WEBVTT

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 Good morning to you all. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this ongoing series on the book of Judges.

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 I'm grateful to be able to speak this morning. Last week, Zach spoke on Abimelech in Judges chapter 9.

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 And this morning, our task is Jephthah in chapters 10 through 12.

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 So that's about two and a half chapters. We'll skip along and make our way through it somewhat quickly.

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 Would you turn there in your Bibles, Judges chapter 10 verse 6.

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 You can navigate there on your phone or if you're using the Pew Bible in front of you, it's on page 249.

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 We're going to start in Judges 10 chapter 6.

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 One of the things that we've seen in this series so far is something that Mike showed us right in the very first sermon about this cycle that keeps repeating in the book.

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 You can see that there's, at least on this diagram, seven steps to the cycle.

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 And it just keeps repeating as we go through each judge.

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 In number four, the people cry out.

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 In number five, God empowers a judge and he goes out and defeats the enemy.

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 And then that brings relief.

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 And in number six, there's peace in the land.

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 But the problem is this pattern isn't static in the book.

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 Each time the judge defeats the enemy and the land goes back to rest,

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 the people return to their sin in a worse way than they were before.

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 So the sin keeps getting worse and they keep becoming more and more like the Canaanites.

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 And their repentance becomes less serious each time they get back around to number four.

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 And there are more and more innocent victims caught up in the machinery of sin and chaos.

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 Last week, Zach talked about the people of Shechem who are slaughtered along with countless women who are just completely innocent.

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 So it's not really like a wheel that just keeps rolling down the road in a static way.

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 It's more like a drain that is emptying.

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 It's like a drain that's circling.

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 And it just keeps getting lower and lower.

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 Everything is degenerating in the nation.

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 As we're getting to see what it looks like when people reject God and when they draw away from him.

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 The people of Israel are getting worse and the judges are getting worse.

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 The judges are personifications of the sin of the nation.

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 So the first judge, Othniel, pretty good guy.

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 Very straightforward.

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 He just goes out and saves Israel.

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 The second judge, Ehud, he saves Israel.

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 But it's not quite as clean because he uses deception.

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 And remember, he plunges the dagger into the fat king.

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 Then you have Barak.

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 He saved Israel too.

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 But it's even messier because now he goes to Deborah.

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 And he says, I'm not going if you don't go.

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 And she says, okay.

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 But then, you know, the victory is going to be given into the hands of a woman.

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 So it's just a little bit more messy.

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 Then we get to Gideon.

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 He lacked faith.

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 And that story ended up in idol worship.

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 And then his son Abimelech comes up.

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 He's not even a judge.

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 But he becomes the king.

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 And he puts himself in power.

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 And then he's killing not Canaanites but Israelites.

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 And now we come to Jephthah.

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 And if this pattern holds in the book, we expect Jephthah to be the worst judge yet.

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 And he is.

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 This is a story that focuses on the consequences of bad leadership among the people of God.

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 And maybe you're saying, oh, good.

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 Well, I'm not a leader.

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 So this doesn't have anything to do with me.

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 I can just sort of check out.

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 But leaders are not just simply those that have titles.

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 But those who have some kind of influence over other people.

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 Some leaders do have official titles like pastor, elder, deacon.

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 Parents are the leaders of their children.

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 Some leaders don't have any kind of a title.

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 But even kids can be leaders, right?

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 Every elementary school teacher knows that it only takes one kid to wreck your year.

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 Right?

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 In some ways, all of us lead at different times.

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 And so this story does concern all of us.

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 Last year, Forbes Media Company, you know, they've got a magazine and a website.

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 Forbes Media Company published an article titled,

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 Courageous Leadership Style, Is It Harming or Nurturing Your Company?

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 Is Your Leadership Style Harming the Company?

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 Or is it making it stronger?

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 And this is what the article says.

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 The leader you are has a ripple effect that radiates through your business and your employees

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 into the market and to your customers, vendors, and stakeholders.

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 It can go even further than this.

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 It is highly contagious.

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 Whether you like it or not, you are either spreading rainbows

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 or spreading thunderstorms, and sometimes both.

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 Leaders are in a position of influence to either bring great good

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 to the people that look up to them or great harm.

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 And we're going to see that Jephthah causes great harm,

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 and that is going to serve as an important negative example for us.

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 So let's look at the story of Jephthah,

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 and we're going to draw some conclusions at the end

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 about leadership in the church and in our personal lives.

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 The story unfolds in five scenes.

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 The Lord withdraws.

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 Number one, the Lord withdraws.

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 Number two, Israel recruits Jephthah.

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 Number three, Jephthah's war against the Ammonites.

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 Number four, Jephthah's evil vow.

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 And number five, Jephthah's war with Israelites.

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 Oops.

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 Yeah, so we're going to move pretty quickly through these

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 and just hit the high points.

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 And I'd like to ask you to just follow along with me in your Bible.

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 We're going to kind of announce the verses as we go.

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 And so here we go.

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 Scene number one, if you're taking notes, this is in 10, 6 to 16.

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 Chapter 10, verse 6 to 16.

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 Scene one, the Lord withdraws.

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 Now our passage begins in verse 6 with the most detailed description yet

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 of sin and idolatry among the people of Israel.

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 In the Othniel story, back at the very beginning,

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 they served the Baals and the Asherahs.

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 And that was bad.

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 But now, it says in verse 6 and 7,

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 they served the Baals and the Ashtaroth

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 and the gods of Syria and the gods of Sidon

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 and the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites,

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 the gods of the Philistines,

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 and they forsook the Lord and did not serve him.

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 So they are just covering their bases.

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 From the compass all the way around,

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 north, south, east, and west,

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 all the surrounding peoples are just gathering their gods in

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 and worshiping them and forsaking the Lord.

