The Lord Raised Them up a Deliverer

Judges 1-8. “The Lord Raised Them up a Deliverer”

1. The judges in the book of Judges weren’t the type of judges we have today. Read Judges 2:16-18. What word would be a good synonym for judge? What were they supposed to do for Israel?

I feel that a good synonym for judge would be “protector” because they were suppose to deliver them the people from their enemy’s.

Judges 2:16-18
16 ¶Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
 17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so.
 18 And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

2.  After reading Judges 1-3, briefly describe how well the children of Israel obeyed the Lord during the early reign of the judges. Cite several examples from your reading to support your assessment.

I feel that they took for granted their blessings and turned quickly away from the Lord.

Judges 2

2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
 3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
 4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

 12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.
 13 And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
 14 ¶And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.


3.  Read Judges 2:10-15 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Judges 2:12-13, “Who Are Ball and Ashtoreth?” (pgs. 252-53).

“Numerous Old Testament references recite apostate Israel’s worship of Baal and Baalim (plural of Baal). It was the priest of Baal, for instance, with whom Elijah had his dramatic contest in the days of Ahab and Jezebel. (1 Kings 18.) Baal was the supreme male deity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nation. It is likely that there were, in practice, many Baals or gods of particular places, the worship of whom was licentious in nature, Baalzebub (the same name as Beelzebub or Satan) was the name of the god of one particular group. (2 Kings 1:3.)” (McConkie, Mormon
Doctrine, p. 68.) “As Baal was the supreme male deity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nations, so Ashtoreth (Ashtaroth) was their supreme female deity. She was the so-called goddess of love and fertility, whose licentious worship pleased Israel in her apostate periods. (Judges 2:13; 10:6; 1 Sam. 7:3–4; 12:10.)” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 55.) For more information on the false gods of Old Testament times, see Enrichment Section F, “Idolatry: Ancient and Modern.”

4.  Read Judges 2:10-19 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Judges 2:11-13, “What Resulted from Israel’s Not Driving the Canaanites Out of the Promised Land?” (pg. 252). Detail in writing what lessons you think parents can learn from these sources.

“The Book of Judges makes clear that Israel did not conquer all of Canaan when first she entered it. . . . For a long time during the days of the Judges many of the Israelites were essentially ‘hillbillies’ [see Judges 6:2], hemmed in by their enemies on every side. After the generations of Israelites who had been acquainted with Joshua passed away, the effects of Canaanite morals and religion began to be apparent upon the younger generation. For long periods of time the Canaanites conquered Israel and this fact alone would tend to disrupt her settled religious life and practice. Times were rough and banditry was rampant. As the record itself states: ‘In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes’ [Judges 17:6]. All of this seems to have taken place because Israel did not drive the Canaanites completely out. The Lord said to the Israelites: ‘Ye have not hearkened to My voice; what is this ye have done? Wherefore I also said: I will not drive them out before you; but they
shall be unto you as snares, and their gods shall be a trap unto you.’ [Judges 2:2–3.] . . . Israel’s conduct during this period had a lasting effect upon her religion and morals. For centuries Israel’s prophets and wise men referred to it and denounced her allegiance to old Canaanite practices. It is plain that Israel, during the period of the Judges, compromised her relatively high religious ideals with Canaanite practices and certain elements in her population must have apostatized completely.” (Sperry, Spirit of the Old Testament, pp. 51–52.)

Parents can learn that it is important to drive out any impurity (media, language, etc.) from the home. If impurities remain, it will take its toll on the family.

5.  The book of Judges contains some great Old Testament narratives, including those of Ehud, Deborah, and Gideon. Choose one of these accounts from Judges 3-8 and write a summary of the principles taught there.

In Chapter 6 of the Book of Judges it is explained how Israel is in bondage to the Midianites—An angel appears to Gideon and calls him to deliver Israel—He overthrows the altar of Baal, the Spirit of the Lord rests upon him, and the Lord gives him a sign to show he is called to deliver Israel.

