Covenant 11/08/2020

Let me go through the some of the highlights of the Book of Judges.

It's a little bit difficult sometimes to give some sense of what is the overall theme because every little by radical vignette of those who got raised up for a particular need is filled with contradictions. We would like to look and say oh, I want to be like this judge and we read further and find out that he has a bit of scoundrel in him. Or he's motivated by the wrong thing. That's all I want to just reiterate. What I consider to be the Single theme of The Book of Judges. And you can find it twice as you read through you can find it in judges 17:6 and again in 2125 and it simply says in those days. There was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. I got to tell you when I was new to the face that I read that I thought. Well, that sounds great. Israel was never intended to have a king. They were to be ruled by God and by his commands. But that's not what it was saying. It's saying that is real did not have any King. They gave no Credence to authority over them other than their own desires. And everyone did what was right in his own sight in his own eyes. The problem wasn't their own eyes were simple their own eyes their own heart directed them. Ward whatever their preference was, whatever their need or desire was not according to the will of the God who called them out of slavery and made a nation of them. That sound familiar. I know everything recently has been about the election or

Mary. Quit worrying about Kobe cuz we got it we were cover. I don't know if we were coming from every relaxing because they're not finished yet and we're still has people are still fighting. But if you think about some of the things that divide us some of the things that cause upheaval for us if not a whole lot different than the Book of Judges. We know that after the death of Joshua as we enter that. Of the judges. That the people began to stray away from God. They made Unholy alliances with the pagans the Canaanites those who had wealth in the land. About whom God said we'll have them out. I'm giving this land to you. This is going to be a Holy Land in but we still refer to that area of the world is the Holy Land. When was far from holy because they did not obey God. They did not remove the Pagan Idols of the worshippers of faults God. In fact, they started to participate with them. Why would they do that? Well, but we generally discover is it when people think that God has failed them they look for a better offer. I know that sounds silly. But sometimes that's the way it goes. Have. You heard people who say I don't think I'm going to believe in God anymore because he did not answer my prayer the way I wanted him to haven't you heard that or people who are sort of on the edge about what they believe will how can I believe in a God who allows and then fill in the blank.

In reality when we get to that point, but we are saying is if God does not obey. My leadership, I will not follow him. And that's where we find the Israelites not all of them. But many of them they've already made uneasy alliances with pagans and some of those same Pagan tribes and nations are becoming a thorn in their flesh. We're going to take a look at two of the judges who are so different. The reason I wanted to compare two of them, it's for us to see what sort of person does God call to serve him in a time of need. If I asked you to write down the characteristics got it looking for I wonder what your list would include. Let me stop and give you the list of attributes or the list of the shift in these two men Gideon and Samson and see if these qualities are on your list. guinea hen began in a state of fear

He moved to a time of faith. He ascended to a position of pain. And then he crashed into actions of folly. How many of those attributes are on your left? just one

Phantom was a little bit different Samson began with pride moved on to Folly. practice to defeat and then had one final ending in faith. There again babe. It's probably under list, but God selected these men different though. They were. In part, I think to show that when he calls someone to service it is not the magnify them. It is to show his glory to serve his purpose. So let me give you a quick and when a minister says quick he doesn't really mean quick. Let me give you a less than tedious summary of these two judges.

