“Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord. - Isaiah 54:1

This morning we will begin a 3-part message about Samson, the 12th and final judge named in the book of Judges. There are 4 chapters dedicated to his story - chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16. In part 1 of this message (today) we will discuss his miraculous birth. In part 2 (next Sunday) we’ll talk about his early run-ins with the Philistines. In part 3 of this message (2 weeks from today) we will consider his disastrous relationship with Delilah.

This is the 28th sermon in our series called “The Conquering and Independent Church”. There are 34 sermons in total, so after today we only have 6 left. We should wrap this series up the week before Christmas if all goes according to plan. Here we go…

I. AN ANGELIC ANNOUNCEMENT (Judges 13:1-7)

Following the judgeships of Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. This time He turned them over to the Philistines who persecuted them for 40 years. As you may recall, the Philistines had oppressed and terrorized Israel many years earlier during the days of Shamgar (Judges 3:31).

There was a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan who lived in Zorah. He was married, but his wife was barren so they had no children. The Angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah’s wife and told her that she would conceive and bear a son. The angel said that this child would be a Nazirite from the womb. During her pregnancy she was not to partake of wine or strong alcohol, nor eat anything unclean, nor cut the newborn's hair. Clearly the LORD considered Samson to be a living person from the point of conception. The angel foretold that this miraculous son would begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.

Manoah’s wife hurried to tell her husband about the man of God she’d seen. She stated that his appearance was awesome - like an angel, and she didn’t ask for his name or where he’d come from. However, she did hear his message - that she would conceive and give birth to a child who would be set aside as a Nazirite for his entire life.

A Nazirite was a person who dedicated themselves to God by carefully adhering to the stipulations of the Nazirite vow found in the Mosaic Law (Numbers 6:1-21). Those who made this solemn commitment were separated or consecrated to the LORD. Typically, the Nazirite vow was taken voluntarily for a specific period of time as a way of yielding oneself to God. However, this child would be a Nazirite from conception until death. 

Also notice that this son would “begin” to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines. As we will discover later in this series, Philistine persecution will continue even after the death of this mighty judge. He will, however, deal a crippling blow to the Philistines that will relieve Israel’s oppression temporarily.

II. A SECOND VISIT (Judges 13:8-20)

After listening to his wife, Manoah prayed that the man of God would return and tell them how to parent this special child. God heard Manoah’s petition and sent the Angel of the LORD back to his wife a second time. When the angel appeared, she went and found her husband and they came to the field where the angel waited. Not realizing that he was an angel, Manoah asked the man if he was the same person who had spoken to his wife earlier. He also asked what the boy’s vocation would be. The angel simply repeated what he’d said to Manoah’s wife earlier.

Manoah asked the man to wait while he prepared a young goat for Him. The angel stated that he would not eat of it and recommended that Manoah offer a burnt offering to God. Manoah then asked the man what his name was, but the angel answered by simply describing his name as wonderful. So Manoah took the young goat and grain and made an offering to God while the Angel of the LORD performed wonders in their presence. As flames rose up from the altar, the angel ascended into heaven. In awe, Manoah and his wife fell on their faces to the ground.

Notice that the angel deflected Manoah’s attempt to worship him and instead directed Manoah to give all praise and glory to God. This is yet another Biblical example of how we should worship God only - not angels, saints, or any other created person or thing. The LORD alone is deserving of all worship, adulation, and reverence.

III. A MIRACULOUS BIRTH (Judges 13:21-25)

After witnessing these remarkable events, Manoah and his wife realized that this was no regular man. They had seen the Angel of the LORD.  Manoah was concerned that they would die because they had seen the LORD. His wife comforted him by saying that God would not have accepted their offerings or showed them miraculous signs or told them of such wonderful things to come if His desire was to kill them.

In the months that followed, Manoah’s wife gave birth to a son and the couple named him Samson. The child was blessed by the LORD and raised in the tradition of a Nazirite. The Spirit of the LORD began to stir in him even as a youth growing up in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshraol in the tribal territory of Dan.

Many theologians believe that the Angel of the LORD who visited Manoah and his wife was a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. The Angel of the LORD appears multiple times in the Old Testament. Already in this series, we have discussed His appearance to both Joshua as the captain of God’s army (Joshua 5:13-15) and to Gideon on the threshing floor (Judges 6:11-24). Remember, Jesus is God - He is eternal, without beginning or end. He was present and active in the creation. Jesus did not come into existence when He was born in Bethlehem - He already was. Therefore, it is completely reasonable to believe that Jesus appeared to various people as the Angel of the LORD during Old Testament times.  

CONCLUSION

As we wrap up today’s sermon, let me ask you… do the events described in this chapter remind you of anything? They should, especially as we enter into the holiday season. The details surrounding Samson’s birth are, in many ways, similar to those of Jesus’ birth. Consider this:

The Angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah’s wife to announce that she’d give birth to a son. Likewise, the archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she’d give birth to the Son of God.

The Angel of the LORD appeared a second time and spoke with Manoah, Samson’s father, to reassure him and confirm what he’d said to his wife earlier. Likewise, an angel appeared to Joseph (believed by many to be a second appearance of Gabriel) to confirm what Mary had told him and assure him to go through with their marriage.

The Angel of the LORD told Samson’s parents that he would be set apart for God’s service and would deliver his people. Likewise, the angel Gabriel told Joseph and Mary that Jesus would be the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah, and the Savior of His people.

Both births were miraculous, though in different ways. Samson was conceived in the natural way, to a mother who had previously been barren (such as Sara, Rebekah, and Rachel). Jesus was conceived supernaturally, to a virgin who became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

So, in some respects, Samson’s amazing birth looks forward to that of Jesus Christ. Pretty cool, right? Join us next week as we continue our look at the remarkable life of Samson.

When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. - Deuteronomy 25:5

Last week we learned that the Talmud - a book which contains the teachings of the early Jewish rabbis - equates Ibzan, the 9th judge of Israel, with Boaz. While this identification is not absolute, it is certainly plausible for a variety of reasons. Therefore, for the purposes of this sermon series, we have temporarily suspended our focus on the book of Judges and shifted to the beautiful story of Ruth. This morning, we will do the opposite - we’ll conclude our brief study of Ruth and return to the list of judges.

As you might recall, Naomi brought her foreign-born daughter-in-law Ruth back from Moab to Bethlehem in Israel. Neither of the women had a husband - both were widows. Although they were poor, Ruth was determined to take care of her aging mother-in-law. She went to find and gather grain, and ended up gleaning in the fields of a wealthy man named Boaz. Ruth found favor in Boaz’s sight and continued working in his fields with his maids throughout the barley and wheat harvest. By God’s divine providence, Boaz was actually a close relative of Naomi through her deceased husband Elimelech.

This is where we left off last week. We’ll pick up the story there and learn how the relationship between Boaz and Ruth developed. Turn with me to Ruth chapter 3 and let’s begin.

I. RUTH’S PROPOSAL (Ruth 3:1-18)

Just as Ruth had shown great concern for Naomi, so also Naomi was very concerned for Ruth. She wanted to ensure that her daughter-in-law would be taken care of after she passed away. Therefore, Naomi instructed Ruth to bathe and put on her best clothes. She was to go to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley that night. After he’d finished supper, laid down, and gone to sleep, Ruth was to go uncover his feet and lie down beside them. Ruth did as her mother-in-law instructed.