Principles that are covered:

If I am told by God that I am to to do something then I should do it
If I am in communication with God then I cannot fail at my righteous tasks
If I repent then I will become closer to my Heavenly Father

Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

Choice 1: Deuteronomy 2-3, 7, 9, 20, 25. Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

1.     Read Deuteronomy 20:17 and make a list of the different nations the Lord identified in these verses. Then read Deuteronomy 2:15, 7:2, 12:2-3, and write a paragraph about what the Lord commanded Israel to do with these nations.

Deuteronomy 20:17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee:

List:

·       Hittites

·       Amorites

·       Canaanites

·       Perizzites

·       Hivites

·       Jebusites

Deuteronomy 2:15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed.

Deuteronomy 7:2 And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

Deuteronomy 12:2-3 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

 3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

The Lord commanded Israel to purify and remove the bad from their lives. This to me can be compared to us symbolically removing the bad from our lives pouring drinks, drugs, etc. down the drain or choosing better friends.

1.     Read Deuteronomy 9:4-5 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Deuteronomy 7:1-5, “Why Did the Lord Command the Israelites to Utterly Destroy the Canaanites?” (pg. 219). Add to your previous paragraph any other reasons why these nations were destroyed.

 Deuteronomy 9:4-5  Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee.

 5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“Undoubtedly these groups had intermarried. By the time Israel approached the promised land, these Canaanites had become an extremely wicked and idolatrous people. When Abraham was told that his seed would inherit the land of Canaan, the Lord also told him that Israel would first be taken into captivity in Egypt because “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16). Now, several hundred years later, that fullness of iniquity had come. Certain acts are so evil and so destructive to the order of the society that the only just reparation is the death of the guilty parties (see Exodus 21:12–17). Nephi was told that Laban’s death was justified because his wickedness threatened the spiritual existence of an entire future nation. The Lord began His explanation of that principle by saying, “Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes” (1 Nephi 4:13). Likewise, the kinds of evil of which the Canaanites were guilty were so infectious, so contaminating, that to have shown mercy and let them survive would have proven to be the spiritual downfall of Israel. Indeed, later history shows that this is exactly what happened when Israel failed to follow these instructions. Moses warned Israel: “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart,dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee” (Deuteronomy 9:5 see also 1 Nephi 17:32–38).”

1.     Many of the sins found among the people living in Canaan are prevalent in today’s society. Write a paragraph explaining how you think we can protect ourselves from these sins.

Ultimately our best protection from falling like the people of Canaan is to be humble. When we’re are humble and meek we listen to the promptings of the spirit. This helps us to understand the big picture which helps us to align our thoughts and actions to what is pleasing to our Father in Heaven. He loves us and his main goal is to bring about our progression towards eternal life and exaltation.

The Brazen Serpent

Choice 4: Numbers 21:4-9. The Brazen Serpent

Read Numbers 21:4-9 and the Institute Student Manual Points to Ponder section (pg. 212). Then answer the following questions in writing:

•        What did the children of Israel do that resulted in the curse of the “fiery serpents”?

The children of Israel did not count their many blessing and eventual murmured against God and against his servants.

4 ¶And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

 6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

 7 ¶Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

 8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

•        In what ways are people today sometimes like unto the children of Israel anciently? (See also 1 Nephi 17:45.)

We are blessed in more ways than what we realize. When you take the time to count your blessings, the things that you may be without is very marginal. In Moses’ time, the people were blessed with freedom from Egypt. They were also blessed with alternative forms of food, shelter, etc.  Today, many people have the same attitude. It is important for us to take the time to count our blessings.

•        According to Alma 33:18-22, what did the brazen serpent symbolize?

We need to believe in the Son of God.

 18 But behold, this is not all; these are not the only ones who have spoken concerning the Son of God.

 19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a typewas raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.

 20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.

 21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

 22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die toatone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

•        How does one “look to” Jesus Christ for healing?

