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THE BOOK OF
JUDGES
INTRODUCTION
»Front Matter
Contents:
Author
Date
To Whom Written
Purpose
Special Features
AUTHOR: unknown. Perhaps Samuel or a contemporary of Samuel such as the prophets Nathan and Gad. All three were men of God, prophets who did record some of Israel's history and also served during the reign of King David (1 Chronicles 29:29).
DATE: most likely about 1050-1000 BC. Internal evidence supports this rather strongly. Sometime during the early monarchy fits best: a period between Saul being crowned the first king of Israel and David capturing Jerusalem.
1. The book was written after Joshua and the leaders who outlived him had died, and sometime after 1370 (2:7).
2. The book was written after the times of the judges. There are at least four references that show this:
⇒ "In those days there was no king in Israel" (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).
3. The very same references are strong evidence that the book was written after the monarchy had been established, after a king had begun his rule in Israel.
⇒ "In those days there was no king in Israel" (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).
4. The book was written before King David conquered Jebus or Jerusalem and drove out the Jebusites. The author actually says that the Jebusites were still living in Jerusalem "to this day"; that is, during his own day and time (1:21; 2 Samuel 5:6).
5. The book was written before the city of Gezer was given by Pharaoh to Solomon as a wedding gift (1:29; 1 Kings 9:16). The city was controlled by the Canaanites, not the Israelites, during the Judges.
TO WHOM WRITTEN: Israel in particular, but also to society and individuals everywhere. The 300-year period of the Judges was a moral outrage, a period of gross immorality, lawlessness, and violence. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes—exactly what he wanted, when he wanted, as he wanted (17:6; 21:25).
The result was tragic: the compromising, permissive lifestyle of the Israelites was doomed to destruction and chaos. There was no peace, stability, or security. There were only anxiety, danger, corruption, injustice, and death.
The Israelites living during the early days of the monarchy—during the days of the writer. They had a desperate need to learn this lesson. For this corrupt period of their history had just happened. Now it was the beginning of the monarchy, and they had to guard against slipping back into the moral cesspool of anarchy and lawlessness, of doing their own thing and living like they wanted. They must obey the law of God and the law of the king, giving their loyal support to both. The very success and survival of the government and of society depended upon their loyalty.
PURPOSE: three significant purposes can be gleaned from the Book of Judges.
1. The Historical Purpose:
a. To give the Israelites a record of the judges, of the darkest days in their history. The Israelites needed a permanent record to stand as a warning against ever slipping back into such days of anarchy and lawlessness.
b. To teach the Israelites that their government, society, security, and prosperity depended upon two things:
⇒ Their commitment to the Lord: they must obey His law, His commandments.
⇒ Their commitment to the monarchy or government: they must obey the laws of the land.
2. The Doctrinal or Spiritual Purpose:
a. To teach that a righteous leader is needed within society and government, a righteous leader who will lead and provide for God's people.
b. To teach the believer that there is a repeated cycle to a compromising, inconsistent, sinful life:
Sin ⇒ Chastisement ⇒ Distress ⇒ Prayer ⇒ Deliverance
c. To teach that God will send leaders to save and deliver His people if they will only repent and call out to Him.
3. The Christological or Christ-Centered Purpose: the great Book of Judges points to Jesus Christ...
• as the Savior and Deliverer of His people
• as the King and Righteous Leader who is so desperately needed by His people
SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Judges is "The Great Book of Israel's Judges or Deliverers." Within Israel, the task of the judge (sopet) was far more than just determining legal cases. The judge was the leader of the people, both the military and civil leader. When God raised up a person to become the judge (sopet) of His people, that person became the savior, deliverer, and liberator from some oppressor. Then, after delivering God's people from their oppressors, the judge usually became the civil leader.
There were fifteen judges altogether: thirteen are covered in the Book of Judges (counting Barak) and two are covered in 1 Samuel, Eli and Samuel. The judges were:
|Major Judges |Minor Judges |
|⇒ Othniel (3:7-11) |⇒ Shamgar (3:31) |
|⇒ Ehud (3:12-30) |⇒ Tola (10:1-2) |
|⇒ Deborah and Barak (4:1-5:31) |⇒ Jair (10:3-5) |
|⇒ Gideon (6:1-8:35) |⇒ Ibzan (12:8-10) |
|⇒ Jephthah (10:6-12:7) |⇒ Elon (12:11-12) |
|⇒ Samson (13:1-16:31) |⇒ Abdon (12:13-15) |
|⇒ Eli (1 Samuel 1:1f) | |
|⇒ Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1f) | |
2. Judges is "The Great Book That Bridges the Gap from Joshua's Death to the Dawn of the Monarchy or Rule of the Kings." This period of Israel's history was a moral outrage, a period of...
• compromise and inconsistency
• permissiveness and immorality
• lawlessness and violence
• suffering God's chastisement and brutal oppression from foreign invaders
3. Judges is "The Great Book That Exposes the Depravity and Corruption of the Human Heart" (3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1). Time and again, when God's people cried out for Him to save them, He sent a judge, a deliverer, to rescue them. But when the judge died, the people soon slipped right back into their compromising, permissive lifestyle. Their corrupted hearts were exposed: they loved this world with its...
• bright lights and pleasures
• possessions and wealth
• positions and honor
• worship and religion
The depth of moral decay is seen in cases such as gang rape, homosexuality, wife abuse, child abuse, murder, kidnapping, widespread polygamy, greed, injustice, idolatry, and civil war. (Just glance at Judges 17-21.)
4. Judges is "The Great Book That Covers the Compromising, Inconsistent Life of Believers, the Repeated Cycle Lived by So Many" (2:11-19).
|The cycle is... |Then the cycle is repeated all over |
| |again... |
|• sin |• sin |
|• chastisement |• chastisement |
|• distress |• distress |
|• prayer |• prayer |
|• deliverance |• deliverance |
5. Judges is "The Great Book That Clearly Demonstrates the Truth That God Does Chastise and Judge His People When They Continue in Sin." When the Israelites broke their commitment (covenant) to obey and follow God, He could not condone their evil behavior. He had to discipline them (3:8; 4:1-3; 6:1-5; 10:7-9; 13:1).
6. Judges is "The Great Book of History That Covers the Invasions, Conquests, and Oppressions of Israel by Foreign Powers" (3:8; 4:1-3; 6:1-5; 10:7-9; 13:1).
7. Judges is "The Great Book That Demonstrates the Power of God's Spirit When He Comes Upon a Person."
⇒ The Spirit empowered Othniel to deliver Israel (3:10).
⇒ The Spirit empowered Gideon to deliver Israel (6:34).
⇒ The Spirit empowered Jephthah to deliver Israel (11:29).
⇒ The Spirit empowered Samson with amazing strength (14:6, 19; 15:14).
8. Judges is "The Great Book That Exposes the Canaanization of the Israelites." Right after Joshua's death, the Israelites began to settle down in their inherited territories. As they built their homes, cultivated their land, and began to trade and experience some economic wealth and stability, the people lost their will to drive the Canaanites off Israel's inherited land. In fact, as they looked around at the Canaanites, the Israelites began to desire their lifestyle. Trade with the Canaanites appealed to the Israelites; so did their women and the pleasures of their social life and festivities. Soon the Israelites accepted invitations to participate in various functions with their Canaanite neighbors, and the experience was tragic. The Israelites began to compromise with them in their permissive lifestyle, even began to intermarry with them and turn to their false worship and idolatry. Down through the 300 years of the Judges, the Israelites progressively slipped into the immoral lifestyle of the Canaanites, slipped until they and their society became totally Canaanized.
JUDGES: DIVISION I
THE TRAGIC DECLINE OF ISRAEL: THE REASON GOD HAD TO RAISE UP DELIVERERS TO RESCUE HIS PEOPLE, 1:1-3:6
(1:1—3:6) DIVISION OVERVIEW—Israel, Decline of—Judges, Book of, Overview of—Failure, of Israel: the Israelites had always been nomads, a wandering people with no fixed residence. They were pilgrims, sojourners, aliens, foreigners upon earth. They had always wandered about from place to place, living in tents upon land owned by others, never able to settle down. They had always been foreigners in a strange land. They had never had a place to call their own, no place upon which they could build permanent homes and rear their families, grow crops, establish businesses, or build a prosperous economy.
Throughout their entire existence as a people—ever since Abraham—the Israelites had only one thing that gave them security and kept them going: hope. They had hope in the great inheritance promised by God, the wonderful inheritance of the promised land.
When Moses died, his personal aide Joshua—the brilliant military commander and strategist—had picked up the mantle of leadership. He had personally led the Israelites in the conquest of the promised land of Canaan. Not all cities of the Canaanites had been conquered, but the back of the enemy had been broken. Only mopping up operations remained. Each of the tribes of Israel was personally responsible for driving out the enemy that remained upon its inherited land. (See outline—♣ Joshua 13:1-6 and note—♣ Joshua 13:1-6 for more discussion.)
Before his death, Joshua divided the promised land among the twelve tribes. But as seen toward the close of the great book of Joshua, the tribes soon became lax—complacent and lethargic—and failed to drive out the enemies of the promised land. The Israelites became "at ease in Zion," self-satisfied with what they had received. A spirit of pleasure, apathy, sluggishness, and indifference swept over their lives. They lacked the zeal and dedication to complete the task, to lay claim to the full inheritance of the promised land. (See outline—♣ Joshua 18:2-10 and notes—♣ Joshua 18:2-10 for more discussion.)
The book of Judges picks up the same theme showing just how lax, complacent, and corrupt the Israelites became during the years following Joshua's death. For a period of over 300 years, a seed of corruption took root and the tribes began to decay or rot from within. They became a permissive, compromising society. The decay of sin and evil began its ugly process immediately after the death of Joshua and the leaders of his cabinet. Scripture itself tells the story in the following points:
1. The Lord Himself had saved the Israelites and called them to be a holy nation, a people set apart to follow God wholeheartedly. They were to be a people who would make God the King of their lives, who would allow God to rule and reign over them.
"And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord" (Exodus 19:3-8).
a. Moses reviewed the covenant with the second generation of Israelites right before they entered the promised land. He reconfirmed the fact that God was to be the King of Israel. God and God alone was to rule and govern the lives of the people.
"Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water: That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath, which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day: That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; But with him that standeth here with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day" (Deuteronomy 29:10-15; cp. 29:1-29).
b. Joshua also led the people to renew their covenant with God as King. He was to rule and reign over their lives.
"And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them" (Joshua 8:34-35; cp. 8:30-35).
"And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem" (Joshua 24:24-25; cp. 24:1-28).
2. The Israelites followed and served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders of his cabinet who outlived him.
"And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel" (Joshua 24:31).
3. The Israelites quickly slipped away from God after Joshua's death. Almost immediately, the Israelites began to compromise with their worldly neighbors, engaging in their carnal, fleshly ways. They became immoral, materialistic, greedy, lawless, and violent—a wicked people. And they became idolaters, false worshippers. In fact, many of the Israelites began to live just like the Canaanites, so much so that they became Canaanites. There was no distinction between the Israelites and the unholy, wicked Canaanites—not in lifestyle, not in their unholy, day-to-day living before God. The Israelites became a permissive society, a people who lived a compromising, inconsistent life before God. Again, Scripture tells the story by pointing out these very serious failures of the Israelites.
a. The Israelites quickly rejected God as their king, refused to give Him the rule and reign over their lives. After Joshua's death, they quickly threw off the control of God. They rejected the kingship of God. They refused to continue serving God.
"And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel....And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel" (Judges 2:7, 10).
"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim: And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth" (Judges 2:11-13).
"In those days there was no king in Israel [God's rule was rejected]" (Judges 17:6).
"In those days there was no king in Israel [God's rule was rejected]" (Judges 18:1).
"And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel [God's rule was rejected]" (Judges 19:1).
"In those days there was no king in Israel [God's rule was rejected]" (Judges 21:25).
b. The Israelites quickly forgot the Lord their God and turned to idolatry and false worship
"And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods" (Joshua 24:16).
"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim: And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth" (Judges 2:11-13).
"And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves" (Judges 3:7).
c. The Israelites quickly began to do what was right in their own eyes, quickly began to do their own thing. What they wanted became the main focus of their lives, not what God commanded. They quickly compromised with their worldly neighbors and became...
• a people who loved the bright lights of partying, pleasure, indulgence and sex
• a people who craved the comforts and security of possessions
• a people who preferred the worship of religions that made them feel good and that tickled or pleased the flesh
• a people who became a permissive society—a compromising, materialistic, indulgent people
"Every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6).
"Every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).
THE TRAGIC DECLINE OF ISRAEL: THE REASON GOD HAD TO RAISE UP DELIVERERS TO RESCUE HIS PEOPLE, 1:1-3:6
A. Israel's Failure to Drive out All the Enemies of the Promised Land: A Picture of Disobedience—of Unbelief and Compromise, 1:1-36
B. Israel's Repeated Cycle of a Compromising, Inconsistent Life: Sin, Chastisement, Distress, Prayer, and Deliverance, 2:1-3:6
JUDGES: DIVISION I
THE TRAGIC DECLINE OF ISRAEL: THE REASON GOD HAD TO RAISE UP DELIVERERS TO RESCUE HIS PEOPLE, 1:1-3:6
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
A. Israel's Failure to Drive out All the Enemies of the Promised Land: A Picture of Disobedience—of Unbelief and Compromise, 1:1-36
(1:1-36) Introduction—Victorious Life—Spiritual Struggle and Warfare—Israel, Example of, Spiritual Struggle: a victorious, conquering life is the longing, the beat of the human heart. Every human being wants to overcome the enemies of life, enemies that seek to defeat and destroy him, enemies such as...
|• destructive passion |
|• hostility |
|• drug addiction |
|• disease |
|• family strife or divorce |
|• financial difficulties |
|• abuse |
|• alcoholism |
|• mental or emotional problems |
|• unemployment |
|• the loss of a loved one |
|• greed |
No matter what the enemy is—some person or some trial—each of us longs for the strength, the power to drive away the force that seeks to defeat and destroy us.
This was the picture being painted by the experience of Israel, the picture that is seen in the Israelite conquest of the promised land. Before the Israelites could inherit the promised land, the people had to drive out the enemies who tried to keep them out of the land.
This was the clear command of God: engage the enemy, destroy them, drive them out. Then the promised land would be theirs:
"Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken. And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us"(Deuteronomy 6:16-25).
The great military commander and strategist Joshua had led the Israelites in defeating the major fortified cities of the promised land of Canaan. The back of the enemy had been broken. Only closing operations remained. It was now the responsibility of the individual tribes to conquer the remainder of their inherited land.
But note the Scripture quoted above from Deuteronomy 6. Obedience was necessary—an absolute essential—for God to give the promised land to the Israelites. If the people obeyed Him, God would be present with them and guide them. He would give them victory over their enemies so they could inherit the promised land. But if they disobeyed Him, they would face the chastisement and judgment of God: they would be defeated and enslaved by the enemy.
This is the background for the opening of the book of Judges. The present passage shows us the beginning failure of the new generation of Israelites, the generation that followed Joshua. This is: Israel's Failure to Drive out All the Enemies of the Promised Land: A Picture of Disobedience—of Unbelief and Compromise, 1:1-36.
1. The essentials for victory in the promised land (v.1-3).
2. The picture of immediate obedience: Seen in Judah and Simeon securing victory over the enemies of the promised land (v.4-15).
3. The picture of eventual failure—disobedience, unbelief, and compromise (v.16-20).
4. The picture of utter failure: Seen in the continued disobedience, unbelief, and compromise of the remaining tribes (v.21-36).
1. (1:1-3) Victory, Source— Assurance, of Victory— Victory, Essentials of: there are four essentials necessary in order to conquer the promised land. These are immediately pictured in the opening verses of Judges.
1. Prayer is the first essential for victory (1:1). Right before he died, Joshua gave a very special challenge to all the Israelites. He challenged them to rededicate their lives to God, to renew their covenant, their commitment to God.
The people accepted the challenge and made a public decision to obey and follow the Lord. The scene of the challenge and of the decision was dramatic and needs to be remembered throughout the study of Judges. Joshua cried out to the people:
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods....And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey" (Joshua 24:15-16; 19-24).
The Israelites had made their decision: they would obey and serve the Lord, Him and Him alone. Now, Joshua had died, and the people are seen following through with their decision. They were seeking the Lord in prayer, asking Him for guidance. Just who should take the lead in driving out the enemies of the promised land? Up until now, the Israelites had always had an individual to lead them, first Moses and then Joshua. But now, no successor had been appointed by God. Each tribe was to be led by its own leader. But which tribe was to take the initiative in leading the nation as a whole, especially in national matters? This was the question the Israelites were now asking their King and their Commander-in-Chief, God Himself. Keep in mind that the Israelites had looked to God as their King and Commander-in-Chief. This was true during the leadership of Joshua, and it was still true in these opening verses of Judges (1:1; cp. Joshua 5:13-15).
2. God's Word and assurance is the second essential to securing victory against the enemies of life. Note that God answered the prayer of His people. He spoke to them, gave them His Word and the assurance of victory (1:2).
At this particular time—right after Joshua's death—the Israelites were obviously sincere in seeking and obeying God; therefore, God met the Israelites' needs. He gave them His Word, instructing Judah to lead the battle. Moreover, God gave them great assurance, promising them that they would be victorious over the enemies of the promised land. As long as they remained obedient, they could rest assured, they would walk victoriously throughout life, conquering all the enemies of the promised land.
3. The third essential for victory is that of service, of helping weaker brothers (1:3). This the tribe of Judah did. Judah stepped forth to take the lead in the struggle against the enemies of the promised land. But before the tribe launched the battle, an alliance was formed with the weaker tribe of Simeon.
Remember, Simeon had inherited land within the borders of Judah's territory, for the tribe was much smaller and weaker than Judah (Numbers 26:14,22). Standing alone, Simeon stood little chance against formidable enemies. The tribe needed the help of Judah, and Judah stepped forth and offered to help. The combined forces made a far stronger enemy to launch the struggle against the enemies of the promised land.
4. The fourth essential for victory is that of obedience (1:3). The soldiers of Simeon joined Judah. The picture is that of the tribes obeying God: they marched forth together to drive out the enemies who sought to enslave and destroy them. They obeyed God.
Thought 1. A victorious life—a life that conquers all the enemies of life—is possible. No matter what the enemy is, it can be conquered:
|• trials |
|• temptations |
|• diseases |
|• accidents |
|• persecution |
|• abuse |
|• financial difficulty |
|• bankruptcy |
|• depression |
|• loneliness |
|• emptiness |
|• purposelessness |
|• death |
We can be overcomers, conquering all that attempts to defeat us in life. How? Four essentials are necessary for victory.
1) Prayer is essential. We must seek the Lord, show that we are dependent upon Him and trusting Him to be with us. We show our trust and dependency through prayer.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7).
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).
"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).
"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms" (James 5:13).
"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight" (1 John 3:22).
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).
2) God's Word, His Promises and assurances of victory, are essential. God has given us His Word, telling us how to conquer and be victorious throughout life. His Word is a guide to our feet and a light to our path.
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3).
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places....And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:11-12, 17-18).
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:2-3).
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word" (Psalms 119:9).
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalms 119:11).
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105).
"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalms 119:130).
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life" (Proverbs 6:23).
3) Service—helping weaker believers—is essential for living a victorious life. Serving and ministering to other people is the call of God to every believer.
The assurance of pleasing God and of being with God eternally comes only from helping and serving others. Therefore, a conquering life is a life that is constantly serving and assisting people.
"But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all" (Mark 10:43-44).
"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise" (Luke 10:36-37).
"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14).
"He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep" (John 21:16).
"We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (2 Corinthians 6:1).
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1-2).
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10).
4) Obedience to God is essential for living a victorious life.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24-27).
"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23).
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10).
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).
"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine" (Exodus 19:5).
"O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever" (Deuteronomy 5:29).
"Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken" (Deuteronomy 6:17-19).
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).
"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19).
2. (1:4-15) Obedience, Results of— Victory, Secured by— Israel, Conquest of— Bezek, Conquered by Israel— Jerusalem, Conquered by Israel— Hebron, Conquered— Debir, Conquered by Israel: there is the picture of immediate obedience. This picture is seen in the obedience of Judah and Simeon. They obeyed God by attacking the enemies who were oppressing them and attempting to keep them from inheriting the promised land. And note: when these two tribes first began to fight the enemy, the Lord gave them victory after victory, for they were doing exactly what He had commanded. They were attacking and driving out the enemies of the promised land. The Scripture paints the scene for us:
1. Judah and Simeon conquered Bezek, killing 10,000 soldiers (1:5-7). They routed all the Canaanites and Perizzites from the fortified city and surrounding territory. They captured the king, Adoni-Bezek, whose name means, "Lord of Bezek"; and they incapacitated him by cutting off his thumbs and big toes. This was an ancient custom to prevent kings and military leaders from ever engaging in battle again. Big toes are necessary for balance when standing or running in battle, and thumbs are necessary for holding weapons such as swords.
Note the king's interpretation of his incapacitation: it was not seen as an act of savage brutality, but as a just judgment being executed by God Himself. He was being incapacitated because of his own cruelty and inhumane treatment of seventy other kings (1:7).
2. Judah and Simeon made an early conquest and destruction of Jerusalem (1:8). Because of their obedience to God, God gave them the victory over this great city. However, they were obviously unable to populate the area at this time. Thus, at some point in the future, some Jebusites rebuilt the city and established homes there (1:21). But for the present, Judah and Simeon were faithful in obeying the Lord; therefore He gave them victory over the Jebusites. They conquered and burned the city to the ground, driving out the enemy who stood opposed to their inheritance of the promised land.
3. Judah and Simeon launched a military campaign into the lowlands (1:9-15). A strong example of faith and obedience is now seen in Caleb and his son-in-law, Othniel. Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent out by Moses on a recognizance mission to spy out the land of Canaan. He, along with Joshua, had taken a strong stand for God, believing that God would give them the promised land. The two men, who were young at that time, took a strong stand against the unbelief and negative report of the other ten spies. Because of his strong faith in God, Caleb had been promised the inheritance of Hebron as his own territory.
a. Caleb marched against Hebron, defeating three of the Anakite kings: Sheshai, Ahiman, Talmai (1:10). These kings were descendants of Anak, who was known as the father of a race of giants or of a tall, large-framed people.
b. Caleb then led the army against Debir and conquered it (1:11-15). As he marched against the great city, he promised his daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who captured the city. After Othniel led a battalion of soldiers against the city and conquered it, Caleb proved his integrity by doing exactly what he had declared: he gave his daughter in marriage to the victorious officer (1:12-13). Moreover, Caleb showed an unusual unselfishness. His daughter and new son-in-law needed a field with springs of water, and in an unselfish spirit, Caleb gave them the springs of water—a priceless gift in dry country (1:14-15).
Thought 1. Obedience is the dominant lesson in this point. When the tribes of Judah and Simeon obeyed the Lord, they were victorious. God empowered His people to conquer the enemies who attempted to keep them out of the promised land. Obedience brought victory.
Obedience always brings victory to God's people. When we obey God, He empowers us to conquer the enemies that oppose us, trying to defeat and destroy us. No trial and no temptation can ever defeat us, not if we are obedient to God. If we keep God's commandments, He will give us the strength to conquer all the trials and temptations of life. No matter how heavy or threatening the trial, we will have the power to overcome. No matter how enticing, alluring, or promising the temptation, we will have the power to conquer the temptation. Obedience—immediate obedience—gives us the victory. Obeying God assures us of conquest. Obeying God makes us more than conquerors through Christ who has loved us and given himself for us.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24-27).
"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17).
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10).
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14).
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place....For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:14, 17).
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:10-18).
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (James 1:25).
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).
"Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever" (Deuteronomy 4:40).
"O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever" (Deuteronomy 5:29).
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).
"And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself" (1 Kings 2:3).
"Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us" (Psalms 44:5).
3. (1:16-20) Compromise, Example of— Unbelief, Example of— Israel, Compromise of— Israel, Unbelief of— Kenites, Compromise of— Judah, Tribe of, Compromise of: there was the picture of eventual failure—of disobedience, unbelief, and compromise. All of a sudden, there was a twist from success to failure, from obedience to disobedience. This will be the theme from this point on throughout the whole book of Judges. The Israelites began to disobey God, to fail Him. They were gripped by a spirit of unbelief and compromise. They began to imitate their worldly neighbors instead of being a testimony to the only living and true God. Instead of driving out the evil enemies of the promised land, they began to compromise with their enemies and adopt their worldly, immoral, and idolatrous ways. This Scripture portrays the beginning failure of Israel in the promised land—their disobedience, unbelief, and compromise:
1. The first failure is seen in the Kenite people (1:16). Moses had married a young Kenite girl, and a group of Kenites had joined Israel during the wilderness wanderings. Once the Israelites had crossed the Jordan into the promised land, the Kenites had settled in the area of the city of Jericho. But note what they did next: they moved south and compromised with the people of the area. Instead of driving them out of the promised land, they settled down and lived among them. Thereby, the seeds of compromise, immorality, intermarriage, and a worldly lifestyle—the seeds of disobedience to God—were sown.
2. The second failure is seen in Judah's unbelief and compromise (1:17-19). As the armies of Judah and Simeon marched forth, they continued to obey God. They conquered city after city, driving out the enemy. After they conquered Zephath or Hormah, they then conquered three of the major Philistine cities along the coast: Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron (1:17-18).
Note that the Lord was with the army of Judah as it marched throughout the hill country (1:19). But then something happened: Judah failed to believe God. Judah did not trust God to help in conquering the enemies of the plains. Why the disbelief? Because of the enemy's technology in weaponry. The people from the plains had iron chariots.
But note this fact: after Jericho—after the miraculous power of God demonstrated against that city—the army of Judah should have believed God. They should have trusted the power of God to conquer the enemy with the superior technology. But here they are shrinking back, failing to trust God. This fact is so important that it needs to be restated: the Lord was with the men of Judah as they marched throughout the hill country, but in facing the people of the plains, the men of Judah backed away. Unbelief, distrust, and fear gripped their hearts; and they disobeyed God. They refused to drive out the enemy from the promised land. They would rather compromise and allow some of the enemy to live within the promised land than to continue fighting and struggling to remove all the enemy. They became satisfied with the conquest already made, satisfied with just a portion of their inheritance. Too much struggle, too much discipline and control, too much energy and exhaustion, too much personal cost and effort were required to conquer the remainder of the promised land. Judah would rather compromise and live a permissive lifestyle than obey God.
3. Note the contrast and reminder of Caleb's strong faith in God (1:20). In contrast to the compromising, permissive disobedience of Judah, Caleb drove out the sons of Anak who were the giants of the land. Instead of withdrawing in unbelief and weak faith, Caleb marched forth against the strongest and most formidable of enemies. Because of his faith and obedience, God gave him the victory over his enemies. Caleb received his full inheritance in the promised land.
Thought 1. God's Word is clear: we must conquer the enemies of life. We must conquer any enemy that tries to keep us out of the promised land of heaven, any enemy that tries to keep us from living a victorious life in Christ. But to conquer the enemies of life—to live a victorious life—we must believe God, never compromising with the immoral and unrighteous of this world. Unbelief and compromise will lead to failure, to a defeated life. Judah and Simeon failed to believe God, and they compromised with their worldly neighbors. They refused to engage them in battle and drive them out of the promised land. The result would prove to be catastrophic and will be seen later on in the book of Judges. But for now, the point to note is the failure of Judah, the spirit of unbelief and compromise with the tribes' immoral and unrighteous neighbors.
We must never allow the spirit of unbelief or compromise to take root in our lives. Unbelief and compromise equal disobedience. And disobedience brings the chastisement and judgment of God upon us. Unbelief and compromise are condemned by God. The unrighteous, immoral, and false worshippers of this world are not to be followed.
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (Luke 21:34).
"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat" (1 Corinthians 5:11).
"And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away" (1 Corinthians 7:31).
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).
"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Timothy 2:4).
"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:24-25).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalms 1:1; cp. Exodus 23:2; 34:12; Deuteronomy 12:30; Ezra 6:21; Nehemiah 9:2; 10:30; 13:3; Proverbs 4:14).
"Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God" (Psalms 119:115).
"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11).
4. (1:21-36) Compromise, Caused by— Unbelief, Result of— Complacency, Example of— Lethargy, Example of— Lax, Example of— Israel, Failure of— Benjamin, Tribe of, Failure of— Manasseh, Tribe of, Failure of— Ephraim, Tribe of, Failure of— Zebulun, Tribe of, Failure of— Asher, Tribe of, Failure of— Naphtali, Tribe of, Failure of— Dan, Tribe of, Failure of: there was the picture of continued failure. All Israel continued to fail God. This is seen in the remaining tribes of Israel. A spirit of unbelief and compromise gripped all the tribes. They all failed to trust God and they disobeyed Him, refusing to drive out the enemy as He had commanded. One by one the tribes failed to walk by faith. They did not trust God enough to give them victory over their enemies. The price or cost was just too great to defeat the enemy. It required too much struggle and discipline, too much energy and effort, too much commitment and dedication to drive out all the enemies of the promised land. Consequently, they compromised and became associated with their evil, unrighteous, immoral, and idolatrous neighbors. Note how the unbelief and compromise of the Israelites are stressed throughout the Scripture and outline:
Thought 1. The Israelites disobeyed God. They lacked the commitment to do what God said: to drive out all the enemies of the promised land. They became complacent and lethargic—comfortable enough to compromise. They were not willing to make a full and total commitment to God—not willing to do everything God commanded.
The experience of Israel speaks strongly to us. Far, far too often we become satisfied with what we have in Christ. Doing and committing any more to Christ would require too much struggle and discipline, too much energy and effort, too much money and sacrifice. The result for us is tragic: we begin to disbelieve God and fail to trust Him. We become complacent, lethargic, and too comfortable. Before long, we begin to compromise with the worldliness of the world. But God's Word is clear:
1) Unbelief will condemn us.
"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12).
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest [the complete conquest of the promised land], lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (Hebrews 4:11).
"I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not" (Jude 5).
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).
"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).
2) Compromise with the unrighteous, immoral, and false worshipers of the world will condemn us.
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Romans 1:28-32).
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:7-8).
DEEPER STUDY #1
(1:27) Iniquity, Cup of— Nations, Destruction of— Nations, Evil of— Nations, Judgment of— Canaanites, Destruction of: Why did God command Israel to drive out the Canaanites from the promised land? To actually exterminate them? The command was for them to be "utterly destroyed" or "totally and completely destroyed" (harami or charam). The word means to annihilate, exterminate, eliminate, abolish. The word is related to the Hebrew herem which means "to devote to the ban." Once something had been promised or devoted to God, it was placed under the ban: it could not be removed. If it was a gift, it had to be given to God. If it was the promise to do something, then it had to be done. If it was a vow to devote something to destruction, then it had to be destroyed or exterminated. In ancient days, this was known as the harem principal or law. Once a person or thing had been devoted to the Lord, it could not be removed. It went to the Lord.
"And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah" (Numbers 21:2-3).
"But of the cities of these people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee: That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).
"For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses" (Joshua 11:20).
The very idea that God and moral people would be set on the total destruction of a people is offensive to some persons. How could God and moral people possibly endorse such an act? In looking at this, certain factors need to be kept in mind:
1. People can become so savage, evil, and corrupt that they are beyond repair or repentance, beyond hope or correction. This is what is known as the "cup of iniquity being full"—filled to the point that it overflows and continues to overflow with...
|• savagery |• abuse |
|• violence |• cruelty |
|• brutality |• atrocities |
|• slavery |• barbarism |
|• rape |• corruption |
|• ruthlessness |• evil |
|• lawlessness |• immorality |
| |• injustice |
History has shown that such behavior can be true of both individuals and nations. A person's or a nation's "cup of iniquity" can become full—well beyond repair or repentance, well beyond hope or correction. God declares this fact time and again as the Scriptures below show (Genesis 15:16).
God wants justice executed against people who are totally given over to evil. Scripture is clear about this fact: this is the very purpose for the judgment of God.
"But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full" (Genesis 15:16).
"Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants" (Leviticus 18:24-25).
"And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them" (Leviticus 20:23).
"Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Deuteronomy 9:4-5).
"And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel" (2 Kings 21:2).
"Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel" (2 Chronicles 28:3).
"But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel" (2 Chronicles 33:2).
"And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood" (Psalms 106:38).
"The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant" (Isaiah 24:5).
"...thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness" (Jeremiah 3:2).
"And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things" (Jeremiah 16:18).
2. God is a just God as well as a God of love. God loves all people—every individual and all the people of every nation upon earth. His love continually flows out to everyone. But God is also a just God, the Sovereign Lord who executes justice upon the earth. God is not an indulgent-grandfather type of person who pampers the evil and savage of this world. To allow injustice to go unpunished, He would be a God of evil, a God who showed partiality and favoritism. He would be favoring the evil of the earth by allowing them to go unpunished and showing injustice to the moral of the earth by allowing them to continue to suffer under the injustices of evil people.
When the "cup of iniquity becomes full"—well beyond repair or repentance, well beyond hope or correction—that person or people are to be judged. Justice is to be executed upon them. God wants justice executed against such persons. This is the reason He has appointed a day in which He Himself will judge the world.
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left" (Matthew 25:31-33).
"Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).
"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel" (Romans 2:16).
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom" (2 Timothy 4:1).
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9).
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
"Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 14-15).
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Revelation 20:12).
3. Israel was used by God as His instrument of justice and judgment against the nations of Canaan. The Israelites did not receive the promised land of Canaan because of some merit or value within themselves nor because of their own strength or power. In justice and judgment, God Himself destroyed the Canaanites, and it was because of their wickedness that He destroyed them.
Again, it is critical to note this fact: Israel as a people did not receive the promised land because of their merit or value nor because of some righteousness they possessed. The Canaanites were destroyed because they were evil and their "cup of iniquity" had been filled to the brim. They reached the point of no repentance; they were beyond correction. Moses himself declared to the Israelites:
a. "It is not because of any personal righteousness within you, not because you have pure hearts, that you inherit the promised land (Deuteronomy 9:5). The enemies of the land are to be conquered and destroyed for two reasons:
⇒ "Because of their wickedness and because they are an evil people; their 'cup of iniquity' is full."
⇒ "Because God is faithful; He fulfills His promise to the forefathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God has promised to give the promised land to their descendants, to all those down through the centuries who believe His Word, His promises.
b. "Understand this warning: it is not because of your righteousness that God gives you the promised land. On the contrary, you are a stiff-necked, stubborn people (Deuteronomy 9:6). You are a sinful people. You have no righteousness within yourselves that merits God's favor. Your hearts are not upright nor pure enough to make God accept you and give you victory over the enemies of the promised land. You are a stiff-necked, stubborn people."
"Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people" (Deuteronomy 9:5-6).
4. God shows no partiality, no favoritism—not to any person or to any nation. God warned the Israelites that they too would face the justice and judgment of God if they disobeyed Him, if they failed to keep His commandments.
The Canaanites were destroyed because they lived immoral and unrighteous lives. If the Israelites adopted the immoral and unrighteous lifestyle of the Canaanites, they too would be destroyed.
"Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 18:24-30).
"Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people" (Leviticus 20:22-24).
"When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly" (Deuteronomy 7:1-4).
"Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people" (Deuteronomy 9:4-6).
Thought 1. James Philip makes an excellent statement on the justice and judgment of God that is well worth quoting in full.
God was using His people as the rod of His anger against peoples whose cup of iniquity was full to overflowing. They were being judged for their sins and their depravities. This is, of course, stated explicitly more than once in the Old Testament itself (cf. Genesis 15:16 and Leviticus 18:24-30). The time of their destruction was ripe. This is why they were thus dealt with, and it was no arbitrary act of injustice that drove them out of their land. They had forfeited the right to live as nations in Canaan by the extremes of their debauchery and depravity, just as Sodom and Gomorrah had done (Genesis 19), and just as the Cainite civilization as a whole had done, bringing upon itself the judgment of the Flood (Genesis 6). Furthermore, it should be remembered that God dealt with His own people in similar fashion when they proved themselves unworthy to life in the land of promise, and He brought them into the captivity of Babylon in 586 b.c. To understand God's burning passion for righteousness in His creatures is to understand the basic reason for these judgments upon men and nations that refused to be righteous, and who rendered themselves incapable of being so by their continued sin.
Thought 2. The Nelson Study Bible says this:
Of Israel's attacks on the northern part of Canaanite cities, the Bible states, "but they struck every man with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they left none breathing. As the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did" (Joshua 11:14, 15). God clearly commanded Israel to annihilate the Canaanites, and that is exactly what Joshua did.
Headlines such as this have caused many people to question God's basic justice. How can a holy, just, and loving God command such extreme violence? Indeed, many have thought of this issue as the Old Testament's biggest challenge to modern readers. Some have gone so far as to allege that there is no connection between the "God of the Old Testament" and "God of the New Testament revealed in Jesus."
However, this stereotype breaks down under examination. The Bible gives reasons for the Canaanites' destruction—and these reasons are in concert with the whole tenor of the Bible in both Testaments.
The primary reason for the Canaanites' destruction was that they were guilty of gross sin. Abraham got a preview of this when God promised him the land. God said fulfillment of the promise would be delayed in part because "the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete" (Genesis 15:16; the Amorites were the Canaanites). For many years, the Canaanites' sins would not justify annihilation. But that time would arrive, and it did arrive by the time of Joshua.
What were the sins of the Canaanites? The gruesome list in Leviticus 18 gives some of the details, including incest, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexuality, and bestiality. Of course, every person has sinned in some fashion (Psalms 14:3). On this level, the Canaanites only received what all peoples deserved; others were spared only by God's grace. But Canaan was not a community of upstanding citizens. It was a thoroughly debased society, hostile to all God's ways (Deuteronomy 9:4, 5).
To a lesser degree, God was merely protecting His people. God promised Abraham that He would curse anyone who cursed Israel (Genesis 12:3). The Canaanites sought to destroy Israel on at least two occasions (Joshua 9:1, 2; 11:1-5), and God would not allow that.
The stereotype also breaks down because it overlooks the highly localized nature of the judgment on Canaan. The Israelites did not have a license to kill. They had no right to do the same to whatever peoples they encountered, at any time or in any place. This destruction targeted the sinful Canaanites of that time only. As harsh as it may seem to us, the Canaanites brought God's judgment on themselves by their own sin.
The New Testament states that one day Jesus Christ will judge the wicked nations of the earth (Matthew 25:31-46). God once judged all the wicked with an overwhelming flood (Genesis 6-9), and the same God will one day again judge everyone who has ever lived (2 Peter 3:10-13). The judgment against the Canaanites is merely one instance of His judgment on the wicked even as He extends forgiveness to others.
Thought 3. Warren Wiersbe gives an excellent statement on God's command to exterminate the Canaanite nations.
But wasn't it cruel and unjust for God to command Israel to exterminate the nations in Canaan? Not in the least! To begin with, He had been patient with these nations for centuries and had mercifully withheld His judgment (Genesis 15:16; 2 Peter 3:9). Their society, and especially their religion, was unspeakably wicked (Romans 1:18ff) and should have been wiped out years before Israel appeared on the scene.
Something else is true: These nations had been warned by the judgments God had inflicted on others, especially on Egypt and the nations east of the Jordan (Joshua 2:8-13). Rahab and her family had sufficient information to be able to repent and believe, and God saved them (Joshua 2; 6:22-25). Therefore, we have every right to conclude that God would have saved anybody who had turned to Him. These nations were sinning against a flood of light in rejecting God's truth and going their own way.
God didn't want the filth of the Canaanite society and religion to contaminate His people Israel. Israel was God's special people, chosen to fulfill divine purposes in this world. Israel would give the world the knowledge of the true God, the Holy Scriptures, and the Savior. In order to accomplish God's purposes, the nation had to be separated from all other nations; for if Israel was polluted, how could the Holy Son of God come into the world? God is perpetually at war with sin, wrote G. Campbell Morgan. That is the whole explanation of the extermination of the Canaanites.
The main deity in Canaan was Baal, god of rainfall and fertility, and Ashtoreth was his spouse. If you wanted to have fruitful orchards and vineyards, flourishing crops, and increasing flocks and herds, you worshiped Baal by visiting a temple prostitute. This combination of idolatry, immorality, and agricultural success was difficult for men to resist, which explains why God told Israel to wipe out the Canaanite religion completely (Numbers 33:51-56; Deuteronomy 7:1-5).
JUDGES: DIVISION I
THE TRAGIC DECLINE OF ISRAEL: THE REASON GOD HAD TO RAISE UP DELIVERERS TO RESCUE HIS PEOPLE, 1:1-3:6
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
B. Israel's Repeated Cycle of a Compromising, Inconsistent Life: Sin, Chastisement, Distress, Prayer, and Deliverance, 2:1-3:6
(2:1-3:6) Introduction: Have you ever had a habit that you wanted to break? Or some condition from which you wanted to be set free? We are creatures of conditioning, creatures of habit. If we do something time and time again, it becomes a part of our nature or daily routine. By indulging or taking license with certain things, we can even become enslaved, held in bondage. Just think of people who have problems with...
|• smoking |
|• alcohol or drugs |
|• illicit sex or pornography |
|• overeating or gluttony |
|• cursing or vulgarity |
|• laziness, complacency, or slothfulness |
|• anger, bitterness, or hatred |
|• coldness, indifference, or negativism |
|• low self-esteem or self-image |
|• greed or covetousness |
|• selfishness or hoarding |
|• shoplifting or other forms of stealing |
|• lying or deceiving |
Habits are the result of repeating and repeating a behavior until it becomes a cycle in life. When the habit becomes evil or injures us, then it becomes a cycle of sin that must be broken.
How often have we been gripped by some bad habit, some sin that we longed to break? We struggled and struggled to break away, but failed time and again. We asked God to help us, but the very next day we returned to the sin or bad habit. We found ourselves caught up in a cycle, a cycle of...
• indulging in the bad habit or sin
• suffering caused by the bad habit or sin
• praying
• experiencing a brief, short-lived deliverance
This was the very experience of Israel during the period of the judges. Israel was caught up in a cycle of a compromising, inconsistent life with the worldliness of their neighbors. This is the subject of this important passage of Scripture: Israel's Repeated Cycle of a Compromising, Inconsistent Life: Sin, Chastisement, Distress, Prayer, and Deliverance, 2:1-3:6.
1. The charge of the Lord against His people: Disobedience—compromise and false worship (2:1-5).
2. The rise of a generation who no longer knew nor acknowledged the Lord (2:6-10).
3. The repeated cycle of a compromising, inconsistent life: sin, chastisement, distress, prayer, and deliverance (2:11-19).
4. The response of God to continued sin: He judges and tests His people (2:20-23).
5. The purpose of God in testing His people: to see who would really obey and follow Him (3:1-6).
1. (2:1-5) Israel, Accusation against— Accusation, against Believers— Accusation, of the Lord— Compromise, with the Worldly— Repentance, Temporary or Short-lived— Chastisement, Described as: there was the charge of the Lord against His people, the Israelites. The charge or accusation was very serious. The Israelites had disobeyed God, compromising with the enemies of the promised land and engaging in their false worship. To expose the terrible evil, the angel of the Lord confronted God's people.
Who was this angel of the Lord? The word "angel" (malak) means a messenger sent from God such as an angel, ambassador, envoy, prophet, priest, or teacher. Was this an angel sent from the very presence of God or a special messenger such as a prophet or priest sent by God? Or was it the Lord Himself who sometimes confronted His people? (Judges 6:22-23;13:21-22; see Deeper Study #2—Genesis 16:7; note, pt.3—♣ Exodus 3:1-3; Deeper Study #1—Joshua 5:13-15; cp. Genesis 22:11; 48:16 for more discussion.)
Most commentators feel that the angel of the Lord was the Lord Himself. The Lord was making a very special appearance to expose the sin of His people. He was charging them with committing a terrible evil against Him.
Note that the messenger of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim. What does this mean, to go up "from Gilgal to Bokim?" Keep in mind that the Tabernacle had been originally set up at Gilgal by Joshua (Joshua 4:18-20). The Tabernacle symbolized God's presence. Thus the writer is probably speaking descriptively, painting the picture of God's presence going up from the Tabernacle at Gilgal to Bokim.
Whatever the case, God went up to expose the people's sin and to charge them with apostasy, with breaking their covenant to obey Him. The charge against the people is clearly spelled out by Scripture:
1. The angel of the Lord reminded His people of three wonderful facts: it was the Lord Himself who had delivered them from Egyptian slavery and given them the promised land, the land promised to the forefathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). Moreover, the Lord was faithful to keep all His promises. This had been proven down through the years, proven by the fact that He had never broken His covenant with His people. In fact, not even one word of His promises or covenant had ever been broken.
2. But note: this was not true with the Israelites. The charge of disobedience was leveled against them. They were guilty of breaking their covenant with God. The charge was serious, very serious; the Israelites had compromised with the sinful, evil lifestyle and false worship of the worldly Canaanites (2:2). God had been clear in His instructions to the Israelites: the Canaanites were to be driven out of the promised land. Compromise was never to be allowed, for the Canaanites were a sinful, evil people—an immoral, lawless, and violent people. Their "cup of iniquity" was full, overflowing with savagery and brutality, committing atrocity after atrocity. (See Deeper Study #1—Judges 1:27 for more discussion.) The Canaanites did not know the Lord, not the only living and true God. They were a religious people, very religious, but they had no knowledge of the Lord Himself. They worshipped the gods of their own creation, gods of their own ideas and imaginations, molded by their own minds.
God's people were not to become a permissive society, compromising with the sinful, evil lifestyle and false worship of the worldly. This had been God's clear commandment (Exodus 23:20-25; 34:10-17; Deuteronomy 7:1-11; Joshua 23:3-13). But the Israelites disobeyed the Lord and broke their covenant with God. They compromised with the sinful, evil lifestyle of the worldly and participated in the false worship of their worldly neighbors. This was the serious charge made against the Israelites.
3. The Lord had warned the Israelites: if they refused to drive out the Canaanites from the promised land, they would be chastised, face the discipline and judgment of God (2:3). If the Israelites desired the world and its sinful enticements, then they would have the world. They would be allowed to walk in the ways of the world with its bright lights and immoral and materialistic behavior. But by walking in the ways of the world, they would also experience the thorns and snares of the world. By thorns is meant the trials of the world, and by snares is meant the temptations of the world. As will be seen throughout Judges and the rest of the Old Testament, the Canaanites became thorns in the sides of the Israelites, often attacking, oppressing and enslaving them. Israel would actually seek financial wealth from trade with the Canaanites and seek after the bright lights and pleasures of the Canaanites; but their desire would result in financial loss, emptiness of soul, oppression, distress, and sometimes enslavement. If God's people desired the world, they would be disciplined, chastised by receiving the world. They would experience all the world's thorns (trials) and snares (temptations). The world is not only full of pleasure, but also full of trials and temptations.
4. The charge leveled by the Lord struck a responsive chord in the hearts of the people: they confessed and repented before the Lord. But note: their confession and repentance was only a brief, fleeting, short-lived experience. This is the very thrust of the book of Judges. This will be discussed in detail in point three of this particular chapter (2:11-19). But for now, the point to see is that the people did confess and repent before the Lord. They wept loudly and offered sacrifices to the Lord. The experience of repentance was so significant that the people changed the name of the place to Bokim which means "weeping" (2:4-5).
Thought 1. The Lord made a very serious charge against His people, that of disobedience. Disobeying God is a dangerous course to take. Some of the strongest warnings in Scripture are given to the disobedient man or woman.
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 5:1-6).
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
"For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" (Hebrews 2:2-3).
"And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known" (Deuteronomy 11:28).
"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee" (Deuteronomy 28:15, see Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
"But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers" (1 Samuel 12:15).
2. (2:6-10) Israel, Failure of— God, Ignored— Forgetting, of God— Unbelief, of Israel— Disobedience, of Israel: there was the rise of a generation who no longer knew nor acknowledged the Lord. The generation of Joshua knew the Lord. They were the generation who first inherited the promised land, and they were faithful in obeying the Lord (2:6-9).
Note the title given to Joshua in this passage: "Joshua…the servant of the Lord" (2:8). This title was reserved only for men of great commitment, men who were totally devoted to God (Joshua 24:29). Joshua died at the ripe age of 110 and was buried in the land of his inheritance, Timnath Heres. However, his death did not mean the end of God's work among His people. The people and leaders who outlived Joshua continued to obey the Lord, to be faithful to Him. They continued to follow the Lord and to serve Him.
But the generation who followed Joshua soon began to fail God (2:10). It took just a few years for the children of Joshua's generation to ignore the instructions of their godly parents. The godly example of the parents died and was buried with the parents. The memory and instructions of godliness—the great works of God among Joshua's generation—faded in the memory of the children. They no longer knew nor acknowledged the Lord. They ignored and forgot His wonderful works.
The Hebrew word for "know" or "knew" (yada) means to acknowledge, understand, or become acquainted with. This new generation of Israelites did not know God: that is, they did not acknowledge, understand, nor become acquainted with God. They did not keep alive the wonderful works of God, the great salvation of their parents brought about by the power of God. They were committed not to God but to the world. The bright lights and worldliness of the Canaanites had attracted them, and they gave themselves over to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-16). They sought after a life of…
|• indulgence and plenty |
|• luxury and wealth |
|• play and recreation |
|• ease and comfort |
|• pleasure and stimulation |
|• revelry and sex |
Within just one generation, Israel began to fail God. Within just a few years after conquering and inheriting the promised land, this second generation no longer knew God. They no longer acknowledged nor had a desire to become personally acquainted with God.
Thought 1. The call of God is not to a life of worldliness, not to a life of bright lights and fleshly pleasures and stimulations. The call of God is to a life of separation from the immoral and unjust ways of the world. We are to live a life of separation from the worldliness of this world.
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (Luke 21:34).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat" (1 Corinthians 5:11).
"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Timothy 2:4).
"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:24-25).
"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment" (Exodus 23:2).
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalms 1:1).
Thought 2. The parents and the priests failed to teach the Word of God. The rich customs and traditions of their faith were soon forgotten, and religion became a mere formality—a religion without power or true godliness. This was a generation who no longer knew nor acknowledged the Lord. They were religious, but their religion was just a form of godliness, a religion that denied the power of God.
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:5).
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone" (Matthew 23:23).
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17).
"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain" (Galatians 4:10-11).
"Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances" (Colossians 2:20).
"For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Psalms 51:16-17).
"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil" (Ecclesiastes 5:1).
"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men" (Isaiah 29:13).
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6).
Thought 3. There is a striking lesson in this point: children cannot depend on the faith of their parents to save them. Just because a parent is saved by God does not mean that a child will be saved. Having Christian parents, living in a so-called Christian nation, accepting high moral values, attending a dynamic church where the truth of God's Word is preached—none of this is assurance that a person will know God and be saved. Every individual has to receive Jesus Christ personally as his Savior. Knowing God is a personal, individual experience. Receiving Jesus Christ as one's own Savior has to be a personal experience. Each person comes to know God, not because of the faith of a parent or the teachings of a church, but because the person reaches out to God and calls upon God to save him.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21).
"Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed" (Romans 9:7-8).
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:26-29).
"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).
DEEPER STUDY #1 (Judges 2:6-10) Chart, of Israel— History, of Israel, In the Promised Land
3. (2:11-19) Compromise, Cycle of— Inconsistent, Cycle of— Worship of, Thoughts— Idolatry— Religion, False— Adultery, Spiritual— Israel, Failure of— Cycle, of an Inconsistent Life: there was the repeated cycle of a compromising, inconsistent life: sin, chastisement, distress, prayer, and deliverance. Joshua and his generation followed the Lord, but the next generation forsook God. It took only one generation for the Israelites to turn away from God. And once they deserted Him, they began a cycle of compromise, of worldly, carnal failure that lasted for about 300 years. Compromise, inconsistency, disobedience—a life of worldly, carnal failure—became the dominant mark of the Israelites. As stated, for about 300 years the nation as a whole lived a compromising, inconsistent life. They lived an inconsistent life right up to the establishment of the monarchy, the reign of the kings of Israel. The cycle is clearly seen in the Scripture and outline:
1. Terrible sin was the first mark of Israel's inconsistent life, the nation's carnal failure (2:11-12). Israel forsook the Lord. He had saved their fathers and delivered the nation from enslavement to Egypt (a symbol of the world). But the new generation "forsook" (azab) the Lord. The idea is they turned away, left, abandoned, deserted, rejected, and lost all interest, thought, or contact with the Lord. They refused to commit themselves to Him. Therefore, they reached a point when they no longer knew nor acknowledged Him (2:10).
But the Israelites not only forsook the Lord, they also did the most base, corruptible evil imaginable. They engaged in false worship. They turned to the false religion of their neighbors and served their false gods, the images of Baal (see Deeper Study #2—Judges 2:12-15 for more discussion). They changed their allegiance, turned away from the Lord and turned to false gods. They followed their neighbors to their false religions instead of following God and His Word. They engaged in false worship instead of worshipping the only living and true God. Note how the terrible sin of the Israelites is stressed:
⇒ They did evil in the sight of the Lord (2:11).
⇒ They served the false gods (Baalim) (2:12).
⇒ They followed other gods (2:12).
⇒ They bowed and worshipped them (2:12).
⇒ They forsook the Lord (2:13).
⇒ They served the false gods of Baal and the Ashtoreths (2:13).
Note also the statement, "they did evil in the sight of the Lord" (2:11). This blunt fact is stated six times in Judges (3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1). It is found over fifty times in the Old Testament (as an example, see Numbers 32:13; Deuteronomy 4:25; 9:18; 17:2; 31:29).
2. Chastisement—the Lord's judgment and discipline—was the second mark of Israel's inconsistent life, their carnal failure (2:12-15). As always, sin cut the heart of God and provoked His anger against Israel. His fury and righteous judgment were aroused. His just anger burned against their terrible sin.
Keep in mind why: because of Israel's apostasy and false worship. The people had turned away from the Lord and were actually engaging in the false worship and religions of their neighbors, serving the false gods of Baal and the Ashtoreths (see Deeper Study #2—Judges 2:12-15 for discussion).
What was the specific chastisement suffered by the Israelites? They had wanted to live in the world of their neighbors, the Canaanites, so God gave them up to what is called "spiritual abandonment" or "the judicial judgment of God" (see outline—♣ Romans 1:24-32 and notes—♣ Romans 1:24-32; also see Deeper Study #1—John 12:39-41 for more discussion.) This means that God acted in perfect justice: He gave Israel up to the world of its neighbors—a world of immorality, greed, lawlessness, oppression, violence, and enslavement. God turned the people over to just what they wanted: the ways of the Canaanites. The result was tragic: they reaped what they had sown. They suffered the ways of the world. The enemies of the promised land plundered and robbed them, stealing and confiscating their crops and wealth; destroyed their property, oppressing and enslaving them; and assaulted and killed many in attack after attack.
But this was not the only chastisement the Israelites suffered. They no longer knew nor acknowledged God; therefore, God sold them—gave them over to the Canaanites. They had rejected the presence and power of God; consequently, they no longer had the presence and power of God. When they faced a conflict with some enemy, they stood all alone and the enemy defeated them. God's warning came to pass in just one generation. His warning became a tragic reality in the life of the Israelites:
"The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth" (Deuteronomy 28:25, see Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
3. Great distress was the third mark of Israel's inconsistent life, their carnal failure (2:15). Terrible suffering was the result of living among the worldly Canaanites. The Israelites suffered…
• the plunder of their crops and goods
• the destruction of their homes and property
• the assault and murder of their husbands, wives, and children
• the savagery of constant oppression
• the brutality of enslavement
Because of their terrible sin—desiring to live like their worldly neighbors—the Israelites reaped what they had sown. They reaped the results of greed, covetousness, and lust—reaped a lawless, immoral, and unjust society. Life became unhappy, miserable, stressful, even unbearable for the Israelites. They lived in constant fear of oppression and assault and of some brutal and savage attack.
4. Prayer—crying out to God for deliverance—was the fourth mark of Israel's inconsistent life, their carnal failure (2:15; also see 2:18; 3:9, 15, 4:3). God used the distress of the Israelites to drive them to their knees. In their terrible distress they cried out to God. Their crying out to God is not explicitly mentioned here, but it is mentioned in 2:18 and elsewhere (3:9, 15; 4:3). The word "groaning" (neaqah, 2:18) means to groan just as a dying man groans; to cry out under the heaviest affliction. Under the heaviest distress imaginable the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance. (See outline—♣ Exodus 3:7-8 and note—♣ Exodus 3:7-8 for more discussion.)
5. The Lord heard the cry of His people and He delivered them. The deliverance by God is the fifth mark of Israel's inconsistent life, the fifth mark of the nation's carnal failure (2:16). God had to constantly deliver His people from their distress and carnal living. How? By raising up "judges" or "deliverers" to save them.
The word "judges" or "deliverers" (sopet) refers to a person who saves, delivers, or rescues. Note that the word is used six times in verses 16 through 19, but this is the only place the word is used in the Book of Judges. Simply stated, the judges were raised up by God to deliver His people from their distress and oppression. They were chosen from all walks of life and from different tribes—all used by God to save His people from their enemies. They served as military leaders and in some cases as judges who settled disputes among the people (4:4-5; Exodus 18:16).
Only eight people are actually called judges, but it is clear that God raised up twelve persons to deliver His people during the period of the judges (thirteen if Barak is counted). God then raised up two other judges (Eli and Samuel) right before the selection of Saul to be king, that is, right before the establishment of the monarchy. The judges were:
|⇒ Othniel (Judges 3:7-11) |
|⇒ Ehud (3:12-30) |
|⇒ Shamgar (3:31) |
|⇒ Deborah and Barak (4:1-5:31) |
|⇒ Gideon (6:1-8:35) |
|⇒ Tola (10:1-2) |
|⇒ Jair (10:3-5) |
|⇒ Jephthah (10:6-11:40) |
|⇒ Ibzan (12:8-10) |
|⇒ Elon (12:11-12) |
|⇒ Abdon (12:13-15) |
|⇒ Samson (13:1-16:31) |
|⇒ Eli (1 Samuel 1:1f) |
|⇒ Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1f) |
6. Repeating their evil was the sixth mark of Israel's inconsistent life, their carnal failure (2:17). Once the enemy had been defeated, the Israelites settled down to live in their new-found peace and freedom. But tragically, they became spiritually lax and complacent just as they had done before.
a. In their complacency, the Israelites refused to listen to the counsel of their judges. They soon began to rejoin their neighbors in their community socials and festivals of worship.
b. In God's eyes, the Israelites committed spiritual adultery. They played the harlot, prostituting and giving themselves over to false gods. They had professed to love the Lord and had made a covenant to live for the Lord and for Him alone. But here they were once again playing the harlot. Just as before, they were engaging in false worship, giving themselves over to false gods.
c. Note when the people committed spiritual adultery against the Lord: shockingly, right after God's deliverance. Almost immediately—right after God delivered the people—they "quickly" turned away and disobeyed God's commandments (2:17).
d.But again, God repeated His deliverance. He always raised up another judge to deliver His people from their enemies (2:18). Why would God continue to deliver His people when they cut His heart so deeply, time and again? Note what Scripture says: because of His compassion. His heart reached out in compassion to help those who groaned or cried out to Him for deliverance.
7. A continued cycle of progressive sin and failure—of progressive corruption and degeneration—was the seventh mark of Israel's inconsistent life, their carnal failure (2:19). God's deliverance should have stirred the people to obey and serve Him more faithfully than before. But their commitment to God was short-lived. The people's cry and confession to God was only a temporary, brief, fleeting repentance. As soon as a judge died and passed from the scene, the people returned to their sinful, evil ways. And note: with each act of turning, they became more corrupt than ever before. Their sin became progressively worse, their evil increasing more and more, becoming more degenerate and depraved, adding corruption upon corruption and sin upon sin.
Note what Scripture says. The Israelites followed, served, and worshiped false gods. They committed two gross evils: they became enslaved to false worship, and they refused to give up their evil practices and sinful ways. They wanted to do what they wanted, when they wanted, as they wanted. And they refused to change.
The result: their hearts became more and more hardened, progressively more stubborn against God. Sin and evil grew more deeply rooted in their lives and behavior
Thought 1. Now and then, as we walk day by day throughout life, some of us slip and fall into some sin. The attractiveness, enticement, and seduction of the sin looks good. Once we partake of the sin, it tastes good and feels good. Thus, we continue to engage in the sin, and often the result is tragic: we become enslaved to the sin. We know it is wrong, and we want to break its power over us. The sin may be...
• loving money or some possession
• coveting some person, place, or thing
• seeking position, power, or fame
• being a glutton—simply eating more than we should time and again
• being addicted to alcohol or drugs
• indulging in comfort and slothfulness
• being indifferent and cold toward a spouse
• abusing a child or spouse, physically or verbally
• committing adultery or some other immoral act
• looking at pornography
Whatever the sin, there is a desire within us to break it. We know the sin is wrong, so much so that we often confess it and determine to forsake it. We become sick, disgusted over living an up-and-down, compromising, inconsistent life. But before long, the seduction of the sin attacks us again, and we slip and fall right back into the indulgence of the sin. We find that we are once again entrapped in the clutch of its pleasure and cannot break loose. Even the Tempter, Satan himself, tells us this: "You cannot break the habit, the sin. It is too strong. Why quit it anyway? It is not all that bad, not that great a sin. And it is so enjoyable. Anyway, it is not hurting anyone—just so others don't know about it. God can't object too much. He will not cut you off because of the sin. You are eternally secure. You aren't going to lose your salvation over the sin. You know that, don't you?"
