Judges

I. First impressions

1.1)What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

Concerning the authorship of this book"Judges", the book of Nelson's Bible Maps and Charts says as "It's likely that Samuel or one of his contemporaries complied this book from oral and written sources". It means that the original reader was Samuel's contemporaries.
But, in the last verse of this book(Ch.21:25), we can find a little different clue. It's written as "In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." This verse concludes the meaning that the original readers have a king,so they are living in different way from their prior generation. So, we can guess that the original reader was the Israelites who lived after Samuel's death under the King's reign-Saul or David around 1000 BC. 
They should have been heard about their ancestors' pattern of rebellion,punishment,repentance,deliverance,and rebellion again after the judge's death. So, they must be very loyal and follow to their king well.

1.2)What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

As upper said, the author probably can be Samuel or one of his contemporaries, or in my opinion-one of Saul or David's contemporaries.

1.3)Main themes, repeated ideas and main idea:

The Israelites did not show a strong and lasting loyalty to the Lord. The book describes how the behavior of the people of Israel followed a pattern: The people disobeyed the Lord and worshiped other god=> the Lord allowed Israel's enemies to punish them=> the people cried out to the Lord=> the Lord chooses a judge to lead the people in battle against their enemies=> and when a judge die, the cycle begins again(Ch.2:10~19).
So, the main theme is that the people so easily and repeatedly forget the Lord and disobey Him, but the Lord is always ready to hear their prayer and forgive them.

1.4)What is the primary reason this book was written?

According to the book of SOURCVIEW, it's to the people of Israel, to recount the stories of Israel's heroes(Judges) and to give the nation's history prior to the time it became a kingdom.
While, I regard that this book was written to educate the people not to disobey the Lord and obey their king.

II. Theme Tracing

2.1)What does this book show about the Character and Nature of God?

We can find God's character of tolerance and mercy.
Even though they often abandoned the Lord, the Lord did not give up on them. And saved them as the Ch.3:7~9 "The Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight.~But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord raised up a rescuer to save them."

2.2)What does this book show you about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

During the period of the Judges, the Israelites showed how the human being is frail in faith. And, through these stories, we can understand why the temporary deliverers couldn't save the people perfectly, and it reveals that eternal Savior is needed for a perfect redemption.

III. Application

3.1)Personal application:

I know I am not different from the Israelites during the time of the Judges. Whenever I am headed with difficulties, I repent and cry out to the Lord to have mercy on me and help me. But, as soon as the difficulties go away, so easily I forget the Lord and return to the old life style. So as not to repeat this stupidity, I have to keep going to read the Bible everyday without exception.

3.2)Point of Passion Assignment

I want to be an evidence of living God to unbelievers. For this, I have to show them my stable faith in any situations. So as to be solid like a trees planted along the river, I have to dip my head into the bible,God's words at all the time and in anywhere.    -end-