Judges Bible Study

SMALL GROUP GUIDE
CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 1 forministryresources.com

CIRCLE 01/04: INTRODUCTION: A VICIOUS CYCLE
Take a look at the required reading list in most American high schools. There is an
unsettling theme in the syllabus. While there are millions of books about love, dogs,
mystery, and victory, the reading lists in high school tend to fall on the dark side of
ction. In the last century, the most popular genre in the high school classroom has
been "dystopian." What does that mean, you ask? "Dystopia" is a style of literature
that unpacks "a ctional world where people live fearful, wretched, and dehumanized
lives." It seems as though most students aren't looking for happy endings; they're
looking for di cult journeys.
Books like 1984, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, Brave New World,
and Fahrenheit 451 are beloved, while being major downers. Each work is dark and
discouraging from cover to cover—no warm and fuzzies; no reworks; no happy
endings. These novels paint pictures of fake cultures de ned by fear and evil. This
begs a big question: Why are we so obsessed with dystopias?
I think people are drawn to books like The Hunger Games and movies like The Purge
because they seem somewhat believable. It's not fantasy; it's reality with a dark twist.
While the plots are far-fetched, it's all possible, right? Our culture carries a deep-rooted
fear of what we are capable of when everything goes o the rails.
The Bible boasts a dystopian book in the middle of the Old Testament. It's called
Judges. Here's the scary part, though. It's not ction. The events of Judges actually
happened, and its storyline would make even Shakespeare squirm. It's largely
considered the most unsettling book in the whole Bible. This distressing book follows
the grim history of Israel when God's chosen people turned to violence instead of
worship. In an attempt to regain control, tragic heroes called "judges" stepped up to
make things better. Spoiler: they didn't succeed.
Let's take a look at a broad outline of the book.

The Shameful Spiral of Judges
• Chapters 1-3: The Prologue: Israel’s Complete Moral Failure
• Chapter 3: Ehud: An Assassin Who Murdered a King in Cold Blood
• Chapter 4-5: Deborah: A Good Leader Who Helps an Untrained Widow to Save
the Nation

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• Chapter 6-9: Gideon: A Coward Who Triggers a Civil War
• Chapter 10-12: Jephthah: A Misguided Man Who Thinks Killing His Child Will
Make God Happy
• Chapter 13-16: Samson: A man Obsessed With Vengeance who Experienced a
Tragic Ending
• Chapter 17-18: Israelites Slaughter Innocent People and Build False Idols
• Chapter 19-21: A Tragic Spiral of Murder, Torture, and Abuse
Do you notice how the story gets progressively worse? From a literary standpoint,
that's on purpose. Judges tells the story of Israel's downfall after turning away from
God. This dystopian book paints a picture of twelve judges during Israel's dark ages.
The nation had no moral compass, weak leadership, and found itself in constant war.
That's why various "judges" stepped up in an attempt to lead. They didn't lead from a
place of righteousness, though. Nope, it was often arrogance and violence. Don't let
the title "judge" confuse you. These are not courtroom judges with black robes and
wooden gavels. Rather, they were warriors. Think of them like tribal chiefs.
Judges tells the tale of Israel's history of tragedy. Here's the sad thing. It didn't have to
go this way. They could have thrived. They could have succeeded. They could have
had hundreds of happy endings. That didn't happen because they chose their impulses
over God's intentions. Turning to the last page of judges, let's take a look at two traits
that trigger tragedy and two traits that lead to triumph.
READ: Judges 21:25

"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw t."
Tragic Trait #1: Rejecting Righteous Living

We are starting our study with the very last verse in the book. Judges concludes, "in
those days, everyone did as they saw t." The rst domino of their downfall started
with a disappearance of values. Their culture was founded on the principles of
honoring God and honoring people, but that seemed to go out the window when things
got tough.
They became self-centered. They became greedy. They rejected God and worshipped
pagan gods. They lost sight of their collective calling to live as a community. Instead,

