[MEST] Judges
Judges 20
Chapter 19 deals with hospitality and how it had gone a bit wrong...
In this chapter we see the topic of justice being addressed. What issues (right or wrong) about justice do we see here?
Even though this chapter is dealing with the tragic events of the last chapter, what good do we see come from it? How could this be related to our lives?
Not every tribe turned up at Mizpah. Who was missing and why?
Verses 4 – 6 shows the Levite re-telling the tragic story. But it looks a bit different from the version in chapter 19. How does it differ and why?
Even though most at the Israelite council want to act quickly and punish these men from Gibeah, it’s suggested that the absent Benjaminites are given the opportunity to “sort out” their own mess. Why could this have been a good idea? But what actually happened?
And this point in history there was no king, no judge and no heathen oppressors. What does this tell us?
[Activity]> As we near the end of Judges, similarities and differences can be drawn between this chapter and chapter 1. What are they?
The 3 conversations between Israel and God are interesting. What things do they tell us?
600 Benjaminite men escaped. Why was this important?
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Judges 19
[MEST] Judges
Judges 19
[Read Judges 19]
From the 1st three verses, what do we find out about the Levite and his concubine?
Verses 4 – 9 speaks to us about hospitality and it’s place in ancient Hebrew culture. There are positives and negatives to this, what are they?
In verse 12, why would the Levite not want to stay at Jebus?
So they decide to stay at Gibeah. What were their assumptions about that place?
When entering Gibeah, certain things would have caused them to be suspicious. What are they?
What’s ironic about their choice of place to stay the night?
The Ephramite visiting Gibeah offers a warning, “whatever you do, don’t spend the night in the square!”. What could the Levite be thinking at this point?
What happens next is hard to read, let alone think about. We can only compare it to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). But there are differences, what are they?
Next we see the Ephramite home owner saying something weird and shocking. Why would he even suggest this?
Just when you thought this story couldn’t get any worse, the Levite threw his concubine out to the gang. Why might the Levite have done this?
Next morning the Levite finds the woman dead on the doorstep. So he takes her body with him back home and when he gets home, he chops her up and sends bits of her to each of the 12 tribes of Israel... Why?
Judges 19
[Read Judges 19]
From the 1st three verses, what do we find out about the Levite and his concubine?
Verses 4 – 9 speaks to us about hospitality and it’s place in ancient Hebrew culture. There are positives and negatives to this, what are they?
In verse 12, why would the Levite not want to stay at Jebus?
So they decide to stay at Gibeah. What were their assumptions about that place?
When entering Gibeah, certain things would have caused them to be suspicious. What are they?
What’s ironic about their choice of place to stay the night?
The Ephramite visiting Gibeah offers a warning, “whatever you do, don’t spend the night in the square!”. What could the Levite be thinking at this point?
What happens next is hard to read, let alone think about. We can only compare it to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). But there are differences, what are they?
Next we see the Ephramite home owner saying something weird and shocking. Why would he even suggest this?
Just when you thought this story couldn’t get any worse, the Levite threw his concubine out to the gang. Why might the Levite have done this?
Next morning the Levite finds the woman dead on the doorstep. So he takes her body with him back home and when he gets home, he chops her up and sends bits of her to each of the 12 tribes of Israel... Why?
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Judges 18
[MEST] Judges
Judges 18
In verse 1 what issues do we see the Danites dealing with and how might their current situation effect them?
Read verses 2a and 7 – 9. What does this part of the story remind us of? What comparisons can be drawn?
In verse 3 we see that the Danites “recognized the voice of the young Levite”. What could this mean?
The Gadites then ask Jonathan, the priest, to “inquire of God”. How? What might this include?
Verse 7 tells us that the people of Laish were like the Sidonians ( a peaceful Phoenician people who had no army and no need for one, they were involved in trade, business and commerce throughout the med.) and they had no relationship with anyone else. What does this mean for the Gadites?
Following this link between the 5 spies of Gad and the 12 spies of Isreal, how does verse 11 compare to what happened to Isreal in Numbers?
Picture the scene, 600 armed men arrive at Micah’s house. What could Jonathan be thinking?
[Activity] >
If you are tempted to feel sorry for Micah at this point, stop and think things through... up until this point, what do we know about the characters involved in this story?
What does verse 24 tell us about Micah?
From the outside, the Gadites seem to have done everything right and proper. They spied out the land, used the information correctly, looked for God’s will from a Levite priest, acted on God’s word, “obtained” a priest (and a bunch of liturgical junk!) and God gave them the land to inhabit. So, what do we think?
Judges 18
In verse 1 what issues do we see the Danites dealing with and how might their current situation effect them?