The present passage deals only with the cycle of sin in the believer's life, not with the power to break the cycle. But because of the importance of conquering sin in the believer's life, the subject is being dealt with in this present thought.
Once the believer has slipped and fallen into sin—once he is continuing in sin, committing some sin day by day—what can he do? How can he break the grasp, the power of sin upon his life?
1) The believer must heed the teaching of Scripture: he is not to continue in sin. This is the strong teaching of Romans 6:11-13. Because of its importance, both the Scripture and outline are given here.
2) The believer must flee and abstain from all sin.
a) He must flee, abstain from all sinful, fleshly lusts that war against the soul.
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11).
b) He must flee, abstain even from the appearance of evil.
"Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
c) He must flee from idolatry—all forms of false worship.
"Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14).
d) He must flee from immorality.
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (1 Corinthians 6:18).
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
e) He must flee from youthful lusts.
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22).
f) He must flee from greed and the love of money and pursue the things of God.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (1 Timothy 6:10-11).
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17).
3) The believer must heed the strong warnings of Scripture. Just a few follow:
a) There is the warning against trusting works to make us acceptable to God.
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).
b) There is the warning against trusting our confession to make us acceptable to God.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
c) There is the warning against returning to the world and its entanglements.
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them" (2 Peter 2:20-21).
d) There is the warning against being a castaway, disqualified.
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27).
e) There is the warning against neglecting our salvation, against drifting away from salvation.
"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation" (Hebrews 2:1-3).
f) There is the warning against unbelief, against hardening one's heart.
"So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:11-12).
"And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:18-19; see 3:7-19).
g) There is the warning against missing God's rest.
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it" (Hebrews 4:1; see 4:2-13).
h) There is the warning against falling away.
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6).
i) There is the warning against sinning deliberately, willfully—against withdrawing from Christ and committing apostasy.
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26-27).
j) There is the warning against being closed-minded, refusing to hear Jesus Christ.
"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven....For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:25, 29).
Thought 2. God does chastise or discipline His people when they continue to sin. He chastises the believer when he goes on and on in sin, committing the same sin day after day. But chastisement is for a very specific purpose: to drive the believer to his knees, arousing him to turn back to God. It is the suffering of chastisement that shows a believer the error of his way, that drives him to cry out to God for deliverance. And when a believer cries out to God in sincerity and repentance, God delivers him. This is the clear teaching of Scripture:
1) God chastises or disciplines the believer.
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).
"For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:30-32).
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us....And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:1, 5-6).
"Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all" (Hebrews 12:9-11).
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).
"Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee" (Deuteronomy 8:5).
"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law" (Psalms 94:12).
"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
2) God hears the sincere prayer of a person who repents and cries out to Him for help.
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9).
"Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee" (Acts 8:22).
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Psalms 34:6).
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalms 61:2).
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (Psalms 91:15).
"Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity" (Isaiah 58:9).
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God" (Zechariah 13:9).
"Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 18:31).
"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning" (Joel 2:12).
Thought 3. Warren Wiersbe gives an excellent description on the cycle of sin that grips the believer:
The Jews eventually became so accustomed to the sinful ways of their pagan neighbors that those ways didn't seem sinful any more. The Jews then became interested in how their neighbors worshiped, until finally Israel started to live like their enemies and imitate their ways. For believers today, the first step away from the Lord is "friendship with the world" (James 4:4, nkjv), which then leads to our being spotted by the world (1:27). The next step is to "love the world" (1 John 2:15) and gradually become "conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2). This can lead to being "condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:32), the kind of judgment that came to Lot (Genesis 19), Samson (Judges 16), and Saul (1 Samuel 15, 31).
To help the reader, the steps are outlined below:
THE STEPS TO FORSAKING THE LORD
1. The first step to forsaking the Lord is friendship with the world.
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4).
2. The second step to forsaking the Lord is being spotted by the world.
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).
3. The third step to forsaking the Lord is loving the world.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
4. The fourth step to forsaking the Lord is being conformed to this world.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2).
5. The fifth step to forsaking the Lord is being condemned with the world.
"But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:32).
a. Lot was condemned with the world (Genesis 19).
b. Samson was condemned with the world (Judges 16).
c. Saul was condemned with the world (1 Samuel 15, 31).
DEEPER STUDY #2 (2:11-19) Chart, Cycle of Israel's Inconsistency— Inconsistent Life, Cycle of— History, of Israel in the Promised Land— Israel, Failure of— Israel, Repeated Cycle of Inconsistency
4. (2:20-23) Judgment, Basis and Cause of— Tests, Purpose of— God, Response to Sin— Sin, Result of— Israel, Judgment of: there was the response of God to continued sin. God judged and tested His people. Note that a hard, stubborn heart that refuses to give up sin angers the Lord, arouses His fury and judgment. This fact is so important that it is stressed three times in this passage (2:12, 14, 20). God took three actions against sinful, corrupt Israel:
1. God leveled two strong charges against the Israelites. First, they had broken their covenant with Him. They had made a covenant to love, obey, and serve God. But they had played the harlot. They had prostituted themselves, turning away from Him to false gods.
Second, they had not listened to Him. They had willfully, deliberately disobeyed God. They had broken His commandments.
2. God pronounced the judgment to be executed against His people. They had rejected Him, turned away from Him to the world; therefore, they would have the world. They could no longer have His presence and guidance with them. God's help would no longer be present to drive out the enemies who confronted them. They would have to face their enemies all alone. No more victories would be achieved; no more of the promised land would be conquered. The victorious life would no longer be experienced by the Israelites.
3. Note why God pronounced this particular judgment upon Israel: to test His people, to prove who the real believers were (2:22-23). The constant oppression of enemies…
• would drive true believers to turn to God in faith and hope, crying out to Him.
• would cause false believers and professed unbelievers to expose their self-sufficiency and hardness of heart.
Thought 1. God tests us. If we continue in some sin—continue to walk and live in some sin—God will chastise us and use the chastisement to test us. He will test our faith and commitment, see if we really mean what we profess. God will make sure we really believe in Him, that our confession is genuine.
1) God will test us in order to prove that our faith in Christ is genuine and that our faith will be to His praise.
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7).
2) God will test us to expose any wickedness in us.
"Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress" (Psalms 17:3).
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalms 139:23-24).
3) God will test us in order to purge and purify us.
"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness" (Malachi 3:3).
4) God will test us in order to humble us and prove whether or not we will keep His commandments.
"And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no" (Deuteronomy 8:2).
5) God will test us in order to expose every work or deed we have done.
"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" (1 Corinthians 3:13).
6) God will test us in order to prove just how much we love Him.
"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (Genesis 22:1-2).
7) God will test us in order to strengthen our endurance and perseverance.
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience" (James 1:2-3).
8) God will test us in order to prove our faith in miracles.
"When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do" (John 6:5-6).
9) God will test us in order to refine us, to make us stronger witnesses for Him.
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God" (Zechariah 13:9).
5. (3:1-6) Test, Purpose of— Israel, Sins of— Israel, Judgment of— Israel, Sins of— Failure, of Israel: there was the clearly stated purpose of God in testing His people. God tested His people to see who would really obey and follow Him. This passage spells out four significant points:
1. The Israelites who were to be tested were identified as those who had not yet experienced fighting against the enemy, who had not yet conquered any of the promised land. This refers to all generations of Israelites who succeeded Joshua, all who had not learned to fight in the conquest of the promised land. The Expositor's Bible Commentary says this:
These new generations of Israelites had not participated in Joshua's wars of occupation and needed to learn how to fight (3:2). Israel would one day confront major powers like Egypt and Assyria; so the smaller wars against the nations of Canaan provided valuable training. David, for example, not only fought against the Philistines but lived among them and learned their military skills.
It seems strange to find God using the Canaanites both to punish and to teach Israel. Yet this was part of His sovereign action....The Canaanite presence in the land also kept the Israelites from being overrun with wild animals (Exod 23:29-30).
The New American Commentary says:
This generation needs to learn that they have been called to a holy war, that Yahweh is the commander-in-chief, and that the enemy is to be totally exterminated.
2. The enemies who were to test God's people are listed (3:3). They included the five rulers of the Philistines, the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites (3:3).
3. The purpose of God in testing His people is repeated here. God tested His people to prove who would really obey His commandments (3:4).
4. The result of God's test was most tragic: the Israelites failed and disobeyed God (3:5-6). They committed three very serious evils:
a. The Israelites lived among the worldly (3:5). They refused to drive out the enemies of the promised land. Instead, they coveted the lifestyles and ways of their neighbors. They coveted the pleasures and wealth of the Canaanites; consequently, they sought to engage in fellowship and trade with them. The Israelites disobeyed God: they refused to live a life of separation from the worldly of the earth, a life devoted to God and His righteousness. Note that the Israelites lived among six nations scattered all over Israel. This emphasizes the fact that all the Israelite tribes were guilty of this very serious offense against God.
b. The Israelites compromised with the worldly by intermarrying with the Canaanites (3:6). God had clearly and forcefully forbidden intermarriage:
"When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly" (Deuteronomy 7:1-4).
"Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you" (Joshua 23:11-13).
Why had God been so forceful in forbidding intermarriage? Because the effect of intermarriage is serious: through intermarriage, two distinct people or races become one people (Genesis 34:16).
If the Israelites intermarried with the Canaanites, they would lose their identity. They would no longer be the distinct people of God…
• chosen to live holy lives of righteousness
• chosen to be His witnesses to the lost of the world, proclaiming that He is the Lord, the only living and true God
Some of the Israelites failed God—miserably failed Him. They married worldly wives and husbands, the women and men of the Canaanites. The result was tragic, as is seen throughout the book of Judges (8:29-9:57; 11:1f; 14:1-16:31).
c. The Israelites engaged in false worship and idolatry (3:6). (See outline—♣ Judges 2:1-5; outline—♣ 2:11-19 and notes—♣Judges 2:1-5; notes—♣2:11-19 for more discussion.)
Thought 1. God tested the Israelites in order to see just who would obey and follow Him. Obedience is what God is after. God longs for a people who will obey Him. Why? Because obedience is the evidence of love, not profession. If a person says that he follows God but does not obey Him, this person does not love God. He is making a false profession. But if a person obeys God—does what God says—this person loves God. This is true even in human relationships. If we truly love a person, we gladly do what they ask.
For this reason God tested His people to prove who loved Him. The Israelites had to be shown who really trusted and obeyed God. They had to see the error (sin) of their way and confess it and change (repent) before they could ever become acceptable to God.
So it is with us. We prove our love for God, prove that we really know Him as our Savior and Lord, by our obedience. This is the strong declaration of Scripture.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24-27).
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21).
"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23).
"But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence" (John 14:31).
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10).
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 21).
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deuteronomy 6:5).
"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 10:12).
"O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer" (Psalms 31:23).
DEEPER STUDY #1
(2:6-10) Chart, of Israel— History, of Israel, In the Promised Land: Daniel I. Block gives a simple chart that helps the reader grasp the early history of Israel within the promised land. He divides the early history of Israel into three periods:
|Era |Characteristic |Israel's Response |
|The days of Joshua |The time of Yahweh's great work |They served Yahweh. |
| | | |
|The days of the elders who survived |The memory of Yahweh's great work |They served Yahweh. |
|Joshua | | |
| | | |
|The days after the surviving witnesses |They did not know the great work of |They did not serve Yahweh. |
| |Yahweh. | |
| | | |
DEEPER STUDY #2
(2:11-19) Chart, Cycle of Israel's Inconsistency— Inconsistent Life, Cycle of— History, of Israel in the Promised Land— Israel, Failure of— Israel, Repeated Cycle of Inconsistency: the cycle of a compromising, inconsistent life was a downward spiral for the Israelites. Spiritually, morally, and politically they eventually collapsed. This catastrophic tragedy will be witnessed in the last five chapters of the book. For now, the repeated cycle can be graphically seen in the following chart:
Sin, Evil-Forsaking God
----------------------------->
Peace \ /
and \ / Deliverance
Rest \ /
-------------------------------->
Chastisement Distress
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATEDCYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
(3:7-16:31) DIVISION OVERVIEW—Chastisement, of God—Discipline, of God: this section is the main body of the book, the story of the judges, the men and women who delivered the Israelites from their oppressors. Thirteen judges (counting Barak) are covered in this section. Seven judges are discussed in some detail. For this reason they are called the Major Judges. Only brief information is given on the six other judges who are known as the Minor Judges.
|Major Judges |Minor Judges |
|⇒ Othniel (3:7-11) |⇒ Shamgar (3:31) |
|⇒ Ehud (3:12-30) |⇒ Tola (10:1-2) |
|⇒ Deborah and Barak (4:1-5:31) |⇒ Jair (10:3-5) |
|⇒ Gideon (6:1-8:35) |⇒ Ibzan (12:8-10) |
|⇒ Jephthah (10:6-12:7) |⇒ Elon (12:11-12) |
|⇒ Samson (13:1-16:31) |⇒ Abdon (12:13-15) |
Historically, the thrust of this section is to record the spiritual and moral decline of the Israelites, and to show the tragic, terrible consequences of rejecting God.
When God's people turned away from Him to follow the compromising, permissive ways and false worship of the world, God was forced to discipline His people. He had to chastise them to keep them from destroying themselves. Following the ways of the world included not only the pleasures, comfort, and wealth of the world, it included the evil of the world in all its divisiveness, addictions, greed, immorality, lawlessness, and violence. And the evil of the world destroys both body and soul. Therefore, God had no choice: He had to save His people from destruction. The Israelites had to be disciplined, driven to their knees so they would cry out for deliverance and return to the Lord.
This is the story of this division. It shows how God used seven oppressive nations to deliver His people from their brutal oppression. The Book of Judges is to be a constant warning to the Israelites and to all of God's people: they must guard against rejecting God, against stepping away from Him.
Several facts should be noted as this division is studied:
( There is a progressive decline in the Israelites during the judges. There seems to be a spiritual degeneration and corruption that grow worse and worse as the scene moves from judge to judge.
( The repeated cycle of a compromising, inconsistent life is exposed time and again as the scene moves from judge to judge. This stands as a permanent warning against continuing in sin, against an inconsistent, up and down life before God.
|The cycle is... |Then the cycle is repeated |
| |time and again... |
|• sin |• sin |
|• chastisement |• chastisement |
|• distress |• distress |
|• prayer |• prayer |
|• deliverance |• deliverance |
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATEDCYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
A. The Deliverance by Othniel: A Man Who Was Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, 3:7-11
B. The Deliverance by Ehud: A Left-handed or Disabled Man of Great Faith—a Man Who Trusted God to Guide Him Step by Step, 3:12-30
C. The Deliverance by Shamgar: A Physically Fit, Courageous Farmer, 3:31
D. The Deliverance by Deborah and Barak (Part 1): A Courageous Woman and a Reluctant Military Commander, 4:1-24
E. The Deliverance by Deborah and Barak (Part 2): A Great Song of Victory, 5:1-31
F. The Deliverance by Gideon (Part 1): A Young Man Who Had a Weak, Wavering Faith That Constantly Tested God, 6:1-32
G. The Deliverance by Gideon (Part 2): A Picture of Weak, Wavering but Victorious Faith—through the Encouragement of God, 6:33-7:25
H. The Deliverance by Gideon (Part 3): The Strengths and Weaknesses of an Inconsistent Life, 8:1-35
I. The Illegal, Renegade King, Abimelech: The Event That Shows Just How Corrupt the Israelites Had Become, 9:1-57
J. The Deliverance by Tola: A Man from an Unknown Family—Humble Beginnings—Who Rescued His People, 10:1-2
K. The Deliverance by Jair: A Powerful But Worldly Man, 10:3-5
L. The Deliverance by Jephthah (Part 1): The Constant Cycle of a Compromising, Inconsistent Life, 10:6-18
M. The Deliverance by Jephthah (Part 2): An Illegitimate Child Who (as a Man) Was Chosen by God to Deliver His People, 11:1-12:7
N. The Rule by Ibzan: A Worldly Man Who Corrupted His Family through Intermarriage with Unbelievers, 12:8-10
O. The Rule by Elon: A Man Who Left No Significant Legacy, 12:11-12
P. The Rule by Abdon: A Man Who Wasted His Opportunity, 12:13-15
Q. The Deliverance by Samson (Part 1): A Child with Unbelievable Promise, 13:1-25
R. The Deliverance by Samson (Part 2): Samson and His Philistine Wife—A Man of Worldly Compromise and Selfish Interests, 14:1-20
S. The Deliverance by Samson (Part 3): Samson and His Vengeance on the Philistines—a Man of Bitter Anger and Revenge, 15:1-20
T. The Deliverance by Samson (Part 4): Samson and Delilah—A Man of Loose Morals Who Betrayed and Destroyed Himself, 16:1-31
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
A. The Deliverance by Othniel: A Man Who Was Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, 3:7-11
(3:7-11) Introduction: when fighting a war, certain resources are necessary to be victorious. An army needs resources such as strong and well-trained soldiers, weapons and ammunition, transport vehicles, supply lines, a well-thought-out strategy, and a host of other resources. But there is one resource that is an absolute essential in order for any army to be victorious: the spirit and courage of each of its soldiers. Unless a soldier has the spirit to fight, he becomes a reluctant warrior, fearful and unbelieving, fainthearted and cowardly. He begins to shrink back from the battle and defeat is inevitable. The spirit of a soldier is the most important ingredient for victory in any battle. This is the subject of the present passage of Scripture. It is the story of the first great judge or deliverer raised up by God, a man named Othniel. For eight long years, the Israelites had suffered under the cruel, savage brutality of a foreign invader. The Israelites had been conquered and enslaved, suffering the humiliation, pain, agony, and brutality of subjection—unbearable brutality and suffering. They simply could bear no more. Consequently, God sent His Spirit upon an officer of the military, empowering him to free the Israelites from their bondage to the foreign power. This is the subject of the present passage of Scripture: The Deliverance by Othniel: A Man Who Was Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, 3:7-11.
1. The marks of evil among God's people (v.7).
2. The reaction of God: judgment, chastisement—executing perfect justice (v.8).
3. The cry to the Lord for help (v.9).
4. The deliverance by the Lord: Raised up a deliverer, Othniel, to save His people (v.9-11).
1. (3:7) Evil, Marks of— Forgetting, the Lord— Worship, False— Idolatry— Sin, Marks of: there were the marks of evil among the Israelites. Scripture declares that the Israelites "did evil in the sight of the Lord." This means...
• that the behavior of the people was evil in the eyes of God
• that God saw their evil, saw exactly what they were doing
God saw the evil that the people were committing. They were not able to escape His eyes. Scripture is very straightforward; their evil was twofold:
1. The first evil was that of forgetting the Lord. The word "forget" or "forgot" (shakach or sakah) means to be distracted from, unmindful of; to disregard, ignore, overlook, not take account of; to lose the memory of because of neglect, inattention, or unconcern.
Tragically, the Israelites became attracted to the prosperity and lifestyle of the Canaanites. They were seduced by their neighbors, enticed to...
• enter treaties and trade agreements with them
• enjoy the bright lights, pleasures, and prosperity they offered
• intermarry with their sons and daughters
• join their neighbors in the fellowship and festivals of their communities and worship
This the Israelites did. They compromised with their worldly neighbors, joined right in and took part in their worldly ways. Soon, the Israelites began to live immoral, unrighteous, and lawless lives just like their worldly neighbors. And most tragic of all, they began to commit the second evil spelled out by Scripture.
2. The second evil was that of worshipping other gods. The Israelites began to participate and engage in the false religions of their neighbors, the worship of the Baals and the Asherahs.
When an Israelite married an unbelieving neighbor, it was just a short step for the Israelite to join the spouse in his or her false worship.
This was one of the major causes of false worship, that of intermarriage with the worldly Canaanites. The Israelites married worldly, unbelieving husbands and wives. This was in direct opposition to God's holy command (Genesis 24:3; 26:34-35; 27:46; Exodus 34:14-16; Deuteronomy 7:2-5; Joshua 23:11-13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
God had called Abraham and his descendants—all generations of Israelites—to be His holy people, a people who were set apart and totally committed to follow Him. The Israelites were to be God's witnesses, His missionary force upon the earth. They were to be distinctive and different in that they lived holy lives, lives that were moral, just, and righteous. They were to bear strong testimony to the world, that the Lord was Jehovah, Yahweh, the only living and true God.
But what happened was tragic. Right after Joshua's death, the Israelites lost their distinctiveness. They compromised with the worldly Canaanites...
• participating in their immoral, unrighteous, and covetous lifestyle
• intermarrying with their sons and daughters
• sharing in their false worship
As God's people shared more and more with their worldly neighbors, they withdrew more and more from the Lord, spending less and less time thinking about the Lord. Finally, they became cold and distant from the Lord, and He faded from their memory. They had forgotten the Lord and were now totally engaged in false worship. Forgetting the Lord (giving little or no thought to Him) and worshipping false gods were the evils committed by the Israelites.
Thought 1. If we compromise with the world, two things will happen.
1) We will forget and forsake God. We cannot keep our minds on God and on the world at the same time. We either love God or love mammon (the world). A worldly lifestyle—immorality, lawlessness, injustice, wickedness—shows that we have forgotten God, forsaken Him for the ways of the world.
"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:66-69).
"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" (Hebrews 2:1-3).
"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever" (2 Peter 2:14-17).
"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons" (Deuteronomy 4:9).
"Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" (Deuteronomy 6:12).
"Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more" (Judges 10:13).
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psalms 9:17).
"Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver" (Psalms 50:22).
"They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had showed them" (Psalms 78:10-11).
"And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor" (Isaiah 51:13).
"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13).
"A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the Lord their God" (Jeremiah 3:21).
"O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters" (Jeremiah 17:13).
2) We will commit false worship. If we compromise with the worldly of this earth, then we will begin to worship the gods of this world, the gods created by the imaginations of men. We will be led to join them in their religion of unbelief and denial, of worshipping the false messiahs and saviors of this world. Our commitment will be to nothing more than the thought of some person's imaginations.
"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device" (Acts 17:29).
"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23).
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (1 John 5:21).
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4).
"Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 26:1).
"Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" (Deuteronomy 11:16).
"I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8).
2. (3:8) Chastisement— Judgment, Judicial— Israel, Oppression— Cushan-Rishathaim: there was the reaction of God against Israel. He chastised or executed a just judgment against them.
The Lord burned with anger against the Israelites because of their sin. False worship and apostasy—turning away from God, forgetting Him and refusing to acknowledge Him—were the terrible sins committed against God. His holiness and righteousness were violated. Consequently, God became hot. He burned with anger. The Israelites had desired the ways of the world; therefore, God "sold" them, gave them over to the ways of the world. The word "sold" (makar) is used four times throughout Judges. It means to sell as a slave; to give or hand over a person to someone else (2:14; 3:8; 4:2; 10:7).
The Israelites had become enslaved to the world; therefore, God "sold them," gave them up to become slaves to the world. War broke out, and the Israelites were conquered by a foreign enemy. The enemy was Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia or Aram Naharaim, which means "between the two rivers," referring to the Tigris and Euphrates.
The enemy, Cushan-Rishathaim, was a powerful king, probably a "world-class emperor." He was not simply the king of a small nation who formed an alliance with a few Canaanite city-states to oppress Israel. His country was Mesopotamia, which lay north of Israel or Canaan; whereas Judah was in the south of Canaan. This means that the enemy was forced to march and conquer all the tribes down to Judah. All Israel was most likely held in the grip of this mighty oppressor for eight long years. Just imagine! Suffering year after year...
• of bondage, never being free
• of poverty and hunger
• of having one's crops and possessions stolen
• of having one's spouse and children mistreated and abused
• of having one's home and property destroyed and being over-taxed
• of slavery, never being at liberty to travel, build, develop, or express oneself
The Israelites were oppressed for eight years, eight long years. Evil was destroying them, the evil that they themselves had committed and the evil enslavement of the wicked oppressor. The Israelites had sown the ways of the world, and now they were reaping the oppressive ways of the world.
Thought 1. God does chastise us. He chastises us by "selling us," giving us up to whatever we choose. We reap exactly what we sow. If we choose the ways of the world, we will reap the ways of the world, both the good and the bad. And eventually we will reap the inevitable harvest of the world, death itself.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).
"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:8).
"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Romans 1:24-32).
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:13).
"He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail" (Proverbs 22:8).
"Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same" (Job 4:8).
"For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind" (Hosea 8:7).
3. (3:9) Prayer— Crying, to God: there was the cry to the Lord for help. The torture, pain, anguish, and agony—all the affliction and torment of the Canaanite oppressor—drove the Israelites to their knees. They reached the point where they could bear no more. Finally, they humbled themselves and turned to the Lord, crying out for help.
Thought 1. Not only does God see our pain and suffering, every hurt we bear, but He also hears our cry for help.
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
"And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage" (Exodus 2:23).
"And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord" (Exodus 14:10).
"And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me" (Exodus 17:4).
"And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother" (Judges 3:9).
"And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel" (Judges 4:3).
"And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites" (Judges 6:7).
"And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son" (1 Kings 17:20).
"And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him" (1 Chronicles 5:20).
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
"And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets" (2 Chronicles 13:14).
"And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee" (2 Chronicles 14:11).
"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Psalms 34:6).
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalms 61:2).
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (Psalms 91:15).
"Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity" (Isaiah 58:9).
"Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease" (Lamentations 2:18).
4. (3:9-11) Deliverance— Salvation— Othniel, Judge— Judges, of Israel: there was the deliverance by the Lord. He heard the cry of His people and raised up a deliverer to save them. This is exactly what Scripture says:
The deliverer raised up by God was Othniel, son of Kenaz, who was Caleb's brother. During the early days of Israel's great war of conquest, Othniel had proven to be a courageous soldier (Judges 1:11-13). He had accepted the challenge of his commanding officer Caleb, the challenge for some young officer to step forth and lead the attack against the fortress city of Debir. Othniel attacked and conquered the impregnable fortress.
Now, after the death of Joshua and Caleb, God chose Othniel to be the first deliverer of His people. Note three facts:
1. Othniel was especially equipped by God: the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (3:10). This simply means that the presence, the power, and the assurance of God filled him. God gave Othniel a great sense...
• of His presence and power
• of the absolute assurance of victory
Note that the Spirit is said to come upon four judges or deliverers:
|• Othniel (3:10) |
|• Gideon (6:34) |
|• Jephthah (11:29) |
|• Samson (14:6, 19; 15:14) |
2. Othniel became Israel's first judge (deliverer) and fought against the enemy. Note the impact of the statement, the sense of an immediate response to the coming of God's Spirit: the Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel and he became Israel's deliverer and immediately went to war. The result was victory. Victory was assured by the presence and power of God's Spirit. Through God's Spirit, the enemy was defeated, overpowered by Othniel, the first deliverer of God's people.
3. Othniel brought peace to Israel for 40 years. For an entire generation, God's people lived in peace. They were able to rebuild their homes, grow and reap the harvest of their crops, and build a strong economy. No longer did they fear the assault and abuse of their property or of their wives and children.
The presence of God's Spirit brought a great sense of security to God's people. Othniel served as judge for the remaining 40 years of his life. Keep in mind that the function of the judge was to serve both as a military deliverer and as a civil authority who managed the affairs of the nation. It was, no doubt, the presence of God's Spirit that gave spiritual leadership to Othniel. It was certainly his spiritual leadership that brought a 40-year peace to the people. For as we shall soon see, right after his death, the people once again turned away from God.
Thought 1. We must be filled with God's Spirit. God's Spirit within us—His presence and power—makes us more than conquerors throughout life. This is the strong declaration of Scripture:
1) God's Spirit gives us the truth of God's Word and helps us remember His Word.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26).
2) God's Spirit comforts us.
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:16-17).
3) God's Spirit empowers us to bear witness for Christ.
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning" (John 15:26-27).
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4).
"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel" (Acts 4:8).
"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole" (Acts 4:10).
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31).
4) God's Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" (John 16:7-11).
5) God's Spirit bears within us the fruit of God's nature.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).
6) God's Spirit transports us into heaven, right into the presence of Christ and of God's glory.
"But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55).
7) God's Spirit produces a strong testimony of righteousness and goodness, a testimony that others see.
"For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord" (Acts 11:24).
8) God's Spirit floods our hearts with joy.
"And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 13:52).
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
9) God's Spirit fills us with victorious, triumphant power, the power to conquer any and all enemies that seek to defeat and destroy us.
"Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
Thought 2. God will deliver us from all oppression of the enemy, no matter who or what the enemy is. This is also the strong declaration of Scripture:
1) God delivers us from the enemies of temptations and trials, all temptations and trials.
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
2) God delivers us from the enemy of death.
"Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;" (2 Corinthians 1:10).
3) God delivers us from the enemy of evil works.
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:18).
4) God delivers us from the enemy himself, Satan, and from his power over death.
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).
5) God delivers us from the enemy of poverty.
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).
6) God delivers us from the enemy of snares and traps and of deadly pestilences or plagues.
"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence" (Psalms 91:3).
7) God delivers us from the enemy of fear and dismay.
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
8) God delivers us from the enemy of dread and hopelessness of old age.
"And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" (Isaiah 46:4).
9) God delivers us from the enemies who mock and persecute us.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 1:8).
10) God Himself is our great Deliverer.
"And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer" (2 Samuel 22:2).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
B. The Deliverance by Ehud: A Left-handed or Disabled Man of Great Faith—a Man Who Trusted God to Guide Him Step by Step, 3:12-30
(3:12-30) Introduction: serious problems sometimes confront us as we walk throughout life. We occasionally come to dark alleys that we are forced to take; they cannot be bypassed. As we walk through the shadows and darkness of these alleys, the uncertainty of what lies ahead can be terrifying. For as we grope along, we are confronted with such problems as...
• some physical disability or handicap
• accident or disease
• money shortage or bankruptcy
• abuse or assault
• unemployment or lack of training
• poverty or devastation
• some addiction or bondage
• depression or loneliness
• guilt or mental anguish
• lack of purpose or fulfillment
Such dark alleys—severe problems—are confronted by every human being sometime during his life. But there is hope of conquest, of overcoming all problems, no matter how severe. This is the promise of God in His Holy Word. And this is the great picture painted by the present Scripture. It is a picture of a man who trusted God to lead him step by step as he sought to deliver the Israelites from enslavement to an invading nation, the Edomites. This is the study of the second great judge or deliverer raised up by God to deliver His people from oppression: The Deliverance by Ehud: A Left-handed or Disabled Man of Great Faith—a Man Who Trusted God to Guide Him Step by Step, 3:12-30.
1. The mark of failure among God's people: sin, evil (v.12).
2. The reaction of God: judgment, chastisement (v.12-14)
3. The cry to the Lord for help (v.15).
4. The deliverance by the Lord: Raised up a left-handed, Ehud,to save His people (v.15-30).
1. (3:12) Evil, Marks of— God, Sees All— Backsliding— Worship, False— Idolatry— Ignoring, the Lord— Sin, Marks of: the mark of failure among the Israelites was gross sin and evil. After the death of the first judge and deliverer Othniel, the Israelites began to backslide. Once again, they turned away from God and became immersed in the permissive, compromising lifestyle of the world.
Prosperity and pleasure became the focus of this new generation of Israelites. As they began to look around at their Canaanite neighbors, coveting the things of the world instead of the things of God, they turned their focus upon...
|• material possessions |
|• wealth |
|• pleasures |
|• fleshly stimulations |
|• recognition |
|• fame |
|• position |
|• power |
The Israelites chose the ways of the world instead of the ways of God. Consequently, they began to live like their worldly neighbors, intermarrying with their sons and daughters and sharing in their false worship. They turned away from the Lord, ignoring and forgetting Him. Instead of giving their time and energy to the things of God that last eternally, they gave themselves over to the temporary pleasures and gods of their neighbors—the false pleasures and gods that last only for a brief time.
Note that this evil was done "in the sight or eyes of the Lord." God saw the evil. It was not hidden from Him. He knew exactly what His people were doing: backsliding, turning away from Him to the false pleasures and gods of this world. Nothing, no deed, was hidden from His eyes. He knew exactly what was happening. His people were failing, disobeying His direct commandment to drive the enemy out of the promised land. Instead of actually driving them out, His people were compromising with the enemy. And even worse than compromising, His people were adopting the lifestyle of the Canaanite enemies. They were actually engaging in the covetous, greedy, immoral, and lawless behavior of their neighbors. Sin and evil were the marks of the Israelite failure before God.
Thought 1. God had clearly commanded the Israelites to drive out the enemy from the promised land. But instead of obeying God, the Israelites became attracted by the lifestyle and economic wealth of the Canaanites. Consequently, they began to compromise with the Canaanites and allow them to live in the promised land. The result was tragic. The Israelites began to live just like their Canaanite neighbors. Greed, immorality, pleasure, comfort, fleshly stimulation—a permissive lifestyle—began to dominate their lives. The Israelites became a permissive, compromising people, a people who had turned away from God to the false ways and gods of this world.
Compromise—a permissive lifestyle—is always the danger that confronts God's people. The bright lights and pleasures of this world—money, houses, land, possessions; recognition, honor, fame, position, and power—all these things are attractive to the human eye and flesh. And some degree of all these things is either necessary or enjoyable throughout life. But focusing upon these things to the extent that we forget God is sin. It is evil in the sight of God. God is to be the primary focus in life. When we make Him the focus, all the necessities of life are provided for us. God sees that no need ever goes unmet in any true believer's life. For this reason, we must never live a compromising, permissive lifestyle of sin and evil.
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (Luke 21:34).
"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40).
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2).
"And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away" (1 Corinthians 7:31).
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Timothy 2:3-4).
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19).
"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:24-25).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment" (Exodus 23:2).
"Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise" (Deuteronomy 12:30).
"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11).
2. (3:12-14) Chastisement, of God— Discipline, of God, Causes of— Judgment, Judicial— Israel, Oppression— Reaction, of God— Eglon, King of Moab: chastisement or judgment was the reaction of God against the evil of His people. God is holy, dwelling in pure, righteous perfection. He cannot look upon evil, cannot allow sin or evil to dwell in His presence. For this reason, God is forced to judge or chastise any person and all people who commit evil, in particular His own people who profess to know Him. Note the judgment, the chastisement executed against the Israelites because of their terrible evil:
1. God gave the necessary military power to the king of Moab to conquer Israel (3:12-13). The king was Eglon, a very fat or obese man (3:22). King Eglon had formed an alliance with the Ammonites and Amalekites against Israel. These three nations were actually ancient relatives of the Israelites who were located beyond the East Jordan tribes. The Moabites and Ammonites were descendants of Lot, the nephew of Abraham (Genesis 19:30-38); and the Amalekites were the descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:12, 16; Deuteronomy 25:17-19). As the enemy alliance made its westward thrust to the Jordan River, the Moabite alliance obviously conquered the East Jordan tribes. Once the enemy alliance had crossed the Jordan River, the army conquered the City of Palms or Jericho, and the king established his headquarters there. Keep in mind that Joshua had destroyed and cursed Jericho (Joshua 6:26); however, it had obviously been rebuilt sometime later. Jericho was an ideal strategic location for the enemy's military headquarters.
2. The Moabite alliance subjected and oppressed the Israelites for eighteen long years. No doubt, the oppression included taxation, the confiscation of crops and possessions, bondage and enslavement, brutality and murder, abuse of children and spouse, and sexual assaults.
Note this fact: the Israelites had chosen the ways of the world over the ways of God. Consequently, they experienced the ways of the world, including both the world's pleasures and oppressions. They reaped exactly what they had sown (Galatians 6:7-8). They had forsaken God, turned away from Him; consequently, they were forced to live without God. By choosing the world, they received both the world with all its pleasure as well as all its evil and oppressive ways. They suffered and bore the judicial, just judgment of God, suffered exactly what they had chosen and deserved.
Thought 1. If we compromise with the world, choosing the world over God, then we will bear the ways of the world. We will live without God, without His presence and guidance throughout life. What we sow, we will reap. And God will chastise us. He will discipline us, do all He can to keep us from straying too far away. God will chastise or correct us in order to bring us back to Himself, to keep us from destroying our bodies and souls.
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).
"For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:30-32).
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:5-6).
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).
"Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee" (Deuteronomy 8:5).
"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law" (Psalms 94:12).
"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" (Isaiah 48:10).
3. (3:15) Prayer— Crying, to God— Desperation, Answer to— Oppression, Answer to— Chastisement, Result— Discipline, Result: crying out to the Lord was the result of the chastisement. The conquest of any nation results in the most horrible sufferings and afflictions imaginable for the conquered citizens. And for eighteen long years, the Israelites had been suffering the most inhumane and gruesome oppression possible under the Moabite conquest. Year after year of painful suffering had been borne. Then it happened. The Israelites reached the point where they could bear no more anguish, no more hurt. They broke under the weight of the oppression. And they cried out to the Lord for help.
The chastisement of the Lord had done its work, achieved its purpose. The grip of sin upon the hearts of people was broken, and the people were now crying out to God for deliverance.
Thought 1. The lesson for us is striking: when we become gripped by some sin, we must repent and cry out to God for deliverance. When we cry out to God and repent—turn away from sin and turn to God—God hears our cry. He hears and saves us.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Psalms 34:6).
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalms 61:2).
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (Psalms 91:15).
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).
"Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity" (Isaiah 58:9).
"I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me" (Jeremiah 35:15).
"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die" (Ezekiel 18:21).
"Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up" (Hosea 6:1).
4. (3:15-30) Deliverance, Source— Judges, of Israel— Ehud, Judge of Israel— Israel, Deliverance of— Oppression, Deliverance from— Assassination, of Whom— Commander, Military— Victory, over Enemies: the Lord heard the cry of His people and delivered them from the oppression of the Moabite alliance. He raised up a left-handed or disabled man, Ehud, to save the Israelites. Note that this left-handed and possibly disabled soldier was from the tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin had a military division of 700 soldiers who were ambidextrous, highly skilled in using both hands in slinging stones or in shooting the bow (Judges 20:16; 1 Chronicles 12:2).
But note this fact: the Hebrew reference to Ehud being left-handed (itter) could be translated shut, restricted, handicapped, disabled. Perhaps Ehud was disabled, unable to use his right hand. If so, he is a great encouragement to the handicapped—or to any person with a physical disability. God used him and used him mightily despite his handicap.
It took eighteen long years of chastisement—suffering and distress—to humble and break this new generation of Israelites. But when they humbled themselves and cried out to the Lord for help, He immediately responded by raising up this left-handed (or disabled) deliverer to save His people.
1. Ehud was a man of integrity, a man who could be trusted by the people (3:15). He was highly esteemed—so much so that they appointed him to lead the delegation sent to pay the annual taxes to Eglon, king of the Moabite conquerors. No doubt, the payment of the tribute included a large sum of money, crops or agricultural products, and other valuable commodities (see 2 Kings 3:4). Because of the extreme value of the taxes or tribute, the Israelites had to appoint a person of integrity, a person whom they could completely trust, lest the person steal some of the money or valuables.
Just who was Ehud? What was his job, his profession? What did he do to earn a living? Scripture does not say. All we know about Ehud is what is given in this particular passage of Judges. But note two facts:
⇒ He was most likely left-handed, just as the soldiers were who belonged to the special force unit of Benjamin (Judges 20:16; 1 Chronicles 12:2).
⇒ He was appointed to lead the delegation or soldiers who were sent to protect the tax payment from bandits or thieves as it was being delivered to the Moabite king.
These two facts suggest that Ehud was perhaps the commander or one of the officers of the special force unit of Benjamin's army. Whatever the case, he was a man of integrity, highly esteemed and trusted by the people. The testimony of his life was that of integrity and trustworthiness. Therefore, he was commissioned to deliver the tax payment to the king of the Moabite conquerors.
2. Ehud was a man of unusual, extraordinary courage (3:16). He plotted to personally assassinate the evil king and free Israel. What now happened was a dramatic, suspenseful scene.
a. Ehud made a small, double-edged dagger and hid it under his clothing, strapping it under his right thigh (3:16).
b. Ehud presented the taxes to King Eglon, who was an obese or very fat man. His obesity suggests that he was not only a tyrant, but also a glutton and a man of pleasure, seeking carnal, fleshly stimulation (3:17). King Eglon was not only a ruler who had rejected the Lord, but a ruler who stood guilty of committing injustices against fellow human beings and guilty of undisciplined and uncontrolled personal behavior.
c. Once Ehud and the delegation had presented the tribute, they were dismissed from the king's palace (3:18).
d. When Ehud and his delegation reached the stone quarries or images near Gilgal, he sent the men on ahead, but he himself turned back to return to the palace (3:18-19). Note that Ehud protected the men who were accompanying him. He and he alone was personally to carry out the assassination plot. No other life was to be endangered. Anything could go wrong at any step of the assassination, and he wanted no other life endangered. For this reason, he alone returned to the palace.
e. Ehud arranged for a private audience with King Eglon by declaring that he had a secret message for the king (3:19). Note that the king dismissed his attendants and took Ehud to the cool upper room of his summer palace (3:20). At some point the king arose to hear the secret message as Ehud approached him to quietly whisper it.
f. As the two men reached each other, Ehud quickly drew the hidden dagger from his thigh and plunged it into the king's fat stomach (3:21). Note that the king was so obese that even the handle of the dagger sank in the fat of his stomach (3:22).
g. Ehud quickly escaped from the porch, locking the doors behind him (3:23).
h.After Ehud's escape, the servants were slow to discover their assassinated king (3:24-25). When they found the doors of the upper room locked, they assumed the king was attending to personal needs. Thus they waited to the point of embarrassing concern, and then unlocked the doors. As soon as the door swung open, lying there upon the floor was their assassinated king.
i. Ehud escaped by taking the same route traveled earlier by the delegation. He escaped to safety, back to Israelite territory (3:26).
3. Ehud was a man of great faith, a man who trusted God to guide him step by step (3:27-30). Trusting God is one of the chief traits of Ehud. This is seen in the assassination of the evil tyrant Eglon. Ehud had to trust God step by step in the assassination of the king, for anything could have gone wrong at any point. There was no conceivable way for him to plan every detail of the assassination. Upon his return to the palace, he had to depend upon God to get him back into the palace and to give him an audience with the king without the protection of guards. He had to trust God to prevent a struggle with the king, to prevent the king from crying out, to quiet whatever noise could occur as the king fell to the floor. On and on, danger lurked at every step of the plot. Great faith was required, a great confidence in God's guidance step by step. But the assassination plot is not the only scene that paints the picture of Ehud's great faith. Note what now happened:
a. Ehud trusted God to arouse the people to mobilize, to follow him in battle (3:27). It was necessary to attack the Moabite enemy while they were confused and seeking to recover from their king's assassination. Therefore, as soon as Ehud arrived back in the safety of Israelite territory, he summoned the Israelites to mobilize and follow his leadership in driving the enemy out of the promised land.
b. Ehud believed God would give victory to His people, help them overcome the enemy (3:28). He rallied the troops by assuring them that the Lord would give them victory. But the Israelites would have to trust the Lord for victory.
The point to note is this: the great faith of Ehud. He was depending upon God to arouse the people to follow him in the battle against the enemy. Just as God had obviously given him assurance, he was now trusting God to assure the people of victory. Ehud was demonstrating great faith in God, trusting God to guide him and the Israelites step by step.
c. Ehud executed a brilliant strategy against the Moabites. He sneaked in behind the enemy and cut off any chance of their retreat or troop reinforcement (3:28). By sneaking behind the enemy, he was able to take possession of the fords or shallow parts of the Jordan River that would be used by the Moabites to cross over as they fled back to their own country.
d. Ehud achieved a great victory, defeating the strong, powerful army of the Edomites (3:29). The Israelite army killed 10,000 enemy soldiers who apparently represented an elite force within the Moabite army. This is indicated by the adjectives used to describe the 10,000 soldiers: "valiant" (KJV), "vigorous and strong" (NIV), "strongest and bravest" (NLT), "stout men of valor" (NKJV).
e. The result of the great deliverance by Ehud was 80 years of peace (3:30). Liberty was secured. The bells of freedom could ring loud and clear throughout Israel. The nation could declare its independence, for victory had been achieved over the Moabite coalition. The enemy had been soundly defeated. And following Ehud's great victory and triumph, the Israelites were to enjoy the longest period of peace they were to know throughout the period of the judges, 80 years of peace.
Thought 1. We must all keep this one fact in mind: it was great faith in God that delivered the Israelites from their enemy. Ehud trusted God to lead him step by step. And because he trusted God and led the Israelites to trust God, God gave His people victory over their enemy. God broke the power of the enemy to oppress His people. Ehud was raised up by God to be a picture of great faith for all generations of believers. Ehud stands before us, showing us how we must trust God as we walk throughout life. It is faith that gives us the victory (1 John 5:4-5). In fact, without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). This is exactly what Scripture declares. Just note the wonderful promises of God that are given to the person who believes God, who has genuine faith and trusts God to lead step by step:
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5).
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:46).
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31).
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10).
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:5-6).
"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" (Psalms 31:19).
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Psalms 37:5).
"They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever" (Psalms 125:1).
"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25).
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
"Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isaiah 26:4).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
C. The Deliverance by Shamgar: A Physically Fit, Courageous Farmer, 3:31
(3:31) Introduction: physical fitness—keeping the body healthy and strong—is important. The more fit a person is, the more a person can do, achieve, accomplish. Sports teams have always known the importance of physical fitness. Today, businesses are becoming more and more aware of the need for workers to be physically fit and are encouraging their employees to exercise. A worker who is physically fit is able to concentrate longer and work more diligently. A physically fit person simply feels better. Just think about the matter for a moment: a person who is not physically fit is...
• weaker
• more sluggish
• more lethargic
• not as alert
• not as focused
• not as energetic
A physically fit person has more energy and is able to be more active, able to be a more responsible person. He or she can do more at home, work, school, or play.
Physical fitness played a large part in the life of Shamgar, the deliverer being studied in this passage. He was a strong, physically fit person, and it was his physical strength which enabled him to do so much for the Israelites and for God. This passage is: The Deliverance by Shamgar: A Physically Fit, Courageous Farmer, 3:31.
1. A physically fit, strong body (v.31).
2. A persevering courage: killed 600 people over a period of time (v.31).
3. A firm dedication: used what little he had for God (v.31).
1. (3:31) Body, Care of— Body, Physical Fitness— Shamgar, Judge— Israel, Judges of— Body, God's View of— Body, Importance of: Shamgar was a physically fit man, a man with a very strong body. It is not specifically stated that Shamgar was a judge, but the fact that he is said to come after or succeed Ehud shows that he was considered one of the judges. He was one of the saviors or deliverers of Israel, what is known as one of the minor judges of Israel. He was a contemporary of Deborah, Barak, and Jael (5:6). He lived in southwest Canaan where the Philistines were beginning to move in with force and gain a strong foothold.
Shamgar is said to be the son of Anath. Anath was the name of the Canaanite goddess of war. Does this mean that Shamgar was a convert from the false religion or worship of Anath? Or the son of a mixed marriage between a Jew and Canaanite who engaged in false worship and reared their son in the worship of Anath? Or is the reference merely a nickname that means "son of battle" or "mighty warrior"?The answer is not given. Perhaps it simply means that he was a son from the city of Anath.
Just imagine the physical fitness and the strength of Shamgar. He single-handedly defeated and slew 600 Philistine marauders or bandits who were assaulting and robbing Israelite travelers. Most likely he killed the bandits over a long period of time, not all in one battle. One battle would not have made his territory or highway safe, not for long. Other bandits would have quickly arisen due to their evil hearts of greed and willingness to assault and murder people for money. But attacking and eliminating a band of thieves as they arose from time to time would have secured the territory and highway for a long, long time.
The point is this: Shamgar had a body that was physically fit. Scripture declares that he alone—single-handedly—killed 600 Philistines. To stand face-to-face in combat with 600 individuals, each time being in a life-threatening situation—and to win all 600 contests—took great strength, took a body that was physically fit and very powerful. Shamgar had obviously taken care of his body, eating the right foods and keeping himself strong.
Thought 1. God cares deeply about the human body. We must never forget the importance God places upon our bodies:
⇒ God has placed our minds and spirits, thoughts and behavior inside our human bodies.
⇒ God sent His own Son to earth in a human body (Hebrews 2:14-15; 10:5-10).
⇒ God says that our bodies are to be sacrificed, dedicated to Him (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 9:27).
⇒ God resurrected the body of His Son to live forever in His presence as our Advocate, our Mediator. (Romans 4:25; 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-15).
⇒ God says that our bodies are the very temples of God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
⇒ God has promised to raise up our bodies in the last days (John 6:40; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44; Philippians 3:20-21).
⇒ God says that He is going to judge us for the things we have done in our bodies (2 Corinthians 5:10).
The point is very meaningful and clear: the human body—our bodies—are important to God; therefore, we must take care of them. We must eat right and exercise, keep our bodies physically fit and strong.
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (Luke 21:34).
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:13).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Romans 13:14).
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27).
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24).
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11).
2. (3:31) Courage— Persistence— Persevering— Steadfastness— Unshakable— Enduring: Shamgar had a persevering, unshakable courage. He was an exceptionally brave man. The area and roads where Shamgar lived had become infested with villains or bands of outlaws and raiders. The bandits attacked travelers and caravans, stealing from and then murdering the victims. The situation became so hazardous, people abandoned the main roads and traveled cautiously along winding, secret paths (Judges 5:6). Courageously, Shamgar took it upon himself to free his area of the raiders and to keep the roads safe.
His persevering, unshakable courage is seen in that he saved Israel; that is, the area of Israel where he lived; thus delivering his people from the Philistine outlaws and raiders. The idea is that he continued to free his area, kept it safe year after year. He demonstrated courage time and again, attacked and eliminated band after band of marauding raiders. Over the years, the numbers of bandits who were personally killed by Shamgar totaled 600 outlaws.
Thought 1. What bravery! What courage! What an example he was for us. No matter who the enemy is, no matter how powerful the enemy, no matter how often the enemy attacks—we are to be brave and courageous. We are to persevere in courage, be unshakable and immovable, always standing fast for the Lord. We are to stand apart from any and all…
• who ridicule or mock us
• who lie, slander, or gossip about us
• who cheat or steal from us
• who despise, hate or become angry with us
• who abuse, assault or persecute us
• who ignore, bypass, or reject us
No matter who opposes us, we are to stand upright, strong, and courageous.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:16).
"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions" (Hebrews 11:33).
"For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me" (2 Samuel 22:40).
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident" (Psalms 27:1-3).
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday" (Psalms 91:2-6).
"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" (Psalms 118:6).
3. (3:31) Dedication, Duty— Commitment, Duty— Resources, Duty— Stewardship, Duty: Shamgar was totally dedicated, fully committed to the Lord. This is seen in the fact that he used what little he had for God. And what little he had! All he had was an oxgoad. The oxgoad was a long hardwood or metal spear with a sharp point. It was used to control and train animals by prodding them with the sharp point. The oxgoad made an ideal offensive weapon for spearing an enemy and an ideal defensive weapon for blocking weapons such as swords. Considering this, Shamgar's oxgoad was most likely a metal spear instead of hardwood.
Obviously, Shamgar and his neighbors had been disarmed either by the Philistines or Jabin, king of the Canaanite conquerors (4:1-24). But lack of material weapons did not stop the spirit of Shamgar. He did not have the latest weapons of war but did have God's presence and power with him. He trusted God for strength and used the only weapon he had, an oxgoad.
He was a man of dedication, a man who was totally committed to the Lord and to the promised land. Consequently, Shamgar was committed to defeating the enemies of righteousness who stood opposed to the hope of the promised land. He gave the Lord what little resource he had—a simple oxgoad—and used it to fight against the enemies of the Lord.
Thought 1. Dedication—total commitment of all we are and have—is demanded by God. No matter what our resources are—little or much—we are to give them to and use them for God. We are to serve God with all we are and have.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38).
"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" (John 9:4).
"That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate" (1 Timothy 6:18).
"But to do good and to communicate [give] forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16).
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
"I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out" (Job 29:15-16).
"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways" (Proverbs 23:26).
"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy" (Proverbs 31:20).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
D. The Deliverance by Deborah and Barak (Part 1): A Courageous Woman and a Reluctant Military Commander, 4:1-24
(4:1-24) Introduction: opportunities are often missed because of being reluctant or overly cautious. Many a person fails to act, fails to grasp an opportunity because they are fainthearted, fearful, or unbelieving. They hold back, hesitate, shrink from some challenge or opportunity—all because they do not have enough faith or enough confidence to step forth. The consequence is tragic: the opportunity is lost and the challenge is rejected. Think of what is often lost because we are hesitant or untrusting. There is the failure...
• to receive a job, promotion, or the launch of some business opportunity
• to be reconciled and reunited
• to grow in love, friendship, or some relationship
• to be delivered from some oppression, bondage, or painful situation
• to gain victory over some addiction or enslavement
• to escape from some problem, difficulty, or suffering
On and on the lost opportunities and challenges could be listed. But God does not call us to be reluctant, fainthearted, fearful, and unbelieving. The call of God is to be courageous, to be women and men of courage.
This is the subject of this great passage of Scripture, the story of a courageous woman and a reluctant military commander. Deborah was the woman of great courage and Barak was the military commander with a fearful, fainthearted spirit. This is the well-known story of Deborah and Barak: The Deliverance by Deborah and Barak (Part 1): A Courageous Woman and a Reluctant Military Commander, 4:1-24.
1. A tragic cycle of evil and chastisement (v.1-3).
2. A desperate cry to the Lord for help (v.3).
3. A courageous woman issued God's call to a reluctant commander (v.4-9).
4. A strong deliverance by the Lord (v.10-24).
1. (4:1-3) Cycle, of Sin— Evil, Cycle of— Sin, Marks of— Chastisement, of God— Judgment, Judicial— Israel, Oppression— Reaction, of God— Jabin, King of Hazor— Sisera, Commander of Moab— Oppression, of Israel: the tragic cycle of evil and chastisement struck again. Note the Scripture and outline:
1. The Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord. Note when: right after Ehud died. Shamgar was the last judge mentioned, but his deliverance was only local or regional, and he lived during the same period as Deborah. Whereas the rule of Ehud was over all the land and brought eighty years of peace to the people (5:6-7). As soon as Ehud died, the Israelites once again backslid, relapsing into the cycle of evil and chastisement. As long as Ehud was alive, he was able to lead the people to obey and worship the Lord. But as soon as he died, the people immediately began to compromise with the worldly and immoral lifestyle of their neighbors. This new generation did just what their fathers had done eighty years earlier: they forsook the Lord and engaged in the false worship of their neighbors. Soon they began to intermarry with the unbelievers, and they became totally immersed in the immoral and lawless ways of the world.
2. Once again, God was left with no choice. God has to chastise or discipline His people. He had to awaken them, arouse them to repent and turn away from their evil before they destroyed themselves.
What was the chastisement? It was the judicial judgment of God or what might be called spiritual abandonment (see outline—♣ Judges 2:11-19 and notes—♣Judges 2:11-19; Romans 1:24-32; also see Deeper Study #1—John 12:39-41 for more discussion). This simply means...
• when they forsook God, they turned away from God
• when they alienated themselves from God, they turned away from His presence and guidance
• when they ceased to worship and serve God, they lost God's protection
• when they began to engage in false worship and serve false gods, they put themselves under nothing more than the imaginations of men.
A person sows what he reaps (Galatians 6:7). The Israelites had chosen the ways of the world; consequently, they were to reap the ways of the world. At some point, this new generation had committed so much evil that the Lord aroused Jabin to launch an attack against the Israelites. Note that Jabin is called the king of Canaan. Obviously, he had conquered much of the country and formed an alliance with many of the other Canaanite "city-states." He subjected Israel under his rule and oppressed them for twenty years. For twenty long years the Israelites suffered the ruthless, harsh oppression under the rule of Jabin, king of Hazor. They were kept under control by the commander, Sisera. This military tyrant commanded a large army that included 900 chariots.
Remember that Joshua had earlier destroyed a powerful northern coalition that was led by a Jabin king of Hazor (see outline—♣ Joshua 11:1-15 and note—♣ Joshua 11:1-15 for more discussion). Apparently, the word "Jabin" is the title of a dynasty of kings who ruled Canaan at various times. Obviously, the city of Hazor had been rebuilt since its destruction by Joshua and the Canaanites had retaken and repopulated the territory surrounding the city. Because of their evil and worldly compromise, the Israelites had lost their claim upon the promised land. They were now subjected as slaves under the cruel, harsh, and ruthless oppression of their enemies, the Canaanites.
Thought 1. What we sow, we reap. If we sow evil, we reap evil. God will chastise us, give us up to our evil. God will turn us over:
• to our desires, lusts and immoralities.
• to our injustices, enslavements, and oppressions.
• to our brutalities, hostilities and wars.
• to our economic recessions, depressions and collapses.
When we go so far in the cycle of sin or evil, God chastises us. He chastises us in order to break us, to arouse us to repent, turning away from our sins and turning to Him.
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).
"For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:30-32).
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:5-6).
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).
"Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee" (Deuteronomy 8:5).
"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law" (Psalms 94:12).
"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" (Isaiah 48:10).
2. (4:3) Crying, to the Lord— Deliverance, Crying for— Prayer, for Deliverance— Oppression, How to Be Delivered from: there was the desperate cry to the Lord for help. The pain of suffering for twenty long years broke the sinful, stubborn will of the Israelites. And they cried out to the Lord for help. Note this fact: they did not just cry out under the oppression, but they cried to the Lord. They turned to Him, and in turning to Him, their backs were turned against the sins and evil they had been committing. Instead of facing the world and living in their sins, they were now facing the Lord and crying out to Him for help. They were now where God wanted them: praying to Him and seeking Him, longing for His presence and guidance. The chastisement or discipline of God had achieved its purpose. The Israelites were now focusing upon the Lord instead of the ways of the world.
Thought 1. When we turn away from sin and face the Lord, crying out to Him for help, God hears us. God helps us when we repent of our sin and cry out to Him for deliverance. The power of anything—any oppression, bondage, sin, problem, difficulty, or suffering—can be broken by the power of God. When we are genuinely sincere, truly repenting of our sins and turning to the Lord, God promises to hear our cry and deliver us. Deliverance comes through prayer.
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9).
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).
"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).
"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit" (James 5:13-18).
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).
"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight" (1 John 3:22).
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29).
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Psalms 34:6).
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalms 61:2).
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (Psalms 91:15).
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).
3. (4:4-9) Women, Courageous— Reluctance, Example of— Deborah, Courage of— Barak, a Military, Commander Reluctant: God raised up a courageous woman to issue His call to a very reluctant commander. The courageous woman was Deborah, and the reluctant commander was Barak. This action was God's response to the cry of the Israelites. God was now ready to deliver His dear people from the painful sufferings under the Canaanite oppressors. The call issued to the commander Barak is both dramatic and suspenseful. He is reluctant to accept the call, and because of his reluctance, it is unclear whether or not he will accept the call. Note the dramatic, suspenseful scene:
1. The courageous woman Deborah had served for years as a prophet and a judge of Israel (4:5-7). The name Deborah means a bee. Matthew Henry points out that her name suggests the very work of a bee: industrious, sharp perception (discernment), great usefulness, sweetness to her friends, and sharpness to her enemies.
The prophets of the Old Testament served as spokesmen for God, spokesmen who delivered God's messages to the people (Exodus 4:15-16; 7:1-2). Several women served as prophetesses throughout the Bible: Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36), and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:9).
However, Deborah served the people as a judge as well as a prophet. Her testimony for the Lord and her influence upon the people were so great and pervasive that she was known as the "mother of Israel" (5:7). She loved the people despite their permissive, compromising, wayward lifestyle. And she reached out to help the Israelites as though they were her own children, welcoming them into her counsel and advice, encouraging them to return to the Lord. Note that her testimony was so strong that the very palm tree under which she held court became known as the Palm of Deborah (4:5). She was obviously so devoted that the Lord chose her to commission Barak (lightning) to mobilize the army and deliver the Israelites. Note these facts:
⇒ She sent for Barak, the commander of the army.
⇒ She informed Barak that he was God's choice to be the deliverer of Israel, that he was to take 10,000 men and set a trap for the Canaanite army (4:6).
⇒ She assured Barak of victory, of God's presence and guidance, that God would lure Sisera into the trap so the Israelite army could defeat the enemy (4:7).
2. Barak's response was that of cowardice and doubt (4:8). He was a reluctant commander: fainthearted, fearful, and unbelieving. He was very straightforward, stating that he absolutely would not go unless Deborah went with him. His firm refusal was definitely a lack of faith in God. Standing alone, he did not have the faith to face the enemy. His faith and confidence in God were just too weak. He needed to draw strength from the strong faith and encouragement of Deborah. Consequently, he refused to mobilize the armed forces unless Deborah accompanied him.
