Tola and Jair Liberators of Israel

Introduction

This weekend we remember the liberators of America who paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for us to secure and maintain our freedoms in America. I am reminded of John 15:13 “13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

On Sunday nights we have been walking through the book of Judges. Judges is a dark period of time in the nation of Israel. The culture of that period is well captured in Judges 21:25 “25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Yet in the book of judges there are 12 judges which help us see glimmers of hope in a coming Savior as they execute judgement and bring deliverance to Israel from their oppressors. These deliverances often follow a certain downward cycle.

Idolatry with the idols of their neighbors.

Oppression by their enemies

Cry out to God in repentance and putting away of their idols.

God raises up a judge

The judge delivers the people of Israel from oppression.

Rest to the land for the duration of the life of the judge and

downward back into idolatry.

These judges were foreshadows of the Perfect Judge Jesus Christ. He will one day rule the world in righteousness. It is to him all will answer. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

John 5:22 “22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”

Revelation 20:11 “11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.”

Tonight we will be looking at the Judges Tola and Jair in Judges 10:1–5 “1 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. 2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. 3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.”

I am going to look at these two judges in a rather unconventional way. There is not much written about them, so I am looking at the meaning of the names tonight to draw some parallels with Christ our judge and make some practical applications of how these men, Jair and Tola can challenge us to be faithful to our Savior Jesus Christ.

D. Tola and Jair have significance to our lives today.

P. As Christ redeemed us so we ought to learn from the Old Testament examples that we might better walk with our God.

Judge Tola: A picture of Christ’s humanity.

Explain:

Judges, Ruth (1) Tola (10:1–2)

The narrator’s note that he led Israel “after Abimelech” invites the reader to interpret this “lowly person” against the backdrop of the ambitious and pretentious son of Jerubbaal. Tola is identified more closely by lineage as the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, both of whom are otherwise unknown. He is also labelled “a man of Issachar.” The fact that the name Tola identifies only one other individual in the Old Testament, the first of four sons of Issachar (

Tola means red worm. It would have been a worm that scarlet was derived from. Stephen Olford shares the following insights about the red worm

When God made the first man he called him Adam which means red dirt.

The land of Palestine is noted for its red dirt reminding Christ came down to earth.

He was also flesh and blood. John 1:14 “14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

He was God in human flesh. John 1:1 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Puah means a breath or utterance.

a reminder that life is given to us of God.

Also that as a lowly servant Jesus stated nothing except what his Father said. John 12:50 “50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” He speaks it out he uttered what God told him.

Dodo means beloved of Jehovah.

Of Jesus it is stated. Matthew 3:17 “17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Putting the three names together we have a picture of what Christ came to do as our deliverer from sin.

The state of Israel had been one of unrest with the wicked and self-seeking Abimelech, King of Shechem.

Tola arose after this and brought peace to a region that had been tormented.

He dwelt in Shamir which means to watch or guard, or prison and there he died.

He couldn’t deliver his people from death.

However, Jesus our judge did. Ephesians 4:7–8 “7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”

Argue:

These judges remind us we need a deliverer to forever free us from sin.

Illustrate:

The book of judges is history of Israel’s back in forth into sin.

Apply:

Are you looking to Jesus as your Savior.

Israel found temporal hope in Tola.

We find everlasting salvation in Jesus Christ.

Judge Jair: A picture of Christ’s Light.

Explain:

Jair - He will enlighten

Isaiah 9:1–2 “1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, When at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, Beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

Gileadite who dwells in Gilead which in on the Eastern side of the Country of Jordan in the regions of Manasseh, Gad, and Reuben.

He lives and rules with his 30 sons riding on donkeys.

He was well to do if his son each had a donkey. That’d be like each of your children driving around a nice Chevy.

He was like royalty.

He had to have many wives to have that many offspring.

He used his position to bring peace and tranquility in the land of Israel for 23 years.

Argue:

Jesus in like manner is the one who has saved us and brought us light through the Gospel.

Hebrews 2:10 “10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 “3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Illustrate:

Apply:

Be a light bearer as Christ.

Matthew 5:16 “16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Show what God’s Word says to others.

1 Peter 2:9 “9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

Humble Worm

Enlightener