Idols Archives - Uncovered Joy

Judges – A Brief Introduction

Filed Under: Bible Study, Judges // August 26, 2025

This post is all about an introduction to the book of Judges – giving you background information and context so you can read it with confidence.

Introduction to Judges

The book of Judges is characterized by compromise, corruption, and confusion. After the death of Joshua, there was no single leader over the tribes of Israel. Instead, they were to obey the commands of God, with the Levites scattered throughout the nation to offer guidance.

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Israel begins their time in the promised land with compromise. They compromise on the command to utterly destroy the surrounding Canaanite nations. Instead, they allow them to live. They compromise by intermarrying with them and serving their gods.

This compromise leads to corruption as they wrestle with the desires of their flesh. Deciding to turn away from God and His commands, they worship idols. As promised, God turns them over to their sinful ways and they fall into confusion. When they can stand their hardships no longer, they call out to God to rescue them and He sends a judge to deliver them from their enemies.

Important themes in Judges

The book of Judges flows in a cyclical pattern, starting with the Israelites’ unfaithfulness in conquering the land as God commanded them. Over and over again, we see the Israelites be unfaithful to the covenant they made with God, yet God shows continued faithfulness to the Israelites.

Unfaithfulness in conquering the land

The Israelites did not conquer the land completely, as God told them to do. instead, they left some of the Canaanite people and moved in around them. Because of this, they were quick to adopt the practices and traditions of the Canaanites, abandoning the One true God.

Unfaithfulness to the covenant

Israel was quick to abandon their covenant with God, both individually and as a collective nation. We see that individually, they chose to intermarry, worship idols, and follow Canaanite customs. As a nation, they rebelled against the public readings of God’s law. They rejected the commands of God that would have strengthened them and chose to do what was right in their own eyes.

Everyone did right in their own eyes

The overarching theme that “everyone did what was right in their own eyes” is repeated throughout the book of Judges. Not only does this explain the hardships the Israelites continued to face, but it also sets the scene to have kings come into Israel’s history in following books.

God’s continual faithfulness

After being handed over to their sinful desires and facing the consequences for them, the Israelites would cry out to God to save them. God continued to be faithful to the Israelites and send them judges to fight their battles and grant them peace in the land.

The W’s of Judges

The W’s of Judges (who, what, when, where, and why) help give you context to understand the book and cultural elements.

Judges background — A little bit of context for the book of Judges

Who wrote Judges

Although there is no clear author attributed to writing the book of Judges, the most widely accepted candidate is Samuel.

What it’s about

The book of Judges shows how quickly the Israelites were to turn away from God and follow the gods of the Canaanites. It follows a cycle of the Israelites sinning, God turning them over to the desires of the flesh, crying out to God, God sending a Judge to lead them and defeat their enemies, and then sinning even worse than before.

Through this continual cycle we see the downward spiral of Israel, with each judge becoming more wicked than the last. This sets the stage for the need of a godly king.

When it was written

Judges was most likely written between 1050 and 1000 B.C.

When the story takes place

The story begins immediately following Joshua’s death in 1375 B.C. and spans a period of about 350 years, ending in 1050 with the rise of Samuel. Some notable times in the book of Judges include the reign of Deborah in 1209 B.C., Gideon defeating the Midianites in 1162 B.C., and the Birth of Samson in 1100 B.C.

Where the story takes place

The Israelites are living in the Promised land.

Why Judges is important to study today

The book of judges shows how easy it is for an entire generation to turn away from God, even after seeing the miracles He performs. It serves as a warning for us and shows the consequences for our unfaithfulness.

How God demonstrates His character in Judges

Although the Israelites continuously turned away from God, rebelling against Him and rejecting His laws, God remained faithful to them.

Key verses in Judges

The overarching theme of Judges is found in the final verse: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25).

Because Israel forsook God, they fell into a pattern of disobedience, calling, and deliverance.

Judges 2:10-12 shows how they quickly fell into disobedience: “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals.”

Judges 10:15-16 Shows the Israelites calling out to God and turning back to Him: “But the Israelites said to the Lord, ‘We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.’ Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.”

Judges 3:9 shows God delivering them when they called: “But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them.”