Gideon

live in a time when the midianites were rampaging through Israel. And many of these nations we're not trying to conquer the land. They were perfectly fine with Israelites planting and harvesting crops. They would come in and steal them. The midianites were afflicting the people of God by coming and stealing their lives. Stop stealing their grain stealing their the fruit of the vine, whatever they had whatever they produced The midians Wanted in the Internal Revenue Service, you know, except for produce and for good. And when we open the chapter on Gideon multiple chapters, we find Gideon living in fear Because by the time we get to the story if people had sort of made uneasy peace, they would hide enough to survive and hope the midianites didn't find it. They weren't going to stand up against the midianites because they didn't think they could defeat them without real problem was in their hunger in their distress, and then they're want instead of repenting and coming back to the faith in God and decided to try a different offer. Never been in position where you have the same car insurance for years, but didn't quite treat you fairly and about that time. Every other insurance company said we can give you a better deal. Remember that I forgot my audience most of York somewhere near my age. And this is what they call Open Enrollment. Alright, so if you are old enough to be here getting Medicare benefit how many of you get your mail box filled with offers that are going to revolutionize your Healthcare. Am I the only one 50th all their offers are true. I just need to change my insurance and I'll be 35 again. That's how it is in the spiritual realm during the. Of the judges they would go to whatever foreign God promised them prosperity. And at this point in this part of Israel, they were worshipping Baal and his consort. Asherah Baal was the god of the storm. They needed to send rain for their crops. Asherah was the goddess of fertility and they erected these monuments these altars to these false gods just a theater lights it done throughout their history and they still haven't learned that doesn't work. It's on here is Gideon working in the winepress. Now. Most of you don't have a wine press at home. So just a little Logistics here. The winepress was usually into a recessed Place below the ground where they could print out the grapes. Everything is contained the wind. This is not a problem and it's chilly out of sight but it's not a place where you grind wheat. They just don't go together. But we find that Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine, press the hide it and the midianites. And the curtain opens on Gideon we find him afraid we find him hiding. He's hiding very near to the altar of Baal. He is afraid of everything. And then suddenly he is confronted with a vision of what the Bible calls the angel of the Lord. And depending on the context some people say well that is a Archangel speaking about half of God other say no that is that is a pre incarnate christophany. Bactrim you all use everyday write an appearance of Christ. Whatever, but the context teaches us. It was the manifestation of the authority of God and when the angel of the Lord speaks to Gideon he is of course terrified, but then he begins to complain. If you are really who you say you are and that you say God is here to help us why have you let us get to this point? I'm at sound familiar. Where were you when we needed you? Why did you let us suffer? Of course from our perspective because you didn't want to know why didn't you take care of us? And as it goes forward. He asked questions. Why didn't you take care of us before? How water can you call me to help save is real. I don't have any skills. I'm not a soldier. I'm not a leader. I'm hiding out in the winepress treading out the grain. I know you says so give me a sign. Never done that before you think maybe God is calling you to something and use that one. That's something I want to do. If God calls you to prosperity and God calls you to pleasure. Do you say God I want you to prove it to you step out of the face or something good but have God calls you to a task that you're not sure you want to do most of us have a little Gideon in us and we speak back to that voice whether it is the the still Small Voice Within or an appearance of an angel of God. It was a well. If you are really who you say you are give me a sign that so Gideon brings out. Various things from the fruit of the vine to the animals to sacrifice before God and the age of the Lord when everything is set up takes his staff and touches it in the altar becomes a blaze and the offering is burned up. how to reminds me of the Days of Elijah battling the prophets of Baal Gideon finally gets it and he finally realizes I am talking to the authority of the universe until the angel tells him some of the things that he needs to do.

And the first thing he says is go. And tear down the altar of Baal which is on your father's land tear it down and use that wood to build an altar to the Lord and cut down the asherah pole destroy them and instead use them as fuel to worship. God and Gideon immediately said I will do that. No. He kind of said, okay, and he waited until the dead of night. You're not interesting that the things even when God tells us to do something. We're still fearful of people seeing us people judging us when God has declared. This is what you do, but he still working in fear, but he's trying to also obey and Faith but the fear had a winning out, but he got her some of his friends and they tear down the Altar and the next day the neighbors realize there's been terrible vandalism at the altar of Baal. And we're not forget Ian's father and receiving. They probably would have killed Gideon because he had defiled Are pagan altar.

