Hebrews 11:32-12:2
Lesson 432
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this lesson:
More heroes from "faith's hall of fame."
The Christian race (12:1-2).
This lesson ends the segment on the superiority of faith (New Covenant) over the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic Law (Old Covenant) that began with verse 11:1 (lesson 430).
David slays Goliath.
By the Flemish artist and diplomat Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).
By the Flemish artist and diplomat Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).
Who was -
Gedeon -
Sometimes called Gedeon or Jerubbaal (Judges 7:1; 8:35). Gideon was the son of Joash the Abiezrite (Judges 6:11) from the Jewish tribe of Manasseh. He was a farmer, military leader, Israel's fifth ruling judge, and a Jewish Hero of Faith. For seven years, Israel was under the cruel thumb of Midian. The Midianites destroyed Israel's crops, stole their livestock, and drove many Israelites into the mountains and caves (Judges 6:1-6). God tested Gideon's faith by asking him to defy Midian, his fearful father, and an entire city by tearing down an altar to the Midianite's pagan god Baal (Judges 6:25-30). Despite the prospect of punishment, Gideon obeyed God and destroyed the pagan altar. Soon after, with a force of only three hundred men and his faith in God, Gideon used a clever ruse to defeat an army of one hundred and thirty thousand Midianites and Amalekites. Despite this great victory, Gideon refused to be made king. His story can be found in Judges 6:1-8:35.
Barak -
Barak was the son of Abinoam of Kadesh. God led him through the prophetess Deborah to defeat the cruel King Jabin and the Canaanites in battle (Judges 4:6-8; 4:16), thus freeing Israel from twenty years of oppression (Judges 4:1-3). Armed with his faith in God, Barak marched his ten thousand-man army against Jabin's much larger force. His trust in God made him a Jewish Hero of Faith. He is celebrated in the "song of Deborah and Barak" (Judges 5).
Samson -
Samson was the son of Manoah of Zorah from the Hebrew tribe of Dan. He was a Jewish warrior, a ruling judge of Israel (circa 1070 BC), and a Hero of Faith, well known for his incredible feats of strength (Judges 14:5-6). To remain spiritually pure, devout Jews took the Nazarite vow to abstain from wine and alcohol, not to cut their hair, or come into contact with the dead for a set period of time (Numbers 6:2-8). Samson is the first lifelong Nazarite mentioned in the Bible (Judges 13:2-7). Samson became famous for his exploits against the Philistines, but he was eventually betrayed by Delilah, the woman he loved. She cut his long hair as he slept. This violated Samson's vow not to cut his hair and took away his God-given strength. The Philistines captured Samson, put out his eyes, and imprisoned him (Judges 16:18:21). In time, Samson's hair grew, and he used his renewed strength to bring down a pagan temple, killing three thousand Philistines and himself. You can read more about Samson and how he died in Judges 13:1-16:31.
Jephthae -
Also called Jephthah (Judges 11:1). Jephthae was a warrior from Gilead and the ninth ruling judge of Israel (Judges 12:7). He became a Jewish Hero of Faith when he trusted God's promise to give Israel the land of Canaan. Rejected as a youth because he was illegitimate, he was driven from his home by his father's heirs. Jephthae survived as a carpetbagger in Tob, part of Syria. He was moved to battle the Amorites, who had oppressed Hebrews for eighteen years. Jephthae promised God that in return for His help in defeating the Amorites, he would sacrifice the first thing that came through his front door when he returned home (Judges 11:30-31). That ended up being his daughter and only child (Judges 11:30-41). Bible scholars disagree whether Jephthae kept his vow and sacrificed his daughter. Later, Jephthae defeated the Ephraimites in battle. The rest of Jephthae's six-year rule (BC 1105-1099) was mostly peaceful. Jephthae's story can be found in Judges 11:1-12:7.
