Monday, October 29, 2012

Reflections on "Dealing with Family" Judges 10: 6-18; 11: 1-11


I enjoyed preaching this sermon.  In fact, despite the challenge of connecting the stories in Judges to our current context, I have enjoyed reading and telling these stories.  

The sermon title suggested the sermon would be about family, but it turned out that the family conflict was just a lens for looking at the relationship between God and humans.  

The Dr. Phil illustration seemed to work pretty well.  
One of the challenges in preaching this text is that that the family conflict was extreme.  Most of us know about family conflict, but not at the level of actually banishing a family member.  Likewise, most of the us sin against God, but I suspect most of us don't see ourselves as having totally turned away from God like the Israelites.  The dilemma -- do I try and convince the listener that we are as bad as the Israelites, or do I find some other way to connect with the story.

The sermon lands on grace, which I think is supported by the text.  But, I probably should have also noted the punishment (i.e. defeat from their enemy) that the Israelites suffered.  How do we proclaim grace without it becoming "cheap grace" (to us Bonhoeffer's term)?

Dealing with Family” October 28, 2012; Judges 10: 6-18; 11: 1-11; Fall 2012 Judges series; FPC, Troy
Introduction: One of the reasons we find Judges so fascinating is that the stories take place in the messy, complicated stories of our humanity.
This week as we begin the story of Jephthah, we encounter a story of family problems.
Move 1: Dealing with family
a. No surprise that we read a biblical story about family problems.
  1. Early in Genesis, near the beginning of humanity, we have the conflict between brothers Cain and Abel. Cain gets angry and jealous because the Lord prefers Abel's offering, so he kills his brother.
    1. Fast forward to Jacob and Esau. Jacob steals his brother Esau's birthright. And to make it even more intriguing, his mother chooses sides and helps Jacob trick his brother.
    2. Fast forward to Joseph – his brothers almost kill him because of their jealousy (and probably because of Joseph's annoying attitude), and eventually settle for selling him into slavery.
b. now we have the story of Jephthah.
  1. Jephthah is the Gilead's son, but his mother was a prostitute.
  2. Jephthah was the illegitimate brother.
  3. In that time, it would not have been uncommon for brothers to have different mothers and still be treated the same, but it also creates an opportunity for exploitation and fighting, particularly when it relates to who will inherit the property, or money, or their father's power.
  4. We remember that after King David's death, his sons from different mothers battle it out to see who will take over the kingdom.
  5. They may have had a different understanding of family with fathers having multiple wives, but it still led to complications.
  1. In Jephthah's case, the brothers act out against him.
1. Since his mother was a prostitute, they decide he should have not standing among them.
2. In fact, they decided that he literally should not stand among them.
3. They banish him.
4. They send him away.
5. He will not get any part of their inheritance.
6. He goes off to live on his own.
6. he becomes an outlaw.
7. And a mighty warrior.
  1. Then Israel gets in trouble.
1. the Ammonites make war against them.
2. They look among themselves and find no one who can lead them into battle.
3. They need a warrior and none is to be found.
4. But someone remembers Gilead: the illegitimate brother, the one who has been sent away, the one who lives among outlaws, and the one who is a mighty warrior.
e. They approach Jephthah ans ask him to come back and lead them into battle.
  1. he rebukes them.
  2. Aren't you the ones who sent me away? I thought I wasn't good enough to be part of the family? But now that you need me, I'm good enough? Really?”
  3. Really.
  4. well, if I come back and save you, I get to be the head of the family.”
  5. It's a deal.”
f. Family love at its best.
  1. Not quite “Leave It to Beaver” or “the Waltons.”
  2. Not even “Modern Family.”
  3. More like the Dr. Phil show when Dr. Phil interviews estranged family members.
  4. Can you visualize the episode that might take place if Dr. Phil has Jephthah and his brothers telling their stories?
  5. Dr. Phil: “And why did you send your brother away? Were you feeling threatened?”
Uh , no. We just wanted to build the relationships between our legitimate family members. WE didn't mean to hurt Jephthah's feelings.”
Dr. Phil: “Jephthah, what did it feel like to be banished?”
Jephthah: “Total rejection. My own family turned against me. It led me to a destructive way of life.”
Dr. Phil: Jephthah, why did you agree to help out your brothers?”
Well, they really needed me. I couldn't say no in their time of crisis. WE are family, after all.”
And then they would hug and express their familial ties.

Being a family can be complicated.

Move 2: the story of God's story with Israel runs parallel to this story of Jephthah and his family.

a. it begins with, surprise, Israel turning away from God again.

  1. It's as if the world is too tempting for the Israelites.

2. They look around at the myriad of foreign gods, and want them.

3.There is a theory that God was too boring for the Israelites. They wanted to chase the foreign gods that demands sacrifices, that seemingly had a different god for each person's desire. All the Lord could offer was love and grace, two gifts that were hard to quantify and see in material ways.

4. Whatever the reason, the Israelites went chasing the other gods, leaving the Lord behind.

b. Until, of course, things got bad again.

  1. Then, the Israelites call on God to save them.
  1. Last week, we saw God's reticence to rescue the Israelites as we read Gideon's story.
  1. Now God is even more angry.
  2. God reminds them of the times that God has saved them previously.
  1. And God notes that Israel has repeatedly turned away despite being saved by God.
6. God delivers the strongest rebuke yet and refuses to accept Israel's words of repentance.

c. What does Israel do?

1. They put away their foreign gods and worship the Lord.

2. It feels a little bit like the child who has gotten into trouble but still wants to go out to the football game on Friday night. She becomes busy as a bee – doing the dishes; vacuuming the family room; putting up the laundry – see I've changed. I”m not that person you grounded.

3. we who read the story knows Israel's repentance won't last.

4. Surely God knows that Israel's repentance will not last.

5. But , in the midst of Israel's suffering and shallow attempt at repentance, we are told that "God "could no longer bear to to see Israel suffer" (Judges 10:16).

d. Imagine again a Dr. Phil show, except this time God and the Israelite leaders are being interviewed about betrayal and forgiveness.

Dr. Phil: “So why did you turn away from God again.”

we just can't help ourselves. It's not who we want to be. It's not how we want to act. But somehow we failed again.

Dr. Phil: “God, what do you have to say?”
Once again. Once again.”

but this time will be different. I know it's hard to believe. But this time we've learned our lesson.”

once again. Once again.”

Dr. Phil: Okay, God. You don't sound very convinced. So why in the world would you even consider helping Israel out again?”

Because I cannot bear to watch my people suffer.”

Dr. Phil: “but aren't you just giving in and teaching them bad habits?”

I cannot bear to watch my people suffer

conclusion: "During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until C.S. Lewis wandered into the room. 'What's the rumpus about?' he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, "Oh, that's easy. It's grace." (Philip Yancey in "What's So Amazing About Grace?")c

Judges continues to be a complicated book about our relationship with God and God's desire to save us, despite ourselves.

And in those complications, grace abounds.


Thursday, October 25, 2012

"Dealing with Family" Judges 10: 6-18; 11: 1-11

A few thoughts for Sunday's sermon that begins the Jephthah story.

1. Notice the parallel treatment of God and Jephthah.  The Israelites again turn away from God to a myriad of foreign gods;  likewise, Jephthah is banished by the elders because his mother was a prostitute.  Then, when things get bad again, the Israelites call on God to save them; likewise, the elders call on Jephthah to come rescue them.  God rebukes Israel; Jephthah rebukes the elders.  God saves Israel through Jephthah.

2.  God initially refuses to accept Israel's words of repentance.

3.  Why would Jephthah agree to come back and lead the Israelites?  Judges continues to be a ocmplicated book about our relationship with God and God's desire to save us, despite ourselves.

4. In the midst of Israel's suffering and shallow attempt at repentance, we are told that "God "could no longer bear to to see Israel suffer" (Judges 10:16).  God's grace abounds.

5. When the Letter to the Hebrews lists Israel's heroes of the faith, Jephthah will be included (Hebrews 11:32).





Monday, October 22, 2012

Reflections on "Another Sign" Judges 6: 36-40; 7: 1-23


The sermon never got to where I wanted it.  Gideon's putting out the fleece twice and then God reducing the number of soldiers make great stories, but it did not lead to a great sermon yesterday.


"Another Sign“” October 21, 2012; FPC, Troy; Judges series; Judges 6,7

Move 1: Gideon, the reluctant hero asks for another sign. Remember, he has already seen an angel of the Lord and torn down the altars built for Baal.

