed and sinful | Perfect and without sin |
| Couldn't change Israel's hearts | Gives his Spirit to change hearts |
The rescue road: sign 6
| Where? | What did God do? | How does it point to Jesus? |
|---|---|---|
| The promised land in the time of the judges (Judges 2) | Kept rescuing his rebellious people through judges, again and again. | Jesus is the better rescuer, whose rescue lasts forever and changes hearts (Hebrews 7:25). |
Key words
- Judge: in the book of Judges, a leader God raised up to rescue Israel from enemies.
- Idol: a false god, or anything people worship in place of the true God.
- Oppress: to treat people cruelly and keep them down.
- Cycle: a pattern that keeps repeating.
How this points to Jesus
"Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
The judges died, and their rescue ended with them. Jesus rose again and "always lives", so his rescue never runs out. He doesn't just defeat enemies on the outside; Christians believe he gives his Spirit to change people's hearts, which is the only way to break the cycle.
Think about it
What are the five stages of the cycle in Judges?Show answer
Sin, slavery, crying out, saviour, and silence (peace). Then the cycle starts again.
Why is it a downward spiral and not just a circle?Show answer
Because each time the judge died, Israel went back to even worse ways than before (Judges 2:19). Things got worse, not just the same.
God kept rescuing Israel even though they didn't deserve it. What does that tell you about him?Show answer
It shows God is merciful and patient. He is moved by his people's suffering and keeps his promises even when they don't keep theirs.
Take it further
What are the "other gods" people keep going back to today? Think about things like money, popularity or screens that can take the top spot in someone's life. If you ever feel stuck in a cycle that's harming you, talk to a trusted adult or your school chaplain. You don't have to break it alone. Your worksheet helps you map the judges onto the cycle.
If you'd like to, you could pray:
God, thank you for your patience with Israel, and with us. When we keep going round in circles, thank you that you keep rescuing. Thank you that Jesus saves completely and lives forever. Change my heart so I follow you. Amen.