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they just did whatever they wanted without regard for God's Word or God's people. It
was the perfect storm of sel shness. Unfortunately, we see where that strategy leads
— sorrow, mourning, and brokenness.
Triumphant Trait #1: Live Righteously

Learn a lesson from the ancient Israelites. Strive to live a life that serves people, honors
people, and respects righteousness. Seek to see people the same way our Father does
— as image-bearers of God who deserve dignity and respect. Unlike Israel in 520 BC,
our culture is not pushing you towards violence. Although, it's certainly pushing you
towards sel shness.
Destroy sel shness before it destroys you. Embody the lifestyle of Jesus, which was a
lifestyle of service and humility. Don't just do what you want, do what is right. Help
others. Give back to your community. Put others before yourself. In every part of your
life, live lovingly. When you live righteously, you protect yourself from self-destructive
habits.
Tragic Trait #2: Refusing to Learn from Your Mistakes

If you're up to it, read the whole book of judges someday. I would not recommend it for
bedtime as you might have nightmares or pre-dinner as you might lose your appetite,
but it's certainly a poignant book full of practical warnings. In each discouraging
discourse, you will see a tragic theme. These people refused to learn from their
mistakes and missteps.
In our study, we will start to see a theme emerge. Israel repeats the vicious cycle over
and over again:
• They reject God
• They experience a tragedy
• They cry out
• God rescues them
Then the pattern repeats itself like a coo-coo clock playing the same song every hour
on the hour. Talk about frustrating. It's di cult to watch people fail due to repeated
patterns. It's even more di cult when that person is you. Have you ever noticed
yourself repeating the same mistakes over and over? We are creatures of habit, and
sometimes those habits are bad.

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Triumphant Trait #2: Find the Lessons in Your Mistakes
Don't behave like ancient Israel. Take an honest assessment of your recent mistakes
and evaluate what you can learn from them. Failure can be a blessing. Seek the
lessons in your letdown.
Whenever you fail, ask yourself these valuable questions.

• What were my mistakes?
• Did any vicious cycles trigger my failure?
• What can I learn from this?
• What is my next move?
When approached correctly, failure makes a tremendous professor. It can teach you, it
can stretch you, and it can develop you. That is only possible if you actively evaluate
your mistakes, understand why you made them, and take action to ensure they never
happen again.
Let's Begin Our Journey Through Judges

Prepare yourself for a bizarre trip through one of the Bible's most frightening books. We
are going to see some valuable lessons (and warnings) from the tragic gures that ll
the pages of Judges. This book will upset you, and that's a good thing. Embrace those
feelings of discomfort. The judges are not heroes. Their stories are not celebrated. The
book of Judges examines Israel's dark past to provide hope for their bright future.
While Judges feels hopeless, we have a bene t that ancient Israel didn't have. We have
65 other books of God-inspired scripture that provide a massive dose of hope. Anytime
this study feels discouraging, take a look at the Bible as a whole. You will be lled with
hope. Why? Because we can look at how God's story ends. A holy judge will rise from
the tribes of Israel. He will rule humbly, lovingly, and mercifully. Jesus, the perfect
judge, will be handed tragedy and transform it into triumph.

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TALK IT OUT
Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stu .
Ice Breaker: Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the
best part of your week and what was the lowest part of your week?
Q1: Why do you think people repeat the same mistakes over and over again, even after
they see the harm they cause?
Q2: How does living righteously help protect us from tragedy?
Q3: What happens when you refuse to learn from your mistakes?
Q4: What lessons have you learned from mistakes in the past? How can you assure
you don’t fall into the same error again?
Application: Ask for God to reveal any vicious cycles in your life. If you notice anything,
ask for God’s guidance and your circle’s help to break the cycle.
READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Psalm 99:1-5
Revelation 4:8-11
Romans 12:1-2
Psalm 96:1-6
Psalm 96: 7-13
Philippians 2:5
Philippians 2:14-16
Do the following with each passage:

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present.
Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.
READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you,
reading them a second time if necessary.
REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and
experiences?
RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways
to live out what you’ve uncovered.

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CIRCLE 02/04: DEBORAH - THE GOOD
In our last lesson about Judges, we learned that the Israelites were stuck in a vicious
cycle. They repeatedly rejected God, experienced tragedy, cried out, and then God
rescued them. Just like the Hallmark Channel recycling the same plot for their movies
year after year, we see a pattern re-emerge in Judges 4. The author opens up, "Again
the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord" (Judges 4:1).
The Vicious Cycle

Take a close look at that rst word. "Again..." God's people are experiencing the same
problem due to the same mistakes. They continuously reject the life God wants for
them, leading them to hardship and su ering time and time again.
Israel messed up; God protected them; they praised God; and then they fell back into
their own ways. "Wait, hasn't this already happened a few times?" you ask. Yes, this is
one instance of dozens in this book alone. Their patterns are as predictable as the
tides. It's less of a pattern and more of a downward spiral. Israel has found itself in a
vicious cycle.
I am sure you have seen sin's vicious cycle at work. Have you ever made the same
error and found yourself begging for mercy…again? Maybe you lied, then you had to lie
to cover up that lie, and then you had to tell a few more lies to cover up those lies. Now
you nd yourself saying, "here we are again." Maybe you promised yourself you'd
never do something again just to nd yourself on the same path the very next week.
Maybe you returned to harmful relationships again while ignoring the pain it caused last
time. We have all felt the agony of "again."
Again, the Israelites made self-destructive decisions. Again, the Israelites had turned
away from God. Again, the Israelites were in a serious predicament. Once again, they
found themselves facing a battle that they had no chance of winning on their own.
Their foe was a force to be reckoned with. Get this. A foreign enemy, the Canaanites,
boasted "nine hundred chariots tted with iron" (Judges 4:3). God's people of Israel
were like deer blinded in the headlights of nearly a thousand chariots. That's why God
appointed the best judge of them all to lead them through the Canaanite invasion.

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Breaking the Cycle
Her name was Deborah. As far as judges go, she was a superstar. All twelve judges
were awed, but the central gure in chapters 4-5 is largely considered the best of the
bunch. Three traits make Deborah stand out from the rest. First, she was not only a
soldier; she was a prophet. This meant that she was able to hear from God directly.
Consequently, she spent most of her days in prayer and worship. Second, she was the
only female judge mentioned in the Bible, which is pretty special, being that she is the
most successful. The ancient world was tragically dismissive of women, but she
overcame that adversity. Most importantly, she was a humble leader. Deborah's
humility sets her apart and helps her set Israel free from their foe.
How does Deborah break the vicious cycle during her time in leadership? Deborah was
able to break Israel's vicious cycle by embodying a life of humility. Humble people own
their mistakes and strive to overcome them instead of ignoring them.
READ: Judges: 4:4; 6-9

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She
sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The Lord, the
God of Israel, commands you: 'Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and
Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin's
army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your
hands.'" Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I
won't go." "Certainly I will go with you," said Deborah.
Sisera, the evil commander of the Canaanites, was ready to attack the Israelites.
Deborah knew that it was time for action, so she called on her commander, Barak, to
rally the troops and ght. Barak was Israel's general who said that he would only
advance if she went with him. Without any hesitation, she said “yes."
Humble Leaders Lead by Example

Judges 5:7 explains that "Israel would not ght until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a
mother in Israel." Her people needed her. Keep in mind that God's people felt defeated
and discouraged from 20 years of the same vicious cycle. They didn't just need
Deborah's expertise. They needed her encouragement.

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Good leaders aren't above serving, and Deborah embodied that. She wasn't scared of
getting her sandals dirty or even su ering in battle. She proudly served alongside her
soldiers. There's a practical principle here. Actions speak louder than words. People
will follow a leader who leads by example.
Humble Leaders Give Credit to Others

Now, let's dig into the con ict. An evil vigilante named Sisera was on the warpath. He
had personally called for the extermination of God's people. He tortured, enslaved, and
murdered thousands of Hebrews. If Israel wanted to win, they needed him out of the
picture.
While Barak's army fought, Sisera grew exhausted. Thus, he slipped into the tent of an
Israelite named Jael. Deborah, not wanting to make a big deal of herself, sent a
message to Jael. "You have the power to win this war," she explained. Jael wasn't a
soldier. She wasn't a warrior. She was a stay-at-home mother who spent most of her
time in her tent. How would she attack one of the world's most powerful ghters?
Due to her in-tents life (lame joke), Jael had learned a thing or two about tent
maintenance, so she pounced into action with an unorthodox weapon. It wasn't a
dagger, sword, or spear. She yanked the spike that supported her tent out of the clay.
Then, in a scene from a gory action ick, she hammered the tent peg into Sisera's head
— ending the war and saving Israel.
Deborah could have easily sent out a press release about how she put the mission into
motion. She could have celebrated herself as a skilled visionary, but she didn't do any
of that. When Israel won, Deborah gave all the glory to God. When Sisera was
defeated, she celebrated God and gave credit to her friend. This is a valuable lesson
for us. When you experience victory, give credit to others. When you edify others, you
are edi ed by God. This brings us to our nal application.
Humble Leaders Glorify God for Victories

Deborah's mindset is clear when you dig into chapter ve. Victory is a reason to
worship.

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READ: Judges 5:4-5
"When you, Lord, went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the
earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water. The mountains
quaked before the Lord, the One of Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel."
Chapter ve is one big "psalm of praise." Deborah sang, "The Lord went out from Seir,
when you marched from the region of Edom" (Judges 5:4). She personi ed God as a
soldier ghting on Israel's behalf. It's clear in this song that God was the source of their
success. It wasn't due to our chariots, our con dence, or even our leadership. It was all
God. Deborah's faith leads her to give all the credit to her creator.
"Everything you do not turn to praise can turn into pride." I once heard Pastor Mark
Batterson use this statement to sum up the book of judges. I thought it was a powerful
observation to carry throughout this study. Pride was the downfall of the other judges.
Deborah distinguished herself with humility. When she won, she worshipped. When she
saw success, she sang. We should strive to do the same. Whenever you see success
in life, give credit to God. Whenever you accomplish something big, worship God for
helping you get there.
If you, like Deborah, want to be remembered as a good leader, then praise God for
everything good in your life. Pride leads to destruction. Praise leads to promotion.
When you transform accomplishments into praise, you are less likely to turn them into
pride. Thus, you are less likely to fall into the vicious cycle we see in Judges.
Humility builds bridges between people. When you embrace a humble life, you break
toxic cycles. When those around you see the real you, they trust you. Deborah's
lifestyle proves a powerful point. You're not above people; you're with them. You aren't
better than others; you're awed too. Simply own up to that and watch your life
instantly improve.
Praise acts like pride repellent. It reminds you that every good thing is a gift from God.
Lead like Deborah, worship when you win, and praise God for your prosperity.

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TALK IT OUT
Q1: What did you notice that was distinct about Deborah?
Q2: Think of someone that you consider humble. What character traits stick out to
you?
Q3: When Deborah’s army won, she humbly gave credit to her friend and God. What
can we learn from this?
Q4: Go ahead and celebrate your circle! Share something about one person who has
helped you learn or accomplish something in your life.
Q5: “Everything you do not turn to praise can turn into pride.” What does this mean to
you?
Application: Thank God for every good thing you have in your life. Also, look for ways
to celebrate the successes of those around you.

Ezekiel 36:20-23
Ezekiel 26:24-27
Hebrews 7:26-28
Isaiah 6:1-3
Isaiah 57:14-15
Leviticus 11:44-45
Psalm 33:20-22

experiences?

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CIRCLE 03/04: JEPHTHAH - THE BAD
Today we are going to look at the tragic story of a judge who made a twisted pact with
tragic consequences. His name was Jephthah and he was a highly-skilled soldier who
was selected to help Israel defeat the Ammonites. He was a man of fury; he was a man
of ferocity; and he was a man of distorted beliefs.
We encounter Jephthah in Judges chapter eleven. After another vicious sin cycle, the
Israelites found themselves surrounded by the Ammonites. In a frenzy, God's people
sought out Jephthah. He was renowned as their most skilled soldier with audacious
courage in the face of adversity. On paper, he was the perfect judge. Strong, intelligent,
clever, and well-spoken. There was only one problem: he was not very close to God.
As a matter of fact, He didn't know much about the true God at all. His religious
confusion is evident when we see his story unfold.
When the Ammonites threatened the Israelites, Jephthah tried diplomacy rst. Being a
gifted communicator, he wrote up a treaty for the king of the Ammonites (Judges
11:12-20). The king rejected his plea and declared war (Judges 11:27). Thus, Israel
found itself ghting another senseless battle against a stacked army.
Jephthah proved to be an astounding military leader. He courageously marched into

the battle of a lifetime. While the enemy soldiers pressed forward, spears ew past his
head, and the victory seemed impossible. Israel realized they were overwhelmed and
understa ed. In the heat of pending defeat, Jephthah swore something stupid.
READ: Judges 11:30-31

"And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: 'If you give the Ammonites into my hands,
whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from
the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacri ce it as a burnt o ering.”
Jephthah vowed to sacri ce a member of his household if they won the war. He
explained, "I will sacri ce whoever steps out of my house when I arrive home" (Judges
11:30-31). After the dust settled, Israel's ag ew above the rubble. They had won the
war! While cheers echoed through the nation, Jephthah recalled his morbid promise to
God. Slightly horri ed, he headed home. In a twisted turn of events, his daughter was
the rst to greet him to congratulate her dad on his victory (Judges 11:34-35).

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Biblical scholars disagree as to whether or not he actually killed his daughter. Some
teachers suggest that she was simply forbidden from marriage, which was a common
practice of sacri ce at that time. Others, the seeming majority, think that he actually
went through with it and murdered his child. Regardless, Jephthah's vow cost him big
time. We can learn two valuable lessons from this reckless judge.
Don't Let Culture Corrupt Your Faith

Why would Jephthah make that vile vow in the rst place? Well, human sacri ce was
central to the ancient religions of his time. It was practiced by the Ammonites,
Canaanites, and Philistines. However, it was directly forbidden by the God of Israel
(Deuteronomy 18:10). Human sacri ce pleased pagan gods. The bigger the sacri ce,
the bigger the payo . Thus, a human sacri ce was believed to create the most
miraculous outcomes.
Jephthah let culture corrupt his faith. He clearly didn't understand the true God of love,
grace, and mercy. Because, if he did, he would never have made such a vow. He talked
to God as if He was a false god who would appreciate something as vile as human
sacri ce.
While we are shocked at the kind of corruption that would make someone do this, our
culture does it too. We just make di erent sacri ces. Culture idolizes wealth which
leads people to sacri ce their families on the altar of success. Society advertises the
fun of pleasure which makes people sacri ce their health on the altar of feeling good.
Unfortunately, we can even sacri ce our faith on the altar of the world's expectations.
Our culture calls us to water down our message, avoid our true purpose, and approach
scripture through the lens of modern sentiment. It's tragic. Ask God to help you purify
your faith amid a culture that strives to corrupt it.
God's Favor Isn't Earned

Jephthah incorrectly thought that he could buy God's favor. His perspective was
shaped by a worldview that believed in wishy-washy gods with big tempers. That is far
from the truth, though. God's favor is free and unmerited. There is nothing we have to
do to earn it or deserve it. God just gives it out because He is a good God. You are his
child and He is a good Father.

