Come Follow Me: Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16 — When You Keep Starting Over, God Keeps Showing Up

Have you ever wondered why you keep fighting the same spiritual battle after you already repented?

Come Follow Me this week (May 25–31) takes us into a book where the same pattern repeats, and mercy keeps arriving anyway. This Come Follow Me lesson in Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16 meets real life: the part where we try again, slip again, and still reach for the Lord.

If you are using a Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16 study guide, let this article serve as a companion. It is written for Come Follow Me 2026 Week 22, with a focus on what to notice and how to apply it at home.

What Is Come Follow Me Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16 About?

Judges shows Israel living through a cycle of covenant forgetfulness and rescue. The Lord’s people drift, suffer the consequences, cry to God, and receive a deliverer.

In Come Follow Me Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16, that cycle is not background noise. It is the message, and it helps us name our own patterns without giving up.

• The cycle is stated plainly in Judges 2:17, 19, where Israel refuses to listen and “ceased not from their own doings.”
• The Lord’s mercy repeats too, as we read: “the Lord raised up a deliverer” when the people cried (see Judges 3:9 and Judges 3:15).
• Three judges become case studies:
• Deborah (Judges 4) shows faith that strengthens others.
• Gideon (Judges 6–8) learns to trust the Lord’s way of saving.
• Samson (Judges 13–16) shows covenant strength gained and then traded away.

If you have ever felt stuck in “repent, improve, relapse,” Judges does not shame you. It tells the truth about the struggle and also tells the truth about the Lord’s willingness to deliver.

Key Themes in Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16

These chapters give a handful of themes you can carry into prayer, family discussion, and sacrament preparation.

1) The Cycle of Forgetting, Consequences, and Deliverance

Judges 2 reads like a spiritual diagnosis. Israel forgets the Lord, blends in with surrounding worship, and loses protection.

The cycle shows up in Judges 2:17–19 with painful clarity. They turn to other gods, return to stubborn habits, and repeat the same collapse.

• Read Judges 2:17 and ask: Where do I “bow” my attention, time, or appetite?
• Read Judges 2:19 and ask: What pattern do I keep calling “just my personality” that is actually a spiritual rut?

The hope sits right next to the warning. When Israel cried, the Lord acted, and that is stated more than once (see Judges 3:9 and Judges 3:15).

And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel. (Judges 3:9)

2) Deborah and Courage that Lends Courage

Deborah leads without pretending the threat is small. In Judges 4:3, Israel faces oppression backed by “nine hundred chariots of iron,” and the people cry to the Lord.

Deborah’s leadership includes a faith-filled reminder at the moment it matters. She tells Barak, “Is not the Lord gone out before thee?” (see Judges 4:14).

• Faith can sound like a question that re-centers someone’s focus.
• Spiritual leadership can be calm and direct, especially when others feel outmatched.

Consider pairing Judges 4:14 with the Lord’s promise in Doctrine and Covenants 84:88, which echoes the same idea: the Lord goes before His servants and supports them on every side.

3) Gideon and the Lord’s Uncomfortable Methods

Gideon’s story helps anyone who wants God’s help but also wants to feel in control. The Lord calls Gideon, then reduces his army, then delivers Israel in a way that removes bragging rights.

The reason is stated in Judges 7:2. The Lord says the people are “too many,” because Israel might claim, “Mine own hand hath saved me.”

And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. (Judges 7:2)

• The Lord sometimes answers prayers in ways that strip away self-congratulation.
• Weakness can become a setting where the Lord’s power is easier to recognize.

For personal study, sit with this question: Where am I asking for a miracle, but also asking to keep the credit?

4) Samson and Covenant Strength that Can Be Traded Away

Samson begins with promise. His birth is tied to a mission, “he shall begin to deliver Israel” (see Judges 13:5).

But Samson also shows how covenant strength can be worn down through repeated choices. A key phrase appears early: “pleaseth me well” (see Judges 14:3), and the storyline keeps moving “down” in direction and desire (see Judges 14:7).

• Samson’s problem is not lack of potential.
• His problem is habitual compromise, where appetite starts leading and covenants start following.

For family discussion, it helps to say it plainly: God gives strength, and we can give it away. Samson’s story is a warning, and it is also a reminder that the Lord still hears prayers, even late in the story (see Judges 16:28).

Discussion Questions for Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16

These questions work for Sunday School, youth discussion, or a home evening circle.

1. In Judges 2:19, what does it look like today to “cease not” from a stubborn way, even after consequences show up?
2. In Judges 3:9 and 3:15, what do you learn about the Lord from the repeated phrase “the Lord raised up a deliverer”?
3. In Judges 4:14, Deborah asks, “Is not the Lord gone out before thee?” When have you needed that reminder, and what would it change for you right now?
4. In Judges 7:2, why does the Lord care about Israel taking credit? How does that apply to blessings in your family?
5. In Judges 14:3, Samson follows what “pleaseth” him. What helps you tell the difference between a good desire and a dangerous one?
6. In Judges 16:28, Samson prays again. What does that teach you about turning back to God after a long drift?

How to Teach Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16

Kids and teens often connect to Judges because the stories are vivid, but they also need help finding the gospel center.

• For children, keep it simple: “When we forget God, we get weaker. When we pray and obey, God helps us.” Use Judges 7:2 to talk about giving God credit.
• For youth, talk about identity and influence. Deborah strengthens others (see Judges 4:14), Gideon learns humility (see Judges 7:2), and Samson shows how repeated choices shape a life (see Judges 14:3).
• For families, choose one judge to focus on, then ask: Where do we see Jesus Christ’s rescuing mercy reflected in this story? Keep answers short and personal.

If you are teaching multiple ages, read one anchor verse together, then let each person share one sentence about what they notice.

Explore This Week's Full Study Guide

If you want more help with Come Follow Me Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16, the Gospel Study App can carry your study from quick reading to meaningful change.

• Read the chapters with linked cross-references and mark Judges 2:19, Judges 4:14, Judges 7:2, and Judges 16:28 for easy review.
• Use the app to write a one-line takeaway each day for May 25–31, then revisit it before Sunday.
• Build a simple family plan around one theme: deliverance, trust, or covenant strength.

Open the Gospel Study App and dive into the full Come Follow Me Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16 resources, so your week stays connected to the Lord who keeps raising up deliverance.