Judges 1:1-2:15: Finish What You Started

Introduction

Staci and Frank Page: Challenge to eat whole plate of casseroles: Staci finished what she started.

· 2019 goal - Run 1000 miles! What that goal built in me: Focus, discipline, motivation, and a sense of accomplishment.

Some of you have already set some goals for 2020. What about for your walk with Jesus? What are your goals this year for your growth in Him? Long term goal for Christians: finish well.

· Some of you have already set some goals for 2020. What about for your walk with Jesus? What are your goals this year for your growth in Him? Long term goal for Christians: finish well.

How do I finish what I started? You won’t finish well without focus, discipline, motivation, etc. You won’t finish well with half-hearted devotion to Jesus.

· How do I finish what I started? You won’t finish well without focus, discipline, motivation, etc. You won’t finish well with half-hearted devotion to Jesus.

No book better demonstrates this than Judges. Book of Judges = transitional period in the nation of Israel. Joshua is dead. No king. The people should look to God, but they don’t. After Joshua leads Israel to take the land, he challenges them. “Choose this day.” They say they would choose the Lord, but in reality they choose rebellion. Judges = graphic stories of victories and failures. Tragic story of a people who can’t finish what they started! They lost sight of the goal! We do too.

· No book better demonstrates this than Judges. After Joshua leads Israel to take the land, he challenges them. “Choose this day.” They say they would choose the Lord, but in reality they choose rebellion. Judges graphic stories of victories and failures. Tragic story of a people who can’t finish what they started! They lost sight of the goal!. We do to.

are increasingly influenced by the world.

· Half-hearted devotion characterizes many Christians. Instead of influencing the world – we are increasingly influenced by the world.

Judges ends with one of the most chilling phrases in the Bible: “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” () Doesn’t that sound like us? A cycle in the book - Israel does well for a while, then they turn their eyes from God. God sends judgment by allowing the Israelites to be defeated by their enemies. They cry out, God raises up a judge (a military leader) who delivers, and the cycle starts again. In a sense the judges are heroes. They save the day, but the Judges are broken heroes. Book points to our need for a better hero – a greater judge – who ultimately delivers His people: Jesus.

· Judges ends with one of the most chilling phrases in the Bible: “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Doesn’t that sound like us? A cycle in the book - Israel does well for a while, then they turn their eyes from God. God sends judgment by allowing the Israelites to be defeated by their enemies. They cry out, God raises up a judge who delivers, and the cycle starts again. In a sense the judges are heroes. They save the day, but the Judges are broken heroes. Book points to our need for a better hero – a greater judge – who ultimately delivers His people: Jesus.

Judge = a military leader.

This morning, as we start 2020, I want to show you how we can finish what we start.

This morning, as we start 2020, I want to show you how we can finish what we start.

· This morning, as we start 2020, I want to show you how we can finish what we start. I want to show you how we get to a place of half-hearted Christianity and how we overcome it.

Story

Chapter 1: straight forward and matter of fact. The author doesn’t offer any commentary. Just tells us what happened. Joshua died. However, there is unfinished business. The tribes of Israel had to go in and possess the land for themselves, and they had to drive out completely the Canaanites who were in the land. God was with them: They didn’t have to do it alone. God would empower them.

· Chapter 1: straight forward and matter of fact. The author doesn’t offer any commentary. Just tells us what happened. Joshua died. However, there is unfinished business. The tribes of Israel had to go in and possess the land for themselves, and they had to drive out completely the Canaanites who were in the land. God was with them: They didn’t have to do it alone. God would empower them.

Why drive out the Canaanites? Not fair! These were wicked people! : God said He would drive them out because of their wickedness. God uses Israel as an instrument of divine judgement against Canaan. Not the way God works today. Gave a clear directive to Israel to drive out the Canaanites. Today, God is on a saving mission. Jesus laid down His life. He didn’t take life. Now, we lay down our lives. We extend mercy, and we leave justice in God’s hands.

· Why drive out the Canaanites? Not fair! These were wicked people! God said He would drive them out because of their wickedness. God uses Israel as an instrument of divine judgement against Canaan. Not the way God works today. Gave a clear directive to Israel to drive out the Canaanites. Today, God is on a saving mission. Jesus laid down His life. He didn’t take life. Now, we lay down our lives. We extend mercy, and we leave justice in God’s hands.

Deuteronomy 18 ESV

“The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord’s food offerings as their inheritance. They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them. And this shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. The firstfruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for all time. “And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel, where he lives—and he may come when he desires—to the place that the Lord will choose, and ministers in the name of the Lord his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand to minister there before the Lord, then he may have equal portions to eat, besides what he receives from the sale of his patrimony. “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this. “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

Drive out the Canaanites because of the influence they would have on Israel. If they left the Canaanites in the land, the evil of the Canaanites would rub off on the Israelites, and that’s what happens. The Israelites didn’t influence the Canaanites. Rather, the Canaanites influenced the Israelites.

· Drive out the Canaanites because of the influence they would have on Israel. If they left the Canaanites in the land, the evil of the Canaanites would rub off on the Israelites, and that’s what happens. The Israelites didn’t influence the Canaanites. Rather, the Canaanites influenced the Israelites.

Is it unfair? One Canaanite king didn’t think so. Adoni-bezek. (vs.4-7) – The tribe of Judah joins with the tribe of Simeon to fight against different Canaanite territories – one of those is the territory of Bezek. The tribe of Judah found the king – cut off his thumbs and big toes. Apparently the king had done the same thing. His response: “As I have done, so God has repaid me.” On the final day of judgment, when God ultimately punishes all who have rejected Christ, no one will say, “this is unfair.” Every person who has rejected the free gift of God’s salvation will say, “I’m getting what I deserve.”

· Is it unfair? One Canaanite king didn’t think so. Adoni-bezek. (vs.4-7) – The tribe of Judah joins with the tribe of Simeon to fight against different Canaanite territories – one of those is the territory of Bezek. The tribe of Judah found the king – cut off his thumbs and big toes. Apparently the king had done the same thing. His response: “As I have done, so God has repaid me.” On the final day of judgment, when God ultimately punishes all who have rejected Christ, no one will say, “this is unfair.” Every person who has rejected the free gift of God’s salvation will say, “I’m getting what I deserve.”

The story starts well. Judah driving out their enemies as God commanded. Then, a story of courageous faith. (vs. 12) Caleb – one of only two of the twelve spies who gave a favorable report of the land when Moses sent the spies to scout out the land. He’s a hero in Israel – one, like Joshua, who had walked in faith. “Whoever captures Kiriath-sepher will receive my daughter as a wife.” Othniel, who will later be the first judge, has faith like Caleb – courageously leads a battle against the enemy. He receives Caleb’s daughter as his reward. She wants more land as a wedding gift. Not just the dessert of Negeb – but land with water. Example of a man and woman who want to live in God’s Promised Land providing for their family. (water for garden, etc.) They get it – they understand what God has in store for them, and they want it.

· The story starts well. Judah driving out their enemies as God commanded. Then, a story of courageous faith. Caleb – one of only two of the twelve spies who gave a favorable report of the land when Moses sent the spies to scout out the land. He’s a hero in Israel – one, like Joshua, who had walked in faith. “Whoever captures Kiriath-sepher will receive my daughter as a wife.” Othniel, who will later be the first judge, has faith like Caleb – courageously leads a battle against the enemy. He receives Caleb’s daughter as his reward. She wants more land as a wedding gift. Not just the dessert of Negeb – but land with water. Example of a man and woman who want to live in God’s Promised Land providing for their family. (water for garden, etc.) They get it – they understand what God has in store for them, and they want it.

