S3E044-Judges 7-11: A Foolish Vow
Today’s readings: Judges 7, Judges 8, Judges 9, Judges 10, Judges 11
Listen to the passage online:Judges 7 to 11 at BibleGateway.com
Why this episode matters: The story of Jephthah and his daughter in Judges 11 has caused many listeners to question the goodness and character of God. In this episode, “A Foolish Vow,” we slow down, look at the language and the larger context, and see how a difficult story, read carefully, actually points us back to a wise and faithful God.
Entities: Jephthah, Gideon, Abimelech, Judges 7 to 11, Israel, Midian, Ammon, Hannah, Samuel, Molech, Billy Graham, Increase Mather, Catherine Booth, Salvation Army, Finland, Modesto Manifesto.
Episode summary
In this History Tuesday episode of the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind we are in the book of Judges, walking through chapters 7 to 11. We begin with Gideon’s famous three hundred, move through the dark and violent story of Abimelech, and then spend extended time with Jephthah, his vow, and his daughter. Along the way we see how God works through flawed people, how He refuses to share His glory with human pride, and how easily His people forget Him when life gets comfortable again.
In Judges 7 we hear how God deliberately whittles Gideon’s army down until it is obvious that the victory belongs to the Lord and not to human strength. In Judges 8 and 9 we watch what happens after the victory, when Gideon’s compromises and the ambition of his son Abimelech lead to idolatry, political violence, and grief. Judges 10 and 11 show us Israel’s repeated slide back into sin, God’s discipline through foreign enemies, and His mercy when His people cry out for help.
The reading sets up the big question of the day. What exactly happened with Jephthah’s vow and his daughter, and what does that say about God. This is not a quick soundbite passage. It asks us to bring familiarity with Scripture, a willingness to look at the original language,
