if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly: if only to teach warfareThe phrase "if only to teach warfare" suggests a divine purpose behind the circumstances faced by Israel. The Hebrew root for "teach" is "לָמַד" (lamad), which implies instruction or training. This indicates that God allowed certain adversities to remain in order to educate the Israelites in the art of warfare. From a historical perspective, this was crucial for a nation surrounded by hostile neighbors. Spiritually, it underscores the importance of preparedness and reliance on God for strength and strategy, as warfare in the Old Testament often symbolizes spiritual battles faced by believers. to the subsequent generations of Israel
The focus on "subsequent generations" highlights the continuity of God's covenant with Israel. The Hebrew word for "generations" is "דּוֹר" (dor), which signifies a cycle or period. This reflects the biblical theme of passing down faith and knowledge from one generation to the next. It serves as a reminder of the responsibility of each generation to equip the next with the knowledge of God and His ways, ensuring that the lessons of the past are not forgotten. especially to those who had not known it before
This phrase emphasizes the inexperience of the new generation in warfare. The Hebrew word for "known" is "יָדַע" (yada), which means to know by experience. The new generation had not experienced the battles their forefathers faced, such as those during the conquest of Canaan. This lack of experience necessitated a period of learning and growth. Spiritually, it speaks to the need for each believer to have personal encounters with God and to learn to trust Him in their own battles, rather than relying solely on the experiences of others. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORDThe sovereign God who orchestrates events for His purposes, including teaching the Israelites. 2. The IsraelitesThe descendants of Jacob, God's chosen people, who are being prepared for warfare. 3. CanaanThe land promised to the Israelites, where they must learn to defend themselves and maintain their inheritance. 4. The NationsThe surrounding peoples in Canaan, left by God to test and teach the Israelites. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in PreparationGod uses circumstances, even challenging ones, to prepare His people for future tasks. Just as He taught the Israelites warfare, He equips us for spiritual battles. The Importance of ExperienceExperience in spiritual warfare is crucial. God allows us to face trials to strengthen our faith and reliance on Him. Trust in God's PlanEven when we do not understand why certain challenges are present, we can trust that God has a purpose, often to teach and grow us. Spiritual ReadinessJust as the Israelites needed to be ready for physical battles, Christians must be prepared for spiritual warfare, putting on the full armor of God. Intergenerational LearningThe passage highlights the importance of teaching the next generation. We must pass on spiritual truths and experiences to those who follow. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding God's purpose in leaving certain nations in Canaan help us view our own challenges? 2. In what ways can we prepare ourselves for spiritual warfare, drawing from the lessons in Judges 3:2 and Ephesians 6? 3. How can we ensure that we are effectively teaching the next generation about spiritual battles and reliance on God? 4. Reflect on a time when God used a difficult situation to teach you something important. How did that experience prepare you for future challenges? 5. How can we apply the principle of trusting in God's sovereignty, as seen in Judges 3:2, to our daily lives and decisions? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 7Discusses God's command to drive out the nations in Canaan, emphasizing reliance on God for victory. Joshua 1Encourages strength and courage in the face of conquest, highlighting God's presence and guidance. Ephesians 6Speaks of spiritual warfare, drawing a parallel to the physical battles faced by the Israelites. Psalm 144A prayer for God's help in battle, acknowledging Him as the one who trains hands for war. People Amalek, Amalekites, Ammonites, Amorites, Anath, Aram, Canaanites, Chushanrishathaim, Chushan-rishathaim, Eglon, Ehud, Gera, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Israelites, Jebusites, Kenaz, Moabites, Othniel, Perizzites, Shamgar, Sidonians, ZidoniansPlaces Canaan, Gilgal, Jordan River, Lebanon, Lebo-hamath, Mesopotamia, Moab, Mount Baal-hermon, SeirahTopics Battle, Beforetime, Descendants, Experience, Experienced, Formerly, Generations, Israelites, Israel's, Least, Nothing, Order, Previous, Purpose, Sake, Sons, Taught, Teach, Teaching, Thereof, Till, War, WarfareDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 3:1-2 5887 inexperience Judges 3:1-3 5208 armies Judges 3:1-4 5473 proof, through testing Library Use what You Have
Few people really are and do their best. Nature has blessed a few with great talents and abilities. These persons often become proud, self-centered, and feel themselves to be superior, and for that reason many times they fail to make the proper use of their abilities. How often are they used in a bad or foolish way, so that what might be a blessing to the world fails to be such! There are many others who realize they do not possess these natural gifts. They look upon those who have them, and envy …
Charles Wesley Naylor—Heart TalksGifts and Talents.