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 And now, because of their sin,

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 look at what it says in verses 7 and 8,

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 he sold them into the hand of the Philistines

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 and into the hand of the Ammonites,

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 and they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel.

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 For 18 years, they oppressed all the people of Israel

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 so that Israel was severely distressed.

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 18 years of military and political oppression by these enemies.

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 So, verse 9,

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 the Israelites cry out to the Lord,

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 and it sounds pretty good.

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 We have sinned against you

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 because we have forsaken our God and served the Baals.

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 That seems like pretty straightforward confession.

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 But surprisingly, this time,

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 because now we're in Judges chapter 10,

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 this time, the Lord does not take their repentance very seriously.

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 You know, as a rule in the Bible,

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 the Lord is so eager to show mercy and forgiveness.

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 He is just primed for grace.

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 He is a God gracious and compassionate.

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 It only takes a hint of repentance,

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 and God's like, okay, I won't punish you.

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 But here, he becomes angry and even sarcastic.

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 He says,

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 Did I not save you from the Egyptians

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 and from the Amorites,

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 from the Ammonites and the Philistines before?

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 Haven't we been here before?

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 We've done this before.

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 I am a God of mercy,

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 but I will not be taken advantage of.

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 There is a limit, right, to God's mercy.

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 And now that the cycle has repeated itself

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 one, two, three, four, five times,

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 he's done.

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 He's out.

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 God's going to sit this one out

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 and just watch

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 while the people continue to be afflicted.

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 And he says at the end of verse 13,

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 I will save you no more.

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 Go and cry out to the other gods

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 that you've chosen

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 and let them save you

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 in the time of your distress.

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 So the Israelites try to negotiate with God.

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 They say,

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 We have sinned.

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 Do to us whatever seems good to you.

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 Only deliver us this day.

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 Right?

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 That sounds good.

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 It sounds like they're finally submitting to him

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 and that this time they're really sorry.

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 But it's manipulative.

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 The problem exists

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 not because God isn't doing

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 what seems good to him,

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 but because he is.

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 This is judgment.

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 And then unbelievably,

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 in verse 16,

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 they remove their foreign gods.

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 Which means that they had not done so up until now,

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 even though previously they had confessed

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 and repented of their sin.

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 So in verse 10,

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 they confess their sin,

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 but they didn't actually get rid of anything

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 because they're doing that now.

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 And so it says at the end of verse 16,

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 and God became impatient

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 over the misery of Israel.

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 He's frustrated.

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 He's impatient with their half-hearted,

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 half-baked repentance.

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 He's out this time,

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 and they can deal with this problem on their own.

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 And now for the rest of the story,

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 with one exception,

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 God is absent.

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 So we're going to get to see

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 what it looks like

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 when people just kind of make things up as they go.

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 They're still being attacked by their enemies,

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 and so now it's time for Israel

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 to develop a strategic plan.

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 It's time to set some goals.

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 It's time to find the headhunter

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 and do some recruiting

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 and clarify their vision and purpose statements

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 and get some new leadership.

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 And that brings us to scene two,

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 which is chapter 10, verse 17 to 11.

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 Chapter two,

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 Israel recruits Jephthah.

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 Now the Ammonites are on the move against Israel,

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 so the Israelites scramble to find a leader.

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 In previous episodes in the book,

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 the Lord has raised up the deliverer, right?

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 He's the one that raised up Othniel

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 and raised up Jephthah,

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 but now he's checked out,

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 and so they're going to have to go on their own.

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 And so they say in verse 18,

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 who is the man

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 who will begin to fight against the Ammonites?

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 He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

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 And in verses 1 through 3 of chapter 11,

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 we're introduced to Jephthah.

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 Number one,

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 we learn that he's a warrior,

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 so it makes sense

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 that he would be the one to go out

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 and lead the troops.

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 Number two,

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 we learn that he's the son of a prostitute,

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 and therefore he's not a rightful heir of the family,

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 and he's not really even a full member of the family.

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 And so his brothers drive him out of the home,

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 and they say in chapter 11, verse 2,

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 you shall not have an inheritance in our father's house,

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 for you are the son of another woman.

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 And so he runs away,

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 and he joins a gang of worthless fellows.

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 It says in verse 3,

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 this term worthless fellows

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 is the same word that describes Abimelech's hoodlums

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 back in chapter 9

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 that helped him kill his 70 brothers.

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 They're scoundrels.

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 These are worthless guys that are up to no good.

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 So it's probably a reflection on Jephthah

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 because that's who he's hanging out with.

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 So, so far,

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 nothing about Jephthah

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 gives us any confidence

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 that he is going to be the right kind of leader.

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 But hey,

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 he's a good warrior,

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 so he's going to get the job done,

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 and that's what they need.

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 So when the Ammonites attack,

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 they go to recruit him,

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 and this is why the background

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 in verses 1 through 3 of chapter 11

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 is important.

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 It tells us

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 that the people of Gilead

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 have already kicked him out

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 because he's a,

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 he's kind of a reject,

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 and he doesn't belong to the family,

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 and,

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 but now they come groveling to him.

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 Not because he's suddenly of good character,

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 but because they need someone

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 to lead them into battle.

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 And so he agrees,

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 and they make it official.

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 And that's scene 2.

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 The Lord has checked out.

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 They're on their own.

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 But instead of doing what it takes

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 to make things right with God,

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 instead of properly submitting themselves

00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:16.919
 to God and really repenting this time

00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:18.240
 to fix that relationship,

00:13:19.199 --> 00:13:21.679
 they just raise up their own deliverer

00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:23.899
 to fight for them.

00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:25.259
 And he may be a scoundrel,

00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:27.960
 and he may be surrounded by scoundrels.

00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:29.860
 He may not really be leadership material.

00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:31.580
 He's opportunistic,

00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:33.299
 and he's self-serving.

00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:35.319
 He agrees to work for them

00:13:35.319 --> 00:13:37.480
 so that he can be their boss at the end.

00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:38.940
 There's no indication

00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:41.120
 that he has any of the right motivations.

00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.340
 But the Ammonites are attacking,

00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.100
 so what do you do?

00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:49.620
 Scene 3.

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.899
 Okay, here's scene 3,

00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:53.360
 chapter 11, verses 12 to 28.

00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:57.139
 Jephthah's war with the Ammonites.

00:13:57.139 --> 00:14:01.519
 In chapter 11, verse 12, it says,

00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:03.899
 Then Jephthah sent messengers

00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:06.159
 to the king of the Ammonites and said,

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:08.500
 What do you have against me

00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:10.100
 that you have come to me

00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:11.580
 to fight against my land?

00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.980
 Well, this is a curious way to start

00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:17.100
 for a couple of reasons.

00:14:17.199 --> 00:14:18.360
 First of all, notice here

00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:20.080
 how he is elevating himself.

00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:24.320
 Why have you come against me?

00:14:25.020 --> 00:14:26.300
 You've come to me

00:14:26.300 --> 00:14:28.620
 to fight against my land.

00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:31.280
 That's interesting self-centeredness.

00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:33.420
 It's also strange

00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:34.680
 that he's trying to negotiate

00:14:34.680 --> 00:14:35.379
 with the enemy

00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.600
 instead of destroying them.

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.480
 That's not typically

00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.300
 how things happen

00:14:38.300 --> 00:14:39.180
 in the book of Judges.

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:42.580
 And he doesn't show any awareness

00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:44.040
 that the Ammonites have come

00:14:44.040 --> 00:14:46.920
 to attack as judgment from God

00:14:46.920 --> 00:14:48.000
 that God has sent them.

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:49.039
 It's like he's just kind of

00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.139
 starting from scratch here

00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:51.080
 with these negotiations.

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.659
 But he'll give peace a chance.

00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.220
 He'll see if he can

00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:56.039
 talk himself out of this one.

00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:57.240
 And what follows

00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:59.220
 in verses 13 to 27

00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:01.500
 is a prolonged negotiation

00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:04.019
 with multiple sets of messengers

00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.860
 back and forth

00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:06.539
 between the Ammonites and Jephthah.

00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.539
 And in verse 13,

00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:08.860
 the Ammonites say,

00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:10.480
 Well, it's a land dispute.

00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.580
 And then in verse 15,

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:13.159
 Jephthah says,

00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:14.639
 We haven't taken your land.

00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:17.580
 And then in verses 16 to 22,

00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:19.500
 Jephthah recounts Israel's history

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:21.200
 and he says in verse 26,

00:15:21.400 --> 00:15:23.000
 Look, you've had 300 years

00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:24.580
 to come and take back this land.

00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:27.139
 Don't bother me with it now.

00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:30.160
 And finally,

00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:32.340
 finally the Ammonites send word

00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:34.020
 that the negotiations are over.

00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:35.340
 They're just not going to deal.

00:15:35.540 --> 00:15:36.840
 And it says in verse 28,

00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:38.139
 But the king of the Ammonites

00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:39.900
 did not listen to the words of Jephthah

00:15:39.900 --> 00:15:41.480
 that he had sent to him.

00:15:41.520 --> 00:15:42.580
 This is all crazy.

00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.420
 This is not what happens

00:15:44.420 --> 00:15:45.200
 in the book of Jephthah.

00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.840
 The deliverer goes out

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:48.580
 in the power of the Spirit of God

00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.840
 and slaughters the enemy.

00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:52.460
 And Jephthah's just sort of like

00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:54.320
 having these long negotiations

00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:55.640
 about land disputes.

00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:56.920
 And in fact,

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.020
 if you count the words

00:15:58.020 --> 00:15:59.320
 in the original Hebrew,

00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:02.160
 Jephthah's negotiations

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:03.220
 with the Ammonites

00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:06.060
 are 390 words long.

00:16:07.140 --> 00:16:08.720
 But the entire story

00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.379
 to this point

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:11.300
 has only been 278 words.

00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:13.839
 So he's just talking

00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:15.039
 and talking and talking

00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:15.659
 and the messengers

00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:16.679
 go back and forth.

00:16:16.979 --> 00:16:18.419
 Jephthah is really trying

00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:19.279
 diplomacy here.

00:16:20.219 --> 00:16:21.379
 But it doesn't work.

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.439
 They're coming anyway.

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:26.219
 You know,

00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:27.079
 this is what

00:16:27.079 --> 00:16:28.459
 the headhunter

00:16:28.459 --> 00:16:29.459
 found Jephthah for.

00:16:29.579 --> 00:16:30.979
 This was his

00:16:30.979 --> 00:16:32.279
 big employment contract

00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:33.299
 to run the show.

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:33.939
 He's a leader.

00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.219
 He's a big man.

00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.159
 He's going to get it done.

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:38.399
 But compared to the early judges

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.839
 like Othniel and Ehid,

00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:41.399
 this is pretty lame.

00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:44.399
 What is he negotiating here?

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:47.139
 But he's going to have

00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.659
 to go to war.

00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.360
 All right, scene 4.

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.959
 This is chapter 11,

00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:53.459
 verses 29 to 40.

00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:54.959
 Scene 4.

00:16:55.079 --> 00:16:56.639
 This is Jephthah's evil vow.

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.939
 Here we come to kind of

00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:59.339
 the climax of the story.

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.259
 In verse 29,

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.399
 there's a surprise

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:05.440
 that as Jephthah goes out

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.120
 to fight against the Ammonites,

00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.259
 the Holy Spirit

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.860
 comes to empower him.

