1. The Dark Days of Israel’s Judges A Study of the Book of Judges The Dark Days of Israel’s Judges A Study of the Book of Judges Lesson 16 Judges 17 – 18 The Danites’ Promised Land December 6, 2009

2. I.Introduction to Lesson 16 A.Where are we in the Book of Judges? 1.Dual introduction (1:1-2:5; 2:6-3:4) 2.Israel’s judges (3:5—16:31) 3.Dual conclusion (17:1-18:31; 19:1-21:25) B.What is unique about this section? 1.No foreign oppressor 2.No foreign “gods” (Yahweh) 3.No judges 4.“There was no king in Israel...” 5.Key information held until the end 6.Author does not do all our thinking for us – leaves us to draw our conclusions C.How are we to understand what we read here?

3. II.Have It Your Way – Micah’s Personalized, Profitable, Religion (17:1-13) A.Two additions to Micah’s religious shrine (17:1- 6). 1. Micah’s theft of 1100 pieces of silver 2. Mama’s cursing and Micah’s confession (vs. 2) 3. A gift (silver for idols) dedicated to God for a blessing to Micah – to reverse the curse (17:3-4) 4. An addition to Micah’s collection (17:5). 5. What the reader is expected to know: the teaching of the Law (Deut. 27:15) 6. Author’s commentary (17:6)

4. B.The Young Levite: Priesthood for Sale or Rent (17:7-13) 1. Unemployment hits the Levites 2. What is a priest like you doing in a place like this (Bethlehem, then hill country)? 3. Micah’s economic stimulus package: a guaranteed salary plus benefits 4. Things are looking up for all a.Job security for the Levite b.Father/son relationship with Micah c.Micah’s hope of prosperity

5. III.The Danites’ Promised Land – 18:1-31 A.Necessary background information: 1. The earlier sending of the spies and the occupation of Canaan in Numbers 13 and Joshua 2 2. The Danites’ failure to possess their inheritance (Joshua 19:40-48; Judges 1:34) B.Spies sent out: A priest’s blessing at Micah’s Bed and Breakfast (18:1-6). C.The spies exploration and report (18:7-10) D.Micah is robbed of his religion (18:11-26). E.Danites settle in their new land (18:27-29). F.Necessary information (18:30-31).

6. IV.Conclusion A.Why is the author hesitant to give the reader his assessment? B.Note how far Israel has fallen. C.Why the emphasis on Israel’s need for a king? D.What can we learn about discerning God’s will? E.A word about hard times, prosperity, and pragmatism. F.A lesson from the use of the word Yahweh. G.The importance of ecclesiology – worshipping God His way. H.Our text and Christmas.

7. Copyright © 2009 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. This is the edited PowerPoint presentation of Lesson 16 in the series, The Dark Days of Israel’s Judges, prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh for December 6, 2009. Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit.