The book of Judges focuses on the people of Israel before they had a king. The judges that God sent to the Israelites helped lead them to victory, but their leadership was always temporary. During this time, the people of Israel repeated cycles of sinful choices and repentance, always going back to sin and not being faithful to God.

Do What's Right in God's Eyes

The book of Judges talks about the people of Israel doing what was right in their own eyes while they had no king. They did what felt right to them when determining what was right and wrong rather than relying on the word of God.

As you get older, you're likely used to doing things a certain way. Your habits develop over time and might be based on what you think is right. The modern world can make it difficult to follow God's word and know what's right in his eyes.

Now is a good time to reflect on how your habits, actions and beliefs align with God's word. Are you doing what's right in your eyes or in God's eyes? Changing how you behave and what you believe is never easy, but drawing closer to God and studying his word can help you follow his will instead of doing what you think is right. Spending more time in prayer can also help you understand how to follow what God wants you to do.

Flawed People Can Do Great Things

The judges led the people of Israel to victory and helped them overcome the situations they faced, but they weren't perfect. The judges were flawed and were sinners, yet God still chose them to help the Israelites because they were faithful. They did good things for the people of Israel, even if only temporarily. If you reflect on your life and feel like your sins are overwhelming, it's important to remember you can still do good in the world and be faithful to God.

Failures Can Teach You

When you read the book of Judges, you notice the cycle of sin with many repeated mistakes and failures. Everyone experiences those failures in life, but this part of the Bible can serve as a reminder to learn from those mistakes.

As a senior, you might feel like it's too late to change your ways or that you can't overcome your past failures. However, you can always learn from past mistakes by looking at what happened and where you went wrong. Strengthening your faith in God and learning more about his word can also help you learn how to overcome past failures.

Following Through With God's Commands Is Important

God told the Israelites to drive out all the people of Canaan, but they failed to follow through on this command. The remaining people of Canaan became a temptation and led to more problems for the Israelites. It's not always easy to listen to God, especially if he tells you to do something that's challenging. But following his commands is so important. When you don't follow through, you're failing to obey him. You'll likely feel stuck, face more obstacles and not get as far as you could by obeying God's commands.

Walk With God Consistently

The sin and repentance cycle you see during the period of the judges is a familiar one. It's easy to judge the Israelites for their sins and failing to follow through on God's commands, but it's something people still do in their lives.

This section of the Bible is a reminder that you need to consistently and intentionally walk with God because of your sins. The Israelites' relationship with God deteriorates throughout this book, which shows how ignoring your relationship with God can make your life deteriorate as well. It's important to work on your relationship with the Lord throughout your life, even as an older adult. It's never too late to strengthen your walk with God so he can help guide you through life.

God Helps You Overcome

No matter how many times the Israelites sinned and were unfaithful, God was still there for them when they repented. He helped them win against enemies that seemed unconquerable. The book of Judges is a reminder of how gracious God is, but it's also a reminder that God doesn't let sin go unpunished. Being faithful to God is a core message in this part of the Bible. For seniors, this lesson shows that you still have time to repent and be faithful to God, no matter what has happened in the past. When you're faithful, God will help you overcome any enemy you face.

People Need Something Greater

The judges helped the people of Israel in the short term, but they weren't able to affect long-term change. The Israelites continued to sin and repent. Once a judge died, the people went back to their own ways. This is a good reminder that human leaders are only temporary — something greater is necessary. It's a reminder that you should keep God as your focus instead of worldly possessions or people you idolize.