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Judges · Men's Leadership Study

Week 10: Put Away the Strange Gods

Judges 10

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Read Together

Judges 10

Read the whole chapter aloud before discussing the handout.

Hidden in the Text

Weekly Devotional

Jair's thirty sons rode thirty donkeys and ruled thirty towns. This shows that his family was wealthy and powerful. Yet the Bible names no enemy they defeated and no return to God that they led. A man can look successful while doing little that matters to God. Later, Israel admits its sin, but real change begins only when they remove the false gods. God is not controlled by the right words. He has compassion when people truly turn back to Him. Repentance is shown by what a man puts away and whom he serves next.

Discuss Honestly

Hard Questions

  1. 01

    Israel said 'we have sinned' and God said no. What is the difference between confession that ends consequences and repentance that ends sin?

  2. 02

    Israel served seven kinds of false gods. What people, habits, or desires are fighting God for first place in your life? Name them.

  3. 03

    Have you ever cried out to God only because the pain got expensive? What happened after the pain stopped?

  4. 04

    God told them to go cry to the gods they chose. What has your chosen idol actually delivered for you lately?

  5. 05

    They did more than say they were sorry. They removed the idols. What object, app, relationship, or habit do you need to remove this week?

  6. 06

    Jair's thirty sons and thirty cities describe a successful man with no recorded deliverance. Could that be said of your ministry — impressive and without fruit?

  7. 07

    How can you tell whether a man is truly turning from sin or is only tired of the pain it caused? What would you ask him?

Look Them Up

Cross-References

  • 2 Corinthians 7:10-11

    Godly sorrow works repentance with carefulness, indignation, zeal, revenge. Judges 10:16 is that list in action.

  • Hosea 6:1-4

    Goodness 'as a morning cloud' — repentance that evaporates, named by a prophet.

  • Jeremiah 2:28

    'Let them arise, if they can save thee' — God's Judges 10 answer repeated to Judah.

  • Matthew 3:8

    Bring forth fruits meet for repentance. John the Baptist will not accept words either.

  • Acts 19:19

    The Ephesians burned their books publicly. Putting away the strange gods, New Testament edition.