3. But note the courageous woman Deborah: she agreed to accompany the reluctant commander Barak. But she informed him that the honor of the victory would go to a woman and not to him. With these words, Deborah arose and went with Barak to mobilize the army.
Thought 1. The courage of Deborah stands as a dynamic example for us, for all women and all men everywhere. Just imagine! Trying to mobilize an unarmed or defenseless army of men to face a massive army with the latest military equipment and technology, including the latest weapons and 900 chariots of iron. This challenge Deborah courageously accepted. But not Barak. He was reluctant, fainthearted, fearful, and unbelieving.
From this experience of Deborah and Barak, we must learn one lesson: there is no room in the service of God for being fainthearted, fearful, or unbelieving. God commands us to be courageous, to step forth and face the enemy with courage and boldness, enemies such as...
|• accidents |
|• disease |
|• financial problems |
|• bankruptcy |
|• unemployment |
|• depression |
|• loneliness |
|• addiction to alcohol or drugs |
|• bondage to sex |
|• marital problems or divorce |
|• broken families |
|• rejection or ridicule |
|• bitterness or hatred |
No matter what the enemy or its power, we are to be courageous in standing against it. God promises to help us and to deliver us if we will confront the enemy courageously and boldly.
"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27).
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:16).
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20).
"Only let your conversation [behavior, conduct] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God" (Philippians 1:27-28).
"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Hebrews 11:33-34).
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Deuteronomy 31:6).
"Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them" (Joshua 1:6).
"And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight" (Joshua 10:25).
"Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the names of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day" (Joshua 23:6-8).
"For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me" (2 Samuel 22:40).
"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger" (Psalms 8:2).
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
4. (4:10-24) Deliverance, Source of— Israel, Deliverance of— Oppression, Deliverance from— Victory, over Enemies: the Lord delivered His people from their enemies, gave Israel a strong, strong deliverance. But note this fact: the tribes of Reuben, Dan, Asher, and Manasseh of East Jordan refused to supply troops to the army of Deborah (Judges 5:15-17). However, at some point the tribes of Benjamin, Ephraim, Issachar, and Manasseh (West Jordan) did send troops who joined in the battle (Judges 5:14-15). These tribes joined the 10,000 troops who had already been mobilized from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun (Judges 4:6, 10; 5:14, 18). About 40,000 men were mobilized for the battle (Judges 5:8).
Keep in mind that the Israelites would previously have been disarmed by the Canaanite conquerors. For over twenty years, the Israelites had been without weapons and without a standing army. Hence, this act of mobilizing the Israelites into a standing army was a very courageous, bold act of faith and trust in the Lord. And God proved faithful to His promise: He gave His people victory and delivered them from the ruthless, harsh oppressors. The picture of the victorious battle is descriptive, captivating:
1. Barak mobilized 10,000 soldiers from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Note that Deborah was also involved in the mobilization of the soldiers (4:10).
2. In a scene of suspense, the enemy was warned of Israel's mobilization and troop movements. They were warned by Heber, who was apparently a leader among the Kenites (4:11). Remember that the Kenites were distant relatives of the Israelites (see note, pt.1—♣Judges 1:16-20 for more discussion). Heber felt what anyone would have felt: that the Canaanites were sure victors, that the Israelites could never defeat the mighty army of Sisera. To protect himself, he had to be on the winning side. Consequently, he sought to warn and make a treaty with the Canaanites to protect his own family and people.
3. But the enemy was routed by the power of God (4:12-16). Having been warned of Israel's troop movement, Sisera mobilized a massive army to march against Israel, including his 900 iron chariots. He marched to the river Kishon (4:13). As soon as the Canaanite army reached the valley of the river, Deborah issued a strong call of action to Barak, challenging him to go. For this was the day that the Lord had given the enemy into the hands of Israel (4:14). Note that she assured the troops of the Lord's presence and power. The Lord Himself would give them the victory, for He had marched on ahead of the Israelite army.
Barak did just as Deborah commanded: he launched the attack. In fact, he himself led the charge down the mountainside of Matthew Tabor with his 10,000 troops following behind (Judges 14). Then it happened: at some point, the Lord miraculously sent a sudden downpour that caused the river to quickly overflow and turn the battlefield into a sea of mud (Judges 5:20-22). Such conditions caused the chariots and horse soldiers to bog down and become useless. The enemy was thrown into utter confusion and panic, and they were soon routed, fleeing for their lives from the pursuing Israelites. Note that the enemy general Sisera fled on foot. The army of the enemy was defeated; not a single soldier was left (4:15-16).
Keep in mind that the Canaanites worshipped the false god Baal who was thought to be the god of storms. If it had been the rainy season, the commander Sisera would never have taken his chariots into the valley of the river. The sudden appearance of the storm and its torrential downpour therefore contributed to the confusion and panic of the enemy soldiers. Their god Baal who controlled the storms was thought to be striking out against them. Thus to their minds, the enemy soldiers felt that the gods they worshipped were being overcome by the Lord God of Israel. The Lord God was proving Himself stronger than their god Baal. Consequently, in utter confusion and panic, the soldiers fled for their lives.
4. Note how the enemy general Sisera was slain (4:17-21). The commander had fled on foot to the tent of Jael who was the wife of Heber the Kenite (4:17). Because of the friendly relationship between Jabin, king of Hazor, and the clan of Heber, Sisera felt that he would be safe with the Kenites.
Jael invited the commander into the tent for safety and for refreshment and rest (4:18). Being totally exhausted and feeling safe, Sisera accepted her invitation. He lay down and requested water, but she gave him milk, which probably put him even more at ease. Then she covered him so that he could rest (4:19). But Sisera made a mistake: he requested that she stand watch in the doorway while he briefly slept and warn him if anyone came looking for him (4:20). By making this request, she became aware that he was fleeing the battlefield, which meant that the Israelites were winning and the Canaanite oppression had finally been broken. Her loyalty immediately lay with the Israelites. Just as soon as Sisera fell into a deep sleep, Jael picked up a hammer and drove the tent peg into his temple. She had assassinated the commander.
5. The enemy was totally defeated and its territory conquered by the Israelites (4:22-24). Barak had been in hot pursuit of Sisera. As he approached the tent of Jael, he discovered that Jael had assassinated Sisera (4:22). Deborah's prediction had come true: it was not Barak, but a woman who had executed the enemy commander. She was to receive the honor as his executioner, not the commander Barak (see 4:9).
Note this fact: God Himself subdued or controlled the enemy in behalf of the Israelites. The enemy had been destroyed and the Israelites delivered by the miraculous, powerful act of God through the rainstorm. God strengthened the Israelites more and more until the enemy, King Jabin and the Canaanites, were completely destroyed (4:24). Also note this fact: there is no king of the Canaanites anywhere in Scripture after this. The deliverance of God through Deborah and Barak was powerful, so powerful that the back of the Canaanite coalition was completely broken. Never again would a strong coalition ruled by a Canaanite king stand against the Israelites.
Thought 1. There is one clear lesson for us in this point. God will deliver us, completely deliver us, from our enemies. But there are two prerequisites, two things that we must do before we can be delivered: we must repent and call upon the Lord. This experience of Israel teaches us this. They were not delivered until they had repented and called upon the Lord. So it is with us. Once we turn away from our sin and evil, God delivers us. But note this fact: it is God and God alone who can deliver us...
• from life's trials and temptations
• from oppressions and sufferings
• from pain and hurt
• from emptiness and loneliness
• from unbelief and fear
• from guilt and doubt
No matter what the problem or difficulty is, God has the power to give us victory over any enemy that seeks to oppress and destroy us. This is the great declaration of Scripture:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword....Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35, 37-39).
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:18).
"Let your conversation [behavior, conduct] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9).
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him" (Psalms 28:7).
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).
"Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us" (Psalms 44:5).
"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence" (Psalms 91:3).
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
E. The Deliverance by Deborah and Barak (Part 2): A Great Song of Victory, 5:1-31
(5:1-31) Introduction: one of the most powerful forces of motivation is that of conquest. When we gain the victory over some problem or difficulty in life, we are motivated to conquer more and more of life. For example, if we suffer addiction to drugs or alcohol or overeating and then begin to discipline ourselves and conquer the addiction, we are encouraged to control ourselves even more. If the discipline involves losing weight through exercise and eating less, once a significant amount of weight has been lost and the individual begins to look and feel better, the person is motivated to practice more and more discipline.
Gaining the victory, triumphing over, conquering some problem or difficulty is a great motivating factor in life. Once a conquest has been made, the human heart is aroused to rejoice in the victory achieved. This is the experience described in the present passage of Scripture. The great judge of Israel, Deborah, and the commander of the armed forces, Barak, had just led the Israelites in an impossible victory over the mighty army of the Canaanites. For eighteen long years, the Canaanites had held the Israelites in the bondage of slavery and brutal oppression. But God had raised up Deborah and Barak to break the back of the enemy and set the Israelites free from the cruel oppression. A great victory had been achieved over a far, far superior force. At some point after the battle, probably soon after, Deborah composed a song of victory to celebrate the great triumph. The personal pronouns used throughout the song tell us that Deborah was the author of the poetic poem (Judges 5:7, 9, 13).
The song of Deborah is a rousing declaration of praise to God. The hearts of Deborah and Barak break forth spontaneously in an emotional outburst of praise and thanksgiving to God for the victory. It was God who had stirred the courage within the Israelites to stand against such a formidable enemy. And it was God who had used nature to burst forth in a thunderstorm, a downpour of rain that swelled the banks of the river and engulfed the enemy with its 900 chariots. It was God who had caused chaos and confusion among the enemy troops and stricken them with panic, causing them to flee from the pursuing Israelite soldiers. Praise and thanksgiving were to be lifted up to God. He was deserving. And the people's hearts were filled with praise, in particular, the hearts of Deborah and Barak.
The song of Deborah is a magnificent song of victory. It is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, a song that lifts up the name of the Lord God who gives His people victory over all their enemies. This is the subject of this great song of Scripture: The Deliverance by Deborah and Barak (Part 2): A Great Song of Victory, 5:1-31.
1. Praise God for unified leaders (v.1-2).
2. Praise God for the Lord's presence and guidance through the wilderness wanderings of life (v.3-5).
3. Praise God for raising up a deliverer for His people (v.6-8).
4. Praise God for His righteous acts of peace and security (v.9-11).
5. Praise God for faithful believers who awaken and volunteer to fight against the enemy (v.12-18).
6. Praise God for victory over the enemy (v.19-23).
7. Praise God for a courageous woman who was not neutral, Jael (v.24-27).
8. Praise God for the total defeat and utter hopelessness of the enemy: seen in the waiting of Sisera's mother (v.28-30).
9. The conclusion: A prayer (v.31).
1. (5:1-2) Leadership, Praise for— Unity, Praise for— Praise, for Leadership— Praise, for Unity: God is to be praised for unified leaders, leaders who join together and willingly assume the responsibility for leadership. Deborah and Barak are prime examples. When God called them to deliver the Israelites from the Canaanite oppression, they willingly accepted the responsibility of leadership. They stepped forth and challenged the people to volunteer for the fight against the enemy. And the people responded: they volunteered and fought against impossible odds.
Remember, the Israelites had no weapons. The Canaanite oppressors had disarmed them. In the fight against the oppression, the Israelites faced a large, mighty army with the latest weapons of technology, including 900 iron chariots. Only God could arouse the courage and belief that the back of the enemy could be broken—that a few thousand disarmed Israelites could defeat such a mighty enemy. God is to be praised, for He raised up unified leaders to challenge and lead the people to fight against such impossible odds.
Thought 1. There are two lessons for us in this point:
1) God calls certain people to step forth to take the lead among us. When we look around and see genuine believers who have willingly taken the responsibility for leadership, we need to praise God. This is true both for leadership in the church and throughout society.
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16).
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15).
"But rise [Paul], and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee" (Acts 26:16).
"Come now therefore, and I will send thee [Moses] unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10).
"And the Lord looked upon him [Gideon], and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee" (Judges 6:14).
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
2) Leaders are to stand together in unity, not in division. It took both Deborah and Barak to defeat the Canaanite oppressors. If they had opposed one another's leadership or allowed some divisive issue to come between them, the Israelites would not have stood a chance against such a mighty military force. In fact, the Israelite men would never have accepted the challenge to take up arms, not if there had been divisiveness between the two leaders. Unity among the leadership of God's people is an absolute essential for the church. The enemies who stand opposed to the church and God's people—spiritual or human enemies—can never be overcome unless the leadership stands unified.
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35).
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
"Let love be without dissimulation [hypocrisy]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Romans 12:9).
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you" (2 Corinthians 13:11).
"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).
"Only let your conversation [behavior, conduct] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).
"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you" (1 Thessalonians 3:12).
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Peter 1:22).
"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous" (1 Peter 3:8).
2. (5:3-5) Presence, of God— Guidance, of God— Wilderness Wanderings, of Israel— Praise, for God's Presence and Guidance: God is to be praised for His presence and guidance through the wilderness wanderings of life. Deborah and Barak wanted the kings and rulers of this earth to know this truth: it was the Lord Himself who had led His people through the desolate, barren wilderness (desert) into the promised land of Canaan. He had led His people by His mighty power, displayed in terrifying storms (Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:7-10; Numbers 10:12; 20:22). And He had demonstrated His awesome presence and power at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:16-18).
Note that Deborah and Barak addressed the kings and rulers of the earth. They above all others needed to know that the Lord deserved praise. They needed to know that the Lord and the Lord alone is the God of Israel (5:3, 5).
Thought 1. As genuine believers, we are to shout out to the rulers and peoples of this earth, "Hear this, O rulers and people! It is the Lord's presence and guidance that leads us through the wilderness wanderings of life. He leads us...
• through the hard and rough places
• through the difficult and trying times
• through the dark, grieving moments
• through the corrupting, disgusting sights of evil
• through the dangers and temptations of trials
• through the shadow of death itself."
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever" (Psalms 23:1-6).
"Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:78-79).
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" (John 16:13).
"For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death" (Psalms 48:14).
"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (Psalms 73:24).
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21).
"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16).
3. (5:6-8) Deliverance, of God— Praise, for Deliverance— Oppression, Effect of— Society, Effects of Oppression— Israel, Effects of Oppression— Lawlessness, Effects upon Society— Society, Effects of Lawlessness: God is to be praised for raising up a deliverer for His people. The conditions during the oppression had become deplorable, unbearable, tragic. The will of the people had been broken by the cruelty and ruthlessness of the Canaanite oppressors. Life had come almost to a standstill:
⇒ Roads were abandoned due to the danger of assaults by thieves and marauders.
⇒ Trade and commerce had obviously collapsed, for caravans could not get through the bands of outlaws scattered up and down the trade routes.
⇒ Village life had ceased (5:7). This means there were no crops being grown, not even in open gardens. There were no children playing in the streets, no neighbors standing in yards engaged in conversation, no visiting in the homes of one another or socializing in any fashion whatsoever. Village life had ceased, come to a complete standstill.
Note that these deplorable, oppressive conditions existed during the days of the judges Shamgar and Jael (5:6). But praise God, for He raised up a deliverer to free the entire nation from the Canaanite oppressors. Deborah was raised up to be a mother to all Israel. She was to save Israel and nurture the people in the ways of the Lord.
And note: there had been a desperate need for a deliverer to be raised up (5:8). The Israelites had chosen new gods, false gods, over the Lord God Himself. They had given themselves over to false worship and the result had been chastisement. The hand of God's chastisement had fallen upon the Israelites. God had sent war and oppression because of their terrible evil, and a spirit of faintheartedness, weakness, and cowardice had set in. Moreover, the Israelites had been disarmed, and not a shield or spear was left among the 40,000 soldiers of Israel. If there had ever been a need for a deliverer, it was then. The Israelites had needed God to raise up some person to deliver them from the terrifying cruelty and bondage of the Canaanite oppressors. Praise God, for He raised up Deborah and Barak.
Thought 1. God delivers us from the oppression of the enemy. Whether the enemy is a person or some event or happening in life, God delivers us. He delivers us from...
• people who ridicule, mock, or persecute us
• people who ignore, mistreat, or neglect us
• accidents that happen or diseases that strike us
• money problems or bankruptcy
• hunger, poverty, homelessness, or destitution that afflict us
• loneliness, emptiness, purposelessness, or depression that overwhelms us
• death that naturally comes to all of us
The Lord promises to deliver us through all the problems and difficulties, trials and temptations of life. Conquering power and victory over all is assured by God—if we will only trust Him, believe and depend upon His presence and power.
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
"Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" (2 Corinthians 1:10).
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:18).
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9).
"And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer" (2 Samuel 22:2).
"He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee" (Job 5:19).
"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence" (Psalms 91:3).
"And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar [gray] hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" (Isaiah 46:4).
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 1:8).
4. (5:9-11) God, Righteous Acts of— Works, Righteous, of God— Praise, for Righteous Acts: God is to be praised for His righteous acts in behalf of His people. Two righteous acts are stressed:
1. God had aroused the Israelites to fight against the enemy (5:9). The people had willingly volunteered to follow the leadership appointed by God. For this, the Lord was to be praised.
2. God had brought peace and security to His people (5:10-11). The roads had once again been made secure; therefore, travelers were safe. Even the wealthy, who would be sitting on their expensive saddle blankets on white donkeys, were safe. They were just as safe as the poor traveler. Moreover, the watering places were now safe, and singers could gather there to lift up their voices, declaring the righteous acts of the Lord. But the roads and watering places were not the only places where people could now gather: they could also gather at the city gates. The adults could visit and socialize, and the children could play in the streets of the city.
Thought 1. God gives us peace and security. If we are genuine believers, truly following Him, He floods us with His peace and security. No matter what disturbance arises, no matter the intensity of the difficulty or problem, no matter the predicament or circumstance, no matter how oppressive or terrifying the enemy—God promises to give us peace through the trial or temptation. If we trust God—truly trust Him—peace and security are guaranteed by God.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
"The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all" (Acts 10:36).
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us" (Ephesians 2:14).
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven" (Colossians 1:20).
"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety" (Psalms 4:8).
"The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace" (Psalms 29:11).
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalms 119:165).
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
"O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea" (Isaiah 48:18).
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
5. (5:12-18) Awaken, Exhortations to— Faithfulness, of Believers— Volunteers, for Armed Forces— Praise, for Volunteers— Praise, for Faithfulness: God is to be praised for faithful believers who awaken and volunteer to fight against the enemy. Not everyone volunteers for the armed forces. This is true even in emergencies, even when an enemy attacks a people. Every society has its cowards, those who shirk back from the call to duty. This was true also in Israel. Not every person willingly stepped forth to take up arms against the mighty force of the Canaanite oppressors. The Scripture and outline graphically describe the situation that confronted Israel:
1. God had to stir up even the two leaders, Deborah and Barak. He was apparently forced to issue a strong call for Deborah to awaken out of her slumber and take action against the oppressors (5:12). She and Barak were challenged by God to take captives, assuring them of a convincing victory. The song is declaring that she and Barak did awaken out of their slumber and complacency; they did arise and take action.
2. There were six tribes who volunteered to take up arms (5:13-14). Note that Deborah and Barak declared that the volunteers of Israel marched against the nobles and mighty of the enemy (5:13). The six tribes who took up arms are given in the Scripture and outline above (5:14).
3. The four tribes who were not faithful, who did not volunteer but shirked their duty, are also listed (5:15-17). Note that Reuben had apparently given serious consideration to joining the fight. Reuben experienced a great searching of heart and indecision over the call to arms. However, in the final analysis, they refused to fight.
4. There were two tribes, Zebulun and Naphtali, who demonstrated wholehearted commitment, an unusual bravery in the battle (5:18). In fact, they risked their very lives in the battle. This probably means that they engaged the main force of the Canaanites in hand-to-hand combat or else had launched some special force against a major stronghold of the enemy.
Thought 1. There is no place for the shirking of duty among believers. We are not to be indecisive in standing against the evil and sin of this world. We are part of the army of God, volunteers who are to lift high the banner of righteousness, morality, and justice. The soldier of God is never to tolerate injustice, immorality, abuse, brutality, slavery, savagery, greed, or oppression. Whatever the evil is, we are to take a stand for God and His righteousness. We are volunteers of God, volunteers to proclaim the righteous commands of God. We are to lift high the banner of His righteousness. We are never to be indecisive, shirking our duty as volunteers of God and His righteousness.
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24).
"A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory" (Matthew 12:20).
"For he that is not against us is on our part" (Mark 9:40).
"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
"He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth" (Luke 11:23).
"And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes" (Luke 12:47).
"No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Luke 16:13).
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8).
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him" (James 2:14).
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4:8).
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word" (1 Kings 18:21).
6. (5:19-23) Victory, over Enemies— Enemies, Conquered— Praise, for Victory: God is to be praised for victory over the enemy. The place where the armies clashed is identified: they fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo (5:19).
The enemy had been very confident of victory, but in this battle they were to be defeated, totally destroyed. They were to carry off no silver and no plunder. The days of stealing the possessions and money of the Israelites were over. Never again would the Israelites be oppressed by a king who ruled over all the Canaanites. For the Lord God Himself intervened and the very stars or heavenly forces fought for God's people (5:20). The Lord Himself caused a rainstorm, a downpour to flood the Tishon River, and the chariots of the enemy became useless (5:21). The result was utter confusion, a routing of the enemy. Utter chaos and panic swept over the troops of the Canaanites as they fled for their lives.
Note, the angel of the Lord Himself pronounced a curse upon those who refused to fight against the enemy for the Lord, in particular the people of Meroz, a city in Naphtali (21:5-10). This particular city must have been close by the battlefield, for the cities of the distant tribes who refused to fight were not cursed.
Thought 1. Victory is assured by God, victory over all the enemies who attack and attempt to destroy us. As pointed out above, no matter what the enemy is—a person or event—God promises to empower us, to give us the strength to be triumphant. In all of life, the strength to overcome is available through the power of God. We are more than conquerors through Christ who has loved us and given Himself for us. Listen to this wonderful declaration of Holy Scripture:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword....Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35, 37-39).
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).
"Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us" (Psalms 44:5).
7. (5:24-27) Courage, of Women— Praise, for Courage— Jael, Courage of: God is to be praised for a courageous woman who was not neutral in the struggle for freedom. The woman was Jael. She showed great courage, and her courage should stir the praise of God's people (5:24). Her courage was demonstrated in the assassination of Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite forces (5:25-27). In fleeing for his life from the pursuing Israelite army, he had stopped at the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Jael proved most resourceful. She went out of her way in showing courtesy and hospitality, offering him refreshment and the right to lie down for a brief rest and sleep before continuing his flight. As soon as the commander had fallen into a deep sleep, she showed unusual courage by taking a hammer and driving a tent peg into the temple of the sleeping commander.
Thought 1. Neutrality is not a choice in serving God. We either serve God or we do not. Being indecisive and half-hearted are not acceptable. There is no neutrality with God. He simply does not receive a person who is half-hearted, a person who offers only one half of his life or one half of his service or one half of his worship or one half of his commitment. A person cannot serve both God and this world. Trying to serve God and something else is just not acceptable to God. As stated, there is no neutrality with God.
"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10).
"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" (Matthew 12:30).
"For he that is not against us is on our part" (Mark 9:40).
"He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth" (Luke 11:23).
"No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Luke 16:13).
"And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines" (1 Samuel 7:3).
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart" (2 Chronicles 25:2).
"Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images" (Hosea 10:2).
8. (5:28-30) Hopelessness, Picture of— Defeat, Picture of— Praise, for Victory— Sisera, Mother of: God is to be praised for the total defeat and utter hopelessness of the enemy. This is seen in the graphic description of Sisera's mother who waited for the return of her son from the battle. Her wait was a long, agonizing one. All kinds of thoughts must have rushed madly through her mind, worrying if the long delay meant defeat or perhaps even death for her son. But she was consoled by her attendants or ladies-in-waiting (5:29). Trying to comfort her, they suggested that the soldiers were delayed because they were dividing the spoils and partying with the women captives (5:30). But the waiting extended on and on into days, with a sense of hopelessness gripping her heart more and more. Finally, the hand of utter hopelessness gripped her, for she knew the truth: her son, the commander of the Canaanite forces, had fallen in battle. He was dead, never to return. The spirit of utter hopelessness—the pain and agony of being totally helpless—took hold of and grasped her soul. But keep in mind, this is the soul of the enemy who had so cruelly, savagely oppressed God's people. The enemy led by the commander Sisera had enslaved and slaughtered literally thousands of God's people throughout the years. Consequently, the mighty hand of God's judgment had fallen, destroying Sisera and the Canaanite oppressors. Therefore, God was to be praised for the defeat and for the utter hopelessness of the enemy—all so graphically pictured in the agonizing wait of the commander's mother.
Thought 1. There is one truth above all other truths taught by Scripture: the soul without God and without Christ is hopeless—utterly hopeless. The person who lives without God in this life will naturally, logically live without God in the next life. Without God and without Christ in this world means that a person will be without God and without Christ throughout all of eternity. This is the clear declaration of Scripture:
"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38).
"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12).
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels" (2 Thessalonians 1:7).
"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7).
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 14-15).
"And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord" (Lamentations 3:18).
9. (5:31) Conclusion, of Deborah's Song— Prayer, of Deborah— Deborah, Prayer of: the conclusion to this great song of victory is that of a prayer. Deborah and Barak rejoiced over the Canaanite enemies who had been defeated and destroyed by God. And they expressed a desire in prayer for all the enemies of God to perish. But they also expressed a desire for all believers who loved God to be strong and to shine forth as the noonday sun. God's people are to be as lights to the world, proclaiming the righteous acts of God and His great deliverance over all the enemies of life.
Thought 1. Believers are to shine as the noonday sun in the world. We are to be lights to the world. We are to live holy and righteous lives, declaring the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world. People no longer have to die, for the grip of death has been broken. People can now live eternally, conquering the greatest of all enemies: death itself.
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14).
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
"For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47).
"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
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F. The Deliverance by Gideon (Part 1): A Young Farmer Who Had a Weak, Wavering Faith, 6:1-32
(6:1-32) Introduction: How many people are failing in their businesses? Schools? Marriages? How many feel as though they are failing in their jobs or professions? How many lack purpose in life? Lack fulfillment and satisfaction? How many feel they are not recognized or honored enough by their families, friends, or supervisors? How many of us really accept ourselves for who we are, our lot and status in life? Our position at work? Or in society?
These are the kinds of questions Gideon must have asked himself time and again. Gideon was a man who questioned the task set before him by God. He questioned if he had the ability to undertake the assignment. He felt weak, incompetent, and totally inadequate. And yet Gideon is a great encouragement to every person who senses weakness or inadequacies. Gideon teaches that we can be competent, can do the task that is set before us. We can conquer the sense of inferiority or inadequacy, conquer the feeling that we are too ordinary, too common, or too average to accomplish great things. Through God, we can become qualified to undertake any task to which He calls us, any task upon which we set our hearts. This is the subject of this great passage of Scripture: The Deliverance by Gideon (Part 1): A Young Farmer Who Had a Weak, Wavering Faith 6:1-32.
1. The continued backsliding of Israel (v.1).
2. The chastisement of God: He used the Midianites to oppress Israel for seven years (v.2-5).
3. The cry to the Lord for help and His prophetic rebuke (v.6-10).
4. The call and commission of Gideon: a young man with weak, wavering faith called to save God's people (v.11-24).
5. The first assignment given to Gideon: the call of God to witness first to his own family and neighbors (v.25-32).
1. (6:1) Backsliding, Caused by— Israel, Failure of— Israel, Backsliding of— Evil, Marks of: the Israelites continued to backslide, continued to turn their backs upon God. This is the fourth time in the book of Judges that a new generation of Israelites failed God. And note: the evil they did was "in the sight [eyes] of the Lord." This means two things: the behavior of the Israelites was evil in the eyes of the Lord, and God saw their evil, saw exactly what they were doing. Their evil was not hidden from His eyes. They were responsible for their sins, and they would be held accountable.
The Israelites were too attracted to the world. They craved the bright lights and pleasures of the world, its possessions and wealth, its comfort and ease, its authority and power, its recognition and honor. Looking around at their Canaanite neighbors, they believed what they saw and began to desire the lifestyle of their neighbors. They ceased to live separate, holy lives, becoming complacent and permissive. They began to fellowship with their neighbors and join in their community festivities and worship. Before long, they were actually engaging in the false worship of their neighbors, forsaking God and turning their backs upon Him. Keeping the commandments of God was no longer their focus. What mattered were their own desires and cravings, comfort and pleasure, and wealth. God mattered very little to most of the Israelites. The people were living sinful, evil lives in the sight of God.
Thought 1. The continued backsliding of Israel is an indictment against so many generations of believers. Just think and ask yourself about believers today: How many believers live lives that are constantly sliding. How many repeatedly turn their backs upon God and live lives of immorality, covetousness, and carnality. How many participate in fellowship with unbelievers and in their festivities and worldly activities? How many attend and become engaged in the false worship of their neighbors? How many believers have backslidden, turned their backs upon God?
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:12).
"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage" (Galatians 4:9).
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1).
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
"Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:8-12).
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness" (2 Peter 3:17).
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4).
"The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself" (Proverbs 14:14).
"Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward" (Isaiah 1:4).
"And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him" (Hosea 11:7).
2. (6:2-5) Chastisement, of God— Oppression, of Israel— Israel, Chastisement of— Midianites— Raiders, Band of— Marauders— Plunder, of Israel: the result of continued backsliding is the chastisement of God. Because of the evil committed by the Israelites, God used the Midianites to oppress them for seven years.
Scripture teaches that God loves His people; therefore, He chastises or disciplines them when they continue in sin, living evil lives. Sin and evil damage and destroy people through such things as injustice, immorality, bitterness, hatred, war, murder—all acts of immorality, lawlessness, and violence. God is not a permissive parent who allows His children to commit sin and evil, hurting themselves and hurting others, contributing more and more corruption to the world. God disciplines or chastises His people to correct them in order to stop the corruption. God's family is to live as they have been commanded: they are to live holy and righteous lives, bearing strong witness to the glorious salvation of God, that man can live a full and overflowing life with God eternally.
This is the reason God chastises or disciplines His people when they sin. This is the reason God chastised Israel: to correct them. The Israelites needed to be broken before God so they would cry out to God and repent, turning away from their false worship and returning to God. For this reason, God allowed the Midianites to conquer and oppress Israel.
Remember, the Midianites were distant relatives of the Israelites, descended from Abraham by his second wife, Keturah (Genesis 25:2). They were Bedouins and shepherds, semi-desert nomads who were known for their use of the camel. And they were feared for their prowess or skill in battle. The Scripture gives a descriptive picture of the Midianite oppression:
1. The Midianites were powerful—very oppressive, vicious, and cruel (6:2). The Israelites had become so weak that they were helpless before the camel-riding enemy as the enemy swept down upon them year by year. The Israelites just did not have the spirit nor weapons to resist the invaders. Consequently, they had to flee to the hills, seeking shelter in mountain clefts and caves in order to survive.
2. The Midianites joined forces with other nations of marauders or raiders (6:3). They formed an alliance with the Amalekites and other eastern peoples to raid and then plunder the land of Israel every year during harvest season (6:3).
3. Note that the marauding bandits actually invaded the land and set up camp, living off the land during the harvest season. Their invasion reached all the way up to Gaza (6:4). The combined forces of the plundering nations totaled 130,000 soldiers (7:12; 8:10). Just picture the frightful sight: bands of thieves sitting astride their camels, sweeping across the fields and plains of Israel, storming the cities and villages. Harvested crops were taken and the remaining crops in the fields were burned and destroyed; money and possessions were stolen; women were abused and raped; and the few who stood to fight against the invading bandits were killed. Year after year—for seven long years—the Israelites suffered the oppression of the marauding bandits. Note what Scripture says: they ravaged the land with an innumerable horde of marauders, swarming down upon the land just like swarms of locusts (6:5). And they set up camp and remained in Israel during the entire harvest season.
Thought 1. When we continue in sin, God has no choice but to chastise us. He has to correct us in order to keep us from living in sin, from damaging ourselves and others, causing pain, hurt, and corruption. God wants us living like the family of God: holy and righteous lives, bearing strong testimony to the glorious salvation of God. We are going to live eternally with God in all the fullness and enrichment of life, and God wants this glorious message proclaimed to the world. This is the reason God chastises us—all because He loves us and wants us to live in all the fullness of life.
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).
"For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:30-32).
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:5-6).
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).
"Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee" (Deuteronomy 8:5).
"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law" (Psalms 94:12).
"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
3. (6:6-10) Crying, to the Lord— Prayer— Rebuke, of Israel— Rebuke, Purpose of: there was the cry to the Lord for help and His prophetic rebuke. The Israelites had borne all they could bear: the oppression was vicious and cruel, brutal and savage. Being broken by the oppressor, the Israelites became defeated, discouraged, and distressed people. They could do nothing but cry out to the Lord for deliverance (6:7).
Up until now, God had always raised up a deliverer to save His people from their oppression. But on this occasion, God raised up a prophet. Why a prophet? Because the Israelites needed to be rebuked as they had never been rebuked before. For generations, the Israelites had been failing God, turning back time and again to the sins and evil of their neighbors and engaging in their false worship. Rebuke or correction was desperately needed. The prophet rebuked Israel for four specific sins or evils:
⇒ The Israelites had forgotten God's salvation, His wonderful deliverance from Egyptian slavery (6:8).
⇒ The Israelites had forgotten God's deliverance from all their oppressors and His gift of the promised land (6:9).
⇒ The Israelites had forsaken God, engaging in false worship or idolatry (6:10). The reference to the "Amorites" is a reference to all the peoples of Canaan, although the term can sometimes be restricted to the people of the hill country (Judges 1:35; Genesis 15:16).
⇒ The Israelites had refused to listen to God, disobeying Him and breaking His commandments (6:10).
Note that this prophet is not named; his identity is unknown. He apparently went from city to city and from tribe to tribe admonishing the people for their terrible sin and evil. The Israelites had rebelled against God, rejecting Him and turning to live after the ways of the world and its false worship. Rebuke was the need of the hour, and God sent His prophet to reprimand His people. They needed to confess their sins and repent, turning back to serve the Lord.
Thought 1. If we continue in sin—walk day by day disobeying God—a strong rebuke and correction are needed. We need to be awakened, stirred, aroused out of our slumber and hardness of sin.
When we sincerely confess our sins and repent, crying out to God for deliverance, God will deliver us. But we need to learn one truth: we are not to return to our sin. The sin is to be forsaken or left behind, and we are to walk forward, growing more and more in the righteousness of God. If we return to live in the sin time and again, this is what Scripture calls continuing to live in sin. Our living for God is only temporary, only a limited experience. We are giving our lives over again to live in sin and we deserve to be rebuked. And God's Word does rebuke us, strongly so:
"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
"Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him" (Luke 17:3).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).
"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear" (1 Timothy 5:20).
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire" (2 Peter 2:20-22).
"Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul" (Ezekiel 33:9).
4. (6:11-24) Call, of Gideon— Commission, of Gideon— Gideon, Call of— Faith, Weak— Wavering, of Faith: there was the call and commission of Gideon. Gideon was to be God's instrument of deliverance for His dear people. But he was a young man with weak, wavering faith who had to be strengthened by God. Note the response and excuses of Gideon as God called him:
1. Gideon was called by the angel of the Lord himself (6:11-12. See note—♣Judges 2:1-5 for more discussion.) At first, Gideon apparently did not notice the angel of the Lord sitting under an oak tree close by where he was threshing wheat. To hide the wheat and himself from the dangerous Midianites, Gideon was actually threshing the wheat in a winepress that was hidden or sheltered out of sight. No doubt, Gideon was preoccupied with his work when the encounter took place. Suddenly, Gideon looked up and saw the angel of the Lord seated under the oak tree. Note the commission given to Gideon: he was assured of God's presence and addressed as a mighty warrior or a man of valor. This term can refer to fighting men, but it can also refer to men of prominence and wealth who belong to the upper class and aristocracy of the nation. By applying the term to Gideon, the Lord was obviously preparing Gideon for the commission he was about to receive. Note that it was not the term mighty warrior that stuck in Gideon's mind; it was the reference to the Lord being with him.
2. Gideon's immediate response, his first words, were a complaint, a questioning of God's concern for the oppression of His people (6:13). All his life he had heard about the miraculous works of God in delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and through the wilderness wanderings. But now, it seemed as though God had forsaken or abandoned His people.
Note what happened when Gideon complained, charging the Lord with forsaking the Israelites. The Lord issued an immediate challenge to Gideon that he himself go and save the people from their oppression. If Gideon would accept the challenge, the Lord would strengthen and empower him. Note that the angel of the Lord is identified as the Lord Himself in this verse.
3. Gideon's second response was an excuse, an argument against serving God (6:15-16). He asked how he could possibly save Israel. He was too weak personally, too incompetent and inadequate for such an enormous task. Even his clan was the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and his family was the least of the families in the clan. Apparently Gideon himself was considered the least within his own family, the family of Joash. This was probably due to his faith in God, a faith strong enough to stand against the false worship of his parents (see note—♣Judges 6:25-32 for more discussion).
But the Lord would accept no excuse. He gave a very direct and straightforward answer to Gideon that ended all excuses and arguments. In essence, the Lord said, "I will be with you, and you will go and defeat the Midianites." God assured Gideon that He would be with him and give him victory.
4. Gideon's third response was the request for a sign, a sign to prove that the call was really coming from God (6:17-24). Most likely, this was a legitimate request by Gideon, for he had to test the spirits, so to speak. He had to make sure that it was definitely the Lord who was calling and commissioning him. It should be noted, however, that Gideon's faith was a weak, wavering faith. Later on, when he came face-to-face with the enemy, he put out the fleece and asked God for two more signs to prove His presence and guidance (6:36-40). Although this first request for a sign was probably legitimate, its root probably arose from Gideon's weak, wavering faith. He was not quite sure that he was capable of mobilizing the Israelites to fight against the Midianites. Therefore, he needed repeated assurance that God was going to be with him and guide him, giving victory to His people.
a. Gideon, however, demonstrated his belief in the Lord (6:18-19). He requested the Lord to wait until he could prepare an offering for Him, and the Lord accepted the invitation. At that point, Gideon rushed in and prepared a young goat and bread without yeast. He then rushed back out and offered them to the Lord under the oak tree (6:19). This was a substantial offering, very costly considering the scarcity of food during the Midianite oppression.
b. At this point, the Lord gave Gideon the sign he had requested (6:20-21). He instructed him to place the meat and bread on a particular rock and to pour out the broth—all as an offering to the Lord (6:20). The Lord then touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the top of His staff. The result was dramatic: fire blazed up from the rock and consumed the offering (6:21). And suddenly, the Lord disappeared, vanished from Gideon's sight.
Consuming the meat and unleavened bread was a sign that the Lord accepted the offering and the giver of the offering. Gideon was accepted by God; therefore, he could rest assured that God had definitely appeared to him, calling and commissioning him to save the Israelites from their enemies. God would deliver His people through Gideon just as He had promised.
c. Note that the response of Gideon was fright, terror. He feared for his life, for he realized that the angel of the Lord was the Sovereign Lord! The Lord God (Jehovah, Yahweh)! He had personally seen God, and he knew that no person could look upon God and live (6:22; Exodus 33:20).
d. But again, the Lord gave strong assurance to Gideon. His voice obviously spoke from the sky, proclaiming the message of peace to the disturbed heart of His chosen deliverer. Gideon was not to fear, for he would not die. He was accepted by God, the very man chosen to be the deliverer of God's people.
e. After the encounter was over, Gideon worshipped the Lord. He built an altar as a memorial to the encounter and call of God. Note that he called the memorial "the Lord is peace" (Jehovah-shalom). Note also that the memorial was still standing when the book of Judges was written.
Thought 1. There are at least two strong lessons in this point for us.
1) The Lord has called and commissioned every believer to go forth and proclaim the wonderful message of deliverance to the lost of the world. Every believer is called to carry out this commission.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16).
"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John 20:21).
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).
"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God" (2 Timothy 1:8).
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).
"Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me" (Isaiah 43:10).
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name" (Malachi 3:16).
2) We must guard against a weak, wavering faith, a faith that fears and shrinks back from God's call. If a difficult situation arises, a situation that seems impossible to handle, we must take the problem to God and trust Him for wisdom. If we ask God for wisdom, He promises to give us wisdom, to show us exactly how to handle the situation (James 1:5-6). Contrary to the weak, wavering faith of Gideon, we must develop and grow a strong faith.
"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith" (Matthew 6:30).
"And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm" (Matthew 8:26).
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:16).
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:5-6).
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:17).
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).
"And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper" (2 Chronicles 20:20).
5. (6:25-32) Witnessing, Duty— Obedience, Duty— Courage, Duty— Boldness, Duty— Gideon, Courage of: the first assignment given to Gideon was a tough test: he was to bear a strong testimony for God before his own family and neighbors. And a man finds little honor among his own family and neighbors. Thus, God wasted no time in testing Gideon's commitment. That very night, God returned to Gideon and gave him a very difficult assignment.
1. The Lord's command to Gideon was most difficult: he was to destroy the false worship center built to Baal on his father's property. Moreover, he was to build a true altar of worship to the Lord on the very same location and offer a burnt sacrifice to the Lord (6:25-26). Note that the bull to be offered was to be seven years old, that is, mature and fully grown. The purpose of the burnt sacrifice was to provide atonement or reconciliation with God. It was established by God to provide the only way to approach Him, to become reconciled, acceptable to God. A person secured atonement or reconciliation with God through the substitute sacrifice. The sacrifice was to be totally consumed by fire. This was a symbol that the sacrifice paid the full ransom to free the believer from sin and death; the sacrifice bore the full punishment of God's justice and judgment that was due the sinner. Keep in mind that the burnt offering was a type of Christ, a picture of Christ dying as the substitute sacrifice for us. (See outline—♣ Leviticus 1:1-17 and notes—♣ Leviticus 1:1-17 for more discussion.)
No doubt, God instructed Gideon to offer a burnt sacrifice to demonstrate a renewed reconciliation and recommitment to God. Whatever the case, Gideon was given a most difficult assignment, that of destroying the false worship center of his father and neighbors. Gideon knew just what any person would know: if he obeyed the Lord, he would be risking his life. For tearing down a worship center and constructing an altar of worship to one's own God upon the same sight was the ultimate indignity against Gideon's father and neighbors. As stated, he could expect only the most severe consequences, perhaps even mob rage and violence. This fact clearly demonstrated the strong courage and dedication of Gideon.
2. The obedience of Gideon was decisive (6:27). He took ten of his own servants and did as God commanded. Note that he carried out the task at night because of the feared reaction from his father and neighbors.
3. The reaction of the neighbors and public was just as Gideon had anticipated (6:28-30). When they arose the next morning, they immediately saw the shocking sight. Their worship center had been destroyed: their altar built to the false god Baal had been smashed and the Asherah pole beside the altar had been cut down. But this was not the only indignity committed against their worship sight: there stood another altar built upon the very site, and there was evidence that a bull had been sacrificed during the night.
Immediately, the leaders of the city formed a committee to investigate the criminal, shocking destruction (6:29). After a careful investigation and interrogation of various people, apparently one of the ten servants who had helped Gideon broke under the questioning and revealed Gideon's identity.
Gideon was still living at home, and in that day the head of the household was held accountable for the behavior of all its members. So the citizens of the city rushed to Joash, Gideon's father, and leveled the charge against Gideon. They demanded that Gideon be executed because of the horrible criminal act he had committed.
4. But note the reaction of Joash to the hostile crowd who surrounded him (6:31-32). Apparently, God touched his heart through the act of his son, and to some degree he recognized the hand of God. Perhaps he even sensed some guilt and conviction because of his own false worship and was beginning to sense the need for repentance, for returning to the Lord. Whatever the case, he came to the defense of his son. Throughout this scene, note that Joash showed no concern either for the prime bull or for the worship center he had lost. At this particular moment, all that mattered to him was saving his son. Note the arguments Joash gave in defense of his son:
a. Joash presented a legal case by questioning the ability and power of Baal as a true god. He asked a question of the mob: Are you going to plead Baal's cause? Strive, contend, stand up in defense of Baal? If Baal is a true god, why would he need a person to defend or save him from being destroyed?
b. Joash continued with another argument: "If Baal is a true god, he needs no one to defend him. Therefore, if a person attempted to defend the god Baal (or any other god), the person would be showing such distrust that he would deserve to be executed." Note that Joash was actually pronouncing a sentence upon anyone who stood up to defend Baal. That person was to be put to death by morning. This suggests that the position of Joash in the city was that of a high official, perhaps the mayor or even the High Priest of the worship center. If so, this indicates how far Gideon's own father had fallen into idolatry, just how corrupt he had become. And if this suggestion is accurate, it gives a picture of just how courageous Gideon's faith in God was. By trusting the Lord, he stood against the false worship and corrupt belief of his own father.
c. Joash led the public to accept his arguments (6:32). They backed off and left Gideon alone. However, they did begin to call him "Jerub-Baal," which means "let Baal deal with Gideon" or "Baal's antagonist." That is, the citizens left the matter in Baal's hands. Calling Gideon "Jerub-Baal" was probably a derogatory name, declaring that Gideon could expect the judgment of Baal to fall upon him.
Keep this fact in mind: this was the first assignment given to Gideon by God. And he passed the assignment with the highest marks. He learned a very valuable lesson that would help him tremendously in the future: if he obeyed God, God would be present with him and accomplish the task at hand. God was definitely going to give him victory over the Midianite oppressors and deliver His people. The Israelites were going to be set free by the power of God through the leadership of His servant Gideon.
Thought 1. There are at least two significant lessons for us in this point:
1) We are to witness first to our own family and neighbors. We are to bear testimony first to those who surround us (Jerusalem) and then move progressively outward to the rest of the world (Judaea and Samaria). By following this procedure, we will have a part in reaching our loved ones and neighbors and then the uttermost part of the earth.
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
"He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ" (John 1:41).
"So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house" (John 4:53).
"A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway" (Acts 10:2).
"And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us" (Acts 16:15).
"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:31).
"For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard" (Acts 22:15).
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
"But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God" (1 Timothy 5:4).
"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also" (2 Timothy 1:5).
"That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children" (Titus 2:4).
"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name" (Malachi 3:16).
2) We are to obey God, keep His commandments. If we obey God, He promises to be with us and to guide us, giving us victory over all the trials and temptations of life, flooding us with all the fullness of life.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24-27).
"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Matthew 12:50).
"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:17).
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21).
"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23).
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14).
"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also" (John 15:20).
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (James 1:25).
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).
"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine" (Exodus 19:5).
"O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever" (Deuteronomy 5:29).
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
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G. The Deliverance by Gideon (Part 2): A Picture of Weak, Wavering but Victorious Faith—through the Encouragement of God, 6:33-7:25
(6:33-7:25) Introduction: impossible situations confront all of us throughout life. The situation may be the death of a loved one; a life-threatening illness that attacks us; a disability that we are born with or that is caused by an accident; a separation or divorce; a bankruptcy or loss of job; a serious sense of emptiness, loneliness, or depression; a deep-seated lack of purpose or meaning in life. Throughout our daily lives, serious circumstances often arise and attack us. As we face these crises, we have a choice to make: we can be weak and wavering, allowing the crises to defeat us, or we can be strong in faith and attack the crises head-on.
But note this fact: if we stand alone against the crises, stand only in our personal strength, then the outcome is unpredictable. We may conquer the crises, but we may also be conquered by it—be totally defeated and crushed.
However, there is wonderful news, glorious news! There is a faith available that will always conquer any crises, no matter how severe or terrifying. That faith is faith in God. Whether or not we conquer the most severe crises in life does not depend upon our faith, but upon the object of our faith, God Himself. God alone can assure victory over all crises. We must have faith, but our faith must be in God, not in our own strength nor in the strength of mankind—not when dealing with the most severe crises of life. Consider death, for example. The latest technology of medicine cannot conqueror death. It can only extend life for a brief period of time. That inevitable day of leaving this world through the portals of death can be conquered only by God Himself.
Faith is essential throughout life, but faith in God is the victory. Believing God, trusting Him, and having faith in His love and concern for us pleases God. And such active, living faith in Him stirs Him to help us as we face the crises of life.
Faith is the great subject of the present passage of Scripture. Gideon was a young farmer who trusted God in the midst of a pagan, idolatrous community. Even his own family members were false worshippers, following after the false god Baal. Apparently, Gideon had little if any godly influence and training. But somehow, some way, he had heard enough about the Lord God (Jehovah, Yahweh) to trust and commit his life to the Lord. However, his faith was immature. He needed to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. The present passage shows how God took this young farmer and grew him into a giant for God. Gideon's weak, wavering faith was strengthened, and he became a man of great faith. As he faced the most severe crises of his young life, he turned to the Lord for help. And by turning to the Lord, the Lord taught him to trust and believe the Holy Word and promises of God. This is the subject of the present passage: The Deliverance by Gideon (Part 2): A Picture of Weak, Wavering but Victorious Faith—through the Encouragement of God, 6:33-7:25.
1. The picture of weak, wavering faith: putting out the fleece and seeking assurance from God (v.33-40).
2. The test of faith: Gideon's army was reduced from 32,000 down to only 300 soldiers (v.1-8).
3. The encouragement of faith: Gideon needed to be encouraged, for the large Midianite army of 135,000 soldiers camped in the valley below him (v.8-15).
4. The victory of faith: a picture of great faith (v.16-25).
1. (6:33-40) Faith, Weak and Wavering— Wavering, Example of— Weakness, of Faith— Fleece, Used as a Test by Gideon— Assurance, Seeking— Gideon, Weak and Wavering Faith: there is the picture of weak, wavering faith. This is seen by Gideon's putting out the fleece and seeking assurance from God. The scene is clearly painted by the Scripture and outline:
1. The crisis arose, the crisis for which Gideon had been called. The enemy, with its army of 135,000 soldiers, made its annual invasion into Israel (6:33; 7:12; 8:10). Imagine the sight as 135,000 camel-riding soldiers swept across the plains into the Valley of Jezreel and began to set up camp in the valley. As Scripture says, they were as thick as locusts and could no more be numbered than the sand on the seashore (7:12). To the Israelites, the enemy was bound to be a frightful, terrifying sight. No wonder the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in the mountain clefts, caves, and strongholds. They had to flee for their lives before such a massive horde of invading marauders and looters. This was the eighth invasion, the eighth straight year that this cruel enemy swept down upon the Israelites to steal their harvest and livestock, loot their homes, and destroy their property. But this time, the enemy was to face a fight, an unexpected fight, a fight that was to end in their utter destruction.
2. The Lord Himself prepared His people for battle through His chosen servant Gideon (6:34-35). The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. Literally, the Hebrew says "that the Spirit of (Jehovah) clothed Gideon." To be "clothed" with the Spirit of God means to receive the presence and power of God. Whatever Gideon needed would be his. The Spirit of God was clothing him with His presence and power, giving him the wisdom and ability to lead the troops of Israel.
Thus, Gideon issued the call to arms. He first blew the trumpet in his own hometown, and the men rallied behind him. Note that Gideon's earlier stand against the false god Baal had apparently made an impact upon his hometown. His witness had obviously led many to turn back to the Lord, for they were now the very first to follow the summons of Gideon against such a massive enemy.
Once his own hometown had responded, Gideon sounded the trumpet throughout Manasseh and the other northern tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. The very fact that these tribes would respond to the call of arms issued by a farmer is striking. Obviously, news of the dramatic event of Gideon's stand against the false god Baal and strong witness for the Lord had spread rapidly throughout the tribes of Israel. Because of his strong stand and witness for the Lord, he became a symbol for the true believers of the Lord. This, plus the movement of the Spirit of God in the hearts of the people, no doubt aroused the people to rally around Gideon and respond to the call to take up arms against the invading enemy. Over 32,000 Israelite soldiers mobilized for war (8:3).
3. But Gideon's confidence or faith in God was weak and wavering. Keep in mind that Gideon was not a military commander but a farmer. It is true that he had been called and equipped by God, but he was still just a farmer who had no military training. And there he stood at the head of the Israelite army with no experience in planning military strategy. And worse still, he was responsible for the lives of the 32,000 Israelite men who were facing an enemy of trained soldiers that numbered 130,000, plus numerous camels (7:12). What chance did he and his men have? Who was he, a mere farmer, to be leading these dear brothers of his against such a formidable foe and in such an impossible task?
Questions such as these were bound to be flooding the mind of Gideon. His men were outnumbered four to one, and they were all foot soldiers fighting against trained camel-riding marauders. Moreover, the enemy had the latest hand weaponry of swords, spears, bows and arrows, and perhaps even slings. What chance did Gideon stand? These facts and thoughts weakened the faith of Gideon, and he began to waver. His faith needed bolstering. He needed a renewed, very special assurance from God. He needed confirmation, the absolute assurance that God was going to be with him and give the Israelites victory over such a massive enemy. Thus, Gideon got alone with God in prayer, and note what he did:
4. Gideon tested God (6:37-38). He asked God to cover a wool fleece with dew overnight and make the ground dry. By this miraculous act, Gideon would know that the Lord was with him and would fulfill His promise.
God met the need of His dear servant. When Gideon arose early the next day, he squeezed and wrung out the dew—a whole bowl full of water. But Gideon's faith was still weak and wavering. He still shrunk back from the fight that lay ahead, and still felt uncertain. The odds of his winning a battle against such a massive, well-equipped army seemed utterly impossible.
5. Thus, Gideon again tested God by asking God to reverse the process the next night (6:39-40). But note this fact: Gideon knew that his testing of God was wrong, for he asked God not to be angry with him. But again, despite his shaky faith, God met the need of His dear servant by assuring him of victory. That very night, God kept the fleece dry while covering the ground with dew.
Note this fact about Gideon's testing God, his "putting out the fleece." God had already promised to give Gideon victory over the enemy, and Gideon knew this fact (6:36). Gideon was just having trouble accepting the word, the promise of God. His faith was definitely faltering.
And this is the point to see: the weak, wavering faith of Gideon, and the compassionate, understanding heart of God. Humanly, Gideon was facing an impossible situation. He was a mere farmer leading just a few thousand men against a mighty army of 130,000 trained soldiers who were riding camels and could easily sweep down upon his men who were on foot. He was outmanned four to one and could well be outmaneuvered. Gideon was responsible for the lives of his few soldiers, his fellow Israelites. He was just a farmer, and he had no military training or experience whatsoever. And now the conflict was staring him in the face: the hour for battle had arrived. This dear servant of God needed what so many would have needed: reassurance from God. This writer would have and most readers would have. Gideon needed the Lord to help his unbelief, to strengthen his faith. Thus, he got alone with the Lord and sought His face. And God heard his prayer in "putting out the fleece," meeting the need of His dear servant.
Thought 1. "Putting out the fleece" is a way that some believers seek the will of God. But note these four facts:
1) If the will of God is already revealed in His Word, the Holy Bible, it is wrong to "put out the fleece." We are to believe the Word of God and live by it. It is unbelief, distrust if we do not accept God's Word. Once God has revealed His will through His Word, we are to believe it and act upon it, not doubting or questioning. We are to be a people of obedience who keep God's Word, not a people of doubt and questioning. When seeking to know God's will, "putting out the fleece" is never an option—not if God has already revealed His will in the Word of God. We must not become sign-seekers, but students of God's Word. The Holy Bible is God's revealed will, telling us exactly how to live.
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31).
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).
"Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (1 Corinthians 10:11).
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:2-3).
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word....Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalms 119:9, 11).
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105).
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13).
2) We must not become sign-seekers, always "putting out the fleece."
"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:38-40).
"And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven" (Luke 11:16).
"And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body" (John 2:17-21).
"Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe" (John 4:48).
"For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:22-23).
3) "Putting out the fleece" to seek God's will through circumstances and events can be helpful. If we are facing something that is not spelled out in Scripture, then we must discover God's will. Seeking God's will through prayer and the leadership of His Spirit by using a fleece might prove helpful for some believers. A believer—being led by God's Spirit and prayer—might use a fleece if he has to make a major decision such as changing jobs, where to move, to enter business or not, where to go to school, and a host of other major decisions.
But note this fact: we must always seek the face of God through prayer and dependence upon His Spirit. This—along with His Word—is the way God has established for us to discern His will for our lives. But if we seek Him with all our hearts and still cannot discern His will, we may sense the need for God to use some circumstance to clearly show us what to do. God loves and cares for us so much—if we are genuinely seeking His will—He will do whatever is necessary to place us right where He wants us: in His perfect will. And in using the fleece or circumstance, God will grow our faith in Him more and more.
"For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke 11:10).
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come" (John 16:13).
"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them" (Acts 13:2).
"Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia" (Acts 16:6).
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14).
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29).
"Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies" (Psalms 27:11).
"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (Psalms 73:24).
"Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness" (Psalms 143:10).
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21).
4) When our faith is weak and wavering, God will meet our need if we go to Him and pray. He will meet our need just as He met Gideon's need. God will do whatever is necessary to help and strengthen us. This is the wonderful promise of His Word.
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need " (Hebrews 4:15-16).
"Let your conversation [behavior, conduct] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:5-6).
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him" (Psalms 28:7).
"The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate" (Psalms 34:22).
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed" (Psalms 37:3).
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Psalms 37:5).
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25).
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
"Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isaiah 26:4).
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
2. (7:1-8) Faith, Test of— Trust, in God— Gideon, Tested by God— Israel, Army of: there was the test of faith. Gideon had needed his faith strengthened by God, and God had marvelously strengthened it. Now God was going to really put Gideon's faith to the test by issuing a shocking demand. God demanded that Gideon reduce his army from 32,000 men down to only 300 soldiers! Imagine 300 untrained soldiers engaging 135,000 trained soldiers in battle. Soldiers who comprised several mobile companies or camel-riding divisions. This was a clear test of Gideon's faith:
1. The army of Gideon hastily marched and camped beside the spring of Harod (7:1). The horde of Midianites was just four miles north, camped in the Valley of Jezreel. This means that the enemy was bound to know about the mobilization of the Israelite forces, but they did not consider the Israelites a serious threat.
2. The first test of Gideon's faith was the command by God to reduce his army (7:2-3). Note why God wanted the army reduced: to prevent boasting, to teach that God alone can give victory and conquer the enemy of His people. All grounds for boasting had to be removed. In the right circumstances, it is possible for 32,000 soldiers to defeat an army of 135,000. Thus, all grounds for boasting had to be removed. The battle had to be won by an act of God through a miracle. When soldiers win a battle, the credit often goes to the soldiers, and they boast in their victory without any regard to God's presence and sovereignty. But when a victory is due to a clear miracle, the glory goes to God and to God alone. The Israelites needed to learn that God alone could give them victory and conquer the enemies who stood opposed to the promised land.
The Lord's command was bound to surprise Gideon, for he was already outnumbered four to one. Nevertheless, the Lord instructed him to discharge any soldier who was gripped by fear (7:3). In the midst of battle, fear spreads like wildfire. If one soldier shrinks back or turns and begins to run, there is always the danger that others will begin to withdraw and flee. What God wanted was soldiers of faith, belief, and trust; soldiers of courage who would stand and fight with all their strength, knowing that they could gain the upper hand and be victorious over the enemy. Fear and faith cannot mix, not in the same heart, not without affecting the strength and courage of soldiers and armies. This God knew, and so He gave the fearful a chance to leave. And over 22,000 were discharged, leaving only 10,000 soldiers to face the enemy.
3. But God was not through with Gideon's faith. God utterly shocked Gideon by instructing him to reduce his army even more (7:4-8).
a. The second screening or reduction was to order the soldiers to gather at the creek and refresh themselves (7:4-6). Gideon was to separate those who cupped water with their hands and lapped the water like a dog from those who knelt and drank with their mouths in the stream. Why was this particular method of drinking water used to test the soldiers? Were the soldiers who cupped water with their hands indicating that they were more alert and ready for the conflict by staying on their feet? Were the soldiers who knelt down and drank with their mouths in the stream showing less alertness? After all, the enemy was camped only four miles away and were bound to have sentries set all around, keeping an eye on the Israelite army.
Scripture does not say why this particular method of drinking water was used to test the soldiers. But note what happened: only 300 soldiers drank by cupping water in their hands (7:6). All the other soldiers got down on their knees to drink. Gideon's army was to be comprised of only 300 men. Imagine! Three hundred men standing to fight against an army of 135,000 trained soldiers! Keep in mind the promise of God to Moses that one soldier who trusted Him would chase a thousand, and two would put ten thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30).
b. The Lord gave a wonderful promise and assurance to Gideon: they would be victorious. With 300 soldiers, God promised to save them and to defeat the enemy (7:7).
c. Therefore, the Lord gave a shocking instruction to Gideon: he was to discharge the other 9,700 soldiers.
d. The obedience of Gideon was astounding. He sent the 9,700 soldiers home and stood ready to face the massive army of the enemy with only 300 men left (7:8).
Thought 1. What a faith Gideon had! In just a very brief time, Gideon's faith had grown well beyond expectation! Grown from a weak, wavering faith to an astounding faith. Just imagine: 300 men standing against an army of 135,000 trained soldiers.
This is the faith God wants us to have in Him: Strong faith! Absolute trust! Believing the impossible! And refusing to be moved by doubt or question!
