1 The Era of the Judges (roughly 12th-11th centuries B.C.E.). The time of the Judges was after Israel left Egypt, travelled through the Wilderness under leadership of Moses, then entered the Promised Land under leadership of Joshua (Y’shua’s First Coming) before the Government of King David (Y’shua’s Second Coming) was established. In the time of King David, Israel experienced the most prosperous time ever. 2 This is a picture of what we can expect when the King of Kings, Y’shua, will reign after His Second Coming. Prophetically, Judges is pointing to the timeframe between Y’shua’s First and Second Coming, and that is where we find ourselves in and we can learn so much on how to live as Believers especially as we draw near to the end of this time period. Joshua brought Israel into Canaan, in the same way Y'shua brought us into the spiritual Promised Land of faith. We are not only awaiting His Second Coming and salvation, we are also awaiting His Government with which He will rule over the earth forever. ! "#$# % &Joshua's last words and warning was not to forsake the Torah and His Commandments, but the people later fell back and forsook YHVH's Word. During the history of the Judges we see that, even when they fell away from YHVH's Ways, they were more than half of the time blessed, following YHVH's Commandments. This gives us hope for this time and we know that we need to follow YHVH’s Ways in order to experience His peace. In the same way, man throughout history from Y’shua’s ascension, had fallen back into the hands of the enemy and are periodically serving the enemy and freed from the enemy throughout the centuries up till now. We as believers living now are also subject under the rulership of “Judges” who YHVH appointed so that they can lead the people back into following the Torah and YHVH’s ways till He comes again. '(% %&) When they had no ruler over them, every man did what he thought was right and this is also true for today, people have the right to be different and do as they think is right. Throughout this Book we see the same Cycle of sin, Israel forgot YHVH, He send an Enemy to rule over them, they repent, He then sends a Judge to deliver them. They live in peace until they forget Him again. This Cycle repeated six times with a total of twelve Judges to rule over YHVH’s people. 3 In the First Chapter of the book of Judges we find the most peculiar story of Israel fighting against the Canaanites where they caught the king, Adonai-Bezek, and cut off his thumbs and great toes. What does this mean? Adonai-Bezek did the same thing to seventy kings and this was now done back unto him. We see that the evil that you do, will return to you and you must bear the consequences of what you have done. We can learn a lot from this king, Bezek because his life is like the "yetzer hara", or ‘evil inclination’ that is found in every one of us. We were born with this “evil inclination” and have to let your "yetzer tov", the ‘good inclination’ overshadow it and dictate our actions. The "yetzer hara" takes advantage of our fleshly needs and cause it to go out of balance and control and we later on end up in sin. The "yetzer tov" is part of your spiritual side you must learn to let your spiritual side lead and dictate your actions and allowing this, is a sign of maturity. Bezek has two meanings, ‘spark’ and ‘lightning bolt’. As we have seen with this king, you will face your consequences. Sometimes it can be as small as a spark but sometimes it can be devastating like a lighting bolt. The lesson to learn here is that you better not play with sin, allowing it in your life, because you might bear more serious consequences than you can handle. The first two letters of Bezek is “baz” that means-‘spoil, booty, robbery, to divide, to despise, hold in contempt’. The last letter is Qof , and it means ‘repentance’. We need to repent (Qof) and subdue our evil desires by allowing our "yetzer tov" to take over so that we will not be despised and divided (baz) by the consequences of our sin. They did not kill Bezek, they only cut off his thumbs and great toes so that he could not hold a weapon to attack or hurt someone else. He still had a tongue. In the same way, when you came to faith, you have received a new nature that makes you less prone to sin but you need to watch you tongue, it can still be used to express your "yetzer hara" and bring you into serious trouble. Enemies in the Valleys with Iron Chariots ''*"#$#&&+!))) ! !Israel defeated their enemies on the mountain but did not drive out the enemies in the lower parts. We learn that the men of the tribe of Judah could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had iron chariots (Judges 1:19). 