Will We Believe?
Notes
Transcript
Will We Believe?
Will We Believe?
Judges 1:1-7 -
Judges 2:1-5 -
We have just been through the Easter season - we’ve focused on the cross and the empty tomb of Jesus Christ - where his victory over sin and death for us was won and proclaimed. God the Son took on our humanity to pay our penalty in his body, on the tree - He rose physically and literally from the grave to guarantee our resurrection and unhindered joy in heaven. We’ve remembered and celebrated where our salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, was purchased. So now what? Is the Good News just of a hope for the future when we die? You know it’s not. You know that Jesus said, “I have come that they have life and might have it more abundantly.”
This morning, I want to begin a new journey with you - a new journey that flows out of the wonder of Easter. We’re going to take a break from the book of Romans, that we’ve been working through this year, and we’re going to go back to the Old Testament - and begin a new journey through the Old Testament book of Judges. This journey is going to take us about 15 weeks - right into the summer, Lord willing.
Before we go any further, I wonder how much you know about the book of Judges? Maybe you know where to find it - in the historical books of the OT. Maybe you know that it’s a book that comes right after the book of Joshua - as the people of God are in the Land of Promise. Do you know that the time period covered by this book is huge - the events recorded on these pages cover the period from about 1400 BC to about 1050 BC - almost 400 years?
Maybe you know something about the stories in Judges? It has amazing stories. We’re going to read portraits of people like Ehud – the Left-Handed Warrior, Deborah the take-charge woman leader, Gideon the warrior whose weapons were an empty jar and a torch, Jephthah – the judge whose vows got him in trouble, to Samson – the warrior with massive muscles, who was turned to jell-o by a woman.
In so many instances the characters on display for us on these pages are case studies in dysfunctional personality types. They are fascinating. Maybe you know that.
Judges: Such a Great Salvation Preface
The church (in general) has a problem with the Book of Judges. It is so earthy, so puzzling, so primitive, so violent—in a word, so strange, that the church can scarcely stomach it. As with many Old Testament materials, the sentiment seems to be, ‘If we just study the epistles long enough, maybe it will go away.’ The church has her way of dealing with embarrassing Scripture; ignore it. Yet that is difficult to do with Judges. It’s so interesting. Only people who take tranquilizers before sitting down can doze off while they read it.
Yet there is danger in that. When a book and its human characters are so colorful and dramatic, we may miss the book’s intention—to be a revelation from God about God (Alec Motyer).
So what is the point in studying these ancient stories? Entertainment?! No, this is God’s Word. He has chosen to reveal Himself through His Word. As Paul wrote to Timothy: “All of Scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching and . correction and for training in righteousness - that the person of God may be complete and equipped for every good work.”
All of Scripture is useful - - even the all too often neglected parts of the OT - all of it is useful for displaying God to us, pointing us to our need and the Gospel of Jesus Christ - as the only answer to our deepest needs.
And I chose this book out of the OT because of how relevant it is for us today. Judges?! Relevant?! Men with super strength and long hair? Warriors going into battle with pots and torches in their hands? How on earth is this relevant to me?
There is a refrain that offers the conclusion and summary of the book – Judges 21:25 , “In those days, there was no king in Israel: Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
Does that sound at all relevant to you, living in our society today?! That could be the summary of every newscast, every edition of the newspaper in our country today!
Everyone did what was right in his own eyes … there is not a better description of life in our society than that.
With all that said, let’s get into this book.
The book of Judges begins with two prologues - two introductions: chapter 1.1-2:5 and then chapter 2:6-3:6. This morning, we are going to focus on the first prologue.
READ: JUDGES 1:1-7; JUDGES 2:1-5
There are three aspects of the passage that I want us to focus on:
1. The Sunrise of Promise 1:1-3
After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the LORD, Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”
Our passage is the introduction to Judges, but the book of Judges doesn’t stand alone - it has a historical context and a Biblical context.
