7) The Book of Judges

JUDGES is a sequel to the book of Joshua. It continues the history of the commonwealth of Israel. The title of the book is derived from the judgeship of thirteen judges, The judges ruled spasmodically because the people wavered between personal opinion or public policy and the laws of God for the authority of the land.

The book reveals the principle of human collapse. Everything tends to degenerate:unless an outside influence intervenes. Man is hopeless unless the Lord God intervenes and regenerates man. The policies of the people in the book were based upon the situation ethics of secular humanism (Jud. 17:6; 21:25). Apostasy, apathy, and anarchy were the fruit. When humanistic judges rule a nation, absurd behavior will occur as recorded in this book. Everyone should do right in the eyes of the Lord God (Deut. 13:18; Prov. 14:12; 16:25).

The seven recorded apostasies in the book resulted in seven periods of slavery and tribute to seven nations (Prove 12:24). Each apostasy began when the people rejected the authority of God's word. When a church, family, or nation rejects the inspired words of God, apostasy and anarchy will ensue (Ezek. 33:30-33; 2 Tim. 4:2-4; Rev. 3:14-22). Apostasy and anarchy will be worldwide prior to the Second Coming of Christ (2 Thess. 2:3-4). God's grace delivered the commonwealth of Israel seven times in the 21 chapters and 618 verses.

King James Bible.