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Misguided people think this way all the time. "If I pray harder, maybe God will bless me
bigger." "If I fast for weeks, maybe God will give me what I want." "If I promise to stop
cheating, God will turn my D into an A." "If I tithe, maybe I will win the lottery." This
version of faith is awed. Why? You don't need to earn God's favor. God is not
manipulated by sacri ce, o erings, or vows. God is pleased by faith and faith alone.
I really wish that Jephthah would have wrestled with his vow. If he had sought Godly
council, he could have stopped the downward spiral in judges. Jephthah would have
told them that the true God is full of mercy and grace. There was no need to negotiate
with Him or try to coax Him into blessing His people.
The book of Judges is only a sliver of God's story. A thousand years later, the Apostle
Paul demonstrates pure faith and free favor. Ephesians 2:8 teaches, "it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith." That's all God expects of us — faith. There is nothing
else we need to do to receive His favor. Faith in God gives us the favor of God. It's a
free gift with no strings attached. That's the glory of the gospel.

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TALK IT OUT
Q1: What is your reaction to Jephthah’s vow during battle? Why do you think he did
this when it’s explicitly forbidden by scripture?
Q2: What are some ways that culture tries to corrupt your faith?
Q3: What are some ways that people try to earn the favor of God? Why is that
problematic?
Q4: Read Ephesians 2:8. What can this teach us about the true nature of our faith?
Application: Look for any places in your life where your faith has been corrupted or
you’re trying to earn God’s favor. Ask God to help you grow closer to him by re ning
your faith.

2 Peter 3:10-13
2 Timothy 1:6-10
Ephesians 4:20-24
Exodus 3:2-6
Exodus 12:11-13
Exodus 19:4-6
Psalm 93:1-5

experiences?

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CIRCLE 04/04: SAMSON - THE UGLY
The Book of Judges has been a wild ride. Judges is not like a roller coaster with twists
and turns. It's more like those vertical drop rides. It's straight down, not very fun, and
makes you want to throw up. We have looked at the good with Deborah. We have
looked at the bad with Jephthah. Now, to conclude this study, we are going to examine
the ugly by exploring the story of a man named Samson.
Samson was the last judge sent to rescue Israel. Their vicious cycle had repeated a
dozen times at this point. Once again, they had turned from God, and their impending
tragedy looked like the end. God's people were facing their most powerful foe yet —
the Philistines. It was a massive army of skilled soldiers who were notorious for their
conquests on horseback. Here's the kicker: they had God's people surrounded on
every side.
Samson was supposed to save Israel by defeating the Philistines. However, arrogance
got in the way. Samson decided to ght the entire nation on his own with no help from
his soldiers, generals, or even God.
Towards the beginning of the story, it actually looked like he might pull it o . Like most
tragic stories, heartbreak leads to havoc. After his beloved wife cheated on him
(Judges 14), Samson took his anger out on random Philistine soldiers. He charged
them while carrying an animal skull and began to slaughter them one at a time. All in
all, Samson killed nearly a thousand skilled soldiers with the skull of a donkey (Judges
15:13-20). Yes, you read that right.
Samson was strong as an ox, but he was also as stubborn as a mule. He should have
been a hero, but he ends up looking far more like a villain. I've seen people try to set
Samson up to look like a Hebrew version of Hercules — tall, strong, and handsome.
That's only true on the surface. Sure, his muscles had muscles. It's true that God
blessed him with superhuman strength. However, he tragically let that blessing go to
his head. He used his strength for evil. He was known to kill wild animals for fun, break
building pillars in half, and throw grown men like baby dolls.
Samson had one thing going for him. He had great parents. They loved God and
encouraged their son to live the life of a Nazarite (Numbers 6). A Nazarite made a