4 The iron chariot was most valuable in making rapid flanking movements where the land was fairly flat and open. The coastal area of Palestine was relatively level, while the hill-country inland featured steep slopes and deep valleys. However, in the coastal plain the Canaanite and Philistine iron chariots proved to be the tanks of their period, racing across the flat country. But chariots were ineffective on wooded hills. The High places and mountainous areas represent a place of set apart living. The Valleys and costal areas close to the sea represent the nations and people in the world. Satan has the ‘technology’ to deceive people with his worldly systems found in the media, entertainment, music, books est. If you are not well equipped with the Mountainous area of set-apart living, you will be pulled into the ways of the world and Satan’s deceptive tactics. Since Israel did not obtain chariots until the time of the monarchy, they simply could not dislodge the people of the coastal plain. But in one instance there was a strikingly different result. Jabin and Sisera, from the stronghold of Hazor, had a massive force of 900 iron chariots (Judges 4, 5). But Deborah and Barak, the Israelite leaders, were successful against this superior force because Elohim routed the enemy. There is also the implication that there was a late spring storm, which turned the river Kishon into a raging torrent and rendered the iron chariots useless in the battle. This shows us that the enemy with the iron chariots can only be conquered with the help of YHVH and with a flood of His Word (water). This shows us that His Word will make the chariots ineffective and you can have a victory at the costal area, bringing in and winning souls for the Kingdom out of the nations (sea). Judah’s tribe attacked Jerusalem and they burnt it. They did not live in it. Later, the Jebusites captured that city again. We can see this from verse 21. Israel’s people did not capture it completely until David was the king. The Tale of Two Cities In the First Chapter we read about two Cities that were conquered; Hebron and Debir. These two Cities were found in the Promised Land and needs to be dealt with by you, as a believer. But what does these two Cities mean? The City of Hebron – The Giants Hebron (also known as Kiryat Arba or Mamreh) is a city of a rich biblical history going back to the era of the Patriarchs. When Abraham arrived in Canaan, one of the places in which he settled was the Hebron area, which he sanctified by building an altar to YHWH: “And Abraham moved his tent and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre which is in Hebrom and there he built an altar to YHWH” (Genesis 13:18). Hebron is also where Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, in the cave of Machpela. Hebron comes from the word "cheber" – that means ‘to bind’. Old name was Keriath-arba or the City of four giants. There were four giants who dwelled there, but only three are mentioned here: · Sheshai -my linen garments, six, mercy, flax · Ahiman -who is my brother, to go to the right (second part of word) · Talmai -bountiful water (sea) -relationship with the world (nations, sea) 5 These were Giants they had to face after they entered into the Promised Land. What does this mean, because all of them have good meanings? The Giants in your life is difficult to spot even though they are very big because of the ‘camouflage’ hiding them. They hide themselves behind masks of “white linen garments” and as “one of the brothers” and as “friendships”. We have all seen what peer pressure does to teen-agers and in the same way friendships with the wrong people can be the Giant in your life that keeps you from the fullness of YHVH, but you will find it difficult to realise it.. The First Giant represents religious friends that do not believe the same way you do and they confuse you by false doctrine, even though they appear to have white garments on. To test if this is the case with a particular friend, ask yourself the question after they have left: Do I feel builded up or am I confused? What is the fruit of this friendship? Do they draw me closer to YHVH or away from YHVH into the world? These people will say that YHVH’s Law is no longer valid and that you are legalistic if you try to obey it. They will say things that are contrary to the Word and contradict themselves often. This Giant can be slain by studying the Scripture to proof your faith so that these “friends” of yours will not lead you astray and away from the truth. Y’shua referred to these Giants as white washed graves because they appear to have the life but they are full of dead bones binging spiritual death by preaching man made laws. The Second Giant is “one of the brothers”, someone in the faith who cause you to stumble due to their actions or words. There will always be someone in an assembly of believers who will irritate you or offend you in some way or another. If this brother or sister says something about the Word, you feel something standing up in you and find it difficult to receive from him or her. Is there something wrong with him or with you? The answer is both. He may have a problem or weakness and this cause you to be irritated or offended. You have the problem of being irritable or offended and this is a weakness sin you. YHVH allows people like his in a group so that they can be your blessing. They bless you by bringing out the worst in you so that it might surface and that you can work on it. IA dead man would not be offended by