I think I might as well. Get out of the army. I'm going to beat the midianites. How does a little out of order because I'm putting all the fear responses together. Union does rise to the occasion. One of the first things that he did with the spirit of God did come upon him in faith, but he sound of the trumpet of he call all of his tribe and plan to go and fight the midianites and as soon as they marched toward the place where the midianites were in Camp, he goes right back to fear. He goes right back to figuring he says if this is really what you want me to do. I want you to prove it to another side and this is the part that most of us know about with Gideon. He said let me lay a fleece before you people over the years telling me they just wanted to lay a lease before the Lord and I say how do you read judges? Laying a fleece is a sign of faithlessness and Gideon was so intent on hoping that he didn't have to go into battle that he asked God on two different night to do it two different ways. One time he wanted the fleece. To be wet and the ground to be bribed other times you wanted the fleece to be dry the ground to be wet.

As soon as God answered his request for a sign he up to and he's at but can you do it backwards?

Don't raise your hand. We don't have public confession here. What do I enjoy hearing some of your confessions? I wonder how many of us would have that same response. Send me a sign and there's a sign. Well, that could be a coincidence. Show me do the opposite in fear, even though he's taking a step of faith.

And along the way it begins to act in faith. At one point. God says you've got way too many people. I don't like 20,000 men to follow him. And God said, you know what? Let's trim this down a little bit. Too many soldiers and I thought were getting and I think the same thing are you kidding? Have you seen the midianites?

And yet he obeys and hears what God says those who are faint of heart those who are not sure they want to be part of this let him go home. I will have to say who behind Gideon did not choose to be one of those people who went home. He still knew he had to leave this the source, but they were cut down to half. What's a half their size? And then a little bit closer to me. I can't they stopped again. And God said oh by the way, you still have too many people. And you may recognize this part of the story. You just have your men go down to the down to the stream to drink. And those who kneel down and cut their hand to drink keep them, but the ones who get down stick their head in the scream and laugh it up like a dog let them go home.

You're choosing an army based on etiquette. Oran Grace

But he did that and now he was down to 300 people to go against the force of thousands. He was actually working through faith. But he was still afraid and he got near the camp of Midian. Have you realize how huge they were and how well-armed they were?

and then God speaks and then says I know you were afraid. So why don't you go down to the edge of the camp of the midianites tonight? Take your servant with you. If you need some moral support your wingman. So to speak I just go down there and spy it out. See what's going on. But I got to the camp and the camp was crawling with midianites soldiers. He was huge. It was frightening, but they waited and they heard one of the midianites talking to another and he said I had a bad dream a really troubling dream and in my dream this large round barley low came rolling into the camp. That sounds comical something with no Weaponry value came rolling into the camp and destroyed all of our forces. And his friend apparently who heard what was going on with the other side that went back and be nothing less than a warning about Gideon. The Gideon will come upon us and people defeat us or suddenly get it who did not believe what God had this a believe the dream of an idolater. I'm not sound like human beings. But he was in current so he went back they divided his men into three sections 100 eat section. They put their torches and empty jars so that the light would not shine out and they went down there and this is where Gideon the first time he seems to be prideful, but I don't think he is. He said when I give the signal break the jars and charge in and Shout for the Lord and Gideon at first I thought why is he taking credit? And the reason I think is that the midianites have heard the dream and a dream was set up with this guy Gideon. So he says shout out to them with the Lord forgive Ian. Your dream has become your nightmare. Here we are and as they broke the jars at all of the Torches came to light around their camp with a bright light out in that dark place. All of the midianites turned on each other in panic and getting you did not have to lift the sword. They defeated one another.

well We're almost done with this very brief review. But we still have another job to figure out. As they return from the battle some of the other clans of the area came to meet them and work in thickness because they said why didn't you allow us to share in the in the battle at what were they really saying? This was a glorious thing that's worth getting all over Israel about what happened. We would love to have been a part of that. So we be part of the glory Eddie bird diplomatically says, oh there still more to be done. Why don't you follow the midianites and capture their kings? And put them to the sword. And that makes everybody happy. You want to make sure that everybody who wanted Glory got Glory? And then he headed back home.

So what happened when he got home? You think all the people said praise God he is our King and we have no other.

