The Book of Judges describes a cycle in which the Israelites would sin and turn away from God, leading to oppression by neighboring groups. God would then raise up judges to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors and lead them back to righteousness. This cycle reflected the Israelites' struggle between faithfulness and backsliding. The first judge was from the tribe of Judah, reflecting that God dwells in praise and the Israelites needed to praise God to enjoy his presence and see him move on their behalf.

1. The Book of Judges

2. There was not a sudden turnaround after the death of Joshua, from loving and serving the True and Living God To backsliding into sin and idolatry.

3. The Israelites conquered many pockets of the Canaanite nations, and took more land . They continued for a time to love and serve The God of their fathers. But as time went on, the older men died , and the younger ignored or forgot what they were taught .

4. As we study this Book, we will see many times of backsliding and renewal . The people would find themselves in trouble , repent of their sins and call on God. God would raise up a deliverer , a strong leader who would defeat the enemy, And lead the people in righteous living .

5. But that leader would die , the people would again backslide into sin and idolatry, And God would bring enemies to subdue them. The events of the chosen people of God are written for our examples . We can correlate them to our own individual lives as the children of God. Of this study.

6. Judges 1 1-2 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. As we have seen many times before, the Bible is not written chronologically . Much of the land was conquered before Joshua's death, But there were many pockets left to be won.

7. I want to discuss for a bit the choice of the Tribe of Judah to lead the way in battles. All that God does has purpose and meaning , Usually way beyond what we can understand with carnal minds . Certainly beyond what we see in a casual reading of the Scriptures.

8. Genesis 29 35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah ; and left bearing. Judah means celebrate or praises . It was right that this tribe should lead the way.

9. Psalms 22 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. God lives in the praises of His people. If we want to see and enjoy the Living Presence of God Almighty, We must learn to praise Him .

10. Psalms 100 1-5 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladnes s: come before His presence with singing . Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving , and into His courts with praise : be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name. For the Lord is good; His Mercy is everlasting; and His Truth endureth to all generations.

11. If we come to church without praise on our lips, Without thanksgiving in our hearts and mouths, Without making a joyful noise

12. Psalms 47 1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Psalms 106 1 Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His Mercy endureth for ever.

13. When God brought down the walls of Jericho, what had He commanded Israel to do? Joshua 6 5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

14. Psalms 150 1-6 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

15. God will move in our midst as we say we want Him to move, When we get over our pride and self-consciousness

16. Don't forget Men's Fellowship and Meeting Saturday, May 8 at 8:00 A.M. March 21, 2010