Justin Houtz

Hi. I’m Justin. I write code and things but enough about that…

Let’s talk about Jesus.

  • Daily Bible Study

    Judges 10, James 4

    DateVersionReading Plan
    August 9, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

    Judges 10

    Observation & Interpretation

    Judges 10:1-3 – Tola of Issachar arose next to save Israel, judging Israel for twenty-three years, followed by Jair, the Gileadite, who judged Israel for twenty-two years.

    • Tola son of Puah [is] One of the so-called minor-judges—judges about whom the biblical text gives little information. Nothing is known of Tola’s career apart from what is included here. (FSB)

    Judges 10:8-9 – The Ammonites oppressed the people of Israel beyond the Jordan for eighteen years and crossed the Jordan to also fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim.

    • The initial focus is on the Ammonites, who for eighteen years oppressed the Israelites living east of the Jordan River in Gilead. The affliction was not limited to the part of Israel closest to the Ammonite homeland. They went further afield, crossing the Jordan and fighting against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim. (CSB Notes)

    Judges 10:11 – The LORD addressed the people of Israel.

    • How or through whom Yahweh communicates is unclear. (FSB)

    Judges 10:13-16 – In His address to the people, the LORD confronted them in their forsaking of Him, serving other gods, and that He would save them no more. He told them to cry out to the gods that they had chosen to save them in their time of distress. The people confessed their sin and asked that He deliver them. The people put away other gods and served the LORD and the LORD became impatient over the misery of Israel.

    • [When the people] continued to ray and after they put away their idols, God listened to their cry. Verse 16 gives us some insight into the LORD’s great heart of tenderness. Like a father, He was moved by the plight of His wayward children. Their misery called forth His mercy. (BBC)

    Judges 10:6-12:7 – The purpose of Judges is not a strict historical, chronological account of the period of judges but a selection of narratives that faithfully record Israel’s decline into sin and the rejection of the LORD as her King—the un-creation of Israel. (ESVEC – Comment)

    James 4

    Observation & Interpretation

    James 4:11-12 – James condemns speaking evil among the brothers, that such a one speaks against the law and judges the law. He makes clear that there is only one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and destroy. He then rhetorically asks who are they to judge their neighbor.

    • James deals with…censoriousness, or speaking evil against a brother. Someone has suggested there there are three questions we should answer before indulging in criticism of others—What good does it do to your brother? What good does it do to ourselves? What glory for God is in it?

    Application

    James 4:1-12 – Although Christians receive once-for-all judicial forgiveness at the moment of salvation, we are called to experience regular relational forgiveness through ongoing repentance and faith. Jesus taught His followers to pray regularly, “Forgive us our debt” (Matt. 6:12). In James 4:1-12, James calls for bellicose Christians to confess and repent of their sins in the pattern taught by Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer. (ESVEC – Response)

    Resources

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