And if you are going to understand what this book has to say to you, you need to understand its context.
The book of Judges picks up where Joshua leaves off – and it is the beginning of a new day, full of promise.
Remember where God’s people have been: The People of Israel cry out to God for rescue from Pharaoh’s cruel hand, out of the slavery in Egypt. God sends Moses, delivers them – takes them through the wilderness for 40 years. Moses dies, God sends Joshua to lead the people into the land of Promise – a land flowing with milk and honey – which really means, a land of overflowing GOOD – blessing. Moses dies on the doorstep of the land. But plans have already been made. Moses has mentored Joshua, so at the end of Deuteronomy, Moses hands over the leadership - Joshua takes over.
Under Joshua’s leadership, the people break into the land and conquer. Now here they are, surrounded by the pomegranate trees - the heavy vines of sweet, plentiful grapes. The fields of golden grain that they could only dream about in Egypt’s slavery … and during the 40 years in the barren wilderness . The book of Joshua ends with great hope and joy – God has delivered on His promise. In chapter 24 of Joshua, the people renew their commitment to their God – 24:21, “We will serve the LORD”.
The beginning of Judges makes it clear that the story is not finished. Yes, God has led His people across the Jordan river. Yes, He has given them victory, sometimes in miraculous ways, over cities that stood in their way. Yes, the people are in their new home - -
… The PROBLEM is - the old owners haven’t moved out. That’s not going to work. It doesn’t work when you actually like the people. You probably didn’t have guests over for Easter dinner, but let’s go back to the last big celebration: How many of you had a house full of guests at Christmas? Do you have a Cousin Eddie in your extended family - came over for dinner? How many of you did a great job of keeping the smile on your face - but you were within a hairs breadth of going insane – if your guests had stayed one more day?
The Canaanites are not even family – they have to go. In fact, God’s instructions to Israel are clear - - the people know exactly what God has told them to do:
Deuteronomy 20:16-18: “But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save nothing alive that breathes but you shall devote them to complete destruction (the Hebrew word for ‘destruction’ here is herem – important word that we will learn more about next week) – the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the LORD has commanded.”
“That doesn’t sound very ‘God-like’”. “Destroy them all?! Wipe them out?!” Seems harsh – but God gives the reason, in Deuteronomy 20:18 : “. . . that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so sin against the LORD your God.”
“Oh … here we go! We’re coming face to face with the nasty, brutish God of the Old Testament.” Some of you are thinking that right now. If you know anything at all about the book of Judges, chances are you know that this is a violent book. People warring with each other, brutalizing each other … well, that’s life in the real world - I don’t know how you can have a problem with a book that realistically describes the real world that you and I live in.
But there is also the problem of violence, in this book, that GOD COMMANDS. How do you deal with that? That’s an honest question asked by many people who are looking for truth - so we need to take that question seriously. Let’s deal with it now, before we go any further.
First thing I’ll say: Do you realize that the New Testament is actually MORE severe than the OT? In the OT there is judgment pronounced on kings and people - but it’s a judgment that ends at the grave.
This may surprise you -but the first person in the Bible to talk about hell and everlasting punishment - is NOT God in the OT, but is Jesus Christ? Jesus describes hell in great detail and talks about it more than any other person. It was Jesus Who said, “Don’t fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” I’m not saying, that you should take the violence of Judges lightly. I am saying that to be consistent - you can’t try to drive a wedge between God in the OT and Jesus Christ - who reveals God to us in the NT.
Second thing I’ll point out is that you should ask yourself, “WHY? Why do we have an instinctive, internal revulsion at the idea that people could be commanded to destroy other people?” That response makes no sense, if there is no God - if people are not created in God’s image.
Woody Allen, “Is there anything more terrifying than the destruction of the world? Yeah, the knowledge that it doesn’t matter one way or the other - that it’s all random, radiating aimlessly out of nothing and eventually vanishing forever.”
