Continuing Catholic Education 2010 -2011 April 3 rd

Continuing Catholic Education 2010 -2011 April 3 rd 2011

Judges- Overview • Background – After the death of Joshua, settling in the new land Israel conquered. • Timing – 1350 BC- 1100 BC • Purpose – Narrative book about roles of many Judges in the salvation history of Israel • Main Themes – Deterioration of Israel’s Relationship with God(13: 4 – Deliverance of Israel through Judges(3: 5 -16: 31) – Fallen state of Israel (17 -21)

Infidelity of Israel (1 -3) • The next generation after Joshua, did not know God and turned to ‘Baals’ • How did they forget the story? • Angel of God rebuking Israel • Israel faces defeat by local Kings • God’s Anger vs. God’s Mercy • They never get it, huh! Who?

Deliverance Through Judges (3 -16) • Cycles of Infidelity and God’s Mercy – Sin -> Servitude->Supplication->Salvation ->Silence • Six Major Judges and Six Minor Judges • Deborah – Prophetess – Role of women in our families • Gideon – Called by an Angel while working on the winepress • Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Abimelech, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon • Spirit of God was upon the Judges

Samson – The Story

Who is Samson? Samson and the nazirite vow Samson –Sunshine or Sun Samson and Delilah(Night or Darkness) Night eclipsing Sun What happened when Samson broke the vow? – Blinded, Bound and imprisoned • Samson’s final sacrifice • Samson as a Type for Israel • Samson as a Type for me!! • • •

Fallen State of Israel Idolatry (Many Gods) Immorality (Benjamine story) In-fighting with tribes of Israel Lack of Leader (King) Every man did what was right in his own eyes • God’s Mercy • • •

Judges and Me • Face of a Merciful God • Judges tell the story of heroic struggles of Israel in the Promised Land • We are also facing many Canaanite Gods in our time – Evil around us • To be Judges keeping our own ‘Israel’ safe – Do I value God-given gifts? – My value System