Revival: Hodges, SC

I'm looking forward to leading revival meetings at Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Hodges, SC, October 5-8, 2008. Friends in that section, mark your calendars, because we would love to see you.
Our friend Jim Warren from Clinton, SC, is pastor. Amanda worked with Jim years ago at Belk in Laurens, SC, when as a grown man with a family, he was working toward a bachelors at North Greenville College. Jim finished his M.Div. at Southeastern in May.

Fall of Constantinople

May 29, 1543 -- 555 years ago

Guess what happened the last time the Islamic worldview prevailed over the Judeo-Christian worldview.

Gas prices

Thank Congress for high gas prices.

Joshua 1:7-9 - The Secret of Joshua's Success

Pray and Read: Joshua 1:7-9; Exodus 33:11

Contextual Notes:

Joshua (Yeshua) means “YHWH is Salvation.” (Greek form: Jesus (Hebrews 4:8). The Lord spent many years preparing Joshua (1462 - 1372 BC) for leadership. He was born a slave in Egypt, the son of Nun (means “prosperity, durable”) of the tribe of Ephraim. At age 40, he joined the Exodus and became an assistant for Moses (Exodus 24:13; 33:11; Numbers 11:28; Joshua 1:1).

Moses changed his name from Hoshea, meaning simply “salvation” to Joshua (Numbers 13:8, 16; Deuteronomy 32:44). Joshua preferred to stay in God’s Presence more than anything else as a young man (Exodus 33:11).

At Kadesh-barnea under Moses, Joshua was selected as one of the spies to scout out the Promised Land for invasion. He and Caleb were almost stoned to death for believing God and encouraging Israel to advance into the Promised Land (Numbers 14:6-10). As a result, God punished that generation by causing them to die in the Wilderness. Only Joshua and Caleb of the Exodus generation lived to enter the Promised Land.

At age 80, Joshua was commissioned as the successor to Moses (Deuteronomy 31:23; 34:9). By the time he led the Israelites into the Promised Land, he had already become a great general (Exodus 17:9-16). Israel had a new generation of warriors, and a new commander. While mentored by Moses who spoke as a friend with YHWH (Exodus 33:11), Joshua was responsible for all military operations for Israel – a two million member horde of Oriental barbarians who believed their God lived with them in a box in His own tent.

Joshua was a professional soldier who knew how to fight, but he submitted to the Lord's direction. As the supreme commander of Israel, he was pre-eminent as a strategist, using campaign planning, military discipline, covert intelligence, but above all prayer and trust in the Captain of the Lord of Hosts (Joshua 5:13-15).

That great Virginian, Lieutenant General Stonewall Jackson was one of the most brilliant and bold battlefield commanders of all military history. Jackson closely studied the book of Joshua for its battle strategies. Jackson modeled his military prowess on that greatest of Israeli generals, Joshua son of Nun.

Joshua was a man of prayer, courage, dependence upon God, faith, leadership, enthusiasm, and fidelity. Joshua, as one of the great generals of all Israeli history, is a type of Christ foreshadowing the One who will bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10).

Sermon Points:

1. Obey the Lord (Joshua 1:7)

2. Meditate on the Word (Joshua 1:8)

3. Crave His Presence (Exodus 33:11)

Invitation:

Moses represents the Law. Joshua represents Christ. Moses (the law) must be superseded by Joshua (Jesus) to lead us into inheritance. The list of conquered kings in Joshua 12 show how Joshua superseded Moses. Moses conquered two kings, Sihon and Og, while Joshua conquered 31 kings (12:24). Moses, who received the Law, could not command the obedience of the people. Joshua, who was a man of faith, easily commanded the obedience of the people. What the Law was powerless to do, Christ did (Romans 8:3; 7:7-13). The Law instructs us on God’s standards and promises and demonstrates to us our sinfulness. It takes both Moses and Joshua together to show us by types the finished work of Christ.