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:16).
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:5-6).
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:17).
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed" (Psalms 37:3).
"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man" (Psalms 118:8).
"Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isaiah 26:4).
3. (7:8-15) Faith, Encouragement of— Encouragement, and Source of— Gideon, Encouragement of: there was the encouragement of faith. Gideon's faith needed to be encouraged, for he saw the large Midianite army of 135,00 camped in the valley below him. The sight must have been awesome, a sea of tents housing over 135,00 soldiers and a sea of camels that provided a mobile army that could quickly maneuver any place it desired. But note how God met the personal need of His dear servant:
God met the need of His dear servant Gideon by giving him a third assurance or sign of victory (7:9). The Lord instructed Gideon to take his personal servant and sneak down to the Midianite camp (7:10-11). Gideon needed this reassurance, for the enemy was a frightful, disconcerting, unsettling sight. They were camped together as thick as locusts and had innumerable camels (7:12). Courageously, Gideon and his servant snuck close enough to overhear a dream being discussed by two enemy soldiers, probably sentries (7:13-14). One soldier had dreamed about a round loaf of barley bread that came tumbling into the Midianite camp, striking a particular tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed. The two enemy soldiers themselves interpreted the dream as meaning their defeat by Gideon. The round loaf of barley bread represented the small army of Gideon that was to strike and destroy the army of the Midianites.
Overhearing this dream, Gideon immediately knew that the enemy army would collapse, be overturned and overthrown by the miraculous power of God. Victory was assured. As soon as Gideon could reach a safe distance, he fell prostrate upon the ground, giving thanks to God and worshipping Him. He then returned to camp and aroused his 300 soldiers, assuring them that the Lord had given them the victory (7:15).
Thought 1. We often need our faith strengthened. We need God to help our unbelief, our distrust. We need extra strength to face some trial or temptation. The pressure has us in a vice, squeezing us ever so tightly. The pressure may be coming from some problem or difficulty, trial or temptation such as...
|• sickness |
|• disease |
|• accident |
|• broken relationship |
|• loss of job |
|• financial difficulty |
|• abuse |
|• persecution |
|• misunderstanding |
|• emotional illness |
|• mental disturbance |
On and on a list could be made of problems, trials, and temptations that regularly pressure us. But the point to see is this: God will strengthen us, meet our need, and deliver us through the trial or temptation. He met Gideon's need, and He has met the need of every believer down through the centuries who has called upon Him for help. God has always proven faithful. And He will be faithful to us, meeting the pressuring needs of our hearts. God will strengthen our faith, enable us to stand strongly and to march through life victoriously.
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:16).
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20).
"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Hebrews 11:33-34).
"Let your conversation [conduct, behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him" (Psalms 28:7).
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
4. (7:16-25) Victory, of Faith— Faith, Victory of— Faith, Great— Israel, Conquest of Enemy: there was the victory of faith. What now happened is a picture of great faith. The scene is dramatic and spectacular, demonstrating how the miraculous hand of God will move in behalf of His dear people.
1. Note the brilliant strategy the Spirit of God led Gideon to plan. He divided his troop of 300 men into three groups, instructing each of them to take trumpets for blowing, jars that were to be broken in order to cause loud noises, and torches in order to give the impression of over 300 divisions of soldiers attacking the Midianite camp (7:16). The Israelite soldiers were instructed to closely watch Gideon's lead, doing exactly what he did. They were to blow their trumpets along with Gideon and shout the war cry at the same time Gideon shouted (7:18).
2. Note the brilliant timing of the secret attack. It was launched sometime between 10 and 12 p.m., right after the changing of the enemy's guard (7:19).
3. The strategy of the attack was ingenious, demonstrating a picture of great faith in God (7:19-21). The 300 Israelite soldiers took their positions. And at Gideon's signal, they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars and shouted out the war cry. All this they did while running down the hillside, grasping the flaming torches in their left hands and blowing the trumpets held in their right hands (7:20). This gave the appearance of 300 divisions of soldiers rushing down upon the Midianite enemy. But note: when the 300 soldiers reached a certain point on the hillside surrounding the Midianite camp, they held their position surrounding the camp, giving the appearance of officers challenging their troops to swarm down upon the Midianite camp.
4. This military tactic produced a startling, miraculous defeat of the enemy (7:22). The executed plan produced utter confusion, chaos, panic, and bedlam among the enemy. The enemy soldiers ran about in the dark, fleeing and fighting among themselves—swinging and slashing away with their swords and spears at any and all who stood face to face with them. A spirit of terrible fear and panic gripped the enemy, and they fled for their lives.
5. At some point, the 300 Israelite soldiers began to pursue the enemy (7:23-25). But it was obvious that so few men could never pursue literally thousands of enemy soldiers; therefore, Gideon immediately sent for reinforcements (7:23). He also sent messengers challenging Ephraim to cut off the retreating enemy at the Jordan River as far as Beth-Barah. The men of Ephraim accepted the challenge and reached the fords of the Jordan before the enemy soldiers. They attacked and obviously slew many of them, capturing and executing two of the Midianite commanders: Oreb (meaning "raven") and Zeeb (meaning "wolf"). Immediately following this execution, they brought the heads to Gideon who had just reached the Jordan River himself (7:24-25).
Gideon's great victory became a landmark, a monumental event in the history of Israel. Warren W. Wiersbe compares it to the battle of Waterloo for Great Britain, for it reminded the Jews of God's power to deliver them from their enemies. This was the day that the Israelites would never forget (Psalms 83:11; Isaiah 9:4; 10:26).
Thought 1. There are at least two strong lessons for us in this point:
1) Faith is the victory. The person who believes God will be victorious in life. God will give the genuine believer His presence and His power, the power to conquer, triumph, and overcome any enemy that attacks him. And there are many enemies that do attack us as we walk throughout life, enemies such as...
• addictions and enslavements
• accidents and diseases
• enticing passions and temptations
• dangerous and threatening trials
• people who ridicule, mock, or persecute us
• people who abuse and enslave us
If we trust God—really believe God and have faith in Him—God's presence will never leave us nor forsake us. And He will empower us to conquer and overcome all enemies that seek to destroy us or to keep us out of the promised land. Faith in God is the victory.
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).
"Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matthew 17:20).
"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:15).
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:46).
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword....Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35, 37-39).
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:16).
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:5-6).
"And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper" (2 Chronicles 20:20).
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed" (Psalms 37:3).
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Psalms 37:5).
"Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us" (Psalms 44:5).
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
2) The Lord has the power to change any person. This is seen in the life of Gideon. Just think what God did with this young farmer. His parents were pagan, idolatrous worshippers who were totally sold out to the false god Baal. Gideon's father had even built a worship center in honor of Baal, donating the property and worship center to the local citizens. Apparently, Gideon was a genuine believer in the Lord God, but his faith was weak and wavering. But through the events just studied, God took this young farmer and transformed him into a strong believer. God changed the life of Gideon. And He can change the life of any human being. Only one element is necessary: faith. Faith in God. A person who wants to be changed, transformed—who wants to begin life anew, afresh, all over again—must trust God. He must have faith in God, believe God. And God will change him, transform him into a new creation.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Galatians 6:15).
"That ye put off concerning the former conversation [behavior, conduct] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24).
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:10).
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5).
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalms 51:10).
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 11:19).
Thought 2. Warren W. Wiersbe gives an excellent application of this point that is well worth quoting in its entirety:
The church today can also learn from this event and be encouraged by it. God doesn't need large numbers to accomplish His purpose, nor does He need especially gifted leaders. Gideon and his 300 men were available for God to use, and He enabled them to conquer the enemy and bring peace to the land. When the church starts to depend on "bigness"—big buildings, big crowds, big budgets—then faith becomes misplaced, and God can't give His blessing. When leaders depend on their education, skill, and experience rather than in God, then God abandons them and looks for a Gideon.
The important thing is for us to be available for God to use just as He sees fit. We may not fully understand His plans, but we can fully trust His promises; and it's faith in Him that gives the victory.
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
H. The Deliverance by Gideon (Part 3): The Strengths and Weaknesses of an Inconsistent Life, 8:1-35
(8:1-35) Introduction: many people live inconsistent lives. And inconsistency causes all kinds of problems, problems both for the inconsistent person and for those who observe his inconsistency. All kinds of guilt and problems arise for the person who lives an up and down, contradictory life. If a person is up one day and down the next day, achieving one week and failing the next week, feeling pleased one moment and displeased the next moment—the person faces a miserable life and causes misery for others. The sense of failure and guilt, of coming short, is always within the heart of an inconsistent person. And tragically, while the inconsistent person is living in failure or sin and evil, he is influencing others to fail or commit sin and evil.
Inconsistency—a life of strengths and weaknesses—was one of the major traits of Gideon. A picture of his fluctuating life, of both his strengths and weaknesses, is painted in the present passage of Scripture. This passage stands as a warning to us against living an inconsistent life. This is, The Deliverance by Gideon (Part 3): The Strengths and Weaknesses of an Inconsistent Life, 8:1-35.
1. Gideon was a man who sought peace—to avoid controversy—among God's people (v.1-3).
2. Gideon was a man who warned scoffers and unbelievers (v.4-9).
3. Gideon was a man who endured, persevered until he conquered the enemy (v.10-12).
4. Gideon was a man who executed justice (v.13-21).
5. Gideon was a man who acknowledged the Lord and His right to rule over His people (v.22-23).
6. Gideon was a man who had an inconsistent testimony and witness (v.24-32).
7. Gideon was a man who had a tragic, inconsistent legacy: his rule was soon followed by apostasy and rebellion against God (v.33-35).
1. (8:1-3) Peace, Duty— Harmony, Duty— Controversy, Duty— Ephraim, Tribe of, Nature: Gideon was a man who sought peace, sought to avoid controversy among God's people. What now happened is interesting.
1. The tribe of Ephraim felt snubbed, insulted because Gideon had not called for their help in the initial battle against Midian. Thus, they sent a delegation to confront Gideon. They complained bitterly, forcefully, and challenged his having bypassed them (8:1).
Why would Ephraim complain against being involved in only "mopping-up operations"? Why would this tribe launch a complaint against Gideon for not giving them a part in the initial fight, claiming that they felt snubbed, insulted? It is true that Ephraim was a large, important tribe, second only to Judah. And because of this, they were a proud people who had earlier responded when the call of arms was issued by Ehud (3:26-29) and Barak (5:13-14). But note this fact: the Midianites had been oppressing the Israelites for seven long years. If the tribe of Ephraim was sincere, why had they themselves not earlier taken the lead and called all Israel to drive the Midianites out of the promised land?
Scripture does not expose the true motive of the Ephraimites. Perhaps they felt they were going to be bypassed in the distribution of the plunder of the Midianites. Or perhaps the Spirit of God led Gideon not to appeal for Ephraim's help because of their pride. God knew that He was going to reduce the number of fighting men down to 300. And because of Ephraim's pride and warrior-like nature, most likely the tribe would have rebelled against having its ranks reduced.
2. Whatever the case, note the humble, soft answer of Gideon (8:2-3). He boosted their ego, seeking peace with the tribe of Ephraim and trying to avoid controversy. He praised them for their accomplishment in the mopping-up operations (7:24-25) and in capturing the two commanders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. Note that he used a parable to get the point across: he pointed out that the gleanings of Ephraim's grapes were far better than the full grape harvest of his small city of Abiezer. Their conquest of the two commanders was a far greater achievement than the initial victory won by his small band of 300 soldiers.
3. This humble, soft answer of Gideon's avoided controversy and secured peace between him and the tribe of Ephraim. Their resentment against him subsided, was squelched and faded away. They were no longer angry or upset (8:3).
Thought 1. We are to seek peace with all men, seek to avoid controversy among people, especially among God's people. The spirit of peace is to be cultivated by believers. And peace is to be maintained as much as is possible. When differences, divisions, and strife arise, we are to do all we can to make peace.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
"Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another" (Mark 9:50).
"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18).
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" (Romans 14:19).
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Philippians 2:3).
"Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers" (2 Timothy 2:14).
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient" (2 Timothy 2:24).
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17).
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" (Psalms 133:1).
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1).
"The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with" (Proverbs 17:14).
"If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences" (Ecclesiastes 10:4).
2. (8:4-9) Rebuke, Duty— Warning, Duty— Scoffers, Duty to— Unbelievers, Duty to— Succoth, City of— Peniel, City of: Gideon was a man who strongly rebuked and warned scoffers and unbelievers. This is clearly seen in what followed:
1. As soon as Gideon could, he resumed the pursuit of the fleeing Midianite army and their two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. He kept up the pursuit all the way to Succoth, which was some forty miles from the valley near the hill of Moreh where the battle had first taken place (7:1). As the tiny army crossed the Jordan River and entered the land inherited by the tribe of Dan, they were exhausted, totally drained.
2. Gideon asked the city of Succoth for supplies in order to refresh his troops (8:5-7). But the officials refused and actually mocked Gideon and his troops. They asked Gideon if he already had the hands of the two Midianite kings in his possession. If he did not, why should they give him bread? The citizens of Succoth doubted that Gideon's meager, makeshift army would be able to capture the two Midian kings. And if they helped Gideon and his small army, the Midianites would regroup and take vengeance against Succoth.
Note Gideon's response: he warned the scoffers and unbelievers. By their sarcastic, mocking rejection, they were unpatriotic traitors and thereby assisting the enemy (8:7). He would, therefore, execute justice upon his return. The battle was now taking place upon their soil; consequently, neutrality was impossible. They should have given assistance to their Israelite brothers.
3. Shockingly, the very same mocking rejection and betrayal were experienced at Peniel (8:8-9). Peniel was the very place where God had met and wrestled with Jacob, the very place where God changed Jacob's name to Israel. (See outline—♣ Genesis 32:22-32 and notes—♣ Genesis 32:22-32 for more discussion.) Again, Gideon issued a warning to these scoffers and unbelievers. The citizens of Peniel were just as the citizens of Succoth. They did not believe that God would give victory to Gideon and his small army, not against the Midianites. Consequently, Gideon vowed that he would execute justice upon them when he returned. He would destroy the landmark of their city, the fortified tower that stood as a monument to the city's strength and importance (8:9).
Thought 1. There is a strong lesson for us in this point: we must issue a strong warning to the scoffers and unbelievers of this world. The judgment of this world is coming upon all the wicked and unrighteous of this earth. We must warn our families, neighbors, friends, communities, cities, states, and nations. We must warn the whole world of the coming judgment of God. For God is going to judge the world and every human being within it—each of us, our families, our communities, and our world. Courageously, we must stand forth and give warning to all who do wrong and fail to do right. This is the strong exhortation of Scripture:
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1).
"When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand" (Ezekiel 3:18).
"Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul" (Ezekiel 33:9).
"Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him" (Luke 17:3).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).
"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear" (1 Timothy 5:20).
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2).
"These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee" (Titus 2:15).
3. (8:10-12) Endurance, Duty— Perseverance, Duty— Steadfastness, Duty— Victory, Duty— Enemies, Duty— Conquest, Duty: Gideon was a man who endured and persevered until he conquered the enemy. The two Midianite kings and their army of 15,000 had fled as far as Karkor, which was far enough from the Jordan River that they felt safe and secure (8:10). Note that the enemy had lost over 120,000 soldiers, and only 15,000 still survived.
Gideon endured and persevered in his pursuit, launching a surprise attack (8:11). The two kings somehow escaped and fled for their lives, but again Gideon persevered and continued the pursuit. Eventually, he captured and routed the entire army (8:12).
Thought 1. The lesson to see in this point is the perseverance and endurance of Gideon in pursuing the enemy. Over 120,000 enemy soldiers had already fallen in battle. Only 15,000 enemy soldiers remained. The massive army of the enemy had already been smashed, utterly destroyed. It would take years for the Midianite army to ever recover from such a devastating loss. But the two leaders—the kings who were primarily responsible for the savage, brutal crime of oppressing God's people—had not yet been captured. Justice had to be executed upon these two criminals. Consequently, Gideon endured and persevered in his pursuit, moving farther and farther away from his home base. He was a man of steadfast determination, a man who persevered and endured until total victory was achieved.
This is the great lesson for us in this point. We must be men and women of endurance and perseverance. We must persist in conquering the enemies of life, enemies who attempt to defeat and destroy us. We must endure and stand fast against...
• sickness and disease
• sin and evil
• immorality and corruption
• lawlessness and injustice
• abuse and brutality
• division and hostility
• selfishness and pride
• greed and neglect
• drugs and addiction
Whatever the enemy, we must stand fast against it. We must persevere and endure until the enemy is conquered and overcome.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1).
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).
"Only let your conversation [behavior, conduct] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" (James 1:12).
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Peter 5:8-9).
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness" (2 Peter 3:17).
"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Revelation 3:11).
"But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day" (Joshua 23:8).
"If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear" (Job 11:14-15).
"The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger" (Job 17:9).
"Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us" (Psalms 44:5).
4. (8:13-21) Justice, Duty— Justice, Example of— Gideon, Traits of— Oppression, Penalty for: Gideon was a man who executed justice. He was committed to justice, and he made sure that it was carried out. Note the Scripture and outline:
1. Gideon executed justice against the traitors of Succoth and Peniel (8:13-17). Once he had captured the two enemy kings, Gideon retraced his steps and returned to Succoth. He captured a young man and questioned him, securing the names of the city's 77 officials (8:13-14). He then set out to arrest the officials and laid three strong legal charges against them:
⇒ the charge of refusing to help in a war emergency
⇒ the charge of scoffing unbelief and rebellion in a time of war emergency
⇒ the charge of assisting the enemy, of committing treason by not coming to the aid of their own fellow Israelites (8:15)
Gideon paraded the two enemy kings before the citizens of Succoth, the two kings they had said never would be captured by Gideon. Then using thorns and briars, he executed justice by having the city officials lashed (8:16). Most likely, they were executed after the lashing; although, this is not known for sure.
Gideon also executed justice against the officials of Peniel. Scripture says that he executed these officials (8:17). This suggests that the officials of Succoth were also executed. Keep in mind that the officials of these cities had committed rebellion and treason in a time of war emergency. By not helping Gideon and his meager army in the emergency of war, they were assisting the enemy and becoming traitors to the cause. And the war was actually taking place in their own territory during this particular emergency.
2. Gideon executed justice against the brutal oppressors (war-criminals) who had brutalized the Israelites for seven long years. Gideon interrogated the two Midianite kings about some horrendous, murderous act they had committed (8:18). And they actually confessed to killing Gideon's own brothers at Tabor. This must have taken place sometime earlier, perhaps at one of the Midianite annual raids upon the city of Tabor.
Gideon pronounced the verdict: death. And he offered his oldest son the honor of executing the kings, but the son refused because he was only a child and was afraid (8:19-20). At this point, the two kings requested that Gideon carry out the execution himself. In the eyes of the ancient world, it was a disgrace for a person to die at the hands of a boy or a woman (5:24-27; 9:54). Gideon complied with their request: he executed the two kings. Then he claimed the trophies of victory, taking the ornaments off the camels that had belonged to the kings (8:21).
Thought 1. Justice is essential within society. Laws must be established to control relationships between people. Evil within man's nature must be controlled by law. Man finds within himself...
• the tendency to be selfish, to want more and more
• the tendency to react, to retaliate, to take revenge
• the tendency to become upset, angry, bitter, hostile
• the tendency to lust and covet a neighbor's spouse, property, money, position
The list of wrong, sinful, and evil tendencies within our nature is innumerable. The law is necessary to control these tendencies. And once the law is broken, justice must be executed. If justice is not carried out when the law has been broken, the law is meaningless, and we are free to act and do whatever we want: be lawless, violent, immoral, or unjust. The execution of justice is an absolute essential within society. Note what Scripture says about justice:
"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour" (Romans 13:7).
"Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven" (Colossians 4:1).
"That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Deuteronomy 16:20).
"The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (2 Samuel 23:3).
"And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment" (2 Chronicles 19:6).
"Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling" (Psalms 2:10-11).
"Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy" (Psalms 82:3).
"The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed" (Psalms 103:6).
"Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy" (Proverbs 20:28).
"To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice" (Proverbs 21:3).
"The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it" (Proverbs 29:4).
"The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever" (Proverbs 29:14).
"Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed" (Isaiah 56:1).
"The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame" (Zephaniah 3:5).
5. (8:22-23) Humility, Duty— Acknowledge, the Lord, Duty— Kingship, Rejected— Gideon, Testimony of— Israel, King of— King, Desire for— Israel, Desire for King: Gideon was a humble man who acknowledged the Lord and the Lord's right to rule over His people. In this act, Gideon set a dynamic example for people of all generations.
1. Gideon was a true hero in the eyes of the people, very popular. He had led a small band of soldiers to defeat the cruel enemy of Israel who had oppressed them for so long. Now they celebrated their great victory over the enemy and cheered Gideon's name. They sought to exalt him as king over Israel and to establish a ruling dynasty. No doubt, the people felt that a king could unify their nation and maintain a mobilized army against attacks by any future invader.
2. But in great humility, Gideon rejected their offer. And note what he had to say to the people: he acknowledged the Lord and declared that the Lord Himself was to rule over His people. The right to rule was the Lord's, not man's (8:23). Simply stated, under no circumstance was Gideon going to exalt himself to take the place of Jehovah God. He would never set up a rival throne to dethrone the Lord. And the Israelites should have known this, for the Mercy Seat in the Tabernacle was the throne of God. It was from there that He was to rule His people.
"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth" (Psalms 80:1).
"The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved" (Psalms 99:1).
Thought 1. This point highlights a strong lesson for us: humility. Gideon was a man's man, a true hero at this time during his life. But he was a man of humility and lowliness of mind before God. Imagine! Being offered the privilege, responsibility, and the honor of being the first king of Israel. The Israelites were shouting his praises, honoring him as highly as a leader could be honored. But Gideon would have nothing to do with such worldly honor and popularity. He humbled himself and demonstrated the kind of lowliness that we all should have, the humility that acknowledges God and esteems others above ourselves. Listen to what Scripture says:
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4).
"And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve" (Luke 22:25-26).
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Philippians 2:3-4).
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:10).
"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6).
"Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud" (Proverbs 16:19).
"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life" (Proverbs 22:4).
"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit" (Proverbs 29:23).
"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15).
6. (8:24-32) Inconsistency, Example of— Testimony, Bad— Compromise, Example of— Permissive, Example of— Lifestyle, Inconsistent— Inconsistency, Description: Gideon was a man who had an inconsistent testimony and witness. Remember, the book of Judges is the story of the inconsistency of the Israelites, the permissive lifestyle they lived. Looking around at their neighbors, they were attracted to the bright lights and pleasures, the possessions and wealth of their neighbors. Instead of living a life of holiness, righteousness, and spiritual separation, the Israelites began to compromise with their neighbors and live the very same permissive lifestyle as the unbelievers. They gave in to the immoral, covetous, and idolatrous ways of the Canaanite unbelievers, even to the point of intermarrying with them. And once intermarriage took place, it was just a short step to serving and worshipping the false gods of the Canaanites.
This compromising, permissive lifestyle even made a significant impact upon Gideon, influencing him greatly. Despite the wonderful growth in faith just experienced by Gideon, he began to demonstrate a heart that was not pure toward God, a life that was not totally committed to God. And tragically, as Gideon aged—from this point on until his death—he slipped more and more into the permissive, wicked lifestyle of his unbelieving neighbors. He compromised more and more until by the time of his death he became an utter disgrace to the holiness demanded by God. He had rejected the throne, but he had lived like a king: requesting wealth from the people (8:24-26); securing a large harem and family (8:30); acquiring the royal, purple robes worn by kings and making an ephod, a chestplate to be worn only by the priests (8:26-27). Gideon did not exalt himself to be king, but he lived like a king. The permissive, compromising life he lived up until his death is clearly spelled out by Scripture:
1. Gideon demonstrated greed (8:24-26). While rejecting the offer to become king, Gideon did have one request of the soldiers: that each give him an earring from their share of the plunder. It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings; thus, the Israelites soldiers had collected these as part of their plunder. Keep in mind that Gideon was already a wealthy young farmer, and he had already confiscated the wealth from the two Midianite kings. This request only made him more wealthy, adding considerably to his wealth, for the soldiers ended up giving about 43 pounds of gold rings. Gideon had indeed refused the offer to be king, but he had just claimed the booty to live like a king. And then, tragically, allowing greed to grip his heart, he requested even more from his troops. As commander of the army, perhaps he was deserving of a gift from each of the soldiers. But he was already a wealthy man. If his heart had been free of greed, he would never have made the request for additional wealth, certainly not from the very soldiers who had risked their lives and fought so valiantly. And note, the gift had not been initiated by the soldiers but by Gideon himself. A clear sign of the seed of greed.
2. Gideon mistakenly led the people into false worship (8:27). Shocking! Impossible! Yet it happened! The man of faith led the people into idolatry. How? He made an ephod, an apron-like garment to be placed only upon the chest of the High Priest and worn only by him. It was made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and gold thread that had been made from thin gold sheets cut into thread-like wires. Two onyx stones were attached to the ephod or apron that had Israel's twelve tribes engraved on them, six names on each stone in the order of their birth. This symbolized that the priest represented and carried the names of God's people in prayer before the Lord.
Note this fact: the ephod symbolized prayer, that the High Priest constantly carried the names of God's people before the Lord. It may have been prayer that caused Gideon to make an ephod or apron, wishing to use it as a picture of how he was to constantly consult the Lord as the judge of God's people, consult the Lord for guidance in judging the matters brought to him.
However, Gideon's motive for making the ephod also could have been to establish a memorial to the Lord who had given him and the Israelites such a marvelous victory. But whatever his purpose or motive, the worst imaginable consequence happened: the people prostituted themselves, played the harlot, by beginning to worship the ephod. The ephod actually became an idol, and the people stopped turning to the Lord and giving Him their true devotion.
The ephod is associated with false, idol worship elsewhere in Scripture (17:5; 18:14, 17). Tragically, the ephod became a snare or trap to Gideon and his family. The young man who had courageously taken a stand against the false worship of his father had now fallen into the same temptation and was leading God's people into false worship.
3. Nevertheless, Gideon had made a great contribution to the nation during the early years of his life (8:28). He had subdued the Midianites and brought a forty-year peace to the promised land. For this great feat of faith, he would forever be remembered (8:28; Hebrews 11:32).
4. As he aged, Gideon considered himself above the law of God (8:29-31). This is clearly seen in the disobedient, immoral life he lived. He actually practiced polygamy, marrying many women, and bearing many children, including seventy sons. He failed to live a life of holiness, a life separated and set apart to God. At least one of his wives or concubines was a Canaanite unbeliever, if not many more. His concubine who lived in Shechem was a Canaanite who bore a son named Abimelech. This son later attempted to establish his own rule as king over Israel, the rule of an illegal, renegade kingship. (See outline—♣ Judges 9:1-57 and notes—♣Judges 9:1-57 for more discussion.)
But for now, the point to see is the compromising, immoral, unholy life that Gideon began to live. He disobeyed the commandments of God and suffered the consequences, that of spiritual decline. All because he considered himself above the law of God.
5. Gideon died as an elderly man. Insofar as is known, he never repented of his compromising, permissive lifestyle. Gideon lived an inconsistent life and bore an inconsistent testimony.
Thought 1. Being inconsistent—living for God one day and living a worldly, unholy life the next day—is one of the worst offenses against God that can be committed. An inconsistent life destroys our testimony and affects other lives, often leading others into sin and evil. If we are living in sin and evil, we are leading others to live sinful and evil lives. Just think for a moment:
⇒ If we are living immoral lives, then we are leading others into immorality.
⇒ If we are lying or stealing, we are teaching others to lie and steal.
⇒ If we become angry or hostile, then we are arousing others to become angry or hostile.
⇒ If we smoke or drink alcohol or take drugs, we lead others to begin the route of addiction.
What we do affects the lives of others. Therefore, if we live inconsistent lives, we are not only damaging our testimony, but we are damaging the lives of other people. The inconsistent life of Gideon led a nation into false worship. And if we live inconsistent lives, we will lead others into a life of sin and evil. We must heed what the Holy Scripture teaches about living an inconsistent life:
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46).
"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things" (Romans 2:1).
"Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal" (Romans 2:21).
"Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written" (Romans 2:23-24).
"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews" (Galatians 2:14).
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16).
"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit" (James 2:15-16).
"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be" (James 3:10).
"And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of" (2 Peter 2:2).
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:4-6).
7. (8:33-35) Legacy, of Gideon— Inconsistency, Caused by— Apostasy, Caused by— Rebellion, against God, Caused by— Gideon, Legacy of: Gideon was a man who had a tragic, inconsistent legacy. Right after his death, the Israelites soon began to live lives of apostasy and rebellion against God. No sooner had Gideon died than his legacy took hold. And the people prostituted themselves to false gods and false worship. Once again, they began to worship the false god Baal, particularly Baal-Berith (8:33-34). This term "Baal-Berith" means Baal of the covenant. Apparently, the people actually made a covenant with Baal, the false god who in the minds of the people "watches over agreements." Note this tragic fact: if the people turned to the false worship of Baal, this meant they turned away from the Lord. They forgot the Lord, that He was their Savior, that He was the One who had saved them from the hands of their enemies.
But this was not all the people forgot. They forgot all the good that Gideon had done for them (8:35). And they failed to show respect and kindness to Gideon's family.
Thought 1. What is the legacy being left behind by each of us? What is your legacy? My legacy? There are some special marks that point to a strong legacy. These special marks should stand out in our lives and proclaim a loud testimony. These marks will bear witness to a strong, victorious, and fruitful life lived to the utmost.
1) There is the mark of resisting the enticement of sinners.
"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not" (Proverbs 1:10).
2) There is the mark of rejecting the path of the wicked and the ways of the evil.
"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men" (Proverbs 4:14).
3) There is the mark of never yielding the members of our body to become instruments or tools of unrighteousness.
"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:13).
4) There is the mark of clothing ourselves with the armor of God.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:12-13).
5) There is the mark of never falling from our steadfastness or perseverance.
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness" (2 Peter 3:17).
6) There is the mark of rejecting worldly counsel and living in the Word of God day and night.
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalms 1:1-2).
7) There is the mark of giving our hearts totally to the Lord God and bearing strong testimony for Him.
"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God" (2 Timothy 1:8).
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).
8) There is the mark of being infilled and empowered by God's Spirit.
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
9) There is the mark of prayer.
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:18).
"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
"Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually" (1 Chronicles 16:11).
10) There is the mark of accepting Christ as one's Savior and of being thoroughly convinced of living eternally with God.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31).
Thought 2. Warren W. Wiersbe has an excellent summary on the life of Gideon that is well worth quoting in its entirety.
Gideon missed a great opportunity to bring reformation and perhaps revival to the land. He had torn down his father's idols, but there were many households in Israel that were still devoted to Baal, and those idols needed to be destroyed as well. The great victory over Midian gave Gideon good reason to call the nation back to the Lord and obedience to His law. But instead of using the occasion for God's glory, he used it for his own profit; and the nation eventually lapsed into sin once again....
What caused Gideon's spiritual decline? I think it was pride....You don't find Gideon honoring the Lord or calling the people together to make a new covenant to obey the Lord. Gideon started out as a servant, but now he was an important celebrity. The result was decline for him, his family, and his nation.
It's interesting and instructive to contrast Abraham and Gideon in the decisions they made after their respective victories (Genesis 14). Abraham took nothing for himself but made sure that others received their share of the spoils (Genesis 14:22-24). He especially refused to take anything from the heathen king of Sodom (Genesis 14:17, 21). Instead, Abraham fellowshipped with Melchizedek, King of Salem, a type of our Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7-8); and in all that he said and did, Abraham gave glory to the Lord of heaven and earth.
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
I. The Illegal, Renegade King, Abimelech: The Event That Shows Just How Corrupt the Israelites Had Become, 9:1-57
(9:1-57) Introduction: revolutionaries and terrorists have always sought power through insurrection, rebellion, revolt, war, assassination, terrorism, or convincing arguments. Seeking power and authority is a common ambition within the hearts of people, an ambition that is present within every group or body of people. The desire for some level of authority or power is within the heart of all of us, ranging from the family through social groups, community organizations, businesses, and all departments of government. What we must realize is this fact: there is a good and an evil seeking of authority, a legitimate and an illegitimate seeking of power. There is good ambition and bad ambition, a righteous ambition and an evil ambition. Ambition becomes evil when it is for selfish purposes. When power is sought to gain more and more for the purpose of dominating others or for living in extravagance, indulgence, and license, it is evil. When the ambition for power leads a person to hoard and neglect others or to harm and damage others or oneself—that ambition or power is wrong.
The present passage has to do with the evil ambition of seeking power for selfish purposes. The guilty culprit was Abimelech, one of the sons of Gideon. When his father died, he wanted to become the king over the territory that his father had served as judge. This chapter is the story of Abimelech: The Illegal, Renegade King, Abimelech: The Event That Shows Just How Corrupt the Israelites Had Become, 9:1-57.
1. The conspiracy of Abimelech: a picture of selfish ambition and the lust for power (v.1-6).
2. The parable and prophetic curse upon Abimelech: a declaration of God's judgment (v.7-21).
3. The rebellion against Abimelech: the picture of division—a divided kingdom (v.22-41).
4. The destruction of Shechem by Abimelech: a picture of evil vengeance (v.42-49).
5. The death of Abimelech: the just judgment of God (v.50-57).
1. (9:1-6) Ambition, Selfish— Lust, for Power— Power, Lust for— Conspiracy, Example of— Murder, of Family— Witness, False, Example of— Abimelech, Conspiracy of: there was the conspiracy of Abimelech. His conspiracy is a clear picture of selfish ambition and a lust for power. Abimelech was the son of Gideon by a concubine or slave girl who continued to live in Shechem with her family (8:30-31; 9:18). His name means "my father is a king." But remember, Gideon had refused to become the first king of Israel (8:22-23). Apparently, right after Gideon's death, a deep-seated selfish ambition and lust for power arose within the heart of Abimelech. To him, his father had made a serious mistake, and the lustful ambition to take over the rule of his father took control of his heart. Abimelech decided that he should be king, so he moved to Shechem and appealed to his mother's brothers for support in securing the power and rule of his father. His selfish ambition drove him to break several of the commandments of God and to commit an atrocity so horrendous it escapes description. His lawlessness and violence brought destruction upon himself and the people under his three-year rule. Note the Scripture and outline:
1. Selfish ambition drove Abimelech to covet the power of his father. He plotted with his relatives, his mother's brothers, to seize power (9:1-3). The relatives moved all about Shechem, encouraging the leading citizens to support the rule of Abimelech as king. They suggested that it was far better to be ruled over by one man than by all seventy sons of Gideon. Moreover, the citizens should remember this one fact: Abimelech was their own flesh and blood. He would definitely have the best interest of Shechem at heart, far more so than the seventy other sons who lived elsewhere. This argument made an impact in the minds of the citizens, and they soon began to support the rule of Abimelech (9:3).
Note this fact: by coveting the rule and power of his father, Abimelech broke one of the Ten Commandments, the commandment that forbids coveting.
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's" (Exodus 20:17).
2. Selfish ambition drove Abimelech to idolatry. The citizens of Shechem not only agreed to the conspiracy of this renegade, but they also provided a substantial sum of money to carry out the plot to seize power. Note that the support came from an illegal source, the temple of Baal (9:4). Abimelech took this money from the temple treasury of Baal and hired a reckless band of adventurers or mercenaries to help him seize power.
Abimelech was exalting himself. His selfish ambition and lust for power were driving him to exalt himself above any and all, no matter who they were. Obviously, he cared nothing for the interest of the people nor for the will of God. His own desires and will had become his god. And by accepting financial support from the temple of Baal, he was declaring that he was a follower of this false god and not of the Lord. This was a terrible violation of the first two commandments.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them" (Exodus 20:3-5).
3. Selfish ambition drove Abimelech to commit a horrendous crime. Abimelech, with his hired assassins, traveled to Ophrah and captured sixty-nine of his seventy half-brothers. Choosing some huge stone as the site of execution, Abimelech and his assassins committed the heinous crime of mass murder, the unspeakable crime of beheading his own half-brothers one-by-one (9:5). But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped, hiding in a place unknown to Abimelech.
Murder is clearly forbidden by God. Hence, Abimelech broke another one of the Ten Commandments of God:
"Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13).
4. Selfish ambition drove Abimelech to bear false witness. He usurped the place of God in the lives of people, totally ignoring God by being crowned king. Abimelech stood before the people as a liar, a farce, a counterfeit, a false king (9:6). The day of his coronation to be king arrived, and ironically the coronation took place beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem. This was a place known for its sacred history throughout all Israel. Just remember the great events that had taken place at or nearby the sight:
⇒ It was probably "beside the great tree" where the Lord met Abraham and gave him the wonderful promise of the promised land (Genesis 12:6).
⇒ It was here that Jacob buried the idols when he led his family to repent and turn back to God (Genesis 35:1-5).
⇒ It was here that the blessings and curses were read from the law and the Israelites promised to obey the Lord (Deuteronomy 11:26-32; Joshua 8:35).
⇒ It was here that Joshua gave his last challenge to the Israelites and led them to recommit their lives to the Lord (Joshua 24:25-26).
⇒ It was here that Joshua placed the "Book of the Law" (Joshua 24:26).
The rule of Abimelech did not include all Israel, but only Shechem and Beth Millo (9:6), Arumah (9:41), and Thebez (9:50). He governed only the cities that primarily included the western part of Manasseh.
No matter what Abimelech promised the people, it was a farce, a lie. God had not appointed him to be king over His people. It was selfish ambition and lust for power that drove Abimelech to assume rule over the people. No matter how many promises he made to them, his primary concern was his own interests and desires. He had his own agenda, and it was an agenda of selfish desires. He was lying, deceiving the people, bearing false witness in exalting himself to be king.
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Exodus 20:16).
Thought 1. Ambition can be a good thing. Ambition can drive us to achieve and accomplish in life. Only when ambition becomes selfish is it evil, only when it drives us to lust for something that is harmful to other people or to ourselves. If our ambition drives us to achieve in order to help others as well as ourselves, then it is legitimate. But if our ambition drives us to achieve for our own ends and interests—to the neglect and harm of others—then it becomes wrong. This is evil, selfish ambition. It is self-exaltation, the folly of worldly ambition. And self-exaltation and worldly ambition will be brought low by God and ultimately face the terrifying judgment of God.
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).
"But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved" (John 5:34).
"When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2).
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).
"He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction" (Proverbs 17:19).
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit" (Isaiah 14:13-15).
"Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord" (Obadiah 4).
"Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: By thy great wisdom and by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas" (Ezekiel 28:2-8).
Thought 2. Warren Wiersbe contrasts the selfish, covetous attitude of Abimelech with the selfless, humble attitude of George Washington, the great American general and first president of the United States:
When George Washington's army defeated the British General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, the end of the Revolutionary War began. Winning the war didn't automatically end the problems that the colonies faced. Things became so bad economically that one of George Washington's colonels wrote Washington a secret letter, urging him to use his army to make himself king or dictator. To the colonel, this was the only way to get the affairs of the young nation under control. Washington rejected the plan, but with his popularity and power he probably could have become king if he had so desired.
Abimelech was just the opposite. He had such a passionate desire to be king that he allowed nothing to stand in his way, not even the lives of hundreds of innocent people.
2. (9:7-21) Curse, Prophetic— Prophetic Curse, Example of— Abimelech, Cursed— Parable, List of: there was the parable and prophetic curse upon Abimelech. This was a strong declaration of God's judgment pronounced by Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon. He was the only son who had escaped the slaughter of Abimelech and his assassins. The Scripture and outline give the clear meaning of the parable and prophetic curse.
1. The sight of the prophetic curse was the top of Matthew Gerazim. Perhaps Jotham climbed to the top of the mountain while the coronation of Abimelech was taking place. Remember, Matthew Gerazim was the place where the blessings of God had been pronounced upon the Israelites (Deuteronomy 27:12; 28:1-14). But this time the mountain was to serve a very different purpose, the place where the false king Abimelech was to be prophetically cursed.
2. The parable was shouted out to the citizens of Shechem (9:8-15). Standing a safe distance from the citizens of Shechem, Jotham shouted out that the trees of the forest went out to anoint a king.
a. First, they asked the olive tree to serve as king (9:9). But it refused because of its call and importance. The olive tree had the function of producing olives for food, ointment, and medicine. Olives were one of the most valued products of Israel (Deuteronomy 11:14). Moreover, it was the oil from olives that kept the lamps in the holy place burning constantly, allowing the High Priest to intercede and carry on the worship functions for the Israelites. The function of the olive tree was just too important to accept the call to be king.
b. The trees or citizens next asked the fig tree to serve as king (9:10-11). But it also refused because its purpose was to produce figs, not hold power over other trees. Figs were an important crop in Israel, and the tree provided abundant shade from the noonday sun. Because of this, the fig tree became an ideal place for meditation and prayer (John 1:48; Micah 4:4; 2 Kings 18:31).
c. Thirdly, the trees or citizens asked the grapevine to serve as king (9:12-13). But it too refused because it was already engaged in productive service for both God and man.
d. The trees or citizens finally asked the bramble, a useless thornbush, to be king (9:14-15). The bramble caused constant problems for farmers and was good only for providing fuel for fires (Psalms 58:9). But note that the bramble or thornbush gladly offered its meager shade as a refuge for the other trees or citizens. The very fact that the bramble or thornbush provided little shade makes his acceptance laughable and meaningless, and points to his reign as useless. The bramble or useless thornbush (Abimelech) could provide nothing for the people, neither provision of food nor protection from enemies. And not only this, the bramble or thornbush threatened destruction upon the other trees if its rule was rejected.
3. The point of the parable could be seen clearly (9:16-20). The parable was to make the citizens of Shechem think about their horrible crime (9:16-19). They had not acted sincerely nor in good faith. Having forgotten what Gideon had done for them, they had risen up against Gideon's family and murdered sixty-nine of his sons, making Abimelech, son of Gideon's slave-girl, their king (9:18).
At this point, Jotham drove home the point to the hearts of his listeners. If they had treated Gideon's family with honor and good faith, then they would have a successful reign with Abimelech (9:19). But if they had not, then the judgment of God would consume them (9:20). This was a shocking prediction to the listeners, that Abimelech and the citizens would end up destroying each other.
4. No doubt, hearing these last words aroused the people, and some of them began to climb the mountain after Jotham. But he escaped and fled for his life to Beer. He hid out there at least until Abimelech was killed some three years later.
Thought 1. The judgment of God is coming upon the world. Every sinner and evildoer will suffer the judgment of God. This means that every person who continues in sin and continues doing evil—never accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior—will be judged by God. This is the clear declaration of Scripture.
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left" (Matthew 25:31-33).
"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22).
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29).
"Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12).
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9).
"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (2 Peter 3:7).
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (Jude 14-15).
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).
3. (9:22-41) Rebellion, Root of— Division, Root of— Kingdom, Divided— Abimelech, Downfall of: there was the rebellion against Abimelech. What now happened is a clear picture of division, of a divided kingdom that could never stand. In the words of Jesus Christ:
"And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand" (Matthew 12:25).
1. The root of the rebellion was a spirit of division aroused by God between Abimelech and Shechem (9:23-25). Note that the "evil spirit of division" was sent by God Himself. God's purpose was to execute judgment upon this tyrant and upon the citizens of Shechem because of their horrible sin and evil. Abimelech's rule had been brief, lasting only for three years (9:22). But no doubt, his rule had been that of a tyrant, and opposition against him was soon aroused. In direct opposition to Abimelech, the leaders of Shechem hired bandits to ambush and rob the traitors (caravans) doing business with Abimelech. By being a major city, Shechem sat on one of the major routes of trade; therefore, the merchants passing through or spending the night in the city were an easy mark for bandits. But this was not the only problem created for Abimelech.
2. A conspiracy was being plotted by a man named Gaal who moved into the city with his brothers (9:26-29). He set out to exploit the displeasure of the citizens with their renegade king by seeking their political support.
Note what happened: he attended a Canaanite religious festival that included drinking and probably immorality. At some point, he and his brothers cursed Abimelech (9:27). During the festival, he sought to rally the citizens of Shechem to support him by appealing to their racial loyalty and ethnic pride and heritage (9:28). He reminded the citizens that Abimelech was Gideon's son, an Israelite. And he asked them a question: How could a people who traced their heritage back to the Hivite prince, Hamor, give their allegiance to an Israelite (Genesis 34:2)? "Why should we (identifying himself with the citizens) serve Abimelech?" he asked.
Obviously, Gaal had aroused the people's emotions to a fevered pitch. He boldly issued a challenge for Abimelech to meet him in battle (9:29).
3. The defeat of Gaal was sealed because the governor of the city, Zebul, discovered the conspiracy (9:30-41). The governor had been put in power by Abimelech, so his loyalties were bound to lie with the renegade king. Upon hearing about the conspiracy, he immediately sent messengers to inform Abimelech of the potential rebellion and suggested quick, secret action before Gaal launched his revolt (9:30-31). The governor recommended a quick, overnight strike and ambush by Abimelech, a secret ambush before Gaal had time to mobilize a large army (9:32-33).
The advice was accepted by Abimelech, and he marched his troops by night, dividing and concealing them (9:34). For some reason, Gaal and Zebul were standing at the gate early the next morning, and Gaal spotted the troops of Abimelech as they marched down the mountain toward the city of Shechem (9:35-41). At first, he was not sure what he saw because of the distance and the early morning shadows. But he quickly caught sight of additional troops marching from two other directions (9:36-37). At this point, Zebul challenged Gaal to make good his boasting, to march out against Abimelech (9:38).
Gaal accepted the challenge and led his supporters out of the city, fighting against the renegade king, Abimelech. But Gaal was chased back to the city gate, losing many soldiers (9:39-40). Soon after, Gaal and his cohorts were permanently driven out of Shechem by the governor Zebul (9:41). No doubt, when they were driven out of the city gates, Abimelech captured and executed them.
Thought 1. There are two lessons for us in this point: division and rebellion will destroy any body of people ranging from families over to social clubs, from communities over to nations. True believers are not to be divisive, causing rebellion and uprisings against authority. This is the clear declaration of Scripture.
"But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth" (Luke 11:17).
"Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people" (Acts 23:5).
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation" (Romans 13:1-2).
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men" (1 Corinthians 3:3).
"For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it" (1 Corinthians 11:18).
"Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work" (Titus 3:1).
"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well" (1 Peter 2:13-14).
"Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king" (1 Peter 2:17).
"Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people" (Exodus 22:28).
"And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel" (Deuteronomy 17:12).
"And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment" (Ezra 7:26).
"I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God" (Ecclesiastes 8:2).
4. (9:42-49) Vengeance, Example of— Revenge, Example of— Shechem, Destruction of— Abimelech, Vengeance of: there was the destruction of Shechem by Abimelech. This is a clear picture of evil vengeance or revenge. Remember, the people of Shechem had cursed Abimelech (9:27) and the city officials had hired bandits to ambush and rob the merchants doing business with him. Now, Abimelech was to have his revenge:
1. Abimelech was a vindictive person filled with anger, and he took his anger out on the revolting city. He had a score to settle, and he was determined to settle it. He divided his troops into three special strike forces and set an ambush on the outskirts of the fields where the people worked. When the people came out of the city to work, he attacked them (9:43). Note that he personally rushed his strike force company to the city gate in order to prevent any person from reentering the city and any reinforcements from coming out (9:44).
The battle was not an easy conquest. Abimelech was forced to press the attack all day. But when he captured the city, he killed the people and destroyed the city. Once the city was destroyed, he spread salt all over it to make it infertile, symbolizing that it was to remain utterly desolate, uninhabited (9:45).
2. The vengeance of Abimelech was then turned against the leaders and aristocracy (wealthy or upper class) of the city who had sought refuge in the tower or temple of Shechem (9:46). Apparently, this was a fortress-temple built to the god El-Berith. This may have been the same as "the house of Millo" mentioned earlier (9:6). Evidently, the leaders and aristocracy felt they would be safe in the temple because there was a fortress. But when Abimelech heard about their fleeing into the stronghold, he led some men up a nearby mountain to secure wood (9:46-48). He then piled the wood up against the walls of the tower or temple and set it afire. About 1,000 people—the leaders and aristocracy of Shechem—burned to death (9:49).
Thought 1. The lesson for us is clear: vengeance and retaliation against people are forbidden by God. Vengeance belongs to God, not to any of us.
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:39).
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men" (Romans 12:17).
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
"See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing" (1 Peter 3:9).
"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 19:18).
"Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee" (Proverbs 20:22).
"Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work" (Proverbs 24:29).
5. (9:50-57) Judgment, Judicial— Judicial Judgment, of God— Death, of Abimelech: there was the death of Abimelech. His death was a clear picture of the judicial judgment of God falling upon a person.
Abimelech threw up a siege around Thebez and quickly captured the city itself (9:50). The fact that Abimelech attacked Thebez shows that dissatisfaction with the tyrant was widespread. The entire population of Thebez fled into a fortified tower within the city, barricading themselves (9:51).
The strategy of Abimelech was again to set fire to the tower in order to kill the people (9:52). But the people were able to offer some resistance either from the top of the tower or from windows within it. While trying to set the fire along with the soldiers, a woman threw a stone with amazing accuracy and struck the head of Abimelech. Realizing that the injury was fatal, he hurriedly called his armor-bearer to his side. He wished to escape the dishonor of being killed in battle by a woman; therefore, he requested his armor-bearer to run a sword through him (9:53-54).
Soon after Abimelech's death, the Israelites who had followed him soon retreated and returned home (9:55). Long after Abimelech's death, his death was remembered as having come from the hands of a woman (2 Samuel 11:21).
The dramatic picture painted by the story of Abimelech is unmistakable: it is the clear, striking conclusion that sin and evil must face the reciprocal, judicial judgment of God. That is, a person reaps exactly what he sows. Justice—a true justice—will be executed by God.
Unmistakably, God repaid the evil committed by Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. God carried out the curse of Jotham. Both Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem paid for their horrible crimes. Both suffered the unmistakable judgment of God—His judicial judgment, the very judgment they deserved.
Thought 1. A person reaps exactly what he sows. If a person sins, he will reap the results of sin. If evil is committed by a person, that person will reap evil. This is what is known as the judicial or just judgment of God. A person reaps exactly what he sows, no more no less. We need never fear, for God will never punish us beyond what we deserve. Unless, of course, we genuinely receive the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ has paid the penalty for our sin, but we have to sincerely receive Him and obey Him, following Him wholeheartedly.
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:7-8).
"And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (1 Peter 1:17).
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12).
"Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same" (Job 4:8).
"Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate" (Psalms 34:21).
"Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work" (Psalms 62:12).
"The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness" (Proverbs 21:12).
"He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail" (Proverbs 22:8).
"I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings" (Jeremiah 17:10).
"For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up" (Hosea 8:7).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
J. The Deliverance by Tola: A Man from an Unknown Family—Humble Beginnings—Who Rescued His People, 10:1-2
(10:1-2) Introduction: humble beginnings, a lowly upbringing, poverty—coming from such a background or living in such a position often makes a person feel inferior, as though he or she does not measure up and is not capable of achieving much in life. But this is not the case, not in God's eyes and not in the real world. Throughout history, most of the people who have achieved and accomplished the most have come from humble beginnings.
This is true of the deliverer Tola who is the subject of the present Scripture. Tola stands before us as a dynamic example of a person from humble beginnings who achieved great things for God and for his nation. This study should be a strong encouragement to any person from humble beginnings: The Deliverance by Tola: A Man from an Unknown Family—Humble Beginnings—Who Rescued His People, 10:1-2.
1. He was called by God from humble beginnings, an unknown family (v.1).
2. He was faithful to his call (v.2).
1. (10:1) Humble Beginnings, Example of— Lowliness, Example of— Tola, Humble Beginnings of: Tola was called by God from humble beginnings, from an unknown family. Nothing at all is known about his father Puah or his grandfather Dodo. There is simply nothing mentioned in Scripture about the parents of Tola. However, his parents did name him after the first son of Issachar, the founder of the great tribe of Issachar (Genesis 46:13).
Tola began his reign right after the time of Abimelech, the ambitious, renegade king who had exalted himself above God's people. The emphasis now suggested in the judgeship of Tola is that of lowliness and a humble rule. In contrast to the prominence of Gideon and his family, there was nothing prominent about the family of Tola, nothing worthy of mention in Scripture. And only what little is given here about Tola's judgeship is mentioned in Scripture. His judgeship in Israel was important and significant, but unassuming. In contrast to the ambitious, pretentious, lawless, and violent rule of Abimelech, God now called a meek and lowly man from humble beginnings to judge or rule His people.
Thought 1. God may call and use a prominent person to serve Him and His people. But prominence is not essential, not necessary in the service of God. In fact, God frequently calls a person from humble beginnings, from an unknown family to serve His people. A person from such a background should never feel inferior nor unusable. For the truth is, the lowly, humble person is the very person for whom God looks. God calls and uses the lowly and meek of this earth, and they are usually the ones who become prominent in His service.
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4).
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).
"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Philippians 2:3-4).
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15).
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:10).
"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:5-6).
"By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life" (Proverbs 22:4).
2. (10:2) Faithfulness, Duty— Israel, Deliverance of— Rescue, of Israel— Oppression, of Israel: Tola was faithful to his call of saving or rescuing Israel. Some commentators believe this is a reference to some military victory against an unknown oppressor. To them the implication seems to be that God raised up Tola to deliver the Israelites from the oppression.
Other commentators say that God raised up Tola to deliver the Israelites from the chaotic mess left by Abimelech. After Gideon's death and Abimelech's rule, the people were gripped by a spirit of compromise and permissiveness, a spirit of wickedness and lawlessness. They were given over to the immoral, covetous, and adulterous lifestyle of their neighbors. A spirit of extreme disquiet and disturbance ruled and reigned over the nation, a restless spirit gripped the people.
Consequently, God raised up a man from humble beginnings, an unknown family to rescue His people from these abuses. It is felt that Tola led the people to repent of their evil and turn back to God. Thus, Tola saved the Israelites from the judgment of God and guarded them against their enemies. He was faithful to the call given him, the call to deliver and rescue God's people from destroying themselves through sin and evil. He was faithful in protecting God's people from the enemies of oppression. Tola was faithful to the Lord in leading and judging the Israelites, and the Lord gave His people twenty-three years of peace before Tola died.
Thought 1. We are to be faithful to God and to the call He has given us—no matter what or where our call is. We are to be faithful…
|• at work |
|• at school |
|• at play |
|• at home |
|• at meetings |
|• when walking |
|• when sitting |
|• when talking |
|• when thinking |
|• when suffering |
|• when sick |
|• when healthy |
Faithfulness is the great demand of God.
"And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities" (Luke 19:17).
"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)" (Hebrews 10:23).
"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
"But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them" (Psalms 103:17-18).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
K. The Deliverance by Jair: A Powerful but Worldly Man, 10:3-5
(10:3-5) Introduction: authority, position, leadership, power—most if not all people seek some position and authority in life. It may be a position of authority such as a supervisor or group leader, or it may be a higher position of authority and power such as the chief executive officer of a business that operates worldwide. Or a person may seek the authority of a president, premier, or ruler of a nation. Seeking authority or position is not wrong, for leaders are needed within our communities, businesses, cities, and nations. Every group or body of people needs leaders, people to step forward who will take authority and the positions of responsibility. Good leadership is needed, desperately needed.
What is important for us is the kind of leaders we are. What are the motives that drive us to seek authority and position or power? Are our motives pure; are they to serve, produce, achieve the task or assignment? Or are the motives selfish, to secure more and more so that we can live indulgent, extravagant lifestyles? Or are the motives evil, seeking power to rule over the lives of people, manipulating them for our own purposes? Or is there pride involved, desiring the legacy of a great leader of the business or political world?
This is the subject covered in the present Scripture. It concerns a leader who was powerful, but worldly. This is: The Deliverance by Jair: A Powerful but Worldly Man, 10:3-5.
1. He was a powerful but worldly man (v.3-4).
2. He went the way of all men: he died (v.5).
1. (10:3-4) Worldly, Example of— Polygamy, Example of— Nepotism, Example of— Favoritism, Example of— Disobedience, Example of— Jair, Judge of Israel: Jair was a powerful but worldly man. His judgeship probably overlapped that of Tola's, but he governed Gilead of East Jordan while Tola governed Ephraim and the surrounding territory. Nothing is known about Jair other than what is given in this Scripture. He was named after a renowned figure, Jair, son of Segub, who was the great great grandson of Manasseh, the founder of the great tribe of Israel that bears his name (Manasseh). He was known for capturing sixty cities in Bashan (Numbers 32:39-41; 1 Chronicles 2:22-23).
Jair was a powerful ruler who brought twenty-two years of peace to the Israelites. This fact, along with the fact that he controlled thirty cities, indicates a powerful ruler who was able to control his territory.
But note this fact: Jair had thirty sons who, along with him, controlled thirty cities (10:4). This clearly indicates that Jair was a polygamist. He disobeyed the commandment of God concerning marriage, compromising with the world and taking many wives and concubines into his household. He was controlled by fleshly passion and urges, living a permissive lifestyle in direct disobedience to God's commandments (Genesis 2:24; Deuteronomy 17:17; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:16).
Note this fact again: he, along with his sons, controlled thirty cities. This suggests a rule of nepotism; that is, favoritism shown to a relative on the basis of the relationship. Whether or not his sons were capable or the most capable persons, he still placed his sons as the authorities over the cities and over God's people. Scripture does not directly state this fact, but it is suggested because of the large number of sons who were put in charge of the citizens. It just is not likely that all thirty sons would be the most qualified persons available. Perhaps, but not likely. The point is that of nepotism, of Jair being a worldly man as well as a powerful judge. Nevertheless, he was able to bring twenty-two years of peace to God's people.
One other fact about Jair should be noted: each of his thirty sons rode a donkey. A donkey was a sign of wealth in the ancient world; only wealthy people could afford to own animals for transportation. Even kings rode donkeys (Genesis 49:11; Zechariah 9:9). This fact suggests that Jair was a man of great wealth. Considering the poverty and destitution of so many at that time of history, the hoarding and extravagant living could never be justified. Yet here was a judge or ruler hoarding wealth instead of using it to help the needy. This fact strongly suggests that Jair was a worldly man, compromising with the ways of the world instead of living for God and being a true minister to God's people. He was clearly a selfish man who was more interested in his own comfort than in meeting the needs of others. As with others who had lived compromising, permissive lifestyles, so now Jair stood guilty before God.
Thought 1. We must not follow the ways of the world, living indulgent and unrestrained lives. Contrary to what Jair did, we must live moral and righteous lives, never giving in to the passions and lusts of the flesh. Nor are we to play favorites with other people. Both immorality and favoritism are wrong in the eyes of God. We must always guard against hoarding wealth, against living selfish, self-absorbed lives. People all around us need help and the gospel needs to be carried to the ends of the world. For this reason, we must use our wealth to meet the needs of the hungry, poor, suffering, and lost of the world. We must give our lives totally to God to live holy and righteous lives before Him, ministering to the needs of others.
1) We must not live compromising, permissive lives, giving ourselves over to the passions and lusts of our flesh.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11).
2) We must not hoard wealth, but we must take all we are and have and give it to meet the needs of the world. There are people who are hurting, hurting ever so much, suffering excruciating pain. We must extend a helping hand to them and to the hungry, thirsty, poor, suffering, homeless, orphaned, widowed, lonely, dying, and lost or unsaved of this earth. We must give and give, seeking opportunity to give even more. The suffering of the needy and the hopelessness of the lost leave no room whatsoever for extravagant, indulgent lifestyles. There is no room for hoarding and building up huge bank accounts when there is so much need around the world. And the Lord has commissioned us, demanded that we go and carry the gospel to the world. Every ounce of energy within us and every dime we have must be used to meet the desperate needs of people.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions" (Matthew 19:21-22).
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:41-46).
"But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all" (Mark 10:43-44).
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise" (Luke 10:36-37).
"He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep" (John 21:16).
"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (1 Corinthians 16:2).
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).
"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee" (Deuteronomy 16:17).
"Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" (Proverbs 3:9).
2. (10:5) Death, Fact of— No Escape, from Death: Jair went the way of all men. He went through what all people experience: death. There is no escape from death. Jair had made a significant contribution to Israel, giving the people twenty-two years of peace and freedom from the oppression of enemies. The people were able to live in peace…
• to build homes and businesses
• to clear and farm land
• to sell their goods and build a strong economy
• to keep their families and loved ones safe
• to realize their hopes and aspirations
Jair had made a great contribution to the Israelites by bringing twenty-two years of peace to them. And his contribution has been recorded in Holy Scripture for all generations to study. But despite the great contribution and despite his position and rule, he went the way of all men. He died. There was an end to his power and rule, an end that he could not escape. And that end was death.
Thought 1. The lesson for us is clear: every one of us dies. No matter how high our position, no matter how much wealth we possess, we die. The powerful and the rich are the same as the lowly and poor: they die. No matter who we are or what we have, we come to the end of life. Life in this universe and on this earth ends. There is an end and then we die.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:53).
