When I consider the One who called them into being
When I consider the One who knows them all by name
What is man that he should try to manipulate One so holy?
I don’t know how you interpreted Jephthah’s story, but I had been taught she was never allowed to marry, which was tragic then. But no. Both Tim Keller and Paige Brown have convinced me he sacrificed her on the altar, like the Israelites were doing for the god Molech. Jeptha had been conformed to the pagan world around him.
And I know I have, in many ways, as well.
Oh Father, help me not only see my blind spots but have the faith to truly change, to walk in the light as You are in the light.
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week?
Next week will be a short study on Samson as it will only run from Wednesday through Saturday, and I will use Keller instead of Paige, though I recommend you still listen to Paige. I’m doing just a few highlight as we will begin our month of Thanksgiving on Sunday, November 3rd up to December 3rd when we begin Advent. Samson’s post will come to you next Wednesday morning. But please do all of this post — I thought it was Paige’s best.
THE MISERY OF IDOLATRY
2. Read Judges 10:6-16
A. What stands out to you and why?
B. Find the patterns that are the same as the past cycles.
C. How has the darkness deepened?
D. What does the Lord tell them to do in verse 14?
E. Think about where you run for comfort, approval, or control besides the Lord. Will they help you when you go into surgery, when a beloved one dies, or when war comes? What will they do? What point is God trying to help us see?
F. What do you learn about the Lord in verse 16? How does your translation put it?
3. Paige begins on the You-Tube stream at 8:26. Watch until 24:40 (About 16 minutes)
A. What stood out to you and why?
B. How does she show that they see God simply as useful rather than as their Lord, worthy of their all?
C. Challenge Question: She said that God’s mercy is a gift — we cannot demand it whenever we want it and uses Hebrews 6:4-6 to support her premise. (This is a challenging passage, but we know it does not mean we can lose our salvation because the bulk of Scripture and the logic of grace says if we are truly saved, we cannot then be lost.) How is she interpreting this passage in regard to the Israelites in Judges 10?
D. How does she define real repentance?
E. Tim Keller says there are 2 aspects of genuine repentance. One is sorrow over sin and not just consequences, but the other is sorrow over idolatrous motives, not just behavioral change. (An example from my life would be to truly be sorry that I spurned God’s way over mine by thinking potato chips or sideways comments could solve my problem. I have broken His heart because I chose another lover.) What would be an example from your life?
F. Idols eventually “own” us. She gave the illustration of a person in a hospital gown outside a hospital smoking and holding on to their pole. Give an example of how an idol has “owned” you.
G. What do the Israelites say in verse 16? What is missing here?
H. What is moving God’s heart according to verse 27?
THE CRIME BOSS’S LEADERSHIP STYLE
4. Read aloud Judges 10:17 – 11:11 and write down everything you learn about Jeptha.
5. Continue watching Paige from 24:40 to up to 35:48
A. What stands out to you in particular and why?
B. What difference do you see between Judges 3:9 and 10:18?
C. Paige said Jeptha is not so much a victim of the culture but a representative of the culture. She says Jeptha continually brings God’s name into the conversation for his own purposes. Find at least one illustration of that from this passage.
D. Contrast the leadership style of God with the leadership style of Jeptha.
JEPHTHAH ADVOCATES FOR SELF IN GOD’S NAME
6. Read silently Judges 11:12-22 and summarize his point.
7. This is an accurate history lesson but how can you see Jephthah’s motive in verse 12?
8. Read silently Judges 11:23-29 and summarize his point. (Paige compares this to Russia and Ukraine)
9. What true statement does Jephthah make in 11:27b?
10. What happens to Jephthah in 11:29?
11. Listen to Paige from 35:48 to 42:01 and share what stands out and why.
12. Do you have to be godly for the Spirit of the Lord to come upon you? Defend your answer.
13. Paige addresses Hebrews 11, the Hall of Fame for people who showed faith. What does she say is the central point of this passage? How do you see this happening for a moment in Jepthah’s life in Judges 11:29-33?
JEPHTHAH’S MOTIVES EXPOSED
14. Read aloud Judges 12:1-7 and describe why the Ephraimites were angry and what Jephthah did.
16. Listen to Paige from 42:02 to 51:44
A. What stands out to you and why?
B. Where do you see the me-ism and 1st person everywhere? Give a few references.
C. She illustrated this by the illustration of college students calling home and telling their parents that they had found the Lord. What was her point?
D. Ephraim is not an external enemy — so what does this show about Jepthah’s motive?
JEPHTHAH’S VOW
17. Read aloud Judges 11:29-40
A. Summarize what happens here.
B. Whom does Jephthah blame?
C. How does his daughter respond and what does this tell you about her?
D. Whom does Israel honor in the years to come?
18. Listen to Paige from 51:45 to the end.
A. What stands out and why?
B. What is Jephthah’s idol and how is he bargaining with God to get it?
C. How do commentators try to get around the reality of this passage? What have you thought in the past?
D. What is the Greek translation for the word “offering” here?
E. Some commentators say “At least he is a man of integrity because he keeps the vow.” Comments?
F. How would Leviticus 5:4-6 have provided for Jephthah here?
G. Paige said Jephthah did this because he was totally inundated by his culture. (Molech was the god of child sacrifice.) Why do we know this was never God’s will?
H. How is Jephthah ignorant of the true character of God? What doesn’t He get?
I. Give evidence that Jephthah was the destroyer rather than deliverer?
J. How much good did Jephthah’s sacrifice do? What is our only hope?
19. Does Jephthah in any way point to Christ. Paige says NO! Keller says a pale shadow in that he was rejected by his own. I think he is a negative Christ figure in that he sacrificed his only child for himself and the Lord sacrificed his only child for us. What do you think?
Application (Painful but Leading to Freedom)
20. Paige says this is a hard passage for we will do what our culture expects instead of what God’s says. Prayerfully consider what you see as success. Prayerfully consider where you have been conformed to the world’s norms in time, in spending, in appearance… Also consider how this has worked out for us.
21. The gods of the Israelites could (supposedly) be manipulated. How does Jephthah approach the true God as if he is one more of Israel’s pagan gods?
22. What was the point of her locket story? Do you realize there is absolutely nothing you can do to earn God’s favor?
23. Do you think you realize to the depth of your soul the depth of God’s love for you? If not, pray for that so you can release your idols.
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week?
We started a 5-week Bible Study yesterday and have 14 participating between the AM and PM groups. I am so thankful for these ladies whom the Lord has drawn into His Word and fellowship with other believers. I am especially excited for the 2 women who shared they have not done a study for a few years and felt drawn to participate this time. All of these participants attended the luncheon on Sunday and our speaker laid the foundation for what we are studying. We’re using Katy McCown’s, “She smiles without fear” based on Proverbs 31.
Dee, I am expectant about what I will learn here about Jephthah, as I learned the same thing you did about his story. However, I have read sources that also discussed what Keller and Paige agreed on for its interpretation. Both interpretations are very, very sad.