How many do you think that's what happened? I'm not sticking to hands. Because you are suspicious as I am know when he got back to his hometown. He was hailed a hero and one of the people say, rule over us. He was famous now. Any one more statement of faith. He said I will indeed not rule over you. God himself the Lord will rule over you and we're all ready to say ye giving out of humility God is the one God will reign over his people not a human being and then as quickly as he said that he said to the man who had gathered all of the gold and and plunder of the midianite can't use that line each one of you give me a gold earring and they did so gladly because he was the hero of the day and we're just told and one short little raised. And Gideon melted the gold and made of it a gold ephod. The Bible scholars are divided on this because the word in Hebrew, which is ephod simply means an object or symbol. We know that David wear a linen ephod when he worship God. The many scholars think that this was more like Gideon decided that he was not going to be the civil magistrate of his people. He was going to be their spiritual had About Israel already had a high priest who wore the ephod and the breastplate they gave him the power of his office. There was only one but Jimmy and faster the ephod so that he know how big can the de-facto high priest in his community. Who was always consulted on what do you think God wants? if you had a choice in your flashlight in this who either govern which means meanings Or to be the spiritual head that everyone wants to come to the guru of all wisdom and godliness. Which way would you go Gideon chose make me like the high priest the one who has an end with God is pride on his face and brings him back to Folly. And we know that when Gideon died. It wasn't long before the people went back to sin again return back to their idols. Let's take a look at Samsung. Give me and did what God asked him to do. He was successful. He drove back the midianites and they were not a problem for a season. But later on the problem is that midianites it was Philistines. Abby were crying out for someone who would deliver them a judge will be raised up to fight the Philistines. An announcement was before he was born. His mother was told do not take strong drink. Prepare yourself for the purity of the Nazarite vow of the Nazarite vow. The man's right vowel is is basically the term means to be set apart. and in ancient Israel The Nazarite vow was usually a temporary valve that you made as you gave yourself over to an intense time spiritual thinking of God and during that time. The hair would not be cut. You'll be set apart. You would live a very Spartan life. You would be consecrated to service to God until your time was over. But there are those who were nazarites for Life. Samson was born into a Nazarite life. Do you remember who else was?

No, no, don't all speak at once. In the Old Testament, the Elijah was a Nazarite in the New Testament was John the Baptist. They didn't cut their hair. They wore simple clothing. They did not partake of any strong drink. And for most of the men who took a Nazarite vow. They also did not have any interaction with women. It was a very celibate monastic type of life. And so these nazarites were called by God to be holy and set apart to him and that's where Samson comes in. Samson was born and quickly. since the spirit of God upon him and as his hair grew he became stronger and stronger. and as a Young Man When the spirit of the Lord began to stir and him, he immediately went and did something religious. No, Samsung was very differently Gideon Samson knew that he had strength that God had given him he knew he been called by God since before he was born and he was arrogant about it. He considered that strength to be his own to do with as he liked. Delgado his sovereignty used even the personal desires of Samson to affect his plan against the Philistines. But Samson was operating quite often just on his hatred of Philistines and his love of his power. One of the first things we see in Samson's life. Is that while his parents were hoping that if he did marry he would marry within the faith because it was quite a simple thing to marry outside of the Jewish faith even today in Orthodox, Judaism. But he said no, you see that that Philistine woman. I didn't mean to point the Christy. She's on Philistine woman. You see that that woman over there. I want her as my wife and I pleaded with him as a no sign. If you don't want to do that. Marrying someone among your own people don't defile yourself with an idolatrous. And he said that's the one I want. That's the one you get for me. Disrespectful to his parents seemingly disrespectful to his faith. But then we're told that God was behind even that knowing what Samsung would do. God have made provision for that to be a part of his plan that this was in a way from the Lord who is seeking an opportunity for Samson to begin cracking the Philistines. Well, once he prepared a feast to celebrate his betrothal to this Philistine woman. They gathered some friends among the Philistines Friends of the family there. I'm Sandra could not resist. Daring them to something they offered them a riddle. If you can answer this riddle. I will give each of you a set of clothing and they were 30 of these men and back then clothing was not Walmart stuff. It was expensive. He says he hears the riddle out of the eater came something to eat out of the strong came something sweet.

