INTRO
That can really wake someone up. Question -- does that sound intimidate you? It does me. It’s a sound I almost heard a number of years ago. Allow me to explain. Shortly after we returned to Minnesota from navy life, I heard a knock at the door one afternoon. I answered the door, and there to my surprise was a Blue Earth County sheriff deputy. In her hand was a summons -- a summons I had to sign for and take possession. To be honest, I was completely dumbfounded. I closed the door, sat down, and began to sift through a very, lengthy document. The short of it was, my parents and I were beings sued. I should probably back up.
While I was in high school, I worked at McD’s. One summer afternoon, after I finished with the breakfast shift, I punched out and took-off for home. I hopped in our Toyota Tercel and coasted through the parking lot. The parking lot was L-shaped; nevertheless, as I rounded the corner I saw a school bus parked in the drive-through lane. I knew that meant, “go slow.” Just as that thought crossed my mind, a young girl ran out from the bus and literally into my car. She hit the hood and window, and flew back onto the pavement.
We knew her injuries were severe. We dialed 911 and waited for the police and paramedics to arrive. However, against our pleading, the camp counselor -- who was responsible for the young girl -- picked her up and moved her to the curb. That was a no-no since we weren’t qualified to medically move her. Nevertheless, that’s what happened. Minutes later the paramedics and police arrived, and I gave my statement to they as well as the insurance adjuster. After that, to be honest, what happened next was kind of a blur.
I’m sure the insurance company paid the girls medical expenses after the accident. However, upon the girls eighteenth birthday, she and her mother must decided to go for more. We didn’t know why -- they simply did. They first tried to sue the bus company with no prevail, the camp the girl attended no longer existed, and McDonalds I am sure was out of reach. As a last in a string of many lawsuits, they brought a lawsuit against me and my parents. I didn’t have any assets to relinquish; but that wasn’t the case for my parents.
Our insurance company provided representation, and I was scheduled for a deposition. Truly, I feared going to court -- the deposition was bad enough. I sat across from the girl’s attorney as he grilled me endless. Honestly, he tried to put words in my mouth as he passionately -- but ruthlessly -- recreated a fabled sequence of events. Truthfully, I may have said something that wasn’t true if not for my dedicated, legal representation. In any event, I felt the power of our legal system in those days. Thankfully, the suit was closed; we never had to go to court. I didn’t have to hear the banging of a gavel -- such as this.
However, someday, I’m going to have hear the banging of God’s gavel -- for he’s the ultimate judge. One day, I’m going to have to stand trial for all the sins I’ve committed. At some point in all our futures, we’re all going have to face to highest Judge in the highest court in any land -- and nope, that’s not Judge Judy. We’re all going to have face Judge Jehovah.
This morning, we’re going to look at the Book of Judges and see how the Lord God judged Israel in the time of the judges, by providing defense attorneys to lead Israel back to righteousness, so Judge Jehovah would compassion on them.
FILL IN THE GAPS
Let’s first fill in the gaps. The best way to catch up from last week is to read portions of Judges Chapter 2. But, before we dig in, let me encourage you -- this week -- to go home and read the entire book of Judges once through to get the gist of the entire story, but then a second time a bit slower to catch the details you missed the first time. Simply, we don’t have enough time to cover the entire book this morning in detail. Instead, we’re going to hone in on who and the why of verses 16-19, because that little section speaks volumes.
Let’s read together Judges, Chapter 2, verses 10-15. READ JUDGES 2:10-15. Okay, so the entire nation moved into the Promised Land and fought for what they believed with God leading the way. For the most part, the first generation into the Promised Land obeyed God — for the exception of an infraction here and there. However, as the text states, that first generation passed away, and another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.
THE WHY
I think we should ask why the second and third generations into the land failed to know God. It’s a question that needs to be answered, because the answer holds the key as to why the subsequent generations failed to know God. Did their elders fail to pass on their faith? Did the younger generations simply walk away and not listen? Did the people simply not care -- for they had received the blessings and now lived in times of prosperity?
Judges Chapter 1 provides the answer we seek. Chapter one states Israel moved into the Promised Land; but they failed to eradicate the occupiers of the land, the high places, and the idols of bronze, gold, and wood the occupiers worshipped. Verse 19 says Judah failed to drive out the occupiers. Verse 21 says “The Benjamites, failed to dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem.” Verse 27-33 specify that neither Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali drove out the Canaanites. And lastly, verse 34 says The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain. So, to make a short story long, Israel failed to completely drive the occupiers and their pagan ways from the Promised Land. In short time, the culture and religion of the Cannanites, Amorites, and other pagan nations made their way into those of Israel. ]
Because of all this, the subsequent generations failed to follow God and the Covenant -- the covenant confirmed and read by Joshua just years earlier. In not following God, the people turned away from God and back to the old laws of human depravity -- to the laws of selfishness, unrighteousness, and ungodliness. And because of this, God needed to bring people back to him -- even if that required God to severely rebuke and judge his children. For his covenant was unilateral, but not, unconditional.
I think it’s really easy for us as a people living today, right here and now in America to identify with Israel in this era. Like them, we like to cyclically turn away from God and follow the desires of our own hearts -- even after God’s wrote his laws onto our hearts, saved us through the blood of his Son on the cross of Calvary, and leads us from one place in life to the next through his Holy Spirit. We’ve already seen how the cycle of sin repeats with past generations, and as it was with them, this generation was no different -- likewise, I would say that as a human race, we’re all no different. And it’s really for this reason -- this cycle of sin -- that God chose to chose to judge Israel.