Judah drives out more of the Canaanites from various territories, but then all of a sudden, their victories come to a halt. (vs. 19) Couldn’t drive Canaanites out of the plains because they had chariots of iron. Isn’t God greater than chariots of iron? “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

· Judah drives out more of the Canaanites from various territories, but then all of a sudden, their victories come to a halt. (vs. 19) Couldn’t drive Canaanites out of the plains because they had chariots of iron. Isn’t God greater than chariots of iron? “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

Israel had seen God do this before- remember crossing the Red Sea? Egyptians pursuing the people in chariots. The Bible says that the Lord clogged their chariot wheel! () But, it’s typical, isn’t it? We face an obstacle that’s way too big for us, and instead of depending on God’s strength we say, “We can’t!”

· Israel had seen God do this before- remember crossing the Red Sea? Egyptians pursuing the people in chariots. The Bible says that the Lord clogged their chariot wheel! () But, it’s typical, isn’t it? We see face an obstacle that’s way too big for us, and instead of depending on God’s strength we say, “We can’t!”

It only gets worse. Tribe of Joseph goes to Luz, and they rely on a man of Luz to show them a secret way into the city. They let him and his family live, and they go and build another city. Doesn’t really accomplish what God wanted them to! Relying on a pagan instead of relying on God!

· It only gets worse. Tribe of Joseph goes to Luz, and they rely on a man of Luz to show them a secret way into the city. They let him and his family live, and they go and build another city. Doesn’t really accomplish what God wanted them to! Relying on a pagan instead of relying on God!

Half-tribe of Manasseh would not drive out the people in Beth-shean – and instead put them to forced labor. Ephraim, Zubulun, Asher, Napthali – none of these tribes drove out the Canaanites. Instead, lived among the Canaanites and put them to forced labor. This isn’t what God called them to do!

· Half-tribe of Manasseh would not drive out the people in Beth-shean – and instead put them to forced labor. Ephraim, Zubulun, Asher, Napthali – none of these tribes drove out the Canaanites. Instead, lived among the Canaanites and put them to forced labor. This isn’t what God called them to do!

Ch. 2:1-5 – God obviously not happy about any of this. “They shall become thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.”

· Ch. 2:1-5 – God obviously not happy about any of this. “They shall become thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” Vs. 10-15 – the tragedy – The next generation did not know God “They abandoned the Lord” – they went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them… And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies.” In other words, God gave them what they wanted.

The tragedy! Ch. 2:10-15 - The next generation did not know God “They abandoned the Lord” – they went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them… And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies.” In other words, God gave them what they wanted.

Do you see it? Tragic! The story started so well for the Israelites – and it ended up in tragic. What happened? Notice – the progression – same for us – started committed – then got sloppy in their obedience (Sounds like some of your New Year’s resolutions – start strong, but in a few weeks…) – half-way Christianity – one foot in God’s mission, one foot in the world – lost sight of the goal and completely fell off the wagon. Haven’t you seen that in your life as well? There are areas in your life where you have completely fallen off the wagon because you stopped obeying the Lord in that area. How do you finish well?

· Do you see it? Tragic! The story started so well for the Israelites – and it ended up in tragic. What happened? Notice – the progression – same for us – started committed – then got sloppy in their obedience (Sounds like some of your New Year’s resolutions – start strong, but in a few weeks…) – half-way Christianity – one foot in God’s mission, one foot in the world – lost sight of the goal and completely fell off the wagon. Haven’t you seen that in your life as well? There are areas in your life where you have completely fallen off the wagon because you stopped obeying the Lord in that area. How do you finish well?

Don’t say, “I can’t” when you can.

Don’t say, “I can’t” when you can.

Don’t say, “I can’t” when you can.

In chapter 1, it’s not major sin – the Israelites are obeying – just not fully. Half-way Christianity. “I’ll obey you as long as it’s not too hard.” It’s not as if the Israelites could not drive out their enemies. They could! God wasn’t going to call them to do something that they could not do. Rather, it’s that they would not drive out their enemies.

· Where in your life are you saying to God, “I can’t…” And God is saying to you, “It’s not that you can’t. It’s that you won’t.” Don’t say, “I can’t” to God when you know you can.

Where in your life are you saying to God, “I can’t…” And God is saying to you, “It’s not that you can’t. It’s that you won’t.” Don’t say, “I can’t” to God when you know you can.

