Dear Readers,

I find Judges one of the most difficult books to read. The cycle of disobedience, crying out to God, repentance, and deliverance is all too real in many of our lives. I don't enjoy being reminded of it in such a graphic way. But there definitely are lessons we can learn from the book of Judges and challenges to live up to.

The last day of reading this week will be much more enjoyable. We will be reading the whole book of Ruth. It is a short book, named after the main character. The character of Ruth shows unswerving and selfless devotion to her mother-in-law. Ruth pledges allegiance to the God of Naomi. God is faithful to redeem her and care for her, just as he does to us today. We see Boaz in his selfless actions doing the very action of God in complete love and kindness. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I do!

I pray God will continue to teach you and give you insights.

DAY ONE, APRIL 16 - JUDGES 3-5
Chapter 3
Why did God leave other nations in Canaan?
What was God testing?
How well did they do?
How well do you do with the temptations that are around you?
Who were the Israelites in subjection to in verse 8-11?
Who did God raise up to be their judge and deliverer? How long did it last?
What happens after Othniel dies?
Describe the next oppression and deliverance.
How often do you repeat the same sin against God?
Chapter 4
Who was the next judge?
Describe Deborah and her work.
What other woman did God use in this passage?
How are you using your position, influence, and gifts for God?
Chapter 5
What was interesting to you about the song of Deborah?
What would your song of victory be to God?

DAY TWO, APRIL 17 - JUDGES 6-8
Chapter 6
How bad did things get in Israel under the oppression of the Midianites?
Who does God call to deliver Israel?
What is Gideon like and how well does he respond to God?
According to verse 15, how does Gideon describe himself?
What did the Angel of God do with Gideon's offering to show this was from God?
How did Gideon respond and what did he name the place?
How is God your peace?
How fitting it is that Gideon's first act of obedience to God was to restore proper worship?
What place does worship of God have in your life?
NOTE: Although Gideon believes God, worships God, and wants to please God; he still has doubts. How does God meet Gideon in his doubts and strengthen his faith?
How does God help strengthen your faith?
Chapter 7
Why did God say Gideon had too many warriors?
How does God make the army smaller?
What was the final size of the army?
How does God again encourage Gideon and strengthen his faith?
How did Gideon's army defeat the enemy - what weapons did they use?
How have you seen God use you, even in your doubt and weakness, to do great things for him?
Chapter 8
Describe the "clean-up" process.
What did the Israelites want from Gideon, according to verse 22?
What was Gideon's reply?
Who is your ruler?
What did Gideon do with the gold?
How did that become a stumbling block? Can you think of anything that has become a snare (trap) for you?

DAY THREE, APRIL 18 - JUDGES 9-11
Chapter 9
What happened to Gideon's family?
NOTE: Although Gideon was a judge from God and blessed by God, he still made some poor choices (that where within the custom of the times) to have many wives and slaves. There can never be harmony when people make choices out of God's best for them. We see here the natural consequences of his choices.
What is Jotham's parable? What do you think it means?
How does it come true in the second half of the chapter?
Chapter 10
Who are the next two judges?
How does verse 6 show the cycle is starting again but with even more intensity?
How do you see this pattern even in today's world?
Chapter 11
How would you describe Jephthah?
What does Ammon want from Israel and what is Jephthah's answer?
What comes on Jephthah in verse 29 that gives him the power and means to fight for Israel?
What very rash statement does Jephthah make in verse 31?
NOTE: It is not a good idea to bargain with God or try and manipulate him.

