Chaos

Introduction:

Many look at the current atmosphere of our world and label it chaotic. Perhaps you watch the news, or keep up on social media, or simply have conversations with your family members or neighbors. All of which can result in the assessment that the culture we live in is full of chaos. No doubt this is true. However, I have a message of hope for you today. There is deep abiding eternal deliverance available from the chaos of this world. His name is Jesus Christ. How can we be so certain about this message of hope? Today, it is revealed from the book of Judges in the Old testament portion of the Bible. (As you begin to turn your copy of God’s word to this book I want to offer a quick review..)

We have been working through a series together noticing the major themes that are presented throughout the whole Bible. For example from Genesis 1-2 we focused on the theme of Creation. Form Genesis chapter 3 we traced the theme of corruption. Then, we discovered the emphasis of covenant from Genesis 12, 15, 17, and 22. After that we unpacked the role of Commandment during the time of Moses in the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy. Last week we traced the theme of conquest through the book of Joshua, which leads us today to the book of Judges where chaos describes the atmosphere of Israel after the death of Joshua.

The goal of the series has been to step back and notice the whole counsel of God’s word and trace the various themes that unfold throughout Scripture and ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Today, we are focusing on the book of Judges and the chaos represented in the nation of Israel. Turn to Judges 2:6-23 where a summary of the whole book is given in a few verses.

Transition: There is a cycle of chaos revealed in this summary of Judges chapter two.

Cycle of Chaos

Cycle of Chaos: Disobedience, Distress, Deliverance.

Looking at an overview of book noting the root problems of their rebellion against God.

Disobedience

Notice the repeated root of their disobedience.

2:11, 3:7, 3:12, 4:1, 6:1, 10:6, 13:1

Distress

The consequence of their disobedience was to be given over to the plunder of the nations they did not drive out. The became exiles in their own land. The Lord sends the pagan nations surrounding them to test Israel.

To the point that they would as 2:18 begin to groan to the Lord. So the Lord would bring about their deliverance.

Deliverance

The way the Lord delivered His people was to raise up a judge who would lead them in battle and rule over them for a season.

Examples are given from 3:7-16:31 Including… Gideon. Deborah. Jephthah. Sampson. Each one representing God’s deliverance in 2:18

Some wanted to make Gideon a king… but he responded with 8:23

None of the judges proved to have impeccable character and certainly wasn't the promised seed of the woman who would ultimately crush the head of the serpent.

The the deliverance was temporary, because as soon as the judge died, the people would again disobey the Lord.

Transition: Chapters 17-21 record the drastic extent of sin for the nation of Israel. The culmination of this chaotic cycle resulted in a people who did evil in the sight of God, but did what was right in their own eyes. This repeated phrase is key for understanding the cycle of chaos in Judges. 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25

How corrupt had the nation grown?

So much so that the final chapters record that even the grandson of Moses is caught up in worshiping idols, that the tribe of Benjamin living in the city of Gibeah acted just like Sodom. They murdered the wife of a traveling Levite which led to a civil war and the tribe of Benjamin being nearly wiped out completely. The nation of Israel were no longer uniting to fight against God’s enemies, but were destroying themselves. Why? Because there was no King in Israel, and everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes… which was evil in the eyes of God.

We come to the end of Judges and ask, “Is there any hope??” We have read the covenant of God with Abraham that the nation of Israel would be many decedents… That they would inhabit the promised land.. and that all the nations would be blessed through them. We get to end of the time of the Judges and this is not happening… is there any hope?

Hope

King Jesus provides eternal deliverance!

How can we be sure of this??

Looking at Ruth and the forward anticipation of a King to rule God’s people. (Luke 2:16-33 ) Jesus is the King that the Judges could not be… He delivers not from invading nations, not from political plundering, but from sin. Jesus offers a solution to the root of all chaos.

Conclusion: We each know something of the chaos that surrounds us or engulfs us when we attempt to live according to our own eyes. We may attempt to alleviate that chaos, and have short victory for a season, then drop right back into disobedience and distress again and again. Turn from your own eyes and trust in Christ. He is the deliverer of sinners, the blessing to all nations. Real life and hope are only found in Him. If you do not belong to Christ today, won’t you turn from seeking to be the king of your own life and trust in the eternal king of glory?

If you are a Christian, perhaps you recognize the sanctifying work that God is doing in your life in cutting off the influence of the world. maybe you have drifted back into chaotic habits, or maybe never truly understood the hope of your salvation. Be encouraged form the lives of these judges. Hebrews 11: 32-34, “made strong out of weakness.” This is a good reminder of how God grows our faith and matures us into the likeness of Christ.

Jesus is the only exit ramp out of the cycle of chaos.