Bible Study Questions Scandalous Scripture: "Killed By A Woman"
- Prayer Brief Summary
- Judges repeatedly challenges our assumptions about strength, importance, and the kinds of people God can use. Powerful kings and military leaders are defeated by unexpected people, while some who begin humbly become endangered by success, pride, and reputation.
- From Ehud and Jael to Gideon, Abimelech, and Jephthah, these stories ask us to reconsider what real strength looks like. The New Testament ultimately points us to the cross, where what appeared weak to the world became the means of God’s saving power.
- Questions
- 1. What Pattern Develops in Judges?
- Read Judges 2:11–19.
- What repeated pattern do you see in Israel’s relationship with God throughout the period of the judges?
- Hint: Follow what happens before, during, and after each deliverance.
- 2. What Happens With Ehud?
- Read Judges 3:12–30.
- How does the story contrast Ehud with King Eglon, and what details shape the way the story unfolds?
- Hint: Notice what each man appears to possess at the beginning and how the situation changes.
- 3. What Happens With Deborah, Barak, and Jael?
- Read Judges 4:4–24.
- What roles do Deborah, Barak, Sisera, and Jael each play in Israel’s deliverance?
- Hint: Pay attention to the expectations established before the battle and how events ultimately unfold.
- 4. What Changes in Gideon?
- Read Judges 6:11–16 and Judges 8:22–32.
- What differences do you notice between Gideon when God first calls him and Gideon after his victories?
- Hint: Compare his circumstances, influence, possessions, and decisions at the beginning and end.
- 5. What Happens With Gideon’s Legacy?
- Read Judges 8:33–35 and Judges 9:1–6.
- What develops after Gideon dies, and how does Abimelech pursue leadership?
- Hint: Look at the relationships, methods, and sources of support involved.
- 6. What Happens at Thebez?
- Read Judges 9:50–57 and 2 Samuel 11:21.
- What does Abimelech attempt to control at the end of his life, and how is the event remembered later in Scripture?
- Hint: Compare Abimelech’s final request with the way the story is recalled generations later.
- 7. What Does God Use?
- Read Judges 3:31; Judges 4:21; and Judges 9:52–54.
- What do an oxgoad, a tent peg, and a millstone – a left handed person and women have in common in these stories, and what might Judges be teaching us through such ordinary people and objects?
- Hint: Consider the difference between looking impressive and simply being useful in the right hands.
- 8. What Happens With Jephthah’s Vow?
- Read Judges 11:29–40.
- What happens before Jephthah makes his vow, what does he promise, and what follows after the victory? What does the text say happens regardless of debate?
- Hint: Pay close attention to the order of events and to what the text does—and does not—say God requested.
- 9. How Does Paul Describe God’s Choices?
- Read 1 Corinthians 1:18–29.
- How does Paul contrast the world’s ideas of wisdom and strength with the way God works?
- Hint: Notice the repeated contrasts involving wisdom, weakness, status, and boasting.
- 10. Application: What Can Success Do to Us?
- Read Judges 8:22–32 and Matthew 23:12.
- Where might success, influence, recognition, or concern about reputation become spiritually dangerous in your own life?
- Hint: Think about how a person may change after receiving something they once prayed for.
- 11. Application: Who Might We Be Underestimating?
- Read 1 Corinthians 1:26–31.
- Where are you tempted to measure yourself or other people by ability, personality, status, influence, education, or visibility? How might that affect the way you see whom God can use—including you?
- Hint: Consider both someone else you may overlook and something about yourself you assume disqualifies you.
- Closing Reflection
- Read 1 Corinthians 1:22–25.
- The world looked at the crucified Christ and saw weakness. What does the cross teach us about the difference between appearing impressive and actually being faithful to God?
- Where might God be asking you simply to give Him what you have and trust Him to use it?
- Discussion