When Boaz awoke in the middle of the night he was startled to see Ruth lying there at his feet. Ruth asked him to spread his covering over her because he was a close relative. Boaz understood and was humbled by Ruth’s request, noting her kindness to ask him rather than a younger man closer to her own age. Boaz agreed to honor her request, but stated that there was a closer relative than he who had first priority. He assured her that he’d make the proper arrangements the next day - one way or the other. Boaz sent Ruth home early in the morning, before sunlight, with 6 measures of barley for her and Naomi to share.

What did Ruth’s request mean? By asking Boaz to spread his covering over her, Ruth was in effect asking him to marry her (Ezekiel 16:8) and serve as both she and Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer. According to Jewish law, the kinsman-redeemer was “a male relative who had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need”. Boaz agreed to take Ruth as his wife and to provide for and protect both her and Naomi, in the event that the closer relative wouldn’t.

Some interpreters have taught that Ruth waited until Boaz was drunk and then seduced him into a sexual encounter. For several reasons, this interpretation is highly unlikely. For one thing, it runs contrary to the honorable character shown by both Ruth and Boaz up to this point. Secondly, it is completely counter-cultural and undermines the prospect of an acceptable marriage. Besides these general observations, there are several other compelling reasons to dismiss this scandalous claim. I would argue that Naomi’s plan and Ruth’s follow through were elaborately designed to make her proposal more meaningful.

II. BOAZ AND RUTH’S MARRIAGE (Ruth 4:1-22)

Early the next day, Boaz went to the city gate where he was joined by the closest relative. With the elders of the city present, Boaz informed him that Naomi was wishing to sell property that belonged to their “brother” Elimelech. As her closest living relative, he had the first choice on whether or not to buy the property. Boaz explained that, if he chose to purchase the land, he’d also have to acquire Ruth and father a child with her to carry on the name of her deceased husband. The closer relative was unwilling to do that, as doing so would have jeopardized his own inheritance. Therefore, he transferred his right of redemption to Boaz as indicated by giving him his sandal in accordance with the custom of Israel.

Now empowered to act, Boaz readily agreed to buy Naomi’s property and acquire Ruth as his wife, promising to bear a child with her to redeem Elimelech’s family name. All of the elders present were witnesses of Boaz’s pledge. They pronounced blessings on him, Ruth, and the child that would be born of them. So in the days that followed Boaz and Ruth were married and had a son. Naomi was delighted to hold her grandson, and the women of Bethlehem rejoiced because God had restored her good fortune. They named the child Obed, who would later become the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. 

III. ELON (Judges 12:11-12)

After Ibzan (who may have been the same man as Boaz), Elon became the 10th judge of Israel.  He is perhaps the least known of the judges. Elon was from the tribe of Zebulun and led Israel for 10 years. He died and was buried in Aijalon in the tribal territory of Zebulun. The Bible contains no information about what he did during his time as judge or if he delivered Israel from a particular adversary. The name Elon means “strong” or “oak tree”. Based on this, some scholars have speculated that Elon provided strong, godly leadership over the tribe of Zebulun during a time of relative peace.

IV. ABDON (Judges 12:13-15)

After Elon, Abdon became the 11th judge of Israel.  He was the son of Hillel and lived in the city of Pirathon. Abdon had 40 sons and 30 grandsons, who rode on 70 donkeys. His large family suggests that he was an extremely wealthy man who yielded significant influence. He judged in Ephraim for 8 years. Abdon died and was buried in Pirathon. Many scholars believe that Abdon was instrumental in helping his tribe - the Ephraimites - regain the respect, status, and acceptance among the other tribes of Israel they’d lost due to their disastrous encounter with the Gileadites during the days of Jephthah.

CONCLUSION

Just as Boaz became Naomi and Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, so also Jesus has become our great Kinsman-Redeemer. Jesus is our close relative in the sense that He is the only begotten Son of God and we, as believers, are the born-again children of God. We were depraved and spiritually destitute because of our sin, and our names were destined to be cut off and forgotten. Yet Jesus, our gracious Savior, who exclusively held the right of redemption, sacrificially offered Himself on the cross of Calvary to redeem us, restore us, and give us the assurance of eternal life. Praise the LORD!

In closing, we have now introduced Ibzan (Boaz?), Elon, and Abdon - the 9th, 10th, and 11th judges of Israel. They are all considered “minor judges” and are categorized as diplomatic or civil in their leadership style. This leaves only 1 judge left of the 12 listed in the book of Judges - perhaps the most well known of them all. We will begin discussing his story next week…

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. - 1 Timothy 5:8

Good morning, Beloved. It’s time once again to play “Name That Judge”. Here we go…

The 5th judge in Israel, who defeated the Midianites with an army of just 300 men.
The 2nd judge in Israel, who assasinated the obese king Eglon of Moab.
The 7th judge in Israel, who oversaw 30 cities in the land of Gilead.
The 3rd judge in Israel, who killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad.
The 8th judge in Israel, who defeated the Ammonites but tragically lost his virgin daughter.
The 1st judge in Israel, who led his people against the king of Mesopotamia.
The 6th judge in Israel, who may have helped rebuild and revive the city Shechem.
The 4th judge of Israel, who inspired the nervous men of Israel to battle the Canaaites.

Bonus… The anti-judge, who served 3 years as an evil king and was struck with a millstone.

This morning we are going to meet and discuss the next judge of Israel. His story will take us beyond the book of Judges to another, shorter book of the Bible. It is a beautiful tale of loyalty, love, and redemption that took place during the era of the judges… the story of Ruth.

I. IBZAN (Judges 12:8-10)

The 9th judge of Israel was a man named Ibzan. He lived, served, and died in Bethlehem. Ibzan judged over this region for 7 years. He had 30 sons and 30 daughters, whom he permitted and even arranged to marry outside of the family. Following this approach, Ibzan established numerous positive relationships with other groups, tribes, and neighboring nations to foster a season of peace and stability. Apparently he was a wealthy, successful, and highly skilled diplomat.

The writings and teachings of the ancient Jewish rabbis (as recorded in the Talmud) state that Ibzan is the same person as Boaz (notice similarities in their spelling). However many modern scholars dispute this claim, citing credible Biblical evidence to the contrary. Some have argued that Ibzan judged in Bethlehem of Galilee to the north, within the tribal boundaries of Zebulun, while Boaz lived in the more well-known southern Bethlehem of Judah.

The Bible does not clearly or definitively identify Ibzan as Boaz. Having studied the issue, I am not fully convinced that they are the same man. Nevertheless, for the purposes of this series, seeing as we don’t know for certain, this seems to be a good place to insert the story of Ruth.

II. NAOMI AND RUTH (Ruth 1:1-22)

During these days a severe famine struck parts of Israel. Seeking better living conditions, Elimelech and his wife Naomi, along with their 2 sons Mahlon and Chilon, left their home in Bethlehem of Judah and moved to the country of Moab. Their family lived there for about 10 years. During this time Naomi’s husband died and her sons both married Moabite wives - namely Orpah and Ruth. Sadly, both of her sons died also, leaving Naomi as a childless widow with 2 foreign born, childless daughter-in-laws.

Naomi heard that the famine in Judah had ended, and decided to return to her homeland to live out the final years of her life. She urged her young daughter-in-laws to remain in Moab, to remarry, to start families of their own, and to have full, joyful lives. Upon her urging, Orpah agreed and decided to stay. However, Ruth was insistent on returning with her aged mother-in-law to Bethlehem, though it meant leaving her own family and country behind. Ruth deeply loved Naomi and was committed to taking care of her. She famously said, “Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” Ruth showed tremendous loyalty to and affection for Naomi.

