Judges 1:1-8
Working to Accomplish the Will of God
INTRODUCTION: The book of Judges picks up right where Joshua left off. We have an account of Joshua’s death here that was mentioned also at the end of Joshua. When Joshua died it was up to the tribes of the children of Israel to take the land that he had assigned to each tribe before their death. Right here immediately following Joshua’s death the nation of Israel is still trying to follow God. We see some really good example here of working to accomplish God’s will. It was God’s will for the tribes of Israel to occupy their land. There are three things they did that helped them in accomplishing God’s will that you should apply to your work for God.
CONSULT GOD ABOUT HOW THE WORK IS TO BE DONE (VS. 1-2)
The nation of Israel at this point was still trying to follow God
They asked God which tribe should engage in fighting first
God told them probably through the high priest in some way that the tribe of Judah was to go up and take its land first.
They wanted to know what how God would have them to accomplish this work
They knew what work he wanted done, but they asked Him for the details
God showed them that He wanted Judah to go first
When you are about to do the work of God to accomplish God’s will you should consult Him about how he wants it done
God does not speak to us in an audible voice today
He speaks to us through His Holy Bible and His Holy Spirit
You should ask, How does the Bible fit into how this work should be done?
Is there a specific way that His word says to do this work?
If the Bible tells you to do a work a certain way then that is the way that you should do it.
You should also let the Holy Spirit lead you in to the right way
John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth”
God’s Holy Spirit lives inside of you and is your comforter.
His job is to guide you in truth-He will tell you how God wants things done
This will require you to spend time with the Lord in prayer
Asking Him what his will is in a particular work and then listening for His answer
No, He will not speak out loud, but He will speak to your heart, if you are seeking His will you will find it
Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
You can prove or know what God’s perfect will is-He will show you, go to Him before you start anything.
COOPERATE IN THE WORK (V. 3)
The tribe of Judah asked the tribe of Simeon to go into battle with them
Judah decided this work would go better if they worked together with their fellow tribe
They made a deal-Simeon would go with Judah and Judah would go with Simeon when the time came
It actually turned out that Simeon’s inheritance was in the middle of the inheritance of Judah
In the later years of Israel’s history these two tribes pretty much merged together
They sought to help each other in accomplishing the work that God had for them to do.
God has put us in one of His churches so that we can work together to accomplish His will
This church is suppose to be a working organization
It was never God’s plan for his churches to become a social organization
Churches are to work in the place where they are at and all around the world to bring others to salvation through Jesus Christ
Churches are to baptize those that believe
Churches are to teach them to observe whatsoever Christ commanded
It is a great thing that we do not have to engage in this work alone
We are to encourage one another and help each other in this work
We should all cooperate together to get God’s work done the way that God wants it done
Eph. 2:19-22 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
The whole house which is the church is to work together to bring God glory.
There should never be separate agendas in the church, we should all be of one mind moving in the same direction to accomplish the will of God
It is your personal responsibility to get involved with other people in the work and to involve other people in the work
BE OBEDIENT AND LET GOD HANDLE THE REST (VS. 4-8)
The tribe of Judah did as God said and dove into the fray
First they went to Bezek and slew ten thousand Canaanites and Perizzites
In v. 4 that the Lord delivered them into the hands of Judah
It was God that controlled the final outcome
At that battle they ended up chasing down and capturing the King in v. 6
That cut off his big toes and thumbs-the Bible tells here that he had done the same thing to 70 kings that he had conquered
This was a very common practice in the time because it kept an opposing king from running or carrying a weapon so that they could no longer fight in war
Even this king recognizes in v. 7 that God was the one who was paying him back for his cruelty.
After that they went to Jerusalem and had victory there as well
God had brought about the victory to accomplish His will
Judah could now inhabit the land that God wanted them to inhabit
When you work for God to accomplish His will and His purposes you must be obedient and trust Him for the rest
God commands us to go out and spread the gospel we are to do exactly as he says, he will change the hearts and people will be saved because of His power
Any command that is given in God’s word or through His Holy Spirit, you should obey with everything that you have
As long as we obey, God will bring about the results
When we obey and reach out into our community and the towns around us, God will provide the salvations and baptisms.
God is the one that puts the power behind the work
We simply obey, and He will do great things that we never could have imagined
CONCLUSION: God’s will should be accomplished God’s way. He would have you to consult Him before beginning any work for Him. He would have his people to work together in accomplishing His will. He would have us to be obedient and leave the results up to Him.