Read verses 2a and 7 – 9. What does this part of the story remind us of? What comparisons can be drawn?
In verse 3 we see that the Danites “recognized the voice of the young Levite”. What could this mean?
The Gadites then ask Jonathan, the priest, to “inquire of God”. How? What might this include?
Verse 7 tells us that the people of Laish were like the Sidonians ( a peaceful Phoenician people who had no army and no need for one, they were involved in trade, business and commerce throughout the med.) and they had no relationship with anyone else. What does this mean for the Gadites?
Following this link between the 5 spies of Gad and the 12 spies of Isreal, how does verse 11 compare to what happened to Isreal in Numbers?
Picture the scene, 600 armed men arrive at Micah’s house. What could Jonathan be thinking?
[Activity] >
If you are tempted to feel sorry for Micah at this point, stop and think things through... up until this point, what do we know about the characters involved in this story?
What does verse 24 tell us about Micah?
From the outside, the Gadites seem to have done everything right and proper. They spied out the land, used the information correctly, looked for God’s will from a Levite priest, acted on God’s word, “obtained” a priest (and a bunch of liturgical junk!) and God gave them the land to inhabit. So, what do we think?
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Judges 17
[MEST] Judges
Judges 17 >
“Bookends for one book”
Right back at the beginning of Judges (1:1) we read, “After the death of Joshua...” and right at the end of Judges we read, “In those days Isreal had no king”.
This book is all about mess.
The mess we get in without leadership or direction.
The last 5 chapters find us in a place in Isreal where they’ve lost their obvious leader, Joshua... and are yet to find their king, David.
How will God’s chosen people fair?
Throughout the lives of the 12 judges, God has been playing a major role, but now he seems to have left, only showing an obvious appearance once in all 5 chapters.
Lets see how they get on “going it alone”...
Verses 1 and 2 are 2 brilliant sentences that tell us loads, but at the same time leave us with questions. What?
Micah heard his mom’s curse and then gave the silver back. Why?
After the silver was returned why did Micah’s mom speak a blessing on him?
Verse 3 conflicts with the end of verse 2. How and why?
If this returned silver was to be “consecrated to the Lord”, why did Micah’s mom only actually use 200 shekels of silver?
Next we see that this “idol” is put in an already existing shrine in Micah’s house. What does this tell us?
Micah then makes an ephod. Does this remind us of anyone else? What parallels can we draw between them?
Then Micah installs one of his own sons as his priest! What issues could we have with this?
“Everyone did as they saw fit” kinda sounds like our situation in 2010. How do the two compare?
Next we see a Levite from Bethlehem, who we later find out is called Jonathan, who is looking for a new home and a new job. So, he’s a man looking for a job and Micah has a job and is looking for a man...coincidence?
Even though this priest-position was already filled, when a Levite comes along looking for a job, the position is made available to him. What could this tell us?
This “chance meeting” was seen by Micah as a sign from God. Is this the right assumption?
Judges 17 >
“Bookends for one book”
Right back at the beginning of Judges (1:1) we read, “After the death of Joshua...” and right at the end of Judges we read, “In those days Isreal had no king”.
This book is all about mess.
The mess we get in without leadership or direction.
The last 5 chapters find us in a place in Isreal where they’ve lost their obvious leader, Joshua... and are yet to find their king, David.
How will God’s chosen people fair?
Throughout the lives of the 12 judges, God has been playing a major role, but now he seems to have left, only showing an obvious appearance once in all 5 chapters.
Lets see how they get on “going it alone”...
Verses 1 and 2 are 2 brilliant sentences that tell us loads, but at the same time leave us with questions. What?
Micah heard his mom’s curse and then gave the silver back. Why?
After the silver was returned why did Micah’s mom speak a blessing on him?
Verse 3 conflicts with the end of verse 2. How and why?
If this returned silver was to be “consecrated to the Lord”, why did Micah’s mom only actually use 200 shekels of silver?
Next we see that this “idol” is put in an already existing shrine in Micah’s house. What does this tell us?
Micah then makes an ephod. Does this remind us of anyone else? What parallels can we draw between them?
Then Micah installs one of his own sons as his priest! What issues could we have with this?
“Everyone did as they saw fit” kinda sounds like our situation in 2010. How do the two compare?
Next we see a Levite from Bethlehem, who we later find out is called Jonathan, who is looking for a new home and a new job. So, he’s a man looking for a job and Micah has a job and is looking for a man...coincidence?
Even though this priest-position was already filled, when a Levite comes along looking for a job, the position is made available to him. What could this tell us?
This “chance meeting” was seen by Micah as a sign from God. Is this the right assumption?
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