We now expect him to go to battle with the Midianites and save Israel, just like God has instructed.

a. But Gideon wants another sign. Apparently God has not shown Gideon enough.

b. Gideon was not the first person to ask for a sign:
  1. Jacob demands food and clothing to believe that God is God
    1. Moses at the burning bush;
    1. The Israelites in the wilderness
    1. Thomas wanting to touch the wounds in Christ's side;
    1. the crowds who are there when Jesus tells the lame man that his sins are forgiven demand a sign.
    1. Maybe you've been known to ask God for a sign now and then.
6. But Gideon may be about to set the record for how many signs are needed from God.
  1. Gideon shares with God his plan.
  1. I'll put some fleece out (now you know where the phrase putting out your fleece comes from) and when I awaken, if the fleece is wet with dew and the ground is dry, that will be the sign.
  2. Ta-da – the morning arrives, the fleeces is wet enough to fill a bowl with wrung out dew, the ground is dry, now Gideon will go do what God wants him to do.
    1. Well, not exactly – yes, the fleece is wet, yes the ground is dry, but Gideon wants God to pass another test.
    1. This time the fleece will be put out and in the morning the fleece will be dry, but the ground will be wet.
    1. And so it was. Gideon is ready to go do battle with the Midianites, right?
  1. As Gideon gathers his 32, 000 troops to go to battle, God decides that this sign business goes both ways.
  1. Uh, Gideon, you have too many troops. If you defeat the Midianites with all of them, you won't know that I was the one who led you to victory.
    1. So send home all the soldiers who are a bit afraid.
    1. Now the are down to 10,000 soldiers.
    1. still too many.
    1. Gideon, take you soldiers down to the river for a drink of water. If they lap the water like dogs, keep them. If they cup their hands to get the water, send them home.
6. do you think that while Gideon is watching his men drink the water to see who laps the water and who does not that it occurs to him that maybe testing God is not the smartest move he's ever made?
  1. now, Gideon's troops are down to 300 men.
  1. When God senses Gideon's reluctance to believe that he can defeat the Midianites God suggests that if Gideon does not want to go to battle yet, perhaps he might sneak in to the Midianite camp and listen to what the Midianites are saying.
  1. Which Gideon does.
    1. He overhears a man telling about a dream and another man interpreting the dream to be about how Gideon is going to defeat the Midianites.
    1. now Gideon is ready to do battle.
    1. All the signs from God do not convince him, but overhearing someone talk about a dream and then the interpretation of it, apparently is convincing.
e. one final note about Gideon's defeat of the Midianites.
  1. Much like Joshua and his troops when they defeat surprisingly defeat Jericho, Gideon's troops have a rallying cry.
2. “For the Lord and for Gideon” they shouted.
  1. When Joshua's men overwhelmed Jericho they shouted, “for the Lord has given you the city.”
  1. But good old Gideon gets to share the credit with God.
Move 2: Why is Gideon's story told?

a. I'm not even sure Gideon would be chosen for nomination by our Nominating committee.

b. we read Gideon and so easily notice his hypocrisy and his unfaithfulness
  1. As a reminder.
    1. as a reminder when we test God, when we say, “God, if you really want me to go to college you'll make the ACT test have questions I can answer,” or when we say, “God, if you really want me to change my ways, then you'll need to give me this sign” maybe we'll remember how silly Gideon seemed and change.

      3.  Or when we've been praying for God to guide us and we get that restless spirit in us that tells us what to do, maybe we will remember Gideon and try to do better in how we respond.

      4.Or when we know what God is telling us to do, but we choose instead to seek out the random assurance of strangers,. We'll remember Gideon and listen more closely to God.
5. or when we finally do what God tells us to do and it works and we want to take credit for it, we'll remember Gideon, and be reminded to give God the credit.

Conclusion: And I suppose, finally, we remember that the God who uses Gideon, who passes all the tests Gideon puts before him, who even pushes Gideon to places Gideon does not want to God, that God is the God who claims us and sends us into the world.

Friday, October 19, 2012

"Another Sign" Judges 6: 36-40; 7: 1-25

Tidbits from the continuation of Gideon's story.

1.  He asks God again for a sign, this time using fleece.  In fact, Gideon asks God to give a sign twice using the fleece.  A scholar writes, "No character in the book [Judges] receives more divine assurance than Gideon and no one displays more doubt.  Gideon is, significantly, the only judge to whom God speaks directly, this this privilege does not allay his faintheartedness." (Exum, "the Center Cannot Hold," 416 as found in The NIV Application Bible:  Judges and Ruth, by K. Lawson Younger, Jr. 187).

2.  The sign/test Gideon devises is not about his learning God's will (he has already been told that), but about Gideon's lack of faith.  Maybe it is Gideon convincing himself.

3. I find it interesting that Gideon's name given to him (Jerubbaal) is a constant reminder of  the idols that had to be destroyed so that he could lead God's people.

