A. Introduction
1. This morning we conclude our brief sermon series on the Book of Judges. I have certainly enjoyed preaching from this fascinating book, although most of us would agree that it is a wild, difficult and bewildering one. Our study has exposed us to graphic descriptions of violence and mayhem, astonishing examples of treachery and deceit, exciting accounts of pursuit and adventure, and disturbing portraits of wickedness and debauchery.
a. At the center of the Bible record, as always, is Jahweh, the God of the Covenant. In the Book of Judges we see evidence of:
(1) His absolute -- and sometimes terrible -- s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __:
- His a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ over His creation,
- His mighty p __ __ __ __, and
- His w __ __ __ for His people;
(2) His c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, revealed in His:
- r __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __,
- perfect j __ __ __ __ __ __,
- great m __ __ __ __,
- profound g __ __ __ __;
(3) His incredible l __ __ __ for His called-out people, expressed in His:
- l __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __,
- f __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and His
- p __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ for them.
b. Of course we learn much about the chosen people of God in this book, too. What cannot help but be revealed immediately is that, left to themselves and of their own volition, they are completely without any special m __ __ __ __ that might explain why it is that God ever chose them in the first place. Among the disturbing character traits of the people of God portrayed in the Book of Judges:
- m __ __ __ __ weakness;
- lack of f __ __ __ __;
- d __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ to the will of God for them;
- stubborn and destructive s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __;
- reckless and fatal disregard for o __ __ __ __ __.
2. All of this was seen in the first sixteen chapters of the book, but the focus was upon the great deliverers whom God raised up to rescue His people, especially the "major" judges:
a. O __ __ __ __ __ __,
b. E __ __ __,
c. D __ __ __ __ __ __,
d. G __ __ __ __ __,
e. J __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and
f. S __ __ __ __ __.
3. In the last five chapters of the book the emphasis changes. The narrative revolves around two separate stories which provide insight into to moral conditions of the times. It is important to note that these last five chapters have not been placed in chronological order. Nearly all scholars agree that the incidents recorded here -- particulary the civil war -- must have occured before the forty year Philistine oppression, and could have occured before the time of any of the judges. In the first sixteen chapters we read time and time again that "Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord," and it may well be that the last five chapters are used by God to show us just how wicked was "the evil" done by the Israelites. They provide specific evidence of the moral climate in Israel during this period:
In those days there was no king in Israel; Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
a. "There is an extremely important and very contemporary insight in those verses. The Israelites did not do what was wrong in their own eyes. On the contrary, they were convinced that they were doing was was right. It was a society filled with violence, idolatry, gross immorality -- utterly pagan -- and yet these people thought that what they did was right. Their value systems, moral standards, religious doctrines, and practices had lost all touch with reality and absolute truth. As a result, only the swamp of relativism was left. That is what makes Judges so practical to twentieth-century Christians; for we, too, live in a society that has no standards. The basic life philosophy of the modern man is, 'If it is right to you (i.e. in your own eyes), then do it.'" - Gary Inrig: Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay
b. The two stories contained in Judges 17:1 - 21:25 stand in a cause-effect relationship. The first is a story of spiritual anarchy; the second a shocking picture of moral collapse. When God's people refuse to obey Him as Lord, or get selective or creative in their obedience, the result will be manifested in moral confusion and, finally, collapse. Take heed, and read on.
B. TEXT
1. Judges 17:1 - 18:31
a. Chapter 17 is the curious story of one family's "home-made" religion. It is a truly perfect example of the conditions described as rampant throughout Israel in 17:6. The main characters:
(1) M __ __ __ __, man of Ephraim, who name means "One who is like the Lord."
(2) His apparently wealthy m __ __ __ __ __;
(3) A young L __ __ __ __ __ from B __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
The bizarre sequence of events:
(1) a t __ __ __ __ of a considerable sum of money;
(2) an uttered c __ __ __ __ against the thief;
(3) a surprise c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ to the crime;
(4) a b __ __ __ __ __ __ __;
(5) an unkept p __ __ __ __ __ __ to God;
(6) personal I __ __ __ __ made of silver and a complete home-made religion;
(7) a private, personally-hired p __ __ __ __ __ (whose true identity is revealed later);
(8) an amazing declaration: "Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest."
ref: Exodus 20:1-17 ( How many of the 10 Commandments can you count that were broken by Micah and his mother? There are, I think, at least seven! )
Deuteronomy 12:1-14
b. Chapter 18 contains the record of how this "small scale" idolatry spread to engulf the entire tribe of D __ __, whose leaders were "innocently" looking for a place to settle down.