Christ alone can lead us into the inheritance that is ours. “Not by works so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:9). Christ longs to lead us into all that He purchased for us on the cross. If only we would fully follow Him!

Summerfest

After a biscuit this morning at Hardees in Clarksville, VA, we headed over to the Virgilina, VA Summerfest in time for the last half of the parade. We got to see a lot of friends and eat the best barbecue sandwich (cooked by Roosevelt and Margie Nelson) since we moved from South Carolina.

Romans 11 Outline

Overview: Romans 11 shows how God will fulfill His promises to the nation of Israel. Jewish “disobedience” (Romans 11:30) does not do away with God’s promises to Israel because His gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Paul therefore cautions Gentile believers against anti-Semitism and false pride (Romans 11:13-26). Instead he shows us what our active role should be to hasten the salvation of the Jewish people (Romans 11:30-36).

Romans 11:1-6: If God rejects or repudiates or abandons Israel His people, then God has broken His word. If the gospel means believing in a God who breaks His word, then the gospel must be rejected. Paul replies in the strongest possible language, “Heaven forbid!” Paul himself is a Jew (Romans 9:6-13; 2 Corinthians 11:22; Galatians 1:13-14; 2:15; Philippians 3:5-6; Acts 22:3; 23:6; 26:5).

Paul therefore uses God’s Word to show He has not repudiated His people (1 Samuel 12:22; Psalm 94:14). The Gospel is not in opposition to God’s Word. The Gospel IS God’s Word, Paul shows from Scripture. There is a remnant as he shows in his illustration of Elijah (Romans 11:2-4). God is sovereign, just, and merciful and is fulfilling His promises in history, even when it appears differently. In verse 6 Paul says again (Romans 9:30-32), that legalistic works are incompatible with grace which requires no effort or prior deeds, but only trust (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Romans 11:7- 12: The Jews have not attained what they worked so hard for, and have become stone-like (porosis). Paul quotes Moses (for Torah), Isaiah (for Prophets), and David (for Writings), representing the three sections of the Old Testament. Verses 8-9: By speaking about the Bible without Jesus as Messiah, even their tables become a trap and keep them continually (not “forever”) in slavery to sin.

Verses 11-12: And even rejecting Jesus, they still have not fallen away permanently. Israel’s stumbling has meant deliverance for the Gentiles, fulfilling Deuteronomy 32:21. When they return to their Messiah, it will bring even greater riches! The deliverance the Gentiles had received was meant for Israel (Matthew 10:6; 15:24), but Israel failed to receive it. While individual Jews received it, the majority did not. Therefore, it was offered to the Gentiles (Acts 13:42-47), but God has never stopped holding out His hands to Israel (Romans 10:21). The problem is that Gentile Christians have historically provoked Jews to hatred, not the Gospel.

Romans 11:13-32: Paul now turns the Gentiles. Just in case Gentiles are thinking, “Yes indeed. God has replaced Israel with us the Christians,” Paul says that Christianity and anti-Semitism are completely incompatible. God is not finished with the Jews, either. The Church is not the “New Israel” replacing the “Old Israel.” Our salvation as Gentiles is linked to God’s promises to the Jews. Our Messiah is a Jew. Paul says that the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37) will come to life through God’s promises through Jesus the Messiah! The resurrection in fact, will be delayed until the Jewish people as a nation come to faith in Jesus, so let’s tell the Jews of their Messiah!

Romans 10 Outline

ROMANS 9:30-10:2Notice how verse 1 is similar to Romans 9:1-4a. Paul is continuing his same line of thought. Romans 10 focuses on the salvation of Jewish individuals. Rom 11 will focus on the salvation of Israel as a whole. In verse 2, Paul affirms that zeal is good (Galatians 4:17-18; 1 Peter 3:13), but it can be abused as Paul did (Acts 7:58-8:3; 9:1-6; 22:3-4). Israel has gone astray, Paul says, because they have not understood Torah properly. Paul aims to stir up Jewish curiosity by saying they do not have proper knowledge since many Jews spend their lives studying Torah, the Word of God. In verses 3-10 he explains what he means.