DAY FOUR, APRIL 19 - JUDGES 12-15
Chapter 12
What are the people of Ephraim angry about?
According to Jephthah's diplomacy, Ephraim was not telling the truth. What do you think the condition of their heart really was?
What was the result to Ephraim? NOTE: How destructive our sin and heart condition can be!
Who are the next three judges?
Chapter 13
Who is the oppressor of Israel now?
Who is God going to raise up as the deliverer and how is he to be raised?
How is this news presented?
Did Manoah recognize the messenger of God?
How well do you recognize the message and messenger of God in your life?
Chapter 14
What does Samson want from the Philistines?
What does this passage say about God's involvement in this decision?
What are some of Samson's weakness in character that shows up in this chapter? NOTE: When we have a character weakness that is not controlled and changed it will cause great harm.
Chapter 15
How does Samson's selfishness, stubbornness, and anger affect things?
How does God use Samson and his strength anyway to help the Israelites?
How does God refresh Samson?
How do you feel knowing that Samson was not always a very godly man with many negative character qualities yet God uses him?
Does the fact that God uses someone justify his or her behavior?
What are the consequence of Samson's choices and character?
Can you think of any modern day example where God uses imperfect people?

DAY FIVE, APRIL 20 - JUDGES 16-18
Chapter 16
What demonstrations of Samson's strength are recorded here?
Who does Samson fall in love with?
How does Samson's blind eye to lust and a desire to have what he wants, lead to his down fall?
NOTE: When we do not seek God first, there are natural consequences.
What condition does Samson end up living in?
What one last request did God grant Samson and what is the outcome?
Chapter 17
How does this chapter show how far from God the people have gotten?
How do we see people today who think they are doing good but are really far from God?
Chapter 18
What was appealing to the people of Dan about the town of Laish?
How are we often lured by a life that looks carefree and easy?
How do the people of Dan gradually get farther away from God?
What does it say about how they continued to worship?
How are our steps away from God sometimes gradual and small but having huge consequences?

DAY SIX, APRIL 21 - JUDGES 19-21
Chapter 19
How does this chapter show the moral decline of the Israelites? NOTE: these were actions that up to this point had only been found in pagan cities.
How do we see the moral decline of our country and the world today?
Chapter 20
How were the actions of Chapter 19 a wake up call to Israel?
What did the nation decide at the assembly before God?
Who was not present at the assembly?
Who stood with Gibeah in their defense?
How did this show they weren't willing to purge Israel of evil?
What actions on the part of the rest of Israel showed a contrite heart for the sins of the people?
What was the result for the whole tribe of Benjamin?
Chapter 21
Discipline due to sin can seem to leave nothing left. How do we see the people of Israel mourning due to this fact?
How do we see compassion after discipline in this event?
What is the closing verse of this book of the Bible?
In what ways could this describe today's world?

DAY SEVEN, APRIL 22 - RUTH 1-4
Chapter 1
Who are the members of Elimelech's family and how did they end up in Moab?
What does Naomi decide to do and who goes with her?
Verses 16-17 are often read at wedding ceremonies. What is the real context of the verses?
Ruth's natural heritage is from Moab. What is Ruth now saying about her new identity?
How does Naomi feel about her return to Israel?
Chapter 2
How does Ruth take initiative at caring for her mother-in-law?
Whose field does Ruth glean in?
Describe Boaz.
What does Verse 12b say?
How do you see God rewarding Ruth for "taking refuge under His wings?"
NOTE: A kinsman-redeemer was the person who was responsible for the continuation of the family. He provided such things as an heir for a man who died, redeemed land for a poor relative, and redeems a slave.
How do we see Noami's attitude change here?
Chapter 3
What does Noami's new found hope motivate her to do?
What instructions does she give Ruth?
What do you think Ruth is asking Boaz to remember by these actions?
How does Boaz respond?
What do you do with responsibilities that God has give you?
Chapter 4
What does Boaz do at the city gate?
What is the outcome?
What is the blessing that leaders give to Ruth and her children in verse 11-12?
Look again at the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, how did those blessing come true?
How does God take your bitterness and turn it back to joy as he did with Naomi?
How do you see God's redemptive work in your life today?

YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THESE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY BIBLE READING:

Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.

Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
     S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
     P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
     A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
     C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
     E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
     P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
     E - Errors to avoid?
     T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.