After Joshua died, the tribes of Israel continued their conquest of Canaan. Some of the tribes failed to fulfill God’s command to drive out all of the inhabitants of the land, began worshipping the false gods of the Canaanites, and were brought into bondage to their enemies. The Lord raised up judges to deliver them from their enemies.
Note: Before the lesson, assign one of the following scripture passages to each of three students: Judges 3:12–30; Judges 4:1–9, 15–24; and Judges 6:1–16. Ask these students to be prepared to summarize their assigned passages for the class.
What point might this picture be trying to make? (When we allow ourselves to be influenced by unrighteous behavior around us, we can become unclean ourselves.)
Invite students as they study Judges 1–6 to look for truths that explain what can happen if we choose to associate with unrighteous influences or temptations.
Explain that following the death of Joshua (see Judges 1:1), the Israelites were led by a series of judges, who were civic and military leaders who at times demonstrated the gift of prophecy.
Remind students that the Israelites were commanded to drive out the wicked inhabitants of the land of Canaan (see Exodus 23:31). The Israelites were warned that if they did not obey this commandment, the Canaanites would “be a snare,” or trap, to them (see Deuteronomy 7:16).
Point out that important points or messages in the scriptures are often emphasized by the repetition of certain words or phrases. Invite students to scan Judges 1:21, 27–33 and look for words or phrases that are repeated in these verses.
Based on the words and phrases repeated in these verses, what can we learn from Judges 1:21, 27–33? (The Israelites had failed to obey the Lord’s instructions to drive out the wicked people from the promised land.)
Explain that the Lord sent an angel to the Israelites to teach them about the consequences of their disobedience. Invite a student to read Judges 2:1–3 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for the consequences the Israelites would experience. Invite students to report what they find.
After students respond, write the following incomplete statement on the board: If we choose to associate with evil influences and temptations, then …
Summarize Judges 2:4–10 by explaining that eventually, all the Israelites who had entered the promised land with Joshua died, and a new generation of Israelites arose who “knew not the Lord, nor … the works which he had done for Israel” (verse 10).
Invite a student to read Judges 2:11–13 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for what this new generation began to do.
What did the new generation of Israelites do?
Explain that Baalim is the plural form of the word Baal. Baal and Ashtaroth were false gods of the Canaanites. Those who worshipped these false gods did so in corrupt and immoral ways, which included sacrificing children and breaking the law of chastity.
Based on the Israelites’ actions, how would you complete the principle on the board? (After students respond, complete the principle on the board so it conveys the following truth: If we choose to associate with evil influences and temptations, then they may lead us to sin.)
Invite students to silently ponder how they have observed the truthfulness of this principle.
Explain that as a result of the Israelites’ sinful behavior, the Lord stopped protecting them from their enemies, and their enemies gained power over them. This began a cycle of sin, bondage, repentance, and deliverance that continued throughout the time recorded in the book of Judges. To illustrate this cycle, display the following diagram or produce it as a handout. Invite four students to take turns reading aloud the four phases of the cycle.
If you invited three students to study Judges 3:12–30; Judges 4:1–9, 15–24; and Judges 6:1–16 before class, invite them to come to the front of the class and summarize the accounts they read. Ask the class to listen for how the cycle of sin and deliverance is repeated in each account. If you did not ask students to study these accounts before class, you could ask students to read the accounts aloud, or you could summarize them.
In obedience to the Lord, Gideon removes false idols and prepares for battle
Explain that for the remainder of the lesson, students will learn about how the Lord used Gideon, whom He had called, to help the children of Israel repent and gain freedom from their enemies.
Summarize Judges 6:17–24 by explaining that the Lord showed Gideon a sign to assure him that this call came from God.
Ask a student to read Judges 6:25–26 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for what the Lord told Gideon to do before he delivered Israel from the Midianites.
What did the Lord command Gideon to do?
Why do you think it was important for Gideon to destroy the altar of the false god Baal, which the Israelites had made, before he gathered an army to drive out the Midianites?
What principle can we learn from the Lord’s instruction to Gideon? (Students may identify a variety of principles, but make sure it is clear that if we desire to have the Lord’s help and strength, we must remove spiritually unclean and evil practices from our lives and replace them with righteous practices.)
Why is it important to not just remove evil habits or practices from our lives but to replace them with righteous practices?
Summarize Judges 6:27–40 by explaining that Gideon did as he was commanded. The next day, the men of the city wanted to kill Gideon because he destroyed their false idols. Gideon’s father spoke in his defense, and the men of the city did not kill him. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he gathered an army of Israelites together. The Lord then showed Gideon another sign to assure him that the Lord had chosen him to deliver Israel.
The Lord delivers the Midianites into the hands of the Israelites
Ask students to imagine that they, like Gideon, have been commanded to conquer and drive out the Midianite army. Invite students to look ahead at Judges 7:12 and find the size of the Midianite army.
Considering the size of the Midianite army, how many soldiers would you want to take with you?
Invite a student to read Judges 7:1–2 aloud. Ask the class to follow along and look for what the Lord said about the size of Gideon’s army. Invite students to report what they find.
If you had been in Gideon’s position, what might you have thought when the Lord said you had too many soldiers in your army?
According to verse 2, why did the Lord tell Gideon to reduce the size of Israel’s army? (You may need to explain that the word vaunt means to boast.)
Invite a student to read Judges 7:3 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what the Lord said Gideon needed to do to reduce the size of the army.
How many were in the army originally? (32,000.) How many remained? (10,000.)
Invite students to scan Judges 7:4 silently, looking for what the Lord said about the reduced size of Gideon’s army. Ask students to report what they find.