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
"For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life" (2 Corinthians 5:4).
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
"Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again" (Job 10:9).
"For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others" (Psalms 49:10).
"What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah" (Psalms 89:48).
"There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it" (Ecclesiastes 8:8).
"For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 3:19).
"All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again" (Ecclesiastes 3:20).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
L. The Deliverance by Jephthah (Part 1): The Constant Cycle of a Compromising, Inconsistent Life, 10:6-18
(10:6-18) Introduction: living an inconsistent, unstable life causes all kinds of problems. A person is miserable if he is up one day and down the next or if he is consistent this week and inconsistent the next. Some people live through a constant cycle of inconsistency, a cycle of…
• being certain and then uncertain
• being stable and then unstable
• being up and then down
• being diligent and then slothful
• being fulfilled and then empty
• moving ahead and then backing away
• sensing inner peace and then conflict
• achieving and then accomplishing nothing
• sensing purpose and meaning and then lacking direction and significance
• feeling loved and then unloved and all alone
An inconsistent life causes all kinds of grief and sadness, tension and distress, problems and difficulties. To the person who is living an inconsistent, up-and-down life, there is hope—wonderful hope. Through Christ there is deliverance from inconsistency. The Lord promises to deliver us from all the oppression and destructive forces of inconsistency. An up-and-down life does not have to be lived, not in the Lord.
An unstable life is what was being lived by the Israelites. They would spend a brief period of time serving the Lord and depending upon Him. But then they soon would begin to live for themselves, compromising and living a permissive lifestyle. The result was an inconsistent life that led to the discipline and chastisement hand of God. This is the subject of this important passage of Scripture: The Deliverance by Jephthah (Part 1): The Constant Cycle of a Compromising, Inconsistent Life, 10:6-18.
1. The marks of evil among God's people (v.6).
2. The reaction of God: judgment, chastisement (v.7-9).
3. The cry to the Lord for help: a picture of calling on the Lord only in times of emergency (v.10-16).
4. The predicament: a lack of leadership (v.17-18).
1. (10:6) Evil, Marks of— Forgetting, the Lord— Worship, False— Idolatry— Sin, Marks of— Canaanites, Gods of: there were the marks of evil among God's people. This is the most elaborate, extensive list of the sins and marks of evil committed by the Israelites. It shows the depth of corruption within the hearts of the people, a depth of evil that is seen in the sevenfold listing of the false gods worshipped by the Israelites:
⇒ The false gods of the Baals and the Ashtoreths: they were worshipped by most if not all of the nations listed here.
⇒ The false god of Aram or Syria: this was probably Thammuz, although some worshipped the star deity, Athtar.
⇒ The false gods of Sidon: these were primarily Baal and Astarte, the queen of heaven.
⇒ The main false god of Moab was Chemosh, to whom children were sacrificed by burning them alive (Numbers 21:29; 1 Kings 11:23).
⇒ The false god of the Ammonites was Milcom (1 Kings 11:5).
⇒ The false god of the Philistines was Dagon; but they also worshipped Baal-Zebub, the lord of the flies, a metaphor for demons (2 Kings 1:2).
(Please see the complete study on the Chief Canaanite Deities in the Practical Bible Helps and Resources section)
Imagine engaging in the worship and idolatry of all these false religions. The Israelites had become totally corrupt, utterly depraved, given over to the false religions of their worldly neighbors. In the eyes of God, the Israelites had become defiled and polluted. They were a foul, debased people, given over to wickedness and rottenness. They were a decadent, depraved, and evil people full of impurity and corruption. Their evil hearts led them into false worship.
They had forsaken the Lord and no longer served Him (10:6). And the evil had been done in "the sight of the Lord," before His very eyes. The Lord saw the evil of their false worship and their rejection of Him. He saw that His own people were compromising with their worldly neighbors, compromising by participating in their false worship. And the sight cut the heart of God. Time and time again He had saved them and given them judges to deliver them from oppression. But again the Israelites were continuing the cycle of compromised, inconsistent living.
Thought 1. We must not engage in the false worship of this world, never participate in the worship of false gods. False religions worship false gods created by the imaginations of men. False gods are nothing other than an idea in a person's imagination. And idols are mere images made of some stone, wood, or metal, images created by a person's imagination. They are lifeless, unable to hear prayers and unable to come to the aid of any of us. False worship is a religion of unbelief and denial, of worshipping the false messiahs and saviors of this world. False worship and idolatry are forbidden by God.
"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device" (Acts 17:29).
"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23).
"Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led" (1 Corinthians 12:2).
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (1 John 5:21).
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4).
"Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 26:1).
"Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" (Deuteronomy 11:16).
"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them" (Psalms 115:4-8).
"I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8).
"Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good" (Jeremiah 10:2-5).
2. (10:7-9) Chastisement, of God— Judgment, Judicial— Israel, Oppression— Reaction, of God— Philistines, Oppression of— Ammonites, Oppression of— Israel, Oppression of— Judgment, of God: God reacted to the evil committed by the Israelites, reacted in judgment. God chastised, disciplined His people. Note that He became "angry" with the Israelites. His holiness or righteousness struck out against this evil. God cannot look upon evil nor allow any evil person to live in His presence. Thus, He had no choice. To save some of the Israelites, He had to chastise and break the nation in order to lead them to repentance. Note the chastisement executed by God:
1. God gave up the Israelites to their sin, to live in the ways of the world (10:7). Looking around at their Canaanite neighbors, the Israelites were attracted to the worldly lifestyle they saw. They desired or coveted the pleasure, wealth, and comfort of their neighbors. The result was tragic: they began to compromise with their neighbors by trading with them and participating in their pleasures, festivities, fellowships, and worship. Eventually, they even began to intermarry with their unbelieving neighbors. And the unbelieving spouses began to influence the Israelites to join them in the worship of their false gods, causing them to forsake the Lord and turn their back upon Him. Once this happened, God "sold" or gave them up to their sinful, evil ways. They had chosen the ways of the world; therefore, they would live in the worldly ways they had chosen. But note this fact: to live in the ways of the world means not only to enjoy the pleasures and comforts of the world, but also to suffer the hardships of the world. Through suffering the evil and oppressions of the world, the Israelites would be driven back to God.
2. The Lord allowed them to suffer the world's oppression, the oppression of the Philistines and Ammonites (10:7-9). And the oppression was severe and brutal. The Israelites were shattered (wayyirasu) and crushed (wayyirasesu). For eighteen long years, these two nations oppressed all of East Jordan; and at some point they crossed the Jordan River and attacked Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. The Israelites suffered greatly and were in terrible distress. But keep in mind: this was exactly where they needed to be—broken and helpless, desperate and crying out for help. Through suffering, God's people were being slowly driven to their knees, broken to the point that they would cry out to God and repent of their terrible evil.
Thought 1. God chastises us when we continue in sin. God chastens us because He loves us and wants to prevent us from harming ourselves and damaging other people. Sin and evil damage lives and destroy people. Think of all the sin and evil in this world, the damage and destruction they cause:
|⇒ drunk driving and accidents |
|⇒ drug addictions |
|⇒ diseases |
|⇒ hostilities |
|⇒ injuries |
|⇒ thefts |
|⇒ lies |
|⇒ perjuries |
|⇒ bankruptcies |
|⇒ murders |
|⇒ wars |
|⇒ broken homes |
When we sin and do evil, we hurt other people as well as ourselves. To save us, God chastises us. He disciplines us to break us, causing us to turn back to Him and to live righteous lives before the world.
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).
"For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:30-32).
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:5-6).
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).
"Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee" (Deuteronomy 8:5).
"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law" (Psalms 94:12).
"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" (Isaiah 48:10).
3. (10:10-16) Prayer— Crying to God— Desperation, Answer to— Oppression, Answer to— Chastisement, Result— Discipline, Result— Confession, Duty— Repentance, Duty: crying out to the Lord for help was the result of the chastisement. But note: this point is a clear picture of calling on the Lord only in times of emergency. The oppression against the Israelites "shattered" their lives. They were subjected to a foreign nation: their homes were destroyed, property and crops confiscated, possessions stolen, and spouses and children abused. People were brutalized and often killed. Under this cruel, savage treatment, the hearts of God's people were crushed and broken.
1. At long last, helpless and hopeless within themselves, the Israelites cried out to the Lord, confessing their sins. They confessed their terrible desertion of God and their having engaged in false worship and idolatry (10:10).
But note the response of the Lord. Shockingly, He did not accept their confession. Why? Because it did not include repentance. They were confessing their sins, but they were not turning away from their evil. They wanted forgiveness and acceptance, but they wanted to continue in the ways of the world. They wanted the pleasures, wealth, and comfort of the world without having to suffer the oppression and evil that pervade the world and that is so characteristic of heathen nations.
2. Confession without repentance is never accepted by God. God reminded the Israelites that He had repeatedly rescued them from the oppression of their enemies (10:11-14). In fact, He had rescued them from seven major enemies, the very enemies whose gods they were now worshipping (10:6; cp. 10:12). Because of their terrible evil of false worship, God charged them with repeated apostasy. He charged them with having forsaken Him and turning to the false idols and worship of this world. Consequently, He refused to hear their confession and to rescue them. And He challenged them to cry out to the false gods they were following. Let these false gods deliver them from their distress! Their trust in false religion and false gods was a perversion, a deception and lie. For these false gods could do nothing to help the Israelites. God's children had done the unthinkable: they had forsaken the Lord God Himself, forsaken Him in order to worship the false gods of this earth, the gods created in the minds of men. Hence, God issued His challenge for the Israelites to cry out to the false gods they had chosen over Him. In the past, He had responded to their cry, but no more. There had to be more than just crying out: there had to be genuine repentance.
3. The Lord's rebuke or chastisement was all the Israelites could bear. In desperation, they again confessed their sins, but this time they repented. They totally surrendered themselves to God and to His will for them. They cried out for God to do with them whatever He thought best, but begged Him to rescue them immediately. They clearly could bear no more. And note: their repentance was not just a verbal confession. They turned away from false worship, destroying the false gods they had been worshipping. And they began to follow God in a renewed commitment (10:15-16).
4. Once the Israelites had confessed and repented, God responded in compassion. He heard their cry and began the movement to deliver His dear people from their cruel, crushing oppression (10:16).
Thought 1. There are two strong lessons in this point for us:
1) When we sin, confessing our sin to God is not enough. God does not accept just confession. He also demands repentance. If we merely confess sin and do not turn away from it, this reveals an insincere, deceptive heart. God knows that our confession is false, insincere, that we are only deceiving ourselves. To be forgiven, we must repent, turn away from our sin and turn back to God. Repenting—turning away from sin—is the only way God will ever accept us. When we sin, we must take the very same steps that the Israelites took. Warren Wiersbe describes it well:
For the people to abandon God was one thing, but for God to abandon His people was quite something else. The greatest judgment God can send to His people is to let them have their own way and not interfere. "Wherefore God also gave them up....God gave them up....God gave them over" (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). This was too much for the Jews, so they repented, put away their false gods, and told God He could do to Israel whatever He wanted to do (Judges 10:15-16).
The Israelites repented, put away their false gods, and surrendered their lives to the Lord. The very same steps must be taken by us in order to be forgiven our sin. We too must repent, put away the evil in our lives, and surrender ourselves to the Lord. Repentance is the way to receive forgiveness of sins and to escape the chastisement of God.
"And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).
"Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee" (Acts 8:22).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways" (Proverbs 23:26).
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).
"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die" (Ezekiel 18:21).
"Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel" (Ezekiel 18:31).
"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning" (Joel 2:12).
2) Once we have repented, God is full of compassion for us and will hear our cry. God will have mercy upon us, forgiving our sins and receiving us back to Himself. Compassion—a heart and nature full of compassion—arouses God to have mercy upon us.
"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:5-6).
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
"But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath" (Psalms 78:38).
"But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth" (Psalms 86:15).
"But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children" (Psalms 103:17).
"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).
"And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil" (Joel 2:13).
"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18).
"He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19).
4. (10:17-18) Leadership, Lack of— Israel, Problems of: there was a serious predicament: the lack of leadership in Israel. The Ammonite army mobilized to attack the Israelites, perhaps to confiscate their crops and livestock and to renew the supplies of their own people. But this time the Israelites felt they were ready to defend themselves. They had been restored into the favor of God; therefore, they believed and trusted the Lord to be with them and to give them victory over their enemies. So they, too, issued a call to arms, mobilizing and camping at Mizpah (10:17).
But the Israelites faced a serious, critical predicament: they had no commander. There was a shortage of capable leaders in the nation. The people were ready to defend themselves, but there was no one to lead them in battle. A serious dilemma confronted them, so they took the only action they could. They offered the rule of all Gilead or East Jordan to any qualified person who stepped forth to take the position of commander (10:18). In their desperation, they turned to a man who had been born as an illegitimate son and ranked at the bottom of his family (11:2). This will be seen in the study of chapter 11.
Thought 1. Leaders are needed, desperately needed throughout the world. There is a tragic lack of qualified leaders who are not self-serving but who are committed to their responsibility and to their service for others. There is a critical lack of leaders who have strong character, integrity, and commitment to the position they hold, a critical lack of leadership…
• in business and government
• in cities and communities
• in schools and clubs
• in the courts and legal profession
• in the ministry and medical profession
• in the military and protective agencies of society
Leadership must be developed and matured by those in authority. And then some people must step forth as leaders. The initiative must be taken by God's people, for God calls His people to be the "salt" and the "light" of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). God's people must step forth to proclaim loudly and clearly, "I will help. I will study, learn, and develop myself as a leader. I will accept the position and take the leadership role. I will give what guidance I can to those who need direction."
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).
"But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee" (Acts 26:16).
"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9).
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:2-3).
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
Thought 2. Warren Wiersbe shares an experience he had as a young Christian, an experience that made a deep impact on his life:
When I was a young Christian, I heard an evangelist preach a powerful sermon on the text, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" (2 Kings 2:14) "We know where the Lord God of Elijah is," he said; "He's on the throne of heaven and is just as powerful today as He was in Elijah's day." Then he paused. "The question is not so much 'Where is the Lord God of Elijah?' as 'Where are the Elijahs?'"
Indeed, where are the Elijahs? Where are the spiritual leaders who can rally God's people and confront the forces of evil?
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
M. The Deliverance by Jephthah (Part 2): An Illegitimate Child Who (as a Man) Was Chosen by God to Deliver His People, 11:1-12:7
(11:1-12:7) Introduction: throughout history, children born to prostitutes or born out of wedlock have often been looked down upon and rejected by society. Because of this rejection, illegitimate children have often faced an uphill battle as they walked throughout life. Despite the fact that the child had no choice regarding the circumstances of his birth—that the decision was made solely by the adult man and woman—the child is the one who suffers the most, by far. As the illegitimate child grows, he or she often feels crushing pain from the rejection of people.
This attitude toward illegitimate children is tragic, for God loves and has compassion on all children. And He shows no partiality, no favoritism, not even to the child who was born to the most godly or highly esteemed parents. The rejected of this earth are just as acceptable to God as the most gifted and attractive. In fact, when God is ready to move in a great way upon earth, He usually calls the least among men and women in order to prevent boasting and self-exaltation. A lowly person is more likely to trust God, to depend upon Him, to cry out to Him for help, and also more likely to serve Him.
The present passage of Scripture speaks to the heart of every human being who feels rejected or feels like an outcast. This is the subject of the present passage of Scripture: The Deliverance by Jephthah (Part 2): An Illegitimate Child Who (as a Man) Was Chosen by God to Deliver His People, 11:1-12:7.
1. The rejection and exile of Jephthah: a picture of greed (11:1-3).
2. The rise of Jephthah as God's Deliverer: a picture of the rejected being called by God (11:4-11).
3. The failed negotiations and the hope that the enemy would back off its attack: a picture of seeking peace, not conflict (11:12-28).
4. The great victory of Israel: a picture of spiritual power and victory (11:29-33).
5. The special vow of Jephthah and its fulfillment: a picture of the importance of vows (11:34-40).
6. The national crises confronted by Jephthah: a picture of pride and jealousy (12:1-7).
1. (11:1-3) Greed, Example of— Rejection, of a Family Member— Exile, of a Family Member— Illegitimate Child— Jephthah, Family History: there was the rejection and exile of Jephthah by his brothers. He was exiled by them because of their greed. He was an illegitimate son fathered by a man named Gilead. His mother was a prostitute who is not mentioned again in Scripture. Nothing is known about her, not her name nor any other facts. It seems as though Gilead took the child from her when the child was born and the mother just passed from the scene.
The significant point to note is this: when Gilead died, Jephthah was driven away from the family by his brothers so they would not have to share the inheritance with him (11:2). Greed—the passion for money, for wanting more and more—gripped their hearts. They were unwilling to divide the inheritance with a brother who had been born to a prostitute. Apparently, they threatened his life; for he had to flee to Tob, which was a desolate region near Syria (11:3). But through the years, note what happened: he became a mighty warrior and a strong leader of a band of adventurers or skilled fighters. Word of his skill as a warrior spread far and wide, for he became known as "a mighty man of valor" or "a great, mighty warrior" (11:1).
Thought 1. Greed drove the brothers of Jephthah to threaten his life and drive him away from his home.
1) Greed—coveting and lusting after more and more—can cause all kinds of problems. Covetousness and greed often drive a person...
• to steal and lie in order to get more
• to assault a person in order to get what he or she has
• to murder in order to steal some property or possession
• to cheat, even family members, in order to get more of the person's possessions
• to work to the point of becoming a workaholic, damaging or destroying one's family just to achieve or get more
Being greedy—coveting and lusting after more—often damages relationships and lives, including the person who is guilty of greed. And eventually it destroys the human soul, forcing the person to stand before the terrifying judgment of God. Listen to what Scripture says about greed and covetousness:
"Then Judas, which had betrayeth him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself" (Matthew 27:3-5).
"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15).
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience" (Colossians 3:5-6).
"Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days" (James 5:3).
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's" (Exodus 20:17).
"He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live" (Proverbs 15:27).
"He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not" (Proverbs 21:26).
"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity" (Ecclesiastes 5:10).
"Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter" (Isaiah 56:11).
"As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool" (Jeremiah 17:11).
"And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage" (Micah 2:2).
"The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest" (Micah 3:11-12).
"Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul" (Habakkuk 2:9-10).
2. (11:4-11) Call, of a Deliverer— Deliverer, Call of— Jephthah, Call of— Call, of Israel's Judges: there was the rise of Jephthah as God's deliverer. This is a clear picture of a rejected person, a person who is unacceptable to others, being called by God. This Scripture and outline give a clear description of the picture:
1. The leaders of Israel made a strong appeal to Jephthah: to become their commander and rescue or save them from the Ammonites (11:4-6). Remember, the Ammonites had mobilized for war to attack Israel, most likely to replenish the supplies and provisions of their own people. Once again, the land of Israel was about to be ransacked: their crops, livestock, and possessions plundered or stolen. In response, the Israelites had also issued a call to arms in order to defend themselves. (See outline—♣ Judges 10:17-18 and note—♣Judges 10:17-18 for more discussion.) Now the two armies were camped just a few miles from one another, making the last preparations for war. But the Israelites lacked a commander-in-chief, a man who was strong enough to command the entire army and who had the skill and knowledge to plan the military strategy. The Israelites were desperate for leadership. The reputation of Jephthah as a mighty warrior and strong leader had reached the ears of the leaders of Gilead. Thus, they sent a delegation some eighty miles to the land of Tob to make a desperate appeal for him to become their commander.
2. In response, Jephthah made a painful and bitter complaint against the leaders of Gilead: they had taken part in driving him away from his home and the inheritance that had been due him (11:7). Bitterness was bound to fill the heart of Jephthah against these leaders for their part in his mistreatment, his being exiled, and the threat against his life. He wanted to know why they had taken part in his brothers' greedy attack against him. And now they were coming to him for help when they were in trouble.
3. Hearing this bitter response, the elders became even more desperate. They replied that they were willing to lift the banishment permanently, and they would make him the ruler over all Gilead (11:8). Note that this was the very offer the leaders had made earlier to the officers and soldiers of the army (10:18).
4. This offer shocked and astonished Jephthah (11:9). Because of his past experiences with them, he doubted their honesty, so he requested a guarantee of their promise. Note the faith Jephthah expressed in the Lord: it would be the Lord who would give him victory if he accepted the proposal. Victory would come from the Lord's hand and His hand alone.
5. The leaders of Gilead guaranteed or sealed their proposal with an oath, swearing that the Lord was their witness. They would keep their word. Moreover, the oath was ratified at a coronation service held at Mizpah, the campsite of the Israelite army (10:17).
Note that Jephthah repeated his part of the agreement or oath at the coronation service before the Lord. By demanding a coronation service before the troops and the Lord, Jephthah was acknowledging his faith in the Lord and his dependence upon the Lord. He was declaring before the leaders and the armed forces that his trust was in the Lord. Victory would come through the Lord and the Lord alone. Becoming the commander-in-chief and the supreme leader of Gilead was not a political opportunity for Jephthah, but an occasion for trusting the Lord and serving the Israelites. The Lord Himself was working behind the scenes and calling Jephthah to serve Him and His people in a remarkable way. The New Testament makes it plain: Jephthah was not an opportunist, but a man of strong faith.
"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Hebrews 11:32-34).
Thought 1. Throughout the world, many a child has been born to a prostitute or out of wedlock. And the child is known to be illegitimate. In addition to the illegitimate children in the world, there are millions of children who are reared by a single or divorced parent. Moreover, there are children who face all kinds of problems such as poverty, abuse, deformity, unattractiveness, lack of education, and a host of other hardships that cause a child to feel or sense rejection. And in many cases, they are rejected. Then they grow into adults either feeling despised or actually being scorned or rejected. There are adults as well as children all around us who deeply sense this rejection or alienation, feeling like outcasts.
This was the experience of Jephthah, who had been born as an illegitimate child to a prostitute. But here he was being appointed by God and the leaders of Gilead to become the commander of the armed forces, and once the war had been won, to become the head of the nation.
The lesson for us is clear. God rejects no person, not for any reason. The rejected and the outcast can come to the Lord, for He reaches out to help them and receive them and meet any need they have.
"So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him" (Matthew 20:34).
"And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him [the leper], and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean" (Mark 1:41).
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).
"Let your conversation [conduct, behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them" (Deuteronomy 33:27).
"Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great" (Psalms 18:35).
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
"And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar [gray] hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" (Isaiah 46:4).
"Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up" (Isaiah 50:9).
3. (11:12-28) Diplomacy, Example of— Negotiations, Example of— Peace, between Nations, Seeking— Conflict, Duty: there was the diplomacy and the failed negotiations of Jephthah with the Ammonites. Jephthah sought to negotiate a peace with the Ammonites, hoping that the enemy would back off its attack. Sending messengers to the Ammonite king was the very first move made by Jephthah. This is a clear picture of seeking peace, not conflict. His attempt at diplomacy and the argument he used shows that Jephthah clearly knew the Scriptures and the history of the Israelites. And his knowledge of the Scriptures again suggests a strong faith in the Lord and in the wonderful promises God had given to His people.
Jephthah presented four compelling arguments for the Ammonites to back off and not attack Israel. The arguments are clearly spelled out in the Scripture and outline:
1. The basic question asked by Jephthah was why Ammon had attacked the Israelites. The reason given by the king of Ammon was that of conflicting land claims (11:13). He declared that East Jordan land was land taken by Israel, and he demanded that Israel return the occupied territory.
2. The response of Jephthah was to send a second message to the king that included the four compelling arguments supporting Israel's claim to the land. Jephthah insisted that no land had been taken illegally by Israel (11:14-26).
a. The first argument was a historical one (11:16-18). The actual facts were that Israel had bypassed Edom and Moab when they came out of Egypt (Numbers 20:14-22; 21:10-20). They had requested passage through the land, but it was refused by the kings who were ruling at that time (11:17). Therefore, the Israelites had skirted or traveled around the territory. They did not enter the land of Edom and Moab (11:18).
The disputed land had actually been conquered when the Ammonites launched a surprise, unwarranted attack against Israel (11:19). It was the Ammonite king, Sihon, who attacked Israel (11:20; Numbers 21:21-32). When Sihon attacked, the Lord gave a decisive victory to the Israelites. And they justly conquered the territory now claimed by the king of Ammon.
b. The second argument presented by Jephthah was a theological argument (11:23-24). Jephthah declared that it was the Lord Himself who had given the land to Israel. Why then was the king not satisfied with the land their god, Chemosh, had given them?
Note the emphasis that Jephthah placed upon the Lord. He was careful to give credit to the Lord for all the victories won (11:9, 21, 23-24). It was common for the nations of ancient history to give credit to their gods when they won some victory or conquered some land. Thus, Jephthah was declaring that it was the only living and true God, the God of Israel, who had given them victory over King Sihon and allowed them to conquer his land.
c. The third argument was that of a legal statement (11:25-26). Jephthah declared that the great Moab king, Balak, was even forced to accept the claim of Israel (Numbers 22:1-24:25). Moreover, Jephthah claimed that there was a time or chronological case for Israel's claim to the land. The facts were that Israel had occupied the land for over 300 years (11:26). Why, then, was the king of Ammon now trying to claim the territory? If Israel's claim to the land was not valid, why did the ancient kings not attempt to retake the land? For over 300 years the land had been accepted as belonging to the Israelites. This 300-year period of possession and occupancy proved Israel's right to the land.
d. The fourth argument was a personal argument (11:27). Jephthah declared that he was personally innocent and the king was personally guilty if a war started. Jephthah was not going to start the war: if war was to be fought over the land, the king of Ammon would stand guilty before the Lord, who is the Judge of the whole earth. Therefore, let the Lord be the Judge, the vindicator of the just party.
3. The detailed arguments of the negotiations failed. They were immediately rejected by the king of Ammon. Jephthah had done his best to reason with the king, but to no avail. The king's heart and the hearts of his people were set on war, coveting the crops, the livestock, and the possessions of the Israelites (11:28).
Thought 1. We must do everything we can to avoid conflict and war, both personally and nationally. Strife between individuals and nations damages and destroys people, property, and the earth itself. Strife and war always damage...
• personal relationships
• families
• friendships
• property
• employment
• the lives of children, women, and men
• the earth and its atmosphere
• the water and food supplies necessary to preserve life
Strife and conflict must be combated with all the diligence and energy of mankind. War and conflict must be avoided. And peace must be pursued. Peace must become the very objective of our lives: peace within our families, peace with our neighbors, peace within society, peace among businesses, peace among politicians, and peace among nations. Peace must be sought with every ounce of strength within every human being.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:18).
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" (Romans 14:19).
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
"If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly" (Titus 1:6).
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17).
"Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee" (Job 22:21).
"Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it" (Psalms 34:14).
"Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy" (Proverbs 12:20).
"If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences" (Ecclesiastes 10:4).
4. (11:29-33) Power, Spiritual— Victory, of Israel— Israel, Conquest of— Ammonites, Defeated by Israel: there was the great victory given to Jephthah and the Israelites. This is a clear picture of spiritual power and victory achieved through the presence of the Lord. The Scripture describes how Jephthah went about making preparations for the war and briefly describes the victory won:
1. Preparations were made to fight the war (11:29-31). The Lord's Spirit came upon Jephthah and empowered him to command the army, and the army advanced against the Ammonites.
Note what happened someplace along the way: Jephthah made a special vow to the Lord. If the Lord gave him victory, he promised to dedicate to the Lord the very first person that came out of his house to greet him when he returned in triumph. He promised to give the person as a gift to the Lord and to offer a very special sacrifice in a Burnt Offering (11:30-31). Exactly what happened will be discussed in the next note (11:34-40).
2. The Lord gave the Israelites a great, stunning victory over the Ammonites, and note: the victory involved the destruction of 20 cities and the utter defeat of the enemy (11:32-33). This astonishing conquest brought peace to the East Jordan tribes in the land of Gilead, allowing the Israelites to live in the security and peace for which their hearts so longed.
Thought 1. It was the Lord who gave victory to Jephthah and the Israelites. And the Lord will give victory to us, victory over all the enemies who oppose us. And there are enemies who attack us, strong enemies that attempt to defeat and destroy us. There are physical and spiritual enemies such as...
|• accidents and disease |
|• addiction to alcohol or drugs |
|• gluttony |
|• poverty |
|• loss of a loved one |
|• grief and despair |
|• loneliness and depression |
|• purposelessness and emptiness |
|• abuse and persecution |
|• hatred and strife |
|• slavery |
|• death |
There is no limit to the list of enemies who oppose us, trying to defeat and destroy us. But there is glorious, wonderful news: the Lord can give us the power to conquer all enemies. We can be triumphant throughout life, conquering whatever it is that opposes us. But we must remember one fact: victory is in the Lord. It is the Lord and the Lord alone who can give us the power to walk through life as conquerors and victors. Triumphant victory is ours through the Lord.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword....Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35, 37-39).
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place" (2 Corinthians 2:14).
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:10-13).
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21).
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son" (Revelation 21:7).
"Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us" (Psalms 44:5).
5. (11:34-40) Vow, Duty— Vow, Importance of— Jephthah, Vow of: there was the special vow of Jephthah and its fulfillment. This is a picture of the importance of vows. It is best to look at the Scripture and outline before discussing the vow in detail:
The Scripture and outline describe exactly what happened when Jephthah returned home. Simply stated, the first person who rushed out of the house to greet his triumphant return was his only daughter, not a servant. The Scripture and outline are sufficient for the reader to see step by step how Jephthah went about keeping his vow to the Lord. There is considerable debate whether he actually offered his daughter's life as a human sacrifice in a terrible act of disobedience to the Lord or whether his vow was that she remain a virgin and serve in the Tabernacle for the rest of her life. A most excellent discussion of the vow made by Jephthah is given by Warren Wiersbe, a discussion that is well worth quoting in its entirety despite its length:
While going out to battle, Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. It was certainly acceptable to God for the Jews to make vows, provided they obeyed the laws that He had given through Moses to govern the use of vows (Leviticus 27; Numbers 30; Deuteronomy 23:21-25). Vows were completely voluntary, but the Lord expected the people to fulfill them (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6).
Jephthah's vow was really a bargain with the Lord: If God would give the Israelites victory over the Ammonites, Jephthah would sacrifice to the Lord whatever came out of his house when he arrived home in Mizpah. God did give him victory, and Jephthah kept his promise. But what was his promise and how did he keep it? What actually happened to Jephthah's daughter, his only child?
THE VOW. The Authorized (King James) Version reads: "If Thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering" (Judges 11:30-31).
The New American Standard Bible translates this verse to say, "If Thou wilt indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."
The New International Version translates it to say, "If You give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering."
THE QUESTIONS. The more you study Jephthah's vow, the more puzzling it becomes. He simply could have said, "Lord, if You help me defeat the enemy, when I get home, I'll offer you a generous burnt offering." But he couched his vow in ambiguous terms. How did he know who or what would come out of the door of his house? What if the first thing to greet him happened to be an unclean animal that was unacceptable to God? Then he couldn't fulfill his vow! The Hebrew word translated "whatsoever" (kjv) or "whatever" (nasb) is masculine and suggests that he expected to meet a person, but what if that person turned out to be a neighbor's child or a total stranger? What right did Jephthah have to take either life and thereby offer to God a sacrifice that cost him nothing? (See 2 Samuel 24:24.)
Furthermore, surely Jephthah knew that Jehovah didn't approve or accept human sacrifices. Jephthah gave evidence of familiarity with the Old Testament Scriptures, and he would have known about Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22) and the commandments in the Law (Leviticus 18:21 and 20:1-5; Deuteronomy 12:31 and 18:10). Granted, the period of the Judges was a spiritually dark era in Israel's history, and the Jews did many things that were wrong, but it's doubtful that Jephthah's friends and neighbors would have permitted him to slay his own daughter in order to fulfill a foolish vow. King Saul's soldiers didn't let him kill his son Jonathan, who had violated his father's foolish vow (1 Samuel 14:24-46).
And where would Jephthah offer his daughter as a sacrifice? Surely he knew that the Lord accepted sacrifices only at the tabernacle altar (Leviticus 17:1-9), and that they had to be offered by the levitical priests. He would have to travel to Shiloh to fulfill his vow (Deuteronomy 16:2, 6, 11, 16), and it's doubtful that even the most unspiritual priest would offer a human sacrifice on God's sanctified altar, victory or no victory. In fact, if people knew that Jephthah was going to Shiloh to slay his daughter, they probably would have stopped him along the way and kidnapped the girl! A national hero like Jephthah couldn't easily hide what he was doing, and surely the story would have spread quickly among the people during the two-month waiting period (Judges 11:37-39).
But even if he made it safely to Shiloh, Jephthah could have learned from any priest that paying the proper amount of money could have redeemed his daughter (Leviticus 27:1-8). As a successful soldier who had just returned from looting the enemy, Jephthah could easily have paid the redemption price.
Other pertinent questions arise. In spite of Numbers 30:1-2, would God take seriously a vow that violated both human rights and divine law? Would a Spirit-empowered man (Judges 11:29), committed to the Lord (11:11), even make such a vow? The more I ponder these questions, the more perplexing his vow becomes and the more convinced I am that Jephthah didn't promise to offer any human sacrifice to the Lord and did not kill his own daughter.
SOLUTIONS. More than one expositor has pointed out that the little word "and" in the phrase "and I will offer it up" (11:31) can be translated "or." (In the Hebrew, it's the letter waw which usually means "and." See the beginning of Psalms 119:41 for an example of what the Hebrew waw looks like.) If we take this approach, then the vow was twofold: Whatever met him when he returned home would be dedicated to the Lord (if a person) or sacrificed to the Lord (if an animal).
Since he was met by his daughter, Jephthah gave her to the Lord to serve Him at the tabernacle (Exodus 38:8; 1 Samuel 2:22). She remained a virgin, which meant that she would not know the joys of motherhood and perpetuate her father's inheritance in Israel. This would be reason enough for her and her friends to spend two months grieving, for every daughter wanted a family and every father wanted grandchildren to maintain the family inheritance.
Nowhere in the text are we told that Jephthah actually killed his daughter, nor do we find anybody bewailing the girl's death. The emphasis in Judges 11:37-40 is the fact that she remained a virgin. It's difficult to believe that "the daughters of Israel" would establish a custom to celebrate (not "lament" as in kjv) the awful sacrifice of a human being, but we can well understand that they would commemorate the devotion and obedience of Jephthah's daughter in helping her father fulfill his vow. She deserves to stand with Isaac as a faithful child, who was willing to obey both father and God, no matter what the cost.
Thought 1. Desperate circumstances often stir people to pray and pray intensely, circumstances such as disease, accident, death, and war. When facing such critical and severe circumstances, people want immediate help and deliverance. Often they cry out to God, begging for help. If God will deliver them, they make promises to God, vows such as...
• serving God
• dedicating their families to God
• giving money, houses, or property to God
• changing sinful habits, reckless lifestyles, destructive behavior
• being more faithful to the church
• seeking to restore some damaged relationship
Vows and promises made to God are very serious, and God takes them seriously. Once we make a promise or a vow to Him, it is sacred. It must be kept. Vows made before God are not to be taken lightly. A just society even declares the truth: that a man "is only as good as his word." Repeatedly, Scripture warns us:
"When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth" (Deuteronomy 23:21-23).
"If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth" (Numbers 30:2).
"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile" (Psalms 34:13).
"It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry" (Proverbs 20:25).
"When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands" (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6).
6. (12:1-7) Israel, Crisis of— Pride, Example of— Jealousy, Example of— Ephraim, Rebellion of— War, Civil— Israel, Civil War of: there was the national crisis confronted by Jephthah, a crisis that ended in civil war. The crisis and civil war were caused by the pride and jealousy of the tribe of Ephraim. Remember, Ephraim had confronted Gideon in the same spirit of pride and jealousy (see outline——♣ Judges 8:1-3 and note—♣Judges 8:1-3 for more discussion). Note how they wanted to share in the glory, but were not willing to undertake the task.
1. The confrontation was serious, a critical situation. Ephraim mobilized their forces and actually marched against Jephthah. They were set on challenging this new commander, accusing him of ignoring them and of not sharing the glory of the fight against the Ammonites with them. They complained that Jephthah had not called them to join in the struggle. And note: they threatened him, suggesting that they were going to burn down his house upon his very head. They demonstrated utter disrespect for Jephthah, and by doing this, they were sealing their own fate before this commander who had been anointed by God (12:1).
2. The explanation given by Jephthah shows that he remained calm and cool under the verbal attacks, despite the fact of having just been threatened (12:2-3). But he was not going to back down: he was straightforward and direct, laying out the facts as they really were:
⇒ the Ephraimites had not helped during the long eighteen years of oppression
⇒ when the time to throw off the oppression had come, he had summoned them and they had refused to help
⇒ he was forced to fight the enemy alone—a perilous, dangerous fight
⇒ the credit for victory belonged to the Lord, not to him or to anyone else
⇒ the Ephraimites had no reason to complain
3. The situation was hopeless, for the negotiations slipped into insults, name-calling, and slurs. The result was tragic: civil war broke out. The leaders of Ephraim cast the ultimate insult against Jephthah and the men of Gilead by calling them fugitives, renegades of Israel. They were denouncing the tribes of East Jordan because they lived on the other side of the Jordan River and not in the main territory of the promised land.
Jephthah mobilized his army and routed the Ephraimites (12:4). As the soldiers fled, Jephthah came up with a clever strategy to identify the fleeing Ephraimites (12:5-6). He posted soldiers at the fords of the Jordan River and forced every soldier who crossed the river to say "shibboleth." The soldiers were able to identify the Ephraimites because they could not pronounce the word correctly. Instead of saying "shibboleth," they said "sibboleth." In trying to pronounce the "h" in shibboleth, they were tongue-tied because of their dialect. They were easily identified and slain at the fords of the Jordan. The results of the civil war were devastating. Forty-two thousand Ephraimite soldiers were killed (12:6).
It is interesting to note that the word shibboleth has become a part of the English language. It means a catch-word or slogan; a language that is distinctive of a particular group of people; the use of some test that is given to make sure that a person or persons belong to a particular body of people.
Thought 1. Pride caused the civil war within Israel. Pride almost always causes division, contention, and strife. An evil pride exalts a person above others as though he were better than others. This attitude causes division between that person and those he considers to be underneath him. If the prideful person is out to subject others or to take something of value away from them, then strife and struggle take place. Pride or self-exaltation is forbidden by God.
4. The judgeship or rule of Jephthah lasted for only six years and probably included just the rule of the tribes of East Jordan. He died and was buried in an unknown town in Gilead.
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).
"Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits" (Romans 12:16).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate" (Proverbs 8:13).
"The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined" (Psalms 10:2).
"When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2).
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).
"He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction" (Proverbs 17:19).
"An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin" (Proverbs 21:4).
"Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him" (Proverbs 26:12).
"He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat" (Proverbs 28:25).
"And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible" (Isaiah 13:11).
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit" (Isaiah 14:13-15).
"Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord" (Obadiah 4).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
N. The Rule by Ibzan: A Worldly Man Who Corrupted His Family through Intermarriage with Unbelievers, 12:8-10
(12:8-10) Introduction: the seed of corruption is a terrible thing. It is corruption that causes fruit and vegetables to rot, and the trees of the forest and other vegetation to age and decay. Corruption causes metals to rust and plastic and all other material substances to deteriorate. The seed of corruption has been sown in the earth, and it is that seed that causes things to waste away, deteriorate, decay, and disappear, ceasing to live or exist any longer.
But in addition to the vegetation and mineral world, there is a seed of corruption within the flesh of the animal world, even within the flesh of mankind. That seed of corruption causes us to age and deteriorate until the day we die and are laid in the earth to decompose.
But more than the corruption within the flesh, there is a seed of corruption within the spirit of mankind. This corrupted spirit causes people to mistreat each other...
• to grumble, complain, murmur, and gossip
• to hold grudges and seek revenge
• to become disturbed, angry, hostile, and seek retaliation
• to assault, steal, and murder
• to fight and war
• to separate and divorce and destroy
• to commit incest and incomprehensible crimes
• to be slothful, not working and beating time on the job
• to engage in illicit and immoral sex
It is the seed of corruption that is the root of all the sin and evil upon the earth. Corruption lies at the base of the world's unrighteous and immoral ways. This is the reason God demands that we live a life of separation, that we actually separate ourselves from the immorality and unrighteousness of this world. If an act of immorality, injustice, lawlessness, or violence is being committed, we are not to become involved. We are to be separated from the evil associations of this world.
The present passage deals with one of the judges and rulers of Israel who disobeyed God, who lived a worldly, immoral life before the eyes of the Israelites. Ibzan became so worldly-minded that he used his own sons and daughters as pawns to cement alliances for political purposes. This judge was a worldly man who clearly disobeyed God by committing polygamy and insisting that his children intermarry pagan unbelievers for political purposes. This is: A Worldly Man Who Corrupted His Family through Intermarriage with Unbelievers, 12:8-10.
1. He was a willing leader, a willing judge of God's people (v.8).
2. He was a worldly man who disobeyed God's command against polygamy and led his children to marry unbelievers (foreigners): a picture of not being separated from the world's unrighteous and immoral ways (v.9).
3. He was a judge and ruler of Israel for seven years and then died: the way of all the earth, 1 Kings 2:2 (v.9-10).
1. (12:8) Leadership, Duty— Judge, of Israel— Ibzan, Judge of Israel— Israel, Judge of— Willing - Willingness, Duty— Diligence, Duty: Ibzan was a willing leader, a willing judge of God's people. In the facts recorded, there is no indication that he had to be pressured to take the leadership of Israel. When the call came, he did not hesitate nor withdraw from the responsibility. He willingly stepped forth and accepted the challenge. Just how the call came to be the judge of Israel is not discussed. The only fact recorded is that he was from Bethlehem and that he accepted the call to lead Israel.
Thought 1. There is a dire need for leadership throughout the world today. A lack of qualified leaders exists in almost every area of human life. There is a shortage of qualified, responsible leadership...
• in politics and government
• in the medical and legal profession
• in the courtrooms and halls of justice
• in cities and communities
• in social and charitable organizations
• in schools, colleges, and universities
• in businesses and labor organizations
• in churches and families
When the call to take the lead comes, we must step forth and accept the challenge. We must step forth not by constraint, but willingly (1 Peter 5:2-3). This is exactly what Scripture says:
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
"Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage" (Matthew 22:9).
"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
"So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us" (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2-3).
"And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem" (Nehemiah 11:2).
"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19).
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
2. (12:9) Spiritual Separation, Duty— Separation, Duty— Intermarriage, Example of— Worldliness, Example of: Ibzan was apparently a worldly man who disobeyed God's clear command. He himself was a polygamist; but even more tragic than this, he led his children to intermarry with foreigners, the unbelieving Canaanites. This is a clear picture of not being separated from the world's unrighteous and immoral ways.
Note the word "abroad" or "outside." Just what this means here is uncertain. Some commentators feel that it refers to Israelites from other clans, and the NIV adds the words "his clan." However, this is most likely a reference to intermarriage with Canaanite neighbors to bring about or maintain peace with the Canaanites. The very fact that Ibzan's marriage policy is mentioned as being an "outside" policy would indicate that he was using his children for two purposes: to secure, as a means for peace, treaties with the surrounding Canaanites and to enlarge his influence over far more territory. The Expositor's Bible Commentary gives support to this position: "The fact that Ibzan's marriage policy is mentioned...may indicate a break with tradition."
The point to note is this: Ibzan's marriage policy is a direct violation of God's commandment. God had made it perfectly clear that His people were not to intermarry with unbelievers (Exodus 34:12-16; Deuteronomy 7:1-3; Joshua 23:12-13; Judges 3:5-7; Ezra 9:12 Nehemiah 10:30; 13:25; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Yet, to maintain peace and gain influence with the pagan, unbelieving Canaanites, this judge manipulated his children—all 30 sons and 30 daughters. He forced and influenced them to marry unbelieving foreigners. He followed the world's unrighteous and immoral ways in order to secure peaceful treaties and more power with the surrounding Canaanite rulers.
Thought 1. God calls us to live lives of separation from the immoral, unrighteous ways of the world. We are not to commit adultery or fornication, nor commit any lawless, unjust, or violent act. We are to live in peace with all other citizens of this earth, reaching out in kindness and with a strong, helping hand. When people are sinful and immoral, lawless and violent, we are to separate from them and have nothing to do with such ungodly behavior. God calls us to separate from all evil associations, to live lives that have nothing to do with the unholy and ungodly of this earth.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19).
"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40).
"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat" (1 Corinthians 5:11).
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment" (Exodus 23:2).
"Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee" (Exodus 34:12).
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalms 1:1).
"Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God" (Psalms 119:115).
"Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them" (Proverbs 24:1).
"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11).
3. (12:9-10) Death, Inevitable— Death, Fact— Judgeship, of Ibzan: Ibzan judged or ruled Israel for seven years and then died. He went the way of all the earth, experiencing the same inevitable end that all people experience: death. And there was no escape. He was the nation's ruler who possessed power, wealth, and the highest position of authority a person could have. Furthermore, he was successful, bringing peace to the nation during the years of his reign. But all the power, wealth, and success in the world could not stop that inevitable day of death. Just as all people die, he died.
Thought 1. Death is inevitable. We die, and then comes the judgment. We face God and give an account for everything we have done, whether good or bad.
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away" (James 1:10).
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away" (1 Peter 1:24).
"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:19).
"For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him" (2 Samuel 14:14).
"Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again" (Job 10:9).
"I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister" (Job 17:14).
"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:26).
"They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them" (Job 21:26).
"For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living" (Job 30:23).
"For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others" (Psalms 49:10).
"What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah" (Psalms 89:48).
"Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth" (Psalms 90:5-6).
"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more" (Psalms 103:15-16).
"Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust" (Psalms 104:29).
"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass" (Isaiah 40:6-7).
"I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass" (Isaiah 51:12).
"All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again" (Ecclesiastes 3:20).
"There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it" (Ecclesiastes 8:8).
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
O. The Rule by Elon: A Man Who Left No Significant Legacy, 12:11-12
(12:11-12) Introduction: think about the legacy being left for future generations, the legacy we are creating for our children and successors. What will they remember about our generation? Are we leaving a better world or are we damaging and injuring the world? What will the history books of the future say? Will future generations accuse us of mistreating the earth and universe and human life?
⇒ by polluting the environment, food, and water supply
⇒ by destroying buildings, villages, and cities through terrorists acts and war
⇒ by ignoring the dignity of human life through lawlessness, murder, and violence
⇒ by showing disrespect for morality and justice
⇒ by destroying the family through immorality and denying it as one of the ordained institutions that holds the fabric of society together
⇒ by abusing children and raping women
⇒ by allowing widespread addiction to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco
What will future generations say about this generation, about the legacy we are leaving behind? What kind of contribution are you making, am I making, to society? What kind of legacy are you leaving for your family and future generations? Is your legacy going to be significant, make an impact for good upon your family, loved ones, and neighbors? Or is your legacy going to be insignificant? Even evil, bad?
The present Scripture of just two verses covers the legacy left by one of the judges of Israel. Note the subject of this passage: The Rule by Elon: A Man Who Left No Significant Legacy, 12:11-12.
1. The one and only fact worth recording about his rule: his rule lasted ten years (v.11).
2. The fact of his death: a picture of going the way of all the earth, 1 Kings 2:2 (v. 12).
1. (12:11) Legacy, Insignificant— Elon, Judge of Israel— Israel, Judges of— Life, Unfruitful: there is only one fact worth recording about the rule of this judge, Elon. His judgeship or rule lasted ten years. Other than this fact, nothing else is known about him. However, we can assume that his ten years of leadership were years of peace, for there is no mention of any conflict; and if there had been war, most likely it would have been recorded.
Genesis tells us that one of the founders of the tribe of Zebulun had also been named Elon (Genesis 46:14). This suggests that the parents had named their son with great hope in their hearts, the hope that he would be successful, an achiever throughout life. But if he achieved anything of significance, it is not recorded. He left no notable legacy. It is as though he lived and died and accomplished nothing worth remembering. He had served as the supreme judge or leader of the nation; therefore, because the history of a nation is usually recorded, this fact is recorded about him. But his reign was insignificant; he made no contribution to the nation that was worthy of mention—and he ruled for ten full years.
Thought 1. As ruler of the nation for ten years, Elon had ample opportunity to make a lasting contribution. He could have left a significant legacy. He had been called to serve the citizens of his nation, but for some unstated reason, his service was not worthy of mention.
God calls us to a life of service. Serving others is the way to greatness, the way to leave a meaningful legacy when we leave this earth. To be remembered by people, a person has to be with people, associating with and helping them, extending an open hand when the need arises. This is true whether the individual is the leader of a nation or a next door neighbor. Helping others—serving and ministering in their times of need—is the only significant legacy worth leaving behind.
"And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42).
"But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all" (Mark 10:43-44).
"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise" (Luke 10:36-37).
"And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (John 4:36).
"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14).
"He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep" (John 21:16).
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7).
"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father" (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
"In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity" (Titus 2:7).
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (Hebrews 10:24).
"But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16).
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed" (Psalms 37:3).
2. (12:12) Death, Inevitable— Death, Fact: there was the fact of Elon's death and burial in Aijalon. This is a clear picture that Elon had to go the way of all the earth, that he had to experience death just as all who had gone before him (1 Kings 2:2). He held the exalted position as leader of the nation, possessing all the power and wealth of a national ruler. Nevertheless, he had to face the grim hand of death. His power and wealth were of no use when that inevitable moment came. He died just as the poor and meek of the earth die.
Thought 1. As leader of the nation, Elon held all the power and wealth a person could ever want. But when the certain hand of death confronted him, his power and wealth were useless. He could not issue a law or a verdict that would free him from death, nor could he buy his freedom from the enslaving hand of death. He had to face that inescapable moment of death. So do we. That day, the very hour, is coming for us. And we cannot escape the confrontation: we will die. And once we die, we face the judgment of God.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away" (James 1:10).
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away" (1 Peter 1:24).
"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:19).
"For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him" (2 Samuel 14:14).
"Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again" (Job 10:9).
"I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister" (Job 17:14).
"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:26).
"They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them" (Job 21:26).
"For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living" (Job 30:23).
"That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption" (Psalms 49:9).
"For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others" (Psalms 49:10).
"All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again" (Ecclesiastes 3:20).
"There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it" (Ecclesiastes 8:8).
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
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P. The Rule by Abdon: A Man Who Wasted His Opportunity, 12:13-15
(12:13-15) Introduction: a wasted life is a tragedy, a terrible tragedy. Life is a privilege, a given privilege. Not a single person chooses to come into this world. That choice is always made by parents. But once we come into the world, we receive the greatest privilege that can be given: life. Even for those born in poverty or with some disability, life is a privilege. Without life, there is no existence. Knowing and grasping the significance of life is what drives a person to live to the fullest. For example, when we see the disabled or disadvantaged person conquer life and make a significant contribution, we know something: that person feels privileged to be alive. Life is a privilege, a unique opportunity, and we must all seek to live to the fullest degree possible.
But note this fact: the major purpose of life is to serve and minister to others. We are not given life to be mean, sinful, and evil, lashing out and hurting others. Nor are we to be selfish, hoarding, and storing up wealth and possessions—not while so many in the world are suffering and hurting, hopeless and helpless, destitute and downtrodden. There are needs all around us, needs of all sort. The opportunity for service is everywhere. The opportunities to give and to extend a helping hand surround us.
But tragically, there is little giving and few who are reaching out to help. Most of us are ignoring and wasting our opportunity to serve. We are missing the very purpose for which God put us on earth, that of helping and ministering to other people.
This was true of the judge who is now the focus before the reader. This judge wasted his opportunity for service, disobeying God and ignoring the citizens of his domain. This is the discussion of the present passage of Scripture: The Rule by Abdon: A Man Who Wasted His Opportunity, 12:13-15.
1. He had been named in great hope: "Abdon" means service or servant (v.13).
2. He wasted his opportunity for service: disobeyed God—practiced polygamy and lived an extravagant life (v.14-15).
1. (12:13) Children, Hope for— Parents, Naming Their Children— Name, Purpose for Choosing— Abdon, Judge of Israel— Israel, Judge of: Abdon had been named by his parents in great hope. The very name Abdon means service or servant. Obviously, the parents had chosen this name for their son with great hope, the hope that he would some day commit himself to a life of service. The reference to 70 donkeys suggests that the family was very wealthy and, perhaps, held some leadership position in the community. As leaders, the parents apparently were very aware of their responsibility to serve their community. They were service-minded and wanted their son to commit his life to serve his community and fellow citizens. They sensed the obligation of human life, that a person is responsible to contribute whatever he can, to help and serve others as much as is possible.
Thought 1. We are to serve others, to be servants within our communities, cities, and nations. Life is a privilege given by God; therefore, we are to make whatever contribution we can to life. Whatever position, job, or profession we hold, we are there to serve, to achieve, and to accomplish for the welfare of our community and fellow citizens. Whatever we do, whatever product we make or whatever service we perform, it is to be for the service of others. It is for the purpose of meeting the needs of others: providing whatever they need or want. Every one of us has a significant purpose for being on earth, and that purpose is primarily to serve and help others.
"He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:22-23).
"But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all" (Mark 10:43-44).
"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise" (Luke 10:36-37).
"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more" (Luke 12:48 ).
"He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep" (John 21:16).
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).
"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19).
2. (12:14-15) Opportunity, Wasted— Service, Wasted— Disobedience, to God— Polygamy, Example of— Extravagance, Example of— Indulgence, Example of— License, Example of: Abdon wasted his opportunity for service. He deliberately disobeyed God by practicing polygamy and living an extravagant life. Polygamy is forbidden by God (Genesis 2:24; Deuteronomy 17:17; Matthew 19:4-6; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6). Extravagant living and hoarding wealth are also forbidden by God, strongly forbidden, because so many people in the world are suffering desperate need and are gripped by the sin of this world.
Note that Abdon had several wives and most likely concubines, and each of his 40 sons and 30 grandsons rode on 70 donkeys. This suggests extreme wealth and extravagant living. Poverty was bound to be a problem within Israel as it has been within every nation of the world throughout history. The fact that this judge had a great opportunity for service and yet failed is tragic. There had been so much hope swelling up in the hearts of his parents when he was born. There was the hope that he would be the servant of his people. And he had the opportunity to take his wealth and meet the desperate needs of the helpless and the hopeless. Instead, he indulged his own desires and lusts and those of his family, living an extravagant lifestyle.
Note that he ruled only eight years and then died. He went the way of all the earth, experiencing death just like everyone else. His power, judgeship, and wealth did not exempt him from facing the dark, grim hand of death.
Thought 1. As the judge or leader of Israel, Abdon had been called to a life of service. He was given the opportunity to serve the citizens of Israel and make a significant contribution to their welfare. He had enormous wealth and could easily have made a significant contribution to meeting the needs of the suffering and poor, the hopeless and helpless under his rule. But instead, he wasted his opportunity and lived a life of indulgence and extravagance.
God calls us all to a life of service. But how many of us are wasting the opportunity? How many are failing to serve, to reach out to the needy of this world? People all around us are hurting, gripped...
• by hopelessness and helplessness
• by disease and terminal illness
• by loneliness and emptiness
• by ignorance and lack of skills
• by lack of education and illiteracy
• by the loss of a spouse, child, or other loved one
• by hospitalization or disability
• by addiction to drugs, alcohol, or gluttony
• by separation or divorce
• by unemployment or financial destitution
• by hunger or homelessness
The needs that surround us are innumerable. The opportunity for service is present, right where we are. There is no lack of opportunity, not for any of us. And there is no absence of a call. God has called every one of us to serve, reaching out with hearts of compassion and open hands to give to others or to help them up. People are hurting, sensing the deepest pain, and needing a hand to reach out to help them.
But there is no help, not in so many cases. Hands are being withheld. Giving has declined, even stopped. And the needy are left to struggle and suffer all alone. For many of us, we are losing our opportunity to serve. And in the terrifying day of judgment, we will stand before God having wasted our opportunity.
"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:26-27).
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:21-23).
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:31-46).
"And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes" (Luke 12:47).
"And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living" (Luke 15:13).
"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented" (Luke 16:19-25).
"Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings [excess, extravagance], and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:21).
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him" (James 2:14).
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
"For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries" (1 Peter 4:3).
"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard" (Proverbs 21:13).
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved" (Jeremiah 8:20).
"The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them" (Ezekiel 34:4).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
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»Types, Symbols, Pictures
Q. The Deliverance by Samson (Part 1): A Child with Unbelievable Promise, 13:1-25
(13:1-25) Introduction: the next four chapters cover the life of Samson, one of the most famous characters in the Old Testament (Judges 13-16). Samson had been called by God to a very special ministry, and he had been born with great hope. But from the very beginning of adulthood, his private life was a disaster. Women became his downfall. So far as is known, the only godly woman involved in his life was his mother. But the other women with whom he associated led to his downfall.
There were probably many carnal, fleshly women in Samson's life, but Scripture mentions only three as being significant:
⇒ One woman he married, but she was a Philistine, one of the enemy (Judges 14).
⇒ Another woman was a prostitute, also a Philistine (16:1-3).
⇒ The last woman was the infamous Delilah who betrayed him to the enemy (16:4-20).
In the life of Samson, the cycle of a compromising, inconsistent life is personified, fully illustrated. Samson was double-minded, up and down, back and forth, unpredictable and undependable—inconsistent throughout his entire life. He yielded his body to the carnal, fleshly appetites of the world. He craved the bright lights of the worldly Philistines, took part in their drunken parties, lusted after their women, partook of their pleasures, and engaged in their carnal festivities. At every major turn of his life, he disobeyed the commandments of the Lord. He participated in the dark, immoral lifestyle of the worldly Philistines. Here and there he fought a battle against the enemy for the Lord, but he soon slipped back into sin, back into the inconsistent, compromising lifestyle. He ended up being blinded by the Philistines, unable to see and having to live in the dark. This man with such a promising life was to die a ruined man, a man who wrecked his life and died never having fulfilled his potential. This Scripture begins the life of Samson: The Deliverance by Samson (Part 1): A Child with Unbelievable Promise, 13:1-25.
1. The cycle of a compromising, inconsistent life: again doing evil (v.1).
2. The chastisement of God: gave them up to 40 years of Philistine oppression (v.1).
3. The promise of a very special deliverer: a picture of being set apart, dedicated to God (v.2-7).
4. The prayer of the father for assurance, confirmation of the promised deliverer: a picture of God answering prayer (v.8-14).
5. The amazing identification of the Messenger of Deliverance: the Lord Himself (v.15-23).
6. The birth of the Deliverer: a picture of God meeting the needs of His dear people (v.24-25).
1. (13:1) Inconsistent Life— Compromise, Cycle of— Inconsistent, Cycle of— Evil, Marks of— Sin, Marks of— Israel, Sins of: there was the cycle of a compromising, inconsistent life. Again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
The idea is that they continued time and again to do evil, never breaking the trend of committing sin, not for long, not permanently. When they repented of their evil, they may have been sincere, but their repentance did not last. They soon turned right back to the sin that so easily entangled them (Hebrews 12:1). Living an inconsistent, up and down, unpredictable, and unstable life in the sight of the Lord had become the pattern of the Israelites. They continued to compromise with their worldly neighbors, continued to seek after the bright lights and fleshly pleasures of this world. And most tragic of all, they continued to engage in the false worship of their neighbors, turning away from the Lord and forgetting Him. Idolatry and false worship are the most terrible evils ever committed by a person against the Lord. For false worship means that a person has rejected the only living and true God and turned to the false gods of this world, the false gods that are nothing more than the figments of man's imagination. This was the terrible evil committed by the Israelites. Yes, they were compromising with the immoral and fleshly pleasures of their neighbors, which is sin and evil in the eyes of the Lord. But the most sinful and evil act is that of totally rejecting the Lord and committing oneself to a lie, to the lie of false gods and false religion. Rejecting or abandoning the Lord is an evil that brings chastisement upon people, and it was to bring chastisement and judgment upon the Israelites.
Thought 1. God warns us: we must not turn away and forsake Him. This is the most terrible evil that we can commit. Forsaking or abandoning God, ignoring or denying Him will arouse the judgment of God against us. And we will suffer the most terrible consequences. This is the clear declaration of Holy Scripture:
"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" (Hebrews 2:1-3).
"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:66-69).
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
"Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" (Deuteronomy 6:12).
"Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more" (Judges 10:13).
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psalms 9:17).
"Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver" (Psalms 50:22).
2. (13:1) Chastisement, of God— Judgment, Judicial— Oppression, of Israel— Israel, Chastisement of— Philistines, Oppression— Oppression, of Philistines: there was the chastisement of God against Israel. He gave them up to forty years of Philistine oppression.
This is the longest period of oppression suffered by the Israelites during the time of the judges. The Philistines were a powerful, warrior-like people who had migrated from Greece, Cyprus, and Crete and settled along the coast of Canaan or Palestine. Thus they were known as the "sea people" who lived along the coastline. Their migration into Palestine had begun prior to the days of Abraham. This is known because there were some Philistines living in Palestine during Abraham's day (Genesis 21:32-34; 26:1-6). They gained a major foothold along the coastline by 1200 B.C., and by 1100 B.C. they were strong enough to begin moving inland, conquering the territory of the Israelites.