4. God has a sign for Gideon -- God has Gideon reduce the number of soldiers he will take into battle so that everyone will know that the Israelites won because God handed them their victory.  Perhaps God also is countering Gideon's disbelief by demanding that Gideon trust God.

5.there is a certain irony that Gideon hesitates when God tells him to go defeat the Midianites, but when Gideon hears the dream of a stranger, he then believes that he can defeat the Midianites.

6. The battle scene, with the encircling of the enemy and the blowing of trumpets, has the feel of Joshua defeating Jericho. But notice that when they shout their victory, Gideon has them cheer, "For the Lord and for Gideon," which is in contrast to the shout of Joshua's army, "Fro the Lord has given you the city" (Joshua 2: 16).

7.Gideon was not the first person to ask for a sign:  Moses at the burning bush; Thomas wanting to touchy the wounds in Christ's side; Jacob demands food and clothing to believe that God is God; to name a few.

What themes jump out at you?

Monday, October 15, 2012

Reflections on "show Me a Sign" Judges 6: 11-32


I had fun preaching this sermon. 

I began the week labeling Gideon as unfaithful for asking for a sign. But I finished the week finding something to like about that.  The "perfect" disciple probably does not need a sign; the flawed disciple might need a sign.  I imagine most of us are flawed disciples, so asking for a sign may be a good thing because it reflects a desire to serve God.

Of course, once we start reflecting on signs from God, that opens the door to all sorts of thoughts and stories.  What is the difference between a sign from God and something that just happens?  Hard to say, but I want to hang on to the idea that God is in our midst calling us and giving us signs to guide us.  That approach fits with how we talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in confirmation class.  the gut feeling, the unable to describe or articulate feeling may be the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.

I love the image of Joash, Gideon's father, standing up to the crowds that come to kill Gideon for tearing down the altars to Baal.  That could be a sermon by itself.  In fact, my sermon could have been three or four different sermons, if I had chosen to elaborate on one of the points.  

I am intentionally exploring the facts of the story each week to help the congregation grow in its biblical foundation.