(1) Dan's lack of space was itself the result of spiritual compromise. They had been given their fair portion of the inheritance from Joshua (see Joshua 19:40-48 ), but were the only tribe to fail to "take" what they had been "given." They were driven out of their portion and "into the hills" by the Amorites (see Judges 1:34).
It would appear that this embarrassing setback should have left Dan with two choices:
- T __ __ __ __ God to keep His word -- were they perhaps guilty of the sin of d __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __? -- and have another go at the Amorites
- Invent "Plan B:" Look for another "portion," one presenting fewer challenges, a small, quiet place without a standing army, where they could settle down and get on with their lives.
They settled for "Plan B," and the sorry record of their reconnoiter and "conquest" is contained in this chapter.
(2) V.10 reveals that the leaders of Dan, too, were doing what was "right" in their own eyes, to the point of attributing their "good luck" in finding easy pickings to Jahweh.
(3) The religious comedy continues in v.14-27, when 600 armed Danite soldiers "invade" the home of Micah and "steal his religion." The "upwardly-mobile" Levite priest, we are saddened to learn, is a direct descendent of M __ __ __ __.
3. Chapters 19-21 is a lengthy record of the Israeli civil war which nearly obliterated the entire tribe of B __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
a. This section begins on an ominous note in 19:1 - In those days Israel had no king - which forbodes the political and moral chaos which is revealed in the rest of the passage. As was the case with the story of Micah, this narrative begins with a L __ __ __ __ __.
b. The incidents described in 19:1-30 shock our sensibilities:
(1) the odd, prolonged visit to the father of his c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __;
(2) the vile demand made by the drunken citizens of G __ __ __ __ __;
(3) the astonishing reality of what constituted ancient middle eastern propriety;
(4) the brutal rape and murder of the woman;
(5) the Levite's disgusting response to the violence done to her.
Everyone who saw it said, "Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Think about it! Consider it! Tell us what to do!"
c. The civil war which followed saw a inter-tribal army of __________________ raised up fight ________________ Benjamite swordsmen. The various battles -- all of the early ones won by the under-manned Benjamites -- are recorded in 20:12-48. Finally, nearly the entire Benjamite army was slain.
d. Chapter 21 records yet another rash v __ __, this one taken by the entire nation against ever marrying a Benjamite woman. The result was the near annihilation of the tribe.
(1) Seemingly bound by their vow and now worried about the state of the nation, the people went before Jahweh at B __ __ __ __ __, the location of the tabernacle at that time.
(2) A curious way around the vow is engaged, but more violence follows.
(3) What better way for the Book of Judges to end than with 21:25:
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
C. APPLICATION
1. Am I guilty of worshiping a carefully "customized" version of God, one who doesn't expect too much of me, who will not be too awfully demanding, who will perform as I wish Him to?
2. As I answer that question, I must ask myself another: What kind of faith have I passed on to my children? Is the God they worship the Lord God Almighty of the Bible, or the one I have "modified" to suit my own ends?
3. Am I guilty of some sort of twentieth century I __ __ __ __ __ __ __?
4. Let us each one purpose to return to a B __ __ __ __ __ __ __ view of God. We might be very surprised to learn what He is like.
D I S C U S S I O N G U I D E
1. Use a dictionary to look up the meaning of the following:
a. idol
b. icon
2. Read Judges 17:1-4. List two "mothering" mistakes made by Micah's mother in these verses.
3. Now read the rest of the chapter. You might also read Exodus 20:1-17. List some of the Ten Commandments which were broken by Micah and his mother during this one episode in their lives.
4. Re-read Judges 1:17. Discuss what is wrong with Micah's logic here.
5. Read Judges 20:12-14.
a. Explain the reaction of the Benjamites to the charge laid upon them.
b. Why is this our "natural" reaction when someone else accuses us of something?
c. Use a verse of Scripture to explain the proper response of a Christian when accused by another.
6. Name some societal standards that Christians sometimes hold more highly than God's moral law.
7. Discuss some Scripture passages which might prove helpful in a parent's trying to teach God's moral law to his/her children.
8. Based solely on what you have discussed with them and/or what they have seen in your home, how do you think your children would describe God's character?