When the pair arrived in Bethlehem, those who had known Naomi and her family prior to their departure asked her several questions. Naomi explained to them that she had lost her husband and both sons while living in Moab, and was returning to Israel “empty”. She told them to call her Mara, because God had dealt with her bitterly (Exodus 15:22-23). Naomi and Ruth reached Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

III. GLEANING IN BOAZ'S’ FIELDS (Ruth 2:1-23)

Naomi was a poor widow, but she was kin to a wealthy man in Bethlehem named Boaz through her marriage to Elimelech. She instructed Ruth to go and glean grain from the edges of the barley fields in accordance with the Jewish law so that the 2 women might have food to eat (Leviticus 23:22). Ruth departed and came to a field owned by Boaz where she spent the whole day gleaning. Boaz noticed her and asked his reapers who she was. They answered that she was the young woman who’d returned from Moab to care for Naomi.

Boaz went and spoke to Ruth.  He told her to glean from his fields exclusively. He said that she could stay and work with his maids, and drink from the water his servants drew. Ruth was overwhelmed by Boaz’s kindness, especially since she was not an Israelite. In the same way, Boaz was impressed by Ruth’s love for and devotion to Naomi. He asked her to join them for mealtime (likely lunch), and after the meal was over he directed his servants to treat Ruth well and to purposely leave a portion of grain in the fields for her to glean.

At the end of the day, Ruth went back to Naomi’s house with over half a bushel of barley (around 20 liters). Naomi was delighted to see the abundance of grain and asked Ruth where she had gotten it. Ruth replied that she had worked all day in the fields of a man named Boaz and had somehow found favor in his sight. Hearing this, Naomi told Ruth that Boaz was actually a close relative of theirs. She further advised her daughter-in-law to continue gleaning solely in Boaz’s fields with his maids until the end of the barley and wheat harvest.

CONCLUSION

As we wrap up today’s message, I want to briefly return to the question of whether or not the judge Ibzan was indeed the same person as Boaz. Let me make an observation. Boaz showed exceptional kindness to Ruth, even though she was an outsider from the land of Moab. This is consistent with the fact that Ibzan encouraged his own children - both his sons and daughters - to marry foreigners. While this similarity alone doesn’t prove that Ibzan and Boaz were the same man, it is another piece of evidence that they might have been.

Finally, let’s consider the amazing character and compassion of Ruth. She sacrificed her own future in her native homeland of Moab to return with Naomi to Israel - a place where she had never been. Ruth knew how difficult life would be for Naomi without a husband or sons to provide for her in her old age, so she stepped up to fill the gap. Ruth exemplifies the Biblical mandate that families have to provide for and care for one another. While the church is commanded to assist widows and orphans, the first and foremost responsibility for their care falls on the immediate family.

Next week we will conclude the story of Ruth and Boaz, and return to the book of Judges. Until then, consider how you can be a blessing to your family.  Call your parents and/or your children and tell them that you love them. Maybe they aren’t perfect, but neither are you - and they are the only family you’ve got.

Then the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around, so that you lived in security. - 1 Samuel 12:11

Greetings. Thank you for joining us in worship this morning! This year we have been studying the Conquest and Judicial era of Israelite history. We began in the book of Joshua and are now working our way through Judges. Thus far, we have introduced the first 7 judges: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, and Jair.

After Jair’s death, Israel drifted into idolatry and the LORD allowed the Ammonites to oppress the people of Israel - namely the Manassites living in Gilead, the Judahites, the Benjaminites, and the Ephraimites. This heavy persecution went on for 18 years. Finally the men of Israel put together an army to mount a rebellion against Ammon, but they needed a leader. Who would the LORD provide?  

I. JEPHTHAH IS CHOSEN (Judges 11:1-11)

Jephthah, the son of Gilead, was known as a valiant warrior, and thus suitable candidate to lead the soldiers of Israel. There was just 1 problem… he was the son of a harlot. Gilead’s wife had bore him several sons who collectively despised their half-brother Jephthah because he had a different mother. When they were grown, these brothers drove Jephthah out and withheld his inheritance. So Jephthah fled to the land of Tob where he befriended and associated with an unscrupulous crowd.

In light of their dire circumstances, the leaders of Gilead set aside their biases and went to find Jephthah. They asked him to be the leader of their army. Jephthah was surprised by their request, seeing how they had mistreated him in the past, and was hesitant to accept their offer. But the elders of Gilead urged him, so Jephthah ultimately agreed to serve as their leader. Though he had surrounded himself with worthless men, his speech indicates that Jephthah knew the LORD. He returned to Mizpah to prepare Israel for the coming battle.  

II. GILEAD BELONGS TO ISRAEL (Judges 11:12-28)

Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon to ask why they had come to fight against Israel. The king answered that, from his perspective, Israel had stolen Ammonite land during the exodus many years before and they had come to take it back. Jephthah strongly refuted this outrageous claim and offered a few counter arguments.

First, he recounted how the Israelites had asked permission to travel through both Edom and Moab during the exodus, but were peacefully denied passage - so they went around. But when they asked if they might travel through the land of the Amorites, they were met with force and hostility. Israel did not initiate the conflict, but fought back and defeated the Amorites. Having been victorious, they occupied and possessed the conquered territory. Thus, God gave Israel the land - they didn’t take it as alleged. The Ammonites had done the exact same thing when their god gave them the land of the Amorites.

Second, Jephthah noted that king Balak of Moab never engaged in war with the Israelites even when they settled adjacent to his territory. Third, he wondered why the Ammonites had quietly allowed Israel to live in this “disputed area” for hundreds of years and were just now claiming it had been stolen. In short, Jephthah rejected the ridiculous notion that Gilead belonged to Ammon and he intended to defend it.  

III. JEPHTHAH’S TRAGIC VOW (Judges 11:29-40)

The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah and he boldly led the sons of Israel out to face the Ammonites. Prior to leaving for the battle, Jephthah made a vow to the LORD that if God would give Israel the victory he’d offer up as a burnt offering the first thing that came out of the door of his house upon his return. Jephthah and the Israelites fought against and soundly defeated the sons of Ammon, so that their oppression of God’s people ended.

When Jephthah came home after the battle, his only child - a daughter - came out of the house to meet him joyfully playing a tambourine and dancing. Jephthah was devastated because of the vow he’d made, which compelled him now to sacrifice his daughter. Jephthah’s daughter agreed with her father that he couldn’t take back his vow and voluntarily consented to be offered as a burnt offering. However, she requested to go away for 2 months to mourn her virginity with her female friends. Jephthah allowed it, and after the 2 months ended, he carried through with the vow he’d made. Mourning over the fate of Jephthah’s daughter became a custom in Israel.

Scholars dispute whether Jephthah actually killed his daughter or instead committed her to the tabernacle as an alternative way of fulfilling his vow. Either way, she was lost to him and never bore him grandchildren. The Bible is clear that God does not accept or condone child sacrifice.