Show Me a Sign” October 14, 2012; FPC, Troy, Judges 6:  11-32; Judges series
Introduction: We continue exploring the stories of the Judges. This week we meet Gideon
Move 1: Gideon's story is in some ways the same as the judges we have already met, but there are also some differences.
a. things are bad again in Israel.
  1. If we go back to the beginning of Chapter 6, we discover that Israel has turned away from God again.
    1. In fact, the description of Israel living in shelters and the Midianites taking possession of the land shows a reversal of the Promise.
    1. The Israelites entered the Promised Land and settled it; enemies like the Midianites became nomads as they lost their land to the Israelites.
    1. Now that has reversed itself. The Midianites possess the land and the Israelites are nomads once again.
b. God will still listen to Israel's cry, but...
  1. IN baseball there are three strikes and then you are out. Israel is on its third strike and the question looms – when will God quit listening to Israel's pleas for help?
  2. In fact, God seems a little less willing to let it go.
  3. Before sending Gideon to rescue Israel, God sends a prophet; a prophet how announces Israel's unfaithfulness.
  4. ]This story will be the first time in Judges when God's answer to Israel's plea is a rebuke.
  5. God will still save Israel, but...
  1. flawed hero
1. Gideon is the imperfect person who will save Israel this time.
2. when God tells Gideon that Gideon will defeat the Midianites, Gideon first suggests why he's not the right person for the job; then he asks for a sign.
3. When God tells Gideon to tear down the altars built to Baal, Gideon goes at night under the veil of darkness because he does not want anyone to know that he is the one who has torn down the altars.
4. a tentative hero to say the least.
d. The real hero, it seems to me, is Gideon's father.
1. when the people want to kill Gideon for tearing down the altars, his father Joash stands up to the crowds.
2. He defends Gideon and they leave Gideon alone.
Move 2: Asking for a sign.
a. When God calls Gideon into service, Gideon asks for a sign.
  1. Perhaps this reveals Gideon's reluctance to act on God's behalf.
  2. Maybe Gideon is buying some time to sort things out.
  3. Perhaps we can relate to Gideon's desire for a sign. We live in a time where we have a constant need to “prove it.” Perhaps you can relate to Gideon's desire to receive a sign from God.
  4. Whatever the reason, Gideon asks for a sign the angel delivers a sign.
b. Begs the question – how do your read the signs?
1. What the angel does with the meat and the bread is pretty cool.
  1. The fire adds a nice touch.
  2. But maybe any magician could do the same.
  3. fools Rush In” – a chick flick like we usually watch at my house. A man and a woman. She is a Mexican-American from Arizona, Catholic and a believer in signs; he is a Waspish, New Yorker, Presbyterian, who does not believe in signs particularly. For instance, they meet while waiting in line to use the restroom – she sees that as a sign; he sees it as a line for the restroom.
In the critical moment in the plot, he needs to make a decision about their relationship. Suddenly, random encounters on the streets of NYC appear to him as signs directing him back into his relationship with her.
5. My hunch would be that we discover signs more readily when we are looking for them.
c. Point of engagement with God.
1. when Gideon asks for a sign, he also signals that he is open to the possibility of doing what God has in mind.
2. Maybe he is not sure or excited about that possibility, but he allows himself to be convinced.
d. People often ask the question: “how do I know when God is calling me to do something.”
1. Or I hear someone's call story and they point out the signs or affirmations they received along the way that let them know what God desired for them to do.
2. Sometimes those signs seem rather random to me.
3. In fairness, when I tell my own stories of signs from God, they sometimes seem rather silly. For example, the story of my being called to serve this congregation goes back to a fall Sunday afternoon lounging around the house reading the Presbyterian Outlook while watching a football game. There was an ad in the Outlook about FPC, Troy. It seemed like a nice church, but I was not really looking to move. Then the phone rang. It was my aunt who lived in Troy, OH. She was of the generation before cell phones that only called long distance when it was something really important. She wanted me to know that the Presbyterian Church in Troy was looking for a minister, and it was a pretty good church. I figured that if she was calling me long distance to tell me about FPC, Troy at approximately the same time as I was reading about FPC, Troy, then I ought to pay attention. Sort of silly, really, but...
c. how do we read the signs? No sure answer, but openness to what God is doing and a willingness to listen help us recognize signs from God.
Move 3: Tearing down the idols.
a. Did you notice what the first thing Gideon does once he believes that God has called him to save Israel.
  1. he tears down the altars built to Baal.
  2. Before Gideon can save Israel, he must confront the idolatry in his own backyard.
3. A powerful symbol for us as we contemplate serving God.
b. We have to tear down that which separates us from God.
1. Most of us can speak to the many different ways we are pushed and pulled by our jobs, our families, our and our hobbies.
2. The demand for our time and our commitment overwhelms us.
3. We too often find that when we try to squeeze in time for God, we cannot do it.
4. Gideon does not try to fit his faith in with the practices of Baal worship.
5. he understands that he must clean house, tear down the altars literally, and create space for worshiping and following God.
c. When we consider what it means to follow God, it may mean tearing down some structures in our lives.
1. Maybe that was part of Gideon's reluctance to accept God's calling – he knew it meant that he had to change some things in his life.
2. I suspect that one way we will know if the sign is from God is that it comes with demands and expectations of change.
Conclusion: Another flawed hero; another person used by God.




Thursday, October 11, 2012

"Show Me a Sign" Judges 6

Chapter 6 begins the Gideon story.  Here are a few tidbits of information.

1.  This story will be the first time in Judges when God's answer to Israel's plea is a rebuke.  Gideon will still save Israel, but as the sinfulness of Israel continues, God seems a little less willing to let it go.  In fact, before sending a deliverer, God sends a prophet to describe Israel's unfaithfulness.

2.  The description of Israel living in shelters and the Midianites taking possession of the land shows a reversal of lifestyles -- the Israelites who settled the Promised Land are now forced off the land to become nomad, and the Midianites who had been nomads are now settling into possession of the land.

3.  Gideon is the only judge who is called through a theophany.

4.  Before Gideon can save Israel, he must confront the idolatry in his own backyard, the altars built to Baal.

5.  We tend to make Gideon's asking for signs something powerful, but doesn't it show off his lack of faith as well?  In our world of people needing proof for just about anything, perhaps we can relate to Gideon's desire for signs.

6.  When Gideon does respond by tearing down the altars, he does so at night so that no one will see him do it.  In fact, the real hero of the story might be his father who deals with the crowd that shows up at his house looking for Gideon.

7.

What theme appeals to you?

Monday, October 8, 2012

Reflections on "Women at Work" Judges 4: 4-24

Another fun, challenging sermon.  I am still struggling to figure out how to handle all the killing attributed to God.  It seems to defy the God who acts in Christ's death on the cross.  My conclusion in the sermon made that point.

