Judges: When Our Heroes Aren't Enough
Notes
Transcript
1 After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”
25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Introduction:
We have an insatiable desire for to have a hero come save the day. Again and again Hollywood shows us that success at the box office is tied to the most successful genera of all times. The genera of superhero.
Of the top 25 grossing movies of all times 15 of them and arguably more are all about supper heroes.
The Avengers and The Incredibles… show that we have an appetite for this type movie more than any other.
For example - Comic book sales for 2019 totaled
$1.21 Billion dollars
What does this say about us?
People deal with things that are too big for them to handle. Im talking about scary things, chaotic things. We like to be in control and innately we know that their are forces in life that we can control. It terrifies us.
People need to be rescued. We know that. The idea of a superhero is predicated on the thought that some battles are too difficult and some enemies too big and strong. We need someone to come in and rescue and redeem. We need someone to save the day.
We All Need Rescuing
“ We have all experienced something where we wished we had been rescued. This ranges from the extreme of severe trauma, to the bullies in the playground or workplace. Superhero stories show this wish coming true over and over again.”
The power of ‘The Rescuer’ is not just felt on an individual level, but across society as a whole, which makes it one of the most influential factors in the superhero’s consistent popularity. Just look at Batman, Superman and all the characters of comics’ ‘Golden Age’ (1938-1949). They were created at the time of world wars and failing economies, and the more recent surge of Superhero blockbuster films has followed wars in the Middle East, 9/11 and a general increase in global terrorism.
The book of Judges is that story. It is about God’s people facing fights that they can’t win. It is about how they need a hero to come in and save the day.
What the this book shows us it that no matter how strong or mighty or powerful sometimes heroes aren’t enough!
We need a better hero!
25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
There are fights you can’t win.
There are fights you can’t win.
There are enemies you can’t conquer.
There are enemies you can’t conquer.
In the 80’s a movie came about about - Who you gonna call?
The book of Judges poses the question, “Who do well call - where do we turn when our heroes aren’t enough?”
Judges helps us to answer the question “Who is our enemy?”
Judges helps us to answer the question “Who is our enemy?”
It reminds me of a quote for the famed evolutionist Charles Darwin:
We stopped checking for monsters under our beds when we realized they were inside us.
Charles Darwin
The great battle that we face is the battle with sin.
The great battle that we face is the battle with sin.
25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
The book of Judges is disturbing.
The book of Judges is appalling.
It is disgusting.
The Book of Judges if horrifying.
If this was a movie it would be rated “R”
Man apart from God is corrupt.
Man apart from God is corrupt.
Man apart from God is callus.
Man apart from God is callus.
Man apart from God is violent.
Man apart from God is violent.
Man apart from God is barbaric.
Man apart from God is barbaric.
Man apart from God is shockingly sinful.
Man apart from God is shockingly sinful.
Application
Sin is my battle.
Sin is my battle.
Christ is my victory.
Christ is my victory.
When I turn to anyone or anything other than Christ I will be disappointed, disillusioned, and dissatisfied.
When I turn to anyone or anything other than Christ I will be disappointed, disillusioned, and dissatisfied.