IV. EPHRAIM’S PRETENTIOUS DISGUST (Judges 12:1-7)

The men of Ephraim were furious that they had not been asked to participate in the conflict with Ammon. Remember this same attitude back in the days of Gideon (Judges 8:1)? They hastily came to Jephthah at Zaphon in Gilead and threatened to kill him. Jephthah answered that he had, in fact, invited them to join Israel in the battle, but they didn’t come. Therefore, he’d gone ahead without Ephraim’s support and the LORD gave Israel the victory despite their absence. Apparently the Ephraimites took offense to Jephthah’s answer. They slandered the Gileadites and started fighting against them.

The Gileadites defeated the antagonizing Ephraimites and killed 42,000 of their men. They seized the fords of the Jordan River and wouldn’t allow the men of Ephraim to cross over it to get back home. The Gileadites would ask those who came to the river to say “Shibboleth” as a means of identifying the fleeing fugitives of Ephraim, because the Ephraimites pronounced it differently. If an Ephriamite was discovered, they were immediately killed.  Today, the Shibboleth test can be applied to Christians in this way - do the words you say and the things you do confirm who you claim to be or do they reveal you to be a fraud?

Jephthah was the 8th judge of Israel. He lived and ministered in Gilead, beyond the Jordan River. He served for 6 years. Upon his death, Jephthah was buried somewhere in Gilead - some Bible translations say it was in his hometown of Mizpah. 

CONCLUSION

Jephthah was an imperfect character. He made a rash, ill-conceived, and foolish vow to the LORD that ended up costing him dearly. He possibly offered his own daughter as a burnt offering to God, a vile and disgusting act which would have been vigorously rejected by the LORD. He also killed many of his own countrymen - the Ephraimites - because of their pompous speech and aggressive conduct.

Despite his many flaws, God used Jephthah to deliver Israel from the hands of Ammom. Jephthah was an outcast who was shunned by his family and consigned to live with the undesirable people of Israel. But rather than harbor bitterness and hatred against his own brethren, Jephthah rose up to save them from their enemies. Unlike the evil Abimelech, who vengefully killed his brothers, Jephthah rescued his relatives and became their judge.

Jephthah illustrates that a person should never be judged on the basis of factors beyond his or her control. Jephthah couldn’t help that his mother was a prostitute. He didn’t get to choose the circumstances of his birth or what family he was born into. Still, Jephthah wasn’t disqualified from godly service because of his questionable background or family tree. God used Jephthah, and He can use you too.

When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. - Proverbs 16:7

Last Sunday we spoke about Abimelech - the “anti-judge”. Though some Bible students do, I side with those who do not accept him as 1 of the 12 judges listed in the book of Judges. He was not called or empowered by God to deliver any Israelites from the hands of their enemies. On the contrary, Abimelech was an evil king who reigned over the city and vicinity of Shechem.

Therefore, the 5 actual judges we’ve discussed thus far are: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, and Gideon. In today’s message, we will introduce the next 2 judges - Tola and Jair. Both were minor judges, again meaning that we don’t have many details about their lives. Nevertheless, we do know a few things about them so let’s take a look…

I. TOLA (Judges 10:1-2)

After Abimelech was killed, Tola became the 6th judge in Israel. He was the son of Puah and the grandson of Dodo. Tola was from the tribe of Issachar, but lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. God raised him up to save Israel, though the Bible doesn’t say from what or from whom. Tola judged Israel 23 years before his death and burial in his hometown Shamir.

Tola was a member of the tribe of Issachar, yet he lived in Shamir. Shamir was located in the northern region of Ephriam, near the borders of Manassah and Issachar. Tola lived outside of his tribal region, an indication that the tribes were becoming less distinct and more blended in their relations with one another. This trend would eventually lead to the coalescence of the tribes into a single nation with a unified identity.

The Bible doesn’t tell us specifically who Tola delivered Israel from or how he did so. Various theories have arisen pertaining to this question. Personally, I think that his residence in the city of Shamir might be a clue. Shamir was not far from Shechem, the city that Abimelch destroyed after his 3 year reign. It is quite possible that Tola delivered Israel from the chaotic aftermath of Abimelech’s murderous kingship by leading the rebuilding and restoration of Shechem, as well as revival and renewal in the hearts of the people who’d been affected.  

II. JAIR (Judges 10:3-5)

After Tola, Jair arose and judged Israel for 22 years. He was from Gilead, just beyond the Jordan River on the eastern side. Israelites who lived in Gilead were members of the half-tribe of Manasseh. Jair had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys and each ruled over their own city - 30 cities. Together, these cities became known as Havvoth-jair, which means the settlements of Jair. He died and was buried in Kamon in Gilead.

Jair was the 7th judge of Israel. He and his sons ruled over a network of cities. Some scholars have suggested that these were not necessarily his literal biological sons, but rather were simply young men who looked up to Jair like a father. It seems likely that Jair was wealthy and bountifully blessed by God. His time was apparently marked by calmness and order, as donkeys aren’t suited for warfare, but rather for peace. This foreshadows the coming of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, who rode into Jerusalem triumphantly on a donkey (Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, John 12:12–19).

III. AMMONITE OPPRESSION (Judges 10:6-18)

Following Jair’s death, the children of Israel returned to their evil and idolatrous practices. They served the Baals, the Ashtaroth, and the various pagan gods of the surrounding nations. The fury of the LORD burned against them and He sold them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites. The Israelites in Gilead, because of their proximity to the land of Ammon, suffered greatly. In addition, the sons of Ammon also crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land and oppressed the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. This affliction and distress persisted for 18 years.

Finally the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD and confessed their sins. God answered by reminding them of His past faithfulness. He pointedly questioned why they had not relied on Him for deliverance and sarcastically challenged them to look to the pagan gods they’d been worshiping for salvation. The Israelites cried out all the more, until God couldn’t bear their misery any longer. In accordance with His compassionate mercy, the LORD prepared to rescue His imperfect people yet again.

The adversarial Ammonites gathered their forces and camped somewhere in the region of Gilead. Meanwhile, the Israelites gathered an army together at Mizpah, also in Gilead. However, the men of Israel did not have anyone to lead them into battle. They declared that whoever would fill this position would be given leadership over all of the inhabitants of Gilead. Their statement set the stage for the sudden rise of the next judge… who we will introduce and discuss next week. 

CONCLUSION

The judges can be classified into 2 categories based upon the circumstances and nature of their leadership. The first 5 judges delivered their tribes from the persecution of a specific, named enemy. Othniel rescued Israel from the king of Mesopotamia, Ehud saved them from the Moabites, Shamgar from the Philistines, Deborah from the Canaanites (with Barak’s help), and Gideon from the Midianites. They were used by God to save His people militarily.

However, there is no indication that either Tola or Jair faced such external persecution from an outside enemy. They judged over their respective tribes more diplomatically, focusing on the internal issues specific to Israel. They fostered an environment of righteousness and prosperity during a season of peace. Tola and Jair appeared to be more focus on domestic issues, such as infrastructure and the economy. You could say that, for almost 50 years, through godly leadership they delivered Israel from herself - from her own sin tendencies and habits that invariably led to God’s judgment.

As we continue our series together and highlight the remaining judges, consider for yourself if each was primarily a militaristic judge or a diplomatic judge. In fact, most of them displayed both characteristics. They may have begun by leading an army of God, but afterward they oversaw the people of God. It kind of reminds me of the contrast between King David and his son King Solomon.

Anywho… next Sunday we will continue this story. Who will Israel find to lead them into battle against the mighty Ammonites? Who will God provide as the next judge? Be here next week to find out. Until then, may the LORD bless and keep you.