Paraphrase: “Is anything more terrifying than destroying a person or nation? Yes - knowing that it ultimately doesn’t matter whether you do, or whether you don’t - because, at the root of reality, there is no meaning - and nothing lasts.”
If humans have no more inherent dignity than mosquitos - then why does the violence in the world, or in the book of Judges - why does it even matter? The answer is, ‘It matters PRECISELY because human beings do have an inherent dignity … and we recognize that. We are created in the image of God. God cares”. Which also means - that before you get all upset at what God commands in this book … maybe try to understand the ‘why’ of what He commands - Understand that He is holy.
A third problem we have is the image that comes to mind when we hear about these Canaanite kings. You read about Adonai Bezek, for example, here in chapter 1 - and you picture in your mind, an ancient equivalent of the King of Denmark in our day, for example.
“Sure the people of Denmark are different than we are. They may not be spiritually where they need to be and you may or may not even like the way they run their country, over there. But destroy them?! Isn’t than an over-reaction?!”
But that’s the wrong picture. A better, more accurate picture would be Hitler or Stalin … these are tyrants - beasts.
Look at Adonai-Bezek in v. 6, “Adonai-bezek fled, but they ursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes.”
“Well, that’s the kind of brutality that we’re talking about, isn’t it?
But look at what he says himself, in v. 7: “And (he) said, ‘70 kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me.’”
This Canaanite king hasn’t just done this very act that seems so brutal to our refined sensibilities - he has done it to 70 others. And even he recognizes that he is getting JUSTICE here.
These Canaanite kings are a spreading virus of violence in their world.
This is not a racist thing. Remember the book of Joshua, when the Israelites are still on the outside of the land - Joshua sends the 2 spies on a reconnaissance mission into Jericho - it’s the first of the Canaanite cities and the spies go in to check it out. They stay at the home of Rahab, who isn’t just a Canaanite - she’s a Canaanite prostitute.
Remember how that story turns out? She BELIEVES - She puts her trust in God, identifies with His people and she and her whole family are saved.
The very next story in Joshua - goes from Rahab to Achan. When Jericho falls, Achan, who’s a privileged ‘insider’ - He’s an Israelite … inside the ‘covenant people’ - he’s even from the tribe of Judah. But he sins - disobeys God’s direct command - keeps some of Jericho’s loot for himself … and he and his whole family are destroyed, at God’s command.
This isn’t xenophobia - this isn’t Israelite vs. Canaanite … this is God’s moral judgment going on here.
And then there’s their worship.
Not only did their worship end up as little more than a lascivious display of sexual immorality - shrine prostitutes, male and female .. which led to diseases running rampant among the population ...
But their worship ends up so depraved that human sacrifice is an integral part of it.
Child Sacrifice - - - take their firstborn child and offer as a fiery sacrifice - dead - to the deity. This is a wicked, wicked people.
This has been going on for hundreds of years - ‘the sin of the Amorites is not yet complete,’ God said to Abraham centuries before. These people have had hundreds of years to turn from their wickedness … but have only dug deeper and deeper.
So while this land is a gift from God to His people - this is also His judgment on the persistent, deadly sin of the Canaanites.
And if you still think that this punishment is too harsh, then I’d suggest that you don’t see this world as God sees it. He is a God of Holiness … He demands holiness … He models holiness … and even in judgment, He acts in holiness.
That great hymn, “Amazing Grace” has the verse where we sing: “‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear … and (THEN!) grace my fears relieved.” Perfect theology: FIRST comes the fear of the Holy God of heaven … and THEN comes the relief. And the problem inside too many church today … is that there are too many hearts that don’t know what it is to FEAR a Holy God.
The possession of the land will not be complete UNTIL the Canaanites are dispossessed. The Israelites will possess by DISPOSSESSING the Canaanites.
Now there is a little uncertainty as the book begins, Joshua has died, v. 1 tells us, they have no leader - - so they inquire of the LORD, ‘Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites?’ Could the promise be in jeopardy without our leader?