ROMANS 10:3-13Verse 3 explains v. 2. Verse 4 explains v. 3. Verses 5-10 explain v. 4. Verse 3 restates Romans 9:32. The Jews have missed their Messiah because they have somehow missed the central point of the Torah and not acted on it – faith – the same kind of faith as Abraham had.

Israel regrettably did not understand that the Torah teaches trust and not self-effort, not legalism, not mechanical obedience to rules. Torah teaches that the route to righteousness is trust in God. Torah not only requires righteousness based on trust but offers that righteousness based on trust. What kind of trust?

Trust in the Messiah who is the one and only pathway to the very righteousness they seek. Even better, Messiah offers this righteousness to everyone who trusts, to Jews and to Gentiles as well (Romans 10:11-13; 3:29-4:25; 9:24-30).

Only by believing in Jesus can a person obey the Torah. Unbelief in Jesus as Messiah is disobedience to Torah, because Jesus the Messiah fulfills the Torah in every way, Torah points to Him as Messiah, and the goal of Torah is this Messiah who offers the righteousness of Torah, God’s righteousness to everyone who trusts.


Romans 10:4: The word telos is important here. Our English translations translate it as “end.” Does telos mean “end” as in “termination” or “end” as in “purpose”? Telos is used 42 times in the New Testament. In five places it means “finish, or termination” (Mark 3:26; Luke 1:33; 2 Corinthians 3:13; Hebrews 7:3; 1 Peter 4:7). Most of the time it means “aim, purpose, goal” (1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 1:9) or “outcome, result, consummation (Romans 6:21-22; Matthew 26:58; Hebrews 6:8).

Christ has not brought the Torah, or God’s teaching, to an end. Remember, the Word of God is eternal. Jesus upholds the Torah (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2). In fact, the Good News that righteousness comes from trust in God is proclaimed in the Torah (Old Testament). That is the point of Romans 9:30-10:21. Paul already stated it in the theme verse of Romans at Romans 1:16-17 (see also Galatians 3:6ff).


Romans 10:5-10: Paul quotes from the Pentateuch, the Torah, to prove that the righteousness of God is a righteousness made of trust. In verse 5, Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5. What are the two most important teachings? Jesus said in Mark 12:28-31 what they are: Loving the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) and loving our neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18). You cannot love God if you don’t trust in Him and His character. You cannot love your neighbor in God’s image without believing in the God who made both of you. Therefore Paul shows that the Torah requires trust, not works.

Verses 6-8 do not show a righteousness of Torah is different from the righteousness of belief in Jesus. Paul shows that they are the same righteousness based on the same trust, written in the same Bible, leading to the same eternal life. Verses 6-8 sharpen the meaning of verse 5 by quoting Deuteronomy 30:11-14.

The Greek word de (“but”) should be taken as “also or moreover.” What Israel is to “do” is the “word which is near you.” We “confess” or acknowledge publicly our faith in Jesus Christ (Luke 12:8). Faith in Jesus must be accompanied by a conviction in the hear that Jesus has been resurrected.
ROMANS 10:14-21
Romans 10:14-18: Calling requires trusting. Trusting requires hearing. Hearing requires a proclamation. Proclamation requires someone be sent. In this case the sender would have to be God. Blaming God for sin started in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:12). Verses 16-17 say that God has sent someone to proclaim and that Israel heard (see Psalm 19:1-4), but Israel has not trusted.

Romans 10:19-21: Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:21 (regarding eye-for-eye justice) to show that Israel would be provoked to jealousy and anger by a non-nation, and it will mean Israel’s deliverance (Romans 11:11, 14). The context of Deuteronomy 32 ends with 32:43 that in the end God will forgive his people and his land. Paul concludes the second portion on Israel (Romans 9:30-10:21) the same way as the first (Romans 9:6-29), by recalling his opening verses. Isaiah 65:1-2 (vv. 20-21) sound like Romans 9:30-31.

