Part 1 of Essay
The stories of the Bible reveal a pattern of “ups and downs” for the nation of Israel. A period of prosperity, faithfulness and fearing God would almost always be followed by a period of destitution, lawlessness and idolatry. This recurring cycle can be linked to political authority, and the level of separation of polit ....

Part 2 of Essay
.... two hundred years the people of Israel struggled against neighboring tribes. The new generation of Israelites “knew neither the Lord nor what he did for Israel” (Judges 2:10). They began to “do evil in the eyes of the Lord” by worshipping other gods and engaging in various sexual activities. To save His people from their enemies and from their “evil ways,” God “raised up” judges to rescue them (Judges 2:16). These so-called judges had the political authority vested in them to lead the people of Israel and to ....