Series: Spiritual Decay [#1]
COMPROMISE
Judges 1:1-2:5
Introduction:
As many times as I have been to Doctors, had tests, had shots, and all of the other things they do to you; I have never disliked those things worse than having to go to the Dentist. Every 6 months we go and get our teeth checked and cleaned and they always find areas of decay. I used to get mad because the Dentist always wants to remove that decay and put in fillings; but I then realized that the longer you allow that decay to stay there, the worse it will be in the future.
As we begin the Book of Judges, we are going to look at a different type of decay that is happening. We are living right now in a time of spiritual decay and if something doesn’t change quickly there is not going to be anything left. We live in a Nation that 50 years ago was conservative. What is “normal” now was obscene then. The idea of acceptable “profanity” on TV or LGBTQ+ rights was not even considered. The teaching of evolution as fact in our Schools and creation as religious fanaticism was unheard of. Parents being criticized and punished for disciplining their children would have been laughed at.
God was in our Schools, our homes, our Cities, and our Churches. We must even question if God’s Spirit is moving in our Nation’s Churches in 2024. I believe that this decay began through compromise.
Judges 1:1-3
Spiritual decay begins with compromised…
1. Leadership.
Joshua had died and now the Nation of Israel was seeking direction. The people did go to God; but no one was stepping up as the leader. When a leader can’t be found, the people begin to take on the habits and actions of those around them and that is what the Israelites did.
I want to use our Church as an example. Through the years there have been notable leaders in our Church; but as they move or die, who takes their place? The younger people need to step up and learn how to serve in those areas God has called them to; but if we as a Church don’t continue to do our part as individuals we are going to be in trouble. When we get ourselves in situations where just a few people are doing all the work we then watch a handful of people get frustrated to the point of quitting while everyone else sits back and watches.
Judges 1:4-7
Spiritual decay begins with compromised…
2. Attitudes.
Here we find a compromise in attitude. Israel was supposed to go in and destroy the enemy. They were to not leave any of the enemy alive. We see that they did go in and destroy the Canaanites and Perizzites at Bezek; but instead of just killing Adoni-Bezek they cut off his thumbs and big toes. This was an act to humiliate the enemy and it was something that many other Nations did. Since when did God want His people to take on the actions of other Nations?
As God’s children, we struggle with this temptation of compromising our attitudes. Comments like, “There were only 2 “cuss words” in that movie”; are good examples. Notice how small of a thing this is. Those small things grow bigger and bigger. All the devil needs is a small foothold.
Judges 1:8-15
Spiritual decay begins with compromised…
3. Families.
Here we see some very slight compromises within Caleb’s family. Othniel won Acsah’s hand in marriage and Acsah quickly began to work her charm on her husband and her daddy. In verse 14 it says that Acsah urged her husband to talk to her dad about getting some property. The word used here in the Hebrew actually means “to nag”. She was “nagging” her husband to get this field for her instead of leading his family- Othniel quickly gave in. Not only did she get the land, but once she got it; it wasn’t good enough. She was given desert land and so she wanted more. This time she went to daddy herself and asked for some springs of water and she got them.
There are 2 notable family compromises here that we are dealing with in America right now:
* The role of husband and wife were confused.
Now I know you don’t like to hear this; but God has a specific design in marriage. The husband is to be the head of the household. He is to lead his family spiritually. Wives are to follow their husband’s leadership. The problem we face in today’s culture is there needs to be a balance. You will either find situations where the man tries to rule with an “iron fist” and that is not right; or you will find situations where the woman isn’t going to let some man tell her what to do.
* Children want everything their parents have right now.
Their parents have worked years and years to have the things they do, and these young adults want the same thing or more at no cost. Just as Caleb did, we often give those things to our kids without any thought of what we are teaching them. I know we all want the best for our children; but sometimes the best thing you can do for them is allow them to struggle a little bit like you did when you first got married. It will make them stronger and will teach them how to trust in the Lord and how to manage what they have.
Judges 1:16-36
Spiritual decay begins with compromised…
4. Warfare.
There are numerous compromises found here concerning the warfare and taking of the Promised Land. I need you to go back to verse 8 for a moment to see our 1st compromise.
* They won but did not occupy.
Jerusalem was not actually occupied by the Israelites until David took it. Judah attacked Jerusalem and burned it; but then left. In time the people of the land moved back into Jerusalem. Many of us have victory over spiritual battles in our lives; but then we just walk away from them, and they come back.
* They followed part of God’s instructions but not all of them.
God had told them many times that when they took a city that they were not leave any of the people alive; but we see here several times where instead of killing everyone they just made them slaves. Now what would be wrong with that? They could get the best of both worlds. They didn’t have to kill anyone, and they could get someone to do their manual labor and the types of things they didn’t want to do. We are no different. God tells us to completely get rid of the sin in our life. That is spiritual warfare and when we get rid of most of it, but not all of it; it will surely come back to haunt us. Get rid of all of it!
Not only was it more difficult to do it God’s way, but God’s way was dangerous. Notice in verse 19 that they could not take the plains because the people had chariots. Could they not take the plains or did they just not want to because of the danger? This verse also says that God was with them so either they just didn’t want to take the risk or God couldn’t handle it. Which one is it? We must stop taking the easy way out. Yes, what God ask us to do is risky and dangerous in our eyes; but if God is with us who can be against us?
Conclusion:
Judges 2:1-5
There are always consequences to compromise. For the Israelites, their consequences were that those people they did not drive out of the land would become thorns in their sides. Their reaction to this news was sadness and crying. I want to tell you that when you do not drive out sin in your own life, those sins will become thorns in your side. You will be left in sadness and tears.