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week?
I am thankful God gave me parents who believed in Him and taught us to have faith. What would I do without Him?? Recently our youngest son said he has learned annoying optimism from me. Hahaha! I don’t see myself as having that characteristic, but, okay….I’m thinking it’s more of perserverance, myself.
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week?
— I have been asked this question already this week and I have to admit when I am asked what I am thankful for I struggle to answer. I know in my mind the list actually is quite long but answering can almost make things sound trite. But thankful “to the Lord” qualifies it a bit differently.
As I think about it Sunday will be the last time my son preaches as pastor of our church. And as I reflect on these past 10 years of his ministry here I am deeply thankful for the opportunity I have had to sit under his teaching and getting to appreciate his gift in handling God’s Word. I am thankful that God chose to put he and his family here in close proximity so that our lives have been blessed with many opportunities to enjoy family times and build fun memories together. It has been a joy to watch the 5 grandchildren growing up and be involved in their lives. I’m thankful for a sweet daughter-in-law who has given us free rein to grandparent and even break some of her rules because we are grandpa and grandma. Our times together in the future will be less frequent but I thank God for the good foundation we have built in our relationship to one another. I don’t take any of it for granted.
Read Judges 10:6-16 A. What stands out to you and why?
God was grieved. I don’t think of God as having emotions like this. B. Find the patterns that are the same as the past cycles.
The Israelites sin, they worship Baal, the Lord turns them over to their enemies, they are oppressed, they cry out to God, God answers, they plead, etc.
C. How has the darkness deepened?
It’s as if God has given up on them.
D. What does the Lord tell them to do in verse 14?
He says for them to go cry out to their new gods and see if they will rescue them.
E. Think about where you run for comfort, approval, or control besides the Lord. Will they help you when you go into surgery, when a beloved one dies, or when war comes? What will they do? What point is God trying to help us see?
We cannot be rescued by idols. Only God can help us. F. What do you learn about the Lord in verse 16? How does your translation put it?
He was grieved:
“Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery.”
Judges 10:16 NLT
Laura — thanks for articulating that you don’t think of God having emotions like this. I think all of us don’t grasp the depth of God’s love for us or we wouldn’t run to our idols!
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week? On Sunday I was most thankful for the depth of worship I felt for God and Jesus. Sometimes I know my words are right but my heart seems to be not quite where I want it to be. Through His grace I felt particularly connected when reading Revelation 5
3. Paige begins on the You-Tube stream at 8:26. Watch until 24:40 (About 16 minutes) A. What stood out to you and why?
I think it’s interesting how they use God. I think idols lend themselves to this. It’s so easy to get sidetracked and then we need Him. Once we have Him and His help, then we turn back to the idol. Ugh. We must change our hearts.
B. How does she show that they see God simply as useful rather than as their Lord, worthy of their all?
They don’t cry out to their foreign gods, they cry out to God.
C. Challenge Question: She said that God’s mercy is a gift — we cannot demand it whenever we want it and uses Hebrews 6:4-6 to support her premise. (This is a challenging passage, but we know it does not mean we can lose our salvation because the bulk of Scripture and the logic of grace says if we are truly saved, we cannot then be lost.) How is she interpreting this passage in regard to the Israelites in Judges 10?
They have tasted the mercy of God and turned away anyway.
D. How does she define real repentance?
True repentance has a change of life associated with it.
They aren’t seeking God, rather only seeking help from Him. They turn back to their sinful ways so easily. E. Tim Keller says there are 2 aspects of genuine repentance. One is sorrow over sin and not just consequences, but the other is sorrow over idolatrous motives, not just behavioral change. (An example from my life would be to truly be sorry that I spurned God’s way over mine by thinking potato chips or sideways comments could solve my problem. I have broken His heart because I chose another lover.) What would be an example from your life?
Probably, my greatest idol has been my need to be a dancer and in conjunction with that the need to be a slave to my body image. Ugh! I have cared more about that than Him.
F. Idols eventually “own” us. She gave the illustration of a person in a hospital gown outside a hospital smoking and holding on to their pole. Give an example of how an idol has “owned” you.
I made my kids my idol and I am still dealing with my kids… G. What do the Israelites say in verse 16? What is missing here?
They put aside their foreign gods and turned to the Lord. It does not say anything about repentance.
H. What is moving God’s heart according to verse 27?
2. Read Judges 10:6-16
A. What stands out to you and why? That when the Israelites first called out to God, He told them He would no longer save them. Then they got rid of their idols and served God Then it says God could bear Israel’s misery no longer Its making me think of the messes I make and that when I pray to God my heart needs to be humble and repentant.
B. Find the patterns that are the same as the past cycles. Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord serving other gods
C. How has the darkness deepened? 18 years they were given into hands of enemies In Gideon’s time it was 7
D. What does the Lord tell them to do in verse 14? go and cry out to the gods you have chosen Let them save you
E. Think about where you run for comfort, approval, or control besides the Lord. Will they help you when you go into surgery, when a beloved one dies, or when war comes? What will they do? What point is God trying to help us see? Sugar won’t help me I have friends that may come sit with me for a bit but they can be there 24 hours a day nor can they provide the same type of Presence the Lord can
F. What do you learn about the Lord in verse 16? How does your translation put it? He could bear Israel’s misery no longer
THE MISERY OF IDOLATRY 2. Read Judges 10:6-16
A. What stands out to you and why?
God has compassion and patience for His people. I have been struggling with how to relate to a fellow Christian. My husband shares the same feelings toward this person, but we have agreed to continue loving them. This story encourages me to be patient and compassionate.
B. Find the patterns that are the same as the past cycles.
They did what was evil in God’s eyes—they forsook God—anger of the Lord burned against them- crushed and served Ammonites for 18 years—cried out to the Lord for help
C. How has the darkness deepened?
They do not just have the “general” idols like Baal and Ashtoreth but have idols from all directions-east, west, north, and south.
D. What does the Lord tell them to do in verse 14?
“Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”
E. Think about where you run for comfort, approval, or control besides the Lord. Will they help you when you go into surgery, when a beloved one dies, or when war comes? What will they do? What point is God trying to help us see?
God is trying to help us see that no one except Him can meet our needs for comfort and approval. I sure would not want to look to my idols to save me but oh, how often, I go to them instead of to God.
F. What do you learn about the Lord in verse 16? How does your translation put it?
Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.
It does mean so much that He sees and cares about our misery! Even when it is self-inflicted.
Judy Liddle
October 27, 2024
4. Read aloud Judges 10:17 – 11:11 and write down everything you learn about Jeptha. He was a Gileadite mighty warrior. His father was Gilead and his mom a prostitute. He was driven away by his brothers and he settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels followed him. When the Ammonites started fighting against Gilead, the elders went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander. He agreed with the understanding he would then become head over them.