· In the areas of your life where you are saying, “I can’t” it has nothing to do with you not being strong enough and everything to do with you not being confident in God’s ability to help you to obey Him. Where are you saying, “I can’t?”

In the areas of your life where you are saying, “I can’t” it has nothing to do with you not being strong enough and everything to do with you not being confident in God’s ability to help you to obey Him. Where are you saying, “I can’t?”

· Maybe it’s in the area of forgiveness. Someone in your life that you know God wants you to forgive, but you are saying, “God, I can’t forgive that person.” Maybe it’s in telling the truth. “I just can’t tell him the truth. It would destroy him. It would destroy me. I would be humiliated. It might ruin our relationship.” A certain temptation? “I simply can’t quit smoking. I know it’s an addictive behavior that is harmful for my health, but I can’t give it up.” Maybe it’s a specific call. “I can’t share my faith with my neighbor because it would make our relationship awkward.” In all of these areas where God is obeying, it’s not that you can’t obey Him. It’s that you won’t obey Him. You are making small compromises – your “I can’t” doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it’s putting you in a dangerous position. By saying “I can’t” you are harming your relationships with others and your walk with the Lord. In short, you simply cannot grow in Christlikeness when you are saying to God in any area of your life where He has called you to obedience, “I can’t do it.” This morning, identify your “I can’t” areas and repent!

Maybe it’s in the area of forgiveness. Someone in your life that you know God wants you to forgive, but you are saying, “God, I can’t forgive that person.” Maybe it’s in telling the truth. “I just can’t tell him the truth. It would destroy him. It would destroy me. I would be humiliated. It might ruin our relationship.” A certain temptation? “I simply can’t quit smoking. I know it’s an addictive behavior that is harmful for my health, but I can’t give it up.” Maybe it’s a specific call. “I can’t share my faith with my neighbor because it would make our relationship awkward.” In all of these areas where God is obeying, it’s not that you can’t obey Him. It’s that you won’t obey Him. You are making small compromises – your “I can’t” doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it’s putting you in a dangerous position. By saying “I can’t” you are harming your relationships with others and your walk with the Lord. In short, you simply cannot grow in Christlikeness when you are saying to God in any area of your life where He has called you to obedience, “I can’t do it.” This morning, identify your “I can’t” areas and repent!

Don’t lose sight of the goal.

What’s the goal? Knowing Jesus and living for His Kingdom. Eyes on the goal motivates, “I can.”

Whenever you say, “I can’t” to Jesus, you say, “I can” to something else that will keep you from the goal. For Israel, saying “I can’t” to God meant “I can” to false gods. For you, your “no” to God is a rejection of the life God has for you and a “yes” to something that is nowhere near as good as what God desires for you.

For Israel, the gods of the Canaanites were more appealing than the true God who brought them out of Egypt. Yet, the God of all creation was offering them the good life! He’s offered that to you:

· For Israel, the gods of the Canaanites would be more appealing than the true God who brought them out of Egypt. Yet, the God of all creation was offering them the good life! He’s offered that to you:

An invitation to daily intimacy.

o An invitation to daily intimacy.

A life where you don’t have to daily give in to sin that destroys.

o A life where you don’t have to daily give in to sin that destroys.

Purpose in His Kingdom.

o Purpose in His Kingdom.

Eternity with Him.

o Eternity with Him.

Yet, like Israel, we’ve all chosen compromise. For Israel, compromises seem small – putting enemies to forced labor instead of destruction. But, these compromises were disastrous. How do you know if you’ve lost sight of the goal? Ask yourself the following questions:

What brings you the most satisfaction? You’ve stopped looking for satisfaction in God. Now, your kids are the center of the universe. You live vicariously through them. You find all your joy in them. You give them the best of everything. You make sure they have all the opportunities you did not have – then they rebel against you and you are miserable. You are enslaved by your children.