The LORD gives his answer in v. 2, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.” Don’t miss that: I have GIVEN the land - - - The sun really is out – the future is bright for the people of God. “I have given” … the land. It’s past tense, it’s a done deal … so, go!
2. UNDER A CLOUD OF JUDGMENT 2:1-5
The second aspect of this passage that I want you to notice, is an unfortunate one - already, by the end of the first chapter, dark clouds are rolling in. The Israelites are under a dark cloud of judgment, in chapter 2:1-5.
Chapter 2 begins with a visit from the angel of the LORD, who brings God’s message to the people: v. 3 “So now I say, ‘I will NOT drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’” What’s going on here?! The book has barely begun. Just a chapter ago, God says, “I have given the land into your hand,” .... and now He says, “I’m not going to drive the nations out before you?!” Has God made an about face?! Has He changed His mind?
v. 1b, “I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, (verse 2) … and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land, you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.”
How quickly the hope fades under the clouds of discipline - - By the 4th verse of the second chapter of this 21 chapter book, the people lift up their voices and ‘weep’ Verse 5, “And they called the name of that place Bochim” - the word Bochim means ‘weeping’ . It is only the beginning of a story that in so many ways is a tragedy and there are already tears on the part of God’s people.
Anybody listening feel like you are living in a place called Bochim, right now? Why is that? God is on the throne of the universe - He is all-powerfully working out His good purposes … nothing can stand in His way … and He’s promised to never leave you … never forsake you
… but today, truth be told, your life is misery.
Don’t miss the relevance to us, today, brothers and sisters. This message of judgment is a reminder that you can be a child of God – It is possible to have been rescued, saved from your sins, through faith in Jesus Christ - - and yet, you still live with the pain of thorns in your sides and frustration marking your steps because you have chosen to disobey your Savior
ILLUSTRATION - STORY .... Remind us again and again that it is possible to believe and proclaim the true Good News of Jesus Christ and His finished work … and still live in misery - - in a place of weeping.
What exactly does Israel do wrong in Judges 1?! The chapter is almost boring because of how much detail it gives in account after account of conflict between the Israelites and the Canaanites. Isn’t that exactly what God told His people to do?
I mean, look at Adoni-Bezek, in v. 5, and how the men of Judah and Simeon defeat his army and then - - when he tries to escape – they chase him down and cut off his thumbs AND big toes!! That’s brutal – Isn’t that enough?! That will teach him a lesson! Aren’t God’s people OBEYING the command of God by their actions?
3. THE FAILURE TO FIGHT GOD’S WAY 1:4-36
The reason for God’s judgment in chapter 2 becomes clear, if you read chapter 1 carefully. The third point I want to make this morning is that the Painful discipline of God comes because of the “Failure of God’s People to Fight God’s Way.”
Remember how I said that God’s clear instructions were to wipe out the Canaanites in the land? He commands His people to wage a truceless war with the people of the land. But, look at the descriptions of how God’s people battle God’s enemies:
v. 7 of chapter 1, They may have cut off the thumbs and big toes of Adoni-Bezek, sure he won’t be picking up a spear or running to lead his people in battle, any time soon, but they allow this Canaanite king to live. The text tells us they brought him – ALIVE – to Jerusalem.
.... Already there is COMPROMISE - - And it’s a sign of trouble ahead. You know, as well as I do: compromise never travels alone.
v. 21, The people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem.
v. 27 – Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-Shean.
v. 28 – When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.
v. 29 – Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer.
v. 30 – Zebulun - - - Kitron
v. 31 – Asher - - - Acco, Sidon . . . etc.
v. 33 – Naphtali - - - Beth-Shamesh . . .
Tribe after tribe is described as going into some kind of battle, but NEVER finishing the job - making compromises instead.
v. 34 – Sad Irony - The Amorites (actually) pressed the people of DAN (A tribe of God’s people) BACK into the hill country.
And chapter 1 ends by telling us of the borders of the Amorite people STILL IN THE LAND.
