Sermon Tone Analysis

Verse 7 - Apostasy

V7 - And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.

They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth (Ah-sheer-oth).

We are back to the point where the overview of the judges period began in (2:11).

~Deliberate Rebellion - “Evil in the sight of the Lord” should be understood as Israel in complete deliberate rebellion against God, which is the precursor of the downward spiral that will get worse and worse throughout chapters 3-16.

Israel has become slaves of their own desires.

~BT - Those who were once slaves to Pharaoh will become slaves again if they continue on this path…not only slaves to their false gods they have “chosen,” but also to the lifestyle which goes with them (remember, imitative worship).

When we see this “refrain,” we should immediately identify that canaanization of the Nation of Israel - Apostasy.

Verse 8 - Oppression

V8 - Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim (coosh-ann rish-ah-thay-em) king of Mesopotamia.

And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

Liberation in doing wrong

CR - Prodigal son, the motivation for heading out from the father’s house to a far country was due to the exciting new opportunieis for pleasure and fulfillment.

But obviously trouble was sure to come sooner or later, the gods we make in this world are no gods at all, no power to save or satisfy.

You can only run from God’s judgment for so long, “your sin will find you out”…if you are in Him, he will go after you and teach you of your error through punishment.

“It often happens, that a man who has committed a crime takes his place secretly in a railway train, and is swiftly whirled away to the sea coast.

But fast as he travels, there is something travelling faster, namely, the message along the telegraph wires; and when he hurries out at the distant terminus he is instantly grasped by officers of justice, who have been long in waiting.

So God often meets startled sinners, who have been vainly trying to escape His notice and retribution.

There was a man who committed a foul murder in a Scottish castle on a young bridegroom, at whose marriage festivities he had hypocritically assisted.

The assassin took horse in the dead of night, and fled for his life through wood and winding path.

When the day dawned, he slackened his pace, and behold! he was emerging from a thicket in front of the very castle whence he had fled, and to which by tortuous paths, he had unconsciously returned, Horror seized him; he was discovered, and condemned to death.

So however far and fast we may fly, we shall find ourselves, when light returns, ever in presence of our sin, and of our Judge.”

Retribution.

Defined as, pure punishment, unmitigated by grace.

This is punishment that takes place to those who are outside his covenant (CR - “having no hope and without God in the world.”)

Final Retribution.

Defined as, Hell.

().

Discipline.

Corrective rather than retributive, and always tempered by grace.

While it can be severe at times, its aim is always to reclaim rather than destroy ().

The Canaanites were under Retribution, the Israelites were under Discipline.

God’s covenant with Israel stood, and his grace again and again draws the nation back from the brink of destruction.

The agent of God’s Discipline here in V8 is a terrible tyrant.

We meet Cushan-rishathiam” and we know only his nationality “king of Mesopotamia.”

*Naming babies debacle.

“Naming children is sometimes the greatest time of contention in a marriage.”

Cushan-rishathiam means “Cushan the doubly wicked” - this was not actually his name, no mother would name their child that, but it was probably a nickname as coined by the victims who suffered at his hands.

We can only imagine the wickedness that came from this man, no information is given, but maybe the point is not to be focused on the instrument of God’s discipline, but on the fact that God disciplines!

Verse 9a - A Cry for help

V9 - But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD,

V9 - But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

We may read this passage and say to ourselves, “Thank God, the nation of Israel were finally moved, and the Lord’s provision of discipline is finally showing some fruit.”

Maybe a sign of hope?

Repentance?

Appeal for forgiveness?

There is actually no support anywhere to support this cry was nothing more than a “cry of pain and desperation”…However we can find hope in their response because at the 11th hour under the oppression of a very wicked ruler, the nation of Israel does not cry out to the Baals and the Asheroth, but maybe the author is indicating the direction of their cry being to Yahweh.

A study of its usage reveals that it denotes crying for help (frequently directed to Yahweh) out of deep distress or because of some unbearable circumstance; occasionally it simply signifies a cry of anguish directed to no one in particular.

A study of its usage reveals that it denotes crying for help (frequently directed to Yahweh) out of deep distress or because of some unbearable circumstance; occasionally it simply signifies a cry of anguish directed to no one in particular.