In Judges, you will find (Reading plan)

Judges 1-5: The downward spiral
Judges 6-9: Gideon and Abimelek
Judges 10-12: Unremarkable Judges
Judges 13-16: The life of Samson
Judges 17-21: The downfall of a nation

Additional Resources

Here are some of my favorite resources I used when researching the book of Judges.

First, I love my NIV Journal the Word Bible for reading the entire book before digging into any resources. I also read the Bible book again after I have read commentaries. This helps ensure that I am focusing on scripture and God’s Word above mans’ thoughts on it.

My go-to resources for studying any book of the Bible include: How to read the Bible for all it’s Worth – this book breaks down why there are different translations and how to read different genres of the Bible. The Israel Bible is a Bible that places special emphasis on Jewish culture and Hebrew wording. The Old Testament Survey gives great Bible book introductions. Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Time Lines is a fun resource that gives an overview of various Bible topics and themes.

Some free online resources that I used for studying Joshua include: Blue Letter Bible’s Bible book introductions include different commentators notes on the books. Biblehub also offers many resources, including Willmington’s Bible at a glance, and the Ultimate Bible summary collection.

There are also a couple helpful youtube videos, including: the Book of Judges Summary, a quick animated overview, and The Bible from 30,000 feet, a sermon by Calvary Chapel.

Final thoughts

The book of Judges demonstrates God’s faithfulness to His people in two distinct ways. First, God is faithful to deliver His people when they cry out to Him. 1 John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This cleansing from unrighteousness brings us to the second part of God’s faithfulness. God is faithful and certain to punish sin. In judges, we see that each time the Israelites rejected God and chose a life of sin, he delivered them into that sin and its consequences.

This post was all about an introduction to the book of Judges. It aims to help you understand the overarching theme as you read through the Judges Bible study.

Joy in Worship | Finding Delight in the Presence of the Lord

Filed Under: Bible Study, Deuteronomy // December 3, 2024

This Bible study is all about finding Joy in Worship.

Do you find it challenging to experience joy in worship? Maybe traditional church services feel routine, or tithing feels like a chore. No matter where you are in your faith, Deuteronomy shows that Joy in worship is not just possible – it’s essential.

In the middle of a long list of laws the Israelites must follow when they enter the Promised Land, Moses gives instructions for having Joy in Worship. Although it may seem like the Israelites should need no encouragement in this – after all, they watched as God delivered them from slavery and brought them to freedom – these chapters detail not only how but also why there needs to be joy.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

The Lord is sovereign over all. Yet He is not a faraway God who never wants to interact with His creation. He desires to have a close relationship with each of us. He wants us to fellowship with each other and bless each other out of the abundance with which He has blessed us. These chapters look at practical ways we can experience joy in worship today.

Read all about how to have joy in worship, before reflecting on it below.

Deuteronomy 12-15

The place of worship cannot mirror secular culture

The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land. As they entered, they would benefit from homes and crops they did not work for. All of the infrastructure they would need to live would be set up for them – including places of worship. The usual practice during this time was to use nice buildings or previously used places to convert into your own worship center. But God did not want any association with the pagan gods. Instead, the Israelites were called to be set apart by destroying anything that had connections with pagan worship. They were to follow the laws of worship that God had already laid out for them.

Do you use any part of secular culture in your worship? Do you think it is pleasing to God (Psalm 100)?

Deuteronomy 12 Bible Journaling — I love using stickers in My Bible journal when they match the theme!

There is joy in the house of the Lord

Through this section, we see repeatedly that the Israelites were called to rejoice when they went to Worship God at the place He would choose. They were called to eat and rejoice — to find joy in the presence of the Lord for His blessing. The Israelites were to find joy in the sacrifices offered on their behalf. They were to find joy through confession and communion with God. There was to be joy in fellowship with others.

God desires worship that is filled with joy because it is a reflection of our gratitude, trust, and fellowship with Him. Joyful worship isn’t merely about feeling good. It is a response to God’s goodness and provision.

Do you find joy in the House of the Lord? Or is going to worship a tedious task to be checked off each week (Hebrews 13:15)?

Serving other gods

The Israelites would be living in a land that pagans previously inhabited. But it was not just outsiders that the Israelites would have to watch out for. If someone from their own people came and spoke prophecies that came true but did not speak only the words of God, the Israelites were to ignore them (and even put them to death). If anyone tried to get the Israelites to turn away from the One true God and follow another, they would be put to death.

