Judges 1 verses 1 to 2, 9 to 20 Just One Needed October 3, 2021
Judges The Conquerors Heroes of the Faith • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsTo see how God used the faith, courage, and willingness of Judge Caleb to impact the course of a nation.
Notes
Transcript
Judges 1 verses 1 to 2, 9 to 20 Just One Needed October 3, 2021
Class Presentation Notes AA
Background Scriptures: Joshua 14:6-9, 14
Create Interest:
· A drastic change has taken place in the health of the nation. Joshua, the man of God, is dead. Many times, the most useful men are called away before their task is finished. The death of great men or women should inspire us to fill in the gap and finish the work the Lord has used them to begin.
· When the post of an effective leader becomes vacant, ask the Lord for counsel for new choices in leadership. You will find many times when great men move on in death or departure, it is difficult to find men or women of equal or greater ability. For this reason, we need God’s help.
Lesson in Historical Context:
· No matter what the enemy is—some person or some trial—each of us longs for the strength, the power to drive away the force that seeks to defeat and destroy us.
· This was the picture being painted by the experience of Israel, the picture that is seen in the Israelite conquest of the promised land. Before the Israelites could inherit the promised land, the people had to drive out the enemies who tried to keep them out of the land.
· This was the clear command of God: engage the enemy, destroy them, drive them out. Then the promised land would be theirs:[1] (Deut. 6:16-25)
· The children of Israel started out on the right foot in finding a leader. They needed wisdom and direction and asked the Lord for His choice of leadership. We too should follow their example. We are promised wisdom if we will ask the Lord for it (James 1:5). Israel’s work began in sincerity and earnest, but it ended in weakness. Chapter oneis the chapter of failure and defeat. God’s people are about to find out that their greatest threat was not a military threat, but a spiritual one. The attitudes that permeated society were “Me first! Anything goes! Do your own thing! If it feels good do it!” Not much has changed. All these attitudes were adopted by Israel as we will see and caused their society to decay from within. We find the same path being taken today in our own nation. We are decaying from within to the point where right is considered wrong and wrong is considered right.[2]
· The great military commander and strategist Joshua had led the Israelites in defeating the major fortified cities of the promised land of Canaan. The back of the enemy had been broken. Only closing operations remained. It was now the responsibility of the individual tribes to conquer the remainder of their inherited land.
· But note the Scripture quoted above from Deuteronomy chapter 6. Obedience was necessary—an absolute essential—for God to give the promised land to the Israelites. If the people obeyed Him, God would be present with them and guide them. He would give them victory over their enemies so they could inherit the promised land. But if they disobeyed Him, they would face the chastisement and judgment of God: they would be defeated and enslaved by the enemy.
· This is the background for the opening of the book of Judges. The present passage shows us the beginning failure of the new generation of Israelites, the generation that followed Joshua.
· Joshua was a military leader (see Ex. 17:8–13; Josh. 11:23), but he was also a person of deep faith. He was on the mountain when Moses came down from the mountain (Ex. 32:17). He and Caleb were the only two of the spies who stood firm at Kadeshbarnea (Num. 14:6–9, 28–30, 35). Joshua led Israel to cross the Jordan River and to take Jericho by relying on the Lord (Josh. 3–6). Near the end of his life, Joshua delivered a stirring challenge and testimony. So great was his influence that it continued after he died.[3]
· Caleb, then 85, was a Kenizzite (Genesis 15:18-21), a decedent of Esau, not Jacob. He was from an enemy of God’s people but chosen by God to lead them in the promised land…and if God will use an enemy to lead His people, He will use any of us if we are submissive wholeheartedly to His will😊 and if we will trust Him with the impossible. Let’s check this out.
· The tone of the Book of Judges is different from the tone of the Book of Joshua, where the story of the conquest of Canaan is told with great optimism and high hopes and expectations. However, Judges moves into a gloomy account of a deadly cycle of sin and disobedience. Judges 1 tells of a compromise that started Israel down that slippery slope.
· As is common, the passing of a leader precipitates a political crisis. Who will take charge now? Whereas Moses had formally and publicly made arrangements for a successor (Num 27:15–23; Deuteronomy 31; 34), apparently Joshua had made no such provisions. Not that he should be faulted for this. Joshua’s military campaigns had succeeded in breaking the backbone of Canaanite resistance and cleared the way for the tribes to take charge of their own futures.
