Judges: Lasting Peace For Those Who Remember
Judges: Lasting Peace of Jesus Toward His Forgetful People • Sermon • Submitted
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The Certainty of Forgetfulness
The Certainty of Forgetfulness
Ian Crouch wrote an article in The New Yorker called “The Curse of Reading and Forgetting.” The article laments the reality that you will likely forget most of everything your read. He cites his own misfortune of being exited to buy a book a colleague highly recommended, “A High Wind in Jamaica,” only to find out 15 pages into the first chapter that he read the exact book three years earlier; when a different colleague recommended it.
What astonishes Crouch about forgetting this book is that he claims it is, “entirely memorable.” He says, ‘“A High Wind in Jamaica” is remarkable in all kinds of ways—in its diction, its syntax, its characterization, its imagery, its psychological depth, and its narrative movement...It is, simply, entirely memorable, which makes the fact that I forgot it so thoroughly all the more difficult to account for.”
Crouch considers consequence to forgetting novels, he admits although, most of his reasoning is for vanity sake. He conjures an example of being at a dinner party and someone asking him if he’s read a book, which knows he has read, but somehow cannot recall it. His anxiety is raised when he cannot give any insight, clarification on a particular scene in the story ,or an opinion on some sub thematic idea when asked for it. Forgetfulness is at the very least embarrassing. Who will take a journalist seriously if they cannot recall something they’ve read and even enjoyed?
He allows English War Poet (World War I) Siegfried Sassoon to remind his readers of the limits of the human mind. Siegfried Sassoon wisely notes our dilemma,
“For it is humanly certain that most of us remember very little of what we have read. To open almost any book a second time is to be reminded that we had forgotten well-nigh everything that the writer told us. Parting from the narrator and his narrative, we retain only a fading impression; and he, as it were, takes the book away from us and tucks it under his arm.” Siegfried Sassoon
What is so telling to me is how much I can relate to Crouches experience and Sassoons commentary on forgetfulness. It is humanly certain that unless you have a photographic memory, you will remember very little of what you read. What saddens me as a follower of Jesus is that I read the Bible only to retain a fading impression, as Sassoon writes, of the narrative and truth and promises God offers to me in His word.
As I read Siegfried’s quote several times, I could not get over the “humanly certain,” phrase that exposes my broken condition toward the things of the Lord. I am a forgetter my nature, and my forgetfulness has serious consequences when it comes to my faith and love for Jesus; just like it did for Israel.
In Judges 3:7, Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. What was their evil? They served false gods, the Baals and the Asheroth. How did Israel, being a chosen nation by the Living God who received His commands and law that explain his nature and his expectations, come to a place in their faith where they were serving false gods who didn’t really exist? It’s the certainty of forgetfulness.
Judges 3:7 (ESV)
And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.
To forget God’s commands and works is to fail to keep them close to your heart and mind. The Hebrew word is frequently used in a blameworthy sense: to forget the covenant, and that is what is meant in Judges 3:7. Israel wrongfully neglected to keep close to their mind and heart the covenant between them and the Lord. The consequence to their forgetfulness was more than the simple vanity of loosing face in front of friends and colleagues. Their forgetfulness was the result of a halfhearted love toward God, which lead to halfhearted obedience, which angered the Lord to discipline His people by removing his peace.
Halfhearted love leads to short-lived Peace (Judges 3:8)
Halfhearted love leads to short-lived Peace (Judges 3:8)
Because of Israel’s forgetfulness, Judges 3:8
Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.
Israel’s forgetfulness hardened their heart and redirected their love toward false gods. So, as a good Father would do, He punished his children by allowing them to be enslaved by the very people whose false gods they were following. They lost their freedom, God’s perfect rest, when they forgot God. For eight years, they would suffer at the hands of a wicked king who would exploit them and bring calamity to their lives. Their forgetfulness robbed them of the surpassing peace of God.
In Judges 3:8, God’s anger is a reminder that he is not a forgetful God. God remembers Israel and he remembers his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He remembers His plans to save a people for himself whose hearts he will change; they will desire him and joyfully obey him. He remembers his love for Israel enough to do something about their idolatry. He does not leave them or forsake them. Although it is humanly certain what we will forget God, it is just as divinely certain that God will always remember you.
Friends, I don’t know where you are this morning in your walk with Jesus. Maybe you’ve come here with a restless heart. Maybe your heart is cold, even apathetic to the things of God. Maybe you are asking God to restore the joy of your salvation. God’s heart has not changed toward his children. Even though Israel forgets God. God does not forget Israel, and he has not forgotten you. If God is burdening your heart this morning with sorrow, or he has withheld his joy from you, or maybe he’s even brought you to the woodshed in your life, make no mistake about it, like a good Father who loves his children, he is calling you back to himself, to his peace and rest. He’s calling you to repent and turn from you evil ways, and remember His salvation, his peace that surpasses all understanding. To return you must remember the way of repentance.