5. Continue watching Paige from 24:40 to up to 35:48
A. What stands out to you in particular and why? That Jeptha was kind of a pirate. I’d never given this any thought about the men surrounding him. (David collected a group but don’t remember him being called a pirate.)
B. What difference do you see between Judges 3:9 and 10:18? In Judges 3 the Israelites cried out to the Lord and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer. In 10 they talked among themselves who should lead them.
C. Paige said Jeptha is not so much a victim of the culture but a representative of the culture. She says Jeptha continually brings God’s name into the conversation for his own purposes. Find at least one illustration of that from this passage. Vs 9 if you bring me home again to fight and the Lord gives them to me, I will be your head Vs 11 says he spoke all his words before the Lord
D. Contrast the leadership style of God with the leadership style of Jeptha. God leads, corrects and guides for the people’s good. Jeptha’s sole purpose was for his own benefit.
6. Read silently Judges 11:12-22 and summarize his point. Nations didn’t allow them to pass through, but God gave it to them and their gods didn’t give the land to them.
7. This is an accurate history lesson but how can you see Jephthah’s motive in verse 12? He has made it personal, fight against me and my land. He does not attribute it to what God has done
8. Read silently Judges 11:23-29 and summarize his point. (Paige compares this to Russia and Ukraine) The land hadn’t belonged to them. That they would keep what God had given them and Ammonites should possess what their god had given them.
9. What true statement does Jephthah make in 11:27b? that God, the Judge, decide between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon.
10. What happens to Jephthah in 11:29? The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him.
11. Listen to Paige from 35:48 to 42:01 and share what stands out and why. Just a few verses talk about the battle. God does deliver them, but I realize now that isn’t Jeptha’s focus. He’s not worshiping and thanking God.
12. Do you have to be godly for the Spirit of the Lord to come upon you? Defend your answer. No. Paige used Saul as an example. Saul ha d God’s anointing but failed to wait for Samuel and offered the sacrifice himself and God chose David.
13. Paige addresses Hebrews 11, the Hall of Fame for people who showed faith. What does she say is the central point of this passage? How do you see this happening for a moment in Jepthah’s life in Judges 11:29-33? That it was his dependence upon God, but the purpose of Hebrews is to point the way to Jesus. (I listened to this a few times and still murky to me). The horrible, horrible vow he made where he was trusting in his action of a sacrifice rather than what God was empowering him to do.
I understand the murkiness of Jephthah and Samson mentioned in Hebrews 11. My thought is they had faith for a passing moment, and they commended for that but not for their lives. I also wondered is they could have been saved or if God anointed them for a moment for the sake of His people, the way He anointed Balaam’s ass. Thoughts?
Good point. God is God and will use who He needs to in the moment to accomplish His good plan. Jeptha, which I wouldn’t have realized if Paige hadn’t pointed out, was not chosen by God to be the leader of Gilead. So his mention in Hebrews reminds me now that He can anoint as you say for a moment, and that short period of time he took action on his faith and defeated the Ammonites. Thank you for the insight. The rest of Jeptha’s story is tragic.
Thanks for your response, Judy. I know many would disagree so I am not dogmatic about it, but it is what makes sense to me.
Judy Liddle
October 27, 2024
14. Read aloud Judges 12:1-7 and describe why the Ephraimites were angry and what Jephthah did. That Gilead had gone to fight the Ammonites without them. He gathered his men and fought them and killed 42,000 Ephraimites. .
16. Listen to Paige from 42:02 to 51:44
A. What stands out to you and why? That they killed the Ephraimites while they were on way back home. Yuk, We really need God in every circumstance – in our victories, our defeats and everything in between.
B. Where do you see the me-ism and 1st person everywhere? Give a few references. Vs 2 I and my people, you did not save me vs 3 I took my life in my hand, Lord gave them into my hand.
C. She illustrated this by the illustration of college students calling home and telling their parents that they had found the Lord. What was her point? That we want to share in and feel part of others’ success and it’s hard to let go particularly when it’s our kid and not feel left out. What about me, look what I did for you.
D. Ephraim is not an external enemy — so what does this show about Jepthah’s motive? His pride, it was him and retaliating for self. They questioned him and he showed them no mercy
4. Read aloud Judges 10:17 – 11:11 and write down everything you learn about Jeptha.
He was the son of Gilead. His mother was a prostitute.
His half brothers chased him off their land. They said he couldn’t have any inheritance because of his mother.
He fled the land and lived in another. Some worthless people began to follow him.
When his homeland was attacked by the Ammonites, he was asked to come back to fight. He told them no because they had run him off. They said they needed him and if he came they would make him ruler.
D. Contrast the leadership style of God with the leadership style of Jeptha.
17. Read aloud Judges 11:29-40
A. Summarize what happens here. Spirit of Lord came on Jeptha and he defeated the Ammonites, but while the Spirit of Lord was on him and before the victory, he made a vow to sacrifice as a burnt offering whatever came out of the doors of his home to greet him when he returned on peace from the Ammonites. After the victory, his daughter, his only child, came out to greet him and he gave her 2 months to go up and down the mountains to weep with friends.
B. Whom does Jephthah blame? His daughter – You have brought me very low.
C. How does his daughter respond and what does this tell you about her? Do to me what the vow says but give me 2 months with friends. Obedient daughter and God fearing.
D. Whom does Israel honor in the years to come? The daughters of Israel each year lamented her for 4 days.
A. What stands out and why? That the word for sacrifice is the word we get holocaust from and that Jeptha would have sacrificed his own daughter. Once in a while I read a commentary that says this means she only couldn’t marry. Of course, I prefer that to the realization the man sacrificed his daughter. Always such a heart wrenching story.
B. What is Jephthah’s idol and how is he bargaining with God to get it? His right to be leader, his right to not be in exile, his right to be honored. He thought he could bribe God and offer God something so He could not refuse him.
C. How do commentators try to get around the reality of this passage? What have you thought in the past? They say that she would stay a virgin or it only applied if an animal came out.
D. What is the Greek translation for the word “offering” here? Holocaust a whole burnt offering
E. Some commentators say “At least he is a man of integrity because he keeps the vow.” Comments? Jeptha showed himself not to be a man of integrity against the Ephraimites his own people. Yuck he should not have made the vow, and Paige pointed out he could have renounced it.
F. How would Leviticus 5:4-6 have provided for Jephthah here? It talks about thoughtlessly taking an evil oath to do anything and that they can repent and bring a sin offering and the priest can make atonement for them. Did pride also keep him from admitting he made a mistake?
G. Paige said Jephthah did this because he was totally inundated by his culture. (Molech was the god of child sacrifice.) Why do we know this was never God’s will? A child is created in God’s image and child sacrifice is abhorrent to the Lord. A person who sacrifices a child to the Lord was to be stoned and family cut off.