· Receiving a message from Yahweh that his time to die was at hand (Josh 13:1–7), Joshua had supervised the apportionment of the tribal land grants, as a general oversees the distribution of the spoils of war (Joshua 13–19). But while Yahweh’s instructions regarding Joshua’s arrangements for the future said nothing about a successor, the descendants of Israel as a group were to accept the challenge of continuing the holy war against the enemies occupying the land that remained[4].
Bible Study:
Judges 1:1-2 (NASB)
1 Now it came about after the death of Joshua that the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD, saying, "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?"
2 The LORD said, "Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand."
· Now it came about after death of Joshua (1a): In this period of the Judges, Israel lost the critical next link in its godly leadership. Moses was the great leader used by God to bring them out of Egypt; Joshua was Moses’ assistant and the great leader used by God to bring them into the land of promise. But Joshua appointed no leader after him to guide the whole nation. They were in a critical place where they had to trust God more intensely than they ever had before.
o God gives wonderful human leaders to His work on this earth, and it is always difficult for God’s people when those human leaders pass from the scene. In such a situation, we may live in the past, wishing that leader was still with us.
· Now it came about after death of Joshua (1a): During this period of the judges (lasting some 340 years), there was no standing “office” of national leadership. Israel had no king, no president, and no prime minister on earth—only God in heaven. Yet at the necessary and appropriate times God brought forth a leader for the nation. For the most part these leaders would rise up, do his (or her) job, and then return to their obscurity. This required that the people of Israel maintain a real, abiding trust in God.
o These national deliverers were not elected, and they didn’t come to leadership through royal succession. They were specially gifted by God for leadership in their times, and the people of God recognized and respected that gifting.
o When this book uses the term judge, it doesn’t mean someone who sits in a court and decides legal issues; the Hebrew word shaphat has more the idea of a heroic leader. “The Hebrew word Shophetim is derived from a word meaning to put right, and so to rule, and this is exactly what these men did.” (Morgan)
o The people of Israel had great obstacles. They were surrounded by people who lived in the most terrible immorality and idolatry, making a constant temptation to the same sins. The idolatrous lives of the Canaanites who lived around Israel were focused mainly on three things: money, sex, and having a relationship with God on my terms instead of God’s terms.
· Now it came about after death of Joshua (1a): The Book of Judges shows us a time that is sometimes confusing, difficult, and dark. For this reason, many neglect the Judges and regard this period of time as a “dark ages” of Israel’s history. Yet if we neglect this book, we neglect a wonderful account of the love and graciousness of God, and how He lovingly corrects His people.
o What we find out about man in Judges is depressing; but what we find out about God in Judges is wonderful. “On the human side, it is a story of disobedience and disaster; and on the Divine side, of continued direction and deliverance.” (Morgan)
o “There is, however, one light in which the whole book may be viewed, which renders it invaluable; it is a most remarkable history of the longsuffering of God towards the Israelites, in which we find the most signal instances of his justice and mercy alternately displayed; the people sinned, and were punished; they repented, and found mercy. Something of this kind we meet with in every page. And these things are written for our warning. None should presume, for God is just; none need despair, for God is merciful.” (Clarke)[5]
Prayer is the first essential for victory.
· Vs. 1b: Right before he died, Joshua gave a very special challenge to all the Israelites. He challenged them to rededicate their lives to God, to renew their covenant, their commitment to God.
· The Israelites’ desire to fight … the Canaanites was in harmony with Joshua’s command for them to occupy their allotted tribal territories (Josh. 18:3; 23:5). Though the land was given by God, and conquered under and divided by Joshua, it was still necessary for each tribe to fight to displace the Canaanites yet remaining. The method in Vs. 2 whereby they asked and the Lord answered is not specified, but probably involved the ministry of the high priest at the tabernacle, whether by use of the Urim and Thummim (cf. Ex. 28:30; Num. 27:21; 1 Sam. 14:37–43) or by a verbal form of divine guidance. God’s selection of Judah (the names of the sons of Jacob throughout this chapter refer to tribal entities) for military preeminence corresponds with Judah’s divine elevation in Jacob’s patriarchal blessing (Gen. 49:8).[6]
· The people accepted the challenge and made a public decision to obey and follow the Lord. The scene of the challenge and of the decision was dramatic and needs to be remembered throughout the study of Judges. Joshua cried out to the people:
o Joshua 24:15-16 (NASB)
15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
16 The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;
o Joshua 24:19-24 (NASB)
19 Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins.
20 "If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you."
21 The people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD."
22 Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses."