Although we are no longer supposed to kill false teachers, we should be aware of who they are and ignore or combat their teaching. Do you know the Word of God enough to spot a false teacher? What is your response when you hear someone teaching Biblical inaccuracies (Romans 16:17)?

joyful worship — You can experience joy in worship when you find delight in the presence of the Lord.

Clean and unclean

God wanted the Israelites to be set apart for Him and Him alone. Many of the rules and regulations He gave to the Israelites would make a clear distinction between them and other cultures. Not only would limiting the “clean” foods help keep the Israelites healthy. It would also prevent them from fellowshipping with pagan cultures. The Israelites could not eat with them. This would limit their exposure to other cultures and help insulate them from temptation.

What are some things within the secular world that you may need to pull back from to be insulated from temptation (James 1:13-15)?

Joy in Worship through Tithes

The Israelites were commanded to put aside a tenth of their harvest each year for God. They were then to take the tithe to the temple and enjoy it with their families in the presence of the Lord. This is because “the purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives” (Deuteronomy 14:23, Living Bible). So often, we get caught up in the correct portion of tithe to give, when we should tithe, or even where our money should go. We get caught up in the details and we miss the bigger picture. God called us to give back a portion of all He has blessed us with so we can rejoice with others in His presence. We are called to bless others in the same manner that God has blessed us.

Do you tithe rejoicing in all that God has done for you (2 Corinthians 9:7)?

Be openhanded

God commanded the Israelites to be openhanded and give to any who were poor among them. God had set up an ecomonic system in Israel. He promised them that if they listened and followed His commands, He would bless them. They would be a prosperous nation that could lend to other nations. However, God knew that they would not always listen to His commands. Because of this, He knew that there would always be poor among them. And so, God called the Israelites to be generous givers within their community.

In the same way, we should give openhandedly to others. Whether it be through money, time, service, or another method, we are called to bless those around us. How can you be a light to those you know, blessing them from the abundance the Lord has blessed you with (Hebrews 10:24)?

Deuteronomy 15 Bible journaling — These fine-tip micron pens work well for tracing designs into my Bible journal.

Set apart the best

Not only were the Israelites called to give the firstborn of their animals, but it was to be a spotless offering. It would be easy to offer up a blemished animal worth little value. However, a spotless firstborn would have been worth something. God often calls His people to give up what they value. Not because He wants us to live a boring life, but because He wants us to be devoted to Him alone. It is easy to say that we love God. It is much harder to give up the things we value to follow Him.

Do you set apart your best for God – whether it be time, possessions, or money? Or do you tightly hold on to what you value, unwilling to give it up (Mark 12:41-44)?

Reflect on what it means to have joy in Worship

True worship is found when we have joy in the presence of God. True joy in worship happens when we reflect on what god has done for us and freely give back to Him and those He has called us to bless. How can you experience Joy in worship today?

How to be completely devoted to God alone

Filed Under: Bible Study, Exodus // September 26, 2023

This Bible study is all about being completely devoted to God alone and what that looks like in your life.

Get access to the complete Exodus Bible study and free guide Here!

The plagues of Egypt were meant to strip away all of the false gods of the Egyptians. This showed them that their idols had no power. In the same way, you need to have your idols exposed so that you can be completely devoted to God.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Read all about how to be completely devoted to God alone, before reflecting on it below.

Exodus 9-12

The Israelites were set apart

The fifth plague was against livestock. This plague represented the Egyptian god of love and protection (Hathor), who had the head of a cow. All of the Egyptian animals would die, but God would make a distinction between the Egyptians and Israelites, and the Hebrew animals lived. The Israelites were supposed to trust in God for love and protection.

Who (or what) do you trust in for love and protection (Psalm 62:8)?

Where to turn for healing

The sixth plague came without warning. God sent boils on all of the Egyptians – but spared the Israelites, again setting them apart. This plague was against the Egyptian goddess of medicine and peace (Isis). There was nothing the magicians – who were those considered to be healers – could do. Their boils were so bad that they could not even stand before Pharaoh.

Where do you turn for healing, both spiritually and physically (Jeremiah 17:14)?

