Trapped in the Cycle

Trapped in the Cycle

Judges 2:6 – 3:6

The book of Judges has 2 introductions. Chapter 1 is the first, and our passage is number 2. Why 2?

Well the first introduction looks at Israel’s situation from a human point of view. If we were watching the Canaan News Network and following Israel’s story by what we saw on tv – chapter 1 is what we would have learned. Israel is in the Promised land, they move across the Jordan river in miraculous fashion, there is a miraculous victory in the city of Jericho, where the walls of the city crumble and the Israelites, after simply marching around the city for a week – go into the opened up city and conquer it. There are some other battles, the Israelites are clearly here to stay … but they never COMPLETELY drive out the Canaanites. And according to the news reports on tv – it seems pretty obvious why they can’t fully take the land – Chapter 1:19 tells us, “Judah … took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain BECAUSE … they had chariots of iron.”

– it is because they have a weapons problem … they don’t have weapons as advanced as the weapons of the Canaanites – The Canaanites have tanks … the Israelites have bicycles. They CAN’T compete. They just don’t have a chance. That’s what you think if you only read the first introduction.

THAT’S where the second introduction comes in. In the second introduction, the narrator lifts us up, above the human scene – above the news reports … and describes the situation from above – from God’s point of view.

And the reality, from God’s perspective is this: Israel’s situation has nothing to do with military equipment. Israel’s success and failure in the land is directly related to its success and failure with God. Verse 11 of chapter 2: “And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD . . .” Reminder that God is greater than our greatest enemy.

The second introduction has another function as well. It reminds us how well life in the Promised Land began. Things were very, VERY good. Judges 2:6 takes us back to the book of Joshua – the days when Joshua was still leading God’s people. - verse 6 of chapter 2: “When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel.”

As long as Joshua is alive – as long as there were leaders who lived in the wilderness, who ate the manna – food provided by God from the sky …. This generation walked through the Jordan and the generation that sees Jericho’s walls fall down - that sees the devastation that happens when Achan sins by keeping some the spoils of God’s victory for himself – that sees God deliver, into their hands, enemy nations that are much larger and much stronger – as long as the people of that generation are alive - - Israel serves the LORD. They haven’t merely ‘seen’ the huge grapes hanging in bountiful clusters – they’ve tasted the grapes and the juice is running down their faces. Here is blessing.

But then comes verse 11: – “the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.” And the rest of the book of Judges is a story of tragedy after tragedy after tragedy that gets worse and worse and worse until the end of the book has the holy nation of God on the brink of a civil war.

So what happened? How could something that started so well – with such blessing in the present and promise of a glorious future … how could it all end – so – so – badly? The turning point comes in v 10 and it sets the course for all the tragedy that is coming in the rest of the book:

Judges 2:10: “And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that He had done for Israel.”

“… there arose another generation after them who DID NOT KNOW THE LORD … or the work that He had done for Israel.”

Ouch. Did you catch the indictment here? Yes, God’s inspired writer points the finger at this new generation that grows up not bothering with the LORD – not pursuing Him. But more than that … the finger is pointed at Joshua’s generation.

If the young generation grows up in ignorance of the LORD – who’s to blame?! It’s their parents. The buck stops there. That was the generation that served the Lord …. But didn’t do enough to point their children to the beauty – the all-sufficient satisfaction of the God of heaven – their Savior!

This is sobering. Parents? What legacy are you leaving your kids? Grandparents? Aunts and Uncles … every one of us has an influence on the generation coming up behind us. How are we using that influence?

Verse 10 points to a great weakness in Israel, throughout its history. When you read through the Old Testament, you will see that some of the greatest men of God - used in mighty, mighty ways … failed to communicate (in a WINSOME way!) an understanding of WHO God is – and How He has involved Himself in the lives of His children … failed to get the message across that there is no greater prize to invest your life in, than knowing and living in relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe – Who has now revealed Himself finally, in His Son.

Aaron didn’t do it … His sons Nadab and Abihu, priests before the LORD – carelessly leading in worship – struck down dead.

Moses didn’t do it – Judges 18 talks about his grandson, Jonathan, who was a priest for the tribe of Dan – leading the tribe to worship an idol.

David was a man after God’s own heart – but one of his sons raped his sister and another son killed that brother … not exactly what you would call spiritual giants. Time after time, you look at these great men of God … and their families are a mess. I look at them – and friends, I tremble - - -

- - - it could happen to these men - - will it happen to us? We can worship sing our stirring songs – have a daily quiet time with the Lord myself – take the kids to church week after week - - and end up raising a generation that still neither knows the Lord or what He has done.

Oh, what a tragedy. You can build up a secure financial inheritance so that your children never have to worry about money for the rest of their lives. You can make a great name for yourself, so that your kids inherit a reputation that you earned for them … you can leave a legacy of fame, fortune or security – but if your kids don’t grow up to ‘Love the Lord Your God’ … then what’s it all for?!