23 "Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
24 The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice."
· Although the land of Canaan had been conquered under Joshua’s leadership and by the Lord’s power, local areas still contained some Canaanites who had not been subdued (Josh. 13:1). In his farewell speech, Joshua challenged Israel to complete the task. He promised the Lord would give them victory. However, he also warned against failing to drive the Canaanites out and of intermarrying with the pagan peoples. If Israel did these things, the pagan people among them would become a deadly snare (Josh. 23:12–13).
· Joshua’s warning was consistent with the command of God through Moses that the Israelites destroy the pagan peoples of Canaan (Deut. 7:1–6; 20:16–18). This action was not racially motivated but religiously motivated. The people in Canaan did not just worship idols; they practiced moral abominations in the name of their gods. Compromising relationships with such people would lead to Israel’s departure from their distinctive faith and way of life.
· The Israelites had made their decision: they would obey and serve the Lord, Him and Him alone. Now, Joshua had died, and the people are seen following through with their decision. They were seeking the Lord in prayer, asking Him for guidance. Just who should take the lead in driving out the enemies of the promised land? Up until now, the Israelites had always had an individual to lead them, first Moses and then Joshua. But now, no successor had been appointed by God. Each tribe was to be led by its own leader. But which tribe was to take the initiative in leading the nation as a whole, especially in national matters? This was the question the Israelites were now asking their King and their Commander-in-Chief, God Himself. Keep in mind that the Israelites had looked to God as their King and Commander-in-Chief. This was true during the leadership of Joshua, and it was still true in these opening verses of Judges (v. 1; see Jos. 5:13–15).
· Therefore Judges 1:1 shows how the Israelites began to obey Moses and Joshua after the death of Joshua. At that time, the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first? That is, which of the tribes should initiate the new campaign. We are not told how the Israelites “inquired of the Lord”(NASB, NRSV) on this occasion.
· Verses 2–27 show initial success, especially in the south. However, some strong groups of Canaanites survived; and others were left unchallenged, especially in the north
· Listen to what God’s Word teaches us about prayer:
o Matthew 7:7 (NASB)
7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
o Matthew 26:40-41 (NASB)
40 And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, "So, you mencould not keep watch with Me for one hour?
41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
o John 15:7 (NASB)
7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
o James 5:13 (NASB)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
o Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB)
13 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Thoughts to Soak on Before Moving On:
· “The children of Israel inquired of the Lord,” whispered to Him, hailed Him, arrested His attention by some sign of necessity. They whispered to the Lord, they told Him plainly the condition in which they were placed, and brought the whole need under His attention; they wanted leadership and captaincy and guidance, and they said, “Who shall do this?”
o The method has not been changed; Jesus Christ added nothing to this old method. Said He, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” “If any man lack wisdom, let him ask.” We have changed all that; we now are in danger of approaching the Lord as if He were an infinite Shah, and must be approached with long words and logical sequence.
o Speaking to God elevates the mind; prayer, however brief and however tremulous, takes the suppliant up to a higher level than he has ever scaled before.[7]
· Note to my class: I could not help but think that understanding the essence of Joshua’s words before he died had an impact on the Israelites moving forward…at least for choosing their first Judge Caleb…so lets look for a moment at the important words.
· Fear the Lord “sums up the religious attitude expected of the OT believer.… Fear of the Lord is the attitude of awe and filial reverence which befits the child of God over against His Maker and Redeemer”. (Marten H. Woudstra, The Book of Joshua, in The New International Commentary on the Old Testament [Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1981], 351).
· Serve magnifies the idea of worship, but it is an attitude that pervades all of life. The word translated sincerity comes from a Hebrew word (tamim) that means “fullness,” “completeness,” “integrity.” It may refer to the sincerity of service or to the totality of one’s involvement in service.
· Truth (ʾemet) can also be translated “faithfully.” The New International Version has “with all faithfulness.”
· Service to the Lordis to be an exclusive service.
· Joshua told the people to choose you this day whom ye will serve. The religions of the ancient world were mostly a mixture of many streams of religion. Those who worshiped many gods usually had room for one more. Joshua would not allow the people the luxury of thinking that they could serve the Lord and other gods at the same time.
· When Joshua declared serve ye the Lord, he left no doubt what he thought their decision should be. He also testified about his own decision, which he had lived out throughout his life: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua was concerned not only about himself but also about his family and servants, his house.Insofar as he could, he intended to lead them to follow his own total commitment to the Lord.[8]
Let’s move on and continue to soak on that knowledge in the future😊
God’s Word and assurance is the second essential to securing victory against the enemies of life is Note that God answered the prayer of His people. He spoke to them, gave them His Word and the assurance of victory (v. 2).
