Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: In My Own Eyes

III.

CLIMAX: THE DEPTHS OF THE CANAANIZATION OF ISRAEL (17:1–21:25)

1.

The Religious Degeneration of Israel (17:1–18:31)

2. The Moral Degeneration of Israel (19:1–21:25)

In verse 1 “There was a man is the beginning of a new focus in Judges...

New Focus on the everyday people of God, no longer the Governors and Deliverers...

It’s easy for us to point a finger at them but what about us ordinary folk???

Structurally chaps.

17–21 divide into two parts.

Even though the narrator will offer the reader a window into the private lives of Israelites in each part, the first segment describes the fate of the Danites in the period of the governors (17:1–18:31); the second, the fate of the Benjamites (19:1–21:25).

The plots of these two segments go their own ways, but the narratives are linked by numerous common features.

1.

Both tribes, Dan and Benjam, were assigned territory in Israel’s heartland, between Judah and Ephraim, the tribes that would later lead the Southern and Northern Kingdoms respectively.

By selecting episodes that concern these tribes the narrator cleverly emphasizes that the degenerating tendency in Israel was not simply a problem in the fringe territories.

It had infected the very heart of the nation.

2. Both tribes found themselves in dire straights, though for different reasons.

As announced in the prologue to the book (1:34–36), the tribe of Dan had been unable to occupy the territory allotted to it by Joshua and was forced to search for a homeland elsewhere.

The tribe of Benjamin incurred the hostility of the rest of the nation and came frighteningly close to disappearing as a victim of Israel’s “holy war.”

3.

In both accounts the crisis was precipitated by the actions of a nameless Levite.

4. In both accounts the Levite had a Bethlehem-Judah connection.

The first Levite came from Bethlehem-Judah (17:7–8); the second traveled to Bethlehem-Judah (19:1–2).

5.

Both Levites had connections with Mount Ephraim.

The first Levite ended up in the household of Micah, who lived on Mount Ephraim (17:1); the second actually lived in this region (19:1).

6.

Both accounts involved priestly characters inquiring of God concerning the outcome of a proposed plan of action (18:5–6; 20:27–28).

7.

Both accounts conclude with a reference to Shiloh.

Judges 18:31 notes that the Danites continued to use Micah’s idols as long as the tabernacle was at Shiloh; in 21:19–24 the narrator describes an event that took place at Shiloh.

8.

In both accounts military contingents consisting of six hundred men played a critical role (18:11, 16–25, 25; 20:47; 21:7, 12, 14, 16–17, 23).

9.

Both accounts are punctuated by variations of the refrain “In those days Israel had no king” (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).

In the first the formula is inserted at critical junctures in the narrative and functions as an episode marker; in the second the formula frames the entire narrative, appearing at the beginning and the end.

Twice, once in each section, the formula is augmented with, “Everyone did as he saw fit” (17:6; 21:25).

The Israelites do not need either a governor (Samson) or a king to lead them into sin.

They will do it on their own.

Selfishness was one of those things that led them and us to do evil...

Selfishness is a characteristic of the sinner

Ro 8:5; 2 Co 5:15

See also Pr 18:1; Ro 2:8; Eph 2:3

Selfishness is a characteristic of sinful society

See also Jdg 17:6; Jdg 21:25

Expressions of selfishness

Greed

See also Mk 12:7; Lk 12:13–21; Ac 5:3

Ambition

See also Je 45:5; Ga 5:19–20; Php 1:17; Jas 3:14–16

Boastfulness

Self-absorption as the result of pain or depression

Job 14:22; 1 Ki 19:10

Antidotes to selfishness

God’s word

The example of Jesus Christ

See also Php 2:4–8

Dying to the old nature

See also Eph 4:22; Col 3:9

Serving one another

See also 1 Co 10:24

Loving one another

See also Mt 22:39; Ro 13:8–10

God’s Plan of Salvation

Hear

Believe and Confess

Repent

Be Baptized

Remain Faithful

My Decision Today

 I would like to be baptized today

 I would like to renew my life to Christ

What are my next steps?

 Come forward to be baptized

 Request a Bible Study to learn more

 Attend Bible Class to grow and mature

 Find a place to serve others