FHBC Sermon Notes

There are twelve judges in the book of Judges.  Six of them are "major" judges, a descriptor we use because of how much is written about them.  The other six are mostly just mentioned in passing.

We have seen the following cycle pattern in the book.  Rebellion to Judgment to Distress, to Deliverance. This cycle happens a total of seven times. This indicates the fullness of Israel's rebellion and disobedience. By the time we hit the end of the book, it is let completely loose, and sin is in full abundance.

We see this progression even in the judges themselves. They degrade in quality as time goes own.

The introduction - v. 1-6
v. 1-2 Note that the writer of Judges is comparing his time with that of the previous.  See Deuteronomy 7:1-6.  There is a command here to completely wipe out the previous inhabitants, don't marry them, etc. We see that repeated here in Judges. This is a good reminder for us to constantly be guided by scripture in our understanding of our world.   See Chapter 2:20.  Because they didn't obey, now the foreigners will stay. They are left as a test, because the nation had failed in the first command.

v. 3-4 This is the list of kings that would be left behind.  So God tests them.  This is much the same as a teacher that gives a test in the class.  The test isn't to demonstrate something about the teacher, but about the student.

v. 5-6 The results of the test showed what God already had said.  Their disobedience on the first command would result in their total downfall.     

What does this mean?  We cannot simply "coexist" with the world.  To do so is to become conformed to the world.  Yet, this also does not mean we can isolate ourselves either. I would go as far as saying it is impossible to isolate. In turn we must engage with the world, but with the words of the gospel in our mouths, and the love of God on our hands, for in Christ, for God will make a people from himself from amongst all the peoples of the earth.

Think of Psalm 1.  There is a progression from walking... to standing... to sitting. That is how we conform.

Great discussion tonight on the tension of isolation vs. engagement.

Max just mentioned that which we to often forget. We have the Holy Spirit. God has not left us without a guide. Walk in the Spirit. Amen!

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NEXT TIME - Judge #1 - Othniel - The exemplary judge
 The judges that follow will be compared to Othniel. This is similar to the comparison of the kings of Israel.  Consider how much the Bible returns to compare other kings with David.