· At this particular time—right after Joshua’s death—the Israelites were obviously sincere in seeking and obeying God; therefore, God met the Israelites’ needs. He gave them His Word, instructing Judah to lead the battle. Moreover, God gave them great assurance, promising them that they would be victorious over the enemies of the promised land. As long as they remained obedient, they could rest assured, they would walk victoriously throughout life, conquering all the enemies of the promised land.
· Although we are not told by what means these orders were conveyed, we learn two helpful things about them from their background in the book of Joshua.
o The initial invasion of Canaan seems to have been rapid, effective, and in some sense complete; the summary of it in Joshua 11:16–23 is peppered with the word ‘all’—all the land taken, all the kings defeated. Even so, at the end of his life Joshua recognizes that there is still land to be occupied and nations to be driven out.
o If, as seems likely, it took a long time for Israel properly to ‘possess’ the land, and the Canaanite peoples re-emerged and rallied (they might be dead, but they wouldn’t lie down), then a need for new onslaughts ‘after the death of Joshua’, as described in Judges 1, is quite understandable.
o The point is that the orders given in Vs. 1:2 are part of a general strategy made known long before to Joshua, and indeed to Moses. That strategy is a ‘judgment’ already revealed by God, and—equally important—already accepted by his people, as is shown by the very fact that they are here eager to embark on the next stage of it.[9]
· Listen to what the Bible has to say to us today about His Word and assurance:
o 2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
o John 15:3 (NASB)
3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
o Romans 1:16 (NASB)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
o Ephesians 6:11-18 (NASB)
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
o Psalm 119:11 (NASB)
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
o Psalm 119:105 (NASB)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Judges 1:3 (NASB)
3 Then Judah said to Simeon his brother, "Come up with me into the territory allotted me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I in turn will go with you into the territory allotted you." So Simeon went with him.
Service is the third essential for victory
· Helping weaker brothers (v. 3). This is essential for living a victorious life.
· Serving and ministering to other people is the call of God to every believer.
· The blessed assurance of pleasing God and of being with God eternally comes from helping and serving others. Therefore, a conquering life is a life that is constantly serving and assisting people.
· That is what the tribe of Judah did. Judah stepped forth to take the lead in the struggle against the enemies of the promised land.
o But before the tribe launched the battle, an alliance was formed with the weaker tribe of Simeon.
o The tribes of Judah and Simeon were blood-brothers (Gen. 29:33–35) and are uniformly depicted as acting in the closest relationship. The inheritance of Simeon was within the borders of Judah (Josh. 19:1) and it appears certain that Simeon soon lost its tribal identity, being absorbed in the more powerful tribe.[10]
§ Remember, Simeon had inherited land within the borders of Judah’s territory, for the tribe was much smaller and weaker than Judah (Nu. 26:14, 22).
o Standing alone, Simeon stood little chance against formidable enemies. The tribe needed the help of Judah, and Judah stepped forth and offered to help. The combined forces made a far stronger enemy to launch the struggle against the enemies of the promised land.
· Listen to what God’s Word says about service:
o Mark 10:43-44 (NASB)
43 "But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;
44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.
o Luke 10:36-37 (NASB)
36 "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?"
37 And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."
o John 13:14 (NASB)
14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
o John 21:16 (NASB)
16 He *said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."
o Galatians 6:1-2 (NASB)
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
o Galatians 6:9-10 (NASB)
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Obedience is the fourth essential for victory (v. 3b).
· The soldiers of Simeon joined Judah. The picture is that of the tribes obeying God: they marched forth together to drive out the enemies who sought to enslave and destroy them. They obeyed God.
· Listen to what God’s Word says about obedience.
o Matthew 7:24-27 (NASB)
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yetit did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
26 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall."
o John 14:22-23 (NASB)
22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?"
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
o James 1:21 (NASB)
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
o Deuteronomy 5:29 (NASB)
29 'Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!
o Joshua 1:7-9 (NASB)
7 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.
8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Judges 1:9-15 (NASB)
9 Afterward the sons of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country and in the Negev and in the lowland.
10 So Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron formerly wasKiriath-arba); and they struck Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.
11 Then from there he went against the inhabitants of Debir (now the name of Debir formerly wasKiriath-sepher).
12 And Caleb said, "The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will even give him my daughter Achsah for a wife."
13 Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, captured it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah for a wife.
14 Then it came about when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. Then she alighted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?"