But, the how God judged is less important than who did the judging. Let’s continue reading the text from where we left off. -- READ VV 16-19
THE WHO OF THE JUDGES
THE WHO: The judges were not necessarily judges as we might think of today within our judicial system. I guess the best way to describe the judges is like this. They were 11 men, and one woman, who God raised up to lead the nation into a new time of salvation history. However, let it be known there was another who did evil, and for that reason I am not sure it safe to call him a judge. But of the 12, it has been said that, at least in our own language, their title of judge could be better translated as deliverer or savior.
Okay, so God raised-up 12 ordinary men and women to deliver Israel from their depravity and to lead them into a renewed reformation if you will. Of these, nine are given the specific title of “Judge” -- the most renown being Deborah and Sampson. Of the remaining three not specifically called Judges, Gideon is the most infamous.
In today’s terms, I believe the best way to describe these men and women were as military commander, politician, prophet, and priest all rolled into one. Let’s look at a only a few of these -- but then to the one Judge who really needs to be considered.
The first leader was Othniel. It was said of him that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him -- which is important -- because this only happened to four of the 12 judges. Under Othniel, peace lasted for forty years. After him Ehud followed -- he led the nation into a period of 80 years of peace. Following Ehud was Shagmar -- little is said of him. And after Shagmar, the Lord our God empowered Deborah -- the only female judge, to likewise lead the nation back to God. Additional judges followed — men such as Gideon and Sampson. And the ways in which they led the nation into a time of reformation is important. However, those ways are less important that the Judge of Judges -- Judge Jehovah.
JUDGE JEHOVAH
Please look in your bibles to Judges 2:18. Verse 18 says, “Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.” It’s kind of subtle, but right in the middle of that verse it says God was with THE JUDGE and the One who saved them. In other words, the Lord God Yahweh -- Judge Jehovah -- was their true deliverer and savior -- and he did this because he had compassion on his children.
The Psalm we read this morning says God is a righteous judge. And while that is true, we cannot be acquitted of our crimes against God and humanity -- even if we admit our wrongdoing -- without proper and righteous, representation. Jesus Christ is that representation. He is God, and He is the highest judge in the land. But as God the Son, Jesus also serves as a defense attorney to plead our case before Judge Jehovah -- God the Father.
Ya see, one day, we’re all going to have to enter God the Father’s courtroom. We’ll each see him high and lifted up, sitting majestically his throne and holding a gavel in his hand. This courtroom, Judge Jehovah presides over is not like one in the good ole US of A where we are innocent before proven guilty. No, we’re already guilty, and we know it deep down inside -- even if we don’t want to admit it. No matter, we’ll all have to face the judge.
Close your eyes for a minute, and imagine this scene. Your drug into a courtroom room, bound and shackled with a ball and chain between your legs. You’re wearing a crimson jumpsuit -- and it’s covered with the stain of blood -- the blood of innocents and those you’ve accused throughout your lifetime. Upon your chest, the number 666 is imprinted on your jumpsuit, just above your heart. Standing across the aisle is the prosecutor bearing the number imprinted on your chest. He goes by many names -- but he’s known best as Satan or the Devil... and he’s there to accuse you of your crimes against humanity before the Judge. The court bailiff -- The Cherubim in heaven say, “All rise” as God the Father -- judge Jehovah -- enters his courtroom to hear your case. You’re pulled to your feet….
Satan starts accusing you off all the things you’ve ever done wrong in your entire life. He finishes his laundry list of sins -- it seems as though you’ve been standing there for an eternity listing to his diatribe. He pauses, then looks to the Judge for sentencing.
The Judge says, “Let’s hear it -- are you guilty, or innocent?” What can you say? In your pausing, the Judge speaks once again and says, “Have you chosen a defense attorney?” I provided one for you two thousand years ago. Have you accepted his representation or have you chosen to defend yourself? Do you dare speak? You can’t look upon the judge’s face.
Just then, your defense attorney walks in. His name is Jesus Christ. He says, “Your Honor, if it pleases the court, may I approach the bench?” You may approach, the judge says, Jesus approaches, but the Devil also goes along with him. “What say you, Judge Jehovah” says to Jesus.
“This one should be guilty, My Father. But I have taken his sins upon me at the Cross of Calvary. Please acquit him of all charges. Not only this My Lord and Father, please stay his execution. No, this still is not enough. Tear this crimson jumpsuit from his body. For I have washed him clean with my blood, and am giving him my righteousness.” Jesus ends his defense by stating, “This one is free in me.” The Judge looks up, smiles, and says: “You may go my child -- you are free and acquitted though the Blood of my Son. Bailiff, please clean this one up, adorn him in a white robe, and seat him at my dinner table -- for tonight he shall dine with me and his attorney as freeman.
My friends, that is what God the Father did for Israel… and that’s what he will do for us all if we choose Jesus Christ as our legal representation in the greatest courtroom humanity will ever see. The choice is ours: we can face Judge Jehovah with Jesus Christ as our defense attorney, or we can face him without representation, and try to defend ourselves.
Is Jesus on your side, or are your taking the chance to go it alone and face the judge without representation. Let us all not test fate as did Israel. Instead, let us chose Christ and to follow God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, so when we do face the judge, we don’t have to hear the smacking of the gavel.