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.580
 That's a little bit

00:17:10.580 --> 00:17:11.140
 of a surprise

00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:12.039
 because it turns out

00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:13.880
 God is not entirely checked out.

00:17:15.340 --> 00:17:16.640
 This sounds a little bit more

00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.320
 like the pattern

00:17:17.320 --> 00:17:18.380
 in the book of Judges.

00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:20.019
 At this crucial moment,

00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.220
 God steps in

00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:22.559
 and he is willing

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.920
 to empower Jephthah

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.360
 to have victory here.

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:26.420
 And yet,

00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:27.440
 Jephthah

00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.620
 can't

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.840
 stop

00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:31.360
 negotiating.

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.460
 He just can't

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.160
 stop negotiating.

00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:33.940
 And so he makes

00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:34.820
 a vow to the Lord.

00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:35.819
 Look at verse 30.

00:17:36.919 --> 00:17:37.939
 Jephthah made a vow

00:17:37.939 --> 00:17:39.019
 to the Lord and said,

00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:40.059
 If you will give

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.779
 the Ammonites

00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.799
 into my hand,

00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:43.099
 then whatever comes

00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.000
 out from the doors

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.740
 of my house

00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.619
 to meet me

00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:46.700
 when I return

00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:48.179
 in peace from the Ammonites

00:17:48.179 --> 00:17:49.500
 shall be the Lord's

00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:50.619
 and I will offer it up

00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:51.679
 as a burnt offering.

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:53.980
 I mean,

00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:56.519
 first of all,

00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.419
 he does not need

00:17:57.419 --> 00:17:58.200
 to make this vow.

00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.200
 We've already been told

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.039
 that the Holy Spirit

00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.839
 is upon him

00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:01.599
 to empower him

00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.059
 to victory.

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.359
 So this is completely

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.199
 extraneous.

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.240
 But he's still

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.419
 trying to do things

00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:09.299
 his way.

00:18:09.479 --> 00:18:10.259
 He's still trying

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.479
 to manipulate God

00:18:11.479 --> 00:18:11.959
 further

00:18:11.959 --> 00:18:13.719
 to force the issue

00:18:13.719 --> 00:18:15.479
 to try to find

00:18:15.479 --> 00:18:16.319
 a way to get God

00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:17.179
 onto his side

00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:17.979
 even more.

00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:19.379
 And so he vows

00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:20.559
 that when he gets home

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.059
 from the battle,

00:18:21.139 --> 00:18:21.879
 whatever comes out

00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:22.500
 of his house,

00:18:22.699 --> 00:18:23.539
 he will kill

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.119
 that thing,

00:18:24.219 --> 00:18:24.759
 that person,

00:18:24.899 --> 00:18:25.419
 that animal

00:18:25.419 --> 00:18:27.539
 and offer it up

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.459
 as a burnt offering.

00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:29.719
 That does raise

00:18:29.719 --> 00:18:30.179
 the question,

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.339
 what is he expecting here?

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.259
 What does he think

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.579
 will come out

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.539
 of his house?

00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:36.259
 Well,

00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:37.779
 this is an artist's

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.480
 reconstruction

00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.939
 from archaeology

00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:40.980
 of an ancient

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.439
 Israelite home.

00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:44.139
 And you can see here

00:18:44.139 --> 00:18:45.579
 that it was very often

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.720
 that the animals

00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.259
 did live inside the house,

00:18:48.399 --> 00:18:48.559
 you know,

00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:49.459
 cows and chickens

00:18:49.459 --> 00:18:50.000
 and goats

00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.839
 and things like that.

00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.339
 And the people

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.319
 slept upstairs

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:54.199
 and so on cool nights

00:18:54.199 --> 00:18:54.799
 the warmth

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.639
 from the animal,

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.279
 and probably their smells too,

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:59.359
 would waft up

00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.079
 and keep the people

00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:01.599
 warm up

00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:02.399
 on the second floor.

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.359
 So I suppose

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.379
 it is possible

00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:05.419
 that Jephthah

00:19:05.419 --> 00:19:06.079
 is just being

00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.399
 completely foolish here

00:19:07.399 --> 00:19:07.899
 and he's thinking

00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:08.439
 to himself,

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:08.799
 well,

00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:10.079
 maybe an animal

00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:10.639
 will come out

00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:11.139
 and I will,

00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:12.879
 there's a young goat

00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.699
 and I will sacrifice

00:19:13.699 --> 00:19:14.479
 it to the Lord.

00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:18.299
 But I actually think

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:20.359
 that he has in mind

00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:21.240
 a person,

00:19:21.919 --> 00:19:24.759
 a member of his family

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.779
 and I've got three reasons

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.479
 for thinking that.

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.119
 Number one,

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:27.939
 in the structure

00:19:27.939 --> 00:19:28.699
 of the book,

00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:31.000
 we expect him

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:31.879
 to be worse

00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:33.319
 than Abimelech

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:35.179
 and worse

00:19:35.179 --> 00:19:35.979
 than Gideon

00:19:35.979 --> 00:19:38.019
 and those are bad guys.

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.199
 Number two,

00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:41.740
 this gift to God

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.699
 would have to be

00:19:42.699 --> 00:19:43.679
 extravagant

00:19:43.679 --> 00:19:44.619
 because he is trying

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.899
 to force God

00:19:45.899 --> 00:19:46.859
 to help him

00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:47.519
 even though God

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.399
 already said he would.

