"If the LORD delights in a person's way, He makes their steps firm; though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD upholds them with His hand." (Psalm 37:23,24)

The Grand Narrative: (Judges 1, 2) “The Cycle”

(Judges 1, 2) “The Cycle”

Published 13 October 2025

Scroll down for “Lessons Learned…”

Designed for Personal Bible Study or for Bible Teaching

⚠️ Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Mistakes

  • 1️⃣ Failing to prepare a successor after Joshua’s death (Judg 1:1).
  • 2️⃣ Neglecting to teach the next generation what the LORD had done (Judg 2:10).
  • 3️⃣ Partial obedience in driving out idolatrous nations (Judg 1:27–36).
  • 4️⃣ Forgetting covenant history and God’s mighty deliverance (Judg 2:1–3).
  • 5️⃣ Letting spiritual apathy open the door to idolatry (Judg 2:11–13).

💥 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Failures

  • 1️⃣ Failure to finish the mission God gave—settling for comfort (Judg 1:27–33).
  • 2️⃣ Failure to honor the Tabernacle as Israel’s spiritual center (Judg 2:1–5).
  • 3️⃣ Failure to guard hearts against neighboring cultures and gods (Judg 2:11–13).
  • 4️⃣ Failure to respond to discipline with repentance (Judg 2:14–15).
  • 5️⃣ Failure to remember after each deliverance—returning to sin (Judg 2:19).

🚫 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Sins

  • 1️⃣ Idolatry—serving Baal and Ashtaroth (Judg 2:11–13).
  • 2️⃣ Rebellion against God’s covenant (Judg 2:20).
  • 3️⃣ Complacency after deliverance (Judg 2:19).
  • 4️⃣ Trusting in military alliances instead of God (Judg 1:3).
  • 5️⃣ Unbelief—refusing to believe God could sustain them without idols (Judg 2:17–19).

🏆 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Successes

  • 1️⃣ God’s faithfulness despite Israel’s failure—He raised judges (Judg 2:16).
  • 2️⃣ The cycle itself reveals God’s patience and mercy (Judg 2:18).
  • 3️⃣ Deliverance always came through God’s Spirit, not human strength (Judg 2:18).
  • 4️⃣ Each judge stood as a temporary bridge to grace (Judg 2:16–18).
  • 5️⃣ God preserved His covenant people through discipline and rescue (Judg 2:20–23).

🌱 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Spiritual Growth Lessons

  • 1️⃣ Remember God’s works or risk forgetting His worth (Judg 2:10).
  • 2️⃣ Repent quickly when disciplined (Judg 2:15).
  • 3️⃣ Thank God for every second chance (Judg 2:16).
  • 4️⃣ Guard against spiritual apathy—sin grows quietly before it controls (Judg 2:11–12).
  • 5️⃣ Break the cycle by choosing daily faithfulness (Judg 2:19).

🧭 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Leadership Principles

  • 1️⃣ Plan succession before transition—train faithful leaders (Judg 1:1).
  • 2️⃣ Keep Scripture central so each generation knows the LORD (Judg 2:10).
  • 3️⃣ Address sin early to prevent national collapse (Judg 2:11–13).
  • 4️⃣ Raise righteous leaders who call people back to God (Judg 2:16–18).
  • 5️⃣ Lead through cycles with hope—God’s mercy outlasts failure (Judg 2:18).