2010-11-09T21:10:51-05:00 GCI info@gospel.com /feeds/topics/Judges/ http://ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=3040 2010-11-09T21:10:51-05:00 Despite everything, God remains faithful, loving us and waiting for us to return to him. This is the story of Israel told in the book of Judges. As Donald Baker leads you to examine it for yourself, you may discover that it is your story as well. http://hutchcraft.com/a-life-that-matters/radio-program/rooting-for-the-underdog-8230 2009-09-11T13:24:15-05:00 I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and it is cool when someone you’d never expect to even be in the game ends up winning it all, which is a pattern I’ve seen in the heroes of the Bible. God loves to make champions out of those that others would call, and who even call themselves, underdogs. http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26:59&version=NIV 2009-09-10T14:31:14-05:00 The Sanhedrin that governed in Jesus' time was one of the principal players in his execution. The Sanhedrin was a group of religious leaders appointed to be judges for the people. While not traditionally involved in such shady practices as falsifying evidence in order to bring about someone's death, Jesus was doing much to disrupt their work and undermine their authority. http://hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-personal-power/downsizing-for-success-5775 2009-09-10T10:31:09-05:00 God puts us in situations where, like Gideon, we're left saying, "If there's a victory here, it's going to have absolutely nothing to do with me." So if you find yourself out-manned, out-gunned, and under-resourced right now - if it seems like God has been cutting you back and putting limitations on you - realize this may very well be the prelude to an amazing victory! http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%203:20-23&version=NIV 2009-09-09T14:35:19-05:00 In a particularly gruesome story in Judges, we read about how Ehud killed the fat king Eglon by plunging a sword into him. Eglon was apparently so fat that his body pulled the sword into itself. http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%204:1-24&version=NIV 2009-07-24T08:44:16-05:00 God has a way of acting in unexpected ways through unlikely people. In this case, in the male-dominated society of the Old Testament, God used the prophetess Deborah to bring about victory over the Israelites' Canaanite oppressor. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Personal-Power/When-Less-is-More-5678 2008-10-15T17:36:02-05:00 God prepares for a great victory by cutting things back. God prepares for a great harvest by cutting things back. In the strange and wonderful ways of God, less is often more. That might be an equation you need to hear right now, because it sure does feel as if God is cutting you back. You're feeling the pain, the loss, and the confusion of a child of God who is being pruned. But not necessarily because something is wrong with you; maybe because something is very right. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Hindrances/Slowly-But-Surely-Submerged-4524 2008-08-28T17:20:21-05:00 You've got to stop that killer strategy with the first look, the first date, the first lie, the first flirtation, the first thoughts of divorce, the first detour from God's Word. This is going to take you where you don't want to go - unless you stop it now. Before today's compromise gives birth to tomorrow's tragedy, run from it. http://hutchcraft.com/A-Word-With-You/Your-Relationships/The-Rebuilder-s-Dream-5052 2008-08-06T16:36:43-05:00 If you believe how God sees you, then there's some important changes in how life should look to you. First, when you're down about who you are, you look back at the old pictures. You look at what you used to be. You are becoming something. Second, when you're down on yourself, you realize you're not finished yet. The rebuilder is in the process. And third, when you're dealing with other people, encourage the person God is building in them. Be part of the rebuilding project. http://biblica.com/niv/studybible/judges.php 2008-07-09T13:15:55-05:00 This introduction to the book of Judges reports on the title, author, date, themes and theology, background, literary features, and outline. The book of Judges depicts the life of Israel in the promised land from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy.