Judges Outline

I. The Incomplete Conquest: Jdg. 1:1-2:5

A. Poised for Advance: Jdg_1:1
B. Samples of Success: Jdg_1:2-18, Jdg_1:22-26
C. Roots of Failure: Jdg_1:19-21, Jdg_1:27-36
D. The Verdict of the Lord: Jdg_2:1-5

II. Uncovering the Meaning of the Book: Jdg. 2:6-3:6

A. The Peril of the Second Generation: Jdg_2:6-10
B. The Downward Spiral: Jdg_2:11-19
C. The Mercy of Judgment: Jdg. 2:20-3:6

III. Patterns of Unpredictability: Jdg_3:7-31

A. Othniel: The Man for the Job: Jdg_3:7-11
B. Ehud: One of God’s “Irregulars”: Jdg_3:12-30
C. Shamgar: A Rank Outsider: Jdg_3:31

IV. A Famous Victory: Jdg. 4:1-5:31

A. A Desperate Situation: Jdg_4:1-3; Jdg_5:6-12
B. Deborah: A Remarkable Woman: Jdg_4:4-7; Jdg_5:7
C. Barak: A Hesitant Man: Jdg_4:8-9, Jdg_4:22
D. A Divided Nation: Jdg_4:10; Jdg_5:13-18
E. A Miraculous Intervention: Jdg_4:11-16; Jdg_5:19-23
F. An Unexpected End: Jdg_4:17-24
G. A Challenging Contrast: Jdg_5:1-5, Jdg_5:31

V. Gideon: In God’s Base Camp: Jdg_6:1-32

A. God Chastises: Jdg_6:1-6
B. God Convicts: Jdg_6:7-10
C. God Conscripts: Jdg_6:11-16
D. God Confirms: Jdg_6:17-24
E. God Challenges: Jdg_6:25-32

VI. Gideon: Proving God: Jdg. 6:33-7:8

A. The Transforming Factor: Jdg_6:33-35
B. The Confirming Factor: Jdg_6:36-40
C. The Reduction Factor: Jdg_7:1-8

VII. Gideon: Divine Strategy: Jdg_7:9-25

A. From Fear to Faith: Jdg_7:9-14
B. From Faith to Fulfillment: Jdg_7:15-25

VIII. Gideon: The Tests of Success: Jdg_8:1-35

A. The Test of Criticism: Jdg_8:1-3
B. The Test of Noncooperation: Jdg_8:4-21
C. The Test of Personal Popularity: Jdg_8:22-27
D. The Test of Retirement: Jdg_8:28-35

IX. The Power that Corrupts: Jdg_9:1-57

A. Powerful Arrogance: Jdg_9:1-6
B. Prophetic Insight: Jdg_9:7-21
C. Rampant Evil: Jdg_9:22-49
D. Covenant Discipline: Jdg_9:50-57

X. Sin’s Dead End: Jdg_10:1-18

A. Sin Restrained: Jdg_10:1-5
B. Sin Resurgent: Jdg_10:6-9
C. Sin Rebuked: Jdg_10:10-14
D. Sin Rejected: Jdg_10:15-18

XI. Learning from God’s Providence: Jdg_11:1-28

A. In the Early Circumstances of Jephthah’s Life: Jdg_11:1-3
B. In the Wise Negotiation of Gilead’s Elders: Jdg_11:4-11
C. In the Sovereign Control of Israel’s History: Jdg_11:12-28

XII. The Enemy Within: Jdg. 11:29-12:15

A. Overactive Doubt Brings Tragedy: Jdg_11:29-40
B. Inactive Criticism Brings Tragedy: Jdg_12:1-7
C. Divinely Active Faithfulness Brings Stability: Jdg_12:8-15

XIII. Samson: God Intervenes: Jdg_13:1-25

A. On God’s Terms: Jdg_13:1-7
B. In God’s Time: Jdg_13:8-16
C. Through God’s Truth: Jdg_13:17-25

XIV. Samson: God Overrules: Jdg_14:1-20

A. Through Apparently Bizarre Behavior: Jdg_14:1-4
B. By Empowering with His Spirit: Jdg_14:5-9
C. In Transcending Human Weakness: Jdg_14:10-20

XV. Samson: God Empowers: Jdg_15:1-20

A. Revenge on God’s Enemies: Jdg_15:1-8
B. Rejection by God’s People: Jdg_15:9-17
C. Recognition Through God’s Provision: Jdg_15:18-20

XVI. Samson: God Judges: Jdg_16:1-31

A. Strength and Moral Weakness: Jdg_16:1-3
B. Strength and Personal Vulnerability: Jdg_16:4-17
C. Strength and Fatal Presumption: Jdg_16:18-21
D. Strength and Divine Retribution: Jdg_16:22-31

XVII. Beware of False Gods: Jdg. 17:1-18:31

A. The Marks of False Religion: Jdg_17:1-13
B. The Motivation to False Religion: Jdg_18:1-31

XVIII. The Infection of Godlessness: Jdg. 19:1-20:11

A. Sexual Immorality: Jdg_19:1-25
B. Personal Violence: Jdg_19:24-29
C. Moral Paralysis: Jdg. 19:30-20:11

XIX. The Purging of Evil: Jdg. 20:12-21:25

A. No Recognition of Guilt: Jdg_20:12-17
B. No Restriction on Revenge: Jdg_20:18-48
C. No Respect for Human Life: Jdg_21:1-24
D. No Reverence for God: Jdg_21:25