Intermediate Level, Block 5, Week 46: The Need for Judges

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Intermediate Level, Block 5—Occupying the Land

Week 46
The Need for Judges

Point to Emphasize: We should follow God’s commandments and the rules and regulations set before us.

Reference Reading: Judges 1:1, footnotes 1 and 2; 17:6

Memory Verse: Hallelujah! / Blessed is the man who fears Jehovah, / Who delights greatly in His commandments. (Psalms 112:1)

Story Sample

After the destruction of Jericho, the children of Israel enjoyed many years of peace. They enjoyed having God as their King and the one they loved. But the situation changed again. The children of Israel turned their back and abandoned God. Instead of checking in with God before they did things, they went after other things. Instead of loving God, they loved idols; even though idols were the things made of wood and stone. What would God do? Well, this led to a period of history called the time of the judges. God had to establish judges.

Now what are the judges? A judge is like an arbitrator, who works to solve a problem by getting everyone involved to agree on a fair solution. Today, when people break a law or have a problem with someone they usually stand before a judge. So, are judges for our good or are they bad for us? Yes, they are for our good. Judges are needed to correct and punish our behaviors that are bad and harmful. Judges are needed to keep us following the law. What does it mean to say that this period of time is the time of the judges? It means that God’s people broke God’s law all the time; so they needed to have judges to keep things in order. The Bible says that in those times “everyone did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). Isn’t God the only One who is right? But the people did what was right in their own eyes, and hence, they became rotten and corrupted. They needed the judges to judge them.

Now, let’s see how this relates to us. If we were ALL following God’s commandments and the rules that the school has for us and the rules that our parents have for us, we would have no need for judges. Now, I don’t think any of you have done anything that would cause you to go to court and stand before a judge. But what about going to the principal at the school? He is kind of like a judge. Let’s say that someone does not follow the teacher’s directions. Instead of doing the math problems in class, he breaks the rule of the class and is sent down to the principal’s office. Now, are principals for our good? Yes, they are for our good. They are meant to correct and discipline us so that we will behave the way we should. When we are in school, we should sit in the classroom to learn things and not to misbehave to be sent to the principal’s office. [Storyteller, give an example that when you were a child, instead of obeying the rule (your parent’s rule or the rule at school), you did what was right to you, and how it resulted in trouble for your family or your classmates. This example should show us how much we need to follow the rules and regulations.]

We need to see that even when we are children, God has established many “judges” around us for our benefit. Children and even grownups around you might be doing like the children of Israel were. They might be doing what they think is right without following God’s commandments. But God’s way of caring for us is establishing “judges” for us. Sometimes, your mom will have to be a “judge” to resolve a discussion between two siblings. Sometimes, a serving one in children’s meeting will be a “judge” to resolve a matter between some children. We need to be those that accept God’s arrangement. We need to be those that receive the help and advice from the “judges” God has set for us so we can follow God’s commandments and the rules and regulations around us.

I hope that you go home today thanking God for His arrangement in your life. Every time you are in a middle of a situation and you are brought up to a “judge”, you remember that they were placed by God to guide you follow God’s commandments and rules set for you. Let’s be those who follow the rules and regulations set for us!

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