Yesterday we had a little fun with the OT. Here are the answers from the passage. Make sure to refresh your memory by rereading the passage from Hebrews before looking at the answers below.

Barak: Judges 4. Warrior who fought at Deborah’s request, albeit reluctantly. As a result, she told him that his military victory would be credited to a woman. This would have been scandalous in that culture.

Gideon: Judges 6. Questioned the LORD when called to fight the Midians (“Is the LORD with us or not?). He ultimately delivered but had to be “persuaded” by the Lord.

Jephthah: Judges 11. Mighty warrior, son of a prostitute who fell from his family’s graces and had to flee from them. Was called to deliver the Israelites from the Ammonites, which he did.

Samson: Judges 13-16. Was a Nazirite of God, but not exactly a paradigm of virtue. Delivered the Israelites from the Philistines but eventually was undone by his penchant for women.

In each case, the person was considered faithful to God despite his doubts and/or character flaws, and each was considered a prophet (as were Samuel and David). The bottom line was that each delivered for Israel when called to do so. Read each of their stories by clicking the links above. They are most edifying.

Conquered kingdoms through faith: Primarily David (2 Samuel 5:6-25; 8:1-14; 10:1-19; 12:26-31).

Administered justice through faith: Primarily David (e.g., 2 Samuel 12:3-5) and Solomon (e.g., 1 Kings 3: 9, 12, 16-28).

Shut the mouths of Lions: Daniel in the lions den (Daniel 6).

Quenched the fury of the flames: Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3).

Escaped the edge of the sword: See, e.g., David (1 Samuel 17:45-49); Elijah (2 Kings 1); Elisha (2 Kings 6:31); Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:7-24).

Weakness turned to strength: See, e.g., Samson (Judges 16:21-30); Hannah (1 Samuel 1); Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6-10).

Women who received back their dead: The widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24); the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8-36).

Tortured: Reminiscent of the Maccabean Jewish patriots of second century BC.

Faced jeers and flogging: See, e.g., Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:2, 7-8).

Faced chains and imprisonment: See, e.g., Jeremiah (Jeremiah 37:15-16).

Stoned to death: See, e.g., Zechariah, son of Jehoida the priest (2 Chronicles 24:21)

Sawed in two: Perhaps Isaiah, who, according to legend, met this kind of death under King Manasseh .

In each case, the person’s faith allowed him/her to persevere, if not overcome, the worst that life can offer. Yet the author of Hebrews tells us that none of them received what had been promised (Christ). Despite this, they were blessed by the Holy Spirit and acted faithfully, despite their individual character flaws, e.g., Jeremiah was the reluctant prophet, Elijah’s discouragement, etc. These were real people, folks, (check out their individual stories and be edified).

So how did you do?