David -
David was a Jewish prophet, poet, the author of about eighty Psalms in "The Book of Psalms," the second and greatest king of Israel, and an ancestor of Jesus. He is mentioned 1,118 times in the Bible. The son of Jesse, David was born in Bethlehem and spent his early years as a poet and simple shepherd until he was invited to play the harp for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23). Meeting King Saul and eventually becoming his armor-bearer changed David's life forever. At about the age of twenty, David killed Goliath of Gath in battle (1 Samuel 17:1-58), became a leader of Israel's army, and married King Saul's daughter, Michal. In time, David's popularity forced him to flee from a jealous Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-16) to the land of the Philistines. David lived as a fugitive for years. After Saul and: his son Ishbosheth (heir to the throne) passed away, David returned to become king of Judah and eventually all of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5). David possessed excellent leadership skills (1 Samuel 22:2), and ushered in a golden era for Israel. He led Israel to victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 8:1), Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2), Syrians (2 Samuel 8:5-6), Edomites (2 Samuel 8:14), Ammonites, Amalekites, and others. David established a sound civil government, and his forty-year reign (2 Samuel 5:4) was known for its fairness. God called David "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), and although David sinned many times, he always repented and was forgiven. When David died at seventy (2 Samuel 5:4), his son Solomon became Israel's third king. God promised that "all nations" would be blessed through David's family. That blessing was one of King David's descendants, Jesus Christ (Acts 2:29-30). "The Gospel According to Matthew" opens with Jesus' genealogy to prove He was that descendant (Matthew 1:1-1:16) and thus fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies. David's story can be found in 1 Samuel 16:1-31:13, 2 Samuel 1:1-18:33,2 Samuel 19:1-1 Kings 2:46.
Samuel -
Hebrew for "asked of God." Samuel was a Levite and the son of Elkanah and Hannah, who prayed for a son (1 Samuel 1:1-11). Samuel was the first prophet after Moses (I Samuel 3:20), a priest (1 Samuel 7:9), a lifetime Nazarite (1 Samuel 1:11), and the last of the judges to rule Israel (1 Samuel 7:15-17). Samuel lived in the 11th century BC and urged Israel to pray, repent, forsake idolatry, and "serve the Lord with all your heart." When the Philistines attacked Israel, Samuel prayed for deliverance. God sent a tremendous thunderstorm which threw the Philistines into confusion and defeat. With the insistence of the people (1 Samuel 8:4-5) and guidance from God (1 Samuel 9:15-17), Samuel ended the era of ruling judges by appointing Saul the first king of Israel (1 Samuel 11:15). Saul helped make Israel a strong and prosperous nation but eventually lost favor. God knew Saul would be a poor king, but granted Israel's wish (1 Samuel 8:10-22). You can read more about Samuel in 1 Samuel 1:20-28:25.
Gedeon -
Sometimes called Gedeon or Jerubbaal (Judges 7:1; 8:35). Gideon was the son of Joash the Abiezrite (Judges 6:11) from the Jewish tribe of Manasseh. He was a farmer, military leader, Israel's fifth ruling judge, and a Jewish Hero of Faith. For seven years, Israel was under the cruel thumb of Midian. The Midianites destroyed Israel's crops, stole their livestock, and drove many Israelites into the mountains and caves (Judges 6:1-6). God tested Gideon's faith by asking him to defy Midian, his fearful father, and an entire city by tearing down an altar to the Midianite's pagan god Baal (Judges 6:25-30). Despite the prospect of punishment, Gideon obeyed God and destroyed the pagan altar. Soon after, with a force of only three hundred men and his faith in God, Gideon used a clever ruse to defeat an army of one hundred and thirty thousand Midianites and Amalekites. Despite this great victory, Gideon refused to be made king. His story can be found in Judges 6:1-8:35.
Barak -
Barak was the son of Abinoam of Kadesh. God led him through the prophetess Deborah to defeat the cruel King Jabin and the Canaanites in battle (Judges 4:6-8; 4:16), thus freeing Israel from twenty years of oppression (Judges 4:1-3). Armed with his faith in God, Barak marched his ten thousand-man army against Jabin's much larger force. His trust in God made him a Jewish Hero of Faith. He is celebrated in the "song of Deborah and Barak" (Judges 5).
Samson -
Samson was the son of Manoah of Zorah from the Hebrew tribe of Dan. He was a Jewish warrior, a ruling judge of Israel (circa 1070 BC), and a Hero of Faith, well known for his incredible feats of strength (Judges 14:5-6). To remain spiritually pure, devout Jews took the Nazarite vow to abstain from wine and alcohol, not to cut their hair, or come into contact with the dead for a set period of time (Numbers 6:2-8). Samson is the first lifelong Nazarite mentioned in the Bible (Judges 13:2-7). Samson became famous for his exploits against the Philistines, but he was eventually betrayed by Delilah, the woman he loved. She cut his long hair as he slept. This violated Samson's vow not to cut his hair and took away his God-given strength. The Philistines captured Samson, put out his eyes, and imprisoned him (Judges 16:18:21). In time, Samson's hair grew, and he used his renewed strength to bring down a pagan temple, killing three thousand Philistines and himself. You can read more about Samson and how he died in Judges 13:1-16:31.