H. How is Jephthah ignorant of the true character of God? What doesn’t He get? He thought he could bribe God by vowing a sacrifice. He misses that grace is God’s character and what we receive from God is not because we deserve it or have earned it.
I. Give evidence that Jephthah was the destroyer rather than deliverer? He killed 42,000 of his own people and then sacrificed his own daughter which was an abomination.
J. How much good did Jephthah’s sacrifice do? What is our only hope? The sacrifice did nothing. It was always dependent on God and His work Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.
19. Does Jephthah in any way point to Christ. Paige says NO! Keller says a pale shadow in that he was rejected by his own. I think he is a negative Christ figure in that he sacrificed his only child for himself and the Lord sacrificed his only child for us. What do you think? I like your comment the best. No, he did not point to Jesus .
20. Paige says this is a hard passage for we will do what our culture expects instead of what God’s says. Prayerfully consider what you see as success. Prayerfully consider where you have been conformed to the world’s norms in time, in spending, in appearance… Also consider how this has worked out for us. It is easy for me to think I need something new in my closet for fall, and there are coupons and sales, so that is foolishness as I already have a few things I won’t wear need to take to the mission. These things will burn up if Christ returns today.
21. The gods of the Israelites could (supposedly) be manipulated. How does Jephthah approach the true God as if he is one more of Israel’s pagan gods? That if he offered to sacrifice, Jepthah could get what he wanted – which wasn’t God it was success and status. The sad thing is God would have came for Jepthah.
22. What was the point of her locket story? Do you realize there is absolutely nothing you can do to earn God’s favor? The story also made me sad. The girl didn’t think her mom would come back for her, but if she had her mom’s locket her mom would return for the locket. God will return for me whether or not I’m wearing the locket. I am His and He will track me down and draw me near. He just wants me warts, scabs, crappy attitude and all else – me. In my head I know this is true but there are moments I can get stuck in—if I pray more or worship more will He draw closer? Will He answer the question I have for Him?
23. Do you think you realize to the depth of your soul the depth of God’s love for you? If not, pray for that so you can release your idols. At times I do, sometimes I want to stay so close I don’t want to move for fear of losing the moment. Other times Lord, I need to realize the depth of Your love for me. Lord, I’m sorry when I seek approval of others instead of pleasing You.
6. Read silently Judges 11:12-22 and summarize his point.
They are fighting over land that the Israelites say is theirs and jet the king of Ammon says is his.
7. This is an accurate history lesson but how can you see Jephthah’s motive in verse 12?
He calls the land “his,” when it is really Gods.
De 8. Read silently Judges 11:23-29 and summarize his point. (Paige compares this to Russia and Ukraine)
Jeptha tries to rationalize with the king saying it’s really the Israelites land anyway, so he wants it back. The king ignores him and he ends up fighting them.
9. What true statement does Jephthah make in 11:27b?
The Lord should be the one who determines the outcome.
11. Listen to Paige from 35:48 to 42:01 and share what stands out and why.
Probably what stands out is the fact that Jepthah knows his history of the land so well. How did he know that the land was taken by the Ammonites 300 years prior? It’s not like they had the Bible to remind them…
12. Do you have to be godly for the Spirit of the Lord to come upon you? Defend your answer.
No. Rahab was not a godly person yet she had the Spirit come upon her in that she knew of God and treated the spies with respect.
13. Paige addresses Hebrews 11, the Hall of Fame for people who showed faith. What does she say is the central point of this passage?
They were people who had faith and their actions showed as much.
How do you see this happening for a moment in Jepthah’s life in Judges 11:29-33?
He had faith he would conquer the Ammonites. And, he did.
—It is the innate sinfulness of mankind. Always looking for and looking to someone or something else to satisfy our hearts needs. It is the entrenched pattern to do evil in the sight of the Lord and abandon Him. But God in his deep love is grieved their misery and He is grieved by mine as well.
B. Find the patterns that are the same as the past cycles.
—Doing evil in the sight of God by serving other false gods.
-Being oppressed by other nations.
-Crying out in their distress.
-The Lord responding to their misery.
C. How has the darkness deepened?
—Sadly they don’t want a relationship with God which would bring security to their lives.
D. What does the Lord tell them to do in verse 14?
—He tells them to go cry out to the gods they have chosen and let them rescue them from their distress.
E. Think about where you run for comfort, approval, or control besides the Lord. Will they help you when you go into surgery, when a beloved one dies, or when war comes? What will they do? What point is God trying to help us see?
—I run to food, family and friends. All have failed to meet the deepest needs of my heart. God and God alone can do that. He wants me to walk in loving relationship with Him because He can be trusted and He truly cares.
F. What do you learn about the Lord in verse 16? How does your translation put it?
—The depth of God’s love for his own never ever fails or comes to an end. I would call it eternal security. In spite of me I am kept in His love.
“And He was grieved by their misery.”
4. Read aloud Judges 10:17 – 11:11 and write down everything you learn about Jeptha.
—Jephthah was a great warrior. That made him a fighter. His mother was a prostitute so he was an illegitimate son and his half brothers who were his father’s sons by his wife ran Jephthah out of the country refusing to let him have any family inheritance. When the Israelites came under attack by the Ammonites they sent for Jephthah (who was a warrior and fighter) to come and lead them in battle. In agreeing to come and fight for them he made sure to serve himself and demanded a place of leadership to rule over them. They agreed to his demands.
5. Continue watching Paige from 24:40 to up to 35:48
A. What stands out to you in particular and why?
—Paige’s assessment of Jephthah as not having a true and meaningful relationship with God and that is revealed in that he had no communication the Lord. He never talked to God but only about Him. She said when we are not in relationship with people we talk about them. But when we are in a true and meaningful relationship with someone we talk to them.
B. What difference do you see between Judges 3:9 and 10:18?
—In Judges 3:9 when the people of Israel cried out to God it was God who raised up a rescuer for them. His name was Othniel and the Spirit of God came upon him.
In the case of Jephthah the Israelites went looking for their own rescuer.
C. Paige said Jeptha is not so much a victim of the culture but a representative of the culture. She says Jeptha continually brings God’s name into the conversation for his own purposes. Find at least one illustration of that from this passage.
—In verse 9 Jephthah says to the elders of Israel that “if the LORD gives me victory”. He made it about himself getting the victory and not that it would be God’s doing and God’s victory.
D. Contrast the leadership style of God with the leadership style of Jeptha.
—For God it is always about the good of the people He loves. For Jephthah it was always about for the good of himself.
23. Do you think you realize to the depth of your soul the depth of God’s love for you? If not, pray for that so you can release your idols.
—Unfortunately I just didn’t have time to immerse myself in answering the questions this past week as we were traveling again but this teaching by Paige was particularly full of insight and the resulting questions personally challenging to consider. This last question is just so good to consider. My verse for the year is
1 John 4:16
”So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.“
So can I say in the depth of my soul do I realize the depth of God’s love? I would say as I consider often the above verse that I am growing in that knowledge every day. And I am so very grateful to my God and King.
