Unknown, But Not Unused: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar Series

**POSSESSING THE PROMISES**

*Judges Series — Part 2*

**Unknown, but not Unused: Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar**

*Judges 3:7–31*

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**INTRODUCTION**

Growing up, summer meant game shows. Joker's Wild, The $25,000 Pyramid, The Price is Right, Family Feud. You know how Family Feud works — they ask for the most popular answers to a survey question.

If "Name a Judge from the book of Judges" were ever a category, I imagine Samson would top the list. Deborah, Gideon, and Jephthah would probably follow. But the first three judges? They'd never make the survey.

Othniel. Ehud. Shamgar.

Unknown — but each one was used by God. And each one teaches us something about what it means to possess the promises of God.

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**BACKGROUND: THE CYCLE OF JUDGES**

Before we look at these three men, a quick review of the pattern the book of Judges follows — and repeats — throughout its pages:

1. Israel does evil in the eyes of the Lord

2. The Lord gives them into the hands of their oppressors

3. Israel serves the oppressor for a period of years

4. Israel cries out to the Lord

5. The Lord raises up a deliverer — a judge

6. The oppressor is subdued

7. The land has rest for a period of years

This is not just a cycle — it is a downward spiral. As the book progresses, the people get worse. And so do the judges.

The book ends with Samson, who, although he delivered God's people, was hardly a model of moral character. The earlier judges are actually closer to God, and their stories reflect that. With that in mind, these first three judges represent a more ideal picture of what a judge could be — and Othniel, the very first, is considered by many scholars to be the model judge of the entire book.

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**JUDGE #1: OTHNIEL — SERVE WITHOUT SEEKING RECOGNITION**

*Judges 3:7–11*

> *"The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died."*

How can Othniel be the best judge in the book when his entire story takes five verses to tell?

Simple — nothing negative is ever said about him. No doubt. No immorality. No deception. Othniel is, frankly, boring. And God uses boring people.

Othniel just did what he was asked to do. No fanfare. No drama. He went about his business and accomplished what God wanted him to accomplish.

Isn't it interesting how we love stories that contain immorality, deceit, and scandal? Read the news. Watch the movies. People with flaws and drama get all the attention. People who are just quietly doing good rarely make the headlines.

Sometimes we make things harder for ourselves — and for God — by chasing excitement rather than just doing what needs to be done.

*Two ranchers were trying to impress each other with the size of their operations. One asked, "What's the name of your ranch?" The other replied, "The Rocking R, ABC, Flying W, Circle C, Bar U, Staple Four, Box D, Rolling M, Rainbow's End, Silver Spur Ranch!" Duly impressed, the first rancher said, "Wow — how many head of cattle do you run?" With a sad shake of his head the other answered, "Not many. Very few survive the branding."*

Too many times we are so busy trying to impress others that we never get done what God actually wanted us to do.

*"Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."* (Matthew 6:4)

**Othniel reminds us:** You don't have to be number one in anyone's survey to be number one with God. If you are out to impress others, you will not possess the promises of God.

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**JUDGE #2: EHUD — SERVE IN SPITE OF REAL OR PERCEIVED WEAKNESSES**

*Judges 3:12–30*

Ehud's story is considerably more interesting than Othniel's. Here are the highlights:

Israel is handed over to Moab and its king, Eglon. The people cry out to God, and Ehud is raised up as their deliverer. We are told almost immediately that he is left-handed. He crafts a sword, conceals it on his right thigh, and goes to pay tribute to King Eglon — described as a very fat man. Claiming to have a secret message from God, Ehud gains a private audience with Eglon, draws his hidden sword, and kills him. He slips out, locks the door behind him, and by the time the servants discover what has happened, Ehud has already gathered an Israelite army. Moab is defeated. The land has peace.