Now let me be clear – at the end of the day, our children need to make their own decision about who they will worship – how they will respond to Jesus Christ. There are many parents who have done a better job than I have … and their kids still don’t follow the Lord. We can’t make sure the salvation of anyone else.

But there ARE things we can control. And, in far too many churches today – we do not teach the Bible. We teach stories - - we give moral lessons – Here are God’s rules – good little boys and girls obey them – or we give techniques for succeeding in life - - - But we do not teach the Bible in such a way that they our confronted face to face with God in all of His GLORY … as the ONE GREAT SATISFACTION FOR OUR THIRSTY SOULS

In his popular novel 1984, George Orwell wrote, “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.” Once they got in control of the present, with the help of their armed thugs … both Hitler and Stalin rewrote past history so they could control future events. Hitler, in particular, emphasized the subject of history - rewrote the past to fit his narrative - make heroes of the Nazis and enemies of the Jews … in hopes that his people would forget truth. And for a time it worked.

I will be eternally grateful for a mother who’s regularly repeated refrain was, ‘I don’t know what I would do without the Lord.’ - whether it was after a hunt for lost car keys, having just prayed for help and suddenly finding them .... or whether it was in the midst of a financial crisis in the household - I was constantly pointed back to God the Savior Who had come and died and rose again — who had taken hold, forgiven sins and Who would never let go. And her winsome story of God’s loving grace became my story.

Friends, we are today – as in the days of Judges and every other day - we are one generation away from a backslidden, shriveled up, dead, husk of a church. And if you don’t believe me – go to Europe and tour some of the magnificent Cathedrals - - once filled with great crowds of worshipers – but now they’re little more than museums.

Our passage this morning shows us the consequence of a generation of people who claim the name of God, but don’t truly know him - - When the text tells us that this new generation didn’t KNOW God – it doesn’t mean that they never heard of Him. This is not a lack of knowing FACTS about Him – this is a lack of knowing HIM.

The entire 350+ year history of God’s People, in the book of Judges is marked by one sad, cyclical pattern - - over and over and over again the behavior repeats itself. The pattern is described in chapter 2, verses 11-19 – and you will see it lived out numerous times in the book of Judges. We’ll see it more as we journey through this book.

There are 4 parts to this cycle -

1. ABANDONMENT 2:11-13

The cycle begins in v. 11, “The people (this new generation) did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt.”

Then, in v. 13, “They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtoreth.”

Didn’t he just say that? He did. The narrator repeats in v. 13, what he just said, 2 verses before, in v. 11. What’s going on? It’s not poor writing – the Bible never wastes words. This is poetic writing – emphasizing a staggering truth. The people of Israel did not just abandon their god – their little tribal deity – which every group of people have. These people abandoned – walked away from the LORD – God’s covenant name – the God over all the nations who had proved His power, on behalf of His people, by bringing this slave people out from Egypt’s grip – overpowering Egypt’s gods in the process.

They abandoned this Almighty, Promise-Making AND Promise- Keeping God … for what?

To run after and serve the Baals and his female counterpart Astarte – the fertility gods of the Canaanite people. Reason for sexual prostitution in worship was because Mr. and Mrs. Baal were apparently quite forgetful – they would forget to do their job. And who can blame them, when you’re a god, trying to run a household, there’s so much to do - who can remember everything?! But no intimacy in god-land, meant no fruitfulness on the earth … and that means everything down here will shrivel up and die … so you need to act out, down here, what you need the gods to do, up there ... so that fertility will come back to earth – the crops would grow, the animals would have babies and you could carry on eating. That’s where the temple prostitutes, male and female find their place in Canaan’s worship: “Mr. and Mrs. Baal, we need some fruitfulness down here”.

The Israelites start visiting Canaanite temples … and taking part in the pagan worship … and the next thing you know … they’ve joined the church.

The first step in the cycle – God’s people forget the true, Saving God and run after the sham gods of their neighbors.

2. DISCIPLINE, 2:14-15

Verses 14-15 point out step two in the cycle: “So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them.”

The second step in the cycle is ‘discipline’. The God of Israel is a holy God – and when His people abandon the fountain of living water – to run after dry wells that fill their mouth – and the world! – with sand … God doesn’t simply say, “… that’s an unfortunate choice”. No – His love is a Holy love … and He will not stand still and watch those He loves destroy themselves. So - He disciplines.

Recognize this, Christian. If God loved you enough to die for you … He isn’t going to watch you destroy yourself in sin. He will work to draw you back, to rescue you from yourself, even if it involves your pain. He loves you that much.