Now if you can read this, you know that prior to this Samson. Have been walking out in the countryside and when he saw a lion and he slew the lion with his bare hands. Pour it apart. And left the carcass by the road and then he returned sometime later. He found that the bees and use that open carcass or a hive and there was Honey in the car cuz and he's poop some of it I need it. I'm not sure I would want that lion honey, but It was free. I thought you. What a great rental. No one's going to figure that one out. But his beloved wife to be the Philistine woman was basically told by her friends. We will burn your house down if you don't find out the answer because we don't want to have to lose the bet it's so she wheedled entwined and finally got him to tell her to answer which then she convey to the pill when they got the answer right to Samsung. Say wow. You guys are smart. Now he had that Immortal line. You would not have known this had you not plowed with my heifer.

How are you ladies would like to be referred to as a heifer?

I don't think so. Samson was not a man of class and virtue and manners. He was a man of Vengeance. And so what he did was he went and found 30 Philistines somewhere else and kill them. So they're closing went back and gave it to the 30, but he owed clothing to This doesn't sound like a Godly Man Of Honor does it? Because remember he started off with pride and now he's moving into foolishness into folly.

You all know that he is going to eventually hook up with Delilah. But what does he do right before meeting Delilah and taking her into his heart? He spends the night with a prostitute and the Philistines think oh, we will capture him or kill him when he comes out in the morning. And for whatever reason he left in the middle of the night. It's grown in is almost as a throwaway phrase as though oh sure all Servants of God stop by to visit prostitutes know they don't you see his character is being portrayed as rough Surly and certainly morally questionable.

So he went and found Delilah. Fell in love with her and here's where his pride comes again and turns to finally you can't seem to kiss keep his mouth shut. Go Delilah, ask him.

Where does your great strength come from? And he decides that he's going to play a game with her decent. But well if I were bound with seven bowstrings, I lose my strength. So as soon as he's asleep, she calls the Philistines and they come to the house and she's a Samson the Philistines are upon you and he stands up and he snapped the bow strings.

What who would not recognize that this was a setup? But he was enjoying himself. That's what the next time. She asked. He said well you buy me with new ropes. I lose my strength same thing happened again. He first the roast get a third time. She said oh, why are you treating me this way? If you really loved me you would tell me. And he still doesn't get it and this time he says well if my hair is woven into a loom. I lose my screen. She has his hair will turn into a loom while he sleep in the man sleeps a lot apparently. NFL teams come upon him and he just throws the loom off and pass them out.

finally she wants some more.

And finally, he says it's my hair, honey.

It is my long hair the sign of my strength if my if my hair was cut I lose my strength. But here's the listening question. Do you believe that his hair was the source of his strength? now his hair was a symbol of his obedience to God and it was the only part of the Nazarite vow. He have not broken.

And he was so arrogant at this point. So foolish in his sense of invincibility that he actually told her how he could be defeated. When you fell asleep.

Here's your question who cut Samson's hair?

