Sermon Tone Analysis
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Intro
D-groups
Equipping Dinner
Read Judges 10:6-9
I. Tola & Jair vs. 1-5
In five short verses we see the tenure of two of the minor judges, Tola & Jair
The only thing we know about Tola was that he from the tribe of Issachar and the son of a Dodo
He ruled for 23 years
After him was Jair who judged for 22 years
He had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys
We know that he was wealthy because to provide donkeys for 30 sons took a lot of money
II.
Oppressed by Philistines vs. 6-9
It didn’t take long for the Israelites to fall back into sin once the judges died
The sins they were guilty of was Idol worship
As I’ve said many times the worship practices of these pagan gods often included prostitution and child sacrifice
These were an abomination to a jealous God
He sells them into the hand of the Philistines and Ammonites
For 18 years they crushed the people of Israel
The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim
III.
Cry out to the gods vs. 10-18
As became typical, Israel cried out to the Lord in their distress
They admit they have sinned against the Lord by serving Baals
The Lord’s reply is unique
He asks them questions
Did I save you from Egypt and a whole host of other countries?
Vs. 13 Yet you have forsaken me
Forsaken means to leave behind or turn ones back on
vs. 14 God pulls a new response
Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; Let them save you
This had to ring hollow for Israel
They knew these gods were merely statues
They followed them because they were able to fulfill their passions and pleasures
When they got into trouble they didn’t run to Baal, but to the living God
vs. 15 Israel’s response: “Do whatever seems good, only deliver us”
They put away their foreign gods and served the Lord
vs. 16 God became impatient over the misery of Israel
God looked upon disobedient Israel with compassion, not hatred.
It was “difficult” for God to allow Israel to stay in their misery, though it was best for them.
Like the perfect loving parent, God hated to see Israel suffer, even when it was good for them.
He longed to rescue them but would not do it until it was good for them.
“The Hebrew word literally means ‘impatient.’
It suggests God’s restlessness in the presence of suffering.
It is the restlessness of His love, and that is the cause of His anger, and the governing principle in all its activities.”
“God grieves for the miseries to which his creatures are reduced by their own sins.
IV.
Gilead Begs Jephthah to Lead vs. 1-11
After Diplomatic means have been exhausted the armies draw battle lines
The Ammonites encamped at Gilead
Israel camped at Mizpah
There was one problem with Israel
There was no leader
vs. 18 Who is the man that lead the fight
Nothing is more demoralizing than being leaderless
Jephthah was a mighty warrior
There was one problem, he was the son of a prostitute
His father was Gilead which gave him rights, but his brothers chased him off
They weren’t about to share their inheritance with an illigetimate son
Jephthah flees to Tob until they need a mighty warrior
The Elders of Gilead go to Tob and beg Jephthah to lead them in battle
Jephthah replies: “Didn’t you hate me and drive me out?”
Why are you coming to me now?
The Elders offer him headship over the tribe
Isn’t it interesting how quickly people flip when things aren’t going away?
The science changes when 51% of the people in the president’s party don’t want him to run again
Now masks and vaccines aren’t mandatory
V. Ammonite Dispute vs. 12-28
Before Countries went to battle they would often try to settle the dispute by diplomatic relations
Jephthah sends messengers to the king of the Ammonites asking what’s the problem
He still has a beef 300 years later that Israel took their land
He wants Israel to restore it peaceably
The King of Ammon declared that he and his men were only reclaiming land that the Jews, under the leadership of Moses, had stolen from them.
I
f Israel would restore that land, he would call off his troops.
This wasn’t the full truth or story
Time makes us forget the facts
Jephthah gives the king a history lesson
vs. 14-22 Just the facts
Israel asked for passage through their land and were denied
Sihon the king feared Israel and declared war on them
They lost and Israel took possession of the land
vs. 23-24 The Lord had given Israel the land
Jephthah was always careful to give the Lord the glory for any victories Israel won.
When the other nations captured enemy territory, they claimed that it was “the will of their god” that they take the land; and they gave their idols credit for the victory.
Jephthah declared that the God of Israel was the true God and that His will had been fulfilled in allowing Israel to take the land.
It was Jehovah who gave Israel the victory.
vs. 25-26 Israel had lived on the land for centuries
“Three hundred years” is a round figure, but it comes close to the total number of years given in the Book of Judges for the periods of oppression and of peace.
During those three centuries, the people of Ammon didn’t try to reclaim their territory
This section does tell us two things about Jephthah:
(1) He knew the Scriptures and the history of his people, and (
2) he was not a hothead who was looking for a fight.
Being a military man himself, Jephthah knew that a war could result in thousands of Jewish men being killed; and he wanted to avoid that if at all possible.
VI.
Jephthah’s Fatal Oath vs. 29-40
The Spirit of the Lord is on Him
He is headed to battle the Ammonites
Which means he was the anointed leader
Last Sunday I talked about what Jesus said about oaths
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