God Can Use You Too

Judges 3:1–11 KJV 1900

1 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; 3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath. 4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Main Point: God sometimes leaves hard places in our path to prove us and prepare us. When His people cry out, He raises up servants for His purposes and gives them His Spirit to do what they could never do alone. Through Othniel, God shows that He can use ordinary people to bring extraordinary rest.

Introduction

He was the church maintenance man. No title. No spotlight. He showed up early to unlock doors, straighten hymnals, and make sure the heat was on in winter. Most Sundays no one noticed him, which was fine with him. He kept a small spiral notebook in his shirt pocket with names written in pencil. Those were the people he prayed for while he swept the hallways. One winter a teenager started slipping in late and sitting on the back row. The maintenance man learned his name, prayed over it, and quietly handed him a Bible with a note that said, “I am asking God to speak to you.” Months later that young man gave his life to Christ. Years later he became a faithful missionary and a mentor to many. The maintenance man never preached a sermon on the platform, but he helped preach one with his life.

What made that man useful was not fame or formal training. It was availability, obedience, and the quiet courage to act when God put a name on his heart. He never sought a position. He simply said yes in the place God had planted him. His ordinary faith opened a door for extraordinary grace.

Judges 3 introduces us to someone like that. Othniel is not a priest or a celebrity. He steps out of the shadows when God’s people cry for help. “The LORD raised up a deliverer” and “the Spirit of the LORD came upon him.” God chose him, God empowered him, and God brought rest through him. That is the promise that sits over this service today. God can use you too.

Judges 3 opens with a classroom and a crisis. The classroom, God left nations to prove Israel and to teach them war. The crisis, Israel forgot God, embraced idols, and suffered under an oppressor for eight sorrowful years. Then, one day, a broken people cried out. Between their cry and God’s answer sits a small comma that is full of big mercy. They had abandoned God, yet He was still close enough to hear, and kind enough to help.

Enter Othniel. Not a priest. Not a celebrity. Introduced earlier as “Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother,” he is everyday stock with a willing heart. God raised him up, clothed him with His Spirit, and used him to bring forty years of rest. Here is the good news for Springhill and for Gainesville today. God can use you too.

Pattern of Judges

Rebellion – Israel forsakes the Lord for idols.

Retribution – God allows enemies to oppress them.

Repentance – They cry out in distress.

Rescue – God raises up a judge to deliver them.

Context and Structure of the Passage

Disciplined - Judges 3:1–4, God left nations to prove Israel and to teach them war. Formation precedes vocation.

Decline - Judges 3:5–7, the threefold decline, live among, love, live like, then the anger of the LORD.

Despair - Judges 3:8, eight years under Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia.

Deliverance - Judges 3:9–11, the cry, the calling of Othniel, the coming of the Spirit, the conquest, and the calm.

I. God Selects Whom He Will Use (Judges 3:9)

A. Selected as a Response to Israel’s Cries (Judges 3:9)

Judges 3:9 KJV 1900

9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

Israel tried Baal and Ashtaroth. They were spiritually bankrupt and practically endangered. At last, they cried unto the LORD, and the LORD answered. The Bible says, “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). “Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee” (Psalm 50:15). The turning of a nation began with the praying of a people.

The God’s they had worshipped were their choice during good times, but left them in want during troubled days. Now they revert back to the God of heaven who has been their deliverer, and defender.

Now their choice to live with their enemies (Judges 3:5), love their enemies (Judges 3:6), and live like their enemies (Judges 3:7), had now proven detrimental. Be sure that your sins will find you out (Numbers 32:23). Then Paul affirms the reality of the consequences to our choices when he reminds the Galatians to be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatever a man sow, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7-9).

The cost of sin is a high price to pay, and it ushers in detrimental consequences.

They turned away from God when things were well, but turned back to Him in their despair.

Application. Crying out is not the last resort; it is the first response. Households shift when men and women pray. Churches turn when congregations cry out. Communities heal when saints seek the Lord together. It is a biblical principle that repentance elicits a response from God (2 Chronicles 7:14).

B. Selected for a Reason (Judges 3:9)

Judges 3:9 KJV 1900

9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

“They did not select, or elect Othniel.” God raised up a deliverer. God chose the instrument, God supplied the assignment, God set the timing. That’s the picture of Grace on display if ever there was one.

Although Jesus came to His own, he was not their choice, but He was God’s choice (John 1:11).

No one would’ve chosen Jesus nor elected him based upon birth or upbringing, but He was God’s choice (John 8:39).

Jesus owned no property, nor had any financial means, but He was God’s choice (Luke 9:58).

Jesus was rejected and a man of sorrows, but He was God’s choice (Isaiah 53:3).

Jesus is sent by God to save humanity at the right time, even thought it was in an unusual way (Galatians 4:4-5).

Othniel’s resume was not remarkable, God’s purpose was. “He shall choose our inheritance for us” (Psalm 47:4). “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD” (Psalm 37:23).

God’s calling is not a popularity contest, it is a providence assignment. Application. Stop disqualifying yourself. Availability matters more than visibility. If you will say yes, God will use your yes.

Transition. Selection by God always comes with supply from God.

II. God Strengthens His Servants, (Judges 3:10)

A. God Strengthens for Service (Judges 3:10)

Judges 3:10 KJV 1900

10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.

Othniel is about to serve as a civil and military leader. He is not the high priest. Yet the task is spiritual because the people are God’s covenant people. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

In the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon selected servants for appointed tasks. God reminds Zerubabel that the city of Jerusalem would be restored and the nation revived, but that would only come by God’s spirit. (Zechariah 4:6). In the New Testament, the Spirit indwells every believer. “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8).

Samuel’s prophecy to Saul on his elevation to the throne, noting the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him (1 Samuel 10:6).

