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Judges · Men's Leadership Study

Week 20: Zeal Without a Word from God

Judges 20

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Read Together

Judges 20

Read the whole chapter aloud before discussing the handout.

Hidden in the Text

Weekly Devotional

Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, is still serving before the ark. This means the civil war happened early in the time of the judges, even though the story comes near the end of the book. These final chapters are placed here to show how bad Israel had become, not to give a timeline. Israel asks God who should attack first because they already assume the war is right. Only after two terrible losses do they fast, bring offerings, and seek God more humbly. You can ask God how to do something without ever asking whether you should do it. Give Him the whole plan before asking for the next step.

Discuss Honestly

Hard Questions

  1. 01

    Israel asked God how to fight, but never whether they should fight. What plan are you asking God to bless without first asking whether it is right?

  2. 02

    Benjamin defended its own guilty men. Where does loyalty to your people tempt you to cover sin?

  3. 03

    What is the difference between righteous anger and a crowd driven by anger, and how would you tell them apart in the moment?

  4. 04

    They lost forty thousand men before getting it right. Are you willing to be corrected mid-course, publicly, after you have already committed?

  5. 05

    Israel finds it easier to unite against someone than to unite for what is right. Where do you see the church doing the same thing?

  6. 06

    How do you handle it when a man in your ministry needs to be confronted and the other men close ranks around him?

  7. 07

    Where has your zeal recently outrun your instructions?

Look Them Up

Cross-References

  • Romans 10:2

    'They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.' Judges 20 in a sentence.

  • Proverbs 3:5-6

    Lean not unto thine own understanding. Israel leaned hard and asked God only for directions.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:1-6

    Paul requires a church to judge sin in its own ranks — what Benjamin refused to do.

  • Matthew 18:15-17

    The process Jesus gives for confronting sin, designed to prevent exactly this escalation.

  • Galatians 6:1

    Restore in meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. The missing posture in Judges 20.