But, these stories are so rich in their humanity and our struggle to serve God with all our failings.  I love the way the story surprises the reader with Jael stepping forward to save Israel.  Or Barak, who is willing to follow God's command if Deborah will go with him.  Or the image of Deborah judging cases underneath her palm tree.  Rich images that resonate with our humanness.

Women at Work” October 7, 2012; FPC, Troy, Judges 4; Judges series

Introduction: Another week of Judges. I had dinner with a colleague of mine this week. We were talking about what we doing in worship. I told him I was preaching a series on Judges. He said, “why?” “Because those are great stories,” I replied. “Yeah, but after you read the story, what do you do with it?”

that is the question isn't it?

Another week with the story beginning with the Israelites again doing evil in God's sight and being defeated because of it.

Another week with an assassination and war.

This time the adversary is King Jabin, whose army commander is Sisera, and has nine hundred chariots at his disposal.

Another week of fascinating characters.

Move 1: again, we discover the God who works with surprising people.

a. The featured judge this week is Deborah, not only a woman but a prophetess.
  1. This great image of Deborah underneath the palm tree judging cases that the Israelites brought to her.
  2. A woman in a position of power and authority in a time when that was not the norm for women.
  3. Note – she still is referred to as “Deborah, wife of Lappidoth...” As other women in her time, who she is depends on her husband or father or some other male in the household.
  4. But as the story plays out, we realize that she is an imprtant, pwoerful person. Not just giving good advice, but commanding Barak to go into battle, and even joining him as they lead the Israelite soldiers.
  5. Deborah is a surprising judge, but certainly one up to the task.
b. The surprises continue.
  1. As the story plays itself out, she tells Barak that Sisera would be defeated by a woman.
      2. naturally, we expect that woman to be Deborah, the judge, the one who commands Barak.
      3. But instead the one who kills Sisera is Jael, a minor character, who ordinarily would not be noticed.
      4. She seemingly lives out the hospitality codes of the time and provides a place to sleep for Sisera as he flees from battle.
      4. In fact, when Sisera asks for water, she provides him with milk. What a great hostess – providing a place to take a nap and some milk to help Sisera get to sleep.
      5. a great hostess up until the minute she hammers the tent peg through his head!
      Surprise for Sisera – surprise for the reader. The minor woman character becomes the one who saves Israel.

      Move 2: what do we do with Barak? Boo or applaud him?
a. When Deborah tells him that God wants him to go defeat the enemy Barak wavers.
  1. Instead of rushing off to do what God has told him to do, he hedges his bets.
  1. How would you respond if the person who spoke God's Word to you told you that God wanted you to do x, y and z. Would you do?
3. He tells Deborah that he'll go do what God wants him to do, but only if she will go with him.

4.  Hardly a picture of faithfulness and commitment.

b. On the other hand, do not forget that Barak does lead the Israelites into battle with Deborah.
  1. Despite his doubts and hesitation, he does respond.
    1. do we give him credit for doing what God asks, however reluctantly he does so?
  1. Stop for a minute and summarize the people in this story who save the Israelites.
  1. A woman in power in a time when women are not in power.
    1. A man who is not really sure he wants to do what God tells him to do.
    1. a nondescript woman who uses the hospitality codes of the time to lure Sisera to his death.
The story gives hope to each of us that God can and will use us, but it might be in surprising ways.

Move 3: God delivers Israel against all odds.

a. In the description of the battle we may miss the significance of the weapons being described.

1. Sisera and his men had 900 chariots. It is also worth noting that chariots were not generally used to break through the enemy's line, but to pursue and slaughter the enemy as they fled. Chariots were grisly, killing machines, and the Israelites did not have any of them.

2.  Israel had swords.

3.  Chariots were much more powerful weapons than swords.

4.  Sort of like David with his slingshot against Goliath and his huge sword.

5.  Bettors put their money on Sisera.

b. But Israel and its undermanned army wins.
  1. Somehow, the swords overwhelm the chariots.
    1. Well, not somehow. We know how the Israelites defeat the enemy – God hands the enemy over to the Israelites.
3. God's desire to save Israel carries the day.
      Conclusion: It is a bit odd to be reading a story of war and killing as we celebrate World Communion and collect the Peacemaking offering.

       Of course, we pray for peace each week in a world that continues to be at war.

      It's hard to figure out what God is doing in Judges, except to note that God's plan to save the Israelites in the stories we read from Judges leads to the battlefield.

      But we also know this: that when God decided to redeem and save the world from sin and death, God did not go to war, God came in the flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ, whose victory took place on the cross, where he willingly died for us..