You'll always smell right when I ask you this question. Delilah did not cut his hair. I was taught growing up Delilah cut Samson's hair. And I thought well that's phrase as time went on. I realize I don't even want my wife to cut my hair. She called him an son translation station called a barber someone who knew how to do it. Because you know, if you're going to arrest the man you want me to look good if someone came and cut his hair and then she does the same thing Samson and the Philistines are upon you God left him. It doesn't say what his hair was cut his Frank left in this is God left him God stepped away until when they came in they found him easily. Amazon the Philistines fault that they had finally won over Samson the gallons out his eyes leaving in blind. The Shackled him and they made him tread out grain. Like they would an ox or another domestic animal. He was a blind slave to the Philistines. And so you might think the story ends. And we're also if anything you look at 7 to see who could be worse in character. Then Samson. The answer is a Philistine. maybe that's why he got entry into their culture so easily he thought the way they then they were gathering one of their large Pagan festivals in the temple of their Idol Dagon. It was this. Temple that made them proud because it was a great size and and beauty And they wanted Sampson to come entertain them. Because who doesn't want to see what this big Burly guy who has no strength left and is a blind and show off how clever you were to defeat him until they bring Samson out and we just told him passing during this time his hair grew again. But we're not told that his friends came back. And that's how I recognized. It was not about the hair. It was about the symbol of his faithfulness to God. When did Samson finally get his strength back one more time when he called out to God? And he said Lord, please grant me strength just this one time. He asked if while they were mocking him if he could be put between the two main pillars of their Temple so that he could feel the presence of their Temple and I thought finally he's honoring our Temple and when he's put there with a hand on each of the two Central supporting columns. He cries out to God it says, please give me one last one last moment of shrink. And let me die with the Philistines. And with that he pushes The Columns breaking them in the entire Temple crashing down upon all of the high-ranking Philistines all the people of substance all the people in power and we're told more Philistines were killed in his death that he ever destroyed in his life. And the Philistines work for a while subdued? No. I would like her these two man.

Not at all other than the sleeping times of faith. They both they were diametrically opposite. That's what that raises the question.

Who does God look for when calling on people to rise up to serve his cause to protect his people? And besides glory on his presence. well Were either of these men by Nature? Holy or righteous. No. Did either become a lasting role model? No? One was bound by fear the other through Pride which would have been dangered the entire operation. Had God not had it under control. Both defeated Israel's enemies by a single act of obedience. But both wanted to pursue a personal reward. They wanted to be remembered they wanted to be important. A gold image to celebrate Victory or even a suicide mission to get revenge on your enemies. Neither of them had what we would call Godly character.

So if that is the case with so many of the judges of Israel that they were flawed and so many ways and yet for the purpose of God. Then what holds us back when God is trying to get us to serve him in our way in the way that he has prescribed for us. Why is it that we are so quick as a prayer of confession said just say no to leadership of God. Why is Italy so easily let opportunities go by when God try to draw us into his work? Why well for many, it's fear. How many of you have heard sermons on evangelism don't you say no cuz Rick and I both preached on it. And we say you need to share your faith and you're saying to yourself. I'm too scared. I might have been somebody I might make a fool of myself. I don't know enough and you start excusing yourself. Don't raise your hand. The reason I know that to be true of many people. It's because we don't get people coming to Faith. What hold us back is it fear? Is it are our sense of inability? What are the things that most passes can tell you stories about is when they ask somebody if they would take on an assignment or a task for the good of the church? And subsequently they will say oh, I don't think that I'd be very good at that. But someone said would be great.

Would you like to participate in helping lead the VBS and they say well I just don't think that I'm skilled at that but Sandy can do it and it's me. We just fur because we think that we don't have the skills just as Gideon and Samson have little in common. They became a factor by one thing only and that is what the hand of God was upon them. When he said go and do this for the sake of the Kingdom go and do this as a servant of the Lord finally at some level it all of their Brokenness and all of their sinfulness in all of their inability and weakness. They said yes. Yes and ultimately, let me leave you with that. The one thing that God is looking for when he raises people up to serve him to serve him in their generation for God's purpose is none of the things we think they are. The one thing he's looking for is those who have faith and confidence in God who are deciding day by day over and over again that they are going to do not what is right in their own eyes, but is right in the eyes of God. I would challenge you with this. During this week. When you are praying.

Ask God. What is it he desires of you individually by name not what is he? Desire from the institutional church where you can hand it off to someone else. But what does he expect of you? His son his daughter his disciple his follower the one who Bears the name of Christ. And when you hear that still small voice. Even if it's a trembling response. PS Yes, I want to do what it right the eyes of my God, not the eyes of myself or my neighbors. May God strengthen us to the cause of service to Jesus Christ. Let's Phantom singer closing him. Probably most of you don't even need the word, but they will be on the screen Amazing Grace.