The Part-Time People of God

Judges 2:1-11

By Jeremy Krenzin, April 26, 2026

God insists on full obedience.

Judges 2 illustrates 3 varieties of fractured obedience that devastate God's people:

I.  Obedience Brings Great Sorrow on God's People (Judges 2:1-5)

       A. Lord's Faithfulness & Israel's Faithlessness Contrasted (Judges 2:1-2a)

       B. Background: Gilgal to Bochim (Ex. 23:32, Deut. 7:1-7, Josh. 5:1-24:33, Judg. 1:1-36)

       C. God: Half-Hearted Obedience = No Obedience

       D. The People's Disobedience Brings Sorrow (Judges 2:2b-5)

II.  Obedience Hides God's Glory From the Next Generation (Judges 2:6-11)

       A.   Review of generation-shift: Joshua's Farewell, to Bochim (Judges 2:6-10)

       B.   Joshua's Generation Fails to Teach Children to Know God (Deut. 6:6-7)

       C.   Our Generation? (Ps. 78:3-4). Parents:

              1.  Read & talk about the Bible w/ your children

              2.  Tell your children stories about God

       D.   Grandparents: What's Your Legacy?

  1.  Ushers God's People Into Slavery (Judges 2:12-15)

        A.   Evil + Serving Idols & Abandoning the Lord (Judges 2:11-13)

        B.   Lord's Punishment: Giving People Over (Judges 2:14)

        C.   Lord: Faithful to Bless & Judge (Judges 2:15)

        D.   Consequence of Sin: “Terrible Diestress” (Judges 2:16)

IV.  The Lord Delivers & Redeems His Wayward People (Judges 2:16-23)

        A.   Israel's Sin-Cycle: idolatry, enemies, groaning, deliverers

        B.   Two Closing Thoughts:

              1.  Lord Moved to  (Judges 2:18)

              2.  Who Will Break the Sin-Cycle?  !

Notes: