The Bible CourseSample

Judges, kings and Jesus – the ultimate judge

Reflect:

In 1953, at her coronation in Westminster Abbey, Elizabeth II was crowned Queen. Dressed in royal robes, she was adorned with the crown jewels – including the Star of Africa, the largest cut diamond in the world, valued at over £400 million. Despite all that, the Queen was handed a book and told: ‘We present you with this book, the most valuable thing this world affords.’ It was a plain copy of the Bible, just like ours. When we pick up the Bible, we hold in our hands something more precious than the crown jewels.

This week, our readings have focused on some high-profile leaders in the nation of Israel. Most of us will never come close to shouldering the responsibilities of a judge like Deborah or a king like David. But all of us can lead influential lives, whether monarchs or mothers, prime ministers or plumbers, and the Bible is an endless source of wisdom to guide us.

A brief recap …

With God’s help, Israel took possession of the land of Canaan. By the end of the book of Joshua, Israel had settled in the territory God promised to Abraham, and ‘the land had rest from war’. However, the next part of the story was hardly ‘and they lived happily ever after’. Instead, Israel, meant to be the solution, became part of the problem. God’s covenant people compromised with the surrounding nations and ended up living like everyone else.

God raised up leaders to guide his people – charismatic judges like Samson – and anointed kings like David. But even these leaders struggled to live God’s way and often set a bad example. Israel's story is a warning to all God’s people. When we take our eyes off him, it’s easy to get stuck in negative cycles of thought and behaviour. How is that an ongoing challenge for you today?

What hope can Jesus give us today?

However, as we fast-forward through the Bible’s story, we’re pointed to the ultimate leader, Jesus. He is God’s anointed one. He can deliver us from cycles of sin and negativity. His Spirit empowers us to change. As the New Testament puts it: ‘There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8.1, ESV).

Respond

Ask God to show you the power of his word so you can live a life of influence that leaves a godly legacy.