What is the cycle of rise and fall in the book of Judges?
The book of Judges records Israel's repeated rise and fall: the people sank into sin and rebellion, cried out for help, and God raised up a judge to deliver them. They remained spiritual for a while, then fell again. This cycle repeats throughout the book, ending with no king and everyone doing right in his own eyes.
Les teaches that the book of Judges is the account of Israel's rise and fall, rise and fall. Israel would go down to the very depths of sin and rebellion and cry out for help, and then God would raise up a judge who would bring them out of it. They would be rather spiritual for a while, and then all of a sudden down they would go again. That is the whole account of the book. As the book ends, Judges 21:25 says, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Les explains that this was almost anarchy and a spiritual famine, and Israel was destitute because there was nothing to guide them. He sees this as fitting the present day as well.