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covenant with God that they would not cut their hair, touch the dead, or drink alcohol.
It was a life of purity and focus. Unfortunately, as we are about to see, Samson broke
every single part of the covenant. He was supposed to live a life of commitment, but he
chose to live a life of chaos.
READ: 16:4-5; 15-20

Some time later, [Samson] fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name
was Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, "See if you can lure him
into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we
may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of
silver." Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not
with me? You have mocked me three times now and have not told me what makes
your strength so great." Finally, after she had nagged him with her words day after day,
and pestered him, he was tired to death. So he told her his whole secret, and said to
her, "A razor has never come upon my head; for I have been a nazirite to God from my
mother's womb. If my head were shaved, then my strength would leave me; I would
become weak, and be like anyone else." When Delilah realized that he had told her his
whole secret, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, "This time come
up, for he has told his whole secret to me." Then the lords of the Philistines came up to
her, and brought the money in their hands. She let him fall asleep on her lap; and she
called a man, and had him shave o the seven locks of his head. He began to weaken,
and his strength left him. Then she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" When
he awoke from his sleep, he thought, "I will go out as at other times, and shake myself
free." But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
There you have it. The most powerful warrior in Israel's history was defeated by a
pretty girl, a nap, and a haircut. The other judges got to experience a twisted version of
victory, but Samson faced inevitable defeat. He had all the potential in the world, but it
was poisoned. We can identify three poisons that ruined Samson's life and can destroy
ours too.
One: Poisonous People

Samson wasn't destroyed in the ways you'd think. It wasn't an army, tank, assassin, or
bear-wrestling injury. Samson's life was ruined because he trusted the wrong person.

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He thought he was in love, but she was a spy. Delilah ultimately turned him into the
Philistine army for some quick cash.
Be very careful letting poisonous people into your life. We live in an era when
poisonous people can get to you like never before. You don't even have to look for
them; they can just appear in your direct messages. Be careful who you trust because
poisonous people are everywhere. How do we nd them? Here are some examples:
Critical Crowds: Have people ever talked down to you over and over? They always
have a critical thing to say, and you always leave a conversation feeling worse about
yourself. Those people are poison. Some people want to help you live a better life by
pointing out your mistakes, and you should hold on to those people. However, some
simply seek to criticize. That's poisonous.
Pressuring Peers: These folks are always trying to push you past your boundaries.
Every exchange is an opportunity for them to pressure you into bad choices, change
your mind about your convictions, or even hand you something you already refused.
Those people are poison.
Backstabbers: These are the people who are nice to your face, but you nd out they
are spreading rumors behind your back. They always seem so curious in a
conversation, but they don't really care. They're just shing for information. Please be
careful because those people are likely poison.
I get it. This seems awfully critical. Let's make this clear. Most people are not
poisonous. Within your community, there are plenty of people who love you, cheer for
you, and want the best for you. Embrace them! Don't go into every exchange
suspicious and jaded, but don't ignore red ags either. Ask God for discernment and
He will help you nd the right people to cherish. Bad people can pollute your potential,
but good friends will take you far.
Two: A Poisonous Perspective

Samson's downfall didn't start in his bedroom. It started in his mind. He casually
assumed that he knew better than God, so he did things his way. He ignored God's