15 She said to him, "Give me a blessing, since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
· Judah and Simeon launched a military campaign into the lowlands (vv. 9–15). A strong example of faith and obedience is now seen in Caleb and his son-in-law, Othniel. Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent out by Moses on a recognizance mission to spy out the land of Canaan. He, along with Joshua, had taken a strong stand for God, believing that God would give them the promised land. The two men, who were young at that time, took a strong stand against the unbelief and negative report of the other ten spies. Because of his strong faith in God, Caleb had been promised the inheritance of Hebron as his own territory.
· Caleb marched against Hebron, defeating three of the Anakite kings: Sheshai, Ahiman, Talmai (v. 10). These kings were descendants of Anak, who was known as the father of a race of giants or of a tall, large-framed people.
· Caleb then led the army against Debir and conquered it (vv. 11–15). As he marched against the great city, he promised his daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who captured the city.
o After Othniel led a battalion of soldiers against the city and conquered it, Caleb proved his integrity by doing exactly what he had declared: he gave his daughter in marriage to the victorious officer (vv. 12–13).
o Moreover, Caleb showed an unusual unselfishness. His daughter and new son-in-law needed a field with springs of water, and in an unselfish spirit, Caleb gave them the springs of water—a priceless gift in dry country (vv. 14–15).
Thoughts to Soak On:
· Obedience is the dominant lesson in this point. When the tribes of Judah and Simeon obeyed the Lord, they were victorious. God empowered His people to conquer the enemies who attempted to keep them out of the promised land. Obedience brought victory.
· Obedience always brings victory to God’s people. When we obey God, He empowers us to conquer the enemies that oppose us, trying to defeat and destroy us.
· No trial and no temptation can ever defeat us, not if we are obedient to God. If we keep God’s commandments, He will give us the strength to conquer all the trials and temptations of life.
o No matter how heavy or threatening the trial, we will have the power to overcome.
o No matter how enticing, alluring, or promising the temptation, we will have the power to conquer the temptation.
o Obedience—immediate obedience—gives us the victory. Obeying God assures us of conquest. Obeying God makes us more than conquerors through Christ who has loved us and given Himself for us.
Judges 1:16-19 (NASB)
16 The descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up from the city of palms with the sons of Judah, to the wilderness of Judah which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people.
17 Then Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites living in Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called Hormah.
18 And Judah took Gaza with its territory and Ashkelon with its territory and Ekron with its territory.
19 Now the LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had iron chariots.
· Note for verses 16 to 19: there was the picture of eventual failure—of disobedience, unbelief, and compromise. All of a sudden, there was a twist from success to failure, from obedience to disobedience.
· This will be the theme from this point on throughout the whole book of Judges. The Israelites began to disobey God, to fail Him. They were gripped by a spirit of unbelief and compromise. They began to imitate their worldly neighbors instead of being a testimony to the only living and true God. Instead of driving out the evil enemies of the promised land, they began to compromise with their enemies and adopt their worldly, immoral, and idolatrous ways.
· This Scripture portrays the beginning failure of Israel in the promised land—their disobedience, unbelief, and compromise:
· Note that the Lord was with the army of Judah as it marched throughout the hill country (v. 19). But then something happened: Judah failed to believe God. Judah did not trust God to help in conquering the enemies of the plains. Why the disbelief? Because of the enemy’s technology in weaponry. The people from the plains had iron chariots.
o Had not God expressly promised by the oracle (v. 2) to give them success against the Canaanites in this very expedition, without excepting those that had iron chariots? Yet they suffered their fears to prevail against their faith, they could not trust God under any disadvantages, and therefore did not face the iron chariots, but meanly withdrew their forces, when with one bold stroke they might have completed their victories; and it proved of pernicious consequence. [11]
· But note this fact: after Jericho—after the miraculous power of God demonstrated against that city—the army of Judah should have believed God. They should have trusted the power of God to conquer the enemy with the superior technology.
· But here they are shrinking back, failing to trust God. This fact is so important that it needs to be restated: the Lordwas with the men of Judah as they marched throughout the hill country, but in facing the people of the plains, the men of Judah backed away.
· Unbelief, distrust, and fear gripped their hearts; and they disobeyed God. They refused to drive out the enemy from the promised land. They would rather compromise and allow some of the enemy to live within the promised land than to continue fighting and struggling to remove all the enemy.
