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Judges 4:1-7

Proper 28A

While the Lectionary can’t include the full chapter because it would be a lengthy reading, it’s a shame to miss the high drama and irony of this narrative.  What we have in Judges 4 is an underdog story, layered into underdog story and folded into yet another underdog story. Underdog #1: Israel In the opening…

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Judges 4:1-7

Proper 28A

We are nearly at the end of our journey through Ordinary Time.  Next Sunday is the celebration of Christ the King and then the liturgical year begins again with Advent.  This first Lectionary reading for today is at once discouraging and encouraging, depending on where we focus our attention. Similarly, Israel has come to the…

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Judges 4:1-7

Proper 28A

You’d probably have to thumb through a lot of children’s Bible story books before you’d find a retelling of Judges 4.  It’s, after all, very resistant to the kind of moralizing such books sometimes like to do.  In fact, even adult readers may have to dig pretty deeply to find anything edifying in this text….

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Judges 13:1-16

In its introduction to the book of Judges, my NIV Study Bible summarizes Samson’s life this way: “a lone hero from the tribe of Dan who delivers Israel from oppression from the west” (p. 324).  The book of Judges is sometimes seen as a book of heroes, with Samson in all of his strength, standing…

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Judges 6:(1-10), 11-32, (33-40)

Angles, insights, and illustrations as entry points into the text and sermon Theological themes that should not be missed: The God of Israel is faithful and responsive to Israel’s cries even when Israel is not faithful. The God of the Exodus who delivered his people out of Egypt will raise another leader who will rescue…

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Judges 4

Comments and Observations The refrain is common in the book of Judges: “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (4:1). The pattern repeats itself over and over again in Judges: the Israelites abandon God, God delivers them into the hands of their enemies, Israel cries out to God, God sends a…

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