Judges
2:16
Help Thinky find out the names of the judges in the book of Judges. Page through the book and make a list of the judges’ names. You will find their names in the headings of the different sections.
You should find the names of 13 judges. Eli and Samuel were also judges. We read about them in 1 Samuel but not in Judges.
4:4–9
Deborah was a woman with many abilities. She was a wife, mother, leader, prophet and a judge. Deborah led the Israelites in war. She wrote a song about the battle that is still read today.
Inny wants you to do this. Make a list of women you know who do great things for the Lord. You can ask someone to help you with this list. Choose the name of one woman and put a star next to her name. Write down some of the things that make this woman of the Lord important and special.
6:2–6
The Midianites were nomads. They moved from place to place to find food for their animals. They often appeared out of the desert with their camels and other animals. They would kill all the Israelites’ animals. Then they let their own animals eat everything in sight. When the animals left, nothing was left of the Israelites’ crops. Then the Midianites would leave as quickly as they had come! The Midianites made slaves of Israel.
6:14–16, 7:3–7
Gideon was afraid to lead Israel. He was also afraid to fight against the Midianites. But the Lord sent Gideon anyway. The Lord promised he would be with Gideon. So Gideon gathered 32,000 men. Read Judges 7:3. Hearty wonders how many men made Gideon feel?
However, the Lord sent nearly all of them home. He only allowed 300 to stay. How do you think Gideon felt then? The Lord would show Gideon that he and his 300 men could defeat the Midianites. How? The Lord would help them. How do you think Gideon felt knowing the Lord would be with him?
Gideon and Samson
7:5–6
Gideon had to watch his men drink water. Some brought the water to their mouths and lapped it the way dogs do. Others got down on their knees to drink.
Crafty wonders how you would have drunk the water. Go and try it out. Which way is easier for you?
Would you have gone home or would you have stayed for the battle?
7:19–22
Gideon launched a surprise attack. After dark, they quietly surrounded the Midianites’ camp. In the middle of the night, they made a big noise and waved burning torches. The Midianites were so frightened that they began to attack one another. Then they fled. With the Lord’s help, Gideon won the battle.
8:27–28
After Gideon had defeated the Midianites, there was peace for many years. Sadly, Gideon didn’t lead the Israelites in serving the Lord.
This is what Gideon did instead: He made an object of gold that looked like the high priest’s linen apron. He put it in his hometown, and the people began to worship this object.
Although Gideon really wanted to serve God, making the gold object was wrong. Gideon and the Israelites didn’t follow God’s commands. God had told them not to worship any object—they were to worship only Him. We must remember not only to love God but also to follow His commands.
9:22–24
Gideon’s son, Abimelek, was an evil man. He wanted to be the next leader, so he killed all his brothers. He ruled for three years before the Lord punished him for killing his brothers. The Lord caused Abimelek’s own people to turn against him. They killed him in his hometown of Shechem. Abimelek hadn’t followed God’s commands.
Jerub Baal was another name for Gideon. Gideon was given this name after he tore down an altar of Baal. You can read about that in Judges 6:25–32.
13:5
The angel said Samson was to be set apart at birth to serve the Lord. His parents had to do this as soon as he was born. Samson was to serve the Lord as long as he lived. He wasn’t to drink any kind of wine, eat grapes, or anything made from grapes. Samson was never to cut his hair. People who lived like that were called Nazirites.
16:1–21
Talky read that Samson had great physical strength. Samson received his strength from the Lord. That’s because he had promised to obey God’s commands and serve Him all his life. But Samson wasn’t a perfect man. (Read verses 15–17.) In a moment of weakness, Samson disobeyed God’s command, and he suffered the consequences of his decision.
Get your group together. Remember a time when you were disobedient and you suffered the consequences. Was it because, like Samson, you didn’t follow a rule? Talk about what you did after you were punished. Talk about how the Lord wants you to obey His laws. He wants you to be faithful to Him all the time.
16:24–31
Because Samson disobeyed his promise to God, he lost his strength. Then the Philistines could capture him. They put him in prison.
Inny wants you to learn something important. While in prison, Samson learned that God was still with him. God showed His presence as Samson’s hair began to grow. When the Philistines mocked Samson, they also mocked God.
What did Samson do before he brought down the pillars? (Read verse 28.) Whom did Samson ask to help him? What does Samson teach you with his last words? What do you learn about the Lord in this chapter?