God’s lasting peace remembers repentance. (Judges 3:9)
God’s lasting peace remembers repentance. (Judges 3:9)
But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
Charles Simeon says of repentance,
“We cannot have one spark of real humility till we are abased before God, as guilty, helpless, and undone creatures, who have no hope but in the tender mercy of God in Christ Jesus.” Charles Simeon
The verb abased means to reduce or lower, as in rank, humble, degrade, dignity. Suffering God’s anger humbles the sinner to see themselves as God is seeing them in their sin; guilty, helpless, in desperate need of God’s tender mercy in Christ Jesus. For Israel to enjoy God’s lasting peace, their heart had to be brought to repentance.
Repentance is a means of remembering who you are before a Holy God; sinners in need of great mercy! Bob Kauflan with his hymn, Depths of Mercy, paints our helpless estate well. He sings
“Depth of mercy can there be
Mercy reaching even me
God the Just His wrath forbears
Me the chief of sinners spares
So many times my heart has strayed
From His kind and perfect ways
Making clear my desperate need
For His blood poured out for me” Bob Kauflin
Do you feel the tension between your sinful forgetfulness and God’s holiness? Why do we need great mercy? We are great sinners who forget the things of God. We stray from his kind and perfect ways. How do we receive his mercy? We remember our desperate need for his blood poured out for me. Remembering, in this sense, is repentance.
What is the nature of repentance?
What is the nature of repentance?
For a brief moment it might be helpful to understand the nature repentance. In 2 Timothy 2:25-26, Paul offers three helpful traits of repentance.
2 Timothy 2:25–26 (ESV)
...God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Repentance is a gift from God.
Repentance is a gift from God.
God alone sovereignly bestows the gift of repentance. Two verses in Acts help you see repentance as gift from the Lord.
Acts 5:31 (ESV)
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 11:18 (ESV)
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
John Calvin notes
“God is not called the helper in repentance, but the author of it.” John Calvin
Repentance leads to a knowledge of truth
Repentance leads to a knowledge of truth
Genuine repentance leads to a true knowledge and truth of the salvation of Jesus. Saving faith and repentance are tethered together. The Holy Spirit regenerates your heart and mind to see receive the knowledge and truth of Jesus as your Savior, your redeemer. With this new birth, repentance is given to help you turn away from your sin and see Jesus. Seeing Jesus is knowing the truth about Jesus; He is your Savior. There is a repentance that is purely intellectual such as Judas (Matt 27:3; 2 Cor 7:10). Paul makes a distinction between godly repentance and worldly repentance. He says,
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
True repentance that comes from regeneration leads to a knowledge of the heart that sees Jesus as the only Savior, and the greatest treasure and most desirable of your heart. True repentance that has true knowledge of Jesus expresses love for Jesus through joyfully obedience.
Repentance frees you from the snares of the devil
Repentance frees you from the snares of the devil
True repentance and saving faith brings you to your senses. That is, you finally see your sin through God’s eyes and your desperate need for His grace poured out through the nailed scared hands of Jesus.
“Repentance is a gracious work of God to bring you to a place where you see/remember your desperate need for God.”
“Repentance is a gracious work of God to bring you to a place where you see/remember your desperate need for God.”
God’s compassionate anger humbled Israel’s heart to mourn and be sorrowful. In their humility, God granted Israel Godly grief, repentance, to see their desperate need for Him to deliver them. How did they respond? They cried out to Him for deliverance. Friend, God does that same for you!
If you a re feeling burdened by your sin, convicted because you know in your heart that you have acted wickedly toward the Lord, then God is granting you repentance, godly grief over sin. Cry out to Him, just as Israel did, and receive his unmerited mercy! He is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin. Cry out to Him for restoration.
Cry out to Him,
“Give me grace Lord let me own
All the wrongs that I have done
Let me now my sins deplore
Look to You and sin no more
There for me the Savior stands
Holding forth His wounded hands
Scars which ever cry for me
Once condemned but now set free.” Bob Kauflin Depth of Mercy
Through the lens of repentance, you can see, brothers and sisters,
God’s lasting peace can only be enjoyed by those who remember Him by loving Him with a single minded, heart united, loyal love.
God’s lasting peace can only be enjoyed by those who remember Him by loving Him with a single minded, heart united, loyal love.
In order for Israel to receive God’s lasting peace once again, they needed to cry out in repentance. They needed to come to a true knowledge of their sin and separation from the Lord. Only then, when they remembered the Lord, could they return to His peace; and God responded to their cry with His favor.