The Spirit of the Lord came upon David, when he was anointed to be Israel’s next king (1 Samuel 16:13).

The Spirit came upon the other judges Othniel (Judges 3:10), then Gideon (Judges 6:34), and Jephthah (Judges 11:29); and of course Samson (Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14).

Application. Whatever God calls you to, He equips you for the work, but you must rely upon His Spirit.

Parents, teachers, deacons, entrepreneurs, counselors, God’s work requires God’s power.

No prayer, no power

Little prayer, little power.

Much prayer, much power.

Seek fullness. Walk in the Spirit. Ask and you shall receive.

B. God’s Strength is Sustaining (Judges 3:10)

Judges 3:10 KJV 1900

10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.

Othniel “judged Israel,” he led with wisdom, and “went out to war,” he led with courage. The text guards the glory. “The LORD delivered” the oppressor into Othniel’s hand. The hero is God, the helper is Othniel. “Through God we shall do valiantly” (Psalm 60:12). “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

It was the Lord that appointed Othniel to this impactful work, then anointed him to liberate His people, and accomplished the victory by God’s amazing grace. There have been numerous. Moses encouraged the people that the LORD would fight for them against their enemies (Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 20:4).

When God sends you, God sustains you.

Give God the credit in the victory and seek God’s help in the battle. Do not rely on yesterday’s anointing. Ask fresh for today.

Transition. When God selects and strengthens, He also secures what He started.

III. God Secures His People (Judges 3:11)

“And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.”

A. Rest from War (Judges 3:11)

Judges 3:11 KJV 1900

11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Eight years of pain were followed by forty years of peace. God blessed them with five times longer period of peace than the years of oppression.

When God steps in, the story bends. “He maketh wars to cease” (Psalm 46:9). Peace is not just the absence of conflict, it is the presence of God’s order.

The land had rest forty years, suggests more than just a pause of war. It is a declared period of quiet, calm, and undisturbed life. It meant they did not have to worry about the enemy’s invasion.

Forty years is a long enough time to raise children, rebuild families, and restore proper allegiance to the God of grace. God gave them peace so that His people could worship in peace and grow their faith.

This text reveals much about God and how He frees us from the havoc and turmoil of the world:

Providence. God superintends history, even the quiet seasons, for His glory and our good.

Covenant mercy. He answers cries with compassion, not because we are worthy, but because He is faithful.

Kingdom order. True peace flows where God’s righteousness takes root.

Christ the greater Deliverer. Every judge hints at Jesus. Othniel brought forty years. Jesus brings eternal rest.

Sticky lines for the moment

God’s rest is not a timeout, it is a takeover of holy order.

Rest is not permission to coast, it is power to consecrate.

One person’s yes can bless a generation’s years.

B. Rest for the Weary (Judges 3:11)

Judges 3:11 KJV 1900

11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

A generation exhaled. Families rebuilt. Worship revived. The rest did not come because Othniel was great, it came because Othniel said yes. “Obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures” (Job 36:11).

And Othniel the son of Kenaz died…. We learn nothing about the funeral ceremony. We have no record of any plaques, or observances that were held in his honor. But he had stepped up during the dark night of the nation’s life, and been a beacon of light an hope. Yet at the end of His journey, the text simply says He died.

But his life speaks volumes, and the actual eulogy for Othniel came in Judges 3:11 clause A, when the text says “And the land had rest forty years. The blessed fact that there was rest for a generation speaks to the impact of Othniel’s life. He had accomplished something truly siginficant

Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Sticky line. One person’s yes can bless a whole generation. Application. Your obedience has communal impact. Your yes at Springhill can steady a child, strengthen a marriage, and bless a neighborhood in Gainesville.

Illustration

A volunteer firefighter keeps his gear by the bed. He is not famous. He is not the chief. But when the call comes, he is ready. He did not appoint himself. The city issued the call, the department provided the training, and the engine carries the power. He simply says yes and shows up. Othniel was like that. God issued the call, the Spirit supplied the power, the victory belonged to the Lord. He said yes, and a nation rested.

Gospel Bridge

Israel cried, and God raised a deliverer. That pattern points us to a greater Deliverer. We cried under a heavier bondage called sin. God raised Jesus, who died for our sins and rose again. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ does not only rescue, He reigns and gives rest to the weary soul.

Conclusion and Invitation

God can use you too. He selects whom He will use, He strengthens whom He selects, and He secures what He starts. Today is a good day to move from living among, loving, and living like the world, to loving the Lord with all your heart.

Appeals.

Salvation, come to Christ by faith, receive rest for your soul.

Surrender, say yes to the assignment God is pressing on your heart.

Service, step into a ministry role to bless this body and this city.

Corporate Prayer. Lord, we cry to You. Raise up men and women, teens and seniors, who will say yes. Fill us with Your Spirit. Give rest to our homes, our church, and our city. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Suggested Applications for the Week

Cry out daily. Five minutes of focused intercession for your family and our church, Psalm 50:15.

Name your yes. Write down one assignment you sense from God, James 1:22.

Seek the Spirit’s fullness. Pray Ephesians 5:18 and Acts 1:8 each morning.

Give God the credit. Share one testimony this week that highlights, The LORD delivered, Psalm 34:17.

Bless a generation. Mentor or serve one child or teen at Springhill, Psalm 145:4.

KJV Cross-Reference Index

Judg 3:1–11; Psalm 1:1–3; Deut 6:12; Ps 34:17; Ps 50:15; Ps 47:4; Ps 37:23; Zech 4:6; Acts 1:8; Ps 60:12; 1 Thes 5:24; Ps 46:9; Job 36:11; Matt 11:28; Rom 5:8; Ps 145:4.