‘Who struck down Abimelech, the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ - 2 Samuel 11:21

This morning we will be discussing Abimelech. Unlike others we’ve highlighted in recent weeks, Abimelech was not a judge. The Bible never refers to him as one. The judges were called and/or used by God to deliver His people from the hands of their enemies (either militarily or diplomatically). As we will see in today’s message, Abimelech was never chosen by God nor did he deliver the Israelites from anyone. On the contrary, he caused them great harm.

Though Abimelech was not a judge, his story is included in the book of Judges. It is an addendum to the account of Gideon, which we’ve covered over the past 2 weeks. Abimelech was Gideon’s son, born of a concubine in Shechem, and he had 70 brothers (Judges 8:30-31). Abimelech has been dubbed the “anti-judge” by some commentators because of his vile and destructive behavior.  

I. ABIMELECH BECOMES KING (Judges 9:1-21)

After Gideon’s death, Abimelech went to speak with his mother’s family in Shechem. He asked them whether they would prefer having the 70 sons of Gideon rule over them or have 1 man - a relative - rule over them. He was, of course, referring to himself. The men of Shechem naturally chose Abimelech to be their ruler and gave him 70 pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith, a Canaanite god. Abimelech used the money to hire a band of ruthless killers and they went to his hometown of Ophrah. There he rounded up his 70 brothers and murdered them all except for Jotham, the youngest, who somehow managed to escape. Then the men of Shechem and Beth-millo assembled together and crowned Abimelech as their king.

Upon hearing this, Jotham came out from hiding and climbed up to the top of Mt. Gerizim. He cried out using an analogy of various trees to illustrate how the men of Shechem had rejected the more honorable, noble sons of Gideon and had instead selected a wicked, worthless son to be their king. Jotham pronounced a curse upon the men of Shechem and Beth-millo and their newly anointed king Abimelech, that they might consume each other. Then Jotham fled to Beer where he would be safe from his evil brother.

It is important to point out that, several years earlier, when the sons of Israel asked Gideon to rule over them he outright refused, stating that only God should rule over them (Judges 8:22-23). In contrast, Gideon’s son Abimelech was eager to rule over Shechem and even killed his own brothers to prevent any possible challenges to his authority. This story is an early indication that portions of Israel were already desiring to replace tribal judges with kings.

II. ABIMELECH DESTROYS SHECHEM (Judges 9:22-49)

Abimelech ruled over the Israelites in and around Shechem for 3 years. Then God sent a divisive spirit between him and the men of the city, so that they began to conspire against him. The men of Shechem met with Gaal, the son of Ebed, and threw their support behind him in hopes of overthrowing Abimelech. When Abimelech’s lieutenant Zebul learned of their conniving intentions, he notified the king.

So Abimelech set an ambush around the city and when morning came he attacked Gaal’s forces. At first Gaal didn’t realize what was happening, and by the time he did it was too late. Abimelech’s men soundly defeated Gaal’s followers and crushed their attempted coup. Gaal and his relatives were driven out of Shechem. The next day, Abimelech also struck the people of Shechem who had sympathized with Gaal’s failed conspiracy. He captured the city, killed its citizens, burned it with fire, and sowed its ruins with salt.

Abimelech learned that the leading families of Shechem - those who had supported Gaal’s attempted rebellion - had taken refuge in the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. He and his followers went to the wooded area of nearby Mount Zalmon to cut branches and limbs from the trees. They returned to the temple of El-Berith, placed the wood over it, and set it afire. The blaze killed all of those who had gathered inside the chamber - about 1,000 men and women. Thus, all of the men of Shechem were destroyed.

III. ABIMELECH IS KILLED (Judges 9:50-57)

Apparently Abimelech was still concerned that other rebels, besides the men of Shechem, were still out there plotting against him. So the enraged king set his sights on the neighboring city of Thebez. He and his men camped against it and captured it. When they came into Thebez, they discovered that its citizens had retreated into the city’s tower. Abimelech decided to burn the tower of Thebez down, which would kill all those trapped inside, as he had done previously to the temple in Shechem.

However, when Abimelech approached the entrance of the tower to light the fire, a woman threw an upper millstone from the top of the tower at him. It struck Abimelech on the head and crushed his skull. Not wanting to be killed by a woman, the dying king ordered his armor bearer to pierce him with a sword. The young man did so, and Abimelech died. Upon his death, Abimelech’s followers disbanded and everyone returned to their homes.

Thus, God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech. He had disparaged the good name of his father Gideon and had murdered all of his brothers except Jotham. So also, God repaid the wickedness of the men of Shechem who had initially supported Abimelech’s violent rampage. In the end, God’s prophetic warning as declared by Jotham came to pass - the king and his supporters were all consumed (Judges 9:20).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, let me reiterate that Abimelech was not a judge. He was not called or used by God to deliver Israel from her enemies. On the contrary, he convinced his relatives to make him king and was violent and cruel towards his own people. He killed the citizens of Shechem and almost killed those of Thebez as well. Abimelech was an evil, wicked man who had a lust for power and control.

Remember, at this point Israel was not a united nation. Abimelech was only king over Shechem and the surrounding area, not over all of Israel or even over a single tribe. His dominion was limited and localized. Nevertheless, it foreshadowed the coming era of the monarchy in which kings would rule over the nation of Israel rather than judges over the various tribes. Abimelech’s brief and disastrous reign should have served as a warning about the dangers of having a human king, but ultimately the people would demand one anyway (often to their own detriment). Gideon was right when he said that only “the LORD shall rule over you.” (Judges 8:23)

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. - Luke 12:32

Gideon was an unlikely hero. He was easily frightened and always nervous. In part 1 of our message last week, we discovered that Gideon repeatedly asked God for signs of His presence and approval. Though he needed constant reassurance, to his credit Gideon was obedient to the LORD’s calling. He faithfully amassed a large army of men to fight against the Midianite alliance that had been persecuting Israel for the past 7 years.

This morning we will conclude our study of Gideon, the 5th judge of Israel. We will learn how God used Gideon to deliver His people. Today’s sermon is called “Gideon, Part 2”.

I. GIDEON’S ARMY (Judges 7:1-8)

Gideon and his army camped near the spring of Harod in the southern Jezreel Valley. To their north (approximately 4 or 5 miles), the Midianites were positioned at the hill of Moreh on the opposite side of the valley. Then the LORD spoke to Gideon, telling him that his Israelite army was too large. With such a sizable force, God warned that Israel would - after their upcoming victory - boast that they’d delivered themselves. So God instructed Gideon to reduce the size of the army. Gideon made an announcement allowing anyone who was afraid to be dismissed immediately (I’m surprised that he didn’t go). Some 22,000 people departed, leaving an army of only 10,000 soldiers.

However, God told Gideon that this was still too many. He instructed Gideon to take his remaining troops down to the spring and to drink of its waters. He was to separate those who lapped the water like a dog from their cupped hands from those knelt down to drink. After they had drunk, God ordered Gideon to release everyone who had knelt and to keep only those who had lapped the water. Gideon obeyed the LORD and his army was reduced to only 300 men. He gave each of them provisions and a trumpet in anticipation of the coming battle.

