Judges is a book about Israel's fickleness, God's faithfulness, and several courageous leaders. It is also a book of history, continuing the story begun in Genesis. During the period following Joshua's death, known as the period of the judges, God's people began to go downhill as far as obedience was concerned. But with disobedience came distress, particularly from foreign invaders. God had said his people would have peace in obedience. But they were not obedient, so they did not have peace. But when their distress got intolerable, they would cry to the Lord. And each time they cried out, God sent a deliverer, like Deborah, Gideon, or Samson, to lead them out of oppression. But, after a short period of peace, the people would return to their evil ways and begin the cycle again, and again, and again.
There are three common phrases in this book:
1) "The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord."
2) "But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up a deliverer."
3) "Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord."
