A. INTRODUCTION
1. People have to learn to deal with the heartbreak of r __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __; there's no way to avoid it.
a. We sometimes have to deal with rejection as the result of injustice: manifestations, perhaps, of another person's:
(1) s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, or
(2) h __ __ __ __ __, or
(3) j __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
b. But not all rejection is unjust. We sometimes have to deal with fair and sensible rejection which comes upon an honest and unbiased appraisal of the facts at hand.
(1) Perhaps I am not as q __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ as another. I may lack the necessary skills, talents, or experience required for selection.
(2) I might not have been properly p __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
(3) It is possible, in spite of adequate qualification and preparation, to p __ __ __ __ __ __ one's self poorly.
(4) It may be a problem with my a __ __ __ __ __ __ __. Perhaps I refuse to do what is required for acceptance. Either I am l __ __ __, or s __ __ __ __ __ __ __, or adamant in my refusal to "play by the rules," a choice called, in the terminology of Scripture, ordinary d __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, or, as is most often the case with most
Christians, I __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ obedience.
c. The question in the matter of rejection for the Christian is not, "How can I avoid it? There are, however, three important questions regarding rejection which we must confront.
(1) How can I avoid exercising my unjust rejection of others?
(2) How should I deal with my rejection by others?
(3) Am I guilty of rejecting God by my lack of complete o __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __?
2. What? God? Does He have to deal with rejection? According to the Bible: y __ __!
a. God the S __ __
(1) Isaiah 53:1-6
(2) 1 Peter 2:1-8
(3) John 12:44-50
(4) Luke 6:43-49
b. God the H __ __ __ S __ __ __ __ __
(1) Ephesians 4:25-32
(2) 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
b. God the F __ __ __ __ __
(1) 1 Samuel 8:1-18
(2) 1 Samuel 10:17-19
3. Our study of the Book of Judges continues today with the story of J __ __ __ __ __ __ __, who judged in Israel in the 5th epoch of that period of her history. We will consider him in two separate studies.
a. The first part of the story of Jephthah will teach us at least two lessons about rejection:
(1) How should I deal with my own rejection by others?
(2) What happens when God's Chosen People persist in their rejection of Him?
b. Next week, God willing, we will consider the consequences of "swearing before God," the taking of "voluntary oaths."
B. TEXT
1. Judges 10:6-18: The consequences of a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ and the requirements for r __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
a. Israel's familiar predicament in v.6: Then the children of Israel again did e __ __ __ in the s __ __ __ __ of the Lord..."
(1) B __ __ __ __
(2) A __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
(3) gods of M __ __ __ ( Chemosh, Numbers 21:29 )
(4) gods of the A __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ( Milcom, 1 Kings 11:5 )
(5) gods of the P __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ( Dagon, Judges 16:23 )
b. Again God "sold" them into the hands of their enemies -- this time it was the Ammonites and the Philistines -- who "s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ and c __ __ __ __ __ __" them for 18 years.
c. Again (almost on cue) Israel "c __ __ __ __ o __ __" to Jahweh (v.10).
(1) They p __ __ __ __ __ honestly to God.
(2) They were "s __ __ __ __," we can be sure. After all, they were in "great distress."
(3) They c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ their sin -- they "said it again" by naming it to God.
(4) Was there something they failed to do?
d. Jahweh's response is quite different this time (v.11-14):
(1) He did not agree to rescue them immediately. In fact, He did not indicate that He would ever rescue them again
- Had Israel taken Him to the limit of His l __ __ __ - s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __? Had they finally exhausted His reservoir of patience, grace and love? Or was He exercising "t __ __ __ __ l __ __ __?"
(2) There is no small degree of derision in His suggestion to the children of Israel that they pray to the false gods they now worshiped for their deliverance.
e. A key passage in this section comes next. It is the record of Israel's response to God's response (v.15-17).
(1) They accepted God's s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
(2) They went beyond confession to authentic r __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, which is always accompanied by the correct d __ __ __ __ __ __ __ action. In this case, there was a two-step action.
- First, they purged from themselves the polluting presence of the gods they admitted to serving in direct disobedience to God.
- Second (and the importance of this step cannot be over-emphasized ), they "s __ __ __ __ __ G __ __."
ref: 2 Chronicles 7:14 ( KJV )
If my people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear them from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
(3) They showed great f __ __ __ __ by assembling an army at "Mizpah" -- without having a l __ __ __ __ __.
2. J __ __ __ __ __ __ __ is introduced in Judges 11:1-11.
a. Background (v.1-3)
(1) a "m __ __ __ __ __ w __ __ __ __ __ __"
(2) the son of a prominent citizen and a p __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
(3) r __ __ __ __ __ __ __ by his "legitimate" half-brothers
(4) a s __ __ __ __ __ __ __
(5) possessed l __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ skills
b. His improving fortunes are documented in v.4-11.
(1) He is restored to a place of respectability, invited back into "polite" society.
(2) He is entreated to take a place of responsibility in leading the Israelite troops in the impending battle with the Ammonites.
(3) He is promised a place of authority as ruler over all Gilead.*
*The name given to that part of Israel east of the Jordan River. It was formerly known as "Transjordan," and was originally settled by the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
C. APPLICATION
1. Our brief introduction to Jephthah provides an excellent model for dealing with rejection.
a. His rejection was severe. Having been cast out of "decent" society by his own family, there was no legal recourse left for him in Israel. He was forced to fend for himself.
(1) Life is not always f __ __ __.
(2) Life does go on; and the God of the Universe is in sovereign control over all of it.
b. He learned the necessary survival skills to make the best of his situation and developed skills which would serve him well no matter where he found himself.
c. 11:7 reveals that Jephthah did harbour some understandable b __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, but not to the point that it became debilitating or destructive.
ref: Hebrews 12:3-15
d. 11:9-11 seem to indicate that Jephthah retained a strong awareness of the presence of God.
(1) God must always be the believer's sole resource; the one and only object of our trust.
(2) ref: Jeremiah 17:5-10
e. Jephthah's difficult past did not disqualify him to be chosen and used by God!
2. We have already seen how Israel's persistent rejection of God brought forth the "dark" side of His covenant promise.
a. Obedience brings forth b __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
b. Disobedience brings forth c __ __ __ __ __.
c. I __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ obedience and "c __ __ __ __ __ __ __" obedience are seen by God for what they really are: disobedience.
ref: Galatians 6:7-9 [ TLB ]
Don't be misled; remember that you cannot ignore God and get away with it: a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows! If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest a spiritual decay and death; but if he plants the good things of the Spirit, he will reap the everlasting life which the Holy Spirit gives him. And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up.