II. MIDIAN’S CONFUSION (Judges 7:9-23)

The LORD commanded Gideon to attack Midian, but offered to show him a final sign if he was still anxious. Needing a bit more assurance, Gideon and his servant Purah snuck down to the outpost of the Midianite camp during the night. Apparently the Midianites were approaching and were now located in the central Jezreel Valley. They were a vast army, as numerous as locusts, with many camels. Gideon overheard one of the Midianite soldiers relaying a dream he’d had to his friend. He’d dreamt of a barley bread loaf rolling down into the Midianite camp and knocking over a tent. His friend feared that this loaf represented the sword of Gideon and the dream indicated that God had given Midian over to Israel.

Upon overhearing this conversation, Gideon was once again reassured of the coming victory. He worshiped the LORD and hurriedly returned to his small army of 300 men. He confidently proclaimed that God had given them the victory. He divided his forces into 3 companies of 100 troops and gave each of them a trumpet and an earthen pitcher with a torch inside. He spread the 3 companies out around the Midianite camp on all sides and ordered them to follow his lead. When everyone was in position, during the middle of the night, Gideon loudly blew his trumpet and smashed his pot, revealing the light of the blazing torch concealed inside. All 300 of his men did likewise and cried out simultaneously, “A sword for the LORD and a sword for Gideon!”

The Midianites thought that they were surrounded by thousands of Israelite soldiers. The LORD sent confusion among their camp and they were overcome with terror, so much so that they began striking each other down in the darkness. In complete disarray, the army of Midian hastily retreated eastward. Gideon quickly summoned volunteers from the tribes of Manasseh, Naphtali, Asher, and Ephriam to chase them down.

III. ISRAEL’S PURSUIT (Judges 7:24-8:21)

The men of Ephraim captured 2 of the Midianite commanders as they fled through their territory - Oreb and Zeeb. The Ephraimites killed them both, cut off their heads, and brought them to Gideon. They contended with Gideon for not inviting them earlier to join his army. But rather than arguing with them. Gideon lauded the greatness of Ephraim and praised them for catching Oreb and Zeeb. By stroking their egos, Gideon appeased their anger and the men of Ephraim were satisfied.

Gideon and his army crossed the Jordan River and continued pursuing the surviving Midianites. Along the way, he stopped at both Succoth and Penuel seeking provisions from the people to refresh his hungry and exhausted men. Neither the citizens of Succoth of Penuel were willing to help Gideon, so he vowed to return to both cities and discipline them severely once his pursuit of Midian was complete.

Gideon eventually caught up with the remaining 15,000 Midianites at Karkor. He attacked them unexpectedly, routed them, and captured their 2 kings Zeba and Zalmunna. On his return home, Gibeon stopped in Succoth and punished their 77 elders with briers and thorns for their earlier behavior. He also tore down the tower of Penuel and killed their leaders. Finally, Gideon charged Zeba and Zalmunna for killing his brothers at Tabor and asked his oldest son, Jether, to execute them. However, Jether was afraid because he was just a youth, so Gideon killed the 2 kings himself and took the ornaments from their camels.  

IV. THE LAND’S PEACE (Judges 8:22-35)

After the Midianites had been soundly defeated, the men of Israel asked Gideon and his son to become rulers over them. Gideon refused, stating that only the LORD should rule over them. However, Gideon did request that each of them give him an earring from the spoil they had taken. When all of the earrings were collected, their combined weight was 1,700 shekels of gold (worth approximately $1,000,000 today). In addition to these, numerous other crescent ornaments, pendants, and other valuables were taken from the Midianites. Gideon used a portion of these to make a priestly ephod so that offerings could be made from the altar he’d built in his hometown of Ophrah in the land of Manassah. Unfortunately, Israel would soon use this altar to commit idolatry.

Following the demise of the Midianites, Israel enjoyed prosperity and peace for 40 years. During this time, Gideon married many wives and had 70 sons who were his direct descendents. He also had a son from his concubine in Shechem named Abimelech. Gideon died at an old age and was buried in a family tomb in Ophrah. After his death, the Israelites began worshiping Baal once again and quickly forgot how the LORD had used Gideon to deliver them from the hand of Midian.

CONCLUSION

I want to make 2 points as we close today. First, I find it truly amazing that God used Gideon’s “weakness” as a means to secure the victory. Let me explain… Remember last week when we read that Gideon destroyed his father's altar to Baal at night because he was afraid of being seen? Gideon was good at hiding. So God allowed Gideon and his army to use stealth and deception, under the dark of night, as their battle plan. He didn’t ask Gideon to courageously charge into battle in broad daylight, but rather considered Gideon’s limitations and used them to Israel's advantage.

Second, as the pastor of a small church (2 of them actually), I absolutely love this passage. It proves that God doesn’t need large congregations to accomplish great things. He used 300 men to defeat thousands of Midianites. He used a few fish and bread loaves to feed 5,000 men and their families. He used 12 apostles to establish the Church and carry the gospel to the nations. We may be small, but our God isn’t. Imagine the remarkable things that He can do through us!

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, - 1 Corinthians 1:26-27

Let’s begin this morning with a quick review. We are going to play, “Name That Judge”. Ready? Which judge single handedly killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad? Which left-handed judge rescued Israel by assassinating an overweight Moabite king? Which female judge inspired the men of Israel to rise up and defeat the Canaanites? Who was the first of the judges, who delivered Israel from the king of Mesopotamia? The answers are: Shamgar, Ehud, Deborah, and Othniel. How did you do?

This morning and next Sunday we will learn about the 5th judge of Israel. He is one of the most well known of the judges. His name is Gideon. There are 3 chapters devoted to him in the book of Judges - chapters 6 through 8. In today’s message we will concentrate on chapter 6 and save the other 2 chapters for next week. Here we go!  

I. OPPRESSED BY MIDIAN (Judges 6:1-10)

Once again the sons of Israel turned from God and did evil in His sight. Thus, the LORD turned them over to Midian. For 7 years the Midianites prevailed over Israel. Things were so bad that the Israelites made dens for themselves in mountain caves to escape the oppression. The men of Midian, along with the Amalekites and other sons of the east, would come up each season and destroy the agricultural produce and crops of Israel leaving them without any sustenance. Furthermore, the Midianites would bring their own animals and livestock to graze what little was left, leaving the land utterly devastated.

The people of Israel were suffering greatly and they cried out to the LORD. So God sent a prophet to speak to them. The prophet reminded the Israelites that the LORD had delivered their forefathers from Egyptian slavery and had given them the Promised Land. He further stated that God had commanded Israel not to fear the gods of the Amorites, though they obviously didn’t listen.

Those who don’t learn from their past are destined to repeat it. Every time God rescued His people, they would inevitably drift back into their sin. God sent messengers to confront them about their waywardness and disbelief, but the people never seemed to learn their lesson. Sound familiar?

II. GIDEON’S CALLING (Judges 6:11-24)

The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, the son of Joash, in Ophrah, while he was beating out wheat in a wine press to keep from being seen by the Midianites. Ironically, the angel called Gideon a "valiant warrior" and told him that the LORD was with Israel. Gideon questioned how the LORD could be with his people in light of the persecution that they were enduring. Then the angel, who was actually the LORD Himself in the form of an angel (I believe Him to be another preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ), called Gideon to deliver Israel from the heavy hand of Midian.

Upon hearing the LORD’s call, Gideon openly doubted that someone of his lowly standing (he was the youngest member of an obscure family from Manasseh) could rescue Israel from anyone. But God promised to be with Gideon and assured him that he would defeat Midian. Still skeptical, Gideon asked the LORD to wait there under the oak tree until he returned to offer a sacrifice. The LORD agreed and Gideon hurried away to prepare a young goat and some unleavened bread. When he returned, Gideon presented his offering in accordance with the angel’s instructions, it was supernaturally consumed by fire, and the angel vanished. Gideon was convinced that he’d seen the LORD and God told him not to fear. To commemorate what had happened, Gideon built an altar there in Ophrah and named it “The LORD is Peace”.