God is bigger than your chaos

Then the Lord told Moses to go to Pharaoh and warn him that the seventh plague would send hail and fire from heaven that would destroy everything growing in the fields. It hailed all throughout Egypt, but it did not hail in Goshen – the land the Israelites were. This plague was against the Egyptian god of the sky (Nut), who was the protector of the dead as they enter the afterlife and the barrier between chaos and order.

Exodus bible journal — These micron pens are perfect for taking detailed notes and making tiny sketches in your journaling bible!

God is bigger than the chaos you are going through, and can bring peace to your life. God can also allow chaos into what you try to order without Him. Are you relying on God and following His plan – whether it seems more chaotic or ordered than you want (Philippians 4:9)?

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

Because this plague came with warning, the Egyptian officials who feared the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside, under protection from the coming hail. These Egyptian officals forsook what they were taught and grown up believing to follow the Word of the Lord.

Do you fear the Lord and hurry to do what He has called you to do (Job 28:28)?

Being devoted to God means following His plan

For the eighth plague, Moses warned Pharaoh that there would be swarms of locus throughout the land. Still, Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. The locusts came and ate all of the remaining crops, leaving nothing in their path. This plague was against the Egyptian god (Set), who was the protector of crops and the god of storms. This plague would hurt the Egyptians as their food source was destroyed and they started to fill hunger emerge.

Every Egyptian God was being destroyed by the one true God. Although it often hurts when your idols are exposed and destroyed before God, it allows you to be completely dedicated to God alone. What idols in your life need to be exposed and laid bare before God (Hebrews 4:13)?

Completely devoted to God alone

Each of these plagues was meant to show the Egyptians that their gods had no power. The God of the Israelites is the one true God. Because the Egyptians had so many gods, each plague could target more than one. The point is not each specific god, but rather how we all put idols before God and God wants to destroy them. We need to be completely devoted to God Alone.

Darkness that can be felt

The ninth plague came without warning and lasted for three days. Again, this plague only affected the Egyptians, and the Israelites were spared. This plague of darkness was against the most powerful Egyptian god (Ra) – the God of the sun – and it was a darkness that could be felt. Not only was there no sun, but not even candles would light. It was an eerie darkness.

Is there any darkness in your life? Is there an area that you need God to shine through (1 John 1:5)?

The final plague

The final plague was against the Egyptian god Osiris, who was thought to be the giver of life. This plague was also against Pharaoh. Even though Pharaoh was considered the most powerful man by the Egyptians, he was powerless to save his own son by human wisdom. The only thing that would have saved Pharaoh’s firstborn was repentance to God. But Pharaoh was too caught up in his own evil desires to do such a thing.

Are you repentant to God? Or do you try to do everything by your own wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6)?

Looking ahead to the Passover

The passover is a parallel to Jesus dying on the cross to take our sins. Just as the Israelites were warned beforehand with the Passover, they were told that Jesus would die and rise again. The Israelites were to eat the Passover lamb, representing that the lamb is not just something to look at, but it is nourishment. In the same way, Jesus offered bread as a representation of His body during the last Passover with His disciples (Matthew 26:26).

Exodus bible journaling — Bible journaling is a great way to dig deeper and reflect on what you are reading!

The Israelites were also to have a feast of unleavened bread for the seven days following the Passover lamb. Leavening is used to symbolize pride and evil because a little bit of yeast works through the whole dough and puffs it up. Jesus warned His disciples to be on their guard against the yeast of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:6). Having unleavened bread was not only a reminder that the Israelites left Egypt in a hurry, without time to leaven their bread. It was also a reminder to remain pure and faithful to the Lord.

Being devoted to God means doing what He says before it makes sense

Moses was instructed to do and say all of this BEFORE the Lord delivered them from the Egyptians. It must have sounded crazy to Moses and the Israelites that they should change their calendar for something that had not even happened yet. However, they did as God commanded, and they Sacrificed the lamb and painted the blood over their doorways.

Has God told you to do something that doesn’t make sense right now? Are you willing to follow Him in faith (Deuteronomy 31:8)?

Reflect on being devoted to God

Are you completely devoted to God in everything you do? Or do you have some idols that need to be toppled over and destroyed?