14. Read aloud Judges 12:1-7 and describe why the Ephraimites were angry and what Jephthah did.
The Ephraimites were angry that they weren’t included in the battle with the Ammonites. Jephthah ended up attacking them with his people, and defeating them.
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week? My husband. He’s not perfect, but he’s always been there for me. 19. Does Jephthah in any way point to Christ. Paige says NO! Keller says a pale shadow in that he was rejected by his own. I think he is a negative Christ figure in that he sacrificed his only child for himself and the Lord sacrificed his only child for us. What do you think? This story is one that I have read many times before, but always thought of it as Jephthah being so dedicated to God that he wouldn’t break a vow that he made even if it meant sacrificing his daughter. I compared him to Abraham in my mind, but now I see that Jephthah foolishly told God what he was going to do in exchange for what he wanted from God (you make me great and I’ll give you something). Abraham was asked by God to give up someone he loved and he was willing. Of course, God does not ever want a human sacrifice from us. I don’t think that Jephthah himself points to Christ, but his story points to God’s ultimate mercy which is Christ. 23. Do you think you realize to the depth of your soul the depth of God’s love for you? If not, pray for that so you can release your idols. I don’t think that I can fully comprehend the depth of God’s love for me, but the realization that it is deeper than I can imagine makes it easier for me to give up my idols. But since our hearts are idol making factories, I need to be always on guard against self serving behavior.
Dee and Dawn, I have had several feelings about Jephtha. Dawn, you hit the nail on its head: But since our hearts are idol-making factories, I need to always be on guard against self-serving behavior. Even if I have dropped the ball here in my absence, listening to Paige made me realize how much I manipulate God into rubber-stamping what I want to do. I have struggled with the idol of control and approval this past week and coming here reminded me of staying connected to the Word and fellowship. God does not want me to be self or performance-focused, but Christ-focused.
16. Listen to Paige from 42:02 to 51:44 A. What stands out to you and why?
I suppose it’s the part about wanting to be known as being “important.” I have felt that before.
B. Where do you see the me-ism and 1st person everywhere? Give a few references.
“So when I realized you weren’t coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the Lord gave me victory over the Ammonites. So why have you now come to fight me?””
Judges 12:3 NLT
C. She illustrated this by the illustration of college students calling home and telling their parents that they had found the Lord. What was her point?
The parents were adamant that their child always knew Jesus. They were raised that way and the parents are surprised that they are just “getting it.” The parents believed they were the ones who were responsible for the knowledge, but in reality the kids didn’t learn from the parents. The point is that we want to be known for important things like this; that we had a contribution too. That we mattered.
D. Ephraim is not an external enemy — so what does this show about Jepthah’s motive?
It’s all about Jephthat. He manipulates in God’s name.
42 comments
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week?
We started a 5-week Bible Study yesterday and have 14 participating between the AM and PM groups. I am so thankful for these ladies whom the Lord has drawn into His Word and fellowship with other believers. I am especially excited for the 2 women who shared they have not done a study for a few years and felt drawn to participate this time. All of these participants attended the luncheon on Sunday and our speaker laid the foundation for what we are studying. We’re using Katy McCown’s, “She smiles without fear” based on Proverbs 31.
Dee, I am expectant about what I will learn here about Jephthah, as I learned the same thing you did about his story. However, I have read sources that also discussed what Keller and Paige agreed on for its interpretation. Both interpretations are very, very sad.
Wonderful about the study, Bing. May the Lord use it mightily.
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week?
I am thankful God gave me parents who believed in Him and taught us to have faith. What would I do without Him?? Recently our youngest son said he has learned annoying optimism from me. Hahaha! I don’t see myself as having that characteristic, but, okay….I’m thinking it’s more of perserverance, myself.
That’s funny!
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week?
— I have been asked this question already this week and I have to admit when I am asked what I am thankful for I struggle to answer. I know in my mind the list actually is quite long but answering can almost make things sound trite. But thankful “to the Lord” qualifies it a bit differently.
As I think about it Sunday will be the last time my son preaches as pastor of our church. And as I reflect on these past 10 years of his ministry here I am deeply thankful for the opportunity I have had to sit under his teaching and getting to appreciate his gift in handling God’s Word. I am thankful that God chose to put he and his family here in close proximity so that our lives have been blessed with many opportunities to enjoy family times and build fun memories together. It has been a joy to watch the 5 grandchildren growing up and be involved in their lives. I’m thankful for a sweet daughter-in-law who has given us free rein to grandparent and even break some of her rules because we are grandpa and grandma. Our times together in the future will be less frequent but I thank God for the good foundation we have built in our relationship to one another. I don’t take any of it for granted.
That is much to be thankful to the Lord for! Are they moving somewhere else?
Read Judges 10:6-16
A. What stands out to you and why?
God was grieved. I don’t think of God as having emotions like this.
B. Find the patterns that are the same as the past cycles.
The Israelites sin, they worship Baal, the Lord turns them over to their enemies, they are oppressed, they cry out to God, God answers, they plead, etc.
C. How has the darkness deepened?
It’s as if God has given up on them.
D. What does the Lord tell them to do in verse 14?
He says for them to go cry out to their new gods and see if they will rescue them.
E. Think about where you run for comfort, approval, or control besides the Lord. Will they help you when you go into surgery, when a beloved one dies, or when war comes? What will they do? What point is God trying to help us see?
We cannot be rescued by idols. Only God can help us.
F. What do you learn about the Lord in verse 16? How does your translation put it?
He was grieved:
“Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord. And he was grieved by their misery.”
Judges 10:16 NLT
Laura — thanks for articulating that you don’t think of God having emotions like this. I think all of us don’t grasp the depth of God’s love for us or we wouldn’t run to our idols!
True, True!
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week? On Sunday I was most thankful for the depth of worship I felt for God and Jesus. Sometimes I know my words are right but my heart seems to be not quite where I want it to be. Through His grace I felt particularly connected when reading Revelation 5
Love this, Judy.
3. Paige begins on the You-Tube stream at 8:26. Watch until 24:40 (About 16 minutes)
A. What stood out to you and why?
I think it’s interesting how they use God. I think idols lend themselves to this. It’s so easy to get sidetracked and then we need Him. Once we have Him and His help, then we turn back to the idol. Ugh. We must change our hearts.
B. How does she show that they see God simply as useful rather than as their Lord, worthy of their all?
They don’t cry out to their foreign gods, they cry out to God.
C. Challenge Question: She said that God’s mercy is a gift — we cannot demand it whenever we want it and uses Hebrews 6:4-6 to support her premise. (This is a challenging passage, but we know it does not mean we can lose our salvation because the bulk of Scripture and the logic of grace says if we are truly saved, we cannot then be lost.) How is she interpreting this passage in regard to the Israelites in Judges 10?
They have tasted the mercy of God and turned away anyway.