The truth is, Israel shows no real signs of repentance…they merely “cried out”…and as we read last week in 2:18, God’s deliverance is based only on his compassion which is triggered by their “groaning”.

Cycle we see here: Apostasy - Oppression - Deliverance…not Apostasy - Oppression - Repentance - Deliverance.

God’s deliverance is given on the basis of who God is, and what he has planned for his people (through the covenant); it is not based on who Isael is or what they have done or not done.

Application: There is hope for people who cry out to God.

God is quick in his mercy, quick to respond - BT - He was with their ancestors in Egypt ().

We know he was a courageous man who fought with Judah back in Chapter 1 (Battle at Debir)…and we can understand he was a man of character since he did not intermarry with the canaanites, but stuck with the covenant of God for marriage.

*Beth’s Cooking TV shows, “This food is bland”…well this account of Othniel is bland.

This account of Othniel is very brief, and surprisingly lacking in color in contrast to the other accounts of we will study over the coming weeks.

What is the author trying to communicate to us?

Where did the battle take place?

What size was the enemy army?

What Israelite tribes took part?

What tactics were used?

How did God intervene to turn the tide against the enemy?

And so on.

We simply do not know

However, something important is being communicated and it does not rest in a vivid narrative to keep you awake this morning!

1st Main Point: Maybe the author’s intention is to not glorify Othniel.

The real Savior of Israel was the Lord, not Othniel, and Othniel’s impressive credentials and personal charisma would have counted for nothing without the Lord.

2nd Main Point: Judgeship is not solely centered upon retribution but its about salvation.

The book of Judges is a book of saviors, and behind each of them, raising them up, empowering them, and giving them victory, is Yahweh.

(“Salvation belongs to the Lord!” )

The key to this passage is simplicity and having everything stripped back of its details and vivid depictions…to communicate that salvation belongs to the Lord.

Verse 9b-10 - Meet Othniel

V10 - The LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel.

He went out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand.

And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.

We finally meet the man who the Lord uses to save Israel, Othniel…the first judge mentioned in this book.

We know more about him than the wicked ruler too!

Othniel means “God is my strength”

Dr. Robert Watson, a famous British preacher of a generation past, described God’s deliverance:

It was from the far south that help came in response to the piteous cry of the oppressed in the north; the deliverer was Othniel.…

After his marriage to Achsah, daughter of Caleb, we must suppose him living as quietly as possible in his south-lying farm, there increasing in importance year by year till now he is a respected chief of the tribe of Judah.

In frequent skirmishes with Arab marauders from the wilderness he has distinguished himself, maintaining the fame of his early exploit.

Better still, he is one of those who have kept the great traditions of the nation, a man mindful of the law of God, deriving strength of character from fellowship with the Almighty.

The Spirit is also mentioned in connection with Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson.

By the gift of the Spirit, the judge is empowered to deliver the people (6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).

This idiom does not necessarily reflect spiritual regeneration, but it signifies a special dispensation of the Lord’s power and authority granted to the judge.

The Spirit of God temporarily empowers the judge to perform extraordinary feats of deliverance.

OT understanding VS NT understanding - through progressive revelation, the meaning of “The Spirit of the Lord was upon him” is much different than how God has progressively revealed himself to us today.

OT understanding VS NT understanding - through progressive revelation, the meaning of “The Spirit of the Lord was upon him” is much different than how God has progressively revealed himself to us today.

OT - The Spirit would come upon certain people to enable them to perform a specific task (or set of tasks) for a limited amount of time.

No effect upon moral character.

The Spirit is also mentioned in connection with Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson.

By the gift of the Spirit, the judge is empowered to deliver the people (6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).

This idiom does not necessarily reflect spiritual regeneration, but it signifies a special dispensation of the Lord’s power and authority granted to the judge.

The Spirit of God temporarily empowers the judge to perform extraordinary feats of deliverance.

NT - Ministries of the Holy Spirit such as “indwelling, baptism, and filling” have not been revealed in the OT.

Great effects on moral character, new identity, new nature through regeneration.

Today - If this type of empowerment by the Spirit of the Lord is experienced, it is as God sees fit for the execution of his plan, and God’s people will immediately recognize it as the work of God, not of man.

The Spirit of the Lord came upon him because of his lack of initiative!