III. THE ALTAR OF BAAL (Judges 6:25-35)

That same night, God commanded Gideon to pull down his father’s altar to Baal and topple the Asherah tree beside it. In its place, Gideon was to build an altar to the LORD and offer a bull as a burnt offering on it using the very wood from the Asherah tree he’d cut down. Gideon was afraid to do this during the daylight for fear of what his father’s household and the men of the city might do. He obeyed God’s command, but he did it secretly during the dark of night.

The next morning, it was discovered that the altar of Baal and the Asherah had been destroyed. The men of the city were furious and came out to seize Gideon and execute him. Somewhat surprisingly, Gideon’s idol-worshiping father Joash came to his son’s defense. Joash reasoned that if Baal was truly god he could contend for himself and that their contention on his behalf was uncalled for. The men of the city dispersed. Joash gave Gideon a new name - Jerubbaal, meaning “Baal will contend”.  

Meanwhile, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other sons of the east assembled their forces, crossed over into Israel, and camped in the valley of Jezreel. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, he blew a trumpet, and gathered the fighting men of his clan - the Abiezrites - together. He also sent messengers to the rest of Manasseh, as well as the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. They came up to join him and the army of the LORD.

IV. THE SIGN OF THE FLEECE (Judges 6:36-40)

Even with his large army, Gideon remained uncertain that God would deliver Israel through him. He asked the LORD to show him a sign. Gideon laid a fleece out on the threshing floor and asked God to put dew on it only, but none on the ground around it, to indicate that Israel would be victorious. The next morning, the fleece was soaking wet with dew and the ground was dry. But Gideon was still not convinced, so he asked the LORD for another sign. This time he asked that the fleece remain dry and the ground become wet with dew. The next morning, it was so.

CONCLUSION

When God approached Gideon, he was literally hiding from the Midianites in a wine press. When the LORD called him to deliver Israel, Gideon wondered how God could use someone as insignificant and inept as he was. Gideon even asked for the angel to stick around while he presented an offering to prove that He was actually the LORD. Gideon feared his own father and the men of the city so much that he decided to tear down the altar of Baal at night. On top of this, he used a fleece to seek God’s reassurance again - nor once, but twice!

Let’s face it... Gideon was a nervous wreck. He was timid, cowardly, and very unsure of himself. He would seem like the last person you’d choose to lead the men of Israel in battle against Midian. Yet God referred to him as a valiant warrior. Amazing! God saw Gideon for what he could be - what he’d become - rather than for what he was. The LORD uses those which the world overlooks to accomplish great things.

Do you feel unworthy? Afraid? Unsure of yourself? Are you unqualified? Uneducated? Unimportant? A nobody? Weak? Broken? Beaten down? Scared? Trying just not to be noticed? If so, you are just the type of person God is looking for. Perhaps you think of yourself as a chump, but God sees you as a champion. Would you trust Him today?

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. - Proverbs 31:30

In today’s message we will meet Deborah, the 4th judge of Israel. She is regarded as one of the greatest female heroes in the Bible. As we will discover, God used Deborah in a mighty way to deliver His people from the cruel hand of the Canaanites. In addition to Deborah, we will also read about another brave and courageous woman named Jael. This morning’s sermon highlights the important role that women play in God’s kingdom.  

I. KING JABIN RULES OVER ISRAEL (Judges 4:1-10)

After Ehud died, the children of Israel began practicing idolatry and acts of iniquity once again. Therefore God sold them over to Jabin, the king of Canaan. He reigned from Hazor, an Israelite city north of the Sea of Chinnereth, in the territory of Naphtali. His military commander, Sisera, and formidable army were stationed to the south at Harosheth-hagoyim. These locations suggest that Jabin had subdued and was ruling over several of the northern tribes, including Issachar, Zebulun, Naphtali, and perhaps Asher. The Canaanites had 900 iron chariots and oppressed Israel for 20 agonizing years.

In those days, Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging in Israel. She was a prophetess who ministered in the hill country of Ephriam, between Ramah and Bethel, where she sat under a palm tree and rendered judgments to those who came for her counsel. The LORD spoke to Deborah concerning His plan to rescue the northern tribes, so she summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam. When he arrived, Deborah told Barak to muster up an army of 10,000 troops from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali to wage war with Sisera’s Canaanite forces. Barak was unsure about Deborah’s suggestion and asked her to go with him, so the 2 of them returned together to Kadesh and assembled an army.  

II. BATTLE AT THE KISHON RIVER (Judges 4:12-16)

When Sisera received a report that the Israelites had come down to Mount Tabor, he led his soldiers and their 900 iron chariots out to meet them at the Kishon River. Deborah assured Barak that the LORD would deliver the Canaanites into Israel’s hand. Feeling confident, Barak and the men of Israel hurried from Mount Tabor to the flowing Kishon and attacked Sisera’s troops. God sent torrential rainfall which caused the waters of the river to suddenly flood, thereby crippling the Canaanite chariots (Judges 5:4,20-21). Canaan was soundly defeated and tried to retreat, but the Israelites pursued them as far as Harosheth-hagoyim and killed them all. Somehow Sisera managed to escape on foot.

III. JAEL KILLS SISERA (Judges 4:11,17-22)

Sisera fled from the battle to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. The Kenites were descendants of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, who had migrated to the Promised Land years earlier with the Hebrews during the exodus. The house of Heber was at peace with King Jabin and the Canaanites, so the tent of Jael would seem to be a safe place for Sisera to rest and hide. However, unbeknownst to the fleeing commander, Jael was apparently sympathetic toward Israel.

Jael met Sisera outside, kindly invited him in, hid him under a cover, gave him some milk to drink, and even stood watch in the doorway of the tent. However, when the exhausted Sisera fell asleep, Jael quietly took a hammer and drove a tent peg through his temple and into the ground. Thus, Sisera died at the hands of a woman just as Deborah had prophesied (Judges 4:9). Sometime later, when Barak arrived in pursuit, Jael brought him into her tent and showed him what she’d done.          

IV. DEBORAH’S SONG OF VICTORY (Judges 4:23-24;5:1-31)

After securing the victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song of celebration and praise. It was a song of thanksgiving to God and to the men of Israel who had volunteered to fight against the Canaanites. Its lyrics described the condition of Israel prior to the battle, detailed how Deborah and Barak assembled an army of Israelites from among the tribes, and even depicted God’s supernatural intervention during the battle itself. The song cheered Jael for her bravery and described the mother of Sisera’s deep sorrow. In the end, Deborah’s song called for God’s enemies to perish and for His children to rise up mightily.

After his military was decimated, King Jabin could no longer keep a firm grip on the northern tribes of Israel. They were soon able to free themselves from his dominance. The land enjoyed peace for 40 years.

CONCLUSION

Deborah’s faith and courage inspired Barak and the men of Israel to rebel against King Jabin, Sisera, and the 900 chariots of Canaan. At first, Barak was doubtful and afraid. He was uncertain that he and the Israelites could defeat their enemy. He asked Deborah to walk alongside him and serve with him in the revolt. Over time, her unwavering strength and trust in the LORD rubbed off on him.  Barak bravely led Israel into battle and God gave them the victory. But none of this would have happened apart from Deborah’s leadership. Her godly example made it possible.