God heard their cry and he responded by graciously raising up a deliverer; Othniel. Othniel is the contrast to Israel. He is everything Israel is supposed to be, and as a judge, he will be the only judge who does not have significant moral or physical flaw.
Othniel is God’s chosen instrument of grace by being a judge or a savior of Israel. God exercised his compassion and love for his people through his deliverer. Othniel’s example, then, becomes our example to look to learn how to live a life that loves the Lord with a single minded heart united loyal love. When you’ve repented and turned back to the Lord with a single minded heart united loyal love, what does your life look like?
Single minded heart united loyal love is faithful to God. (Judges 1:13)
Single minded heart united loyal love is faithful to God. (Judges 1:13)
Othniel first shows up in Judges 1:13
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife.
Othniel is zealous for the Lord, much like his father-in-law, Caleb. Othniel accepts Calebs challenge to capture Kiriath-sepher with the same zeal Caleb spied out the Promise land forty years earlier. Othniel does not intermarry with the unbelieving Canaanites, but instead marries Achsah, a Hebrew believer, who was as passionate for the Lord as he was. Othniel’s life is marked by faithful obedience which is in direct contrast to the rest of Israel who whored after false gods. he was committed to the cause of Yahweh with a single minded heart united loyal love commitment.
Billy Graham once published a letter written by a communist to his girlfriend. It captures single minded heart united loyal love commitment. It reads,
“We communists have a high casualty rate. We are the ones who get shot and hung and ridiculed and fired from our jobs and in every other way made as uncomfortable as possible. A certain percentage of us get killed or imprisoned. We live in virtual poverty. We turn back to the party every penny we make above what is absolutely necessary to keep us alive.
We communists do not have the time or the money for many movies or concerts or T-bone steaks or decent homes or new cars. We’ve been described as fanatics. We are fanatics. Our lives are dominated by one great, overshadowing factor: the struggle for world communism. We have a philosophy of life which no amount of money could buy. We have a cause to fight for, a definite purpose in life. We subordinate our petty personal selves into a great movement of humanity; and if our personal lives seem hard or our egos appear to suffer through subordination to the party, then we are adequately compensated by the thought that each of us, in his small way, is contributing to something new and true and better for mankind.
There is one thing in which I am in dead earnest about, and that is the communist cause. It is my life, my business, my religion, my hobby, my sweetheart, my wife, my mistress, my bread and meat. I work at it in the daytime and dream of it at night. Its hold on me grows, not lessens, as time goes on; therefore, I cannot carry on a friendship, a love affair, or even a conversation without relating it to this force which both drives and guides my life. I evaluate people, looks, ideas, and actions according to how they affect the communist cause, and by their attitude toward it. I’ve already been in jail because of my ideals, and if necessary, I’m ready to go before a firing squad.”
Communism is not worthy of such a call to commitment, but Jesus is. Where communism falls short of bering the fruit of life, liberty, prosperity, unity, purpose, Jesus fulfills with his death and resurrection. This letter of commitment written by a communist should be written on the hearts of every believer in Christ. Follow Jim Elliot’s example and take his wisdom,
“Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
—Jim Elliot, quoted in Elisabeth Elliot, Through Gates of Splendor
In other words, live a faithful life to the Lord with a single minded heart united loyal love.
Single minded heart united loyal love is Spirit empowered obedience. (Judges 3:10a)
Single minded heart united loyal love is Spirit empowered obedience. (Judges 3:10a)
God empowers his people to advance his kingdom. Othniel did no deliver God’s people by his own power. He did not come of with clever man made plans or military campaigns. Those who love the Lord with all their mind heart soul and strength are empowered by his Spirit. which is why it is important that God’s people do not grieve the Holy Spirit.
Charles Hodge says,
“When the Spirit is ‘grieved’, his holiness is offended and his love is wounded.” Charles Hodge
When Israel rebelled against the Lord int he wilderness, which led to their rejection of God, the prophet Isaiah says,
But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.
Israel’s halfhearted love led them to reject God for the Canaanite gods, which led to become their enemy. When you Christian, allow sin to have its dominion in your life, you offend God’s holiness. You wound his love and betray him. You act like unbelieving Israel.
Othniel, on the other hand, cooperates with God’s Spirit and God uses him to overcome Cushan. It is God’s Spirit in you that helps you know Jesus and obey Jesus. It is God’s Spirit in you that empowers you to bear fruit that proves you are Jesus’ disciple and glorifies the Father. The more you surrender your life to the Spirit of God, the more you live with a single minded heart united loyal love for Jesus.