· What brings you the most satisfaction? You’ve stopped looking for satisfaction in God. Now,. your kids are the center of the universe. You live vicariously through them. You find all your joy in them. You give them the best of everything. You make sure they have all the opportunities you did not have – then they rebel against you and you are miserable. You are enslaved by your children.

· What gets your best efforts? E.g. - Your career offers you power and freedom, so you make it your god. You work 60 or 70 hours a week to get ahead, to get the accolades, to feel like your life matters, but instead your life suffers. You have no time for your family or for your church. Little time off. Your idol has enslaved you – not satisfied you.

What gets your best efforts? E.g. - Your career offers you power and freedom, so you make it your god. You work 60 or 70 hours a week to get ahead, to get the accolades, to feel like your life matters, but instead your life suffers. You have no time for your family or for your church. Little time off. Your idol has enslaved you – not satisfied you.

· What consumes your thoughts? What you think about most has become what you want out of life. Reality, you probably think about you more than anything else. You constantly think about what makes you happy, content, etc.

What consumes your thoughts? What you think about most has become what you want out of life. Reality, you probably think about you more than anything else. You constantly think about what makes you happy, content, etc.

Anything you choose in this life to find your ultimate satisfaction in other than God will always fall short of your dreams and expectations. You’ll end up sacrificing much of your life to goals and dreams that are far less fulfilling than the goal of pursuing Christ. What are you teaching the next generation is most important by what you are pursuing right now? This is what happened in Israel – teaching their children that the gods of the nations were far more satisfying than the God of Israel. You are teaching your children and grandchildren about what’s most important by the way you live right now.

· Anything you choose in this life to find your ultimate satisfaction in other than God will always fall short of your dreams and expectations. You’ll end up sacrificing much of your life to goals and dreams that are far less fulfilling than the goal of pursuing Christ. What are you teaching the next generation is most important by what you are pursuing right now? This is what happened in Israel – teaching their children that the gods of the nations were far more satisfying than the God of Israel. You are teaching your children and grandchildren about what’s most important by the way you live right now.

Don’t forget what Jesus has finished for you.

God delivers – the Book of Judges saturated in the grace of God. But, the men and women that God raises up to deliver never ultimately deliver the Israelites. They find themselves right back where they started – enslaved to their sin. And, there’s tension. Vs. 1 – “I promised you the land.” How can God bless a disobedient people? If anything, it seems like the people are no longer blessed. “Will God give up on His people?” - Covenant -

God will raise up a Judge unlike the Judges in Judges - who will break the cycle of rebellion and captivity by becoming our sin so we might become His righteousness. God blesses us because of His Son. Jesus ONCE AND FOR ALL delivers us from what has enslaved us so that God can bless us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. If you have not experienced His grace – turn to Him! In Judges, after a judge died – the people went back to their former way of life. Israel needed a judge that didn’t die! JESUS!

But years later, a better judge would come completely defeating sin and death so we would not have to go back! He finished the work we could not finish – a life completely pleasing to God!

But years later, a better judge would come completely defeating sin and death so we would not have to go back! He finished the work we could not finish – a life completely pleasing to God!

Be honest. You’re going to fall short of finishing well. We will all end life with some regrets. “I wish I would have…” Jesus finished for you what you will not finish. No regrets – you are forgiven.

Be honest. You’re going to fall short of finishing well. We will all end life with some regrets. “I wish I would have…” Jesus finished for you what you will not finish. No regrets – you are forgiven.

Good news: in Christ, you don’t have to go back! Instead of being enslaved to idolatry and sin – you can put it to death. God does not condemn us for our sin. In His grace – He deals with our sin in Christ. What do you do this morning? 1. Stop saying, “I can’t.” 2. Keep your eyes on the goal. 3. Live in light of grace – don’t go back to what God saved you from.

Good news: in Christ, you don’t have to go back! Instead of being enslaved to idolatry and sin – you can put it to death. God does not condemn us for our sin. In His grace – He deals with our sin in Christ. What do you do this morning? 1. Stop saying, “I can’t.” 2. Root out the idols. 3. Live in light of grace – don’t go back to what God saved you from.