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commands. He tried to do everything on his own. He ended up in chains that he was
unable to break.
Perspective is a powerful thing. Every single mistake you've ever made started in your
mind. An obsession with popularity can make you lose track of who you really are.
Worry can suck the joy out of life. A negative attitude will eventually seep into your
relationships. Learn from Samson and pray for a puri ed perspective.
Three: Pride
What was the perspective that ultimately took down Samson? It was pride. He was a
one-man show. He was arrogant. He was the kind of person who posted 3-4 sel es a
day. His pride made him use God's gift of strength for evil. His pride made him use
people instead of loving them. Samson's put himself on a high pedestal just to cause
more pain when he eventually fell.
Ultimately, Samson's pride preluded his destruction. It sounds extreme, but it's
Biblical. Solomon, one of Israel's kings, wrote it this way, "Pride goes before
destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).
Watch out for pride because it is poison. It will make you isolate yourself, refuse to own
up to your mistakes, and prevent you from celebrating someone else's success. Pride
builds up walls and refuses to respond to constructive criticism. While pride makes us
build barriers, humility helps us build bridges.
Samson was supposed to save Israel, but he failed. He was a deeply awed judge, but
there is good news. While Samson struggled, God knew that a perfect judge was on
the horizon. The perfect judge showed up on the scene a few hundred years later.
Jesus was everything that Samson was not. He embodied love, peacefulness, mercy,
and humility.
Live like Jesus, not like a judge. Try to wrap your mind around His humility. Christ was
God in the esh, the King of all creation, but He came to earth as a servant. Jesus
formed the oceans, but He still washed the disciples feet. Jesus created the earth, but
He lived a simple life. He thought of others before himself -- all the way to His death on
a Roman cross.

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Judges shows us the tragedy of living a life of vicious cycles. We sin, we cry out, God
helps, and then we sin again. How do we break the vicious cycles? By following Jesus
and forfeiting pride. Our perfect judge, Jesus, set us free from the cycle of sin.
Freedom comes from the cross. Freedom is on the other side of surrender. It's my hope
that you set yourself free from the fear that Judges reveals by walking in the freedom
that comes from Jesus.

TALK IT OUT
Q1: What words come to mind when you think of Samson?
Q2: Samson had all the potential in the world, but he let di erent poisons pollute his
potential. How have you seen this play out in people’s lives?
Q3: What are some ways to identify is a person is problematic for you?
Q4: Pride played a big part in Samson’s downfall. What can you do protect yourself
against pride?
Application: Take an honest inventory of your potential in life and re ect on any poisons
that are trying to pollute it. Let a few trusted friends know about them then encourage
them to keep you accountable to living free of those poisons.

2 Corinthians 7:1
1 John 3:1-3
1 John 3:6-10
Psalm 119:1-9
1 Samuel 2:1-2
Psalm 51:10-12

experiences?

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SMALL GROUP GUIDE

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 1 forministryresources.com

Let's take a look at a broad outline of the book.

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 2 forministryresources.com

READ: Judges 21:25

Tragic Trait #1: Rejecting Righteous Living

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 3 forministryresources.com

Triumphant Trait #1: Live Righteously

Tragic Trait #2: Refusing to Learn from Your Mistakes

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 4 forministryresources.com

Whenever you fail, ask yourself these valuable questions.

Let's Begin Our Journey Through Judges

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 5 forministryresources.com

Q2: How does living righteously help protect us from tragedy?

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Do the following with each passage:

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 6 forministryresources.com

The Vicious Cycle

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 7 forministryresources.com

READ: Judges: 4:4; 6-9

Humble Leaders Lead by Example

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 8 forministryresources.com

Humble Leaders Give Credit to Others

Humble Leaders Glorify God for Victories

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 9 forministryresources.com

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 10 forministryresources.com

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Do the following with each passage:

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 11 forministryresources.com

Jephthah proved to be an astounding military leader. He courageously marched into

READ: Judges 11:30-31

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 12 forministryresources.com

Don't Let Culture Corrupt Your Faith

God's Favor Isn't Earned

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 13 forministryresources.com

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 14 forministryresources.com

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Do the following with each passage:

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 15 forministryresources.com

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 16 forministryresources.com

READ: 16:4-5; 15-20

One: Poisonous People

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 17 forministryresources.com

Two: A Poisonous Perspective

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 18 forministryresources.com

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 19 forministryresources.com

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 20 forministryresources.com

Q1: What words come to mind when you think of Samson?

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Do the following with each passage:

CIRCLES DISCUSSION GUIDE 21 forministryresources.com

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