And in the book of Judges, the God over all the nations, takes the nations that don’t even worship Him, and uses them to discipline His wayward people – to get their attention.

Verse 13, ‘(He) gave them over to plunderers who plundered them … (15) Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned.’

It’s a frightful thing to have the hand of the sovereign God against you. It’s also the discipline of a loving Father.

3. COMPASSION 2:16-18

The third step of the cycle comes in vv. 16-18. “Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.” That’s incredible – put v. 14 and 16 together: “So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel . . .” Now put v. 16 next to it: “. . . Then the LORD raised up judges who saved them . . .” That’s not how we operate.

Sometimes when I’m in the car, approaching a crosswalk - and I see a pedestrian who’s almost ready to cross the road … we’re going to get to the spot at about the same time,

… on occasion, if I’m feeling in a particularly generous mood - I will stop and wait for them to go … and the whole time they are crossing, I’m watching them: “Is he picking up the pace, trying to show courtesy by moving his feet as fast as possible, is he going to wave - even a little nod of the head to say ‘thanks’ to me, for taking time out of my busy schedule … to stop for him?” If he does, then all is well … warmth fills my heart.

But if he doesn’t … if he slows down and saunters across the street, trying to prove that HE is in control of this situation … if he doesn’t even acknowledge me .... well then, that’s just no good. “The sacrifice I made here - and this is the thanks I get?!”

……If you are the God of the universe and you have done so much for such a thankless people … who are now suffering the consequences of their rebellion against you ....What do you do?

Either we would end the story in v. 15 - - They were in terrible distress . .. and the LORD washed His hands of them once and for all. Good riddance you thankless fools!” The End.

OR we would end it like this: “. . . And Israel realized the wickedness of its sin – the people repented , promised never to fall again, asked for forgiveness - - and then, after watching and waiting long enough making sure their repentance was sincere y really meant it – then and only then, the LORD raised up judges who saved them from their suffering with a way of His finger.

But if you notice what causes God to step in and rescue His wayward people - it is NOT Israel’s repentance - - that is not even mentioned. God steps in, verse 18 tells us - - “Because the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning . . .”

Friend, if you name the name of Jesus Christ –

You can know that in your life, just as in the life of the nation of Israel – the Lord will discipline you IN LOVE. You may grab in your hands and stuff in your face everything the world says you need for happiness … and you will be. Miserable.

BECAUSE the Lord Loves you.

But as you groan, as you churn in torment … know this as well: the Lord is compassionate … in fact, it’s precisely BECAUSE God loves you so much, that He will not let His child be comfortable in sin.

So time after time in this book, the people of God are tormented - - they suffer (it’s their own fault), God hears their groaning, sends them a judge who rescues them. They live in freedom – in peace and security – back into blessing.

But the story doesn’t end there.

4. ABANDONMENT vv. 17-19

The final step in the cycle takes us right back to the beginning. Verses 19-21: “19 But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. 20 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel . . .”

… and so the cycle repeats itself. As long as the judge is alive – the people live in prosperity. And as soon as the judge passes away, the people are right back into the mud … and worse. In fact, this cycle is actually more a spiral - every time around the cycle, the people end up digging themselves deeper and deeper into the mud. Verse 19: “… whenever the judge died, they turned back and were MORE CORRUPT than their fathers ...”.

In verse 3 of chapter 2, the Angel of the Lord says, “I will not drive the Canaanites out before you – but they shall become thorns in your sides.” And it’s true - - throughout the rest of the book – Israel does not gain one NEW acre of land - - all they can do is try to cling to what they have - - and they don’t do very well at that. Chapter 3:1 says that the LORD leaves the nations in the land to TEST ISRAEL BY THEM - - - v. 4, “To know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the LORD”. And time after time after time the cycle repeats itself and we see the Israelites FAILING THE TEST - - and living in so much needless misery.

You are like me - - You see the Israelites in this cycle of sin and discipline – groaning – and you see the tender heart of God in all of its brilliant display – as He rescues His people from their self-inflicted prison – only to watch them drift back into the very same sin –

-- You look at this cycle and it looks so very familiar: In so many ways - It is a picture of my own life. I read the cycle of Israel in the book of Judges and say: “That’s me – and I hate it! I want to break the cycle! In my own life – I don’t want to keep falling into the same old self-inflicted miseries! In my children’s lives – I don’t want them to be the generation that doesn’t KNOW the Lord – because of my failures to winsomely point them to Him. But how?”

v. 10 points us in the right direction: “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.” That’s the negative way to put it: “DO YOU WANT TO BREAK THE CYCLE? DON’T BE IGNORANT OF THE LORD.”