00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.619
 And number three,

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.379
 there are other

00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:52.199
 biblical texts

00:19:52.199 --> 00:19:52.859
 and there are actually

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:54.459
 other extra-biblical texts

00:19:54.459 --> 00:19:56.479
 that describe

00:19:56.479 --> 00:19:57.639
 exactly this,

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:59.320
 extraordinary,

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.620
 painful,

00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:02.160
 human sacrifice

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:03.680
 as a statement

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:05.100
 of serious devotion

00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:06.140
 to a God

00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:07.180
 to try and get that God

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:07.920
 to do what you want him

00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.240
 to do.

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.080
 Well, maybe you object

00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:11.560
 and you say,

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.660
 well, surely not.

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.220
 Surely,

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.640
 Jephthah doesn't intend

00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:15.560
 human sacrifice.

00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:16.380
 Certainly,

00:20:16.520 --> 00:20:17.520
 human sacrifice

00:20:17.520 --> 00:20:18.720
 isn't in view here.

00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:20.560
 How could Jephthah

00:20:20.560 --> 00:20:21.300
 mean that?

00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:22.280
 But I think

00:20:22.280 --> 00:20:23.060
 that is exactly

00:20:23.060 --> 00:20:23.759
 the point.

00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:26.160
 Jephthah either

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:27.119
 doesn't know

00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:28.359
 or doesn't care

00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:30.539
 what God has said

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.859
 about human sacrifice

00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.559
 in his word.

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.700
 He is being

00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:36.579
 completely reckless here.

00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:37.900
 It's a reckless vow.

00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:39.500
 He's intending here

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.119
 to make God

00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:40.579
 an offer

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.579
 that he can't refuse.

00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:45.279
 And this is what happens

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.960
 when a leader

00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.940
 is not submitting

00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.640
 to God

00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:50.539
 and just makes things up

00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:52.039
 as he goes along.

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:53.659
 Now,

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.379
 Jephthah goes out

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:55.859
 to war

00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:57.139
 against the Ammonites

00:20:57.139 --> 00:20:58.180
 and the narrator

00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:59.099
 doesn't care too much

00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.759
 about this battle.

00:20:59.879 --> 00:21:00.740
 It's not that important

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.180
 to him

00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.019
 and so he sums

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.759
 the whole thing up

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.579
 in verse 33.

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.259
 He struck them

00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.440
 from Aror

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.319
 to the neighborhood

00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:08.079
 of Minith,

00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:09.619
 20 cities

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:10.500
 and as far as

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.599
 Ebo-Kerimim

00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.700
 with a great blow.

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.460
 Okay,

00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.279
 all you need to know

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:14.980
 is that Jephthah

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.740
 won that battle.

00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:16.379
 All the details

00:21:16.379 --> 00:21:17.139
 are not important.

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:19.039
 The focus here

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.139
 is on what happens

00:21:20.139 --> 00:21:20.720
 when Jephthah

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.500
 gets home.

00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:24.659
 It says

00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:25.579
 in verse 34,

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.920
 then after the battle

00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.859
 Jephthah came

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.680
 to his home

00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:29.440
 at Mizpah

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.039
 and behold

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.559
 his daughter

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.019
 came out

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.720
 to meet him

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.799
 with tambourines

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.659
 and with dances.

00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:36.639
 She was his only child.

00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:37.759
 Besides her

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.879
 he had neither son

00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.839
 nor daughter.

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:41.920
 And now

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.460
 the great negotiator

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:45.139
 has found himself

00:21:45.139 --> 00:21:45.799
 in a trap

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.700
 of his own making.

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:50.579
 It wasn't his second cousin

00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:51.399
 that came out

00:21:51.399 --> 00:21:51.879
 of the house.

00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:54.440
 It wasn't his uncle.

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:57.299
 It wasn't his wife.

00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:59.839
 It was his only daughter.

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.359
 And in her innocence

00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.759
 she comes out

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.200
 of the house

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.200
 singing and dancing

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:04.819
 to celebrate

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.119
 her father's victory

00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:06.839
 in battle.

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.559
 And it says

00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.440
 in verse 35,

00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:10.080
 as soon as he saw her

00:22:10.080 --> 00:22:11.340
 he tore his clothes

00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:11.779
 and said,

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.539
 Alas,

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.080
 my daughter,

00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.299
 you have brought me

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.140
 very low

00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.259
 and you have become

00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.580
 the cause of great trouble

00:22:17.580 --> 00:22:18.080
 to me

00:22:18.080 --> 00:22:19.320
 for I have opened

00:22:19.320 --> 00:22:20.360
 my mouth to the Lord

00:22:20.360 --> 00:22:21.980
 and I cannot take back

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.500
 my vow.

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.700
 Well,

00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.880
 it sounds a little bit

00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:27.039
 like he's blaming her.

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:29.320
 You have brought me

00:22:29.320 --> 00:22:30.000
 very low.

00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:31.039
 You have become

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.240
 the cause of my sorrow.

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:36.620
 But in verse 39

00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:37.259
 it says,

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.420
 At the end of two months

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.839
 she returned to her father

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.960
 who did with her

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:42.079
 according to his vow

00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.859
 that he had made.

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.339
 She had never known

00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:44.839
 a man.

00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.720
 So he did kill her

00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:49.779
 and he did offer her up

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.700
 as a burnt offering

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.240
 to the Lord

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:52.140
 and it's important

00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:52.900
 that she had never

00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:53.640
 known a man

00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.940
 because that means

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:56.039
 he did not have

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.240
 a grandchild

00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:57.680
 and that means

00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.720
 his family line

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.559
 is dead.

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:02.480
 So it's a tragedy

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.419
 but it's not just

00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:03.960
 a tragedy.

00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.720
 It's a tragedy

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:07.059
 filled with irony.

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.759
 She is coming out

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.440
 to celebrate

00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.659
 her father's victory

00:23:11.659 --> 00:23:13.839
 but it only causes

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.139
 her own death.