Sunday a good one

Sunday was a good one. First, we had a baptism. Caroline Talley and her husband Jimmy had joined the church two weeks ago, retiring to their ancestral home. Caroline, however, had been a Methodist all these years. She chose to join our church by immersion. Second, there were many positive comments on the sermon, which I appreciated since it was a difficult passage to preach.

Third, we had an awesome training for leaders of the Vacation Bible School which is scheduled for June 23-27. JoAnn Brewer has been working hard and with excellence on this.

And Monday night's men on mission meeting outdoors under the oak trees was a good meeting as well.

Being a pastor sometimes means your correspondence from time to time is not so nice, but it also means you get lovely notes like this one from a dear little girl named Kaleigh.

Romans 9 Outline

Note how sovereignty, justice, and mercy all intertwine in Romans 9.

1. Romans 9:1-6b: The Problem: Israel’s rejection of the Gospel makes God’s promises appear to fail.

2. Romans 9:7-13: God’s Sovereignty

a. Romans 9:7-9: His Sovereignty. God chose the seed of Isaac.

b. Romans 9:10-13: His Sovereignty. Case of Rebekah: Both boys were conceived at the same time. Neither one more deserving than the other, but Jacob was chosen. (Psalm 139:21-22; Deuteronomy 32:4)

3. Romans 9:14-18: God’s Justice and Mercy

a. Romans 9:14-16: His Sovereignty, Justice, and Mercy. Paul quotes Exodus 33:19. See Romans 3:25-26

b. Romans 9:17-18: His Justice and Mercy. Israel rejected Jesus in the same way that Pharaoh rejected Moses (Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 14:4) – sheer self-will, disobedience, and refusal to listen. Pharaoh had five chances to repent (during the first five plagues), but each time he hardened his own heart. Only after he willfully became a confirmed rebel did God harden his heart. God does not harden the heart of anyone but a confirmed rebel (John 12:39). He wants all to turn from sin to Him (Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). And with Israel as with Pharaoh, their rejection provides for God to demonstrate His power through deliverance from the “Egyptian bondage” of sin and death. Just as the Passover lamb delivered Israel, now the Messiah’s sacrifice delivers all who receive His mercy. Israel’s self-will, like Pharaoh’s, serves God’s merciful ends.

4. Romans 9:19-21: God’s Sovereignty: Paul quotes Isaiah 29:16; 45:9; and alludes to Jeremiah 18:6. Paul does not let go of either side of the paradox between predestination and freedom of choice. He points away from idle, destructive questioning of the way God governs to a practical solution – come humbly to God through Christ Jesus. The point is not predestination or free will. Jesus is the point. See Romans 10:13.

5. Romans 9:22-29: God’s Justice and Mercy

a. Romans 9:22-24a: God’s mercy is more wonderful when we see His justice.

b. Romans 9:24b-26: Originally Hosea wrote this passage about Israel in rebellion one day becoming His people. Paul uses the passage with a twist. Not only Israel, but also Gentiles. See Romans 9:30-10:4; 11:17-32; Ephesians 2.

c. Romans 9:27-29: The first part of Hosea 1:10 includes God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:17) and Jacob (Genesis 32:17). A remnant, not every single Jew, will come to Christ. This idea was expressed in 9:6 and will be explained in 11:1-6. The seed refers to the remnant of v. 28. By referring back to verses 6-7, v. 27-29 close the first part of Romans 9-11 on God’s role in Israel’s apostasy. God cannot be blamed for Israel’s failure to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Instead, God should be thanked for showing enough mercy to preserve a remnant of Israel who have accepted or will accept Him.

Relax: belief in aliens OK

From the "For what it's worth" department . . .

