The book of Judges relates to today

The book of Judges relates to today but it is more than that. It is today. It is difficult to think of a book more relevant to us than Judges. This small ancient book is witness to the black hole of violence that has only grown in the 3,000 years since it was written.

Think of Gaza, today’s news. Remember the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, old news. We could go on, of course, to list all the violence that has gone before, is going on now and will be going on tomorrow but consider stopping the litany for a moment.

Three thousand years ago, someone in the new kingdom of Israel saw things weren’t going any better with kings than with the old system of judges and wrote down the book of Judges. The writer tells us why it doesn’t matter who or where or when.

Violence occurs when we turn away from doing what supports life. Consider reading this seminal writing, if possible with others. It forces us to see into the truth of violence. It begins with simple human actions.

Overcoming the barriers to reading Judges

There are several things about the book of Judges that can block seeing how it relates to today. None of which should stop you from finding the wisdom there. Below are those barriers and some tips to get you past them.

• Ancient history: Get a hold of a summary of Judges that explains the when, where and who concisely and without too much commentary. I highly recommend The Bible Project. Click here for their graphic video of Judges.
• Unfamiliarity with biblical language: The Message is an excellent translation for relating to this ancient story. The author, Eugene H. Peterson, brings the dialogue to life for us reading today while staying faithful to the ancient Hebrew and Greek texts. Or go wild and read King James.
• Our view of God: This is a major block for many of us. Either because our faith does not allow for other views of God or because we don’t think there is a God. This is deeply personal and no quick tips. But I believe that both these views, if not broadened beyond their respective limits, limits life. Both for us as a person and we as a people.
• Getting distracted: Look at the action words of the Bible identified on the interiorwork home page. By focusing on these words in the text, you will find it easier to get at what is driving the violence. You will find that the actions in Judges lead to the violence. Not surprisingly, there is one action that is not found in Judges. Healing.

Getting back to today

Now comes the counter-intuitive part. To see how the book of Judges relates to today requires staying close to the story of 3,000 years ago as long as possible in your own thinking and in your discussion with others.

Because truth is hard to see in real time. The book of Judges tells us that. In Judges, the people aren’t doing much looking, except when using spies to see for them.

Neither are they hearing. And in Judges this lack of active seeing and hearing is an important part in their headlong spiral into violence. This is one of the powerful lessons for us in this book. Because when people do actively look and listen in the Bible reality is faced and, as in life, peace is then possible.

So probe the stories of Judges as long as you can for its truths before tackling the here and now.

Before and beyond the book of Judges

At the start of this blog, the book of Judges as it relates to today’s violence was likened to a Black Hole. Have you been following the news on the discoveries being made on Black Holes?

I’m an avid follower even if I don’t understand it. The science, let alone the math. Its complicated. In testimony to its complexity, Einstein, who discovered the math that supports the existence of Black Holes, didn’t believe they could actually exist. Mind boggling.

Even more mind boggling is the darkness brought on by violence in human history. And this is what the book of Judges mines so well. So well that we can immerse ourselves for a moment in that darkness and come to better see our own.

So here we are. Mystery all around. Scientists tell us that a better understanding of Black Holes will help us know how life began. While we explore a no less important question about life. How can we turn away from this human-created black hole of violence? How can we turn towards life?

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