anything and Paul said that we have to die in Messiah, this means to be dead to other people’s mistakes and irritations. If he or she offends you, ask YHVH to show you what it is in you that cause you to react in this way and ask Him to help you to overcome this weakness. In the same time pray for your brother or sister who cause you to stumble. When you are sorted out, then there will be love peace and unity and we must all die in Messiah to achieve this. The Third Giant is your relationship with the world or friends in the world outside the faith. The faith in Y’shua asks that you live a set-apart life and that you only allow believers inside your “inner circle of trust” and it is from these friends that you receive your support and council. Be careful of allowing friends outside the faith from your past life into this inner circle because they will lead you astray from YHVH’s ways if you consult them for advice. They have different lifestyle, morals and wisdom that is based on man’s wisdom and worldly ways. 6 The Four Giants in Hebron: !!"The Forth Giant is not mentioned here and that implies that this Giant is YOU. This Giant is the self or better known as; me myself and I where everything revolves around you. This is the most dangerous Giant and the most difficult Giant to spot. You can be the Giant that stands between you and YHVH. If you still upholds your ideals, dreams and plans from your fleshly past above the things that YHVH dictates, then you will most definitely follow your dreams instead of His Plan. You will pursue your material needs instead of His spiritual treasures and you will be a plastic believer who uses YHVH to gain your needs. This is the wrong way round and the wrong order and you have to get of the throne in your life and give the authority to YHVH. When you sit on the throne, you will dictate to YHVH what you want Him to do for you and then He is serving you instead of you serving Him. You are the servant and He is the Master, He speaks and you listen. Submit under His Word and pursue His Will and be someone He can use for the benefit of His Kingdom. ,-!%).%).)&"#$#$%&'($()$((*+",(-+"./0+"0/"1+2'1+"/"+"3+3/0'-. !!1!!(2-#)4%##5)4%5)(5%. 34As seen in the meaning of the word Hebron; these Giants will bind you if you do not seek them out and destroy them in your life. You have to realiase the seriousness of this in order to improve and maintain a good relationship with YHVH without relationships getting in the way. The City of Debir – The Scroll The second City is Debir and its old name is Kiriath-Sepher or “City of the Scroll”. Debir is the same as the word "dawbar" that means ‘to speak’. If you add a "yod" it is the same word used to name the Holy of Holies. The City of the Scroll (Word) and the Holy of Holies is from where YHVH speaks to His people. To conquer this City is to achieve the ability to “hear” YHVH’s Voice and to understand His words and to apply them skilfully in your life and teach others. This is the aim for all of us to be equipped so that we can help and teach others. In the book of Judges we read that Caleb offered His beautiful daughter as the bride to the one who was worthy of facing the challenge of conquering this City. His daughter’s name is Achsah and it means – ‘adornment’, ‘anger’ or ‘adder’. Othniel took on the challenge and got Achsah as wife. Othniel means 'force or Lion of Elohim’. The man that chooses to pursue this task; to embrace the Word in order to lead people, will be adorned and beautified by it, but will get a greater judgement (anger) if he teaches people the wrong things. 7 2'4 !! !)5Achsah asked her father a field and he also gave her the upper waters and the lower waters. A Field in Hebrew always means ‘nations’ and this is the inheritance and reward for pursuing this calling; there will be people coming out of the nations to serve YHVH and this is the fruit of your labour. He also gave her the upper and lower water meaning that YHVH will anoint and equip His Judge to reveal earthly wisdom as well as spiritual wisdom and revelation of the Word in order to help the people and lead them out of the world. In Chapter three we will see that Othniel was the first Judge and he had to conquer the City of the Scroll in order to be equipped to do the work of a Judge (spiritually). Conclusion: You must spend time on the mountainous area, which is the Way and Will of YHVH, living a set-apart life so that you will be equipped and ready when you deal with the Steel Chariot enemies in the world. You will need a fluid of the Word to overcome their tactics and with the help of YHVH you will overcome them and bring many people into the Kingdom. The City of Hebron deals with the Four Giants (Bad Relationships), which you must expel out of your life and the City of the Scroll is there to equip you to do the work YHVH planned for you in this life. You have to face both Cities to develop and grow up into Spiritual Maturity and to be effective in the Kingdom of YHVH. We will dig a bit deeper into the meaning of a judge before we look at the Judges YHVH gave to lead His people in the Promised Land.