Vatican says It's OK to Believe in Aliens

According to an Associated Press report, "believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday. The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones. 'How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?' Funes said. 'Just as we consider earthly creatures as "a brother," and "sister," why should we not talk about an "extraterrestrial brother"? It would still be part of creation.' In the interview by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes said that such a notion 'doesn't contradict our faith' because aliens would still be God's creatures."

OH MY. I wonder if he's offering mass at a booth in Roswell's Alien Festival this summer.

Wedding & Baptism

Today I'm helping out a pastor friend and officiating a wedding for a couple at Central Baptist Church in Henderson, NC. The groom is a Marine corporal, a veteran of the Iraq war. He was stationed in Fallujah after the battle. His ear still buzzes from an IED. It's an honor to officiate it.

Tomorrow I will baptize Caroline Talley, who joined the church two Sundays ago with her husband, Jimmy. They have retired back to their ancestral home after a career in Richmond, VA, and Washington, NC. Jimmy grew up in the church and has moved his membership back here. Caroline grew up in the community, too, at Webbs Chapel Methodist which no longer exists. They are fine folks and have become good friends.

Romans 9-11 - Israel & God's Character

ROMANS 9-11: Has God’s Word failed?

That was the big question that the congregation at Rome wanted to know. Paul’s short answer is No, because of God’s character of Sovereignty, Faithfulness, and Justice overlaid with Mercy.

Romans 9-11 not a parenthesis between Romans 8 and 12 as some Bible teachers assert. It is integral to the book of Romans.

The Big Question that the Roman believers, Jewish and Gentile were asking: “Paul, if God is all powerful and faithful as you say (chap. 8), then why as more Gentiles come to Christ are more Jews rejecting it? Didn’t God say he had an everlasting love for Israel (Jeremiah 31:2)? If so, how can the Jews reject his love after centuries of relationship with Him and His Word (Rom 3:1-2)? They are being lost, and God’s everlasting love does not seem to be doing them any good! That worries us. How can we be sure of God’s promise that nothing separates us from God’s love (Rom 8:39)? Has God’s word failed?”

Romans 9-11 is Paul’s answer.

The problem is found in Romans 9:1-6a. Israel’s rejection of the Gospel makes God’s promises appear to fail. The solution is found in Romans 9:6b-11:32. The celebration is found in Romans 11:33-36.

OUTLINE OF ROMANS 9-11

1. Romans 9:1-6a: Does Israel’s rejection of the Gospel make God’s word a failure?
2. Romans 9:6b-29: Is God to blame? No. He is Sovereign.
3. Romans 9:30 – 10:21: Is Israel to blame? Yes. Their failure is in seeing the Law (Torah) as a book of legalistic works rather than trusting God (Rom 9:31-32; 4:1-3). This is why Israel has not receive the promises.
4. Romans 11:1-32: Israel’s failure is not permanent. God will fulfill His purposes for Israel. And if Israel’s failure means salvation of the nations, then God’s fulfillment of His promises to Israel will be even more glorious. Therefore, don’t boast, you Gentiles. Salvation was for the Jew first, then the Gentiles (Rom 1:17). In fact, through Gentile Christian mercy, Israel will see their Messiah and come to salvation in Jesus their Messiah.
5. Romans 11:33-36: Hymn of Praise at God’s plan for world history.

Redneck Grill

Judges Timeline

Judgment upon the church

"But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of
millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century.

Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust."

Source: "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dying Churches

Dr. Frank Page is the President of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Taylors (SC) First Baptist Church in Greenville, SC.

Dr. Frank Page believes the Southern Baptist Convention could lose half its churches by 2030 unless something changes. Page cited statistics reflecting a denominational decline. He said the reason for the downturn is not the lack of another program or convention-wide initiative.

Instead Page said the problem resides in churches that refuse to change in any way to stop their inevitable demise.

"Reflecting on the reality of many Southern Baptist churches, Page stated that “many Southern Baptist churches are small groups of white people who are holding on to the end. Not only have we not reached out to younger generations, but we have failed to reach out to other ethnic minorities who are all around us.” Rather than embracing a “whatever it takes” mentality to change and restore a local church to health, Page said many pastors and churches have “chosen to die rather than change, and they are doing it.”