Let me put it in the positive way now. The positive way to say the same thing is this: “KNOW THE LORD - - KNOW HIS CHARACTER - - LEARN OF HIS ACTS IN HISTORY.” And that is where the Bible comes in. Last week we talked about how the fight against sin that will keep us trapped in the cycle – is a fight to believe God – that’s why it is so important to consistently, in a disciplined way – make reading the Bible a priority in our lives. If you want to know the LORD, you need to know His Word.

Every temptation to drift from God comes to us like a knife – to puncture our joy in God – and make us doubt His character and His power - -- - -

And - if you are ignorant of God’s Word – You are weaponless in the fight against the despair caused by sin: Another passage sheds light on what I’m saying here – Psalm 119:9: “How can a young man keep His way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.”

Temptation doesn’t only come when you have your Bible handy – as if Satan says to his demons – “Hold off on the temptation for the day – she left her Bible at home- it wouldn’t be fair to harass her now.” NO – the devil fights dirty. It’s not enough to have the Word of God in Your hand – You need to have the Word in your heart! That’s what v. 11 of Psalm 119 tells us:

Psalm 119:11, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” In order to keep myself from getting caught in the cycle of misery that Judges shows us in Israel’s life … I will store up Your Word, God, in my heart. You know that we are in a daily battle to TRUST God – to see Him in His beauty – to see His Glory as our great desire – to recognize that we were created for more than this world can offer – so nothing here can fully satisfy.

We are like Popeye. Do you remember Popeye the Sailor Man? Brutus was Popeye’s arch-enemy and Brutus was so much bigger. Popeye had massive biceps, but Brutus was just plain huge.

Whenever they would get into a fight – Brutus would be beating the tar out of Popeye … until, Popeye pulled out his secret weapon. Can of spinach. It didn’t matter where they were fighting - Could be on a boat on the high–seas, could be in mid-air - it didn’t matter where they were, Popeye always seemed to have a can of spinach hidden somewhere on his body – and once he squeezed the can hard enough, popped the top off and the spinach flowed into his mouth – at that instant – the strength came to his body – the tables turned and Popeye beat his enemy. Spinach was his strength - enough to give him power in any situation.

That’s why I want to give you a challenge this morning. Here it is: I want to challenge you to commit yourself to learning a verse from the Bible – BY MEMORY - - Every week for the rest of the year. Do it by yourself, or do it as a family.

“Verses of Victory” – in the bulletin every week. They will be verses specifically chosen to help you to victory in your life and death struggle to kill sin.

Can you imagine what a difference it would make to our church to have everyone memorizing Scripture – all of us filling our hearts with God’s Word?!

Some of you, I know, are saying: “That’s a good idea – but I could never do it. I have a memory like a sieve. I’ll encourage the kids to do it.” Let me encourage you – “Don’t sell yourself short!”

In his book on Spiritual Disciplines, Don Whitney asks a question that I want to put to you: “What if I offered you one thousand dollars for every verse you could memorize in the next seven days?” If I had the resources to offer you 10 crisp 100 dollar bills next Sunday, for every verse you memorized – and you knew that you could buy a new plasma tv for a couple of verses - - vacation for 5 or 10 - - - Memorize Psalm 119 and in some places you could buy a place to live.

God says of His Word in Psalm 19: 10-11, “10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

Do you believe God’s word?

The value of the Word of God is massively greater than a measly $1000. Do you believe God? If you want to live with strength in the promised land of salvation – HERE (your heart) – you need to know the Word of God in here (your head). If you choose to ignore the call to memorize God’s word – you are choosing to settle for a weak Christian life – and let me tell you right now – you are choosing the cycles.

You can do it, friend.

In my own life: There were times when for one reason or another, I was challenged to memorize Bible verses. Didn’t always have the best motives - to win a contest, to pass a test .... didn’t consider that it would ever mean much to me in the future. But those Scripture verses have come back to my mind over and over again throughout my life.

When my mom passed away: what a comfort it was, to hold the hand of my mother as she was being ushered into God’s glorious presence, it was the worst moment of my life … as I watched the life slipping away from her and her from me … nothing more the doctors could do … nothing I could do to keep her on this side of the grave .... but into the fog of terror and pain, God’s voice broke in with assurance and comfort in Revelation 21:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

It was these words from God that kept hold of me then … and I can promise you from personal experience that the Word of God has the power to keep you now … through all the uncertainties of the pandemic throwing our world into fear.

1. ‘Count your blessings, name them one by one’. As you reflect upon God’s mercies to you, what effect can you detect that they have had upon your faithfulness (or lack of it)? How might this passage apply to your situation?

2. In the light of this passage, what can you and I learn about the nature and the progress of sin? In what ways does your experience confirm the truth of this passage?

3. What does this passage teach us about the relationship between blessing and God’s approval of us? How might your answer be relevant to situations known to you?

y Ps. 119:72, 127; Prov. 8:10

z Job 28:17; Prov. 8:19

b Prov. 16:24