D. How does she define real repentance?
True repentance has a change of life associated with it.
They aren’t seeking God, rather only seeking help from Him. They turn back to their sinful ways so easily.
E. Tim Keller says there are 2 aspects of genuine repentance. One is sorrow over sin and not just consequences, but the other is sorrow over idolatrous motives, not just behavioral change. (An example from my life would be to truly be sorry that I spurned God’s way over mine by thinking potato chips or sideways comments could solve my problem. I have broken His heart because I chose another lover.) What would be an example from your life?
Probably, my greatest idol has been my need to be a dancer and in conjunction with that the need to be a slave to my body image. Ugh! I have cared more about that than Him.
F. Idols eventually “own” us. She gave the illustration of a person in a hospital gown outside a hospital smoking and holding on to their pole. Give an example of how an idol has “owned” you.
I made my kids my idol and I am still dealing with my kids…
G. What do the Israelites say in verse 16? What is missing here?
They put aside their foreign gods and turned to the Lord. It does not say anything about repentance.
H. What is moving God’s heart according to verse 27?
It’s their misery. He can’t take it anymore.
I always love your honesty.
2. Read Judges 10:6-16
A. What stands out to you and why? That when the Israelites first called out to God, He told them He would no longer save them. Then they got rid of their idols and served God Then it says God could bear Israel’s misery no longer Its making me think of the messes I make and that when I pray to God my heart needs to be humble and repentant.
B. Find the patterns that are the same as the past cycles. Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord serving other gods
C. How has the darkness deepened? 18 years they were given into hands of enemies In Gideon’s time it was 7
D. What does the Lord tell them to do in verse 14? go and cry out to the gods you have chosen Let them save you
E. Think about where you run for comfort, approval, or control besides the Lord. Will they help you when you go into surgery, when a beloved one dies, or when war comes? What will they do? What point is God trying to help us see? Sugar won’t help me I have friends that may come sit with me for a bit but they can be there 24 hours a day nor can they provide the same type of Presence the Lord can
F. What do you learn about the Lord in verse 16? How does your translation put it? He could bear Israel’s misery no longer
THE MISERY OF IDOLATRY
2. Read Judges 10:6-16
A. What stands out to you and why?
God has compassion and patience for His people. I have been struggling with how to relate to a fellow Christian. My husband shares the same feelings toward this person, but we have agreed to continue loving them. This story encourages me to be patient and compassionate.
B. Find the patterns that are the same as the past cycles.
They did what was evil in God’s eyes—they forsook God—anger of the Lord burned against them- crushed and served Ammonites for 18 years—cried out to the Lord for help
C. How has the darkness deepened?
They do not just have the “general” idols like Baal and Ashtoreth but have idols from all directions-east, west, north, and south.
D. What does the Lord tell them to do in verse 14?
“Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”
E. Think about where you run for comfort, approval, or control besides the Lord. Will they help you when you go into surgery, when a beloved one dies, or when war comes? What will they do? What point is God trying to help us see?
God is trying to help us see that no one except Him can meet our needs for comfort and approval. I sure would not want to look to my idols to save me but oh, how often, I go to them instead of to God.
F. What do you learn about the Lord in verse 16? How does your translation put it?
Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.
Judy and Bing:
I love this verse:
And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.
Dee and Judy,
I am meditating on this verse today as it applies to a few people I love in our church and my family.
God’s timing always perfect
It does mean so much that He sees and cares about our misery! Even when it is self-inflicted.
4. Read aloud Judges 10:17 – 11:11 and write down everything you learn about Jeptha. He was a Gileadite mighty warrior. His father was Gilead and his mom a prostitute. He was driven away by his brothers and he settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels followed him. When the Ammonites started fighting against Gilead, the elders went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander. He agreed with the understanding he would then become head over them.
5. Continue watching Paige from 24:40 to up to 35:48
A. What stands out to you in particular and why? That Jeptha was kind of a pirate. I’d never given this any thought about the men surrounding him. (David collected a group but don’t remember him being called a pirate.)
B. What difference do you see between Judges 3:9 and 10:18? In Judges 3 the Israelites cried out to the Lord and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer. In 10 they talked among themselves who should lead them.
C. Paige said Jeptha is not so much a victim of the culture but a representative of the culture. She says Jeptha continually brings God’s name into the conversation for his own purposes. Find at least one illustration of that from this passage. Vs 9 if you bring me home again to fight and the Lord gives them to me, I will be your head Vs 11 says he spoke all his words before the Lord
D. Contrast the leadership style of God with the leadership style of Jeptha. God leads, corrects and guides for the people’s good. Jeptha’s sole purpose was for his own benefit.
6. Read silently Judges 11:12-22 and summarize his point. Nations didn’t allow them to pass through, but God gave it to them and their gods didn’t give the land to them.
7. This is an accurate history lesson but how can you see Jephthah’s motive in verse 12? He has made it personal, fight against me and my land. He does not attribute it to what God has done
8. Read silently Judges 11:23-29 and summarize his point. (Paige compares this to Russia and Ukraine) The land hadn’t belonged to them. That they would keep what God had given them and Ammonites should possess what their god had given them.
9. What true statement does Jephthah make in 11:27b? that God, the Judge, decide between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon.
10. What happens to Jephthah in 11:29? The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him.
11. Listen to Paige from 35:48 to 42:01 and share what stands out and why. Just a few verses talk about the battle. God does deliver them, but I realize now that isn’t Jeptha’s focus. He’s not worshiping and thanking God.
12. Do you have to be godly for the Spirit of the Lord to come upon you? Defend your answer. No. Paige used Saul as an example. Saul ha d God’s anointing but failed to wait for Samuel and offered the sacrifice himself and God chose David.
13. Paige addresses Hebrews 11, the Hall of Fame for people who showed faith. What does she say is the central point of this passage? How do you see this happening for a moment in Jepthah’s life in Judges 11:29-33? That it was his dependence upon God, but the purpose of Hebrews is to point the way to Jesus. (I listened to this a few times and still murky to me). The horrible, horrible vow he made where he was trusting in his action of a sacrifice rather than what God was empowering him to do.
I understand the murkiness of Jephthah and Samson mentioned in Hebrews 11. My thought is they had faith for a passing moment, and they commended for that but not for their lives. I also wondered is they could have been saved or if God anointed them for a moment for the sake of His people, the way He anointed Balaam’s ass. Thoughts?
Good point. God is God and will use who He needs to in the moment to accomplish His good plan. Jeptha, which I wouldn’t have realized if Paige hadn’t pointed out, was not chosen by God to be the leader of Gilead. So his mention in Hebrews reminds me now that He can anoint as you say for a moment, and that short period of time he took action on his faith and defeated the Ammonites. Thank you for the insight. The rest of Jeptha’s story is tragic.
Thanks for your response, Judy. I know many would disagree so I am not dogmatic about it, but it is what makes sense to me.