Source: BSC Communications

Cycle of the Judges

Judges: Where Christ is found

Christ in Judges:

SAVIORS, PROPHETS, JUDGES: The judges were called “saviors” (2:16; 3:9, 15; verbal forms 3:31; 8:22; 10:1), the same root as the name Joshua (yashua). The term connotes a sudden and supernatural intervention. The judges were also called “prophets” (4:4; 6:8; 1 Samuel 3:20; 7:6, 15-17), anointed, led, and empowered by God’s Spirit. Judges were both statesmen and saviors, that is, both political and spiritual deliverers. Everywhere in Judges is the need for a Righteous King. The perfect Judge, therefore, would be both a Savior and a Prophet. In fact, Jephthah calls YHWH the Ultimate Judge (11:27).

GIDEON: Many scholars see Gideon as the focus of Judges. Samson is his anti-type. Gideon begins in weakness, goes to great victory, and ends in failure. Samson begins with strength, goes to great failure, and ends in victory. Gideon is the warrior who overcomes with the ram’s horn (trumpet), a light, and a shout, in a clear reminder of Joshua at Jericho (Joshua 6:5, 20), but also a foreshadowing of the Messiah to come (Matthew 24:31; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-21). With Gideon, at the shout and trump the living die. With Christ, at the shout and trump, the dead live first (Samson is the anti-type). D.W. Gooding sees it this way.

A: Introduction I (1:1-2:5)

B: Introduction II (2:6-3:6)

C: Othniel (3:7-11)

D: Ehud-Shamgar (3:12-31)

E: Deborah-Barak-Jael (4:1-5:31)

F: GIDEON (6:1-8:32)

E’: Abimelech-Tola-Jair (8:33-10:5)

D’: Jephthah-Ibzan-Elon-Abdon (10:6-12:15)

C’: Samson (13:1-16:31)

B’: Epilogue I (17:1-18:31)

A’: Epilogue II (19:1-21:25)

Toddler food

Toddlers can eat some pretty sick things from time to time.

For instance, Rachel is thrilled when she occasionally finds an old Cheerio back behind the seat cushions in the couch, especially if it's one of those new colored ones that taste like a Fruit Loop.

Last night my wife fixed breakfast for supper. Grits, cheese, eggs, bacon, biscuits. While she was in the middle of cooking everything, she turned around to find Rachel licking the inside of an egg shell she had just pulled out of the trash. Amanda about died.

After supper, we went outside to play. Rachel loves the baby, so Amanda asked her if she wanted to kiss Ava-Grace. Rachel puckered up, popped out two pieces of now-sparkling wet gravel, and kissed Ava-Grace right on the cheek.

Judges: Outline

Outline:

In Judges we see seven apostasies, seven servitudes to seven heathen nations with seven deliverances under fourteen judges. The book of Joshua begins with the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, and Joshua, the minister to Moses (Joshua 1:1). It ends with the death of Joshua, the servant of the Lord (24:29). Judges begins with the death of Joshua (1:1), servant of the Lord (2:8). Judges is sectioned by the phrase, “Israel did evil” (2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1) up to Samson’s end (16:31). Then the sectional phrase becomes, “Israel had no king” (18:1; 19:1; 21:25).