Single minded heart united loyal love overcomes sinful oppression (Judges 3:10b)
Single minded heart united loyal love overcomes sinful oppression (Judges 3:10b)
God empowered Othniel with His Spirit to overcome Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram Naharaim. His name means dark or doubly wicked. He was an exceptionally evil man, the worst of oppressors. This makes him a formidable opponent who struck fear in the heart f Israel. He was likely an enemy to mighty for God’s people by themselves to overcome, but for a man empowered by God, he was easily defeated. That is the point. The man who walks with a single minded hearted united loyal love for the Lord, finds victory over sinful oppression.
Martin Luther was once asked how he overcame the Devil. He replied, “Well, when he comes knocking on the door of my heart, and asked, ‘Who lives here?’ the Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, ‘Martin Luther used to live here but he has moved out. Now I live here!’ The Devil, seeing the nail prints in My hands and My pierced side, takes flight immediately.”
But Othniel’s victory was more about delivering his own people than himself. God not only delivers you from the sin that oppresses your heart, but uses you to deliver others from sinful oppression. Othniel did not stand by and keep the Spirit of God to himself. God provoked his heart to have compassion on his own people. He looked at their suffering and did something about it. He loved his neighbor as himself. That is how God used him to be a deliverer of his people and restore his peace.
Catherine of Siena reminds you and I,
“You are obliged to love your neighbor as yourself, and loving him, you ought to help him spiritually, with prayer, counseling him with words, and assisting him both spiritually and temporally, according to the need in which he may be, at least with your goodwill if you have nothing else.” Catherine of Siena
God desires to use you to deliver your brothers and sisters from sinful oppression and restore their peace. Thank God for the church that is committed to each other with such love and care!
Single minded heart united loyal love works in tandem with God to walk in the light (Judges 3:10c)
Single minded heart united loyal love works in tandem with God to walk in the light (Judges 3:10c)
Othniel was a faithful man of God who was empowered by God’s Spirit to deliver God’s people from evil oppression. God used Othniel’s faithfulness and obedience to judge Israel. Othniel submitted to God’s leading and worked in tandem with God to accomplish God’s purpose; that is, Yahweh and Othniel act as one. Israel knows Othniel is the real deal because his actions, his life, reflects God’s desired actions. That is, Othniel walks in the light as God is in the light. It is not different for the church.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Our fellowship with God, walking in tandem with him, will reflect his light to the church and the world. Moreover, walking in the light with God tethers us to each other in fellowship, so we walk in tandem with each other as we walk with God. As we walk in the light with the Father and in fellowship with each other, this is how we overcome the world, and have peace (1 John 5:4-5).
Single minded heart united loyal love to Jesus is the only way you receive God’s lasting peace (Judges 3:11)
Single minded heart united loyal love to Jesus is the only way you receive God’s lasting peace (Judges 3:11)
God punished his forgetful people. He had compassion on them and brought deliverance and rest through his chosen instrument of grace, Othniel. Othniel was God’s chosen vessel of salvation. His salvation, however was short lived. The problem of sin and idolatry could not be full taken care of. When Othniel dies, Judges 3:11, the peace and salvation of God’s people die with him. In verse 12, the return to their evil ways. In our sinful condition, man cannot ever bring everlasting peace on earth because we will always turn away from the Lord. Othniel points us to the reality that everlasting peace for mankind can only be achieved by an everlasting peace maker, a Prince of Peace, the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.
Othniel points to God’s Prince of Peace, His Son Jesus. God punishes evil. His law and justice demand that he punish sin, and we stand in condemnation deserving his wrath. You cannot have peace with God while under his wrath. So God sent Jesus to the cross to receive His wrath in our place, as our substitute. He died for your sin and my sin, as an atoning sacrifice, so that you and I can have everlasting peace with God. God accepted his sacrifice by raising him from the dead. Jesus is alive, sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for you, calling you to repent and receive his salvation by faith. Stop being God’s enemy, and be his child. Accept the gift of His Son. Confess with your mouth what you believe in your heart; that God raised Jesus from the dead on your behalf so you can have his condemnation removed and receive his peace.
Brothers and sisters, let us heed the words of Thomas a Kempis and never forget,
“The devil does not sleep, nor is the flesh yet dead; therefore, you must never cease your preparation for battle, because on the right and on the left are enemies who never rest.” Thomas à Kempis
Although it is humanly certain we will forget the things of God, it is divinely certain that God will not forget us. Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension are proof of this. That being said, let us diligently seek to be doers of God’s word and not simply hearers only. Let’s always draw near to the Lord with a repentant and mournful heart, trusting he will exalt us in time. Let us be a people who hunger and thirst for God’s word so we can guard, guide, and discern each other with it. Let us us be a faithful Spirit empowered people who overcome sinful oppression together by walking in the light in tandem with the Father and each other solely depending on Jesus our everlasting Prince of Peace.