So we come to our Lord's Table as people who are sometimes hesitant in our faith, people who find God full of surprises, and as people whom God loves and desires to save. Amen.












Friday, October 5, 2012

"Women at Work" Judges 4: 4-10, 17-23

Another week of Judges.  Another week with the story beginning with the Israelites again doing evil in God's sight and being defeated because of it.  This time the adversary is King Jabin, whose army commander is Sisera.  Sisera is from Harosheth Haggoyim and has nine hundred chariots at his disposal.

Some interesting tidbits:

1.  Chariots were not generally used to break through the enemy's line, but to pursue and slaughter the enemy as they fled. Chariots were grisly, killing machines, and the Israelites did not have any of them.

2.  Deborah is a judge and prophetess.  When it seems like Barak is the one who will deliver Israel, do not forget that Deborah sends for him and commands him.  Barak will not go to engage the enemy unless Deborah goes with him.

3.  Barak has the word from God through Deborah, but he still does not readily go and do what God calls him to do.

4. We have a judge -- Deborah; a not-quite-willing to be hero/savior - Barak; surprising heroine who usurps the roles of Deborah and Barak.

Where does the sermon go from here?  We have the recurring themes:  Israel's sinfulness again; a surprising choice for judge; a second assassination by surprise; what else?

Maybe some focus on Barak not being willing to take the lead, even though the judge had given the okay?

I preached a sermon at FPC, Troy once on Deborah and Barak and spoke highly of their working together.  Not sure I want to revisit that.

We will not read the song of Deborah contained in Chapter 5, but it has the fascinating image of Sisera's mother watching out the window for her son to return from battle.  It is an odd juxtaposition of a mother anxiously waiting for her son to return home and her seeming  acceptance (maybe pride) that he is running late because he has plundered the enemy and raped the captured women.

what theme jumps out to you?

Monday, October 1, 2012

Reflections on "A Left-handed Judge: Ehud" Judges 3: 12-30


The sermon had two-parts -- an opening narrative that described the story in fuller detail and then an attempt to connect the story to our daily lives.  the first part was a lot of fun, and I hope made the biblical text seem more real to the listeners.
The second part was more difficult.  to distinguish each sermon may be more difficult than I imagined.  The stories are very different, but they also follow fairly consistent patterns.  Israel's messes up; God sends a judge to save (the judge or the story has some surprising elements to it); and then Israel is right with God for the moment.

This week I focused a bit on the call to repentance that is part of these stories (sometimes implicitly, other times explicitly).  Continued to focus on the theme of God working in surprising ways.

Sermon seemed to work better in the chapel service.  

A Left-handed Judge: Ehud” Sept. 30, 2012; Judges 3: 12-30; Fall Judges series; FPC, Troy
Introduction: Overheard around the tents late one night as a group of Israelite men chewed the fat late around the campfire.
Jethro, did you hear what happened to fat, old King Eglon.
You mean the Moabite king. I heard he was killed. Wha'ts up with that?
You got to hear this story. You remember Ehud, don't you?
Let's see. Wasn't he the left-handed guy from the tribe of Benjamin?
Yeah, he's the one. You know what they say about left-handed guys. Something not quite right about them. Anyway, Ehud was sick and tired of King Eglon getting fat on tributes we had to take to him.
And I heard that old king was really fat. But I guess when you've been getting tributes from us for the past 18 years, you'd gain a few pounds.
Ehud decided to do something about it. He arranged to go with the others to take Eglon the tribute. After they left, he surprised everyone by turning around and going back to see the king.
Why did he need to see the king?
Well, he said he a secret to tell the king. And boy did he have a secret to tell him, or you might say give him. Ehud had made himself a knife that would fit down the right side of his leg.
Surely the king's guards didn't let him see the king while carrying knife.
You know how dumb those Moabite guards are? They only checked his left-side where most men would hide a weapon. But not left-handed Ehud. He had the knife strapped to his right side where he could get to it easily.
So he got in to see the king.
Yep, and would you believe the king was in the bathroom, sitting on the throne, so to speak, all nice and cool.
So what did Ehud do?
He opened the door and pulled his knife out and shoved it into Eglon. They say his knife went in so far that Eglon's fat swallowed it up. And then Eglon kind of exploded!
Gross. That's not a very pretty image. How did Ehud get away?
He locked the door and left. The guards thought he was just taking a long time in the bathroom, so they waited and waited and waited. Finally, they busted down the door and found Eglon dead. It was too late to catch Ehud. He was long gone.
Then Ehud led us to victory over the Moabites.
Thank God for that left-handed Ehud.
Yep. Thank God.