God says, “They will lead your fickle heart astray - - - so WIPE THEM OUT!”
And His say, in response – “No, that’s too harsh - takes too much effort. We know better than You do, God. We will be their neighbours instead - - How about if we make them our slaves - - We’ll be fine!” God’s people compromise.
O, the compromises seem so small at first, but once you start down that road - - the compromises get bigger and bigger and BIGGER - - until they can destroy your life. And that is exactly what God wants us to see here. “Destroy the Canaanites” is the command that begins the book – and by the end of Judges – not only have they NOT DESTROYED the Canaanites, but Samson – the judge or deliverer of Israel is MARRYING the Canaanites.
That, friends is how sin progresses - - It starts by not really TRUSTING in God’s Word – and it ends with the painful thorns that poke our flesh and puncture our joy.
Do you see the relevance to us – brothers and sisters?! This chapter is so important to us! The Son of God comes with the promise, “I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly”. He seals the promise with His blood. We accept the sacrifice – enter into the spiritual promised land - - but I wonder – are we content to make truces?
No we don’t face a physical enemy like the Israelites do in Judges - - there are some who try to twist Scripture and find physical enemies ‘out there’ that we can hate and wage war against in God’s name”.
Ephesians 6 tells us that we wrestle NOT against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness . . . Therefore put on the whole armor of God . . .”. Our enemy isn’t physical - it’s spiritual!
Romans 8:12-13 “If by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body – you will live.”
John Owen, the Great Puritan, paraphrased this verse well when he said, “Kill Sin or it will be killing you.”
Every single one of us here this morning begins this new year as a work in progress - - - we are in the promised land of Salvation - - but the Canaanites of sin still threaten us and God says - - You will live the abundant life in Christ – IF you fight sin –
Are there any pet sins you are compromising with? A critical spirit you are at peace with? Oh, that’s just my personality.
CORONAVIRUS - - Somebody invites you over for dinner. Not right now, but when this isolation is all over - so many people are looking forward to simple pleasures, like eating together! So when this is all over, you get an invitation to go for dinner. You’ve never been to these people’s house before – so you’re not sure what to expect. You dress up in your finest and take flowers for the wife of the house - - The house looks nice from the outside – and when you ring the doorbell – they usher you inside and take you to a palatial living room - - original paintings hang on the wall – a luxurious leather couch invites you - - but you no sooner sit down at the table, stacked with the finest of foods - steak, lobster, vegetables … when it becomes obvious these people are not well. They’re coughing, clearly feverish and they mention their difficulty breathing. “Yes, we just got tested and it seems that we have Covid-19. We didn’t want to cancel the dinner though, because we didn’t want to call off our plans.”
What do you do? “I’m sorry - we have to go! We’ve got to get out of here!”
Do you just pretend it is no big deal and go on with the evening? NO – you do all you can to persuade them to get rid of it all IMMEDIATELY!
I began this year, pointing you to the importance of reading your Bible - the massive difference it makes in your life to not just read once a week, or twice or even three times per week … but the statistics that point to the impact that reading 4x per week has on people – I don’t want you to neglect that this year – But what I want to press home to you this morning is this: READING GOD’S WORD IS NOT ENOUGH - - - READING AND BELIEVING IT will change your life - - - The failure of Israel in the book of Judges, that led to the misery of the people - - Was, first and foremost a failure to BELIEVE God.
So why the book of Judges? What does it have to do with you? I want us to dig into this book
This is good news. As we make our way through the stories of the people leading God’s people - we are going to see failure after failure - we’re going to see people who are not just in Canaan, but Canaan is in them. I’ve titled this series, ‘Flawed Saints; Faithful God’ … and when it comes to God’s people in the book of Judges - ‘flawed’ is the understatement of the year! These are people who would sin themselves right out of relationship with God, if it was up to them.
… Oh, BUT GOD - God is faithful. And if you belong to Him, you can know that there is NOTHING that can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing.