Explore the Bible Lesson Preview February 12, 2017 Family Feud Background: Judges 8:22 12:15 Lesson: Judges 9:1-9, 14-15, 56-57 Motivation: God s people had been delivered from a major enemy through Deborah and Barak. However, it was not long before they relapsed into idolatry. (2:11, 3:7, 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25). In this study we ll see the seriousness of relapse and the measures needed to come back to God. Examination: I. Spiritual Compromise (8:22-35) Everyone give me an earring from his plunder (24) Gideon made an ephod from all this then all Israel prostituted themselves with it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household. (27). HCSB, p. 406: 8:22-23 The Israelites recognized the significance of Gideon s behavior. They asked him to rule over them as founder of a dynastic line. Though they carefully avoided the word king, it is clear that they were offering Gideon that office. The rationale that the people gave is telling: For you delivered us from the power of Midian. The Lord s work in raising Gideon as deliverer had become obscured. Gideon s response was orthodox. He replied that neither he nor his sons would rule over them; the Lord would rule over them. Even as he formally refused the status of king, however, he failed to contradict their assertion that it was he who had saved them from the Midianites. He also proceeded to act precisely as a king would. He asked for a royal share of the plunder, gold earrings from every man, representing a symbolic token of submission to him. As in Exodus 32, where earrings were used in the making of the golden calf, so Gideon used these earrings to manufacture an idol in the form of an ephod, a garment worn by the priests and used as a means of determining God s will. The amount of gold suggests that the garment included an idolatrous image. Gideon s intent was to glorify himself, 1 / 8
founding his own cult like the Canaanite kings. The result was spiritually disastrous, ensnaring all Israel in prostituting themselves. II. Selfish Ambition (9:1-57) A. Plot Is it better for you that one man rule over you? (2) Even though his father, Gideon, declined a throne for him (8:22), Abimelech enlisted the support of the lords of Shechem. B. Plan He went to his father s house and killed his 70 brothers (5) The lords gave him one silver shekel from the temple of Baal (7) to hire worthless and reckless men (8) to assassinate his family, leading to Abimelech s coronation (6). Every detail illustrates how God s people had thoroughly adopted the treacherous ways of the Caananites. C. Parable (7-21) HCSB, p. 407: 9:7-15 Jotham, the sole son of Gideon to escape the massacre, went to the top of Mount Gerizim, which overlooked Shechem. In addition to being a safe place, it was a place with a history. Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal were the locations where the people of Israel recited the blessings and curses of the covenant when they had first entered the land (Dt. 27:12-13). On this occasion, Mount Gerizim would host a curse (Jdg 9:57) rather than a blessing. From the mountain, Jotham proclaimed a fable, a story involving plants or animals that teaches a moral lesson. In Jotham s fable, the various trees sought to find a king. Each of the first three trees was reluctant to give up its profitable activity in favor of such an unprofitable office. The fourth and final candidate, the bramble, had no useful function but was a perpetual nuisance for farmers. But this plant accepted their offer of kingship. He invited the other trees to come and find refuge in my shade, though the low spreading bramble provides no real shade. If they would not submit to him, he issued a threat that fiery judgment would come from him and consume the cedars of Lebanon, the most exalted of trees. 2 / 8
D. Punishment In this way, God turned back on Abimelech the evil that he had done against his father, by killing his 70 brothers. And God also returned all the evil of the men of Shechem on their heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came on them. (56-57) Jotham s curse was fulfilled: 1. Abimelech burned the lords of Shechem to death (49). 2. Abimelech died attempting another burning (53). In a note of historical irony, just as he killed his brothers on one stone (5) so his life was ended with one stone (53). III. Shallow Faith (10:1 11:40) A. Minor Judges Tola and Jair (10:1-5) Great leaders are remembered for overcoming extraordinary circumstances. When we think of Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, or Churchill we cannot but think of enemies they faced. Longevity does not necessarily mean greatness. Tola and Jair judged for a total forty-five years but barely get a mention in Judges. When faced with a great enemy or difficult circumstance, thank God that He believes in you enough to entrust you with strong opposition (I Cor. 10:13). B. Israel s Oppression by Ammonites and Philistines (10:6-16) 1. Relapse into Sin May Arise Out of Complacency Then the Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord... (6) The Israelites had not faced external opposition in several decades (1-4) so they become complacent and self-indulgent. Spiritual passion rarely prospers during times of 3 / 8