A kind of crazy story of how God rescued the Israelites in their time of need.
What do we make of it?
Move 1: God calls us to repentance.
a. As the Israelites tell this story, it begins with the defeat of the Israelites by the Moabites because the Israelites have turned away from God.
  1. Admittedly, we understand the world a little bit differently than the Israelites did in the time of Judges.
  2. We do not see something bad happen like a natural disaster or some evil event and say the people deserved it as punishment for turning away form God.
b. But let's be clear – the emerging pattern we see in Judges of God's people crying out to be saved begins with the Israelites finding themselves separated from God by their unfaithfulness.
  1. There are stories of Israelites worshiping other gods and building temples in tribute to other gods.
  2. The people have forgotten whose they are as they turned away from God.
    c. and part of what happens when God rescues the Israelites is that they return to right relationship with God.
    d. No surprise then that when John the baptist announces the coming of Christ, he does so with a call to repentance.
    These stories in Judges are about God's saving grace, but that not only means God rescues Israel from its predicament, but also that God calls Israel back into right relationship.
Move 2: We also discover again the God who works in surprising ways turning things upside down.
a. For example, we are told that the Moabites have banded together with Ammonites and the Amalekites to conquer the city of palms.
  1. Jericho.
  2. Remember the story of how Joshua defeated Jericho.
  3. God told Joshua to march and then blow their trumpets and then the city would be handed over to the Israelites.
  4. Jericho was a symbol of Joshua's leadership and God's presence with the Israelites in the Promised Land.
  5. Now Jericho has come under Moabite rule. God's gift of Jericho undone by the Israelite unfaithfulness.
  6. But now God will turn reverse that.
  7. Ehud will lead the Israelites to victory over the Moabites and things between God and the Israelites are made right again..
b. Left-handed.
  1. Right-handed was the norm. left-handed people were the odd ones. (sorry Mom!)
  2. The position of power next to the king was to sit at the king's right hand.
  3. A blessing was shared with someone by the laying on of the right hand.
  4. So of course the judge who saves the day is left-handed.
  5. Not only is he left-handed, but that is what gives him his advantage.
  6. God working in surprising ways to rescue Israel.
c. King Eglon has defeated Israel.
1. From his position of power he reigns in his cool palace eating the tribute provided him by the defeated Israelites.
2. His overweight physique a sign of his wealth.
      3. He even deals with his bodily functions in the confines of a cool chamber.
      4. Eglon lives the life of luxury at the expense of and in contrast to the Israelites.
      5. But, Eglon will become the sacrificial calf (his name actually derives from the Hebrew word for calf).
    1. In fact, as the story of his death is told, how he was stabbed and where he was stabbed, the language used is the same way a sacrifice would have been described.
    2. The one who abuses Israel becomes the sacrifice.
d. God turning things upside down – sort of like what God does in the life, death and resurrection of Christ
1. the all-powerful God who decides to come as a human.
    2. not coming and forcing everyone to submit to him, instead humbly submitting to the earthly powers.
      3. Ultimately, Jesus succumbs to earthly death, the sign of weakness and sin, but then God transforms death into resurrection and a sign of hope.
Move 3: what does it mean to follow a God who calls us to repentance and works in such surprising ways?
a. reminds us our continual need to assess what we are doing and where we are going.
  1. To proclaim God's salvation means to follow the one who calls us to repent.
  2. God not only desires to be in relationship with us, but God desires to be in right relationship with us.
    b. Look for God in the unexpected places.
      1. Think for a minutes about your lives of faith and the times you have known without a doubt that God was in your midst.
      2. I bet a lot of those times come when you least expect it or when God acts in ways that surprise you.
      3. We seldom get God to provide us with “aha” moments when we plan them; when God arrives and how God arrives in our lives and our world are at God's choosing, not ours.
      c. We discover God in our weakness.
      1. When do the Israelites discover God in Judges? When they find themselves weak and crying out to God.
      2. when do they get in trouble with God? When everything is going great and they are in control. Suddenly, they forget their relationship with God.
      3. Paul tells the early church that God chooses what is foolish in the world and God chooses to be at work in our weakness so that we might not boast of what we can do, but instead boast of what God has done.


      Conclusion: We read a bit of a silly story from Judges this morning. It makes you want to laugh.
      But as we laugh, we are reminded that the one who laughed in the face of death and resurrected Christ, calls us to repentance and sends us into the world to find God in surprising ways.