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:18.220
 She is making music

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:18.879
 and dancing

00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:19.599
 to celebrate

00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.639
 but it brings

00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:21.839
 her father grief.

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.980
 Jephthah,

00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:24.759
 because he was

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.940
 the son of a prostitute,

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:27.099
 had been thrown

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:27.980
 out of his own

00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:28.839
 family home

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:30.259
 and now a child

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.079
 has come out

00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:31.859
 of his home.

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.579
 He had no share

00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.500
 in his father's

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:35.959
 inheritance

00:23:35.959 --> 00:23:37.699
 and now his own

00:23:37.699 --> 00:23:38.500
 family line

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.919
 has come to an end.

00:23:41.179 --> 00:23:41.720
 His daughter

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.299
 will die

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:42.980
 a virgin

00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.879
 and she does.

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.799
 Jephthah had meant

00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.779
 to secure victory

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.459
 in the present

00:23:48.459 --> 00:23:49.240
 but it cost him

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:50.039
 his future.

00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:51.839
 This is what it

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.419
 looks like

00:23:52.419 --> 00:23:53.919
 when leaders

00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:54.779
 wing it,

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.579
 when they are

00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.699
 so detached

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.920
 from the character

00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.920
 and the word

00:23:58.920 --> 00:23:59.700
 and the will

00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.500
 and the wisdom

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.299
 of God

00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.799
 that they just

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.620
 wing it

00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.779
 and they just

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.539
 make it up

00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.200
 as they go,

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.299
 it ends in

00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:08.180
 disaster,

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.200
 even personal

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.799
 disaster

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.960
 for Jephthah.

00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.600
 Jephthah has

00:24:11.600 --> 00:24:12.759
 damaged himself

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:14.299
 and his innocent

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.100
 daughter has been

00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:16.319
 swept up in the mess

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.380
 that he created

00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:19.059
 and has become

00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:19.480
 a victim

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.420
 and unfortunately

00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:21.620
 this is not

00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.319
 the last one,

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.160
 it's not the first,

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:24.019
 or the last

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.240
 innocent woman

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.259
 in this book

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.800
 that is going

00:24:27.800 --> 00:24:28.740
 to be sacrificed

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:30.940
 as victims

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.000
 by ignorant,

00:24:32.600 --> 00:24:33.100
 evil,

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.360
 Israelite men

00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.340
 who are becoming

00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:36.220
 more and more

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.259
 like the Canaanites

00:24:37.259 --> 00:24:37.880
 around them.

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:41.200
 Scene 5,

00:24:41.300 --> 00:24:42.180
 this is the last scene,

00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.440
 this is in chapter 12,

00:24:43.540 --> 00:24:44.740
 1 to 7.

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.259
 Jephthah's war,

00:24:46.840 --> 00:24:47.860
 not with the Ammonites,

00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.660
 but with the Israelites.

00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:52.440
 This story just keeps

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.080
 getting crazier

00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:53.680
 and crazier.

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.160
 Jephthah has just

00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.360
 killed his only daughter

00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:57.100
 and now he's going

00:24:57.100 --> 00:24:57.720
 to have more trouble

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.259
 on his hands

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.220
 because soldiers

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:01.040
 from the neighboring

00:25:01.040 --> 00:25:02.600
 Israelite tribe

00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.400
 of Ephraim

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.200
 are angry.

00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:06.000
 Now these are Israelites.

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.100
 Look at chapter 12,

00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.640
 verse 1.

00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.720
 The men of Ephraim

00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.620
 said to Jephthah,

00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:12.420
 why did you cross over

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:13.580
 to fight against

00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:14.340
 the Ammonites

00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:15.340
 and did not call us

00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:16.060
 to go with you?

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:18.140
 We will burn your house

00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:18.880
 over you

00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:19.780
 with fire.

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.620
 Interestingly,

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:22.000
 this is another occurrence

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.840
 of the word house,

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.100
 right?

00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:24.180
 He had been kicked

00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.100
 out of his house

00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:27.080
 and his daughter

00:25:27.080 --> 00:25:28.020
 came out of his house

00:25:28.020 --> 00:25:29.220
 and now the Ephraimites

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.140
 are going to burn down

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:30.640
 his house

00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.700
 because they're so mad.

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.200
 And look what Jephthah says

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.320
 in verses 2 and 3

00:25:35.320 --> 00:25:36.120
 of chapter 12.

00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:38.460
 And as I read this,

00:25:38.580 --> 00:25:39.960
 listen to all the references

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.520
 to I and me

00:25:41.520 --> 00:25:43.740
 and how self-centered he is.

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.860
 Jephthah said to them

00:25:45.860 --> 00:25:46.600
 in verse 2,

00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:48.659
 I and my people

00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:49.619
 had a great dispute

00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:50.459
 with the Ammonites

00:25:50.459 --> 00:25:51.959
 and when I called you,

00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.240
 you did not save me

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.059
 from their hand

00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:55.619
 and when I saw

00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.939
 that you would not save me,

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.579
 I took my life

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.619
 in my hand

00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.399
 and crossed over

00:26:00.399 --> 00:26:01.399
 against the Ammonites

00:26:01.399 --> 00:26:02.719
 and the Lord gave them

00:26:02.719 --> 00:26:03.899
 into my hand.

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.139
 Why then have you

00:26:05.139 --> 00:26:06.919
 come up to me

00:26:06.919 --> 00:26:07.399
 this day

00:26:07.399 --> 00:26:08.839
 to fight against me?

00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:10.119
 Boy,

00:26:10.199 --> 00:26:11.179
 talk about a narcissist.

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.500
 Everything revolves

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.279
 around this guy,

00:26:13.459 --> 00:26:13.599
 right?

00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.819
 13 references

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:16.019
 to himself

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.779
 in two verses.

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.119
 He is completely

00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:19.399
 self-centered.

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.039
 It's all about

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.819
 his own power.

00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:22.539
 But he's not going

00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.559
 to take this insult

00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:25.019
 from these neighboring

00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.579
 Israelites

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:26.719
 and so he gathers

00:26:26.719 --> 00:26:27.619
 his men

00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:28.759
 and he goes to war

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.579
 against the Israelites

00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.500
 in the Civil War

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.939
 and he strategically,

00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:32.980
 he's good at this,

00:26:33.219 --> 00:26:34.159
 he strategically

00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:35.500
 cuts off their escape

00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:37.419
 and then he identifies

00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:38.619
 them by their Hebrew

00:26:38.619 --> 00:26:39.139
 accent

00:26:39.139 --> 00:26:40.319
 and kills them

00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.759
 and actually

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.719
 the word in the

00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.319
 original Hebrew

00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:43.440
 is slaughter.

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.660
 He slaughters them.

00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:46.079
 This is not

00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.839
 typical warfare.

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:47.740
 This is not

00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.660
 taking a strategic

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.740
 position on a hill.

00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.200
 This is hunting

00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.860
 down the Ephraimite

00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:54.259
 tribe and slaughtering

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.019
 them and wiping

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.500
 them out.

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.579
 And in chapter 12

00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.100
 verse 6

00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:58.799
 it says that he

00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:00.319
 killed 42,000

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:01.480
 of these Israelites

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:03.200
 from Ephraim.

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:04.180
 Now think about

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:04.940
 the comparison

00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:06.460
 between that

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.140
 and what he had

00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:07.660
 done with the

00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.220
 Ammonites.

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.579
 With the Ammonites

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.920
 he negotiates,

00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.420
 there's long

00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.340
 negotiations,

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.140
 you know,

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.660
 390 words.

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.680
 The battle's very

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.840
 simple and straightforward.

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.539
 It was probably

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.740
 a strategic victory.

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:19.980
 But here,

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:22.460
 against the Ephraimites,

00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:23.720
 short negotiations,

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.759
 tempers flaring.

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.640
 Jephthah wins the battle

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.440
 but that's not good

00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:30.279
 enough because he

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.019
 hunts them down

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.220
 and slaughters them.

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.960
 And the narrative,

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.019
 the story concludes

00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:36.720
 in chapter 12

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.279
 verse 7.

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.460
 Jephthah led Israel

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.279
 six years,

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.259
 then Jephthah the

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.359
 Gileadite died

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.859
 and was buried

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.519
 in a town

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.259
 in Gilead.

00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:44.619
 And what's

00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.259
 interesting here

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.039
 is it does not

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.399
 say,

00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:47.740
 as it has said

00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.579
 earlier in the book,

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.779
 that the land

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.379
 had rest.

00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.660
 What a mess.

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.819
 What an absolute

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.660
 disaster

00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:57.579
 this has been.

00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.240
 Okay,

00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.960
 let's put all

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.539
 this together.

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.819
 We've got a lot

00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.399
 of moving pieces

00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:03.000
 here but let's

00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.660
 put this together

00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:05.019
 with six observations

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:06.000
 and then three

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.119
 aspects of application.

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.500
 Okay,

00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.199
 we've got nine

00:28:08.199 --> 00:28:09.000
 parts to go here,

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.399
 six observations

00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:12.979
 and three aspects

00:28:12.979 --> 00:28:13.659
 of application.

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.139
 These are going

00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:14.739
 to go pretty quick.

00:28:14.919 --> 00:28:15.459
 First of all,

00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.339
 six observations

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.819
 of key details

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.299
 in this story.

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:18.759
 I just want to

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.379
 summarize where

00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:19.939
 we've been.

00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.379
 Observation number

00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:21.739
 one,

00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:24.119
 the proper application

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:25.639
 of the book of

00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:26.759
 Judges is not

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:28.000
 the sin and

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.979
 leadership problems

00:28:28.979 --> 00:28:29.599
 in the United

00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.839
 States or in

00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.479
 your business.

00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.079
 Okay,

00:28:32.199 --> 00:28:33.119
 I know some of us

00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:33.659
 are thinking like,

00:28:33.739 --> 00:28:33.839
 oh,

00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:34.500
 I know politicians

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.959
 like that.

00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.180
 No,

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.720
 the proper

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.579
 application of

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:37.940
 the book of

00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:38.700
 Judges is the

00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:40.079
 church because

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.860
 this is about

00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:41.539
 the people of

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.299
 God and in

00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:42.960
 the Old Testament

00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.759
 the people of

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.779
 God were in

00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.740
 Israel in the

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.539
 covenant relationship

00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.680
 with the Lord and

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.980
 now the people of

00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.720
 God are located

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.500
 in the church.

00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:51.360
 So we need to be

00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:51.980
 thinking about the

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.680
 church and our

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.380
 own personal

00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:54.539
 spiritual lives.

00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:55.860
 Observation

00:28:55.860 --> 00:28:56.500
 number two,

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.440
 the narrator is

00:28:58.440 --> 00:29:00.740
 very clear at the

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.319
 beginning of the

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.319
 story that God

00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:03.319
 checks out.

00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:05.500
 He wants us to

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.139
 see all the

00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:07.259
 chaos and all

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.419
 the selfishness

00:29:08.419 --> 00:29:09.159
 and all the

00:29:09.159 --> 00:29:10.480
 cruelty that

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.439
 comes when people

00:29:11.439 --> 00:29:12.740
 just do whatever

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:14.079
 they want without

00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.879
 submitting to God.

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.439
 Observation

00:29:17.439 --> 00:29:18.619
 number three,

00:29:20.179 --> 00:29:21.439
 Jephthah is a

00:29:21.439 --> 00:29:22.399
 skilled leader.

