Introduction: time frame—1374 B.C. till 1074 B.C.
The nation of Israel, during the Revival Under Joshua, renewed their covenant with God. Then after two generations there arose another generation which “knew not the Lord” (Judges 2:10), and “the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord (Judges 2:11).

Judges 2:7-19 gives us an outline of what took place throughout the Book of Judges, as well as an outline of what took place throughout the history of the nation of Israel. That same outline has been repeated through the history of the Church, right up to this present day. It is a cycle of repeated apostasies and revivals. Nehemiah described the cycle like this:

But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time (Nehemiah 9:28).

Illustration of the cycle Nehemiah observed,
seen repeatedly in the book of Judges

1. God calls people to partner with Him on a mission for global redemption.
2. God’s people depart from that commitment and follow self-centered desires.
3. God sends a prophet to warn His people that disaster awaits them if they don’t turn.
4. Almost every time, God’s people reject the warning and the messenger.
5. God disciplines His people for their benefit.
6. God’s people, in desperation, turn from their self-centeredness and pray for deliverance.
7. God raises a deliverer, judge, prophet, or revivalist.
8. Renewing of relationship with God takes place—a return to normality of partnering with God for global redemption.

List of 8 Cycles of Apostasies and Revivals in the Book of Judges

The Book of Judges lists eight apostasies, with their judge, or the individual the Lord raised to deliver the people from their oppressors. In addition to those eight, there were several other judges listed, but little information is given to us about the extent of their work.

FIRST Cycle of Apostasy and Revival: Judges 3:7-11
► Israel departed from God—Judges 3:6-7
► God’s method of discipline: oppression by Mesopotamia (Aram) for 8 years—Judges 3:8
► Israel called out to God for deliverance—Judges 3:9
► Name of the deliverer, or judge: Othniel—Judges 3:9
► Duration of time the revival brought peace: 40 years—Judges 3:11

Ehud, pulling out his dagger to kill the Moabite king, Eglon

SECOND Cycle of Apostasy and Revival: Judges 3:12-30
► Israel departed from God—Judges 3:12
► God’s method of discipline: oppression by Moab, Ammon, and Amalek for 18 years—Judges 3:12-14
► Israel called out to God for deliverance—Judges 3:15
► Name of the deliverer, or judge: Ehud—Judges 3:15
► Duration of time the revival brought peace: 80 years—Judges 3:30

THIRD Cycle of Apostasy and Revival: Judges 3:31
Though this cycle of apostasy and revival is all contained in one verse, that verse has sufficient information to let us know that:
1. There was oppression from the Philistines.
2. There was a deliverer: Shamgar.
3. There was deliverance.

With the brief amount of information in Judges 3:31, when compared with the other cycles of apostasy and revival throughout the Book of Judges, we can have confidence that this instance followed the same pattern.

Prophetess Deborah

FOURTH Cycle of Apostasy and Revival: Judges 4:1-24; 5:1-31
► Israel departed from God—Judges 4:1
► God’s method of discipline: oppression by Canaanites for 20 years—Judges 4:2-3
► Israel called out to God for deliverance—Judges 4:3
► Name of the deliverer, judge, and prophet: Deborah & Barak—Judges 4:4-9
► Duration of time the revival brought peace: 40 years—Judges 5:31

Gideon, selecting his 300 soldiers

FIFTH Cycle of Apostasy and Revival: Judges 6:1-40; 7:1-25; 8:1-31
► Israel departed from God—Judges 6:1
► God’s method of discipline: oppression by Midian for 7 years—Judges 6:1
► Israel called out to God for deliverance—Judges 6:6-7
► God used an unnamed prophet to call the people back to himself—Judges 6:8-10
► Name of the deliverer, or judge: Gideon—Judges 6:11-16
► Duration of time the revival brought peace: 40 years—Judges 8:28

Death of Abimelech (piece of a millstone struck his head)

SIXTH Cycle Apostasy and Revival: Judges 8:32-35; 9:1-57; 10:1-5
► Israel departed from God—Judges 8:33-35
► Following this departure from obedience to God, civil strife occurred—Judges 9:1-57
► Abimelech, though not a defender, nor considered a judge, reigned over Israel for 3 years—Judges 9:22

Though there is no mention that Israel called out to God for deliverance, by observing the other cycles of revival in the Book of Judges, we can safely assume that there was a turning to God, and revival occurred. This assumption is made by noticing two other defenders and judges who emerged following Abimelech:
•… Tola, who defended and judged Israel for 23 years—Judges 10:1-2
•… Jair, who judged Israel for 22 years—Judges 10:3-5

Judges and their locations 

SEVENTH Cycle of Apostasy and Revival: Judges 10:6-18; 11:1-40; 12:1-15
► Israel departed from God—Judges 10:6
► God’s method of discipline: oppression by Philistines and Ammonites for 18 years—Judges 10:7-9
► Israel called out to God for deliverance—Judges 10:10-16
► Name of the deliverer, or judge: Jephthah—Judges 11:5-6
► Duration of time the revival brought peace: 6 years—Judges 12:7

There is no record of further apostasy, but there is a succession of 3 judges following Jephthah:
•… Ibzan, judged Israel 7 years—Judges 12:8
•… Elon, judged Israel 10 years—Judges 12:11
•… Abdon, judged Israel 8 years—Judges 12:13-14

Samson, pulling down the pagan temple

EIGHTH Cycle of Apostasy and Revival: Judges 13:1-25; 14:1-20; 15:1-20; 16:1-31
► Israel departed from God—Judges 13:1
► God’s method of discipline: oppression by the Philistines for 40 years—Judges 13:1
► There is no mention of Israel calling out to God for deliverance, but from the pattern in the other cycles of apostasy/revival, we can be assured that this did happen.
► Name of the deliverer, or judge: Samson—Judges 15:20
► We never see total deliverance from all Philistine oppression, but Samson did judge the nation for 20 years—Judges 15:20; 16:31

The cycle of apostasy/revival, illustrated in the Book of Judges, can be seen repeated many times over throughout Church history, right up to this current day. You can read of this cycle taking place in the many revival stories we have written.

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Chet & Phyllis Swearingen:
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