1. JUDGES 1-3:6 – END OF AN ERA

a. Judges 1:1-2:10: Condition of Nation after Joshua’s Death

b. Judges 2:11-3:6: Preview of the Israel’s Cycle of History

(Serve God ->Forsake God -> Slavery -> Repent -> Serve God)

2. JUDGES 3:7-16:31 – ERA OF JUDGES

Scripture	Oppressions	Sin	Punishment	Instrument	Deliverer Judge
Judges 3:7-11	1st Apostasy	Idolatry	8 years	Mesopotamia	OTHNIEL
Judges 3:12-31	2nd Apostasy	Immorality, Idolatry	18 years	Moab & Philistines	EHUD & SHAMGAR
Judges 4:1-5:31	3rd Apostasy	Departed from God	20 years	Jabin of Canaan	DEBORAH & BARAK
Judges 6:1-8:32	4th Apostasy	Departed from God	7 years	Midian	GIDEON
Judges 8:33-10:5	5th Apostasy	Departed from God	Civil War	Other Tribes of Israel	TOLA, JAIR, (ABIMELECH)
Judges 10:6-12:15	6th Apostasy	Idolatry increased	18 years	Philistines & Ammon	JEPHTHAH, IBZAN, ELON, ABDON
Judges 13:16	7th Apostasy	Departed from God	40 years	Philistines	SAMSON

3. JUDGES 17-21: RESULTS OF ERA – CONFUSION

a. Judges 17-18: Religious Apostasy: Confusion over Worship

b. Judges 19: Moral Awfulness: Confusion in the Home

c. Judges 20-21: Political Anarchy: Confusion in the State

Judges begins in compromise and ends in confusion – the same as in every unsurrendered life.

Judges: Key Message / Verses

The Book of Judges

Key Message / Verse: Judges 2:16-19; 21:25

In stark contrast to Joshua’s victorious message, Judges is the story of repeated failure and oppression. These were Israel’s Dark Ages, when the people forsook God (Judges 2:12-13) and God forsook His people (2:20-23). Everyone did what was right in his own eyes (21:25).

MORAL RELATIVISM: Results of doing your own thing: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6; 21:25)

Backsliding & Recovery; History & Moral of the Story: Judges shows us the terrible reality of backsliding and the amazing grace of the Lord in recovering and restoring us. Isaiah presents this view of history years later in introducing his prophetic work, describing the same fatal steps downward to the captivity of Israel (Isaiah 1).

Wickedness of the Human Heart: Judges 2:11-13, 17, 19; 8:33-35; 10:6; 13:1) There was no region of Israel that was free of wickedness. It happened in the South (3:7-31), the North/Central region (Judges 6:1-10:5), the East (10:6-12:15) and the West (13:1-16:31). “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23).

God’s Delight in using Weak Things: (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

Ehud: assassin with homemade knife (Judges 3)

Deborah: woman, considered weak in ancient culture (Judges 4; 9:53)

Gideon: from an obscure family in smallest tribe (Judges 6)

Shamgar: a redneck with a pointed stick (Judges 3:31)

Gideon’s Army: Little group armed with horns & pitchers (Judges 7)

Jawbone used by Samson (Judges 15:14-19)

Holy Spirit in Judges: (Zechariah 4:6) The Holy Spirit is active in Judges, coming upon the leaders of Israel. Othniel (Judges 3:10), Gideon (Judges 6:34), Jephthah (Judges 11:29), and Samson (Judges 13:25; 14:6; 15:14).

THREE TYPES OF JUDGES Warrior Judges: Gideon, Samson Priest Judge: Eli National Leaders: Othniel, Deborah Prophet Judge: Samuel Administrators, Mediators: Tola, Ehud, Jair Local Leaders: Shamgar, Ibzan Hardworking, unsung Judges: Elon, Abdon Rude, petty Dictator: Jephthah THE CHIEF JUDGES Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Samuel THE OTHER TEN JUDGES Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Eli. Abimilech who was not called by God to judge.

Basic Problem: Lack of Leadership (Judges 1:1; 20:18)

Philosophy of History: Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation / But sin is a disgrace to any people.”

Judges: Location and Date

Location & Date: “Dark Ages of Israel”

Judges tells the history of the nearly powerless Israelite tribes during their first 350 years (1415 -- 1065 BC) in the hill country of Canaan. Judges (Hebrew: Shophetim, “judges,”) measures time from the end of Joshua’s Wars (1415 BC) to the Coronation of Saul (1065 BC). It records the history of Israel from Joshua to Samuel, the last of the judges and first of the prophets. It bridges the gap between Joshua and the rise of the monarchy.

