Defeat and Deliverance

Text: Judges 2:6-23

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (12/02/01)

Introduction:   

Following the death of Joshua, Israel plunges into a 350-year Dark Age.

In Joshua an obedient people conquered the land through trust in the power of God.

After Joshua and the generation of the conquest pass on, "and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel" (2:10; see also 2:7-10; Josh. 24:31).

Judges opens with a description of Israel's deterioration

In Judges, a disobedient and idolatrous people are frequently defeated because of their rebellion against God. In seven distinct cycles of sin, Judges shows how the nation has set aside God's law and in its place "everyone did which was right in his own eyes" (21:25).

Sounds Like the modern day!!

Each of the seven cycles has five steps: sin, servitude, supplication, salvation, and silence. (EXPLAIN these steps or the cycle)

These also can be described by the words rebellion, retribution, repentance, restoration, and rest.

The two-fold problem continually facing Israel was corruption from within and oppression from without.

This is why the cycle of sin is repeated.

From time to time, during the nearly four centuries spanned by this book, God raises up military champions (Gideon, Samson etc) to throw off the yoke of bondage and restore the nation to pure worship. But all too soon the "sin cycle" begins again as the nation's spiritual temperature grows steadily colder.

This book could also appropriately be titled "The Book of Failure."

Israel often acted in foolishness, ingratitude, stubbornness, and rebellion, and this led to defeat.  However, in His patient love, God forgave the people every single time they repented.

Sin always leads to suffering, and repentance always leads to deliverance!!

The second chapter of Judges is a miniature of the whole book as it records the transition of the godly to the ungodly generation, the format of the cycles, and the purpose of God in not destroying the Canaanites.

Compromise leads to conflict and chaos. Israel does not drive out the inhabitants (1:21, 27, 29-30); instead of removing the moral cancer spread by the inhabitants of Canaan, they contract the disease. The Canaanite gods literally become a snare to them (2:3). Chapter 2, verses 11-23 are a microcosm of the pattern found in chapters 3-16 of Judges.

Joshua's seven-year conquest is general in nature; much of the land remains to be possessed (Josh. 13:1). There are still important Canaanite strongholds to be taken by the individual tribes. Some of the nations have been left to "test Israel" (3:1, 4).

I. Possessing The Land vs.6

A. Commanded By God – Joshua 1:2-3

B. Given by the Lord (inheritance) – Josh 1:2,3 & 6

C. They served the Lord in those days. Vs.7

While they had strong leadership (Joshua and the Elders).

As long as they remembered the great works of the Lord.

We TOO have a land to possess!!

VERSES:

EXPLAIN

II. Another Generation vs.10

A. Knew Not The Lord

Knowing God is  an individual responsibility.  We can not ride on someone else’s spiritual coat tails!

B. Knew Not His Works

Somewhere along the line Deut 6:6-7 was not being practiced!!

C. STRESS – “Another Generation”

There will be generations to follow us.  How are we preparing them?

III. Their Evil Works vs.11-13

A. They Forsook God vs.12

B. They Followed Other gods vs.12

“gods of the people that were round about them”.

Baal –

Ashtaroth -

C. They Provoked the Lord to Anger vs.12

His anger was hot against Israel – vs.14

IV. God’s Judgement vs.14-15

“Delivered them into the hands of spoilers”.

He used their enemies as an instrument of chastisement.

“They could not stand before their enemies” vs.14

God’s hand was against them vs.15

V. God’s Remedy vs.16

A. God raised up Judges

B. Deliverance

C. They quickly returned to their evil. Vs.17-19

They would not hearken unto their judges vs.17

They turned quickly out of the way vs.17

They turned and corrupted themselves more than their fathers vs.19

“They ceased not….from their stubborn way”

Conclusion:     (Review)

Vs.20-23

Their punishment was, that the Canaanites were spared, and so they were beaten with their own rod. Men cherish and indulge their corrupt appetites and passions; therefore God justly leaves them to themselves, under the power of their sins, which will be their ruin. God has told us how deceitful and desperately wicked our hearts are, but we are not willing to believe it, until by making bold with temptation we find it true by sad experience. – Matthew Henry