In My Own Eyes

Judges: A Downward Spiral  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  50:38
0 ratings
· 159 views

A self-centred concern for oneself, without due regard to the needs of others. Scripture treats selfishness as an aspect of sin and urges believers to care for others as well as themselves.

Files
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →
Judges 17:1–6 ESV
1 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2 And he said to his mother, “The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the Lord.” 3 And he restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother. And his mother said, “I dedicate the silver to the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you.” 4 So when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took 200 pieces of silver and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into a carved image and a metal image. And it was in the house of Micah. 5 And the man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household gods, and ordained one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Introduction: In My Own Eyes

The New American Commentary: Judges, Ruth III. Climax: The Depths of the Canaanization of Israel (17:1–21:25)

III. CLIMAX: THE DEPTHS OF THE CANAANIZATION OF ISRAEL (17:1–21:25)

The New American Commentary: Judges, Ruth 1. The Religious Degeneration of Israel (17:1–18:31)

1. The Religious Degeneration of Israel (17:1–18:31)

The New American Commentary: Judges, Ruth 2. The Moral Degeneration of Israel (19:1–21:25)

2. The Moral Degeneration of Israel (19:1–21:25)

In verse 1 “There was a man is the beginning of a new focus in Judges...
New Focus on the everyday people of God, no longer the Governors and Deliverers...
It’s easy for us to point a finger at them but what about us ordinary folk???
The New American Commentary: Judges, Ruth 1. The Religious Degeneration of Israel (17:1–18:31)

Structurally chaps. 17–21 divide into two parts. Even though the narrator will offer the reader a window into the private lives of Israelites in each part, the first segment describes the fate of the Danites in the period of the governors (17:1–18:31); the second, the fate of the Benjamites (19:1–21:25). The plots of these two segments go their own ways, but the narratives are linked by numerous common features.

The New American Commentary: Judges, Ruth 1. The Religious Degeneration of Israel (17:1–18:31)

1. Both tribes, Dan and Benjam, were assigned territory in Israel’s heartland, between Judah and Ephraim, the tribes that would later lead the Southern and Northern Kingdoms respectively. By selecting episodes that concern these tribes the narrator cleverly emphasizes that the degenerating tendency in Israel was not simply a problem in the fringe territories. It had infected the very heart of the nation.

2. Both tribes found themselves in dire straights, though for different reasons. As announced in the prologue to the book (1:34–36), the tribe of Dan had been unable to occupy the territory allotted to it by Joshua and was forced to search for a homeland elsewhere. The tribe of Benjamin incurred the hostility of the rest of the nation and came frighteningly close to disappearing as a victim of Israel’s “holy war.”

3. In both accounts the crisis was precipitated by the actions of a nameless Levite.

4. In both accounts the Levite had a Bethlehem-Judah connection. The first Levite came from Bethlehem-Judah (17:7–8); the second traveled to Bethlehem-Judah (19:1–2).

5. Both Levites had connections with Mount Ephraim. The first Levite ended up in the household of Micah, who lived on Mount Ephraim (17:1); the second actually lived in this region (19:1).

6. Both accounts involved priestly characters inquiring of God concerning the outcome of a proposed plan of action (18:5–6; 20:27–28).

7. Both accounts conclude with a reference to Shiloh. Judges 18:31 notes that the Danites continued to use Micah’s idols as long as the tabernacle was at Shiloh; in 21:19–24 the narrator describes an event that took place at Shiloh.

8. In both accounts military contingents consisting of six hundred men played a critical role (18:11, 16–25, 25; 20:47; 21:7, 12, 14, 16–17, 23).

9. Both accounts are punctuated by variations of the refrain “In those days Israel had no king” (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). In the first the formula is inserted at critical junctures in the narrative and functions as an episode marker; in the second the formula frames the entire narrative, appearing at the beginning and the end. Twice, once in each section, the formula is augmented with, “Everyone did as he saw fit” (17:6; 21:25).

The Israelites do not need either a governor (Samson) or a king to lead them into sin. They will do it on their own.
Selfishness was one of those things that led them and us to do evil...

Selfishness is a characteristic of the sinner

Ro 8:5; 2 Co 5:15
Romans 8:5 ESV
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV
15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
See also Pr 18:1; Ro 2:8; Eph 2:3

Selfishness is a characteristic of sinful society

2 Timothy 3:1–2 ESV
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
See also Jdg 17:6; Jdg 21:25

Expressions of selfishness

Greed

Matthew 23:25 ESV
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
See also Mk 12:7; Lk 12:13–21; Ac 5:3

Ambition

Philippians 2:3 ESV
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
See also Je 45:5; Ga 5:19–20; Php 1:17; Jas 3:14–16

Boastfulness

Daniel 4:30 ESV
30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

Self-absorption as the result of pain or depression

Job 14:22; 1 Ki 19:10
Job 14:22 ESV
22 He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself.”
1 Kings 19:10 ESV
10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

Antidotes to selfishness

God’s word

Psalm 119:36 ESV
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

The example of Jesus Christ

Romans 15:3 ESV
3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
See also Php 2:4–8

Dying to the old nature

Romans 6:6 ESV
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
See also Eph 4:22; Col 3:9

Serving one another

1 Peter 4:10 ESV
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
See also 1 Co 10:24

Loving one another

John 13:34 ESV
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
See also Mt 22:39; Ro 13:8–10

God’s Plan of Salvation

Hear

Romans 10:17 ESV
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Believe and Confess

Romans 10:10 ESV
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Repent

Luke 13:3 ESV
3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Be Baptized

Acts 2:41 ESV
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Remain Faithful

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

My Decision Today

 I would like to be baptized today
 I would like to renew my life to Christ

What are my next steps?

 Come forward to be baptized
 Request a Bible Study to learn more
 Attend Bible Class to grow and mature
 Find a place to serve others
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more