14. Read aloud Judges 12:1-7 and describe why the Ephraimites were angry and what Jephthah did. That Gilead had gone to fight the Ammonites without them. He gathered his men and fought them and killed 42,000 Ephraimites. .
16. Listen to Paige from 42:02 to 51:44
A. What stands out to you and why? That they killed the Ephraimites while they were on way back home. Yuk, We really need God in every circumstance – in our victories, our defeats and everything in between.
B. Where do you see the me-ism and 1st person everywhere? Give a few references. Vs 2 I and my people, you did not save me vs 3 I took my life in my hand, Lord gave them into my hand.
C. She illustrated this by the illustration of college students calling home and telling their parents that they had found the Lord. What was her point? That we want to share in and feel part of others’ success and it’s hard to let go particularly when it’s our kid and not feel left out. What about me, look what I did for you.
D. Ephraim is not an external enemy — so what does this show about Jepthah’s motive? His pride, it was him and retaliating for self. They questioned him and he showed them no mercy
4. Read aloud Judges 10:17 – 11:11 and write down everything you learn about Jeptha.
He was the son of Gilead. His mother was a prostitute.
His half brothers chased him off their land. They said he couldn’t have any inheritance because of his mother.
He fled the land and lived in another. Some worthless people began to follow him.
When his homeland was attacked by the Ammonites, he was asked to come back to fight. He told them no because they had run him off. They said they needed him and if he came they would make him ruler.
D. Contrast the leadership style of God with the leadership style of Jeptha.
I think something glitchy happened with my last question!
God wants to woo us and teach us, whereas Jeptha is just about himself.
17. Read aloud Judges 11:29-40
A. Summarize what happens here. Spirit of Lord came on Jeptha and he defeated the Ammonites, but while the Spirit of Lord was on him and before the victory, he made a vow to sacrifice as a burnt offering whatever came out of the doors of his home to greet him when he returned on peace from the Ammonites. After the victory, his daughter, his only child, came out to greet him and he gave her 2 months to go up and down the mountains to weep with friends.
B. Whom does Jephthah blame? His daughter – You have brought me very low.
C. How does his daughter respond and what does this tell you about her? Do to me what the vow says but give me 2 months with friends. Obedient daughter and God fearing.
D. Whom does Israel honor in the years to come? The daughters of Israel each year lamented her for 4 days.
A. What stands out and why? That the word for sacrifice is the word we get holocaust from and that Jeptha would have sacrificed his own daughter. Once in a while I read a commentary that says this means she only couldn’t marry. Of course, I prefer that to the realization the man sacrificed his daughter. Always such a heart wrenching story.
B. What is Jephthah’s idol and how is he bargaining with God to get it? His right to be leader, his right to not be in exile, his right to be honored. He thought he could bribe God and offer God something so He could not refuse him.
C. How do commentators try to get around the reality of this passage? What have you thought in the past? They say that she would stay a virgin or it only applied if an animal came out.
D. What is the Greek translation for the word “offering” here? Holocaust a whole burnt offering
E. Some commentators say “At least he is a man of integrity because he keeps the vow.” Comments? Jeptha showed himself not to be a man of integrity against the Ephraimites his own people. Yuck he should not have made the vow, and Paige pointed out he could have renounced it.
F. How would Leviticus 5:4-6 have provided for Jephthah here? It talks about thoughtlessly taking an evil oath to do anything and that they can repent and bring a sin offering and the priest can make atonement for them. Did pride also keep him from admitting he made a mistake?
G. Paige said Jephthah did this because he was totally inundated by his culture. (Molech was the god of child sacrifice.) Why do we know this was never God’s will? A child is created in God’s image and child sacrifice is abhorrent to the Lord. A person who sacrifices a child to the Lord was to be stoned and family cut off.
H. How is Jephthah ignorant of the true character of God? What doesn’t He get? He thought he could bribe God by vowing a sacrifice. He misses that grace is God’s character and what we receive from God is not because we deserve it or have earned it.
I. Give evidence that Jephthah was the destroyer rather than deliverer? He killed 42,000 of his own people and then sacrificed his own daughter which was an abomination.
J. How much good did Jephthah’s sacrifice do? What is our only hope? The sacrifice did nothing. It was always dependent on God and His work Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.
19. Does Jephthah in any way point to Christ. Paige says NO! Keller says a pale shadow in that he was rejected by his own. I think he is a negative Christ figure in that he sacrificed his only child for himself and the Lord sacrificed his only child for us. What do you think? I like your comment the best. No, he did not point to Jesus .
20. Paige says this is a hard passage for we will do what our culture expects instead of what God’s says. Prayerfully consider what you see as success. Prayerfully consider where you have been conformed to the world’s norms in time, in spending, in appearance… Also consider how this has worked out for us. It is easy for me to think I need something new in my closet for fall, and there are coupons and sales, so that is foolishness as I already have a few things I won’t wear need to take to the mission. These things will burn up if Christ returns today.
21. The gods of the Israelites could (supposedly) be manipulated. How does Jephthah approach the true God as if he is one more of Israel’s pagan gods? That if he offered to sacrifice, Jepthah could get what he wanted – which wasn’t God it was success and status. The sad thing is God would have came for Jepthah.
22. What was the point of her locket story? Do you realize there is absolutely nothing you can do to earn God’s favor? The story also made me sad. The girl didn’t think her mom would come back for her, but if she had her mom’s locket her mom would return for the locket. God will return for me whether or not I’m wearing the locket. I am His and He will track me down and draw me near. He just wants me warts, scabs, crappy attitude and all else – me. In my head I know this is true but there are moments I can get stuck in—if I pray more or worship more will He draw closer? Will He answer the question I have for Him?
23. Do you think you realize to the depth of your soul the depth of God’s love for you? If not, pray for that so you can release your idols. At times I do, sometimes I want to stay so close I don’t want to move for fear of losing the moment. Other times Lord, I need to realize the depth of Your love for me. Lord, I’m sorry when I seek approval of others instead of pleasing You.
Your closing comment and prayer could be mine!
6. Read silently Judges 11:12-22 and summarize his point.
They are fighting over land that the Israelites say is theirs and jet the king of Ammon says is his.
7. This is an accurate history lesson but how can you see Jephthah’s motive in verse 12?
He calls the land “his,” when it is really Gods.
De 8. Read silently Judges 11:23-29 and summarize his point. (Paige compares this to Russia and Ukraine)
Jeptha tries to rationalize with the king saying it’s really the Israelites land anyway, so he wants it back. The king ignores him and he ends up fighting them.
9. What true statement does Jephthah make in 11:27b?
The Lord should be the one who determines the outcome.
10. What happens to Jephthah in 11:29?
He is overcome with the Holy Spirit.
.
