This sermon kicks off our summer exploring the Book of Judges. We will have some exciting, fascinating stories, but also some difficult challenges in overcoming the distance in time and contexts. There is much violence in Judges, which may reflect our world's situation, but we do not often situate God as the instigator of the violence in our reflections (at least in the Reformed tradition we do not). I do think the overall question, "Where is God at work in the world?" is a good question for us to ponder. We will see how the rest of the summer goes!
“Here Come the Judges” Sept. 23, 2012; Judges 2: 16-23; 3: 1-7; Summer Judges series; SAPC, Denton
Judges 2: 16-23 Then the Lord raised up judges, who delivered them out of the power of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen even to their judges; for they lusted after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their ancestors had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord; they did not follow their example. 18 Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord would be moved to pity by their groaning because of those who persecuted and oppressed them. 19 But whenever the judge died, they would relapse and behave worse than their ancestors, following other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them. They would not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways. 20 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel; and he said, “Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their ancestors, and have not obeyed my voice, 21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died.” 22 In order to test Israel, whether or not they would take care to walk in the way of the Lord as their ancestors did, 23 the Lord had left those nations, not driving them out at once, and had not handed them over to Joshua.
Judges 3: 7-11: The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, forgetting the Lord their God, and worshiping the Baals and the Asherahs. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim; and the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the Israelites, who delivered them, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 The spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel; he went out to war, and the Lord gave King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Introduction: We begin the summer preaching series ‘here’s Comes the Judges” this morning.
We will spend most of the summer looking at some of the great stories in the book of Judges (the Pastors’ Class studied the Book of Judges a year or so ago, so if you need any further explanation, ask one of them!).
The stories from Judges are colorful and challenging -- lots of violence, lots of sin, and lots of God saving Israel through the judges that heroically come to the forefront at critical times.
Move 1: The primary question the stories in Judges ask of us is this: do you believe that God is at work in the world?
a. This seems like a pertinent question to our lives.
1. In all the ebbs and flows of the pandemic, in all the worldwide crises, in all the partisanship and disagreement in our own country, is God at work.
2. As we see in the passage we read in chapter 2, the stories may tell the particular stories of the judges, but God is the one at work.
3. We are told the Lord raised up judges
the Lord would show pity
the Lord delivered them from the hands of their enemies.
5. the people are making a mess of things, but God continues to be present to rescue, save and redeem God’s people
6. Each week as we reflect on some fascinating ways God was at work in the life of the Israelites through the judges, you are invited to reflect on your life, look at the world around us, and see where God is at work.
b. The book of Judges also has a sub-text: the stories of the judges are told as part of the argument for the Israelites need for a king.
1. the historical time frame for these stories of the judges is between the strong patriarchal leadership of Moses and the reigns of the kings beginning with King Saul.
2. We remember the Israelites strong desire for a king.
2. So how can they tell the stories in a way that affirms God is at work in the world, but also shows that the way of judges is failing and the Israelites need a king?
3. They had to make the case that the Israelites could not stay faithful to God with only judges; they could not survive without kings.
4. So we get these stories about God's people who continually find themselves in trouble (thus the need for a king); but stories that also have heroes or heroines like the judges who come in and rescue God's people (thus proving that God is at work in the world in all circumstances).
c. These judges’ stories are very contextual.
- they take place in lots of different locations at various, overlapping times.
- if we add up the sum total of all the years mentioned that each judge-led their people, it is a lot more years than the actual time period between Joshua and King Saul.
d. a final thought in our overview of Judges.
1.. We may read these stories and think – that does not sound like God to me.
2. Or we may marvel at how God was at work.
3. Yet, we read these stories as the testimony of God's people about how God was at work in their world.
4. And we turn from the stories of old to see where God is at work in our world.
Move 2: The first judge we meet is Othniel.
a. Othniel’s story offers the standard pattern we will discover again and again.
- Israel does evil;
2. God sends an enemy;
3. Israel cries in distress;
4. God sends a judge to deliver Israel
5. things are ok for a while.
5. Israel again does evil, and the cycle repeats itself.
b. Again, this important point – God works to save Israel.
1. No matter what God's people do, God hears their cry and returns to save them.
2. If you want to know where God is in the world, look at the places that need to be redeemed or find the people that need to be saved.
3. If you want to join with God at work in the world, head out to those places that need to be redeemed for find the people that are desperately seeking transformation.
Move 3: Othniel’s story reminds us that God works through all sorts of people.
a. How many of you remembered Othniel was a biblical character, much less a judge whose story gets lifted up in the biblical text?
1. He is a Kenizzite (read nobody important), who had become part of the story earlier when Caleb, one of the leaders during the time of Joshua, offered his daughter to any warrior who would attack and defeat the Canaanite city of Kiriath-sepher.
2. Othniel wins the battle and the daughter.
3. To his credit, at a time when Israelites seem to be marrying outside their tradition, Othniel marries into the tradition.
4. But Othniel’s story seems rather innocuous.
5. some scholars think this story may be included because he is the only judge from the tribe of Judah.
6. An unheard-of judge saves the day.
b. the Book of Judges has all sorts of characters who save the day.
- Woman who leads the Israelites into battle; Judges has one of the Bible's largest concentration of women characters (19 mentioned), who reflect a variety of characters.
- Left-handed man who carries a knife and is not afraid to use it.
- A man who tests God and then tests God again.
- A judge who can't keep a secret from his girlfriend and somehow gets his power from his hair.
4. as we read the stories of the judges starting with Othniel, all we can say is that God works through real humans, despite their flaws.
5. There is no one stereotype that fits all the judges.
6. The common denominator is God, who works through each of them.
- Think about your own life of faith.
1. What varied, flawed characters have you known and seen God use?
2. One of the reasons I ended up in seminary instead of law school was a minister who was the keynote speaker and Synod Youth Workshop who preached the same sermon about following one’s call at the closing worship of Synod Youth Workshop where I was a youth sponsor and then again that Sunday morning at the church he served in Houston, TX, where I had arrived to start law school and went to visit that church.
I stopped by unannounced at his office the next morning. he gives me powerful advice that leads me to seminary. A few years later he lost his credentials as a Presbyterian minister because of some personal issues.
But, in that critical moment, he mediated God's call for me.
3. I am continually influenced by the example of a couple I met while on internship. They were just part of the supper club group of the church. Very ordinary people who became empty-nesters decided God was calling them to give up the lives they had to take on a new challenge, in a new place. so they retired early at a significant financial sacrifice and moved on to what they believed God was calling them to do.
Nothing heroic. But an example of being faithful to God’s call that still stands before me today.
5. Who are those imperfect, ordinary people you know whom you have seen God use?
6. Not only are we impacted by their example, but it gives us hope that God can us use.
- that is the claim of these stories about the judges - God is at work in the world through many different people.
2. there was Othniel at a critical time, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, serving God to help save God's people.
3. That is not just Othniel's story – that is our story.
Conclusion: I asked an OT/preaching professor what we should do with these stories in Judges, and she told me to ask questions, even argue with the text.
But, do not dismiss the stories. Read them and lay claim to the God who was at work in the world in the time of the judges and the God who is at work in the world in our time.
The God who is at work saving you and me.
The God who is at work through you and me.
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