22 The Lord Raised Up a Deliverer

The Lord Raised Up a Deliverer

May 25–31. “The Lord Raised Up a Deliverer”: Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16\

Like ancient Israel, I try to repent and want to do better to follow the Lord and keep His commandments; but, I easily forget too and fall short of my own expectations and His desires for me. I am glad that He is patient and merciful to me, just like He was to our fathers of old.

When we turn back to Jesus, He is there to welcome us, save us, and protect us.

Judges, book of

The Lord forgives as often as I repent.
Judges 2:1–19

The book of Judges offers both warnings and encouragement. The scriptures are often like that. So are our patriarchal blessings.

Judges 2:1–19 Do we ever fail to follow details of what the Lord asks us to do? Do we ever favor the second commandment to the first? It’s a learning process. But the Lord wants us to learn to become trustworthy, and He is eager to bless us every time we try.

3:5–12 Sometimes we do the same things as ancient Israel. One of His greatest desires and commandments is that His children marry in the covenant and keep covenant with Him. It brings sorrow and heartache when we align ourselves with unbelievers who pull us away from God and His purposes for us and promises to us.

Judges 2:19 How can our leaders have both a positive effect and a negative effect on the choices that we make as a people?

Judges 3:9 9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

Do you remember to cry unto the Lord so that He can deliver you? You really do need His help.

Consider reading the question and answer on page 9 of For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices. How do you feel this applies to the Israelites’ experience in the book of Judges? What does this teach you about Jesus Christ?

I can inspire others to have faith in the Lord.
Judges 4:1–15

Judges 4:1–15

verses 1–3

verse 14 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

The God of Israel has always fought faithful Israel’s battles. Will you allow Him to fight your battles?

Doctrine and Covenants 84:87 87 Behold, I send you out to reprove the world of all their unrighteous deeds, and to teach them of a judgment which is to come.

88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

How can we ever fail if our God is with us?

We Talk of Christ

Matthew 5:14–16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1 Peter 3:15 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Each Life That Touches Ours for Good

Invite sharing. If you are a teacher—at home or at church—“give learners opportunities to share with each other what they are learning about the Savior and His gospel. Doing this will help them internalize the truths they are taught and express them” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 26). For example, when studying Judges 4 together, you could give each learner something specific to look for in the chapter and then invite them to share with each other what they find.

The Lord can work miracles when I trust in His ways.
Judges 6–8

How can we trust in the Lord, even when we don’t understand how things are going to work out?

God strengthens me as I am faithful to my covenants.
Judges 13–16

Numbers 6:1–6 The calling of a Nazarite was a calling to holiness. The person was to hold himself to the highest standards before God. Samson fell short. How are you doing personally in following God’s laws and seeking to be clean and holy before Him?

Judges 13:7 Like John the Baptist, Samson was called from the womb.
vs 13-16: Samson’s mother was also to adhere to laws of holiness before he was born and as she guided Him.

 Judges 13–16

Judges 13:5 5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Judges 14:3 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.

It has ever been our Heavenly Father’s will for His covenant people to marry within the covenant, so that they can experience the blessings of the covenant and rear children in righteousness.

Judges 14:7 7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

Samson desired a woman that wasn’t of the House of Israel. How do each of our choices have an effect on potential choices that follow and on our future?

Though Samson had a great price to pay, we need to look at our own lives and determine how we will follow the Lord and whether it is important for us to hearken to His words and heed His counsel.

Samson’s soul is not lost. Jesus loves us even when we make mistakes, and even if our life is cut short. “If in this life only we have hope in Jesus Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

Arise and Shine Forth

Covenants and Responsibilities

Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ

Scripture Helps

• What were some of the false gods of the Canaanites?
• What does it mean that Deborah was a prophetess?
• Was it appropriate for Gideon to ask God for a sign?

Click to see more.

For Children:

Jesus Christ is my Deliverer.
Judges 3:7–9, 12–15

Jesus has all power to deliver us.

Judges 3:7–9 9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

Judges 3:12–15 15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.

How has repentance helped us throughout history? Surely, the Lord loves us and wants to deliver us. How can working on repentance in our own lives help us to gain God’s favor and protection? How could it help our nation if everyone would pray to Heavenly Father in Jesus name and turn away from their sins? How has Jesus delivered you?

He Sent His Son

I can inspire others to have faith in the Lord.
Judges 4:1–15

Video: Deborah the Prophetess

How did Deborah’s faith bless the people around her? How can our faith help others, whether we are a man or a woman, a boy or a girl? How can we help others to build their own faith in Jesus Christ?

The Lord can use small things to do great work.
Judges 7:1–21

Judges 7:4–7 The Lord invited many of the people to return home. IF we are faithful and righteous, the Lord will fight our battles.

Video: The Army of Gideon

We need to understand that the battle is the Lord’s. He doesn’t need a massive army of soldiers for his people to win in a battle. He requires our faith in Him and our personal righteousness.

Judges 7:2 2 And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

Judges 7:16 16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

This wasn’t the standard weaponry. But it was effective because they received and followed the Lord’s instructions.

Judges 7:19–21 19 ¶ So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.

20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

Keeping covenants gives me strength.
Judges 13:5

Keeping covenants strengthens us spiritually, and it also blesses us with the promises that the Lord has made to us.

Doctrine and Covenants 82:10: I the Lord am bound when you do what I say; but, when you do not what I say, you have no promise.

God had promises Samson that he would be physically strong, if he kept the Lord’s commandments. What a blessing it was that Samuel repented. Though he died, he saved many people when he pushed down those pillars and the walls came tumbling down. It is all right if we lose our lives physically; we will live again.

How can we make sure that we stay alive spiritually?

Mosiah 18:8–10 8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

As we keep our covenants, the Lord will pour out His Spirit more abundantly upon us!

Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79 77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

79 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

If we remember Jesus, and witness that to Heavenly Father, and keep His commandments, we may always have His Spirit to be with us.

How do we witness to the Father that we remember Jesus? I think we need to be prayerful all the time. We need to humble ourselves and prayer to Heavenly Father in Jesus’s name, every day, every day, every day. We need to prayer more and with more earnest.