prosperity. (I Kings 16:33) 2. Relapse into Sin Leads to Worse Disobedience (6) Gideon tore down the altar of Baal (27) and the people followed him. Each time the people repented of idol worship, they had to admit that it was wrong. However, when they relapsed into sin, it was more widespread, accepted and destructive. In verse six, the people expand their idol worship beyond Baal to the other gods of the surrounding people. (II Kings 21:2; Deut. 18:9-14) 3. Relapse into Sin Causes Greater Destruction (8-9) God s judgment was longer (18 years) and more severe. This is the only Biblical mention of the Ammonites crossing the Jordan to harass Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim. Normally, they contained their raids to the east side of the Jordan (I Sam. 11:1-11; 2 Sam. 10:1-14). 4. Relapse into Sin Tests God s Patience Did I not deliver you from (Ten Tribes) but you have abandoned Me and worshipped other gods. Therefore, I will not deliver you again (11, 13) God loves us with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3; Rom 5:8). Yet, He wants genuine repentance from sin. An occasional slip is common (I John 1:8-10). However, a lifestyle characterized by habitual, defiant sin is condemning (I John 3:4-6; 5:16). 5. Relapse into Sin Requires Stern Measures (14-16) We ve described Israel s spiritual life as analogous to a roller coaster; notice that the slopes are getting steeper and the valleys deeper. (Rom. 1:18-25) When sin becomes a stronghold in one s life (as evidenced by constant relapse) strong measures are needed for repentance: (Jer. 5:6; I Cor. 3:15) a. Affirm that God is your only source Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen; Let them deliver you in the time of your oppression (14) Complacency leads to sin. (Isa. 44:9-20) As long as we feel that the answers to our needs are provided by idols (money, drugs, illicit sex, fame, and possessions), (Heb. 11:25) we will not have a desperate need for God. (II Kings 22:2, 23:4-20) b. Admit your sins We have sinned!... (15) Confession of sin involves seeing the sin from God s perspective. (Rom. 14:23) Sin is hateful and detestable. Sin caused Jesus to go to the cross. We are not to see how much we can get away with, we are to flee from the very 4 / 8
temptation (2 Tim. 2:22). c. Allow God freedom in your life Deal with us as you see fit (15) Total surrender is refusing to impose your plan on God but rather desiring for His plan to be imposed on you. d. Abandon foreign idols So they got rid of the foreign gods among them (16) Repentance has been defined as taking steps to avoid the temptation. Removing foreign gods may involve changing old habits; associating with different friends, driving to and from work a different way, changing venues of entertainment... Repentance has also been defined as a change of attitude that results in a changed lifestyle. (I Peter 4:1-17) e. Abide in God s love worshipped the Lord (16) John records a promise of Jesus: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5). True repentance will result in service to our Lord! (Heb. 12:16-17) C. Jephthah s Leadership (10:17-11:40) 1. The Need for Leadership Who is the man who will begin the fight (10:17-18) The people have repented and God has decided to deliver them. Yet, opposing armies are gathered for war (17). Israel needed a leader! a. Leaders make decisions (9) b. Leaders define direction (27) c. Leaders share vision (29) 5 / 8
d. Leaders initiate action (32-33) 2. The Qualifications of Leadership (11:1-3) Jephthah was rejected by his family and followed a life of crime. His early days showed no leadership promise. Our beginnings don t define our leadership Jephthah illustrates several qualities of leaders. A definitive list of leadership qualities is given in Acts 6:3 good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom willing to work. (I Tim. 3:1-13). However, the choice of judges reminds us that God is sovereign. He can choose whomever He wants; followship requires us to focus on the God of the call rather than the instrument called. 3. Requirements of Leadership (6-10, 12-28) a. Diplomacy b. Initiative 4. Pitfalls of Leadership (34-40) a. Rash decisions whatever comes out of the doors of my house I will offer it as a burnt offering (31) As a leader rises in power and importance, self-confidence often replaces Godly humility and decisions are made without serious prayer and godly counsel. b. Major regrets No, not my daughter! (35) By definition, a leader s actions impact others. Rash decisions adversely punish those most trusting in the leader. c. Sad Legacy Now it became a custom in Israel (39) Despite Jephthah s military victories, his legacy was an annual holiday commemorating his foolishness. He is a reminder that the Judges we study were not necessarily godly or gifted but were ordinary sinners used by God s Spirit. 6 / 8
IV. Self Destructive Behavior (12:1-15) A. Conflict with the Ephraimites We will burn your house down with you in it! (1b) The Ephraimites lodged a similar complaint against Gideon in 8:1-3; however, while Gideon used diplomacy, Jephthah went to war resulting in 42,000 dead Ephraimites (6). The incident shows the continuing separation of tribes on either side of the Jordan. B. Contentment with Mediocrity (8-15) Whereas the judges prior to Gideon brought peace to the land, these judges listed here merely marked time, bore children and focused on administration rather than God. Application: 1. Relapse into a habitual sin leads to severe oppression. 2. Recovery from relapse takes serious measures. 3. Rash vows carry serious consequences. Explore the Bible Leader Pack Item 14: Poster: A Leader s Heart; Item 15: Handout: Serv ant Leader Profile Illustrator: no article this week Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: www.hfbcbiblestudy.or g 7 / 8
Dates 2012: 5/31 8/2 METRO Live, Thursdays; 7/16-20 Summer Week of Choir; 7/21-2 8 Rush Week; 7/27-28 First Place Summit; 8/1 Summer Rush Celebration; 8/2 - MetroLIVE ends; 8/17 Daycation ends; 8/19 Back to school Sunday; 8/20 FBA Orientation; 8/21 FBA Classes begin; 8/24 Parents Night Out; 9/2 Labor Day Weekend, norm. sched; 9/3 Labor Day Holiday, church offices closed; 9/9 Parent Commitment; 9/9 Make it Your Church Orientation; 9/14 Summit Celebrates @ 7:00, chapel; 9/16 Fall LBS Leadership Lunch; 9/21-22 Men s Ministry Special Event; 9/28-29 KHCB 50 th Anniv. Celebration; 9/28-30 SPF Camp. 8 / 8