· When Israel’s ancestors were escaping Egypt, the enemy had lightweight chariots, but the Lord gave them victory. Now they faced a new challenge, but the same God was fighting for them, and they would have known victory if they had remembered that ‘the Lord was with [them]’ (v. 19).[12]
· They became satisfied with the conquest already made, satisfied with just a portion of their inheritance. Too much struggle, too much discipline and control, too much energy and exhaustion, too much personal cost and effort were required to conquer the remainder of the promised land. Judah would rather compromise and live a permissive lifestyle than obey God.
Thoughts to Soak on:
· If chapter 1 finished with verse 18, it would be almost completely encouraging, and bode well for the rest of Judges. But verse 19 jars. “The Lord was with the men of Judah”—and yet “they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots.” Judah does not trust in God’s strength, so they measure their own strength against their enemies’, and fail to push the chariot-owning plain-dwellers out of the land.
· Common, but faithless, sense, begins to prevail here. Judah doesn’t trust God; and so they don’t secure their inheritance so that they can worship God without compromise. The remaining Canaanites will prove to be a thorn in their side for centuries to come.
· It is not our lack of strength that prevents us from enjoying God’s blessings, or from worshiping God wholeheartedly; it is our lack of faith in hisstrength.
o When we rely on ourselves and base our walk with God on our own calculations instead of simply obeying, we find ourselves making decisions like the Judahites.
o Othniel attacked a city in God’s strength; the tribe of Judah concluded they could not do likewise in their own.
o It is halfway discipleship, and Judges will show us that it leads to no discipleship at all. The warning to us is clear![13]
Judges 1:20 (NASB)
20 Then they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had promised; and he drove out from there the three sons of Anak.
· Vs. 20: Note the contrast and reminder of Caleb’s strong faith in God.
o In contrast to the compromising, permissive disobedience of Judah, Caleb drove out the sons of Anak who the giants of the land were. Instead of withdrawing in unbelief and weak faith, Caleb marched forth against the strongest and most formidable of enemies.
o Because of his faith and obedience, God gave him the victory over his enemies. Caleb received his full inheritance in the promised land.
Thoughts to soak on:
· God’s Word is clear: we must conquer the enemies of life.
o We must conquer any enemy that tries to keep us out of the promised land of heaven, any enemy that tries to keep us from living a victorious life in Christ.
o But to conquer the enemies of life—to live a victorious life—we must believe God, never compromising with the immoral and unrighteous of this world.
· Unbelief and compromise will lead to failure, to a defeated life. Judah and Simeon failed to believe God, and they compromised with their worldly neighbors. They refused to engage them in battle and drive them out of the promised land. The result would prove to be catastrophic and will be seen later on in the book of Judges.
o But for now, the point to note is the failure of Judah, the spirit of unbelief and compromise with the tribes’ immoral and unrighteous neighbors.
· We must never allow the spirit of unbelief or compromise to take root in our lives. Unbelief and compromise equal disobedience. And disobedience brings the chastisement and judgment of God upon us. Unbelief and compromise are condemned by God. The unrighteous, immoral, and false worshippers of this world are not to be followed.[14]
· Listen to what God’s Word says to us:
o Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
o 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (NASB)
14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
o 1 John 2:15-16 (NASB)
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
[1]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2001). Judges, Ruth(p. 10). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
[2]Mattoon, R. (2001). Treasures from Judges (p. 7). Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon.
[3]Dean, R. J. (1999). Herschel Hobbs Commentary: Studying Adult Life and Work Lessons, Fall 1999 (p. 47). LifeWay Christian Resources.
[4]Block, D. I. (1999). Judges, Ruth(Vol. 6, p. 86). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5]Guzik, D. (2013). Judges(Jdg 1:1a). Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.
[6]Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Judges. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 377). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7]Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator: Joshua, Judges, and Ruth (Vol. 2, p. 9). New York; Chicago; Toronto: Fleming H. Revell Company.
[8]Dean, R. J. (1999). Herschel Hobbs Commentary: Studying Adult Life and Work Lessons, Fall 1999 (pp. 47–50). LifeWay Christian Resources.
[9]Wilcock, M. (1992). The Message of Judges: Grace Abounding. (J. A. Motyer & D. Tidball, Eds.) (pp. 21–22). England: Inter-Varsity Press.
[10]Cundall, A. E., & Morris, L. (1968). Judges and Ruth: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, pp. 53–54). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
[11]Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume(p. 329). Peabody: Hendrickson.
[12]Robinson, S. J. (2006). Opening up Judges(p. 11). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[13]Keller, T. (2013). Judges for You(p. 19). Purcellville, VA: The Good Book Company.
[14]Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2001). Judges, Ruth(p. 10-15). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.