One of the hardest to read verses in the Bible can be found in the book of Judges:
That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works he had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10 CSB)
This verse prefaces the pattern of rebellion that would endure throughout the rest of the book—generations of rebellion and faithlessness with its origins right here. One generation failed to point the next generation to the Lord.
This is how Tim Keller puts it: The word “knew” probably does not mean that they did not know about the Exodus, the Red Sea, the crossing of the Jordan, and the walls of Jericho falling, but rather that the saving acts of God were no longer precious or central to them. They had not learned to revere and rejoice in what God had done. In other words, they had forgotten the “gospel” that they were saved from slavery in Egypt and brought into the promised land by the gracious, mighty acts of God. Put simply, they forgot. [1]
The Israelites in that next generation likely knew of God, they just didn’t know Him. Why? Because the prior generation failed to connect with the hearts of their kids. They may have reached the minds, but they didn’t go much deeper than that.
The goal of the gospel
“Remember the gospel” is a mantra we would do well to live by. Let’s be careful not to think we are any better than either of the two generations mentioned in Judges 2:10. We’re not. We are just as susceptible to laziness, pride, and sin. We are just as prone to fail to hold the beauty of the gospel before others and we are equally as apt to forget it in our own lives.
And because of this, we need to work diligently—week-by-week, day-by-day—to remember the gospel in our own lives and in our ministry. Because the peril is just as real for us as it was for those generations, and many more than followed, back in Judges. Don’t take my word for it, take Jesus’ word:
You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life. (John 5:38-40 CSB)
This was directed to the Jewish leaders who were giving Jesus grief for healing a man who was unable to walk at the start of this chapter. Notice what Jesus says about them: they knew the Scriptures, much in the same way Keller believes the Israelites did in Judges 2. These religious leaders of Jesus’ day were Old Testament experts. They knew it inside and out. And they practiced it just as well. But look at what that got them: death.
Here is the sobering truth: Bible knowledge does not save. Being undefeated in Bible trivia does not absolve a single sin. Knowing the Bible is vital, but not for the sake of knowing it, but rather for knowing the One it is about: King Jesus. That is what we want our kids to know about. We want them to hear of the gospel—what Jesus has done, respond to the gospel, be changed by the gospel, and live out the gospel. That is the goal of the gospel.
-From Brian Dembowczyk at TGP website
Preschool Tip: The Book of Judges can be challenging for preschoolers. But that doesn't mean it isn’t worth teaching to them. All of Scripture is profitable. Keep the big ideas in mind as you navigate this session and the rest in the unit. For example, the main take-away from this session is that all people sin over and over again, yet God forgives them over and over. That is an easy enough take-away, but one that sure is beautiful.
Kids Tip: This session is important for kids to grasp because it sets the stage for the rest of the sessions in the unit that follow. Each of these accounts is powerful by itself, but they are that much more powerful when you consider them together—recognizing the pattern of sin that continues over and over again- even if you know the stories- and how none of the various judges were good enough for Israel. Take your time in explaining this pattern to your kids to help them understand that head knowledge of God isn't what we're after- we're looking to really heart-know God!
#JesusJam Have fun worshiping together to some songs!
CLICK HERE for this weeks story summary
Christ Connection: After God’s people sinned, the judges helped God’s people obey God again. But the judges could not change the people’s hearts and make them love God. God had a plan. He sent His Son, Jesus, to change His people’s hearts and save them from sin forever.
If you have a bible at your house, read the book of Judges 1-3 If you don't have one, that's okay! CLICK HERE.
Questions from Kids:
Name ways people help us Print and cut apart these “Community Helpers” cards, and place them in a bag. Guide kids to draw a card from the bag. Show the card and invite the child to name the person on the card and one way that person helps us. Continue having kids draw cards until they've gotten through them all. Remind Kids that • God gives us many people who help us in many different ways. In our Bible stories for the next few weeks, we will hear about some special people who God chose to help the Israelites. We are excited to learn more about how these men and women helped God’s people.
Print A Bookmark!
Print and cut apart these Old Testament Books of the Bible Bookmarks. Punch a small hold in the top with a whole punch and string any type of ribbon or yarn through the whole for a ribbon bookmark! Use this for books your reading during your virutal schooling or use it as a bookmark to keep your spot in your bible! Remind Kids that • We don't just read the Bible for no reason and we don't read it just because we have to! We read it because it's a letter from God to us! We started from the beginning because even though Jesus doesn't show up until the New Testament, everything starting in Genesis points to Him!
Make Swords Provide each kid with a paint stirrer, some aluminum foil, and tape. Allow them to cover the top part of the paint stirrer with aluminum foil and hold it in place with tape. They can also color, decorate, or wrap tape/yarn around the handle to act as a grip. (You might want to collect these during the lesson or save this for the last activity!)
Remind kids that in today’s Bible story, we learned about a man who used a sword to save God's people fro ma king who did not follow God.
OUR BIG PICTURE QUESTION!
Our big picture question is, How can we glorify God? We can glorify God by loving Him and obeying Him. We show that we believe the truth about God by what we do and say.
God is holy and good. It is right for us to love and obey Him!