Dr. Leon Wood dates the Philistine oppression from 1095 B.C. to 1055 B.C. when Israel defeated the Philistines at Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:1-17). At some point during the middle of the forty-year oppression, a major battle between the Israelites and Philistines took place at Aphek, and Israel suffered a major loss. The Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and killed three priests (1 Samuel 4:1-22). It was at this time, right after the major loss at Aphek, that Samson entered and came upon the scene to harass the Philistines and keep them from conquering all of Israel. By constantly harassing them, he was able to single-handedly keep the Philistines from conquering and subjecting the entire nation. If Samson had not come upon the scene after the battle at Aphek, the Philistines could easily have overrun the entire country. Therefore, there was a great need for God to keep this from happening, and He did. God sent Samson to frustrate the Philistines and keep them off guard enough to prevent their mobilizing an army that could conquer all Israel. But note this fact: Israel would not be delivered from the Philistine oppression until Samuel came into the picture and led them to a complete military victory. And a victorious deliverance from the Philistine oppression could not take place until the Israelites repented, turned away from their evil, and turned back to God. This would not take place until the days of Samuel at the end of the forty-year oppression. Thus, Samson was only a stopgap, only a holding action sent by God until the people were totally broken and genuinely ready to repent.
Note this fact, for it is of critical importance: at this time of their history, there is no crying out to the Lord by the Israelites—no crying out for deliverance during the Philistine oppression. Apparently, the Israelites had adjusted or adapted to the Philistine oppression. They accepted the oppression as their lot in life and worked at being as comfortable as they could living under such circumstances. Opposition to the Philistines was non-existent: the crusading spirit of the Israelites seemed to be lost. All the Israelites wished to do was avoid the Philistines (14:3; 16:31). The people seemed content to maintain the status quo (15:9-13).
The point to see is that God gave the Israelites up to their desires and lusts. They had looked around at the world of their neighbors and coveted their lifestyle: the bright light, fleshly pleasures and wealth. By coveting, they soon began to fellowship with their neighbors and engage in the evils of their lifestyle. They became greedy and immoral, and they began to lie, steal, cheat, and commit adultery and fornication just like their neighbors. They became lawless and violent, indulgent and extravagant. God was left with no choice: chastisement was an absolute essential. His people must be brought to their knees, to the point where they would forsake their sin and turn back to Him, lest they destroy themselves. For evil always damages and destroys. Thus chastisement was necessary in order to bring God's people to their senses and to bring them to their knees in confession and repentance.
Thought 1. Chastisement is necessary for any of us if we continue in sin. Sin and evil damage lives and will eventually destroy us. Think of the bitterness, hatred, and malice that lead people to react, retaliate, and take vengeance. Think of the adultery that destroys families and damages so many children. Think of the lying, stealing, and cheating that deceive and cause so much damage, financial loss, bankruptcy, poverty, and destitution.
Sin damages and destroys lives. For this reason God chastises us, seeks to break and humble us to the point that we will cry out and repent. He chastises us in order to save us from our sin and evil and to arouse righteousness within us. A life of righteousness is kind, gracious, loving, joyful, peaceful. And a life of righteousness works hard and diligently, seeking to be responsible, productive, and fruitful. A life of righteousness builds a positive, strong society and nation.
This is the reason God chastises us when we sin: to save us from damage and destruction and to arouse us to live a life of righteousness that is fruitful and productive. Chastisement is essential when we commit sin and evil.
"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).
"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Hebrews 12:5-6).
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent" (Revelation 3:19).
"Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee" (Deuteronomy 8:5).
"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law" (Psalms 94:12).
"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth" (Proverbs 3:11-12).
3. (13:2-7) Deliverer, Promise of— Promise, of a Deliverer— Manoah, Father of Samson: there was the promise by God that He would send a very special deliverer. This promise given to the wife of Manoah is similar to the promises given at the birth of Isaac, Samuel, John the Baptist and Christ Himself. This is a clear picture of a person being set apart, dedicated to God in a very special way.
Samson and his family were from the tribe of Dan. Remember, the tribe of Dan had been complacent or lax in conquering the territory of their inheritance in the promised land. They were unwilling to fight against the enemy living along the coast because of the enemy's iron chariots. Consequently, a large number of the tribe had migrated north and relocated there (see outline—♣ Judges 18:1-30 and notes—♣Judges 18:1-30; outline—♣ Joshua 19:40-48; notes—♣ Joshua 19:40-48 for more discussion).
The birthplace of Samson was to be the city of Zorah, which was located in the foothills about fifteen miles from Jerusalem. Zorah was only a short distance from the Philistine border and one of the major cities of the Philistines, Eshtaol (13:25; 16:31; 18:2, 8, 11). Note the promise by God to the wife of Manoah, the woman who was to bear the special deliverer being sent by God:
1. A special situation confronted Manoah and his wife: she was barren, sterile. This dear man and wife were obviously true believers in the Lord God and walked righteously before Him. But their hearts were broken, for they had no child. And to die childless was a tragedy because the Israelites considered children to be a very special gift from God (Psalms 127:3). If a couple was barren, they felt they were not pleasing God. Being barren was evidence that they displeased Him and were not favored by Him. Thus, the heart of Manoah and his wife were broken because they had no child.
But the Lord stepped into the situation to meet their need and gave them a very special promise. The angel of the Lord promised that Manoah's wife was to miraculously bear a son. Remember, "the angel of the Lord" is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, a preincarnate appearance of Him (13:22-23; see outline—♣ Judges 6:11-24 and notes—♣Judges 6:11-24; also see note 3—♣ Exodus 3:1-3 for more discussion).
2. Note that some very special instructions were given to the mother by the Lord (13:4-5): while pregnant, she was to drink no alcoholic beverage nor eat any unclean food. And after the child was born, she was never to use a razor on his head.
3. The reason for these special instructions was that the child was being sent on a very special mission for the Lord (13:5). He was to be a Nazirite, that is, totally set apart to God from his birth; and then once grown, he was to begin the deliverance of Israel.
The very word "Nazirite" (nazir) means to be set apart, dedicated, or consecrated. Any person could take the Nazirite vow: it was voluntary and usually temporary. A person who sensed a deep desire to draw closer to the Lord would separate himself, totally set himself apart to the Lord for a brief period of time. He made three commitments to the Lord that controlled diet, appearance, and associations. These commitments or vows were…
• to abstain from all intoxicating drink and unclean food
• to never cut one's hair
• to never go near a dead body—not even of his family—lest he become defiled and unclean (spiritually or ceremonially corrupted). (See outline—♣ Numbers 6:1-27 and notes—♣ Numbers 6:1-27 for more discussion.)
Note that Samson did not choose to be a Nazirite, but he was given the privilege by God Himself. Samson was not to be temporarily dedicated to God; his entire life was to belong to God. His commitment was to be a lifetime commitment, a lifetime of being set apart and being consecrated. He was to be the great deliverer of Israel from the Philistines. Note that this was part of the promise given to the mother by the Lord (13:5).
4. As soon as the angel left her, Manoah's wife rushed to share the wonderful news with her husband (13:6-7). Note that she did not yet realize who the messenger of the promise was: she was not sure whether he was merely a man of God, a prophet, or an angel. She told her husband that the messenger looked like an angel—awesome and terrifying. But he did not identify himself (13:6). Then she shared the wonderful promise that she was to bear a son who was to be reared as a Nazirite from the first day of his birth.
Thought 1. God gave Samson the privilege of being a Nazirite, the privilege of being totally set apart and dedicated to God. This is wonderful news for us, for God has given us the very same privilege. We are called to be committed, dedicated, and totally set apart to God. Our hearts are to be set upon God, committed to follow Him. Our lives are to belong totally to Him.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deuteronomy 6:5).
"Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart" (Psalms 119:2).
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways" (Proverbs 23:26).
4. (13:8-14) Prayer, for Assurance— Assurance, Prayer for— Parent, Prayer of— Parent, Concerns of— Samson, Parents of, Godly: there was the prayer of the father for assurance, confirmation of the promised deliverer. This is a clear picture of God answering prayer.
1. Manoah apparently felt overwhelmed, very anxious about rearing such a special child. He felt so uneasy that he went before the Lord, seeking for the messenger to return and give additional instructions about how to bring up the boy.
2. God heard the prayer of this precious believer and sent the angel of the Lord back to Manoah's wife who was working in the field (13:9-11). As soon as the Lord appeared, she rushed to get her husband, and Manoah followed, immediately asking the man if he was the messenger of God. And the Lord simply answered, "I am."
3. The concern of Manoah was how to rear the child, exactly what rules were to be used to guide his life.
4. The angel simply confirmed the instructions he had already given to the wife. During pregnancy, she must not eat any food from the grapevine, nor drink alcoholic drinks, nor eat unclean food. But note the stress the Lord put upon these instructions: she must obey everything the Lord had commanded (13:14).
Thought 1. God answers prayer. He answered Manoah's prayer, met the need of this dear believer who was to be the father of Samson. Just as God answered his prayer, God will answer our prayer and meet our need. No matter what the need may be, if we come before the Lord and lay the need before Him, He will meet our need. God will hear our prayers and never fail to hear them. This is His wonderful promise:
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24).
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9).
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).
"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight" (1 John 3:22).
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (Psalms 91:15).
"Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity" (Isaiah 58:9).
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).
5. (13:15-23) Messenger, of Deliverance— Deliverance, Messenger of: there was the amazing identification of the messenger of deliverance: the Lord Himself. What happened now was an amazing experience for this dear couple who had trusted God so much:
1. Manoah and his wife wanted to show their gratitude, so they invited the messenger to stay for a meal (13:15-16). But the angel of the Lord refused the invitation. He would not stay to eat but He would stay if Manoah prepared a burnt offering as a sacrifice to the Lord.
2. Hearing this, Manoah asked for the man's identity so he could honor him after the child's birth. In response to this request, the Lord simply replied: His name is secret (piliy or pili). The Hebrew word can be translated wonderful, beyond understanding. In Isaiah 9:6 the closely related noun pele is translated wonderful, which is a title for Christ (Isaiah 9:6).
3. Manoah took a young goat and offered the substitute sacrifice as a burnt offering (13:19).
4. Then a spectacular sight took place: amazingly, as the fire blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the messenger ascended before the eyes of the astounded couple. He ascended in the very flame of the fire that was consuming the burnt offering (13:19-20).
5. In an act of humble submission, the couple fell prostrate, face down upon the ground (13:20).
6. A terrifying fear struck Manoah when he realized that the messenger was the Lord Himself. He feared being struck dead, for he believed no person could see God and live (Judges 6:22-23). But his wife expressed a calming trust, assuring him that the Lord had accepted them and would fulfill His promise. The Lord had appeared to them for their good, not to strike them dead (13:21-23).
Thought 1. The Lord had appeared to Manoah and his wife with the glorious message of deliverance. God was going to provide a great deliverer for them.
Today, the most wonderful news has been proclaimed to the world: the great deliverer has come. He is the Messiah and Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. God has so loved the world that He has given His own Son—His one and only Son—that whoever believes in Him shall never perish.
What greater deliverance could ever be given than this: never perishing, but having everlasting life. Living eternally with God in perfection. Never suffering again, never having to bear pain or hurt again. No more abuse, cursing, division, war, hostility, slavery, deformity, disability, disease, accident, or death. This is the glorious message of the Deliverer, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is deliverance from all the sin and evil that have catastrophic effects upon all of us. And this glorious message of deliverance has been brought by the glorious Deliverer Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ.
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
"Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" (2 Corinthians 1:10).
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:18).
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18).
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9).
"And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer" (2 Samuel 22:2).
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).
"But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them" (Psalms 41:10).
"And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar [gray] hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" (Isaiah 46:4).
"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence" (Psalms 91:3).
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 1:8).
6. (13:24-25) Samson, Birth of— Judges, of Israel— Israel, Judges of: there was the birth of the deliverer promised by the Lord. The birth of Samson is a picture of God meeting the needs of His dear people.
The faith of Manoah and his wife was rewarded: the promised child was born. And they named him Samson (Semes), which means sunny or brightness. Perhaps the family chose this name with great hope: the hope that their son would bring light to Israel, that he would be the light that would erase the darkness of the Philistine oppression.
As Samson grew into manhood, the Lord blessed him (13:24). When he became a young man, the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him to deliver Israel from the Philistines (13:25). The presence of God was upon His life in a very special way. Samson was appointed to be a judge, one of the deliverers of his people. Once again, God was meeting the needs of His dear people.
Thought 1. Just as God met the needs of the Israelites, so He will meet our needs, no matter what the need may be. The need may be personal: some pain or suffering or problem or difficulty. But no matter how severe or terrifying the situation or circumstance may be, God will still meet our need. No matter how discouraged, distressed or alone we may feel, God will be there for us. God does not leave us alone to face the trials and temptations of life. God stands right with us. God will meet our every need.
"....lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:20).
"Let your conversation [behavior, conduct] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
"When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 20:1).
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them" (Deuteronomy 33:27).
"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Psalms 40:17).
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:2).
»Indexes: Types, Symbols, Pictures
TYPES, SYMBOLS, AND PICTURES
(Judges 13:1-25)
|Historical Term |Type or Picture |Life Application for Today's |Biblical Application |
| |(Scriptural Basis for Each) |Believer | |
| |This is a clear picture of being set |⇒ God gave Samson the privilege of|"I beseech you therefore, |
|The Promise of a |apart, dedicated to God. There was |being a Nazirite, the privilege of |brethren, by the mercies of God, |
|Special Deliverer |the promise by God that He would send|being totally set apart and |that ye present your bodies a |
|Judges 13:2-7 |a very special deliverer (in this |dedicated to God. This is wonderful|living sacrifice, holy, acceptable|
| |example, Samson). This promise given |news for us, for God has given us |unto God, which is your reasonable|
| |to the wife of Manoah is a picture of|the very same privilege. We are |service. And be not conformed to |
| |the birth of Isaac, Samuel, John the |called to be committed, dedicated, |this world: but be ye transformed |
| |Baptist and of Christ Himself. |and totally set apart to God. Our |by the renewing of your mind, that|
| | |hearts are to be set, determined to|ye may prove what is that good, |
| |"For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and |follow after God. Our lives are to |and acceptable, and perfect, will |
| |bear a son; and no razor shall come |belong totally to Him, to obey Him |of God" (Romans 12:1-2). |
| |on his head: for the child shall be a|and keep His commandments, bearing |"And thou shalt love the Lord thy |
| |Nazarite unto God from the womb: and |strong witness to His name. |God with all thine heart, and with|
| |he shall begin to deliver Israel out | |all thy soul, and with all thy |
| |of the hand of the Philistines" | |might" (Deuteronomy 6:5). |
| |Judges 13:5. | |"Blessed are they that keep his |
| | | |testimonies, and that seek him |
| | | |with the whole heart" (Psalms |
| | | |119:2). |
| | | |"Trust in the Lord with all thine |
| | | |heart; and lean not unto thine own|
| | | |understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). |
| | | |"My son, give me thine heart, and |
| | | |let thine eyes observe my ways" |
| | | |(Proverbs 23:26). |
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
R. The Deliverance by Samson (Part 2): Samson and His Philistine Wife—A Man of Worldly Compromise and Selfish Interests, 14:1-20
(14:1-20) Introduction: How many of us are living worldly, inconsistent lives? How many of us are compromising, living permissive lives? How many are attracted to the bright lights and partying spirit of this world? How many are committing sexual perversions, sinning against their own bodies, men with men and women with women? How many are committing incest, having illicit sex with close relatives? How many are committing sexual abuse against children, even some committing this horrendous sin with their own dear children? How many have become so morally warped in their minds that they feast on pornography, especially child pornography? How many have lost control of their bodies to addictions: addictions to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and gluttony? How many have given way to all sorts of lusts and passions of the flesh? How many of us have lost control of our bodies, our minds, our spirits? Surrendered ourselves to our passions?
Samson lost control throughout his life. Only here and there did he control his body. Time and again, he gave in to the lusts and passions of his flesh. He looked at beautiful women with shapely bodies and held the images in his mind, giving in to the "lust of the flesh" and the "lust of the eyes" (1 John 2:15-16). He lost control of his mind and body. And he gave in, even to the point of wanting to marry an unbelieving Philistine. This is the important subject of the present passage of Scripture: The Deliverance by Samson (Part 2): Samson and His Philistine Wife—a Man of Worldly Compromise and Selfish Interests, 14:1-20.
1. Samson compromised in marriage: he married an unbeliever (v.1-2).
2. Samson compromised by showing disrespect for his parents (v.3-4).
3. Samson compromised his vow or commitment to the Lord (v.5-10).
4. Samson compromised control over himself: he burned with anger (v.11-20).
1. (14:1-2) Compromise, Example of— Samson, Compromise of— Inconsistent Life, Example of— Marriage, Duty— Samson, Marriage of— Unbeliever, Duty Toward— Worldliness, Example of: Samson compromised in marriage by marrying an unbeliever. This is the first tragic event in the life of Samson that exposes his carnal, fleshly heart and demonstrates the compromising, inconsistent life he lived.
In this first tragic episode, he traveled down to Timnah where he was captivated by the beauty of a young Philistine woman. He became infatuated with her, so infatuated that he wanted to marry her; and as soon as he returned home, he demanded that his parents arrange for the marriage.
This was most unusual, for in Jewish society it was usually the parents who arranged the marriage of their children or, at the very least, had a strong voice in who they married (Genesis 24:4; 28:1-2; Exodus 21:9). Samson was living by sight and not by faith. He was being driven by "the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes," not by love for the Lord. He was disobeying the Word of the Lord, breaking the clear commandments of God (1 John 2:15-16). God had been very clear: His people were not to intermarry with unbelievers (Exodus 34:12-16; Deuteronomy 7:1-3; Joshua 23:12-13; Judges 3:5-7; Ezra 9:12; Nehemiah 13:25). An unbeliever would lead a spouse astray by turning him or her away from the Lord and leading the spouse to join in the worship of false religion and false gods. For this reason, God had insisted from the very first that His people never intermarry with unbelievers.
Thought 1. Samson was guilty: he had compromised with the ways of the world, allowing himself to become infatuated with a woman who was an unbeliever. He became associated with an unbeliever instead of turning away. He made a deliberate decision to disobey God and to follow the desires of his flesh.
This compromise by Samson is a clear, strong lesson for us. We must not compromise by following the ways of the world. We must obey God by living holy, separated lives, lives of righteousness and obedience. We must turn away from all sinful and evil associations, and turn to God, wholeheartedly following after Him.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (John 15:19).
"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40).
"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat" (1 Corinthians 5:11).
"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment" (Exodus 23:2).
"Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee" (Exodus 34:12).
"And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons" (Nehemiah 10:30).
"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Proverbs 13:20).
2. (14:3-4) Disrespect, for Parents— Parents, Disrespect of— Samson, Disrespect of Parents: Samson compromised by showing disrespect for his parents. His parents strongly objected to the marriage because the woman was a Philistine, an unbeliever (14:3). Note that they refer to the Philistines as "the uncircumcised Philistines."
Circumcision was the mark that a person believed in the Lord, trusted and followed Him. The Lord had given the mark of circumcision to His people as a symbol of their faith, that a person was a true Israelite. Of course, every circumcised Israelite was not a true believer, but every true believer was circumcised. The Philistines worshipped false gods; they were not believers in the only living and true Lord (Jehovah, Yahweh), the Creator and Sovereign Majesty of the universe. Therefore, Samson's parents could not understand why their son would violate the great trust God had put in him. His demand cut their hearts, causing pain and disappointment. He was violating his special Nazirite vows, his special call from the Lord. How could he so easily compromise his call to be the deliverer of God's people?
But Samson was not listening to his parents. He selfishly, emphatically insisted that they arrange for the marriage. Note Samson's insistent reason: "She is the one I want, the right one for me" (14:3). Note the prediction: the Lord would override, twist, and turn Samson's compromising sin and use it for good. God would overrule by causing trouble between Samson and the Philistines, arousing Samson to punish and execute justice upon the Philistines (14:5). Warren Wiersbe points out that because of this event, Samson…
• would kill thirty men (Judges 14:19)
• would burn up some crops of the Philistine enemies (15:1-5)
• would slaughter a great number of Philistines (14:7-8)
• would slay 1,000 men (14:15)
Thought 1. Samson showed the utmost insensitivity and disrespect for his parents. He cut their hearts, causing great pain and grief for them. He broke the clear commandment of God to honor and obey one's father and mother (Exodus 20:12).
The lesson for us is straightforward: we must honor and obey our parents. We must hold them in the highest esteem and listen to them. Parents who have walked with the Lord for years have years of godly experience. They know how we should live, and we must listen to them. Even if we are in our older years, our parents have walked through a number of years beyond us. They know what is involved in those years, and their experience can help guide us as we face the future.
But this is not the only reason we must honor and obey our parents. Our parents brought us into this world and gave us the privilege of life. They reared us for a number of years, feeding and nurturing us, giving us housing and clothing and education. More than we could ever know or imagine, our parents have contributed much to our lives.
For these two major reasons, we must honor and obey our parents. God pulls no punches with us: He insists, demands that we honor and obey them.
"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death" (Matthew 15:4).
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right" (Ephesians 6:1).
"Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord" (Colossians 3:20).
"Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren" (1 Timothy 5:1).
"That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things" (Titus 2:2-3).
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12).
"Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:3).
"Thou shalt rise up before the hoary [gray] head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 19:32).
"Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen" (Deuteronomy 27:16).
"My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother" (Proverbs 1:8).
"My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother" (Proverbs 6:20).
"The hoary [gray] head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness" (Proverbs 16:31).
"Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old" (Proverbs 23:22).
"The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it" (Proverbs 30:17).
"Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?" (Isaiah 45:10).
3. (14:6-10) Vow, Compromised— Commitment, Compromised— Nazirite, Vow of, Compromised— Samson, Violation of His Nazirite Vow: Samson compromised his vow or commitment to the Lord. This was a grave offense, for vows are a very serious matter to God (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6). Note that the killing of the lion is the first demonstration of Samson's great strength. The Scripture and outline dramatically picture what happened:
1. Samson went with his parents to visit the woman and compromised by apparently eating grapes. From the description of what happened, Samson had spotted a vineyard and desired some grapes. He knew this was wrong, a violation of his vow (13:4, 14). Obviously, violating his vow and disobeying God did not matter that much to him, but it did to his parents so he sent them on ahead.
While Samson was eating the grapes, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him, perhaps as a warning from God against disobeying him. But the Spirit of the Lord "came upon" (salah) him, giving him the power to kill the lion. The Hebrew word here is descriptive: it means "to rush upon." The picture is that of the Spirit of God rushing upon Samson to empower him to immediately defend himself against the lion. But he did not tell his parents who were totally unaware of the event.
2. Samson compromised by continuing to pursue the woman in direct disobedience to the Lord. He continued to nurture the relationship and grew in love with her more and more (14:7).
3. Some time later on a return trip to marry her, he continued to compromise by disobeying the Lord. Walking along the road, he turned aside to look at the dead lion he had killed (14:8). When he found the lion, he saw a beehive in the carcass or skeleton and scooped out the honey. He later gave some of the honey to his parents, but note: he did not tell them that the honey was defiled, taken from a dead carcass (14:9). Contact with the dead was a direct violation of his Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:6-12). Keep in mind that he had sometime before violated his vow by eating grapes in the vineyard where he had killed the lion (14:5). And now he again violates his vow by touching the dead carcass (14:9). Obviously, his vow and commitment to God meant very little to Samson. He was living a life of direct disobedience, a life given over to his fleshly desires and passions. The lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh enticed and seduced him. And he always seemed to give in.
4. Samson compromised by giving the customary seven-day feast or stag drinking party in preparation for his marriage (14:10; 13:4). In order to fit in, Samson probably violated his vow again by drinking and partaking of the forbidden fruit.
Thought 1. Samson was ever so careless in his commitment to the Lord. It was as if the commitment were meaningless. At every turn of his life, he violated the commitment of his vow. He broke his word, the trust that had been placed in him by the Lord and his parents. God still used him, but nothing compared to what he could have been used. He plainly did not belong completely and fully to the Lord; he did not prove to be trustworthy and dependable.
One thing we must remember: vows are important to God. When we make a commitment to the Lord, He expects us to keep that commitment. Failing to keep our vows or promises makes us a liar before God. But this is not the worst offense: breaking our promises and commitments to God defiles His Holy Name. For when we break our commitment, we are declaring that...
• God is unimportant
• God is not to be honored or highly esteemed
• God's will is not what really matters, but instead our own desires and passions
• promises and vows made to God are meaningless and insignificant
• committing our lives to God is really not that important
This is the testimony, the witness that we are declaring to the world when we break vows and commitments. We profane and defile God's Holy Name. This tells us something, a fact that we must understand: there is no conceivable way that God will ever tolerate the breaking of our vows to Him, the violation of the promises and commitments we make to Him.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind" (1 Corinthians 6:9).
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:16-21).
"If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth" (Numbers 30:2).
"When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth" (Deuteronomy 23:21-23).
"It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry" (Proverbs 20:25).
"When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6).
4. (14:11-20) Anger, Sin of— Self-Control, Duty— Self-Control, Loss of— Samson, Sinful Lifestyle of: Samson compromised control over himself, allowed himself to burn with anger. The flesh got the best of Samson again: he did not control his tongue. But despite Samson's failure to maintain control of himself, God took his failures and used them to execute justice upon the Philistines. Note how clearly this is seen in the Scripture and outline.
1. The stag party included thirty male companions provided by the Philistines, probably provided by the family of the bride. To entertain the guests, Samson posed a gambling riddle to his thirty Philistines guests (14:11-14). The wager was to be thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes. This was a costly wager, involving a good deal of money for both parties. Note that the guests had to figure out the riddle within the seven days of the stag party. Sadly, Samson constructed the riddle out of his sinful experience with the dead lion. The fact that he had broken the commandment of God, violating his commitment and vow mattered little to Samson. He was able to make a joke out of his sin, showing the depth of his spiritual insensitivity.
For three days, the guests tried and tried to solve the riddle. But they were unable to come up with the answer.
2. The guests had no choice, for the wager was very costly. They had to seek the help of Samson's wife in solving the riddle. Thus, they approached her and demanded that she coax her husband into explaining the riddle to her. They backed up their demand by threatening to kill her and her father's household and destroying all their property (14:15).
3. The unbelieving, Philistine wife nagged and pleaded with Samson to reveal the riddle to her. She finally challenged him to show his love by telling her the solution to the riddle (14:16). Note that she nagged the full seven days, and Samson stood fast during the entire period. But on the seventh day she succeeded in breaking Samson. And then she in turn explained the riddle to the thirty Philistine guests who had threatened her and her family's lives (14:17).
4. Right before sunset, apparently just a few minutes before the time for solving the riddle was to expire or run out, the guests were able to explain the riddle to Samson (14:18).
5. The reaction of Samson was to lose control of his temper. He charged the Philistines with breaking the rules by securing the information from his wife. Without her help, he knew they could never solve the riddle on their own. He knew they had cheated, and he let them know by using another riddle (14:18).
Samson burned with anger, but God overrode and used his anger to execute justice upon the Philistines (14:19). The Spirit of the Lord again came upon him in great power, and he went down to Ashkelon to attack and take vengeance upon the Philistines. This city was over twenty miles away, but it was one of the major cities of the Philistines. God was using the anger of Samson to bring judgment on the evil, cruel Philistines. Samson killed thirty Philistines, stripping them of their clothing and using their clothing to pay the wager (14:19). Note that Samson continued to burn with anger for a long, long time. He never even consummated his marriage, but instead returned to his father's house.
6. Because he never consummated his marriage, Samson's wife was given to his best man (14:20).
Thought 1. Self-control is an absolute essential. But keeping ourselves under control is most difficult. Day by day, time and again things happen…
• that disturb, irritate, upset, disgust, depress, distress us
• that arouse anger, hostility, wrath, reaction within us
• that attract, appeal, entice, seduce us
A day never passes that some temptation does not arouse us to lose control and give in. Before we know it, we have yielded to the enticement and lost control. We have given in to the lust, passion, or evil ambition. We have done the very thing God forbids: we fail to keep ourselves under control. But as Scripture declares, self-control is the duty of every believer.
"And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance [self-control], and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee" (Acts 24:25).
"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:13).
"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate [self-controlled] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1 Corinthians 9:25).
"Meekness, temperance [self-control]: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:23).
"That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate [self-controlled], sound in faith, in charity, in patience" (Titus 2:2).
"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2).
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance [self-control]; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity" (2 Peter 1:5-7).
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city" (Proverbs 16:32).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
S. The Deliverance by Samson (Part 3): Samson and His Vengeance on the Philistines—a Man of Bitter Anger and Revenge, 15:1-20
(15:1-20) Introduction: revenge, retaliation, striking out—these are often the responses that first cross our minds when someone does wrong against us. But since the coming of Jesus Christ, Scripture is clear and straightforward: we are not to seek personal revenge or retaliation. This does not mean that we do not defend ourselves against evil, assault, attack, or war. We are never to indulge and give license to evil. On the contrary, we are to stand up against evil and stand strongly for righteousness and life. We must never allow an evil act nor the damaging or taking of a single life, not if it is in our power to stop such wrongful behavior. Justice—the building of a legal, just society—is demanded by God.
But personal revenge and retaliation are forbidden. A vengeful, vindictive spirit must never be allowed to grip our hearts. We are not to allow hatred, wrath, or malice to devour us. When someone does wrong against us, legal, justified responses are allowed by God. But He never allows us to become so vindictive that we become consumed with getting even.
The present passage is a clear picture of seeking personal, private revenge. Throughout his life, Samson seemed to be driven by a passion for revenge against the Philistines. Keep in mind that the Philistines had invaded and conquered Israel. The Israelites were now subjected and ruled over by the Philistines. No doubt, they had been disarmed and not allowed to possess any weapons. They were now controlled and governed entirely by the Philistines. As with any conquest and oppression, life under the Philistines was cruel, hard, harsh, and confining. Life was uncertain, filled with the possibility of imminent danger, threats, and death. Only a shallow peace existed between any Israelite citizen and the ruling oppressors. This is clearly seen in the next point in the disturbance caused by Samson. Fear of retaliation by the Philistines gripped the hearts of the leaders of Judah, so much so that they turned against Samson instead of supporting him.
The point is this: Samson and the Israelites despised the oppression and longed to break the yoke of the oppression. There was a natural desire to drive the Philistine enemy out of their nation, but they did not have the will, courage, nor military strength to stand up against the Philistines.
When Samson sought personal revenge against the Philistines, his justified anger against their evil, cruel oppression must be kept in mind. Two things were driving Samson: his personal revenge, yes; but also an anger that should be in the heart of every human being, a justified anger against evil oppression, against the brutal subjection and enslavement of people. This justified anger against the Philistines dwelt in the heart of Samson just as it does in the heart of any oppressed person. Consequently, when the Philistines committed some wrong against Samson, he used the cruel act to strike out at the Philistines. Their abusive criminal behavior against him was personal; and Samson took it personally. He was bound to feel the pain of the personal attack. Therefore, he responded with a vengeance against the evil oppressors. But in striking back at the Philistines, there were not only the feelings of personal vengeance within Samson, but also the feelings of righteousness against evil oppressors. Both the personal and righteous revenge that pervaded the heart of Samson are seen in this Scripture and outline. The Deliverance By Samson (Part 3): Samson and His Vengeance on the Philistines—a Man of Bitter Anger and Revenge, 15:1-20.
1. Samson's revenge for the loss of his wife: a picture of seeking both personal and righteous revenge (v.1-8).
2. Samson's revenge for Israel and the Lord: a picture of God's power to overcome all enemies (v.9-20).
1. (15:1-8) Revenge, Cycle of— Retaliation, Cycle of— Anger, Results— Anger, Example of: Samson sought revenge for the loss of his wife. Remember, Samson had never consummated his marriage because his wife had betrayed him to the Philistines. Being gripped by a violent anger, he had stormed out of the wedding and away from his newly wed wife, returning to temporarily live with his parents. After some length of time, his anger cooled off, and a desire to be reunited with his wife filled his heart. In his mind, it was now time to consummate the marriage. So Samson took a young goat as a gift and went to visit his wife. But when he arrived, he was greeted with shocking news.
1. The shocking news was that his wife had been given to the friend or best man of his wedding. The news of this predicament was explained by the father-in-law. Because Samson had stormed out of the wedding, the father-in-law had concluded that he would never return to his wife because of her betrayal.
Note that the father-in-law offered his younger daughter to Samson as a compromise (15:2). But again Samson burned with anger and vowed revenge against the Philistines. And he claimed innocence in seeking revenge against them (15:3). Keep in mind that three very serious wrongs had been committed against Samson:
⇒ The 30 guests at his bachelor party had won a costly bet with Samson by cheating. They had secured the answer to a riddle from his wife by threatening her and her family's life (14:15-20).
⇒ Samson's wife had been given to the friend or best man (15:2).
⇒ Samson had paid the dowry or bride-price for his wife, and now he had lost the money.
These were very serious wrongs, cruel acts against Samson. Anger against the Philistines surged through his body, and revenge gripped his spirit. Samson was aroused to strike out against the Philistines.
2. The first act of revenge was the destruction of the harvest of the Philistines. Samson went out into the fields and forests and caught 300 foxes or jackals, tied their tails together in pairs and fastened torches to each pair of tails. He then ignited the torches and set the jackals loose in the fields. All the grain, vineyard, and olive groves caught fire and were destroyed. This was, no doubt, a serious blow to the Philistines economy (15:4-5).
3. Violence breeds violence, so a second act of revenge took place. But this time the revenge was executed by the Philistines as a reaction against Samson. They retaliated by killing Samson's wife and her father, burning them alive (15:6).
4. The reaction of Samson was another act of revenge. He vowed retaliation because of the Philistines' savage and brutal execution of his wife and her family. Samson was gripped by a raging spirit of revenge: he attacked the Philistines with great fury, killing many of them.
Knowing that he was now a fugitive, Samson had to flee for his life. He fled and hid in a cave at the rock of Etam (15:7-8).
Thought 1. Again, Scripture is clear and straightforward: we are not to seek revenge or retaliate against people.
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matthew 5:39).
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men" (Romans 12:17).
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
"See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).
"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing" (1 Peter 3:9).
"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord" (Leviticus 19:18).
"Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee" (Proverbs 20:22).
"Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work" (Proverbs 24:29).
"And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them" (Ezekiel 25:17).
"And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard" (Micah 5:15).
"God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies" (Nahum 1:2).
2. (15:9-20) Victory, over Enemies— Power, Source of— Samson, Feats of Strength— Conquest, of Enemies— Overcomers, of Enemies— Philistines, Defeated by Samson: Samson sought revenge for Israel and for the Lord by slaying 1000 Philistine soldiers. This is a clear picture of God's power to overcome all enemies, no matter their strength. Samson was now a criminal and a fugitive in the eyes of the Philistines. They were now determined to hunt him down until they captured him. The hunt, capture, and consequences are dramatically portrayed in the Scripture and outline:
1. The Philistines assembled and sent a battalion of soldiers into Judah to arrest Samson (15:9-10).
2. The leaders of Judah promptly investigated the troop movements of the Philistines, for they were very concerned about the disturbance and threat it posed to their lives. Hence, they negotiated a quick solution to the problem, agreeing to arrest Samson themselves and turn him over to the Philistine enemy (15:10-13).
As the story proceeds, note how this event provided a unique opportunity for the Israelites to rally around Samson and throw off the oppression of the Philistines. But sadly, they meekly submitted to the oppressors and offered to arrest and turn Samson over to them. They were willing to do this knowing that Samson would probably be executed as a criminal.
The leaders of Judah mobilized and sent an army of 3000 men to track down Samson. When they found him, they interrogated him and charged him with being a trouble-maker and threatening the peace. Note how Samson justified his vengeful behavior: he was merely doing to them what they had done to him (15:11).
When the officer in charge swore that he would only arrest Samson, not kill him, Samson surrendered. And they tied him with two new ropes and led him to the Philistines (15:12-13).
3. Now, a stunning, remarkable victory over the Philistines took place. Samson demonstrated an astounding, paralyzing feat of strength (15:14-15). As he was being led toward the Philistine battalion, the Philistine soldiers began to walk toward him, shouting out a triumphant battle cry. As with anyone experiencing such a scene, energy surged through the body of Samson. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, empowering him with enormous, supernatural strength. Samson snapped the ropes binding his hands and grabbed the fresh jawbone of a donkey. He began to swing away at the enemy troops fighting for his life. When the enemy troops ceased trying to capture him, 1000 enemy soldiers lay dead upon the ground (3:31; 2 Samuel 23:9-12). Being supernaturally empowered by God Himself, Samson, the Lord's deliverer, had executed a just, judicial judgment against the cruel, evil Philistines.
4. Samson, who had a gift with words, shouted out a short poem, and named the battlefield to commemorate the great victory God had given over the cruel, evil enemy of God's people. He named the battle site Ramath Lehi, which means "jawbone hill." Samson was totally fatigued and felt as though he were dying of thirst. He did the only thing he could: he cried out to the Lord for help (15:18-19). Note these facts:
⇒ He acknowledged the Lord, giving credit for the great victory to the Lord (15:18).
⇒ He prayed for help, for God to give him water to drink and to deliver him from being arrested by the unbelieving Philistines.
⇒ The Lord heard the prayer of Samson, providing water and renewing his strength (15:19).
⇒ The place was memorialized as the site where Samson called out for God: it was called En Hakkore or "Callers Spring."
⇒ Samson's tenure as judge lasted for 20 years (15:20).
Thought 1. All kinds of enemies confront every one of us, enemies that can damage or destroy us, enemies such as...
|• disease |
|• addiction |
|• terrorists |
|• thieves |
|• kidnappers |
|• vengeful persons |
|• abusers |
|• murderers |
|• the lawless |
|• the violent |
|• the attacker |
|• the rapist |
|• the war-monger |
|• the evil dictator |
|• the selfish |
|• the greedy |
|• the persecutor |
The list of enemies who can damage and destroy us could go on and on. But there is deliverance, the power to walk through any threatening situation. God will empower us to conquer and overcome. Even if we have to walk through "the valley of the shadow of death," God will be with us. He will deliver us victoriously right into His presence, conquering death. Even if an enemy injures us, God will give us the power to live above the injury. He will help us conquer any discouragement and any physical disability. God promises to be with us and to carry us through any trial, no matter how severe or devastating. A victorious conquest is ours through the power of God. Through Christ, we can conquer any enemy who seeks to injure or kill us.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword....Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35, 37-39).
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (2 Timothy 4:18).
"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:6).
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:4-5).
"And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of" (Genesis 28:15).
"The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace" (Exodus 14:14).
"With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah" (2 Chronicles 32:8).
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him" (Psalms 28:7).
"The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psalms 34:7).
"Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us" (Psalms 44:5).
"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler" (Psalms 91:4).
"Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day" (Psalms 91:5).
"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord" (Psalms 112:7).
"Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalms 121:4).
"When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet" (Proverbs 3:24).
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
JUDGES: DIVISION II
THE STRONG RESCUE OF ISRAEL BY THE JUDGES: GOD'S DELIVERANCE THROUGH THE REPEATED CYCLE OF FAILURE, AND HIS CHASTISEMENT AND DELIVERANCE, 3:7-16:31
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
T. The Deliverance by Samson (Part 4): Samson and Delilah—A Man of Loose Morals Who Betrayed and Destroyed Himself, 16:1-31
(16:1-31) Introduction: this is an age of loose morals, an age when multitudes are yielding to sexual sin, and many have given themselves over to unbridled lust and passion. Immorality has become so acceptable that sex is used for the advertisement of products, for entertainment, for humor, for pleasure, for recreation, for the release of pent-up tension and stress, and even for the securing of business. There is hardly an end to how sex is used today. Day-to-day life is so exposed to sex that a desensitivity and a hardness to sex have set in. The deep, intense meaningfulness of sex is being lost—so lost that a person has to go deeper and deeper in sexual experimentation in order to secure enjoyment. Sexual experimentation has become so warped, so twisted that when a particular behavior is exposed to the public, it utterly shocks the viewer.
Immorality, unbridled lust, and passion are condemned by God. Samson is a prime example. He gave himself over to "the lust of the eye" and "the lust of the flesh." And he became a womanizer, engaging in illicit sExodus Immorality was a major trait throughout his entire life. He was so given over to his fleshly, carnal desires that eventually he totally gave in to unbridled lust and passion. And because of his lack of control, his life and legacy are one of the most tragic in all of history. Most of the people upon earth have heard of Samson and Delilah. This is the story of the present Scripture, the story of the infamous Delilah and the carnal, fleshly Samson: The Deliverance by Samson (Part 4): Samson and Delilah—A Man of Loose Morals Who Betrayed and Destroyed Himself, 16:1-31.
1. Samson's sin with a prostitute: yielding to temptation (v.1-3).
2. Samson's sin with Delilah: destroying oneself by yielding to unbridled lust (v.4-22).
3. Samson's cry to God: being heard by God, but still having to bear the consequences of sin (v.23-31).
1. (16:1-3) Temptation, Yielding to— Immorality, Yielding to— Prostitution, Guilt of— Samson, Carnality, Fleshliness of— Carnality, Example of— Flesh - Fleshliness, Example of: there was Samson's sin with a prostitute, a sin that almost destroyed him. This is a clear picture of yielding to temptation, of giving in to unbridled lust and passion. Again, Samson's inconsistent life, his compromising with the ways of the world almost cost him his life. The scene is graphically painted by the Scripture and outline:
1. Samson's sin was that of illicit sex, of immoral womanizing. He made a trip to Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute (16:1). Gaza was one of the five major cities of the Philistines, a major seaport of the Mediterranean Sea. It was about 40 miles from Samson's hometown of Zorah, and just why Samson had made the trip is not stated. But as soon as he arrived, he obviously saw the prostitute, and his tendency toward unbridled lust and passion was aroused. The lust of the eyes and the flesh took over, and he yielded to the temptation, breaking the clear commandment of God (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 19:29; Deuteronomy 22:21).
2. At some point, Samson's presence was discovered (16:2). Unknown to Samson, the authorities immediately sent guards to surround the house of the prostitute. Guards were also posted at the city gates. And the officials plotted to assassinate Samson at dawn.
3. But somehow, Samson discovered the plot and arose during the middle of the night to escape. By the city gates being guarded, Samson had no way to get out of the enclosed or walled city. The guards posted at the gates had either fallen asleep or else Samson threatened or frightened them away. Whatever the case, Samson walked up to the gates and did the following: unlocked the gate, took hold of the doors of the gate, and either tore each one from its hinges and then pulled up the posts or he took hold of the gate and post and broke them both out of the ground simultaneously. In either event, he lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill facing Hebron.
How could one person conceivably do such a feat? Obviously, Samson was a very strong man, most likely the strongest who has ever lived. But even for him, even as the slaying of 1000 men is a phenomenal feat for any single person so this feat astounds human imagination. There could be only one of two ways a human being could perform either of the two feats:
⇒ by an astounding, incomprehensible empowering of the Holy Spirit of God
⇒ by receiving supernatural power from God's Spirit and tearing loose each item of the gates separately and carrying each to the top of the hill separately
Just how Samson accomplished this amazing feat of strength is a great mystery. But as Daniel I. Block says:
How could Samson pick up these huge gates and their bars, place them on his shoulder, and then carry them away? Based on previous incidents, the most likely answer is to be found in a special divine empowerment, as the Spirit of Yahweh rushes upon him.
The point to see is that all of Samson's feats of strength and achievements are personal. They revolve solely around him. The Israelites are not involved. They have not been mobilized to stand against the evil, oppressive Philistines, not mobilized to throw off the yoke of subjection and enslavement to the cruel foreign power. All the feats of Samson were provoked by his own wrongful behavior. More than any other judge, he had been born with the great hope of being a mighty deliverer of God's people. But he spent his whole life doing his own thing and giving in to the lustful cravings of his flesh.
Thought 1. We must stand strong, never yielding to temptation. We must never yield to unbridled lust and passion, compromising with the immoral of this earth. Engaging in illicit sex—any sex outside of marriage—is wrong. It is counted as sin, as evil by God.
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (1 Corinthians 6:18).
"Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman" (1 Corinthians 7:1).
"Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (1 Corinthians 7:2).
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
"Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness" (Ephesians 4:19).
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints" (Ephesians 5:3).
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5).
"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
"To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Titus 2:5).
"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4).
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).
"Neither shalt thou commit adultery" (Deuteronomy 5:18).
"I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid" (Job 31:1).
"And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger" (Proverbs 5:20).
2. (16:4-22) Delilah, Sin of— Samson and Delilah— Samson, Sin of— Lust, Unbridled— Passion, Unbridled— Yielding, to Temptation— Temptation, Yielding to: there was Samson's sin with Delilah, a sin that continued on and on, that exposed the carnal, compromising heart of Samson. This is a clear picture of how a person can destroy himself by giving in to unbridled lust and passion. This flaw in Samson led to his capture and downfall. And his downfall came at the hands of a woman he apparently loved—the infamous, shameful Delilah. In the words of Warren Wiersbe:
Along with David and Bathsheba, Samson and Delilah have captured the imagination of scores of writers, artists, composers, and dramatists. Handel included Delilah in his oratorio "Samson," and Saind-Saens wrote an opera on "Samson and Delilah." ("The Bacchanale" from that work is still a popular concert piece.) When Samson consorted with Delilah in the Valley of Sorek, he never dreamed that what they did together would be made into a Hollywood movie and projected in color on huge screens.
1. The great flaw of Samson was illicit sex and womanizing, the giving in to unbridled lust and passion. It was his carnal, fleshly desires that aroused the sinful affair with Delilah. Delilah and Samson lived close to one another, for Samson's hometown Zorah bordered the valley of Sorek where Delilah lived (16:4). It is not stated that Delilah was a Philistine, but she probably was in light of her dealings with the Philistine leaders. The point to see is Samson's intense love and passion for Delilah. It was this that drove him back to her time and time again, that made him ignore the clear commandment of God against illicit sExodus Unbridled lust and passion twisted his mind to ignore God's holy commandment and to justify his sinful misbehavior.
2. The Philistine rulers noted Samson's attachment to Delilah and plotted his downfall (16:5). They secretly approached Delilah and conspired with her to capture Samson. Note their purpose: not to execute him, but rather to bring him into subjection and utilize his mighty strength for some productive, economic purpose. They were so excited about the possibility that they offered Delilah a huge sum of money to seduce Samson to reveal the secret of his strength. Each of the leaders offered her 1100 pieces of silver, obviously amounting to a fortune.
3. Delilah agreed to the conspiracy and made her first attempt to seduce and entice Samson to reveal the source of his strength (16:6-9). This first attempt was a simple probe, just requesting him to reveal the secret (16:6). Samson merely responded that the source of his strength lay in bowstrings. His strength would be subdued if he was tied with seven new, unused bowstrings (16:7). Sometime later, while Samson was sleeping, the rulers gave Delilah the bowstrings and she tied him up. Although it is not stated, when Samson was with Delilah, he apparently drank himself into a drugged stupor. There is nothing in the Scripture to indicate that he was ever aware of Delilah's attempt to subdue him. After tying him up, Delilah shouted out for Samson to awaken, for the Philistines were trying to capture him (16:9). At this warning, Samson awoke, snapped the bowstrings like thread, and escaped (16:9).
4. The second attempt by Delilah was an accusation of deceiving her and then appealing for him to tell her the truth (16:10-12). She accused him of making a fool out of her, and obviously let it be known that she would not stand for such, nor continue the relationship if he lied to her.
Again, Samson gave her a false answer, stating that being tied with new ropes would weaken him. Delilah attempted to capture him by doing just what he said. She had tied him with the new ropes and called out for him to awaken. As soon as he opened his eyes, he snapped the ropes and escaped.
5. The third attempt by Delilah was a straightforward insistence that he reveal the source of his strength. With intensity, she complained of being mistreated and abused by his constant lies, making an utter fool out of her. She was so irritated that she shouted out, "Tell me." The scene must have caused a heated argument, for Samson came dangerously close to revealing that the secret of his strength was linked to his hair. He told her that his hair had to be woven into the fabric on a loom and tightened with a pin.
As soon as Samson fell asleep, Delilah again attempted to capture him by weaving the strands of hair into the fabric and tightening it with the pin. When finished, she shouted out for him to awaken from his stupor, for the Philistines were again trying to capture him. But as soon as Samson opened his eyes, he yanked his hair away from the loom and escaped (16:13-14).
6. The fourth attempt by Delilah worked: she discovered the secret of Samson's power. In frustration, she complained and questioned his love for her. How could he conceivably love her if he continued to make a fool out of her? And, how could he not trust her if he truly loved her? Day after day, she nagged him, doing all she could to break the will of Samson. She was determined, setting a deliberate, unceasing plot to break the secret and personally betray her lover. Finally, Samson broke under the weight of the nagging and the pressure until his soul was vexed to death, feeling as though he could take it no more (16:16). Samson told her everything: his secret, the source of his strength (16:17). He revealed that he was a Nazirite, a man who had been set apart to God from birth; and that if his head were shaved, his strength would leave him.
At long last, Delilah had what she wanted, and she betrayed Samson. She sent word to the Philistine leaders who long ago had given up and were no longer hiding at her house while she carried out each plot. But now, the leaders had been convinced by Delilah that she had seduced the truth out of Samson. So they returned with the payoff. When they arrived, she no doubt had drugged him and had his hair shaved off. As before, in the other three attempts, she called for Samson to awaken from his drugged stupor. He awoke, thinking that he would escape just as he had done before. But this time it was too late: he had revealed the truth, the source of his strength.
7. Samson was captured and led into captivity by the Philistines (16:20-21). The Spirit of God had left him and the Philistines seized him. They gouged out his eyes, shackled him, and forced him to grind grain in the prison. But they made a very serious mistake: they allowed his hair to grow back. This was probably a deliberate plan in order to control and use his strength for their own purposes once his hair had grown back. Whatever the case, this was to be a serious miscalculation on the part of the Philistines.
Samson was not stupid; therefore, at some point he must have figured out the plot of Delilah and the Philistines. Only she knew the deceptive lies he was telling her about the source of his strength. Every time she awakened him, he was tied up and the Philistines were standing there. The moment Samson became aware of the plot, he should have fled as quickly as he could. But unbridled lust and passion had gripped his heart and blinded his mind so that he could not think clearly, much less act rationally. He was driven by the desire for Delilah, her companionship, softness, and passion. He was infatuated and had a burning desire for her that blinded him to the commandments and call of God. He had compromised and lived a permissive lifestyle so long that he became insensitive to God. He neglected and ignored God, disobeying His commandments.
Thought 1. The commandment of God is clear: we must not give in to unbridled lust and passion. We must not be womanizers nor seducers of men, committing illicit sExodus
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient" (Romans 1:25-28).
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24).
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5).
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
"That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God" (1 Thessalonians 4:4-5).
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22).
"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1:15).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
"Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids" (Proverbs 6:25).
3. (16:23-31) Prayer, Answered— Crying to God, Answered— Sin, Consequences— Consequences, of God— Judgment, Judicial— Chastisement, of God: there was Samson's cry to God that led to his spiritual restoration, but also to his death. This is a clear picture of being heard by God, but still having to bear the consequences of sin. The just, judicial chastisement and judgment of God are seen throughout the end of Samson's life.
1. The Philistines held a national, religious celebration in honor of their false god Dagon (16:23-25). Two significant events happened at the festival. First, the Philistines gave praise to their false god for helping them capture Samson (16:23-24). Picture the praise and prayers being offered up to this false god, no doubt thousands of people praying and praising Dagon for the great victory they had been given over their arch-enemy Samson. What a tragedy, and what a terrible legacy Samson was leaving behind. Instead of bringing praise to God for his life, Samson's life had given an opportunity for the enemy to praise their false god. Note that the Philistines remembered how Samson had burned their fields and orchards to the ground and how he had killed so many of their people (14:19-20; 15:1-20). They were ever so thankful for his capture, and they were praising their false god for delivering him into their hands.
Second, at some point the worship was replaced by partying and feasting, drunkenness and loose behavior, laughter and joking. And the people began to shout for Samson to be brought out to amuse them (16:25). Just what kind of entertainment they forced Samson to do is not stated. But the purpose of the Philistines was to mock and ridicule him. Imagine the scene! The strongest man who had ever lived standing in the midst of a huge temple, blind and helpless and being used as the object of mockery and ridicule. But keep in mind: it was Samson's own fault. He was there because of his unbridled lust and passion, his compromising, permissive, and inconsistent lifestyle.
2. God now demonstrated His mercy and justice in hearing the prayer of His broken servant. Samson was saved through death, an early death that was due to the consequence of his sin (16:26-31). Being blinded, Samson was led about by the hand of a servant. At some point, he requested this servant to place him between the two major pillars that supported the temple.
Note that all the rulers were in the temple and about 3000 men and women were on the roof watching Samson's amusing performance (16:27). As soon as the servant had placed Samson between the two support pillars, he prayed to the Lord, asking the Lord to remember and strengthen him. He requested God to execute justice and judgment on the Philistines (16:28). In answer to the prayer, Samson knew that he would die. Nevertheless, he placed his hands on the two support pillars and actually cried out for God to let him die with the Philistines. While crying out, he pushed with all his might, and the temple came crashing down upon all the rulers and all the people who were within the temple and sitting on the roof. Note that more Philistines were killed in his dying than while he was living (16:29-30). The fact that God heard his prayer is strong evidence that God restored him spiritually, that in his death, all was made right between him and the Lord.
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me" (Psalms 66:18-20).
Samson was buried by his brothers and family. And note, his judgeship lasted 20 years (16:31).
Thought 1. There are two strong lessons for us in this point:
1) God knows our needs, and He hears us when we cry out for His help. No matter how desperate the need is, God hears our prayer and meets our need.
"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9).
"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).
"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms" (James 5:13).
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29).
"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Psalms 34:6).
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalms 61:2).
"O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple" (Psalms 65:2-4).
"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him" (Psalms 91:15).
"Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity" (Isaiah 58:9).
2) Sin has consequences. And when we sin, we must bear the consequences. For example, if we become intoxicated or drunk and are involved in an accident that blinds us, our sin causes our blindness. Even when we pray for forgiveness and God forgives us, our eyesight is not restored. Our confession and repentance secure forgiveness, but it will not return our eyesight. Scripture clearly teaches that we reap what we sow. Whatever we measure or dish out, the same measure is returned to us. Sin results in the execution of God's justice. God is just; therefore, every human being will receive exactly what he deserves—no more, but no less.
This is what happened to Samson. God heard his prayer and restored him spiritually. Things were made right between the Lord and Samson at his death, but Samson still had to bear the consequences of his sin. He remained blinded, and he had continued in sin so long that he was destined to die in his last act of revenge against the Philistines.
There are consequences to sin. When we sin, we bear the consequences.
"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:2).
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind" (1 Corinthians 6:9).
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:7-8).
"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you" (2 Thessalonians 1:6).
"For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward" (Hebrews 2:2).
"And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (1 Peter 1:17).
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).
"Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work" (Psalms 62:12).
"I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings" (Jeremiah 17:10).
Thought 2. The Expositor's Bible Commentary has an excellent statement about the life of Samson that is well worth quoting:
Samson was ranked among the heroes of the faith (Hebrews 11:32). Yet he failed to live up to his great gifts. Unable to conquer himself, he was ruined by his own lusts. He stands as a tragic example of a man of great potential who lacked stability of character. Still, God in his sovereignty used him. Samson did much to hamper the oppressive actions of the Philistines, and his final victory in the temple of Dagon may have been a factor in the defeat of the Philistines at Mizpah shortly thereafter (1 Samuel 7:7-14).
Thought 3. Daniel I. Block gives several practical implications on Samson that will be of great benefit to the reader:
First, this account exposes [how]...men conduct their own lives, especially their relationships with women, in their own self-interest, without respect to the well-being or feelings of others. In so doing it offers a sad commentary on the...consequences of spiritual Canaanization, particularly its degenerative effects on male-female relations. In this Canaanized world if men do not view women merely as sex objects, they view them as persons to be controlled and exploited for personal and male ends. But when Samson operates according to "what is right in his own eyes" and when he demands women because "they seem right to him," he represents not only all of Israel but all unregenerate men who are driven by their sense and/or the need to control. Never in the entire Samson [story]...does he operate in anyone's interest but his own. He does not care about the divine agenda, the will of his parents, or the hearts of the lovers with whom he consorts. All are to be manipulated for his sake....this [is not] a picture of male-female relationships as God intended them to be experienced....the divine order calls on men to function as heads of their homes and leaders in society, then these must be viewed primarily as positions of responsibility, not power....biblical understanding of headship calls for servant leadership, in which the interests of those led take precedence over the interests of the leader. Correspondingly, if men are the stronger gender physically and functionally, this strength is to be exercised in defense of and in the interest of those weaker than themselves.
Second...those called to the highest positions of leadership may be most tempted to operate on the basis of their senses rather than on the basis of principle. Samson was able to kill his enemies by the hundreds and thousands, but he was impotent in the face of women's charms. Whereas Barak was motivated by jealousy, Gideon by logic, Jephthah by ambition and pagan values, Samson was driven by lust. In a Canaanized society the exploitation of women may occur because men as a class view women fundamentally as dangerous and a threat to male power. From a biblical perspective, however, it is more appropriately attributed to their depraved condition. In their fallen condition men often operate selfishly, either out of a desire to satisfy their lustful appetites or out of a degenerate need to control. But this is not because they are men. If the accounts in Judges take male oppression of women for granted, this is not because this is the accepted disposition. On the contrary.....Biblical norms of male conduct call for the highest respect for women, who also are created in the image of God and endowed with equal majesty and dignity. Biblical norms also regard sex and sexual activity as sacred, as something reserved for a man and woman within the context of marriage. Anything less is demeaning, exploitative, and perverse.
Third, those who are called into divine service must focus their energies on the divine agenda rather than getting sidetracked into personal adventures. Samson offers the reader of Scripture the clearest example of "Thy kingdom come" being supplanted and displaced by "My kingdom come." He also reminds us that the temptation may be the greatest to those who are most gifted. The extraordinary physical prowess and power of this man have become proverbial. Unfortunately, like many contemporary divinely called leaders, Samson wasted his life playing with the gifts God had given him and indulging in every sensual adventure he desired. Even in the aftermath of victory he thought only of his own thirst. There was no thought for...Yahweh's agenda or the fortunes of Israel. It is not surprising then that he ends up one more example of fallen and failed leaders with whom the path of human history is strewn.
Fourth...if anything positive comes of Samson's life, it is due to the gracious intervention of Yahweh. The man whose birth had promised so much is a disappointment. Nevertheless, ironically, by the free exercise of his own immoral will, Samson serves as an agent of the Lord's ethical will, and...he accomplishes more dying than living. But God plays a critical role in each part of the account, sometimes behind the scenes, but explicitly in enabling a barren woman to conceive and give birth to the deliverer, empowering his deliverer through his spirit, and answering his deliverer's prayers. Life and death are in the hands of God. And if Israel will eventually emerge...from the dark period of the judges, this says nothing about the quality of her leaders. Yahweh is determined to build his people. Even if she becomes her own worst enemy and her human leaders fail her in the end, by the grace of God she will triumph.
JUDGES: DIVISION III
THE TERRIBLE DEPTHS OF FAILURE AND CORRUPTION IN ISRAEL: A PICTURE OF MORAL COLLAPSE, 17:1-21:25
(17:1-21:25) DIVISION OVERVIEW: the darkest days in Israel's history and the utter spiritual and moral collapse of the people are now to be pictured in this final division of Judges. There is not a godly, righteous person in these chapters, not a single one. No person is seen with any sense of devotion or commitment. And there were no moral and just leaders, leaders of integrity with a heart for serving the people.
The result was catastrophic. The very roots and basic institutions of Israel collapsed:
⇒ the home
⇒ society
⇒ government
⇒ even individuals
The dark days called for great men, but there were no great men. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes, as he saw fit. No one obeyed God. Each did his own thing: what he wanted, when he wanted, how he wanted. Moral and spiritual anarchy ruled the day and reigned supreme. The great institutions that hold society together collapsed. And the behavior of the Israelites became a disgraceful, detestable moral outrage. In the words of the excellent commentator Daniel I. Block:
There is not an admirable character in these chapters. No one displays any devotion to Yahweh; no one demonstrates any concern for national well-being; no one behaves with any integrity. The Israelites have become as shameless in their religious expression and ethical conduct as they need to be to get their way....
Here sin succeeds! Ironically, and perhaps tragically, the agendas people set for themselves are sometimes achieved—which sends a solemn warning to the church at the close of the twentieth century. Success is not necessarily a sign of righteousness or an indication that we must be doing something right. It may in fact be the opposite. God does not stifle every corrupt thought and scheme of the human heart.
