One of the most haunting books in the Hebrew Bible, Judges chronicles a dark period in Israel’s history. Prone to stray, Judges exposes the frailty of the human condition and how easily mankind wanders from God.Though a cycle of sin leading to oppression, requiring God to miraculously redeem not only repeats but spirals in an overtly downward trajectory throughout the course of the book, certain characters emerge as beacons of hope. Among them are Deborah and Gideon. Still others, like Samson, represent the complexity of a narrative that features flawed people crying out to a Holy God.The Book of Judges is ultimately an unsettling read but therein lies the purpose. God’s children are repeatedly shown to have forgotten their history, strayed from their covenant, and abandoned justice. The book of Judges demonstrates the consequences of a life void of true leadership and the author’s message is clear.