We are easily “bitten” by sin. Looking to Christ means that we need to learn from him and of him. Learn that the atonement is our essential way of overcoming sin. We need to learn his way of life and his eternal perspective.

•        Aside from physical healings, how can “looking to” the Savior heal a person in other ways?

His example shows us how we can obtain peace in this life and in the next. It shows us how we  can be blessings to others and how we can help them overcome their weaknesses.

•        Where else do people sometimes turn for healing other than the Savior?

Sometimes people turn to healing in other ways that are in vain. They feel that they can drown their sorrows with alcohol, drugs, and friends who lead them astray. The only true healing comes in and through Jesus Christ.

•        What are simple things in the gospel of Jesus Christ that can heal us?

Simple things would include: a new commitment to refrain from sin, service to others (being a strength while fighting off your weakness), Showing love and charity to others, learning all you can about gospel principles to better your life.

•        How have you experienced the healing power of the Atonement in your life?

I have been blessed to feel the healing power of the Atonement many times in my life. I am so grateful that Jesus Christ was willing to help me progress. I love him and am eternally grateful.

The Day of Atonement

Choice 2: Leviticus 16. The Day of Atonement

Leviticus 16 explains the details of what is referred to as the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 23:27-28). Write a definition for the primary purpose of this special day.

Day of Atonement Definition: A holy convocation unto you due to the affliction you cause your soul through sin. This is a day when an offering is made by fire unto the lord (symbolic verbage for us in the latter–days dealing with receiving the Spirit of God). This is a day when atonement is made on your behalf

Read Leviticus 16:1-28 as well as the Institute Student Manual commentary for Leviticus 16, “The Day of Atonement and Israel’s Forgiveness” (pgs. 176-77; see also Bible Dictionary, “Fasts,” 671, which describes the Day of Atonement). Then answer the following questions:

Why do you think Aaron needed to make atonement for himself before making atonement for the people?

It was important for Aaron to be right before the Lord before helping others so that hypocrisy is not an issue.  It is like when you are on an airplane and they teach you to breath through your oxygen mask first before helping other people. 

Why did Aaron need two goats?

Two goats were chosen by lot. One was designated as the goat of the Lord, and one was designated as the scapegoat, or in Hebrew, the goat of Azazel. The goat of Jehovah was offered as a sin offering, and the high priest took its blood into the holy of holies of the tabernacle and sprinkled it on the lid of the ark of the covenant (called the ‘mercy seat’), thus making atonement for the sins of Israel. “4. The other goat, Azazel, was brought before the high priest, who laid his hands upon its head and symbolically transferred all of the sins of Israel to it. Then it was taken out into the wilderness and released where it would never be seen again.

How could both goats represent Jesus Christ and His Atonement?

Jesus Christ was offered as a sacrifice for our sins. He literally was the sacrifice, which was worthy of the Lord. He also was literally the Atoning One who took on the sins of the world

What do Aaron’s responsibilities and the responsibilities of the man who led the scapegoat into the wilderness symbolize?

Aaron’s responsibilities represent Christ. Christ is the highest priest and officiates for all mankind. He provides a way for us to be forgiven. The man who leads the scapegoat away represents us. We must lead our sins away and loose them forever.

Read the Institute Student Manual commentary by Elder James E. Talmage (1862-1933), a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (pg. 177). Define the word vicarious as it applied to the ancient Day of Atonement. Include in your statement the personal factor necessary for an individual’s sins to be forgiven. Explain in writing how the Savior’s work of the Atonement was a vicarious work.

Vicarious Definition: Experienced in and through the feelings or actions of another person often times through symbolism. (example: proxy work)

The personal factor necessary for an individual’s sins to be forgiven comes from the individual’s willingness to repent and follow Christ. The Saviors work of the atonement was a vicarious work because even though he did not personally commit the sin, he took upon him the sins, weaknesses and infirmities of the world so that he could better understand how to succor his people and judge them in righteousness.