Sermon Tone Analysis

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Theme: Jephthah had much to overcome in his life.

He came from a dysfunctional family from which he was evicted; yet through his natural leadership skills he became a sought-after warrior.

His choices sometimes reflected wisdom, sometimes foolishness.

However, even when it meant great personal agony, he remained a man who valued truth and integrity over compromise.

Theme: Jephthah had much to overcome in his life.

He came from a dysfunctional family from which he was evicted; yet through his natural leadership skills he became a sought-after warrior.

His choices sometimes reflected wisdom, sometimes foolishness.

However, even when it meant great personal agony, he remained a man who valued truth and integrity over compromise.

Date: 08/20/17 File name: Judges_11.wpd

ID Number:

Date: 08/20/17 File name: Judges_11.wpd

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The story of Jephthah is one of the more interesting — and troubling — stories in all of the Bible.

His appearance in presents an interesting conundrum for the Bible student.

The story of Jephthah is one of the more interesting — and troubling — stories in all of the Bible.

His appearance in presents an interesting conundrum for the Bible student.

“And what more shall I say?

I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,” (, NIV84)

Why did the author of Hebrews highlight Jephthah as an example of faith to be emulated when he seems to have offered his daughter as a human sacrifice?

In short, what did the author see in Jephthah’s story that merited his inclusion in the all-star list of faith heroes found in ?

His story is found in .

In short, Israel had been unfaithful yet again and, thus, had fallen under the abusive dominion of the Philistines and Ammonites for 18 arduous years (10:6-9).

During an Ammonite attack, the people of Israel turn in repentance to God, and seek His blessing.

God seems to question how genuine the repentance is, but the people make significant reforms that reveals the genuineness of their repentance, and we’re told that “[God] could bear Israel’s misery no longer” — God is going to act.

Battle lines are formed, and war appears about to erupt ().

“The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all those living in Gilead.””

(, NIV84).

It is in this setting that Jephthah appears in the story.

Before we begin his actual story, let me give you some of the highlights of the story ...

1.

This is the only cycle containing dialogue between God and His people.

2. This is the first confession of sin we see from Israel in the Book of Judges.

3.

This is the only Judge recruited by men.

He’s confirmed by God, but sought out by men.

4.

This is the Judge with the most dysfunctional family background.

5.

This is the only Judge who tried to use diplomacy to avert armed conflict.

6. Jephthah used the personal name for God (Yahweh) more than any other Judge.

7. Following Jephthah’s military victory his judgeship was the shortest — only six years.

8. Finally, there is no mention of Israel being at “rest” during or after Jephthah’s judgeship.

His life is opened before us in five acts.

I. 1st, JEPHTHAH THE DISOWNED

I. 1st, JEPHTHAH THE DISOWNED

“Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior.

His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away.

“You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.”

3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him.”

(, NIV84)

1. we are introduced to Jephthah as a mighty warrior — in biblical terms a high accolade

a. but he is a mighty warrior with a checked past

1) his father’s name is Gilead who fathers a son by an ordinary prostitute

2) the Hebrews had two words for prostitute —

a) one referred to a sacred sex worker who was part of pagan worship practices of Israel’s neighbors, and whom God had forbidden His people’s participation in (to be a Temple Prostitute was considered a respectable vocation among the pagans)

of Israel’s neighbors, and whom God had forbidden His people’s participation in (to be a Temple Prostitute was considered a respectable vocation among the pagans)

b) the other term referred to an ordinary prostitute or a loose woman

3) this is the kind of woman the text is referring to

b. even in our sexually liberated culture, bringing home a child you conceived by a prostitute would probably not be conducive to tranquility in the home

prostitute would probably not be conducive to tranquility in the home

2. Jephthah’s family experience must have been bitter

a. though he’s the oldest of Gilead’s children, when Gilead’s legitimate sons are old enough, and big enough to do so, they drive Jephthah out of the home

enough, and big enough to do so, they drive Jephthah out of the home

ILLUS.

To get a picture of what it must have been like, think of the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar.

Sarah and Hagar.

Sarah actually encourages her husband to sleep with Hagar who is Sarah’s personal slave.

She’s trying to “help God out” so-to-speak in bringing about an heir for her husband.

Hagar does conceive and were told that upon her announcement, “I’m pregnant” that Hagar begins to immediately despise her mistress.

In return, Sarah begins to mistreat Hagar to the point where Hagar runs away.

After meeting God in the desert and receiving promises from Him, she returns to camp.

Soon Sarah conceives, and she gives birth to Isaac.

Over the next several years, the tensions in the family become so sharp that Sarah issues an ultimatum to Abraham — get rid of Hagar and her son or else!

3. it’s obvious that there are similar tensions in the home of Gilead

a. when they are old enough to do to, his step-brothers drive him away so he’ll not receive any inheritance from their father

receive any inheritance from their father

4. Jephthah flees to the Land of Tob (or Tov)

a. this is an area south east of the Sea of Galilee

b. it is where, in time, he becomes a natural leader

II.

2nd, JEPHTHAH THE DESPERADO

“Some time later, when the Ammonites made war on Israel, 5 the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.”

7 Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house?

Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?” 8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be our head over all who live in Gilead.” 9 Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me—will I really be your head?” 10 The elders of Gilead replied, “The LORD is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them.

And he repeated all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.”

(, NIV84)

1. in we read that Jephthah had surrounded himself with a group of men

a. the 1984 NIV calls them “adventurers” (I think that’s being overly kind)

b. the KJV refers to them as “vain men”

c. the ESV, and NASB, both translate the noun as “worthless fellows”

d. it is the 2011 edition of the NIV that probably gives us the best idea when it refers to these men as “a gang of scoundrels”

to these men as “a gang of scoundrels”

1) these are outcasts who become outlaws, pure and simple, and Jephthah is their leader

leader

2. it is here that he learns skills of leadership, audacity, negotiation, and combat

3. when the incursions of the Ammonites become more pressing, the elders of Gilead begin to look around for somebody to lead the troops

begin to look around for somebody to lead the troops

“ ... the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.

18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all those living in Gilead.””

(, NIV84)

a. who do you turn to when the enemy is in camped just over the hill, and you need somebody with certain skills to do a tough job?

somebody with certain skills to do a tough job?