Invite a few students to take turns reading aloud from Judges 7:4–8. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what the Lord instructed Gideon to do to further reduce the size of the army. Invite students to report what they find.
If you had been in Gideon’s position, what might you think about the Lord reducing your army from 32,000 to 300?
Display the following items, or show pictures of them: a trumpet, a lamp, and a pitcher. Ask students how effective they think these items would be in a battle against an opponent using swords and shields.
Invite a student to read Judges 7:15–18 aloud. Ask students to follow along and look for Gideon’s instructions to his army.
What instructions did Gideon give?
Invite several students to take turns reading aloud from Judges 7:19–23. Ask the class to follow along and look for what happened next. You may need to explain that the phrase “the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow” (verse 22) means that the Midianites began to attack each other in the chaos created by Gideon’s army.
What principle can we learn from this account about what happens when we faithfully follow the Lord’s commands? (Although they may use different words, students should identify a principle similar to the following: If we follow the Lord’s commands with exactness and always acknowledge our dependence on Him, then He will help us overcome our challenges.)
To help students understand how this principle can relate to their lives, invite them to name a variety of sources through which the Lord’s commandments come to us, such as promptings from the Holy Ghost, scriptures, words of the prophets, and righteous counsel from parents and leaders.
Ask students to ponder times when they overcame challenges with the Lord’s help because they followed His counsel. Invite a few students to share, if their experiences are not too personal. You may want to share a personal experience illustrating this principle as well.
Invite students to think about any commandments that the Lord may want them to follow with greater exactness and write down in their study journals what they will do to obey these commandments. Encourage them to act on any ideas or promptings they receive.
Israel enjoys peace for many years but returns to idolatry after Gideon dies
Summarize Judges 8–9 by explaining that after the Midianites fled, Gideon’s army pursued them and destroyed some of them. After the victory, the Israelites wanted Gideon to be their king, but he refused and said the Lord should be their king. For the space of about 40 years, there were no more major battles. After Gideon’s death, the Israelites returned to idolatry. Gideon’s son Abimelech wanted to rule Israel, so he killed 70 of his brothers and was made king. He was eventually killed by the Shechemites, one of Israel’s enemies.
Conclude by sharing your testimony of the truths identified in this lesson. Invite students to write in their study journals how they will act on promptings they have received and truths they have learned.
Commentary and Background Information
Judges 1:8, 21. The status of Jerusalem during the time of the judges
It may be helpful to note that Judges 1:8 and 1:21 seem to contradict each other by indicating that two different tribes of Israel (Judah and Benjamin) controlled Jerusalem. In fact, Judah had conquered and was in control of the southern half of the city. The tribe of Benjamin controlled the northern half of Jerusalem, but they did not fully conquer it and drive out the Jebusites until the days of King David (see 2 Samuel 5:6–7).
Judges 2:11–15. How to avoid the worldly influences around us
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave two suggestions on how Latter-day Saints can avoid embracing worldly influences:
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Quentin L. Cook
“We cannot avoid the world. A cloistered existence is not the answer. …
“… How then do we balance the need to positively contribute to the world and to not succumb to the sins of the world? (See D&C 25:10; 59:9.) Two principles will make a significant difference.
“1. Let people know you are a committed Latter-day Saint. …
Judges 4:8–9. Deborah gives God the glory for the success of the military
In Judges 4, we read that the Lord called a woman named Deborah to judge Israel (see Bible Dictionary, “Deborah”). Together, she and the military leader Barak delivered Israel from the Canaanites. Judges 4 highlights Deborah’s strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When Barak insisted that Deborah accompany the military to battle, she agreed to go but gave full credit to the Lord for any success they would have and sought no honor for herself (see Judges 4:8–9).
Judges 6:11–24. Since the Lord condemns sign-seeking, how do we explain Gideon’s request?
There is a difference between sincerely seeking confirmation from God with real intent and demanding a sign from God without faith. The motive of the person seeking the sign from God is important (see D&C 63:7–10). “Some people claim that they would believe in God or His work if they were able to receive a sign. But faith does not come by signs. … The Lord revealed, ‘Faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe’ (D&C 63:9). Such signs are given to those who are faithful and obedient to strengthen them in their faith and to help them carry out the will of God” (“Signs,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org). In Gideon’s case, he righteously sought for a sign in faith.
“When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies” (Thomas S. Monson, “Duty Calls,” Ensign, May 1996, 44).
President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency likened Gideon’s experience to the challenges we face:
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James E. Faust
“The Lord has a great work for each of us to do. You may wonder how this can be. You may feel that there is nothing special or superior about you or your ability. Perhaps you feel, or have been told, that you are stupid. Many of us have felt that and some of us have been told that. Gideon felt this when the Lord asked him to save Israel from the Midianites. Gideon said, ‘My family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house’ [Judges 6:15]. He had only three hundred men, but with the help of the Lord, Gideon defeated the armies of the Midianites [see Judges 7].
“The Lord can do remarkable miracles with a person of ordinary ability who is humble, faithful, and diligent in serving the Lord and seeks to improve himself. This is because God is the ultimate source of power” (James E. Faust, “Acting for Ourselves and Not Being Acted Upon,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 47).
President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1924–2015) taught:
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Boyd K. Packer
“Gideon’s small force succeeded because, as the record states, ‘they stood every man in his place.’ …
“While the priesthood is presently all over the world, we call on every … holder of the priesthood to stand, like Gideon’s small but powerful force of 300, in his own place. We now must awaken in every elder and high priest, in every quorum and group, and in the father of every home the power of the priesthood of the Almighty” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Power of the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 6, 8).