"And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him."--Judges iii. 10. We now consider the Holy Spirit's work in bestowing gifts, talents, and abilities upon artisans and professional men. Scripture declares that the special animation and qualification of persons for work assigned to them by God proceed from the Holy Spirit. The construction of the tabernacle required capable workmen, skilful carpenters, goldsmiths, and silversmiths, and masters in the arts of weaving and embroidering. Who will furnish Moses …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit Whether Baptism Should Take Away the Penalties of Sin that Belong to this Life?
Objection 1: It seems that Baptism should take away the penalties of sin that belong to this life. For as the Apostle says (Rom. 5:15), the gift of Christ is farther-reaching than the sin of Adam. But through Adam's sin, as the Apostle says (Rom. 5:12), "death entered into this world," and, consequently, all the other penalties of the present life. Much more, therefore, should man be freed from the penalties of the present life, by the gift of Christ which is received in Baptism. Objection 2: Further, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica "This Then is the Message which we have Heard of Him, and Declare unto You, that God is Light,"
1 John i. 5.--"This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light," &c. The great design of the gospel is to make up the breach of man's joy, and open up the way to the fulness of it, and therefore it is the good news and glad tidings of great joy, the only best message that ever came to the world. Now it shows unto us the channel that this river of gladness and joy runs into, it discovers what is the way of the conveyance of it to the soul, and what are …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning Whether the Old Law Enjoined Fitting Precepts Concerning Rulers?
Objection 1: It would seem that the Old Law made unfitting precepts concerning rulers. Because, as the Philosopher says (Polit. iii, 4), "the ordering of the people depends mostly on the chief ruler." But the Law contains no precept relating to the institution of the chief ruler; and yet we find therein prescriptions concerning the inferior rulers: firstly (Ex. 18:21): "Provide out of all the people wise [Vulg.: 'able'] men," etc.; again (Num. 11:16): "Gather unto Me seventy men of the ancients of …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Prophecy of Obadiah.
We need not enter into details regarding the question as to the time when the prophet wrote. By a thorough argumentation, Caspari has proved, that he occupies his right position in the Canon, and hence belongs to the earliest age of written prophecy, i.e., to the time of Jeroboam II. and Uzziah. As bearing conclusively against those who would assign to him a far later date, viz., the time of the exile, there is not only the indirect testimony borne by the place which this prophecy occupies in …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Doctrine of Angels.
I. THEIR EXISTENCE. 1. THE TEACHING OF JESUS. 2. THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. II. THEIR NATURE. 1. CREATED BEINGS. 2. SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 3. GREAT POWER AND MIGHT. 4. VARIOUS GRADES. 5. THE NUMBER OF ANGELS. III. THE FALL OF ANGELS. 1. TIME AND CAUSE. 2. THE WORK OF FALLEN ANGELS. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS. IV. THE WORK OF ANGELS. 1. THEIR HEAVENLY MINISTRY. 2. THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY. a) In Relation to the Believer. b) In Relation to Christ's Second Coming. THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS. We are not …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 3:2 NIVJudges 3:2 NLTJudges 3:2 ESVJudges 3:2 NASBJudges 3:2 KJV
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