Some progressive Christians have tried to use the story of Deborah to argue that women should be allowed to serve as pastors. Southern Baptists have historically opposed this view. Let’s be clear… This story doesn’t have anything to do with pastors. In fact, the New Testament church did not yet exist nor would it for over 1,000 years and neither did the office of pastor. Deborah was a judge in ancient Israel - not the pastor of a post-Pentecost, Christian church. The 2 positions are not the same and have no direct relevance to each other. 

Consider this… I am certain that there were men outside of the tribe of Levi who could have ministered in the temple just as well as the Levites. I am confident that there were godly men not of the line of Aaron that could have been dynamic high priests. But they were excluded from these positions - not because of their ability or lack thereof - but because it was contrary to God’s design. The LORD ordained that particular responsibilities and roles be filled by particular people. That said, in accordance with God’s creative design, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture (1 Timothy 2:11-12;3:1-7).

Beloved, there is no doubt that women can serve as leaders in the kingdom of God just as effectively as men - in some cases, more effectively. And I am extremely thankful for the godly women in my life who have helped me grow in Christ. To both of my grandmothers, my mother, and my wife especially I say thank you. I am grateful for the many righteous women in churches where I have attended and/or pastored over the years who have made a positive impact on my life, including many of you. Like Deborah, you have been a source of strength and inspiration for me and, I trust, many, many others. May God richly bless you.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 18:2

For the past 3 weeks we have been reading and discussing a pair of stories found in the appendix at the end of the book of Judges (chapters 17-21). The first told about Micah, the tribe of Dan, and an opportunistic Levite. The second described a heartless Levite, his runaway concubine, and a brief civil war between the 12 tribes. Chronologically speaking, both of these narratives took place in the early judges period. Together they provide supplementary evidence that supports the general description of Israel given in chapter 2. The children of God had become idolatrous, immoral, and immersed in sin.

As I stated a few weeks ago, there is a familiar pattern in the book of Judges. Israel would behave wickedly and invoke God’s judgment. This in turn would lead to suffering and a cry of repentance. Then the LORD would hear His people’s plea for mercy and would raise up a deliverer to rescue them. Once they had been liberated, they would gradually return to their sinful ways and the cycle would start over again. These deliverers were known as judges, and over the next several weeks we are going to learn a lot about them.

In this morning’s message we are going to read about the first 3 judges of Israel. They were Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar. Their stories are found in chapter 3. Let’s take a look…

I. OTHNIEL (Judges 3:7-11)

The sons of Israel sinned against the LORD by serving the false gods of the Canaanites - the Baals and the Asheroth. God’s anger burned hot against them and He turned them over to Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia. Israel served under him for 8 long years.

Finally, when their persecution became severe, the Israelites cried out for help. God raised up Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, to deliver them. This was the same Othniel who had earlier driven the Canaanites and the mighty sons of Anak out of the city of Debir (Joshua 15:16-17; Judges 1:12-13). The Spirit of God came upon Othniel, and he waged war against and prevailed over the king of Mesopotamia. As a result of his victory, the land was freed from oppression and enjoyed peace for 40 years until Othniel died.

Othniel was the first judge. He was a member of the tribe of Judah and lived in Judah. It is probable that the Mesopotamian dominance spoken of here only affected the tribe of Judah, and perhaps to a degree Simeon, as they were the southernmost tribes. Remember, these judges were regional and tribal leaders - Israel had not yet become a united nation with a single king.

II. EHUD (Judges 3:12-30)

Over time Israel reverted back to her old, sinful ways. Therefore God allowed Eglon, the king of neighboring Moab, to grow strong. Eglon allied himself with the Ammonites and the Amalekites. Together they defeated Israel and took possession of Jericho, aka “the city of palm trees”. It is believed that King Eglon resided there during certain seasons of the year. The Israelites served Eglon and paid tribute to him for 18 years.

After years of affliction, the sons of Israel cried out for deliverance and God raised up Ehud, the son of Gera. He was a Benjaminite who was left-handed. In the story we read about Israel’s civil war, the Bible stated that Benjamin’s army included 700 expert marksmen who could use a sling left-handed (Judges 20:16). Maybe Ehud was one of them and had survived the war… It's something to think about.

Ehud made a 2-edged sword, about 18 inches long, and concealed it under his cloak by tying it to his right thigh. Then he and several others carried Israel’s recurring tribute payment to King Eglon and presented it. Afterward, Ehud sent his assistants away. They returned home by way of Gilgal, where apparently several idols had been set up. Meanwhile, Ehud stayed behind and told King Eglon that he had a secret message for him. The 2 men went upstairs to the cool, roof chamber where they could speak privately. When they were alone, Ehud quietly loosed his sword, leaned in to share his “secret”, and then thrust it into the king’s belly. Eglon was such an obese man that the entire blade and its handle were covered by his fat. Ehud left the sword inside the king’s body, shut and locked the doors, and quickly fled the scene.

Some time later the king’s servants went up to check on him. When they found the chamber’s doors were locked, they assumed that Eglon was cooling himself on the roof and didn’t want to be disturbed. However, after a while they became worried and knocked on the door. When he didn’t answer they unlocked the door, rushed in, and found King Eglon dead on the floor.    

By this time Ehud had escaped to Seirah, bypassing the idols at Gilgal. When he arrived, Ehud blew a trumpet to summon the men of Ephraim. They came out from the hill country and gathered before him. He gave a stirring rally cry and led them into battle against the Moabites. Israel seized the fords of the Jordan River so that the fleeing enemy could not cross over it. With God’s backing the sons of Israel struck down around 10,000 Moabites and none of them escaped. Thus, Moab’s oppression over Israel ended and the land was at peace for 80 years.

Ehud was the second judge of Israel. His story pertains primarily to the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin. He was a brave and crafty man, who used deception and intrigue to assassinate the Moabite king and rescue his beleaguered people.

III. SHAMGAR (Judges 3:31)

After Ehud came Shamgar, the son of Anath. He was the third judge of Israel. He is the least well-known of the judges, as there is only 1 sentence dedicated to him in this chapter. He is also briefly mentioned in the song of Deborah (Judges 5:6), who we will study about next week. Apparently, during Shamgar’s lifetime the sons of Israel were terrorized by the Philistines - so much so that they didn’t travel openly on the highways, but rather stuck to the winding backgrounds for fear of them. Shamgar rose up and single-handedly killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad, a pointed stick used for prodding oxen, thereby ending their threat to his people. Though not stated specifically, it would seem geographically that Shamgar was likely a judge over the tribes of Dan or Judah, seeing that the Philistines were the oppressors.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, the first 3 judges of Israel were Othniel, Ehud, and Shangar. God used each of these men to deliver their respective tribes from the cruel hands of the enemy. They were strong and courageous men, just as the ancestors had been.

In a broad sense, the judges collectively point to Jesus Christ. Jesus came to deliver sinners from the grip of Satan and the chains of death. He is our ultimate Savior and Deliverer! So also, Jesus will someday be our judge. Every person will stand before His throne. Those who have received His forgiveness and been covered by His righteous will be pardoned, but those who haven’t trusted in Him will be judged based on their works and be condemned by them.

There is only One who can deliver a person from the eternal consequences of sin. His name is Jesus. Have you accepted Him as the Lord and Savior of your life?