The text of Judges was compiled while the Jebusites were still in control of Jerusalem (1:21), meaning that David had not yet overtaken that city (1018 BC) (2 Samuel 5:6-9). Also, Judges 1:29 refers to Canaanites living in Gezer, which did not come under Israelite sovereignty until the reign of Solomon (1 Kings 9:16f; 1 Chronicles 6:67). If one takes the reference to ‘captivity’ in Judges 18:30-31 to indicate the Philistine captivity of the Ark of the Covenant (and Psalm 78:61 supports it), one demonstrates that Judges was written after the Ark of the Covenant was removed from Shiloh (1 Samuel 4:3-11, 21) and during the period of the monarchy (Saul’s reign: 1065-1025 BC) because it mentions four times “in those days there was no king in Israel” (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).

Some judgeships were not nationwide and overlapped; therefore the total of years served by the judges of 410 years could fit into 350. Judges mentions long periods of rest and servitude (3:11, 14, 30; 5:31; 8:28, etc.) Jephthah refers to 300 years of Israelite settlement in the Transjordan (Heshbon and Aroer – 11:26), so it covers a long period of history. Based on all this information, it seems likely that Judges was written between Saul’s coronation (1065 BC) and David’s capture of Jerusalem (1018 BC).

Judges: Authorship

Author of Judges: Probably Samuel.

The Talmud (Baba Bathra 15a) claims Samuel’s authorship of Judges.

The text was compiled after Joshua’s death (Judges 2:7) and during the monarchy because it says four times “in those days there was no king in Israel” (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).

Judges is a philosophy of history (Proverbs 14:34). Its philosophy falls in line with Samuel’s emphasis on the Word of God or lack of it informing a culture (1 Samuel 3:1, 4, 7-10, 17 – 4:1) and the importance of consistent, steady obedience over a long period and the consequences of its absence (1 Samuel 12:1-7).

Patrick Henry on Freedom

"Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom. No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles."

-- Patrick Henry

Our Rachel

Rachel is 18 months.

She has always spoken clearly with her eyes, but lately her personality is getting into high gear.

She keeps us laughing.

Soon her few words will become a large vocabulary.

She loves her Luke and is protective of Ava-Grace.

Greg Heisler

My preaching professor, Greg Heisler, whom I think is younger than me, got a big book award for his book, Spirit-Led Preaching, recently. He was featured in this article in Baptist Press yesterday.

Last semester I took Bible Exposition under him. The most important thing I learned was to place applications with each point. Before I had been doing it Chuck Swindoll's way, i.e., putting all the application at the end of the sermon when time was tight and ears had quit working.

This semester I had him for Sermon Delivery, and we had to preach 3 sermons during the semester. First one is from an epistle; second from the Gospels; third from the Old Testament. Some of the guys had never preached before. A few of us are at churches and preach regularly. Everyone fills out an evaluation for every preacher, six a day, 15 minutes each. Then Dr. Heisler gets the final evaluation. Usually he can be pretty brutal. The sermon is recorded on video, and we have to write our own evaluation of ourselves during the next week, too, to turn in.

I was so very nervous the first time, even with having preached all over North and South Carolina, several places across the country, and in nearly a dozen nations as well. But I had been at a rural church for a while where I had heard over and over from the same few that no one could understand my sermons, I was a poor preacher, and I needed to go do something else for a living. And I was beginning to believe them.

My first sermon in Heisler's sermon delivery class was a poor job in my opinion, but Dr. Heisler noted that it was plain the way I handled the pulpit that I preached every week. The second time got a compliment on the gospel presentation. The third time I felt like a million bucks when he said, "Guys, I'm about to give the highest compliment I can give to a student. Gene, that was all Jesus, man. You nailed it!"

Mark Twain said he could go all week on one good compliment. I went about three weeks on that one.