Jephthae -
Also called Jephthah (Judges 11:1). Jephthae was a warrior from Gilead and the ninth ruling judge of Israel (Judges 12:7). He became a Jewish Hero of Faith when he trusted God's promise to give Israel the land of Canaan. Rejected as a youth because he was illegitimate, he was driven from his home by his father's heirs. Jephthae survived as a carpetbagger in Tob, part of Syria. He was moved to battle the Amorites, who had oppressed Hebrews for eighteen years. Jephthae promised God that in return for His help in defeating the Amorites, he would sacrifice the first thing that came through his front door when he returned home (Judges 11:30-31). That ended up being his daughter and only child (Judges 11:30-41). Bible scholars disagree whether Jephthae kept his vow and sacrificed his daughter. Later, Jephthae defeated the Ephraimites in battle. The rest of Jephthae's six-year rule (BC 1105-1099) was mostly peaceful. Jephthae's story can be found in Judges 11:1-12:7.
David -
David was a Jewish prophet, poet, the author of about eighty Psalms in "The Book of Psalms," the second and greatest king of Israel, and an ancestor of Jesus. He is mentioned 1,118 times in the Bible. The son of Jesse, David was born in Bethlehem and spent his early years as a poet and simple shepherd until he was invited to play the harp for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23). Meeting King Saul and eventually becoming his armor-bearer changed David's life forever. At about the age of twenty, David killed Goliath of Gath in battle (1 Samuel 17:1-58), became a leader of Israel's army, and married King Saul's daughter, Michal. In time, David's popularity forced him to flee from a jealous Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-16) to the land of the Philistines. David lived as a fugitive for years. After Saul and: his son Ishbosheth (heir to the throne) passed away, David returned to become king of Judah and eventually all of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5). David possessed excellent leadership skills (1 Samuel 22:2), and ushered in a golden era for Israel. He led Israel to victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 8:1), Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2), Syrians (2 Samuel 8:5-6), Edomites (2 Samuel 8:14), Ammonites, Amalekites, and others. David established a sound civil government, and his forty-year reign (2 Samuel 5:4) was known for its fairness. God called David "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), and although David sinned many times, he always repented and was forgiven. When David died at seventy (2 Samuel 5:4), his son Solomon became Israel's third king. God promised that "all nations" would be blessed through David's family. That blessing was one of King David's descendants, Jesus Christ (Acts 2:29-30). "The Gospel According to Matthew" opens with Jesus' genealogy to prove He was that descendant (Matthew 1:1-1:16) and thus fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies. David's story can be found in 1 Samuel 16:1-31:13, 2 Samuel 1:1-18:33,2 Samuel 19:1-1 Kings 2:46.
Samuel -
Hebrew for "asked of God." Samuel was a Levite and the son of Elkanah and Hannah, who prayed for a son (1 Samuel 1:1-11). Samuel was the first prophet after Moses (I Samuel 3:20), a priest (1 Samuel 7:9), a lifetime Nazarite (1 Samuel 1:11), and the last of the judges to rule Israel (1 Samuel 7:15-17). Samuel lived in the 11th century BC and urged Israel to pray, repent, forsake idolatry, and "serve the Lord with all your heart." When the Philistines attacked Israel, Samuel prayed for deliverance. God sent a tremendous thunderstorm which threw the Philistines into confusion and defeat. With the insistence of the people (1 Samuel 8:4-5) and guidance from God (1 Samuel 9:15-17), Samuel ended the era of ruling judges by appointing Saul the first king of Israel (1 Samuel 11:15). Saul helped make Israel a strong and prosperous nation but eventually lost favor. God knew Saul would be a poor king, but granted Israel's wish (1 Samuel 8:10-22). You can read more about Samuel in 1 Samuel 1:20-28:25.
Study Tip:
Use the investigative journalist's five W's approach when you study the Bible.
Ask yourself who, what, when, where, and why as you read.
Use the investigative journalist's five W's approach when you study the Bible.
Ask yourself who, what, when, where, and why as you read.