This series of episodes illustrates the extent to which...institutions of Israel have been Canaanized. Now the problem has become overt. Individuals design and construct their own shrines in defiance of divine prohibitions; the professional priests have been thoroughly corrupted, selling their service to the highest bidder; and entire tribes have become sponsors of paganism. The people do not need a king to lead them down this path. They are quite capable of sinning on their own....Like the native Canaanites the Israelites are observed reducing divinity to physical images, manipulating God for private ends...and brutalizing each other in the process. Even the Levites, including the descendants of Moses, have been corrupted!...the priesthood is mercenary, and the devotees are evil. Instead of calling people to repentance the professional spiritual leaders capitalize on the degeneracy of the times. Similarly, the "spiritual service" of many current pastors is motivated not by the call of God but by the opportunity for personal gain. The question the Danites posed to him is asked every day by pastoral search committees: "Which is better, to be the pastor of a small family or to be the pastor of a megachurch?" The contemporary problem of ambition and opportunism in the ministry has at least a three-thousand-year history.
THE TERRIBLE DEPTHS OF FAILURE AND CORRUPTION IN ISRAEL: A PICTURE OF MORAL COLLAPSE, 17:1-21:25
A. Corruption in the Family and Ministry, 17:1-13
B. Corruption in Society: Seen in the Retreat and Relocation of the Tribe of Dan, 18:1-31
C. Corruption in Individuals: Seen in the Levite and His Concubine and in People's Sexual Perversion and Brutality, 19:1-30
D. Corruption in the Nation (Part 1): Seen in the Civil War of Israel, 20:1-48
F. Corruption in the Nation (Part 2): Seen in the Questionable, Deceptive Acts of the Leaders, 21:1-25
JUDGES: DIVISION III
THE TERRIBLE DEPTHS OF FAILURE AND CORRUPTION IN ISRAEL: A PICTURE OF MORAL COLLAPSE, 17:1-21:25
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
A. Corruption in the Family and Ministry, 17:1-13
(17:1-13) Introduction: the family, the worshipping community, and the government are the three basic institutions of society. All three were founded by God when He created Adam and Eve and began the first family and society upon earth. Through them, the first worshipping community began and rules were established to govern the relationship between their family and the succeeding families that were to be born. These rules became the basis for government. Again, it was God Himself who created the basic institutions of society. Now, think for a moment:
⇒ If the family disintegrates or ceases to be, there will be no society or life upon the earth. Also, if the family becomes morally corrupt—if spouses and children give themselves over to depravity—then society and government become morally corrupt and decayed.
⇒ If the worshipping community becomes morally corrupt—the churches, synagogues, and temples—then society and government become morally corrupt and decayed.
⇒ If the government and its laws become morally corrupt—unjust and immoral—then society disintegrates and collapses. The way we relate to one another becomes unjust and immoral.
This is a picture of what had happened to the Israelites during the period of the judges. The whole nation had become morally corrupt, and moral chaos permeated society. Corruption ran rampant throughout the family, the priesthood, and the government. Morally, righteously, the Israelites had degenerated and deteriorated to the point of utter decay and moral collapse.
This is the scene of the present passage of Scripture. One family is used to paint the picture of just how morally corrupt the family and worship of that day had become. This is, Corruption in the Family and Ministry, 17:1-13.
1. Corruption in the family: seen in Micah and in his mother who lived with him (v.1-6).
2. Corruption in the ministry: seen in the experience of a young Levite from Bethlehem (v.7-13).
1. (17:1-6) Corruption, in the Family— Decline, in the Family— Family, Breakdown of— Micah, an Idolater: the depth of failure within Israel is seen in the corruption within the families of the nations. This is dramatically pictured in the family of a man named Micah and his mother who lived with him. Moral chaos reigned within families during the day of the Judges. A seed of corruption was planted within, and families deteriorated until there was a complete moral collapse of families throughout the nation. As stated, Micah and his mother demonstrate this moral collapse of the families.
1. Micah had coveted and stolen his mother's silver, and then lied about it (17:1-2). A small fortune had been stolen, 1,100 pieces of silver. Ten shekels or ten pieces of silver were a yearly wage for a person of that day. Thus, the silver stolen would have amounted to 111 years of earnings for some person. Imagine! What a fortune had been stolen. Obviously, Micah's mother was very wealthy; and for some reason, he felt that some of the money was due him. Perhaps it was the inheritance that was to eventually be his, and he needed it for some business dealing. But whatever the case, he first coveted his mother's silver, then stole it, and later lied about it. Coveting, stealing, and lying are all forbidden by God. In fact, all three of these terrible sins are forbidden by the Ten Commandments.
Micah's treatment of his mother shows just how corrupt the family had become. Moral chaos and decay had become ingrained and permeated the family. Note these facts:
a. Micah coveted his mother's silver, broke the commandment of God.
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's" (Exodus 20:17).
"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15).
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience" (Colossians 3:5-6).
b. Micah stole his mother's silver, clearly breaking God's holy commandment.
"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28).
"Not purloining [stealing], but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things" (Titus 2:10).
"Thou shalt not steal" (Exodus 20:15).
c. Micah lied to his mother, refusing to confess that he was the thief. He bore a false witness to his mother.
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Exodus 20:16).
"Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another" (Leviticus 19:11).
"He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight" (Psalms 101:7).
"Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight" (Proverbs 12:22).
"The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death" (Proverbs 21:6).
"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:9).
2. Micah dishonored his mother. By stealing from her, he showed the utmost dishonor and disrespect. Just how long he continued to deceive her is not known. But considering the vast sum of money that had been stolen, conversation about the thief and the great loss must have dominated their conversation. And in every instance, Micah was continuing to deceive and lie to his mother. A terrible behavior! Constant dishonor and disrespect being shown to one's parent. This was in clear violation of God's holy commandment.
"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death" (Matthew 15:4).
"Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise" (Ephesians 6:2).
"But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God" (1 Timothy 5:4).
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12).
"Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:3).
"Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen" (Deuteronomy 27:16).
"My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother" (Proverbs 1:8).
"Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness" (Proverbs 20:20).
3. The mother indulged and failed to discipline her son (17:3). She had uttered a curse upon the thief who had stolen her money, and Micah had overheard the curse. Fear gripped his heart, for he strongly believed in the dreadful consequences of curses. Eventually, he confessed that he had stolen the silver. And note what happened: the mother blessed Micah instead of correcting and disciplining him. And surprisingly, she not only blessed him, she gave him the gift of 200 silver pieces to make an idol to sit in his religious shrine (17:4-5).
This was an act of indulgence, of giving license to a child to do as he wished without correcting or disciplining him. The mother had obviously been irresponsible all her life in rearing Micah, allowing him to live a self-indulgent, sensual, and unrestrained life. She gave license to his behavior, seldom if ever correcting him. Lack of discipline and proper training of Micah are clearly evident throughout his behavior. Imagine stealing from one's own mother and constantly lying to her about it. But this is not all, other very serious vices will be seen in Micah's life throughout this Scripture. Again, his mother had reared him as an indulgent, unrestrained child. Consequently when he became an adult, he was still living an uncontrolled, unrestrained, and self-indulgent life. The mother had clearly violated the commandments of God, that a parent is to train the children to be responsible and moral adults—to train them in the ways of the Lord.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
"So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs" (John 21:15).
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15).
"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
"Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying" (Proverbs 19:18).
4. The mother was greedy and trusted in riches. Being thankful for the returned silver, the mother actually dedicated the silver to the Lord, all of it. The silver was to be used to make a carved image and a cast idol for her son. But when the time came for the money to be used to make an idol, she gave only 200 pieces of silver, less than one fifth of the amount. Despite her commitment to give the money to God, she kept 900 pieces of the silver for herself. She demonstrated a deep-seated greed and a trust in riches. Greed, covetousness, and the hoarding of money—moral chaos—had gripped the family. The mother had clearly violated the commandment of God against covetousness and greed.
"And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:24).
"And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided" (Luke 12:19-20).
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10).
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17).
"If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above" (Job 31:24-28).
"Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness" (Psalms 52:7).
5. Both Micah and his mother were engaged in false worship and idolatry (17:3-5). The mother was actually dedicating her silver to the Lord, but note for what: to make an idol for her son. And this she did, having it placed in her son's house. And Micah took the idol and placed it in the shrine on his property.
Note how deeply this family was rooted in false worship and idolatry. It was Micah himself who had built the shrine, made an ephod and some idols, and installed one of his sons to be the priest. This man had a complete worship center on his property. The ephod was a linen waist cloth that was to be worn only by a true priest of the Lord.
The point to see is this: how corrupted family worship had become during this period of Israel's history, the period of the judges. Moral chaos reigned in family religion and worship. The people's very concept of God had become corrupted. The two greatest commandments—the most serious commandments given by God—were being broken, sadly violated.
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (1 John 5:21).
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me" (Exodus 20:3-5).
"Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" (Deuteronomy 11:16).
"I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8).
6. Micah and his mother lived secular, self-centered lives. They did as they saw fit, doing whatever seemed right in their own eyes (17:6). Throughout that society, individuals and families did their own thing. Without any regard whatsoever to God, people went about their daily affairs doing what they wanted, when they wanted. It was a day of loose morals or moral laxity, a day of decay, degeneration, decline, and deterioration. Moral chaos permeated or reigned within the family. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. There was no moral king, no leader of integrity to direct and guide them. The Lord and His commandments were the furthest things from the minds of the people. Their secular, self-centered lives were diametrically opposed to God's Holy Commandments.
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (Luke 21:34).
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Romans 8:13).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24).
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11).
"That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (1 Peter 4:2).
2. (17:7-13) Corruption, in the Ministry— Ministry, Corruption Within— Israel, Priesthood of— Corruption, Within the Priesthood— Religion, Corruption of— Levites, Corruption of— Worship, Corruption of— Jonathan, a Corrupted Levite or Minister: corruption within the priesthood or ministry had reached the depths of moral collapse within Israel. This is clearly seen in the experience of a young Levite from Bethlehem. Again, the purpose for recording this event in Holy Scripture is to show the moral chaos within Israel during the day of the judges. What happened shows the utter degeneration and decay, deterioration and decline within the priesthood or ministry.
1. A young Levite was not adequately supported by the people; consequently, he was forced to leave his home in Bethlehem and seek a place to live (17:7-9). The young Levite's name was Jonathan (18:30). Keep in mind that one of the moral corruptions of that day was greed and covetousness. The people were hoarding their money, not giving to meet the needs of people nor tithing to the Lord like they should. Thus, this young Levite or minister was not being financially provided for. He had no choice; he had to move and seek another place to live and minister. As he traveled north, he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim. As was the custom of that day, Micah showed hospitality to the young Levite, allowing him to refresh himself. After identifying himself to Micah, he began to share his plight of being without a place to minister or stay.
2. Sometime during the conversation, Micah invited the young priest to live with him and to be his own personal priest. The young priest accepted the offer of employment. He became a priest-for-hire, a priest bought by money (17:10-11). He was to receive enough money to live on, his clothes, food, and housing. All this, of course, met all the needs of the young priest. Thus, joy, excitement, and relief were bound to be flooding his heart. His needs would now be met, and he would have a place of ministry.
3. But note: the young priest was becoming entangled with a corrupt, worldly family. And the relationship became so close that the young priest became like a son to Micah (17:11).
4. The young priest corrupted the ministry by being installed as the personal priest to Micah (17:12). Remember, Micah was morally corrupt and degenerate, a false worshipper and an idolater (17:1-6). By becoming Micah's personal priest, the young Levite was corrupting himself as well as the priesthood and ministry.
5. But this was not all. The young Levite was also deceiving and misleading people. He led the family of Micah to think that the Lord would bless them (17:13). By accepting the offer to become the personal priest of Micah, he was giving false security to Micah and his family. Note that this is exactly what the verse says: in his mind, Micah felt sure that the Lord would now bless him because he had his own personal priest (17:13).
Thought 1. The ministry must be guarded with all diligence. We must never allow the ministry to become corrupt, never allow even a seed of corruption within the ministry. Several lessons can be learned from the young priest who was hired by Micah.
1) A person is never to enter the ministry as a profession, as a means of employment to earn money. The minister is not to be hired out for money, not to be a minister-for-hire. No person is ever to be serving in the name of the Lord just to earn a living, just to make money.
"But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep" (John 10:12-13).
"And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest" (Judges 18:4).
"For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely" (Jeremiah 6:13).
"The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us" (Micah 3:11).
2) The people of God are to financially support the minister.
"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat" (Matthew 10:9-10).
"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14).
"Let him that is taught in the word communicate [give] unto him that teacheth in all good things" (Galatians 6:6).
"Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate [give] with my affliction" (Philippians 4:14).
"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
3) The minister must not be serving for personal gain. He must be serving in order to shepherd, feed, and protect the flock of God.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).
"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep" (John 21:17).
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2).
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17).
"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind" (1 Peter 5:2).
"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence" (Isaiah 62:6).
"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15).
"And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:4).
"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me" (Ezekiel 3:17).
4) The minister must make absolutely sure that he is a true, not a false, minister. And he must be true to his Lord and ministry.
a) The minister must be called by God, appointed by the Lord.
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16).
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (2 Corinthians 3:6).
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18).
"Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power" (Ephesians 3:7).
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry" (1 Timothy 1:12).
"Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles" (2 Timothy 1:11).
b) The minister must not be given to slothfulness and pleasure.
"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant" (Isaiah 56:10-12).
c) The minister must never scatter nor lead the people of God astray.
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:2).
"My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace" (Jeremiah 50:6).
d) The minister must not prey upon the flock instead of feeding it.
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock" (Ezekiel 34:2-3).
5) The minister must be faithful to the Lord and His call to serve.
"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4).
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained" (1 Timothy 4:6).
"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6).
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind" (1 Peter 5:2).
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1).
"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence" (Isaiah 62:6).
Thought 2. Warren Wiersbe has an excellent application on the priesthood or ministry.
If Jonathan is typical of God's servants in that period of history, then it's no wonder the nation of Israel was confused and corrupt. He had no appreciation for his high calling as a Levite, a chosen servant of God. Not only were the Levites to assist the priests in their ministries (Numbers 3:6-13; 8:17-18), but also they were to teach the Law to the people (Nehemiah 8:7-9; 2 Chronicles 17:7-9; 35:3) and be involved in the sacred music and the praises of Israel (1 Chronicles 23:28-32; Ezra 3:10). Jonathan gave all that up for comfort and security in the home of an idolater.
Jonathan's ministry, however, wasn't a spiritual ministry at all. To begin with, he was a hireling and not a true shepherd (Judges 18:4; John 10:12-13). He didn't serve the true and living God; he worked for Micah and his idols. Jonathan wasn't a spokesperson for the Lord; he gave people just the message they wanted to hear (Judges 18:6). When he was offered a place involving more money, more people, and more prestige, he took it immediately and gave thanks for it (Judges 18:19). And then he assisted his new employers in stealing his former employer's gods!
Whenever the church has a "hireling ministry," it can't enjoy the blessing of God. The church needs true and faithful shepherds who work for the Lord, not for personal gain, and who will stay with the flock to feed them and protect them. True shepherds don't see their work as a "career" and run off to a "better job" when the opportunity comes. They stay where God puts them and don't move until He sends them.
True shepherds receive their calling and authority from God, not from people (Galatians 1:6ff); and they honor the true God, not the idols that people make. It must grieve the Lord today to see people worshiping the idols of ministerial "success," statistics, buildings, and reputation. In today's "consumer society," self-appointed preachers and "prophets" have no problem getting a following and peddling their religious wars to a church that acts more like a Hollywood fan club than a holy people of God. And to make it worse, these hirelings will call what's happening "the blessing of God." Jonathans and Micahs will always find each other because they need each other.
The sad part of the story is that Micah now thought he had the favor of God because a genuine levitical priest was serving as his private chaplain. Micah practiced a false religion and worshiped false gods (with Jehovah thrown in for good measure), and all the while he rested on the false confidence that God was blessing him! Little did he know that the day would come when his priest and his gods would be taken from him and nothing would be left of his religion.
Thought 3. Daniel I. Block also has an excellent application dealing with corruption within the ministry, an application that is well worth quoting in full.
The Levite, instead of denouncing Micah for his [false worship and idolatry]...and warning him of the dangers of his course of action (cf. Deut 13:6-11)...capitalizes on this glorious opportunity. Micah has opened new doors for him by offering him meaningful employment and guaranteeing his well-being for the rest of his life. Blinded by his own ambition...the young Levite cannot resist the heady offer of "fatherhood" within the nation of Israel. The prospect of being looked to as a spiritual advisor and mentor of this rich man is intoxicating. No one in his "right mind" would turn it down. But...the Levite's acceptance of the position represents one more symptom of the pervasive Canaanization of Israelite society. In the words of Malachi, the heirs of "the covenant of Levi" have corrupted their high calling. Instead of serving as an agent of life and peace, revering Yahweh and standing in awe of his name, offering truthful and righteous instruction, walking with Yahweh in peace and uprightness, turning Micah back from iniquity, preserving knowledge, and serving as a messenger of Yahweh of hosts, this Levite has himself apostasized. He has lent his support to the perversion of his countryman, failed to keep Yahweh's ways, and demonstrated partiality to this man with money (cf. Mal 2:1-9). The religious establishment in Israel has been thoroughly infected with the Canaanite disease.
JUDGES: DIVISION III
THE TERRIBLE DEPTHS OF FAILURE AND CORRUPTION IN ISRAEL: A PICTURE OF MORAL COLLAPSE, 17:1-21:25
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B. Degeneration in Society: Seen in the Retreat and Relocation of the Tribe of Dan, 18:1-31
(18:1-31) Introduction—Corruption, In Society—Society, Corruption of—Society, Hopelessness of: Warren Wiersbe has an excellent statement dealing with this particular chapter of Scripture. His statement is being used as an introduction to the passage.
The account of Micah, Jonathan, and the Danites is more than a story from ancient history. It's a revelation of the wickedness of the human heart and the hopelessness of human society without God. Our modern world has substituted idols for the true and living God and has devised its own humanistic religion, complete with "priests"–the experts who tell us that the Bible is wrong but their way is right. But neither their idols nor their priests have any power against the violence of the human heart.
When Dwight D. Eisenhower was President of the United States, he called a "White House Conference on Children and Youth," hoping to find solutions to the juvenile delinquency problem that was then plaguing the nation. I was supposed to attend that conference but couldn't go because of family obligations.
However, a friend of mine from Youth for Christ International attended and gave this report (I paraphrase): "I sat in the room for hours, listening to psychologists and educators and criminologists talk about teenagers and how to help them, and I got sick of it. Finally, I asked for the floor and told them of our experiences in Youth for Christ, how delinquents had been changed by the power of the Gospel. The room became very quiet, and then people got embarrassed and began to clear their throats and shuffle papers. The chairman thanked me for my words and immediately moved to the next item on the agenda. Then it hit me: they didn't want to hear!"
William Butler Yeats was right: "The center cannot hold." The home, the ministry, and society are disintegrating before our eyes, and people don't want to hear the truth! But whether they want it or not, the world must be told that Jesus Christ died for lost sinners, and that the power of Christ can transform hearts, homes, churches, and society if people will only trust Him.
"Christ beats His drum, but He does not press men," said English preacher and poet John Donne (d. 1631); "Christ is served with voluntaries."
Are you available?
This is: Degeneration in Society: Seen in the Retreat and Relocation of the Tribe of Dan, 18:1-31.
1. A society without adequate leadership and rule: Israel had no king (v.1).
2. A society of unbelief and lack of courage: the Danites did not believe nor have the courage to claim their inheritance in the promised land of God (v.1-2).
3. A society of false belief and of false counsel (v.3-6).
4. A society of covetousness and of evil schemes (v.7-10).
5. A society of thieves, of breaking and entering, and of stealing (v.11-17).
6. A society of corrupt religion and of corrupt ministry (v.18-20).
7. A society of lawlessness, thugs, and intimidation (v.21-26).
8. A society of violence and of murder (v.27-29).
9. A society of false worship and of idolatry (v.30-31).
1. (18:1) Leadership, Lack of— Guidance, Lack of— Direction, Lack of: society in general had become corrupt. People did not have adequate leadership and guidance (rule). This is seen in the simple statement that Israel had no king in those days. There was no ruler to lead and guide the people, and the people had rejected the rule of God. Remember, God Himself had founded the nation of Israel, and the Israelites were to look to God as their king and ruler. The form of government for Israel was to be a theocracy, the exaltation of God as the head of the nation. The commandments of God were to constitute the law for the nation of Israel. The people were to follow God Himself as their leader and guide, obeying the commandments of God as their law. But the people had rejected God, compromising with the world and becoming morally corrupt. They had become an immoral, adulterous people, a lawless and violent people. The nation had morally collapsed. There was no leader with the integrity and spiritual depth to lead the people. The people were without a king, without a leader who would guide them to follow after the Lord.
Thought 1. There is a crying need for leadership today, a desperate need throughout all of society. Men and women of morality and integrity, filled with the spirit of justice and compassion, must step forth and take the lead within society. Without leaders of integrity and morality, society will collapse. It will collapse because the opposite of spiritual depth is immorality, and the opposite of integrity is dishonor, unrighteousness, and corruption. If we build a society of immorality and of dishonor, unrighteousness, and corruption, the result will be catastrophic. For evil will become the normal behavior throughout society. Society will be filled with…
|• sexual abuse |
|• assaults |
|• brutality |
|• child pornography |
|• murder |
|• divorce |
|• poverty |
|• bankruptcy |
|• financial loss |
|• loneliness |
|• guilt |
|• depression |
|• war |
Evil means all forms of immorality, lawlessness, and violence. The Israelites and so many other societies down through history have become morally corrupt and collapsed. The reason: lack of moral, just, and righteous leaders.
1) We must have leaders like Abraham, leaders who will follow God any place.
"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee" (Genesis 12:1).
2) We must have leaders like Moses, leaders who will lead people out of slavery to build a just and moral society.
"Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10).
3) We must have leaders like Gideon, leaders who will save their nation and people from the tyrants and evil oppressors of this earth.
"And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee" (Judges 6:14).
4) We must have leaders like Isaiah, leaders who will not have to be constrained, but will willingly step forth and take the lead.
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
5) We must have leaders like Paul, leaders who will minister to people, meeting the desperate needs of the world and taking the gospel to every living soul.
"But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee" (Acts 26:16).
2. (18:1-2) Unbelief, Example of— Inheritance, Unbelief, In Claiming— Unbelief, In Claiming God's Promises— Courage, Lack of— Dan, Tribe of, Failure— Tribe, of Israel, Failure of— Promises, of God, Unbelief In— Israel, Unbelief of— Society, Traits of, Unbelief and Lack of Courage: society was permeated with a spirit of unbelief and a lack of courage. This is clearly seen in the tribe of Dan who failed to believe God, failed to lay claim to their inheritance in the promised land. Remember, Joshua had led the Israelite army to conquer the major city-fortresses throughout Canaan. He had broken the back of the enemy so that a major alliance could not be formed against the Israelites. Once the promised land had been divided among the twelve tribes, it was up to the individual tribes to complete the conquest of their inheritance. Only small pockets of resistance remained. But as the Israelites settled down in their various inherited territories, many of them became lax and complacent, failing to continue the conquest. Dan was one of these tribes. The Danites become complacent, lax, comfortable, "at ease in Zion"; and they failed to lay claim to their full territorial inheritance in the promised land (1:34-36; see note—♣Judges 1:21-36 for more discussion). As a result, throughout the decades they became squeezed between the Amorites and the Philistines. And their faith in the Lord weakened so much that they did not trust Him to help them drive the enemy away. Thus, the Danites had to search for more land. Their leaders appointed five spies and sent them out on a reconnaissance mission to find land that would be easier to conquer. As the spies made their way north, they came to Ephraim, to the house of Micah, where they spent the night.
Thought 1. The Israelites had become lax, lethargic, and complacent, "at ease in Zion"—so much so that they failed to lay claim to the full inheritance promised by God. The tribe of Dan never received its full inheritance.
This speaks strongly to us. How often we become complacent and lethargic, comfortable enough to compromise with the world. We become satisfied with what we have in Christ. Laying hold of any more of His promises or committing any more to Him would cost too much: too much energy or effort, too much money or personal sacrifice. The result is tragic: we fail to give as we should and the desperate needs of the world go unmet. Therefore, the gospel is not carried to the world, and multiplied thousands continue to die separated from God, without the hope of ever living eternally with Him. Right along with this failure, we shrink back from bearing strong witness to Christ, lest we be embarrassed, ridiculed, or persecuted. We fail to exert the energy and effort to teach or visit or serve in other capacities when requested by the church. Our list of failures due to complacency, lethargy, comfort, and "being at ease in Zion" could go on and on. But God's Word is clear:
"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:26-27).
"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise" (Matthew 22:2-5).
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:12-13).
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:41-46).
"And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." (Luke 12:47).
"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented" (Luke 16:19-25).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him" (James 2:14).
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
"And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here" (Numbers 32:6).
"And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you" (Joshua 18:3).
"Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come" (Isaiah 32:9-10).
"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood" (Jeremiah 48:10).
"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard" (Proverbs 21:13).
"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion...." (Amos 6:1).
3. (18:3-6) Belief, False, Example of— Counsel, False Belief In— Society, Traits of, Corruption: the society of Israel was corrupt, gripped by false belief and false counsel. As the spies approached the house of Micah, it was the Levite who greeted them (18:3). The spies immediately recognized his accent and were surprised to find a Levite that far north, in a private home in Ephraim, and no longer with his tribe.
The young Levite shared his story with the spies, that he had been hired by Micah to be his personal priest (18:4). And at some point during their stay, the spies requested spiritual counsel of the false priest (18:5-6). They wanted assurance of a successful mission, that God was going to guide their path and lead them to a different land, a land that would be much easier for the tribe of Dan to conquer. Note that the false priest gave a false message of the Lord's approval and blessing (18:6). Two errors are seen here: the belief by the spies in the counsel of a false priest, and the false counsel given by the priest.
Thought 1. Never should we seek counsel from false priests or ministers, from persons who are in the ministry only as a profession, who are serving only to earn a livelihood. Neither should we ever seek counsel from sorcerers, diviners, false prophets, palm-readers, psychics, mediums, fortunetellers, nor from any other person who gives ungodly counsel. Counsel is to be sought only from God and from those who serve the only living and true God. This is the clear declaration of Scripture.
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Peter 2:1).
"Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee" (Exodus 34:12).
"Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord" (Numbers 31:16).
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalms 1:1).
"He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly" (2 Chronicles 22:3).
"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men" (Proverbs 4:14).
"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof" (Jeremiah 5:31).
"Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart" (Jeremiah 14:14).
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:16).
4. (18:7-10) Covetousness, Trait of Society— Schemes, Evil, Trait of Society— Society, Evil Traits of: the corrupt society of Israel was a society of covetousness and evil schemes. The spies had a very successful mission. They had traveled straight north until they came to the city of Laish, which was about one hundred miles from their original inheritance (18:7). What the spies discovered was that the people of the area were peaceful and secure, living carefree lives. The people were secure because the city was isolated, far away from any potential enemy. Note also that the land was very fruitful, the economy very prosperous. The people lacked nothing.
Excitedly, the spies returned to the land-hungry leaders and gave their positive report. They encouraged an immediate attack against the citizens of Laish, showing impatience with any who hesitated (18:9). Note that the spies gave assurance that the people of Laish were peaceful, even carefree and unsuspecting (18:10). And they made a false claim of divine approval, that God would bless their attack and conquest of the city and territory of Laish. Of course, this is a reference back to the false counsel they had received from the young priest Jonathan (18:3-6).
Thought 1. Covetousness is wrong, forbidden by God. It is one of the Ten Commandments, one of the major laws spelled out by God Himself, laws that are to govern all of society. No person within society is to covet. But many do: they are driven by lust and their own evil desires. Covetousness leads to an innumerable list of evils within society. For example, when a person covets money, he can begin to sell pornography, drugs, or some other enslaving product; or he can begin to promote gambling, catering to human desires and destroying lives.
A person can covet another man's wife, property, money or any other possession. A person can covet or lust after anything upon this earth. And it is wrong. It is evil, against the very nature of God. It fights against a person's being loving, kind, productive, and fruitful throughout life. Covetousness prevents a person from living a victorious and conquering life. Instead of contributing to society, a coveting person takes from society, destroying property and human lives.
"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15).
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints" (Ephesians 5:3).
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience" (Colossians 3:5-6).
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:9-10" (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
"Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days" (James 5:3).
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's" (Exodus 20:17).
"He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live" (Proverbs 15:27).
"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity" (Ecclesiastes 5:10).
"For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely" (Jeremiah 6:13).
"As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool" (Jeremiah 17:11).
"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness" (Ezekiel 33:31).
"And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage" (Micah 2:2).
"Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil" (Habakkuk 2:9).
5. (18:11-17) Stealing, of Religious Items— Religion, Property of, Stolen— Law, Breaking and Entering, Example of— Society, Evil Traits of: Israelite society had become a brotherhood of thieves. Most citizens had hearts that were capable of breaking and entering and of stealing.
This is clearly demonstrated by the tribe of Dan. A body of 600 men with their families accepted the challenge of the spies: they mobilized and began their march to Laish (18:11-12). Why only 600 families? Was this just one clan of the tribe of Dan? Or had the tribe of Dan been so decimated through war that only 600 families were still living? The answer is not given. But most likely, these families represented a particular clan or else were a migrating group who had volunteered to go north to conquer and settle the new territory. Whatever the case, they began the long march and stopped along the way at a place called Kiriath Jearim. For some reason, the place became significant; and they changed the name to Mahaneh Dan, which means "the camp of Dan."
When the clan broke camp, they marched and did not stop again until they reached Micah's house (18:13-17). Apparently, as the clan was approaching Micah's property, the five spies informed the clan leaders of the religious shrine and its valuables and suggested they steal them (18:14).
The leaders agreed, so the five spies went to the house or religious shrine of the young Levite and greeted him. No doubt the young Levite was surprised to see the five spies again. During their confrontation with the Levite, the 600 soldiers stood at the entrance gate to prevent any opposition (18:16).
This was not a social call, but a criminal act of breaking and entering and of stealing valuables from Micah's property. With their superior manpower, the migrating Danites were able to take whatever they wanted. But note what they took: only the religious items sitting in the shrine on Micah's property (18:17).
Thought 1. Breaking and entering, then stealing, is a criminal act. The victim always feels threatened and fears for his or her life. Often, the criminal actually assaults and murders the victim. It is wrong, a sin against God and an evil committed against society…
• to shoplift
• to cheat
• to keep borrowed items
• not to seek the owner of a valuable item that has been found
Stealing manifests itself in many different ways. But when an item is stolen, it means that some person or some business suffers loss. When dealing with a business loss due to shoplifting or any other form of theft, prices have to be raised to offset the loss. Thus, the theft from a business costs all of society through raised prices. The shoplifter or thief is stealing from all of us. The Word of God is clear: stealing is wrong and will be judged by the Lord.
"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28).
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"Not purloining [stealing], but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things" (Titus 2:10).
"Thou shalt not steal" (Exodus 20:15).
"When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel" (Deuteronomy 23:24).
6. (18:18-20) Religion, Corrupt— Ministry, Corrupt— Corruption, of Religion— Ministry, Corruption of— Corruption, of Ministry: Israelite society had turned to corrupt religions and a corrupt ministry. This is clearly seen in what now happened between the priests and the leaders of Dan.
Standing there, the priest was utterly shocked at the breaking and entering, the stealing of the religious valuables. But he could only issue a mild protest lest the spies kill him (18:18). To hush him up, the clan leaders threatened the priest and then, no doubt, shocked him by offering him a bribe (18:19). They bribed him to become their priest, offering him a larger ministry, better pay, and far greater influence. Being a priest-for-hire, he quickly accepted this far better offer (18:20; see outline—♣ Judges 17:7-13 and note—♣Judges 17:7-13). In the words of The Expositor's Bible Commentary, "his fickle and mercenary attitude reflects the state of the priesthood during this period." As with most false priests or ministers who have entered the ministry only as a profession or to earn a livelihood, this priest was always looking for a better opportunity and offer.
Thought 1. For an application on this particular point, see thoughts—Judges 17:7-13.
7. (18:21-26) Lawlessness, a Trait of Evil Society— Society, Evil Traits of— Intimidation, within Society— Society, Evil Traits of, Intimidation— Thugs, Traits of: Israelite society had become a society of lawlessness, of thugs and intimidation. Note what now happened:
As the migrating Danites left to resume their journey, they placed their families and livestock in front just in case Micah pursued them (18:21). And this he did. Immediately after discovering the theft of the shrine valuables and the loss of his priest, he quickly mobilized his hired hands and perhaps some neighbors and friends into an armed force (18:22). He felt he could catch up with the Danite thieves, for they were traveling with wives, children, and livestock (18:22).
The confrontation was sharp and threatening for Micah (18:23-26). The clan of Danite thugs questioned Micah about the armed force he had mobilized. But Micah sharply protested, accusing them of being thieves and stealing his idol gods, the most important thing he possessed. In essence, he was claiming that he was helpless, vulnerable without the idols sitting in his shrine. Without them, his gods would not be present to guide him nor to look after his welfare.
At this point, the clan of Danite thugs threatened him, and Micah backed off, for he had a far weaker force than the migrating Danites. The Expositor's Bible Commentary has an excellent statement about this point:
Faced with almost certain defeat and death, Micah sadly gave up the cause and returned home. His failure is in marked contrast to the stunning victory gained by Abraham and his small army when they overtook the coalition of kings who had captured Lot and the wealth of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 14:10-16). The God of Abraham proved stronger than the idol deities fashioned by Micah. Like the gods of Babylon, Micah's gods were taken captive, unable to effect their own escape (cf. 6:31; Isaiah 46:1-2).
Thought 1. Lawlessness corrupts society. People who break the law steal and destroy property and human life. The lawless do not build up life and society, they threaten, damage, destroy, and murder. Just think!
⇒ Breaking speed laws endangers human life, maiming and killing many in the process.
⇒ Businesses developing products that are not entirely pure endanger and destroy life.
⇒ Illegally polluting the environment, water, air, and food endangers and destroys life.
⇒ Stealing and assaulting others endanger and destroy life.
Lawlessness damages and corrupts people and society. For this reason, God demands that we keep His law and His commandments. Obeying the laws of God builds up and strengthens society. The laws of God build a society of love, joy, peace, responsibility, production, fruitfulness, and control—a society that conquers the problems that confront us as a body of people. This is the reason God demands obedience, that we keep the law and commandments.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (John 15:10).
"Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father" (Proverbs 28:7).
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).
"This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy 26:16).
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).
"Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left" (Joshua 23:6).
8. (18:27-29) Violence, a Trait of Corrupt Society— Murder, a Trait of Corrupt Society— Society, Evil Traits of— Murder, Evil Traits of: Israelite society had become filled with violence and murder. The migrating Danites marched north and at long last, reached the outskirts of the city of Laish. They launched an attack against the peaceful and unsuspecting citizens, murdering them and burning the city down to the ground (18:27-28). They were able to conquer the city because Laish was isolated, located a great distance from any other city, and had no alliance with anyone who could rescue them. Thus, there was no one to help them against the violent, murderous Danites. Over some time, the Danites rebuilt the city and renamed it Dan (18:28-29).
Thought 1. Warren Wiersbe has an application on this point that is well worth quoting:
We don't know how many people lived in Laish, but the wanton murders of even a few hundred innocent people is a crime of gross proportions. I fear that we've been exposed to so much crime and violence in the media that this kind of news doesn't disturb us anymore. "We're seeing a new sort of violence," wrote Arthur Beisser in Sports Illustrated (March 1, 1976). "It's being used not as a means to an end, but for recreational purposes, for pleasure." We might add that violence is also a means for making money, as both the moviemakers and the television industry have proved.
"He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness" (Matthew 19:18).
"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Romans 13:9).
"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters" (1 Peter 4:15).
"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15).
"And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth" (Genesis 6:13).
"Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13).
"Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city" (Psalms 55:9).
"Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment" (Psalms 73:6).
"For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence" (Proverbs 4:17).
"And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage" (Micah 2:2).
"For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth" (Micah 6:12).
9. (18:30-31) Worship, False, Example of— Society, Evil Traits of— Idolatry, Example of— Dan, Tribe of, Failure: Israelite society was full of false worship and idolatry. The clan of Dan became the very first center of idolatry and false worship in Israel (18:30). They constructed a shrine for the idols and made it the center of their worship. Moreover, they chose the Levite Jonathan and his family as the official priests for the tribe. But note: these priests were man-appointed, not God-appointed.
The people of Dan engaged in false worship during the very time the Tabernacle was in Shiloh (18:31). Shiloh remained the major religious center during the entire period of the judges and up until its destruction by the Philistines somewhere around 1075 B.C. (Jeremiah 7:12-15). Remember that Joshua himself had set up the Tabernacle at Shiloh which was about 20 miles north of Jerusalem.
Thought 1. God forbids false worship and idolatry. If we turn away from God and turn to false worship, we stand condemned before God and will face His eternal judgment.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
"I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8).
JUDGES: DIVISION III
THE TERRIBLE DEPTHS OF FAILURE AND CORRUPTION IN ISRAEL: A PICTURE OF MORAL COLLAPSE, 17:1-21:25
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
C. Corruption in Individuals: Seen in the Levite and His Concubine and in People's Sexual Perversion and Brutality, 19:1-30
(19:1-30) Introduction: homosexuality, rape, adultery, abuse, brutality, and murder—these are the subjects of this passage of Scripture. And each one of these heinous crimes is in the news headlines every day. What an indictment and criminal charge against our society. Incomprehensible! Yet these crimes run rampant throughout our cities and nations.
What now happens is one of the most shocking, grotesque, and sickening evils ever committed in Israel's history. Keep in mind the subject of these last five chapters of Judges: a picture is being painted of the moral collapse of the nation. The Israelites had become corrupted, reaching the depths of depravity and evil. As a society, they had morally collapsed. Their compromising, permissive lifestyle had destroyed them. This is: Corruption in Individuals: Seen in the Levite and His Concubine and in People's Sexual Perversion and Brutality, 19:1-30.
1. There was no leader, no ruler to guide the people (v.1).
2. There was sexual sin, unfaithfulness in the home (v.1-3).
3. There was excessive indulgence: Eating, drinking and partying (v.4-9).
4. There was prejudice and discrimination (v.10-12).
5. There was a spirit of selfishness and a lack of hospitality (v.13-21).
6. There was vile, degrading sexual perversion and brutality (v.22-30).
1. (19:1) Leadership, Lack of— Guidance, Lack of— Israel, Problems, Lack of Leadership: there was no leader, no ruler to guide the people. There was no king in Israel, nor any other leader with the moral strength and integrity to lead the people. The people had rejected the Lord and turned away from Him. They refused to acknowledge Him as king, rejecting His law and commandments. They were doing their own thing, living as they wanted, not as He commanded. They professed God, claimed to follow after Him, but their behavior betrayed them. They were living a compromising, permissive lifestyle of immorality, drunkenness, prejudice, discrimination, selfishness, brutality, lawlessness, and violence. Part of the reason for this ungodly and unrighteous lifestyle was due to lack of leadership. There was just no moral leader of righteousness and integrity to give guidance to the people. The nation and its people lacked leadership.
Thought 1. Where are the moral leaders and rulers of integrity? There are a few throughout the world, but they are few and far between. So many leaders, including religious leaders, are involved in scandals of immorality and even illegal, lawless acts.
In addition to the immorality and lawlessness that is so prevalent among leadership, there is also a lack of courage in standing up and doing what is right. So many leaders are spineless, timid, impotent, fearful, and faint-hearted. They are lacking in nerve and are weak-kneed and weak-willed. They frankly do not have the courage to stand up and be counted when an issue of truth or of injustice and immorality confronts them.
There is a dire need for moral leadership, for men and women of integrity and morality who are filled with hearts of compassion, justice, and truth. Where are the leaders? The need of the hour is for men and women to step forth and offer themselves to the Lord, to serve the people of this earth, giving their lives in service to others wherever the needs are: in the churches, clubs, businesses, communities, cities, and governments of this world. Men and women must be willing to proclaim, "Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep" (John 21:17).
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
"But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee" (Acts 26:16).
"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind" (1 Peter 5:2).
"Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10).
"And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?" (Judges 6:14).
"The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (2 Samuel 23:3).
"Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling" (Psalms 2:10-11).
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15).
"And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:4).
"I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me" (Jeremiah 35:15).
2. (19:1-3) Immorality, Example of, Minister's Wife— Home, Unfaithfulness Within— Sex, Sinful, Example of— Unfaithfulness, In the Home— Family, Problems Within— Levites, Examples of Evil: there was sexual sin, unfaithfulness in the home. This is seen in an unnamed Levite who married a concubine from Bethlehem (19:1-2). The Levite was from a remote area located in the hill country of Ephraim. Keep in mind that the Levites along with the priests were in charge of the spiritual growth and welfare of the people. But as is seen throughout this climatic close to the Book of Judges, this Levite was anything but a spiritual leader. He was a scoundrel, an incredibly selfish and callous scoundrel. Instead of having a ministerial spirit of unselfishness and tender care, he had a spirit of unthinkable insensitivity and cruelty. All this will be seen in the climatic conclusion of this heart-rending book, the Book of Judges.
Note that the concubine wife of the Levite was unfaithful to him (19:2). Probably fearing for her life, she left the Levite and returned to live with her father. Some four months later the Levite began to miss her, so he took a servant and two donkeys and traveled to Bethlehem to persuade her to return (19:3). When he arrived, the father gladly received and welcomed him into the home.
Thought 1. There is a straightforward lesson for us in this point: adultery is sin. And it destroys families. One of the most agonizing and hurtful experiences for a family is the evil act of adultery. Sharp pain like a streak of lightning stabs the heart of the innocent spouse. And the pain continues, striking the heart time and again. Meanwhile, innocent children are damaged beyond repair. Nothing—absolutely nothing—damages a family any more than adultery. And in many cases, adultery totally destroys families—even the lives of the innocent children.
Moreover, recovery from adultery is most difficult, almost impossible. It is possible through Christ, but it takes a lot of forgiveness and a long time to heal the wounds and gain the victory over the pain and hurt, the damage and destruction.
God condemns adultery. And He warns us: the adulterer will suffer the severest of judgments.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).
"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell" (Matthew 5:27-30).
"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matthew 19:9).
"So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man" (Romans 7:3).
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children" (2 Peter 2:14).
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
"And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death" (Leviticus 20:10).
3. (19:4-9) Drunkenness, Example of— Indulgence, Example of— Partying, Example of— Ministers, Sins of, Example— Levites, Sins of, Example: there was excessive indulgence by individuals: excessive eating, drinking and partying. The father invited and urged his son-in-law to stay and spend some time with the family, and the Levite agreed. Note what happened:
1. Three days were spent in fellowship and partying (19:4-5). Apparently, indulgent eating and drinking took place, being insisted upon by the father-in-law. The word for drinking (shathah or satah) means to imbibe, drink, or to get drunk. The word is definitely associated with drunkenness.
2. A fourth day was also spent indulging in the flesh (19:5). When the Levite arose on the fourth day, he prepared to leave. But the father-in-law insisted he stay another day. Willingly, carelessly, the Levite gave in. Keep in mind that the Levite was responsible for the spiritual welfare of the people, for ministering to them. Yet this Levite was living a compromising, permissive, and careless lifestyle, failing to minister even to his own family. He was indulging the flesh, not controlling it. At some point, the Levite got up from the partying to leave, and the father persuaded him to spend another night.
3. A fifth day was spent indulging the flesh, again insisted upon by the father-in-law (19:8). And again, the Levite willingly, carelessly gave in. Once again, the two of them partied, indulging the flesh, eating and drinking.
4. A fifth night stay-over was requested by the father (19:9).
Thought 1. There is one forceful lesson for us in this point. An indulgent spirit of partying, eating, and getting drunk is prohibited by God.
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof" (Romans 6:12).
"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying" (Romans 13:13).
"It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (Romans 14:21).
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
"Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations" (Leviticus 10:9).
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).
"Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh" (Proverbs 23:20).
"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright" (Proverbs 23:29-31).
"It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink" (Proverbs 31:4).
"Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!" (Ecclesiastes 10:17).
"Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!" (Isaiah 5:11).
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).
"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!" (Habakkuk 2:15).
4. (19:10-12) Prejudice, Example of— Discrimination, Example of— Ministers, Sins of— Levites, Sins of: there was prejudice and discrimination gripping the people. This is clearly seen as the Levite and his concubine wife left to return home. The Levite had rejected the appeal to spend a fifth night with his father-in-law. He insisted on leaving, so he took his concubine wife, his servant, and two saddled donkeys and headed home about mid to late afternoon (19:10). The fact that he left so late, when daylight was almost gone, was a fatal mistake. This fact will be seen later.
The road they traveled took them just west of Jebus or Jerusalem. As they passed close by the city, the servant suggested they spend the night there. But the Levite refused, and note why: because of his prejudice against foreigners and his fear and intimidation of foreigners (19:11-12). He clearly states that Jerusalem was a foreign city whose citizens were not Israelites. Because so much prejudice and hatred existed between foreigners and Jews, it was dangerous to enter a foreign city at night.
Thought 1. The lesson for us cannot be escaped: we must not be gripped by prejudice and discrimination, by bitterness and hatred against other people. No matter what a person's status is, we are not to reject the person because of his or her status. People differ. A host of different races and beliefs cover the earth. When we are in another country, we become the foreigners and are in the minority—and in most places, the person with a different skin color. There is no room for prejudice or hatred upon this earth.
"Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him" (Mark 6:3).
"And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward" (Mark 9:38-41).
"And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them" (Mark 10:13).
"And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country" (Luke 4:24).
"And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:53).
"And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner" (Luke 19:7).
"And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see" (John 1:46).
"Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9).
"They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet" (John 7:52).
"And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean" (Acts 10:28).
"But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians" (Acts 19:34).
"And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities" (Acts 26:11).
"For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision" (Galatians 2:12).
5. (19:13-21) Selfishness, Spirit of— Hospitality, Lack of— Ministers, Sins of— Levites, Sins of: there was a spirit of selfishness and a lack of hospitality among the people of the day. This is clearly seen in what now happened to the Levite and his party as they traveled home.
1. The Levite made the decision to try to reach either the city of Gibeah or Ramah (19:13-14). Gibeah was just four miles beyond Jerusalem, and the party reached it right at sunset where they stopped to spend the night.
2. They went straight to the square where they rested and waited for someone to invite them to spend the night. But hospitality was not offered by anyone (19:15). Hospitality was a necessary custom in the ancient world because there were no inns or hotels, and a person would have to spend the night out in the open if people did not open their homes to travelers. But in the case of the Levite and his party, no one extended hospitality to them. They were neglected by the citizens of the city. The reason will soon be clear.
3. Finally, the offer of hospitality did come, and note by whom: an old man who was a temporary worker from Ephraim. The old man, walking by the Levite and his party resting in the square, stopped and struck up a conversation with them (19:16-21). He asked them where they were going and where they had come from (19:17). The Levite shared his travel plans and the fact that no one had offered them a place to stay. And then the Levite requested hospitality for the night. He assured the old man that he could pay for overnight accommodations, that he had enough provisions to take care of his party (19:18-19).
The old man warmly welcomed the Levite and used his own provisions for food and other needs (19:20-21). The old man provided shelter and food for the Levite and his livestock, and then they all sat down to eat and fellowship together.
Thought 1. God demands that we show hospitality to people, that we open our hearts and homes to people. We are not to be selfish, rejecting people and refusing to extend an open hand to help them. If a person—native-born or foreigner—enters our community and has no place to stay, we must not close the doors of our homes, churches, and ministries. We must not demonstrate a hard heart of inhospitality. Rather we must show brotherly love to a neighbor and fellow human being. Even those who are irresponsible and are sponging off the church and other ministries need to be helped by being taught to be responsible. The irresponsible and slothful are not to be indulged and given the license to lie and steal. Every time the irresponsible and slothful are given money or food, that is money and food that is stolen from those who are in real need and unable to help themselves.
Other commandments of God deal with the irresponsible and slothful. But the lesson of this passage tells us that we must obey God by showing hospitality to those who are in real need. We must open our hearts and our hands, our homes, churches, and service ministries to help the needy of the world. Hospitality and brotherly love are clear commandments of God:
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:39).
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35).
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
"Let love be without dissimulation [hypocrisy]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Romans 12:9).
"Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality" (Romans 12:13).
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2).
"Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work" (1 Timothy 5:10).
"For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate" (Titus 1:7-8).
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Hebrews 13:2).
"Use hospitality one to another without grudging" (1 Peter 4:9).
"Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 10:19).
6. (19:22-30) Sex, Perversion of— Perversion, of Sex— Brutality, Trait of Society— Society, Evil Traits of— Immorality, Example of— Homosexuality, Example of— Ministers, Sins of— Levites, Sins of— Women, Low View of— Selfishness, Example of: there was vile, degrading sexual perversion and brutality being committed by the people. What now happened is a moral outrage. "[This] scene…is among the most grotesque and sickening in the book, if not in the entire Scripture."
1. Note the twisted sense of morality running through the story of this moral outrage, this vile, shameful, disgraceful, wickedness. Homosexuals surrounded the house of the old man, pounding on the door and shouting for sex with the Levite stranger (19:22). The Scripture says these were "sons of Belial"—wicked, perverted scoundrels who were given over to evil and were driven to do evil. They were active homosexuals ready to attack the new stranger in town.
The old man also demonstrated a twisted sense of morality (19:23-24). Courageously, he tried to protect the Levite. But note how: by offering his virgin daughter and the Levite's concubine wife to the wicked scoundrels. But the evil, twisted compromise was rejected.
Note this fact: the Levite was counted as being the principal guest of the old man by the society of that day. Obviously this was the reason the old man felt a deep sense of responsibility to protect the Levite. But at what cost: the sacrifice of his own daughter and the concubine? Where was the honor and courage within the old man and the Levite? The rules of hospitality are important, but not as important as standing strong against such wicked, disgraceful, and perverted appetites.
2. Note the callused, horrible selfishness of the Levite. He pushed his concubine out the door (19:25). He sacrificed her to save his own skin.
3. Like a pack of wild, savage dogs, the wicked homosexuals grabbed the concubine and attacked her, ripping off her clothes and savagely brutalizing her, raping her all night long. They did not let her go until dawn. This outrage of man after man cutting loose their perverted appetites upon this poor woman is one of the most vile, despicable, evil, and wicked deeds in all of Scripture. This wicked mob of Israelite homosexuals was guilty of the same moral outrage committed by the city of Sodom. And God had wiped Sodom off the face of the earth (see outline—♣ Genesis 19:1-38 and notes—♣ Genesis 19:1-38, for more discussion).
At daybreak, the men released her and she staggered back to the house where she lay at the door until full daylight (19:25-26).
4. Note the hard, callous heart of the Levite. He was as callous, insensitive, and indifferent as he could be, gripped by utter selfishness. Note four facts exposing his cold-hearted, apathetic, and selfish heart:
⇒ He had slept while his wife was being abused. Imagine resting comfortably while your wife was being sexually assaulted by a crazed mob of homosexuals! There is no evidence that he arose during the night to look out, showing any concern whatsoever for his wife.
⇒ The next morning as he opened the door to leave for home, leaving her behind, he stumbled over her lying in the doorway (19:27).
⇒ Finding her lying there, he demanded that she get up instead of squatting down to show concern and to help her up. But it was too little, too late. She was dead (19:28).
⇒ He then picked up her body, walked out to the donkeys, and threw her body over the saddle, setting out for home (19:28).
5. Now note the vengeful spirit of the Levite (19:29-30). As soon as he reached home, he cut up the body of his wife into twelve parts, sending one part to each tribe of Israel. His purpose was to mobilize their support in seeking revenge. The shocking murder aroused a burning anger within the Israelites. And the people all across the nation urged their leaders to take action against the homosexual criminals and the entire city of Gibeah. In the minds of the other Israelites, the city officials had no excuse for letting the citizens slip so far into the depths of depravity and evil. Consequently, justice was to be executed on all the citizens.
Thought 1. At least two major lessons are evident in this point.
1) A twisted sense of morality is running rampant throughout society today. All kinds of sexual perversions are being practiced, perversions that shock a normal and moral person. But every one of us needs to hear: sexual perversion is a moral outrage in the eyes of God. It is vile, shameful, disgraceful and despicable. It is wicked and evil. And God warns us: it does not matter what we think or want to believe. Sexual perversion will be condemned and face the eternal judgment of God.
"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Romans 1:24-32).
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 7).
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
2) We must not allow our hearts to become hard like this Levite did. We must not become insensitive, indifferent, or callous toward people. A hard heart will arouse the judgment of God against us.
"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Romans 2:5).
"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness" (Ephesians 4:17-19).
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13).
"Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest" (Psalms 95:8-11).
"Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief" (Proverbs 28:14).
"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1).
JUDGES: DIVISION III
THE TERRIBLE DEPTHS OF FAILURE AND CORRUPTION IN ISRAEL: A PICTURE OF MORAL COLLAPSE, 17:1-21:25
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
D. Corruption in the Nations (Part 1): Seen in the Civil War of Israel, 20:1-48
(20:1-48) Introduction: homosexuality, gang rape, wife abuse, savage brutality, murder, kidnapping, mob violence, rebellion, civil war—all these atrocities—immoral and criminal acts—take place in these two chapters of Holy Scripture (Judges 19-20). And every one of these atrocities is seen in the daily news reports of our cities and nations, even within our very own communities. Think of the bombardment of lawlessness and violence that is thrust upon us every day of our lives, being blazed across the television, movie screen, radio, internet, and in magazines, comic books, novels, music, and all other forms of news media and communication channels within our society. There is a constant barrage of lawlessness and violence in our society. No wonder they occur day and night within our cities.
In dealing with lawlessness and violence, one fact has to be faced: they destroy a society and a nation. People who have no respect for the law commit every lawless and violent act imaginable. This is the great lesson that must be learned from passages such as this in Holy Scripture: Corruption in the Nations (Part 1): Seen in the Civil War of Israel, 20:1-48.
1. There was a spirit of compromise and indifference—a stubborn refusal to correct evil and injustice: seen in the tribe of Benjamin (v.1-13).
2. There was a spirit of divisiveness and rebellion among the citizens: seen in the civil war caused by the tribe of Benjamin (v.14-25).
3. There was a keen sense of God's absence, a dire need to repent and seek the face of God (v.26-48).
1. (20:1-13) Compromise, Example of— Indifference, Example of— Stubbornness, Example of— Corruption, Example of— Injustice, Example of: there was corruption in the nation of Israel, a spirit of compromise and indifference, a stubborn refusal to correct evil and injustice. This is clearly seen in the tribe of Benjamin. Remember, the Levite had taken his raped, murdered wife and cut her up into twelve parts, sending one part to each of the twelve tribes. This shocking, gruesome message sent to the tribes aroused a burning anger within the Israelites. The Levite got the very result he had wanted. The Scripture and outline give a graphic description of the event:
1. The tribes of Israel mobilized an enormous army and came out as one man against the shocking evil (20:1-2). They marched and camped before the Lord in Mizpah, which was only a few miles from Gibeah. Angered by the shocking, gruesome rape and murder of the concubine wife, the leaders from all twelve tribes were committed to dealing with this horrible evil. Note how committed they were: four hundred thousand troops had been mobilized to deal with this horrendous evil.
2. The same gruesome message had even been sent to the tribe of Benjamin where Gibeah was located. But the leaders of Benjamin boycotted the meeting. This was a strong indication that they were condoning the evil and were not going to correct it (20:3).
3. After setting up camp, the leaders of the remaining eleven tribes called a counsel meeting and questioned the Levite about the atrocious crime. In responding, the Levite shared the following shocking details:
⇒ that he and his concubine wife were spending the night at Gibeah in Benjamin (20:4).
⇒ that the men of the city sought to sodomize and kill him (20:5).
⇒ that they raped his wife all night and she died as a result.
⇒ that he had personally dismembered her and sent one piece of her body to each tribe for two reasons: because such a horrifying wickedness demanded swift and just punishment; and because a unified, national verdict by all Israel was demanded (20:6-7).
4. The verdict was given by the legal counsel: guilty. And a vow was taken not to return home until justice was fully executed (20:8-11). The reason for the guilty verdict was clear. The wicked homosexual mob had broken four laws that demanded execution:
⇒ the law against homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13).
⇒ the law against adultery (Deuteronomy 22:22).
⇒ the law against rape (Deuteronomy 22:25-26).
⇒ the law against murder (Exodus 21:12; Leviticus 24:17; Numbers 35:16, 31; Deuteronomy 19:11; Proverbs 28:17).
After taking the vow not to return home until justice was executed, the leaders sat down to lay out their strategy. Their strategy involved three steps:
⇒ to first seek the Lord, and this was exactly what they did (20:18).
⇒ to mobilize one tenth of the troops as a supply line in the event of a long campaign (20:10).
⇒ to stand together, united against the horrible evil (20:11).
5. The leaders then sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin calling upon them to confess the awful crime that had been committed and to hand over the wicked men of Gibeah (20:12-13). They appealed for justice to be executed against the mob of vile, wicked homosexuals that the evil be purged from the nation of God's people. But note the tragic response of the tribe of Benjamin: they refused to surrender the guilty men (20:13). In a spirit of utter indifference and stubbornness, they chose to compromise with the permissive lifestyle and injustices of the homosexual mob. They took their stand with the immoral, wicked, and despicable criminals.
Thought 1. There are two lessons for us in this point.
1) God demands that we live lives of moral and spiritual separation, having nothing to do with evil. We are to reject evil—not accept it, never compromise with it. We are to reject a permissive lifestyle, a behavior that is immoral, lawless, and violent. God calls us to live lives of holiness and righteousness, lives of separation from the evil and wicked of this earth.
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares" (Luke 21:34).
"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40).
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11).
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Timothy 2:4).
"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:24-25).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).
"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord" (Isaiah 52:11).
2) We are not to be indifferent, insensitive toward evil. We must never allow our hearts to become callous and cold in fighting against the wickedness of this world. We must take a stand for justice, morality and righteousness. Our hearts need to burn within us in standing up for what is right. A heart that is callous, insensitive, stubborn, and indifferent toward injustice, immorality, and wickedness will cause a society and nation to crumble. We must never become so callous that we accept injustice and wickedness. To accept is to condone and contribute to its rampage in destroying lives and society.
"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:" (Matthew 22:2-5).
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:12-13).
"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye" (Acts 7:51).
"There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:11-18).
"And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people" (Exodus 32:9).
"Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear" (2 Chronicles 24:19).
"Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about" (Psalms 32:9-10).
"O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore. For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered" (Psalms 92:5-9).
"Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness" (Isaiah 46:12).
"Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass....There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked" (Isaiah 48:4, 22).
"As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee" (Jeremiah 44:16).
"But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear" (Zechariah 7:11).
"If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart" (Malachi 2:2).
2. (20:14-25) Divisiveness, Spirit of— Rebellion, Spirit of— Israel, Civil War of— Benjamin, Tribe of, Sins of: there was corruption in the nation, a spirit of divisiveness and rebellion among the citizens. This is clearly seen in the civil war caused by the tribe of Benjamin. Tragically, shockingly, civil war broke out, the first full-scale civil war in Israel. The Scripture and outline graphically describe the scene:
1. The tribe of Benjamin rebelled and mobilized for war. Their armed forces included…
• 26,000 swordsmen
• 700 elite soldiers from Gibeah
Note that 700 of the left-handed soldiers were sling marksmen. They could sling at a hair and not miss (20:16). A rock slung from a sling could fly through the air close to one hundred miles an hour. Apparently, these sling marksmen were a unit of special forces within the army of Benjamin.
2. The army of the other eleven tribes was a powerful force, made up of many divisions of soldiers. They numbered 400,000 swordsmen, every one of them trained and combat ready. They are referred to as "men of war" or "warriors" and "fighting men" (20:17).
3. Note that the first battle was lost by Israel (20:18-21). The leaders of the eleven tribes went up to the Tabernacle at Shiloh or Bethel to seek the guidance of the Lord. The Lord indicated that Judah was to lead the battle (20:18). Thus, on the very next morning the Israelites marched and pitched camp near Gibeah (20:19). Soon after, they took up their battle positions and squared off against the Benjamites (20:20). When the forces were launched, the Benjamite rebels killed over 22,000 Israelite soldiers (20:21).
4. The Israelite army regrouped, encouraged one another, and launched a second battle; but it also was lost by the Israelites (20:22-25). Losing 22,000 soldiers in the first attack had a devastating effect upon the Israelite army. The leaders had gone up and wept before the Lord until evening, asking why and if they should launch a second attack against the Benjamites, their brothers. The indication from the Lord was that a second attack was to be launched (20:22-23).
Thus, the Israelite army launched a second attack. But again the Benjamite repelled the attack, killing 18,000 soldiers of Israel (20:24-25).
Thought 1. The rebellion of the Benjamites caused a serious breech within Israel, a divisiveness among God's people that led to civil war. Keep in mind why: because the Benjamites compromised with the permissive lifestyle and moral outrage of the homosexual mob. And they refused to execute justice against the wicked rapists and murderers. Thus, a spirit of divisiveness and rebellion had taken over God's people.