11. Listen to Paige from 35:48 to 42:01 and share what stands out and why.
Probably what stands out is the fact that Jepthah knows his history of the land so well. How did he know that the land was taken by the Ammonites 300 years prior? It’s not like they had the Bible to remind them…
12. Do you have to be godly for the Spirit of the Lord to come upon you? Defend your answer.
No. Rahab was not a godly person yet she had the Spirit come upon her in that she knew of God and treated the spies with respect.
13. Paige addresses Hebrews 11, the Hall of Fame for people who showed faith. What does she say is the central point of this passage?
They were people who had faith and their actions showed as much.
How do you see this happening for a moment in Jepthah’s life in Judges 11:29-33?
He had faith he would conquer the Ammonites. And, he did.
A. What stands out to you and why?
—It is the innate sinfulness of mankind. Always looking for and looking to someone or something else to satisfy our hearts needs. It is the entrenched pattern to do evil in the sight of the Lord and abandon Him. But God in his deep love is grieved their misery and He is grieved by mine as well.
B. Find the patterns that are the same as the past cycles.
—Doing evil in the sight of God by serving other false gods.
-Being oppressed by other nations.
-Crying out in their distress.
-The Lord responding to their misery.
C. How has the darkness deepened?
—Sadly they don’t want a relationship with God which would bring security to their lives.
D. What does the Lord tell them to do in verse 14?
—He tells them to go cry out to the gods they have chosen and let them rescue them from their distress.
E. Think about where you run for comfort, approval, or control besides the Lord. Will they help you when you go into surgery, when a beloved one dies, or when war comes? What will they do? What point is God trying to help us see?
—I run to food, family and friends. All have failed to meet the deepest needs of my heart. God and God alone can do that. He wants me to walk in loving relationship with Him because He can be trusted and He truly cares.
F. What do you learn about the Lord in verse 16? How does your translation put it?
—The depth of God’s love for his own never ever fails or comes to an end. I would call it eternal security. In spite of me I am kept in His love.
“And He was grieved by their misery.”
4. Read aloud Judges 10:17 – 11:11 and write down everything you learn about Jeptha.
—Jephthah was a great warrior. That made him a fighter. His mother was a prostitute so he was an illegitimate son and his half brothers who were his father’s sons by his wife ran Jephthah out of the country refusing to let him have any family inheritance. When the Israelites came under attack by the Ammonites they sent for Jephthah (who was a warrior and fighter) to come and lead them in battle. In agreeing to come and fight for them he made sure to serve himself and demanded a place of leadership to rule over them. They agreed to his demands.
5. Continue watching Paige from 24:40 to up to 35:48
A. What stands out to you in particular and why?
—Paige’s assessment of Jephthah as not having a true and meaningful relationship with God and that is revealed in that he had no communication the Lord. He never talked to God but only about Him. She said when we are not in relationship with people we talk about them. But when we are in a true and meaningful relationship with someone we talk to them.
B. What difference do you see between Judges 3:9 and 10:18?
—In Judges 3:9 when the people of Israel cried out to God it was God who raised up a rescuer for them. His name was Othniel and the Spirit of God came upon him.
In the case of Jephthah the Israelites went looking for their own rescuer.
C. Paige said Jeptha is not so much a victim of the culture but a representative of the culture. She says Jeptha continually brings God’s name into the conversation for his own purposes. Find at least one illustration of that from this passage.
—In verse 9 Jephthah says to the elders of Israel that “if the LORD gives me victory”. He made it about himself getting the victory and not that it would be God’s doing and God’s victory.
D. Contrast the leadership style of God with the leadership style of Jeptha.
—For God it is always about the good of the people He loves. For Jephthah it was always about for the good of himself.
23. Do you think you realize to the depth of your soul the depth of God’s love for you? If not, pray for that so you can release your idols.
—Unfortunately I just didn’t have time to immerse myself in answering the questions this past week as we were traveling again but this teaching by Paige was particularly full of insight and the resulting questions personally challenging to consider. This last question is just so good to consider. My verse for the year is
1 John 4:16
”So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.“
So can I say in the depth of my soul do I realize the depth of God’s love? I would say as I consider often the above verse that I am growing in that knowledge every day. And I am so very grateful to my God and King.
14. Read aloud Judges 12:1-7 and describe why the Ephraimites were angry and what Jephthah did.
The Ephraimites were angry that they weren’t included in the battle with the Ammonites. Jephthah ended up attacking them with his people, and defeating them.
1. Is there something you are particularly thankful to the Lord for this week? My husband. He’s not perfect, but he’s always been there for me.
19. Does Jephthah in any way point to Christ. Paige says NO! Keller says a pale shadow in that he was rejected by his own. I think he is a negative Christ figure in that he sacrificed his only child for himself and the Lord sacrificed his only child for us. What do you think? This story is one that I have read many times before, but always thought of it as Jephthah being so dedicated to God that he wouldn’t break a vow that he made even if it meant sacrificing his daughter. I compared him to Abraham in my mind, but now I see that Jephthah foolishly told God what he was going to do in exchange for what he wanted from God (you make me great and I’ll give you something). Abraham was asked by God to give up someone he loved and he was willing. Of course, God does not ever want a human sacrifice from us. I don’t think that Jephthah himself points to Christ, but his story points to God’s ultimate mercy which is Christ.
23. Do you think you realize to the depth of your soul the depth of God’s love for you? If not, pray for that so you can release your idols. I don’t think that I can fully comprehend the depth of God’s love for me, but the realization that it is deeper than I can imagine makes it easier for me to give up my idols. But since our hearts are idol making factories, I need to be always on guard against self serving behavior.
For a long time my thinking was similar, Dawn. This message has been very clarifying!
Dee and Dawn, I have had several feelings about Jephtha. Dawn, you hit the nail on its head: But since our hearts are idol-making factories, I need to always be on guard against self-serving behavior. Even if I have dropped the ball here in my absence, listening to Paige made me realize how much I manipulate God into rubber-stamping what I want to do. I have struggled with the idol of control and approval this past week and coming here reminded me of staying connected to the Word and fellowship. God does not want me to be self or performance-focused, but Christ-focused.
16. Listen to Paige from 42:02 to 51:44
A. What stands out to you and why?
I suppose it’s the part about wanting to be known as being “important.” I have felt that before.
B. Where do you see the me-ism and 1st person everywhere? Give a few references.
“So when I realized you weren’t coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the Lord gave me victory over the Ammonites. So why have you now come to fight me?””
Judges 12:3 NLT
C. She illustrated this by the illustration of college students calling home and telling their parents that they had found the Lord. What was her point?
The parents were adamant that their child always knew Jesus. They were raised that way and the parents are surprised that they are just “getting it.” The parents believed they were the ones who were responsible for the knowledge, but in reality the kids didn’t learn from the parents. The point is that we want to be known for important things like this; that we had a contribution too. That we mattered.
D. Ephraim is not an external enemy — so what does this show about Jepthah’s motive?
It’s all about Jephthat. He manipulates in God’s name.
This is the parents reaction in nutshell from Laura: That we mattered.