The Southern Campaign of partial Obedience

Introduction:

The Lord has given his children freedom from the bondage of sin. He invites us to walk triumphantly in Jesus Christ. No longer are we to be entangled and enslaved to the sin which once ruled over us, but we are to bring it into subjection and cut it out of our lives. Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Knowing what God has done for us is different from living in the reality of what he has done for us. Judah knew what God had given them by tribal allotment as that had been settled by Joshua. The challenge now was possessing what has been given us in holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:4“That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;” We know the problem with the children of Isreal was not that they didn’t live in the promised land, the problem was they didn’t live a holy life in the promise land.

While in this passage we find Judah doing well, they do fall short of God’s best. Thus, I would be admonished to seek to do God’s will completely.

Judges 1:9–14 “And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley. And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher: And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?”

Judges 1:15–20“And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah. Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.”

D. God will go with us to win what He has promised us.

P. We ought to take all that God has promised us even that which seems to hard.

The Campaign of the Mountains

Judges 1:9–15 “And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley. And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher: And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.”

Explain

The conquest of Hebron

Caleb takes on Kirjath-arba which means city of four. Why it was such is not clear. perhaps there was a coalition of cities at one point. Or maybe, the Anakim Father Kirjath-Arba and his three sons at one time all ruled together.

His name means dog which carries the positive connotations of faithfulness and strength.

He was a bulldog for God.

Whatever the case Caleb took on the city of the giants which most terrified the 10 wicked spies and God gave him the victory.

This city would become a city of refuge for the person who accidently harmed or killed their neighbor and was also a Levite city.

The Conquest of Debir given with the reward of Caleb’s daugher Achsah

Othniel takes us Caleb’s challenge.

His name means God is my protection.

He trusted God to be his protection and God gave him victory over Kirjath-sepher which meant city of writing.

This is a challenge to walk in faith to the next generation.

Textual traditions differ on whether this is Caleb’s nephew or younger brother. However, if it is a younger brother, it is a brother 20 years younger than Caleb, because all 20 and up died in the wilderness.

It appears likely that it may be Caleb’s nephew. Caleb is challenging the next generation to step out in obedience to God.

The blessing of Caleb to Achsah

The south country was arid like a dessert and lacked a good water supply.

Caleb graciously gave Achsah the upper and nether springs which secured water access when it was drier and allowed for agricultural work to continue.

Argue

Wasn’t this unloving for Caleb to offer up his daughter to the taker of Debir? No, He was ensuring his daughter married a bold man of God who was unafraid to step out in obedience to God.

We will find Othniel again in Judges 3:7-11 leading the first deliverance of Israel from the downward spiral of idolatry.

Illustrate: the Oldest camp Counselor

The fort collapses with two minutes.

We resurrect the fort to a greater sturdiness than before.

Apply

Men how are you modeling obedience to God for the younger generation? Do the younger generation see you modeling godliness with your wife and children, with your work and how you do it.

Caleb gave his daughter to the brave man who’d fight the enemy victoriously.

He didn’t want his daughter marrying some loser.

In our day and age we need men who challenge the younger generation to take up the challenge and be faithful men of God. 2 Timothy 2:1–4 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Caleb was strong and he challenged Othniel to be the same.

Caleb had been an example and witness of God’s faithfulness Othniel.

Caleb gave a challenge that was difficult, but possible with God’s aid.

Caleb propelled Othniel to be a pleasing soldier of his Lord.

Women are you able to honorably speak to your father.

Achsah was a woman of honor in how she spoke to her father.

She pointed out an obvious flaw with her inheritance that no doubt her well meaning father had overlooked.

She asks for it humbly as a blessing. What good father does not want to bless his daughter.

Her request is graciously granted. She didn’t bad mouth her Dad. She requested a blessing. What she requested made him feel respected and also at the same time allowed him to grant her a favor. Her faith to be respectful instead of use her tongue to wield a lashing for her Father’s lack of thought is very insightful.

So in the church and in the family women should be careful to build up the men in their life by how they use their tongue even when they are speaking of something that is necessary to their well being. State your case in such a way that it makes the person feel in a position of their God given authority and also the honor to give you what you request. I think Achsah is a wise woman.

The campaign of the South Country

Judges 1:16–17 “And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.”

Explain

The Kenites are stated to be Moses Father-in-Law’s people who would have lived in Midian. When Jethro visited Moses and the nation of Israel upon coming out of Egypt, Moses invited them to be partakers in the blessings of God to Israel. It appears they must have taken him up on the offer. Numbers 10:29 “And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.” (For clarity’s sake it is helpful to know that Moses Father-in-law is known by more than Jethro. He is also known as Jether, Reuel, Hobab, priest of Midian, and the Kenite).

It is likely that Jethro’s family the kenites might have made up a segment of the Midianites. The Bible states that they went up out of the city of the Palm trees. The only place clearly called this is Jericho in the Bible. There are some that will argue that this was probably a fortified oasis somewhere in the desert near the coasts of Judah possibly known as Tamar. However, upon such musings I put little stock.

To help with the conquest of the Judean south would have taken them back near where they had originally lived. It is near Arad they eventually settle. Judges 1:16 “And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.”

Their is a sad seed here of compromise. Instead of wiping out the Canaanites as had been commanded of the Lord, they dwelt among them. This was the start of Israel learning the idolatrous and abominable practices of the Canaanites.

You can’t tolerate sin in your midst in be unaffected. THIS WOULD BE THE DEMISE OF ISRAEL.

While we are not called to military feats of conquering non-believers we are called to protect the purity of the church. Therefore, we should not tolerate open sin in our midst we are to strive for purity in doctrine in the church. That is why we are not ecumenical and we do not follow the doctrine of New Evangelicalism: infiltrate. We follow the biblical doctrine of separation. 2 Corinthians 6:17–7:1 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

The good example of the tribe of Simeon.

They conquer Zephath and rename it Hormah.

It was a city completely conquered. The name Hormah means devoted to destruction.

In our lives there will be certain things that need devoted destruction in our lives.

Addictions to substances and images need to be dealt with complete destruction removing all avenues for fulfillment of the flesh. Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

There is certian words and conduct that must be eradicated.

Argue

Illustrate

Apply

The campaign of the valley

Judges 1:18–20 “Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.”

Explain

The coastal towns of the Philistines defeated but not totally occupied.

The Valley inhabitants not conquered because of chariots of iron.

The Lord was with Judah

The sons of Anak expelled.

Argue

They looked at chariots instead of their God and what he had already done. Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Illustrate

Apply

Don’t give up when the battle is hard and the victory seems impossible. That is when we look to the Lord all the more for the victory and remember it is not by our might, but by God’s power we are victorious.