Divisions weaken God's people and often split them apart. This is true both of the church and of individual believers. When division takes hold of an individual or of the church, it cripples, damages, and destroys relationships, even splitting churches. And it always hurts the testimony of the involved parties.
"But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth" (Luke 11:17).
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
"For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3).
"For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it" (1 Corinthians 11:18).
Thought 2. God expects us to walk in unity and oneness of spirit. We are to build up one another, not cause division, damaging and destroying one another. We are not to bite and devour, nor are we to grumble, complain, and murmur against one another. We are to pray for one another and join hands, reaching out to help when help is needed. We are to be tenderhearted and compassionate, understanding the weaknesses that are within all of us. And we are to forgive one another when offended, even as Christ has forgiven us.
This is the message to us, the message from Christ and His Holy Word. We are to be bound together as one body, joining hands to lift high the banner of righteousness and proclaiming the Word of God to a world lost in sin, darkness, and shame. And while standing together as one body, we are to reach out to help meet the desperate needs of the world. Unity, oneness of spirit is the call of God to His people. Not division.
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35).
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:5).
"Let love be without dissimulation [hypocrisy]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Romans 12:9).
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
"For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17).
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you" (2 Corinthians 13:11).
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
"Only let your conversation [behavior, conduct] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).
"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous" (1 Peter 3:8).
3. (20:26-48) Repentance, Need for— Seeking, God— Civil War, of Israel— Israel, Civil War of: there was corruption in the nation, a keen sense of God's absence. God's people had a dire need to repent and seek the face of God. The scene was dramatic:
1. Shocked and deeply discouraged, the Israelite army made a desperate retreat all the way back to Bethel, some eight miles north. Note what they did: they fasted all day—up until evening—and then presented Burnt Offerings and Fellowship Offerings to the Lord (20:26-28). This is significant, for they had not offered sacrifices up until now. They were finally approaching the Lord in the very way He had appointed: through the substitute sacrifice. The Burnt Offering provided the atonement of reconciliation with God that the people so desperately needed. God had established the Burnt Offering to be the only way to approach Him, the only way to be reconciled and acceptable to Him. God accepted the substitute sacrifice in behalf of the person approaching Him, and in this case, in behalf of the army. This was a clear sign that the soldiers were repenting, seeking the face of God to forgive their sins, to accept and reconcile them to Him. The Fellowship Offering was a sacrifice of dedication and devotion, seeking a closer walk with the Lord.
After approaching God through the substitute sacrifice, the leaders of the army sought the will of God to see if they should attack a third time (20:27). This time the Lord not only instructed them to attack, but they were given assurance of victory (20:28). Note that Phinehas, grandson of Aaron, was serving as High Priest during these days (Numbers 25:11).
2. The strategy of an ambush was set in place and the soldiers took their positions against the city of Gibeah (20:29-36). The Benjamite rebels marched out to attack and were drawn away from the city. At first, they seemed to be winning this third battle, killing about thirty of the Israelite soldiers (20:31). Soon they began to overflow with confidence and sensed victory. But all the while they were being drawn away from the city by the fighting Israelite soldiers (20:32).
Suddenly the Israelite army turned the tide of battle (20:33-35). While the major Israelite force was retreating to give the false impression of being defeated, the ambush party of 10,000 soldiers launched a surprise attack against the city of Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce. The Benjamites had no idea that a tragedy was hanging over their heads (20:34). They faced utter disaster and were soon defeated. The rebellion was put down, and Benjamin lost 25,100 swordsmen (20:35).
3. Note that the strategy of the ambush and battle is repeated, being described in more detail (20:36-47).
a. The Israelites relied on the ambush for victory (20:36-38). At the appropriate moment, the ambush division made a sudden assault on Gibeah and killed all its citizens. The soldiers then set the city on fire.
b. The main Israelite force stopped its retreat and turned the course of battle (20:39).
c. The Benjamite rebels then faced disaster (20:39-47). When they turned and saw the city burning, they realized they were doomed (20:40-41). But as they fled toward the desert, they were caught in a net by the main forces and the ambush forces just east of Gibeah (20:42-43). The rebels were cut down and suffered 18,000 deaths in the hand-to-hand combat (20:44). Running for their lives, they suffered 5,000 more deaths along the road. But they kept fleeing, and as they fled, 2,000 more soldiers were struck down (20:45). On that day, 25,100 rebel swordsmen fell (20:35, 46). Only 600 soldiers survived the battle by escaping into the desert to the rock of Rimmon (20:47).
4. Once the Benjamite rebels had been defeated, the Israelite army carried out a mopping-up operation (20:48). They systematically captured and destroyed all the defenseless cities of Benjamin, executing all the citizens and animals.
Thought 1. Obviously, the Israelite army was successful in defeating the Benjamite rebels because they repented and sought the face of God. God's presence and power are not given to a person who rejects Him and lives in wickedness. Repentance is necessary. God is with us only if we turn away from our sin and turn to Him. But this is glorious news. For it means that God will be with us if we do repent. And He will empower us to conquer the enemies that seek to defeat and destroy us. Once we repent, we are assured of His presence and power.
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).
"Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee" (Acts 8:22).
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:7).
"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die" (Ezekiel 18:21).
"Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 18:31).
JUDGES: DIVISION III
THE TERRIBLE DEPTHS OF FAILURE AND CORRUPTION IN ISRAEL: A PICTURE OF MORAL COLLAPSE, 17:1-21:25
»Front Matter »Book Intro »Detailed Outline
»Special Features »Division Overview}
F. Corruption in the Nation (Part 2): Seen in the Questionable, Deceptive Acts of the Leaders, 21:1-25
(21:1-25) Introduction: this last Scripture of Judges exposes both the depravity and the heart of mankind as well as the cesspool of potential wickedness. It exposes the very same facts that the media exposes every day: that people are capable of the most horrible evil imaginable…
|λ adultery |λ kidnapping |
|λ mob rape |λ drunkenness |
|λ sexual perversion |λ child abuse |
|λ murder |λ spousal abuse |
|λ brutality |λ terrorist attacks |
|λ savagery |λ war |
This cesspool of evil permeated the society of Israel, and it runs rampant throughout our society today. This vile, shameful, and wicked behavior is flashed across headlines, constantly bombarding us. And even more tragic, it happens within our own cities every day of the week.
This moral outrage—the cesspool of depravity, the potential wickedness within the hearts of people—continues in this last chapter of the Book of Judges. This is: Corruption In the Nation (Part 2): Seen In the Questionable, Deceptive Acts of the Leaders, 21:1-25.
1. There was questionable reasoning and zeal by the leaders (v.1-14).
2. There was the lying and deception of the people and nation by the leaders: a terrible abuse of human rights (v.15-24).
3. There was no ruler in those days: every person forsook God and did whatever he wanted (v.25).
1. (21:1-14) Zeal, Worldly and Evil— Reasoning, Worldly— Dullness, Results of— Reasoning, Questionable— Decisions, Questionable— Discernment, Lack of: there was questionable reasoning and zeal by the leaders of Israel. There was a clear lack of spiritual, godly discernment. The Israelites had been victorious over the revolt by the Benjamites. But their hearts were broken, for their nation had been torn apart. Why? Because one of the tribes of Israel was being eliminated from the nation. Only eleven tribes were going to exist thereafter. And it was all due to questionable reasoning and zeal by the leadership of both the Benjamites and the other eleven tribes of Israel. What happened next is descriptively pictured by the Scripture and outline:
1. Note that the leaders of Israel had made a questionable vow to ban intermarriage with any surviving Benjamite. The gang rape and murder of the Levite's wife by a vile, wicked band of homosexuals was a moral outrage, and justice had to be executed. But the tribe of Benjamin had supported the homosexual mob of Gibeah. The men of Benjamin had themselves become immoral, lawless, and violent—thoroughly unrighteous men. This had been the reason for the questionable vow being made. This was a strong indication that none of the leaders of the other eleven tribes wanted their daughters marrying them.
The effect of the vow and of the civil war meant the pending elimination of Benjamin as a tribe. When this fact dawned upon the leaders, they were gripped by a deep sense of loss. For the Benjamites were their brothers, a part of their heritage from the very beginning, the sons and daughters of Abraham. A part of Israel's very own flesh and blood was being eliminated. There were only 600 soldiers of Benjamin's army still surviving, hiding out in the hills. This meant there were only 600 men who could repopulate and save the tribe of Benjamin. But because of the vow taken by these leaders, no daughter of Israel would be allowed to marry any of the 600 men. Consequently, the tribe would die out completely.
When the tragic effects of their vow finally struck them, the leaders were emotionally broken and wept bitterly before the Lord. They had gone up to Bethel where the Tabernacle was and sat before the Lord until evening, seeking for a solution. Then the next day, arising early, they recommitted their lives to God by building an altar and presenting sacrifices to the Lord. The burnt offering symbolized the seeking of atonement or reconciliation with God, and the peace or fellowship offering the seeking of more and more of God's peace and fellowship.
The point to note is this: the leaders made a questionable vow, and it now presented a serious problem for them. For the 600 men of Benjamin who were still surviving needed wives. Yet the vow prevented any young Israelite woman from marrying any of the 600 Benjamite men. Thus, the tribe was doomed to die out. Doomed unless a solution could be found.
2. Note that the leaders came up with a solution, but it involved a questionable vow (21:5-7). They vowed to destroy any city or tribe that condoned the evil, moral outrage, to destroy any who refused to support military action against the rebels of Benjamin (21:5-7). Picture the scene: the leaders were sitting before the Lord at the Tabernacle and discussing the problem that confronted them. All of a sudden, they began to see how this second vow might be the answer to providing wives for the 600 surviving men of Benjamin.
3. But note their questionable pattern of dull reasoning and of mistaken zeal for the Lord. They were more concerned about saving the physical Israel than they were in preserving the heart of Israel. Their concern should have been how to preserve the morality, righteousness, and justice of the Israelites(21:8-9). Instead, they began to investigate whether any city within Israel had not responded to the call to arms against the terrible evil of the Benjamites. Soon they discovered that Jabesh-Gilead had not responded.
4. The result: they came up with a questionable solution and demonstrated a deep-seated worldly zeal—all due to dull, worldly reasoning (21:10-14). In their minds, the leaders now had their solution to the Benjamite problem. They now knew how to secure wives for the Benjamites, how they could keep their questionable vow. They could execute all the people of this non-cooperating city except the virgins and in turn give the virgin women to the 600 men of Benjamin.
Simply stated, the citizens of Jabesh-Gilead had not fought in the war and had not taken the vow before the Lord: therefore, they deserved to be punished. This was the questionable reasoning and worldly zeal of the leaders. And this was their questionable solution.
The leaders mobilized 12,000 troops to march against Jabesh-Gilead. And they gave clear instructions to save only the virgins. But only 400 virgins were found and taken to the camp at Shiloh (21:11-12). An offer of peace was then sent to the 600 Benjamite soldiers who were hiding out in the hills at the rock of Rimmon. The soldiers accepted the offer of peace and returned. They were then given the 400 virgins as wives. But note: 200 of the surviving soldiers were still without wives. This created a new problem for the Israelite leaders.
Thought 1. Worldly reasoning, instead of spiritual reasoning, is what the leaders of Israel were doing. Worldly reasoning is trying to figure out problems or solutions without the presence of God. It is either focusing one's thoughts upon a certain subject without acknowledging God or letting the mind wander about, allowing all kinds of thoughts, even sinful, evil thoughts, to flow through. This is worldly reasoning or worldly thinking. It is not acknowledging God nor the need for God's presence in the thinking and reasoning process. It is paying no attention to the Word of God and His commandments. The person attempts to solve problems and handle difficulties by reasoning on his own. This is human reasoning without the presence of God or the guidance of God. Such a person is left only to what he can conclude or come up with. He does not have the presence of the Lord to help him or guide him. And he does not let the Word of God guide him. He does not let the instructions of God's Word guide him nor tell him what to do.
This was the reason the Israelite leaders came up with these questionable solutions that created all kinds of problems. And they ended up killing more of their own people. Appalling, unspeakable, and evil behavior. All because of questionable, worldly reasoning and zeal.
The lesson for us is clear: in all our reasoning and thinking, we must include God. We must ask for His presence and guidance, for His wisdom and even His knowledge. God always knows the answer, knows exactly what should be. And He knows what we should do. He knows the solution to the problem or difficulty. Therefore, we must seek Him, seek His wisdom and knowledge. This is exactly what Scripture declares:
1) We must not use worldly reasoning to solve problems and make decisions. We must not use questionable reasoning without the presence and guidance of God.
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things" (Romans 1:21-23).
"There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God" (Romans 3:11).
"For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:19-21).
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain" (1 Corinthians 3:19-20).
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8).
"For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge" (Jeremiah 4:22).
2) We must always use spiritual reasoning in our thinking process, always seek the presence of God in solving problems and making decisions. God knows the answer, the solution, exactly what should be and what should be done. Therefore, we must seek God's understanding and wisdom.
"For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist" (Luke 21:15).
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:18).
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5).
"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation [behavior, conduct] his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace" (James 3:13-18).
"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psalms 119:130).
"For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit" (Ecclesiastes 2:26).
"And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding" (Daniel 2:21).
2. (21:15-24) Deception, Results of— Lying, Results of— Human Rights, Violation of— Kidnapping, Reasons For— Israel, Sins of: there was the lying and public deception of the people and nation by the leaders. What happened next was a terrible abuse of human rights.
1. The grief over the Benjamites was deep, intense (21:16-18). And the leaders continued to search for a solution to provide wives for the 200 remaining soldiers. They were determined not to let the tribe of Benjamin die out. But the leaders still sought a solution that would not violate their vow. In their minds, breaking their vow would put them under the curse of God (21:18).
2. Finally, someone came up with what seemed to be a possible solution. But note: it involved a lie, a terrible deception and abuse of personal rights (21:19-24). The deception and abuse focused around an annual festival held in Shiloh. A large number of people, including many of the virgins from the various tribes, always attended the festival. To the leaders this was the answer: the 200 soldiers could snatch the young girls attending the festival, actually kidnap and marry them.
Tragically, they followed through with the plot for the kidnapping. They instructed the 200 soldiers to attend the festival, snatch the young girls, and take them back to their own homes in the territory of Benjamin (21:20-21). An appalling violation of personal rights! Nevertheless, these carnal, worldly leaders carried out the kidnapping plot. And they promised to handle the disturbed families and public by convincing them that there was no other way to save the tribe of Benjamin. A terrible deception of the nation, of the public. Just imagine the pain of the parents whose daughters were snatched, and the loss that would be felt by the brothers, sisters, and close relatives. A loss would be felt even by the communities throughout Israel. The shameful, immoral kidnapping was bound to cause an enormous uproar throughout the nation. Even if it was for the purpose of saving a tribe, it was still a terrible abuse of personal rights—an abuse that caused severe pain.
After receiving their orders, the Benjamite soldiers kidnapped the young ladies while they were dancing, took them back to the territory of Benjamin, and rebuilt the cities (21:22-23). The army of Israel then disbanded and returned to their homes (21:24).
Thought 1. There is a major lesson for us in this point: we must not lie and deceive people. It is wrong for nations and it is wrong for us as individuals—whether leaders or everyday citizens—to lie. No society or nation can survive based upon lies and deception. And no family can be based upon lies and deception, not without being severely damaged and collapsing. Lies and deception destroy. When a decision is based upon lies, it is the wrong decision. Bad results happen—not always immediately, but they always happen. Problems are created. If a financial decision is made based upon lies, money is lost by someone. If products are purchased based upon lies, once again, someone is cheated or is disappointed. If a relationship is based upon lies, it soon breaks asunder. If a student cheats, which is a lie, he may graduate, but he is not fully educated. Lies and deception damage and destroy…
• marriages
• families
• students
• employers and employees
• businesses
• friendships
• governments
• nations
God forbids the evil behavior of lying and deception, for it damages and destroys us. God loves us, wanting us to know the fullness of human relationships, the richness and the freedom of truthfulness. For truthfulness builds and nurtures relationships, builds strong families, friendships, businesses, societies, and the support of political leaders and government. Truth nourishes, nurtures, and builds up. But not lies and deception. Lies and deception damage and destroy. Scripture is clear: God wants us telling the truth, living together as brothers and sisters who build up one another.
"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:9).
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
"Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another" (Leviticus 19:11).
"Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing [lying]: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man" (Psalms 5:6).
"But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped" (Psalms 63:11).
"He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight" (Psalms 101:7).
"Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight" (Proverbs 12:22).
"A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape" (Proverbs 19:5).
"The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death" (Proverbs 21:6).
3. (21:25) Forsaking, God— Leadership, Lack of— License, Trait of Society— Indulgence, Trait of Society— Ruler, Lack of— Israel, Sins of: there was no ruler in those days. Every person did whatever seemed right in his own eyes, doing what he wanted, when he wanted. There was no moral leader in Israel, no leader whose heart was full of mercy and justice. And the Israelites were not willing to acknowledge any king or ruler, neither human nor divine. Wickedness was running rampant, with every person forsaking God and doing his own thing.
Thought 1. God warns us against backsliding, against turning away and forsaking Him. Far too many of us are living carnal, fleshly lives: doing our own thing, doing what we want, when we want, and how we want. We are not following God, not obeying Him; we are disobeying Him, breaking the commandments of God. And Scripture warns us against turning away from God and violating His Holy Commandments.
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:12).
"They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13).
"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first" (Luke 11:24-26).
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (John 6:63-66).
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:16-21).
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
"(...Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:8-12).
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them" (2 Peter 2:20-21).
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness" (2 Peter 3:17).
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us" (1 John 2:19).
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (Revelation 2:4).
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart" (2 Chronicles 25:2).
"The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself" (Proverbs 14:14).
Thought 2. Daniel I. Block gives an excellent conclusion to the Book of Judges that is well worth quoting:
Through the Book of Judges as a whole, the reader witnesses the amazing grace of God....[in that] he does not destroy [the Israelites]. Because of his grace the nation of Israel…emerge[s] more or less intact from the dark days of the governors/judges. Looking to the future Yahweh cannot allow his people to succumb totally to the Canaanite world....his work continues here and...in human history in spite of, rather than because of, his people. And the nation's propensity to capitulate to Canaanite ways and attitudes will not end here. It persists throughout her history, until in 722 and 586 B.C., after more than half a millennium, Yahweh has finally had enough.
If the reader will read on to the beginning of (1 Samuel)...he or she will discover that while the darkness continues, the grace of Yahweh will begin to penetrate that darkness. He will remove those who embody Canaanite values (Eli and his sons, Saul) and replace them with agents of light and grace (Samuel, David). This book and the history of the nation that follows serve as eternal testimony to the grim reality that God's people are often their own worst enemy. It is not the enemies outside who threaten the soul but the Canaanite within. At the same time this book and the ones that follow declare in most emphatic terms that God's work will get done! His kingdom is eternal; his covenant with his people is eternal; his promises are eternal.
Human heroes in the Book of Judges are few and far between. The same is true in the history of the church and especially in the contemporary American evangelical church. No book in the Old Testament offers the modern church as telling a mirror as this book. From the jealousies of the Ephraimites to the religious pragmatism of the Danites, from the paganism of Gideon to the self-centeredness of Samson, and from the unmanliness of Barak to the violence against women by the men of Gibeah, all of the marks of Canaanite degeneracy are evident in the church and its leaders today. This book is a wake-up call for a church moribund [dying] in its own selfish pursuits. Instead of heeding the call of truly godly leaders and letting Jesus Christ be Lord of the church, everywhere congregations and their leaders do what is right in their own eyes.
In the meantime Yahweh, the Lord of history and the Lord of the church, remains unchanged in character and intent. Because of his bountiful grace he continues to hear the cry of the oppressed and to deliver those who call upon him. In his grace he reaches out to those who claim to be his own, pleading for them to return to him, to abandon their Canaanite ways, and to recommit themselves to joyful obedience to his will. May the Lord of the church continue to lavish his mercy upon an undeserving people.
Thought 3. The commentator David Jackman says this:
Judges ends with a great longing for a better order, which depends upon a fundamental change of heart. It looks for a king who will reign to bring about justice and peace. Thank God the longing was finally met when Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God and saying, "'The time has come....the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"' (Mark 1:14-15 NIV). There is a king in Israel, whose government and peace will increase for ever, and who reigns on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness eternally (Isa. 9:6).
Thank God that there is a day still to come when it will finally be revealed that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15). That is the only ultimate answer to the problems of the Book of Judges, which are the problems of our sinful human hearts. Once we have read ourselves into the book, as Israel, we shall never be able to forget its poignant and powerful lessons.
Thought 4. On the very cover of his commentary, Gary Inrig says that "Judges shows us our potential for greatness…our capacity for catastrophe." He closes his commentary with these words:
There is a three-thousand-year-wide gulf between the times of the judges and our times. Modern technology makes that gulf look even larger, and we wonder how we can learn anything relevant from such a different world. Yet as we look more closely, the gulf begins to shrink. We see the people of God locked in a deadly conflict over their values and spiritual convictions, as their society turns its back on the living God and is overrun by the very contemporary evils of moral relativism, sexual libertinism, and religious anarchy. "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" is our motto, and, in the book of Judges, we see graphically portrayed the seductive appeal and inevitable disaster of such a life-style.
We could write Paul's words over the book: "Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved....Nor let us act immorally....Nor let us try the Lord....Nor grumble....and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Corinthians 10:6-11). One of the levels on which Judges speaks to us is a solemn warning of the seriousness of sin. No matter how great our past accomplishments for the Lord, we can fall into great sin if we take our eyes off the Lord Jesus. Every believer has feet of clay, and when he tries to stand on his own in a society without standards, he will quickly crumble into failure. That is the lesson of a Gideon, a Jephthah, or a Samson. "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12).
But the book of Judges is also written "for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4). If Judges tells of strong men made weak by self-confidence, it also eloquently describes weak men made strong through faith in God and by His work in their lives. Judges is the great Old Testament book on the Holy Spirit, and it describes the transforming work of the Spirit in making His people adequate servants of the Old Covenant. If there is hope in seeing how the Lord gave weak men hearts of iron then, it is reinforced by the glorious truth that the Holy Spirit works in the life of the humblest believer today in a way far surpassing anything Old Covenant believers knew. We serve a crucified, risen Savior. We live by the power of His indwelling Spirit. We hold in our hands the complete, inerrant Word of God. Our resources in Christ far outstrip anything the judges knew, and our potential for spiritual victory is far greater than theirs. But, at heart, the issue remains the same. There can be no victory apart from a dynamic, obedient fellowship with the Lord Jesus. A distinctive positive life in a difficult secular age is not the product of proper techniques but of a daily walk of faith.
The Apostle Paul was a man whose spiritual achievements and experiences set him apart from the common herd of believers. But because the Lord was aware of the danger of self-exaltation and self-confidence, He gave him a physical disability that he might learn this truth of the spiritual life. "When I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). God's strength does not remove human weakness, it transforms it; so that men with fearful hearts and feet of clay become men with hearts of iron to serve their God. That and that alone is the pathway to a spiritually powerful life in a secular and seductive age.
Thought 5. In concluding his commentary on Judges, Warren Wiersbe said this:
I must confess that I occasionally felt depressed as I wrote this book. One day I said to my wife, "1'11 be glad when Be Available is finished. There just isn't much good news in the Book of Judges!"
But the Book of Judges isn't the end of the story! In fact, the book begins with the words "now it came to pass," which is a strange way to begin a book. In the Hebrew, it reads "and it was." If I started a book with the phrase "and it was," the editors would send the manuscript back to me and tell me to brush up on my syntax.
But there are eight Old Testament books that begin with "and it was": Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, Esther, Ezekiel, and Jonah. Why? Because they're all part of the continuing story that God is writing! The end of the Book of Joshua doesn't end the work of God in this world, for the Book of Judges begins with "and it was." The story goes on! God is still working!
If the Book of Judges is the book of "no king," just keep in mind that 2 Samuel is the book of God's king; and David takes the throne and brings order and peace to the land. When the outlook is grim, just remind yourself that God hasn't finished the story yet.
A friend of mine who's involved in professional basketball likes to watch videos of his team's winning games. Even during the tightest moments of the game, he can relax in front of the TV set because he already knows how it's going to end.
There are days when God's people look at a chaotic world, a nation given to greed and violence, and a church weak and divided, and they wonder whether it's worth it all to walk with God and do His will. When that happens, remind your- self that God's people know how it's going to end! The Book of Judges isn't the last installment; the Book of Revelation is! And God assures us that righteousness will triumph, evil will be judged, and faith will be rewarded.
No Christian can do everything, but every Christian can do something, and God will put all these "somethings" together to get His work done in this world.
You never can tell what God has planned for you, so be available!
After all, one of these days, you'll have to be accountable, and you'll want to be ready.
A QUICK GLANCE AT
THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL
(In Chronological Order, Reading From Top to Bottom)
|NAME AND LESSON THEME |LENGTH OF RULE |
|Othniel: a man who was empowered by the Spirit |40 years |
|of the Lord (3:7-11) | |
|Shamgar: a farmer who had great courage (3:31) |Not given |
|Gideon: a young man who had a weak, wavering |40 years (8:28) |
|faith that constantly tested God (6:1-32) | |
|Gideon: a man who pictures weak, wavering but | |
|victorious faith—through the encouragement of | |
|God (6:33-7:25) | |
|Gideon: a man who demonstrated the strengths and| |
|weaknesses of an inconsistent life (8:1-35) | |
|Tola: a man from an unknown family—humble |23 years (10:2) |
|beginnings—who rescued his people (10:1-2) | |
|Jephthah: a man who demonstrated the constant |6 years (12:7) |
|cycle of a compromising, inconsistent life | |
|(10:6-18) | |
|Jephthah: a man born as an illegitimate child | |
|who was chosen by God to deliver His people | |
|(11:1-12:7) | |
|Elon: a man who left no significant legacy |10 years (12:11) |
|(12:11-12) | |
|Samson: a child with unbelievable promise, |20 years (16:31) |
|(13:1-25) | |
|Samson: a man of worldly compromise and selfish | |
|interests | |
|(14:1-20) | |
|Samson: a man of bitter anger and revenge | |
|(15:1-20) | |
|Samson: a man of loose morals who betrayed and | |
|destroyed himself (16:1-31) | |
|Ehud: a left-handed or disabled man of great |80 years |
|faith—a man who trusted God to guide him step by| |
|step (3:12-30) | |
|Deborah: a courageous woman |40 years |
|and | |
|Barak: a reluctant military commander (4:1-24; | |
|5:1-31) | |
|Abimelech: an illegal, renegade king; an event |Not given |
|showing just how corrupt the Israelites had | |
|become (9:1-57) | |
|Jair: a powerful but worldly man (10:3-5) |22 years (10:3) |
|Ibzan: a worldly man who corrupted his family |7 years (12:9) |
|through intermarriage with unbelievers (12:8-10)| |
|Abdon: a man who wasted his opportunity |8 years (12:14) |
|(12:13-15) | |
|Eli: will be studied in depth in the book of 1 | |
|Samuel | |
|Samuel: will be studied in depth in the book of | |
|1 Samuel | |
AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT
THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL
|NAME AND LESSON THEME |LENGTH OF RULE |PERSONAL STRENGTHS |PERSONAL WEAKNESSES |
|Othniel: a man who was empowered|40 years |1. Othniel was especially equipped by|None mentioned |
|by the Spirit of the Lord | |God: the Spirit of the Lord came upon | |
|(3:7-11) | |him (3:10). | |
| | |2. Othniel became Israel's first | |
| | |judge (deliverer) and fought against | |
| | |the enemy. | |
| | |3. Othniel brought peace to Israel | |
| | |for 40 years. For an entire | |
| | |generation, God's people lived in | |
| | |peace. | |
|Ehud: a left-handed or disabled |80 years |1. Ehud was a man of integrity, a man|None mentioned |
|man of great faith—a man who | |who could be trusted by the people | |
|trusted God to guide him step by| |(3:15). | |
|step | |2. Ehud was a man of unusual, | |
|(3:12-30) | |extraordinary courage (3:16). He | |
| | |plotted to personally assassinate the | |
| | |evil king of Moab and free Israel. | |
| | |3. Ehud was a man of great faith, a | |
| | |man who trusted God to guide him step | |
| | |by step (3:27-30). Trusting God step | |
| | |by step is one of the chief traits of | |
| | |Ehud. | |
|Shamgar: a farmer who had great |Not given |1. Shamgar had a physically fit, |None mentioned |
|courage | |strong body (3:31). | |
|(3:31) | |2. Shamgar had a persevering courage:| |
| | |killed 600 people over some period of | |
| | |time (3:31). | |
| | |3. Shamgar had a firm dedication: | |
| | |used what little he had for God | |
| | |(3:31). | |
|Deborah and Barak: a courageous |40 years |1. Deborah was the courageous woman |Barak's response was that of |
|woman and a reluctant military | |who was appointed by God to issue the |reluctance (4:8). He was a reluctant |
|commander | |call to Barak. Deborah had served for |commander: fainthearted, fearful, and |
|(4:1-24; 5:1-31) | |years as a prophet and a judge of |unbelieving. He was very |
| | |Israel (4:5-7). |straightforward, stating that he |
| | |2. Deborah and Barak were used by God|absolutely would not go unless Deborah|
| | |to defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king |went with him. His firm refusal was |
| | |(4:23-24). |definitely a lack of faith in God. |
|Gideon: a young man who had a |40 years (8:28) |1. Gideon was called by the angel of |1. Gideon's immediate response and |
|weak, wavering faith that | |the Lord himself (6:11-12) |first words were a complaint, a |
|constantly tested God | |2. The Lord's command to Gideon was |questioning of God's concern for the |
|(6:1-32) | |most difficult: he was to destroy the |oppression of His people (6:13). |
|Gideon: a man with weak, | |false worship center built to Baal on |2. Gideon's second response was an |
|wavering but victorious | |his father's property (6:25-26). The |excuse, an argument against serving |
|faith—through the encouragement | |obedience of Gideon was decisive |God (6:15-16). |
|of God | |(6:27). He took ten of his own |3. Gideon's third response was the |
|(6:33-7:25) | |servants and did as God commanded. |request for a sign to prove that the |
|Gideon: a man who demonstrated | |Note that he carried out the task at |call was really coming from God |
|the strengths and weaknesses of | |night because of the feared reaction |(6:17-24). Most likely, this was a |
|an inconsistent life | |from his father and neighbors. |legitimate request by Gideon, for he |
|(8:1-35) | |3. Gideon was a man who sought |had to test the spirits, so to speak. |
| | |peace—to avoid controversy—among God's|He had to make sure that it was |
| | |people (8:1-3). |definitely the Lord who was calling |
| | |4. Gideon was a man who warned |and commissioning him. It should be |
| | |scoffers and unbelievers (8:4-9). |noted, however, that Gideon's faith |
| | |5. Gideon was a man who endured, |was a weak, wavering faith. Later on, |
| | |persevered until he conquered the |when he came face-to-face with the |
| | |enemy (8:10-12). |enemy, he put out the fleece and asked|
| | |6. Gideon was a man who executed |God for two more signs to prove His |
| | |justice (8:13-21). |presence and guidance (6:36-40). |
| | |7. Gideon was a man who acknowledged |Although this first request for a sign|
| | |the Lord and His right to rule over |was probably legitimate, its root |
| | |His people (8:22-23). |probably arose from Gideon's weak, |
| | | |wavering faith. |
| | | |4. The life of Gideon is the picture |
| | | |of weak, wavering faith: putting out |
| | | |the fleece and seeking assurance from |
| | | |God (6:33-40). |
| | | |5. Gideon was a man who had an |
| | | |inconsistent testimony and witness |
| | | |(8:24-32). |
| | | |6. Gideon was a man who had a tragic,|
| | | |inconsistent legacy: his rule was soon|
| | | |followed by apostasy and rebellion |
| | | |against God (8:33-35). |
|Abimelech: an illegal, renegade |Not given |None given |1. Selfish ambition drove Abimelech |
|king; an event showing just how | | |to covet the power of his father. He |
|corrupt the Israelites had | | |plotted with his relatives, his |
|become | | |mother's brothers, to seize power |
|(9:1-57) | | |(9:1-3). |
| | | |2. Selfish ambition drove Abimelech |
| | | |to idolatry. The citizens of Shechem |
| | | |not only agreed to the conspiracy of |
| | | |this renegade, but they also provided |
| | | |a substantial sum of money to carry |
| | | |out the plot to seize power. Note that|
| | | |the support came from an illegal |
| | | |source, the temple of Baal (9:4). |
| | | |Abimelech took this money from the |
| | | |temple treasury of Baal and hired a |
| | | |reckless band of adventurers or |
| | | |mercenaries to help him seize power. |
| | | |3. Selfish ambition drove Abimelech |
| | | |to commit a horrendous crime. |
| | | |Abimelech, with his hired assassins, |
| | | |traveled to Ophrah and captured |
| | | |sixty-nine of his seventy |
| | | |half-brothers. Upon one stone, |
| | | |Abimelech and his assassins committed |
| | | |the heinous crime of mass murder, the |
| | | |unspeakable crime of slaughtering his |
| | | |own half-brothers one-by-one (9:5). |
| | | |But the youngest brother, Jotham, |
| | | |escaped. |
| | | |4. Selfish ambition drove Abimelech |
| | | |to bear false witness. He usurped the |
| | | |place of God in the lives of people, |
| | | |totally ignoring God by being crowned |
| | | |king. Abimelech stood before the |
| | | |people as a liar, a farce, a |
| | | |counterfeit, a false king (9:6). |
| | | |5. Abimelech was a vindictive person |
| | | |filled with anger, and he took his |
| | | |anger out on the revolting city. He |
| | | |had a score to settle, and he was |
| | | |determined to settle it. He divided |
| | | |his troops into three special strike |
| | | |forces and set an ambush on the |
| | | |outskirts of the fields where the |
| | | |people worked. When the people came |
| | | |out of the city to work, he attacked |
| | | |them (9:43). |
|Tola: a man from an unknown |23 years (10:2) |1. Tola was chosen by God from humble|None given |
|family—humble beginnings—who | |beginnings, an unknown family (10:1). | |
|rescued his people | |2. Tola was faithful to his call | |
|(10:1-2) | |(10:1-2). | |
|Jair: a powerful but worldly man|22 years (10:3) |Jair was a powerful ruler who was able|1. Jair was a worldly man. |
|(10:3-5) | |to bring twenty-two years of peace to |2. Jair was a polygamist and was |
| | |the Israelites. This fact, along with |controlled by fleshly passions and |
| | |the fact that he controlled thirty |urges. |
| | |cities, indicates a powerful ruler who| |
| | |was able to control his territory. | |
|Jephthah: a man who demonstrated|6 years (12:7) |Through Jephthah, God gave the |1. Jephthah was rejected and exiled |
|the constant cycle of a | |Israelites a great, stunning victory |by his brothers because he was an |
|compromising, inconsistent life | |over the Ammonites (11:29-33). |illegitimate son (11:1-3). |
|(10:6-18) | | |2. Jephthah made a desperate vow to |
|Jephthah: a man born as an | | |the Lord that involved the life of his|
|illegitimate child who was | | |daughter, causing her great pain and |
|chosen by God to deliver His | | |suffering (11:34-40). |
|people | | | |
|(11:1-12:7) | | | |
|Ibzan: a worldly man who |7 years (12:9) |Ibzan was a willing leader, a willing |Ibzan was a worldly man who disobeyed |
|corrupted his family through | |judge of God's people (12:8). |God's command; he led his children to |
|intermarriage with unbelievers | | |marry unbelievers (foreigners): a |
|(12:8-10) | | |picture of not being separated from |
| | | |the world's unrighteous and immoral |
| | | |ways (12:9). |
|Elon: a man who left no |10 years (12:11) |None given |Elon left no notable legacy. It is as |
|significant legacy | | |though he lived and died and |
|(12:11-12) | | |accomplished nothing worth |
| | | |remembering. He had served as the |
| | | |supreme judge or leader of the nation;|
| | | |therefore, because the history of a |
| | | |nation is usually recorded, this fact |
| | | |is recorded about him. But his reign |
| | | |was insignificant; he made no |
| | | |contribution worthy of mention—and he |
| | | |ruled for ten full years. |
|Abdon: a man who wasted his |8 years (12:14) |None given |Abdon wasted his opportunity for |
|opportunity | | |service: disobeyed God—practiced |
|(12:13-15) | | |polygamy and extravagance (12:14-15). |
|Samson: a child with |20 years (16:31) |1. The Spirit of the Lord began to |1. Samson compromised in marriage by |
|unbelievable promise, (13:1-25) | |stir Samson: to begin to deliver |marrying an unbeliever. This is the |
|Samson: a man of worldly | |Israel from the Philistines (13:25) |first tragic event in the life of |
|compromise and selfish interests| |2. Samson's cry to God is a picture |Samson that exposes his carnal, |
|(14:1-20) | |of being heard by God but still having|fleshly heart and demonstrates the |
|Samson: a man of bitter anger | |to bear the consequences of sin |compromising, inconsistent he lived |
|and revenge | |(16:23-31). Samson was saved through |(14:1-2). |
|(15:1-20) | |death, bearing the consequences of his|2. Samson compromised by showing |
|Samson: a man of loose morals | |sin (16:26-31). Being blinded, the |disrespect for his parents. His |
|who betrayed and destroyed | |Philistines had a servant lead Samson |parents strongly objected to the |
|himself | |about by the hand. Samson requested |marriage because the woman was a |
|(16:1-31) | |this servant to place him between the |Philistine, an unbeliever (14:3). |
| | |pillars that supported the temple. |3. Samson compromised his vow or |
| | |Note that all the rulers were in the |commitment to the Lord (14:5-10). This|
| | |temple and about 3000 men and women |was a grave offense, for vows are a |
| | |were on the roof watching Samson's |very serious matter to God (Eccl |
| | |amusing performance (16:27). As soon |5:4-6). |
| | |as the servant guide had placed Samson|4. Samson compromised control over |
| | |between the support pillars, he prayed|himself, allowing himself to burn with|
| | |to the Lord, asking the Lord to |anger. The flesh got the best of |
| | |remember and strengthen him. He |Samson again: he did not control his |
| | |requested God to execute justice and |tongue (14:11-20). |
| | |judgment on the Philistines (16:28). |5. Samson's sin with a prostitute is |
| | |In answer to the prayer, Samson was |a clear picture of yielding to |
| | |about to die. He placed his hands on |temptation (16:1-3). |
| | |the two support pillars and cried out |6. Samson's sin with Delilah is a |
| | |for God to let him die with the |graphic picture of destroying oneself |
| | |Philistines. While crying out, he |by yielding to unbridled lust |
| | |pushed with all his might, and the |(16:4-22). |
| | |temple came crashing down upon all the| |
| | |rulers and all the people who were | |
| | |within the temple and sitting on the | |
| | |roof. Note that more Philistines were | |
| | |killed in his dying than while he was | |
| | |living (v.29-30). Also note this | |
| | |point: the fact that God heard his | |
| | |prayer is strong evidence that God | |
| | |restored him spiritually, that in his | |
| | |death, all was right between him and | |
| | |his Lord. | |
| | |(Warren Wiersbe. Be Available, p.126.)| |
|Eli: will be studied in depth in| | | |
|the book of 1 Samuel | | | |
|Samuel: will be studied in depth| | | |
|in the book of 1 Samuel | | | |
A STUDY OF CHIEF CANAANITE DEITIES
(Judges 10:6) Deities, Canaanite; Gods, False; Idolatry: before they entered the promised land, the Lord gave specific instructions to the Israelites on how they were to treat the false gods of the Canaanite nations. They were to completely destroy the false gods, erase all forms of idolatry. In one of history's greatest tragedies, Israel failed to exterminate these false Canaanite gods. Their failure resulted in condemnation and destruction. As we study this sobering material, one thing rings true: there is only one true and living God (Jehovah, Yahweh). He and He alone is to be worshipped and served.
ANATH: was considered to be Baal's sister and wife. Anath was also a goddess of love (sex) and war, noted for her lust for blood.
Impact Upon Israel
What kind of impact did Anath have upon Israel? There is no specific evidence, but it is clear that the Israelites worshipped Anath, surrendering themselves to the horrible attributes of this goddess. They lived immoral, permissive lives and often gave far too much honor to the power of military might. Just imagine the wasted energy that God's people invested in worshipping the attributes of this goddess. And for what benefit? The individual's emptiness, hopelessness, and lack of assurance could never be satisfied by the immoral and violent ways of this world.
Impact Upon People Today
Has the worship of the ancient god Anath made an impact upon society today? The answer is a definite yes! Multitudes worship the goddess of sex, war, and violence. All over the world people are still controlled by a lewd desire for sex and violence. An unsatisfied lust that is found throughout society…
|• in movies and television |
|• in magazines and newspapers |
|• in cities and suburbs |
|• in governments and businesses |
|• in homes and schools |
We must forsake the spirit of Anath, a spirit that lusts after immoral sex and violence. We must seek after and cling to the only living and true God.
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1).
Support Scripture To Study
Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath [worshipers of Anath]; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries unto them. Judges 1:33
And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. Judges 3:31
In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travelers walked through byways. Judges 5:6
Concordance Notes:
Beyth `Anath, Hebrew 1043, Strong's
Beyth `Anath, bayth an-awth'; an orthographical variation for Hebrew 1042 (Beyth `Anowth); Beth-Anath, a place in Palestine :- Beth-anath.
Beth-anath, Hebrew 1043, NASB
Beth-anath [112c]; from Hebrew 1004 (bayith) and a word from the same as Hebrew 6067 (Anath); temple of Anat, a place in Naphtali :- Beth-anath(3).
`Anath, Hebrew 6067, Strong's
`Anath, an-awth'; from Hebrew 6030 (`anah); answer; Anath, an Israelite :- Anath.
ASHERAH: was the mother goddess (the symbol of fruitfulness). She was considered both the wife and sister of El (God). She was known as the goddess of the sea in Syrian literature and was one of the major goddesses of western Asia. Asherah was worshipped because of her emphasis upon sex and war.
Impact Upon Israel
Israel disobeyed God and did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves (asherah poles). The cancer of worshipping false gods such as Asherah became a sickness that kept Israel from ever claiming the full inheritance promised by God.
Impact Upon People Today
It does not take very long to notice that sex sells. Just look at any advertisement that promotes…
|• automobile sales |
|• clothing |
|• food |
|• movie or television previews |
|• personal products such as soap or shampoo |
|• just about any other product |
Attractive, sensual models—both women and men—are promoting product after product with their sexuality. After viewing the advertisement, the question becomes, "What is for sale?" We must make a daily decision to forsake this perverted world-view and live a life of holiness, righteousness, and purity before the Lord.
"If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work" (2 Tim. 2:21).
Support Scripture To Study
But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves [images, idols such as Asherah]: Exodus 34:13
But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. Deut. 7:5
And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Deut. 12:3
Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Deut. 16:21
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves. Judges 3:7
(See also Judges 6:25-26; Judges 6:28; Judges 6:30; 1 Kings 14:15; 1 Kings 14:23; 1 Kings 15:13; 1 Kings 16:33; 1 Kings 18:19; 2 Kings 13:6; 2 Kings 17:10; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 21:3-4; 2 Kings 21:7; 2 Kings 23:4; 2 Kings 23:6-7; 2 Kings 23:14-15; 2 Chron. 14:3; 2 Chron. 15:16; 2 Chron. 17:6; 2 Chron. 19:3; 2 Chron. 24:18; 2 Chron. 31:1; 2 Chron. 33:3; 2 Chron. 33:19; 2 Chron. 34:3-4; 2 Chron. 34:7; Isaiah 17:8; Isaiah 27:9; Jeremiah 17:2; Micah 5:14)
Concordance Notes:
'asherah, Hebrew 842, Strong's
'asherah, ash-ay-raw'; or 'asheyrah, ash-ay-raw'; from Hebrew 833 ('ashar); happy; Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same: grove. Compare Hebrew 6253 (`Ashtoreth).
ASTARTE [Greek] (Hebrew ASHTAROTH or ASHTORETH): this fertility goddess was worshipped as the goddess of love (sex) and of war. Prostitute priestesses were a legalized part of the cult of this fertility goddess. She was associated with fornication and drunkenness.
Impact Upon Israel
Israel forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord not only by worshipping the false gods of Baalim and Ashtaroth, but also the gods of Syria, Zidon, Moab, Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They forsook the Lord and refused to serve Him. Solomon himself fell and began to worship this false god Ashtaroth, as well as the false gods of the Zidonians and the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:5; 2 Kings 23:13).
Impact Upon People Today
Illicit sex has become a god in today's culture. Adultery is not only on the rise, but is accepted as normal in many social circles. Sexually transmitted diseases are rampant and dooming many people to an early death. When a person chooses to cast away God's law and live for the lusts of this world, the results are obvious. The person who lives a life of fornication and drunkenness will become a castaway.
God's Word is clear to the believer: our lives must be marked with sexual purity and sober thinking.
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
Support Scripture To Study
And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. Joshua 9:10
And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, Joshua 12:4
All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out. Joshua 13:12
And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families. Joshua 13:31
And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. Judges 2:13
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him. Judges 10:6
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. 1 Samuel 7:3-4
And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. 1 Samuel 12:10
And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 1 Samuel 31:10
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 1 Kings 11:5
Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 1 Kings 11:33
And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. 2 Kings 23:13
Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs: 1 Chron. 6:71
Concordance Notes:
`Ashtarowth, Hebrew 6252, Strong's
`Ashtarowth, ash-taw-roth'; or Ashtaroth, ash-taw-roth'; plural of Hebrew 6251 (`ashterah); Ashtaroth, the name of a Sidonian deity, and of a place East of the Jordan :- Ashtaroth, Astaroth. See also Hebrew 1045 (Beyth `Ashtarowth), Hebrew 6253 (`Ashtoreth), Hebrew 6255 (`Ashteroth Qarnayim).
BA'AL: dominated the false worship of the Canaanite nations. His name means master or lord. Baal was symbolized by the bull. He was worshipped in various worship centers and on numerous hills scattered all throughout Canaan. These worship centers were known as high places. Special emphasis was placed upon Baal's powers of procreation; consequently, Baal was closely associated with sexual immorality in the forms of prostitution, fornication and drunkenness. He was given credit for the weather, being the Canaanite storm god who controlled the rain. He was thus responsible for the crops and livestock of the farm. One other significant note: it was claimed that he had once died, but he had risen from the dead again.
Impact Upon Israel
Many of the Israelites turned away from the Lord and offered their worship to Baal. This act of spiritual treason was reprehensible. It was gross idolatry; such treason found its way into every part of Hebrew life. For example, there were some Israelite parents who named their children after Baal. There was...
• Jerubbaal (Judges 7:1)
• Eshbaal (1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39)
• Merib-baal (1 Chronicles 8:34; 9:40)
Also, there were times when a place became so significant that some Israelites attached the name Baal to the location. Examples are…
• Baal-gad (Joshua 11:17)
• Baal-hamon (Song 8:11)
• Baal-hazor (2 Samuel 13:23)
• Baal-meon (Numbers 32:38)
• Baal-peor (Deuteronomy 4:3)
• Baal-tamar (Judges 20:33)
Some of the kings of Israel served Baal, and during their reigns, many of the people followed their lead and worshipped Baal. But there was never a time when all of God's people bowed their knee to Baal. There was always a remnant, a group of believers who refused to follow after this false god.
Impact Upon People Today
It has become popular to follow the latest fads and cultural trends. Not wishing to be seen as out of touch or old fashioned, many people join in the worship of the spirit of Baal. Many have succumbed to so called modern or up-to-date teachings that mock God and exalt a spirit of Baal. People look…
|• to some form of worship that allows them to live and do|
|as they wish |
|• to zodiac or stars to predict the future |
|• to the occult for harnessing spiritual power |
|• to glass crystals for direction in life |
|• to illicit sex to meet the needs of an empty soul |
|• to the famous and the sensual models for direction and |
|purpose in life |
There is only one true and living God, only one Creator and Sovereign Majesty of the universe, the Lord God Himself (Yahweh, Jehovah). We must be grounded in the truth of the Lord and look to Him as our anchor in an ever-changing world.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Support Scripture To Study
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people. Numbers 22:41
And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. Judges 2:13
And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: Judges 6:25
And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. Judges 6:28
Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar. Judges 6:30-32
And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal-tamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah. Judges 20:33
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 1 Kings 16:31-32
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Romans 11:4
(See also 1 Kings 18:19; 1 Kings 18:21; 1 Kings 18:25-26; 1 Kings 18:40; 1 Kings 19:18; 1 Kings 22:53; 2 Kings 3:2; 2 Kings 10:18-23; 2 Kings 10:25-28; 2 Kings 11:18; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3; 2 Kings 23:4-5; 1 Chron. 4:33; 1 Chron. 5:5; 1 Chron. 8:30; 1 Chron. 9:36; 2 Chron. 23:17; Jeremiah 2:8; Jeremiah 7:9; Jeremiah 11:13; Jeremiah 11:17; Jeremiah 12:16; Jeremiah 19:5; Jeremiah 23:13; Jeremiah 23:27; Jeremiah 32:29; Jeremiah 32:35; Hosea 2:8; Hosea 13:1; Zeph. 1:4)
Concordance Notes:
Ba`al, Hebrew 1168, Strong's
Ba`al, bah'-al; the same as Hebrew 1167 (ba`al); Baal, a Phoenician deity :- Baal, [plural] Baalim.
Baal-berith: was a weather god who was worshipped in some temple after the death of Gideon. The false worship was centered in Shechem. This false god was also known as El-berith, the god of the covenant. (see Judges 9:46)
Impact Upon Israel
After Gideon's death, Israel returned to their cycle of sin, returning to a life of idolatry worshipping Baal-berith. This must have cut the heart of God. He had done so much for His people, including delivering them from years of oppression. And now, this callous act—rejecting God and following after a false god of the evil Canaanites.
Impact Upon People Today
Many people today are no different from the Israelites. Some still confess having a relationship with God only later to reject Him in favor of the latest religious movement. They turn away from God to the latest theological idea, idol, famous person, or some so-called messiah. In order to satisfy their flesh, these people make a covenant with a god who cannot meet their needs.
But the Bible is clear: we must never worship any other god. There is only one Creator, only one living true God, the Lord God Himself (Yahweh, Jehovah). He and He alone is the Sovereign Majesty of the universe. He and He alone is to be worshipped.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me" (Exodus 20:3-5).
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And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. Judges 8:33
And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. Judges 9:4
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith. Judges 9:46
Concordance Notes:
Ba`al Beriyth, Hebrew 1170, Strong's
Ba`al Beriyth, bah'-al ber-eeth'; from Hebrew 1168 (Ba`al) and Hebrew 1285 (beriyth); Baal of (the) covenant; Baal-Berith, a special deity of the Shechemites :- Baal-berith.
Baal-peor: was a Moabite deity whose name means lord of the opening. The Moabites offered vulgar worship—illicit sex with women—to this false god on the top of Mount Peor. This false god was used by the Moabites and the Midianites to seduce the Israelites to engage in illicit sex. Their strategy was to use sex to lead to intermarriage and intermarriage to lead to the merging of the races. By this, the Israelites would be extinguished as a race (Numbers 25:18). The Moabites and Midianites showed terrible contempt for God and His people. Therefore, they were to be destroyed for their outrageous sin
Impact Upon Israel
Israel was seduced into a sensual, immoral, false worship of this Moabite idol. Overcome with burning lust, the Israelites indulged themselves with illicit sex with the Moabite women. Imagine the pain they caused God. They perverted the precious gift of sex that He had ordained as an intimate picture of love in marriage. God's gift was spoiled. His rightful worship was stolen and given to a perversion of sex.
Impact Upon People Today
When a society attempts to remove God from its institutions, serious cracks in the foundation will occur. In many homes, schools, and businesses, mention of God is forbidden. Is there any wonder that these homes, schools, and businesses have become a hostile battleground for the success or failure of marriage? Wild seeds have been planted that have reaped bitter fruit. In many societies, illicit sex is seen…
|• as normal |
|• as romantic |
|• as a right |
|• as a legitimate need |
|• as love |
The spirit of Baal-peor is alive and well today. God's gift has been perverted and twisted into something He never intended. His Word is clear: If we are to rightly worship Him, we must honor the marriage bed.
"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4)
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And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. Numbers 25:3
And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor. Numbers 25:5
Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baal-peor: for all the men that followed Baal-peor, the Lord thy God hath destroyed them from among you. Deut. 4:3
They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. Psalm 106:28
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved. Hosea 9:10
Concordance Notes:
Ba`al Pe`owr, Hebrew 1187, Strong's
Ba`al Pe`owr, bah'-al peh-ore'; from Hebrew 1168 (Ba`al) and Hebrew 6465 (Pe`owr); Baal of Peor; Baal-Pe''r, a Moabitish deity :- Baal-peor.
Baal-zebub: was a special deity whose worship was centered in the great Philistine city of Ekron. Baal-zebub was given the attribute of being able to produce and control the infestation of flies. This same false god was known in the New Testament times as Beelzebul or Beelzebub (see Matthew 12:24; Luke 11:19-23).
Impact Upon Israel
Baal-zebub was consulted by King Ahaziah. In his sickness, he reached out to this false god that did not have the power to heal him. What a tragedy when people place their misguided faith in false gods. It will always lead to death.
Impact Upon People Today
Why do people place their faith in false gods? Why do they risk eternity with gods who cannot hear, heal, or hasten to help them in their desperate time of need? When the answer is Jesus Christ, why does the search go on and on? The reason is clear: the darkened souls of people would rather go their own way, even though the way…
|• is crooked |• is insane |
|• is perverted |• is unfruitful |
|• is dangerous |• is bound for hell |
History has repeated itself: the active worship of Baal-zebub goes on today in the sense that multitudes of people continue to look to false religions and false gods who have no power to help.
"To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble" (Isaiah 46:5-7; see also 44:9-20).
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And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? 2 Kings 1:2-3
And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. 2 Kings 1:6
And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. 2 Kings 1:16 (See also Matthew 12:24; Luke 11:19-23)
Concordance Notes:
Ba`al Zebuwb, Hebrew 1176, Strong's
Ba`al Zebuwb, bah'-al zeb-oob'; from Hebrew 1168 (Ba`al) and Hebrew 2070 (zebuwb); Baal of (the) Fly; Baal-Zebub, a special deity of the Ekronites :- Baal-zebub.
CHEMOSH: was one of the major false gods of the Moabites. This national deity was so intertwined in the life of the typical Moabite that the worshippers became known as the people of Chemosh. Seen as a god who rewarded his people with land, the Moabites looked to the idol for property and possessions.
Among the cruel rites of worship, Chemosh was worshipped by sacrificing children to the idol. A child was sacrificed in fire with the hope that such a costly sacrifice would gain the favor of the false god, and the god would richly reward the worshipper.
Impact Upon Israel
For some reason, Solomon built a temple for Chemosh on a high place (some believe it to have been on the Mount of Olives). Later on in history, the prophet Jeremiah condemned Chemosh and his followers.
Impact Upon People Today
The people of Moab wanted a god whom they could appease and then manipulate to richly bless them. This strategy has been copied and perfected by people today. Many try to secure property, money, provisions, products, and success by attempting to persuade God with much talking…
|• by promising to do good works |
|• by living a moral life |
|• by demanding special treatment |
|• by trying to bribe God |
|• by embracing a disciplined, controlled lifestyle |
The Lord—the only living and true God—cannot be manipulated. His will cannot be bent in order to appease or to show favoritism or partiality to any human being. He is the Sovereign Lord of all people everywhere. His sovereignty rules over all.
"The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all" (Psalms 103:19).
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Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. Numbers 21:29
Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the Lord our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess. Judges 11:24
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 1 Kings 11:7
And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. 2 Kings 23:13
For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together. Jeremiah 48:7
And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence. Jeremiah 48:13
Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives. Jeremiah 48:46
Concordance Notes:
Kemowsh, Hebrew 3645, Strong's
Kemowsh, kem-oshe'; or (Jeremiah 48:7) Kemiysh, kem-eesh'; from an unused root meaning to subdue; the powerful; Kemosh, the god of the Moabites :- Chemosh.
DAGON: was the national god of the Philistine people. Dagon was an ancient deity from the East, most probably from Mesopotamia. He was the god of water molded in the image of a fish with a human head and hands. He was also attributed to have power over the harvest of grain. The Philistines built temples to Dagon in several cities, including Ashdod and Gaza.
Impact Upon Israel
Samson was killed in the temple of Dagon as he pushed the support pillars down, killing thousands of Philistines with him. Later on in history, the ark of the Lord was stolen and taken to the city of Ashdod. The ark was placed in the temple of Dagon, right beside the image of the false god. During the night, in the presence of the Lord, the false idol fell face down with the head and hands breaking off. Entering the temple the next morning, the people found the idol broken apart piece-by-piece, limb-by-limb.
Impact Upon People Today
Throughout history false gods come and go. As people give their allegiance to gods like Dagon, the outcome is always disappointing. For no god can stand before the Lord. False gods do not live. They are only imaginary gods or inanimate objects that...
|• cannot hear |
|• cannot save |
|• cannot strengthen |
|• cannot help in time of need |
|• cannot take the pressure of life |
|• cannot stand before the Lord |
The message for believers today is strong: we must never allow ourselves to create and worship false gods who cannot hear, save, nor help us.
"They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed" (Isaiah 44:9).
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Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. Judges 16:23
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore, neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god. 1 Samuel 5:1-7
And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 1 Chron. 10:10
Concordance Notes:
Dagown, Hebrew 1712, Strong's
Dagown, daw-gohn'; from Hebrew 1709 (dag); the fish-god; Dagon, a Philistine deity :- Dagon.
EL: was known as the head, the king, the chief of all the other Canaanite gods. He was thought to be the creator of the earth and, in particular, controller of storms. In day-to-day practice and experience, despite being the head of the other Canaanite gods, El's influence over people was considered to be weak and insignificant when compared to the other gods (like Baal).
Impact Upon Israel
Israel succumbed to worshipping El, a strange god, even though God repeatedly warned against it.
Impact Upon People Today
Tragically, many have turned away from God in favor of worshipping something strange and perverted. What provokes a person to do this? They lust…
|• to control their destiny |
|• to gain independence |
|• to gain power |
|• to feed their flesh |
|• to secure fame and recognition |
|• to mock God's name |
The temptation abounds as the false gods of this world compete for our allegiance. We must forsake all others and give our entire devotion, worship, and love to God.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
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For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Exodus 34:14
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Psalm 44:20
There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. Psalm 81:9
Concordance Notes:
'el, Hebrew 410, Strong's
'el, ale; shortened from Hebrew 352 ('ayil); strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) :- God (god), × goodly, × great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong. Compare names in "-el."
MOLECH or MOLOCH: was a false god and a cruel system of false worship. This system of false worship was adopted by the Ammonites who saw Molech as a protective father figure. Molech was worshipped by sacrificing children with burning fire.
Impact Upon Israel
This vile worship was strictly prohibited by God; however, several of Israel's leaders led many to worship the false god Molech. Solomon built an altar to Molech; King Manasseh gave homage to the false god; and King Jehoiakim resurrected the false worship after Josiah destroyed an altar of Molech.
Impact Upon People Today
Time has not changed very much in how society treats innocent children. Instead of running children through a literal fire, we have improved the twisted art on how children are sacrificed and destroyed. The modern-day equivalents are abortion, child abuse, and a lack of love and discipline in the home and school. As some negligent parents indulge in the worship of self, their children become nothing more than unholy sacraments of the parent's worship and are sacrificed on the altar of self. Why is this allowed to happen? Because much of society sees children…
|• as an inconvenience to an adult's schedule |
|• as an interruption in a career |
|• as unneeded |
|• as a bother |
|• as too costly |
|• as a mistake |
Every child is precious to God. The spirit of Molech has taken a killer's grip upon the lives of too many children. A willingness to worship Molech comes at a great cost—to the children, to the adults, and to the quality of life within society. There is no easy exit here, but the Christian believer must take the lead and renounce Molech and those who follow him. Will our generation be the one to put an end to child sacrifice? It is a matter of life and death for many children.
"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Ps. 139:13-16).
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And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. Leviticus 18:21
Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not: Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people. Leviticus 20:2-5
And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 2 Kings 17:31
And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. 2 Kings 23:10
And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart. Jeremiah 7:31
They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind: Jeremiah 19:5
And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. Jeremiah 32:35
Concordance Notes:
Molek, Hebrew 4432, Strong's
Molek, mo'-lek; from Hebrew 4427 (malak); Molek (i.e. king), the chief deity of the Ammonites :- Molech. Compare Hebrew 4445 (Malkam).
OTHER CANAANITE DEITIES NOT MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE
HAURON: was the shepherd god.
KOSHAR: was the Vulcan of the Canaanites.
MELKART or MELCARTH: was worshipped in Tyre.
MOT: was the god of death and sterility.
SHAPASH: was the goddess of the sun.
Sources: We are grateful to the following works that helped us compile our study:
1. Unger's New Bible Dictionary
2. Holman Bible Dictionary
3. Nave's Topics
4. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
5. NIV Bible Dictionary
6. NIV Study Bible Notes
7. Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionary as compiled by iExalt Software
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