00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:23.980
 He is pretty good

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.679
 at what he does.

00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:27.159
 He's a warrior

00:29:27.159 --> 00:29:28.960
 and he does know

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.659
 how to negotiate

00:29:29.659 --> 00:29:31.579
 and he does win

00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.119
 his battles.

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:35.939
 And that blinds

00:29:35.939 --> 00:29:37.899
 the people to

00:29:37.899 --> 00:29:38.459
 his character

00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:38.899
 flaws.

00:29:39.739 --> 00:29:40.359
 See, that's the

00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:41.139
 temptation, right?

00:29:41.219 --> 00:29:42.479
 That is the central

00:29:42.479 --> 00:29:43.500
 temptation in this

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:43.839
 story.

00:29:44.219 --> 00:29:45.459
 That the skill of

00:29:45.459 --> 00:29:46.699
 the leader and

00:29:46.699 --> 00:29:47.599
 his ability to get

00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:48.479
 things done is

00:29:48.479 --> 00:29:49.919
 what blinds people

00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:51.679
 to his character.

00:29:53.879 --> 00:29:54.459
 Observation

00:29:54.459 --> 00:29:55.159
 number four,

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.339
 Jephthah is

00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.239
 motivated by

00:29:58.239 --> 00:29:58.759
 power.

00:29:58.759 --> 00:30:01.299
 He agrees to

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.000
 lead because

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.240
 they promise him

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:04.200
 more authority.

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:07.440
 Observation

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.180
 number five,

00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:09.619
 Jephthah attempts

00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:10.160
 to solve

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.119
 leadership problems

00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:12.019
 with purely

00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:13.619
 human strategies.

00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:14.640
 The fact that

00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.579
 God had empowered

00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:16.319
 him with his

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.359
 Holy Spirit is

00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.140
 kind of beside the

00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:18.700
 point, isn't it?

00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.539
 I don't even know,

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.420
 does that even

00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.000
 factor in?

00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:22.500
 I don't know.

00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:26.779
 purely human

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.619
 strategies of

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.380
 negotiating,

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.759
 manipulating,

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.079
 and harsh

00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.619
 vengeance.

00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:34.740
 Observation

00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:35.420
 number six,

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.680
 the story ends

00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.519
 in disaster.

00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:39.720
 Jephthah has

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.440
 killed his own

00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:40.779
 daughter,

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.200
 his family line

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:43.819
 is ended,

00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.660
 he has started

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.539
 a civil war,

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:48.000
 and he has

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.640
 slaughtered 49,000

00:30:49.640 --> 00:30:50.740
 other Israelites.

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:53.880
 You know,

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.599
 when we consider

00:30:54.599 --> 00:30:55.400
 all the details

00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:56.299
 of this complex

00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:56.779
 story,

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.420
 and we think

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:57.960
 about its

00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.960
 relationship to

00:30:58.960 --> 00:30:59.660
 the rest of

00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.079
 the book of

00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.480
 Judges,

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.680
 here is how I

00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:02.839
 would articulate

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:04.460
 its point in

00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:05.140
 one sentence.

00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:07.559
 It's not rocket

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:07.980
 science.

00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:09.140
 A leader of

00:31:09.140 --> 00:31:09.900
 God's people

00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:11.539
 who is not

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.579
 led by God

00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:14.160
 causes great

00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:14.500
 harm.

00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.859
 But that's not

00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:17.440
 what leaders are

00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.099
 supposed to do.

00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:20.079
 Leaders are

00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:20.559
 supposed to do

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.079
 the opposite

00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:21.500
 of that.

00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:21.839
 They're not

00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:22.259
 supposed to

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:22.799
 bring great

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.099
 harm,

00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:23.579
 they're supposed

00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:24.619
 to create an

00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:25.299
 environment for

00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.259
 flourishing and

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.639
 health and

00:31:27.639 --> 00:31:28.220
 growth.

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.659
 But unless the

00:31:31.659 --> 00:31:32.539
 leaders of God's

00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:33.159
 people are

00:31:33.159 --> 00:31:34.199
 themselves led

00:31:34.199 --> 00:31:34.919
 by God,

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.579
 they bring

00:31:35.579 --> 00:31:36.919
 disaster and

00:31:36.919 --> 00:31:37.799
 pain and

00:31:37.799 --> 00:31:38.059
 trouble.

00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:41.000
 Now let's talk

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.319
 about the

00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:41.939
 application of

00:31:41.939 --> 00:31:42.539
 this in three

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.960
 aspects,

00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:44.939
 three groups,

00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:46.099
 in the church,

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:46.740
 in the family,

00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:47.639
 in our personal

00:31:47.639 --> 00:31:48.259
 lives, three

00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:49.940
 groups, and

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.460
 I'm going to

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:50.819
 try and be

00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.619
 specific here

00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:52.240
 as I kind of

00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:53.200
 brainstorm this.

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:54.680
 What does this

00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.339
 look like in

00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.259
 our lives?

00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:57.000
 Group number

00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:57.440
 one.

00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:58.980
 These are the

00:31:58.980 --> 00:31:59.819
 leaders that we

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:01.920
 think of first

00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:02.559
 in the church.

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.279
 These are the

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:03.839
 leaders that have

00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.680
 official titles

00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:05.619
 like pastor,

00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:08.059
 elder, and

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:08.339
 deacon.

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:11.000
 God has placed

00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.660
 these leaders

00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.519
 over us for

00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:13.119
 our good.

00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.579
 They commit

00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:16.339
 themselves to

00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:17.180
 leading us in

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:17.860
 our relationship

00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.340
 with the

00:32:18.340 --> 00:32:18.580
 Lord.

00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.000
 They sacrifice

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.900
 their time.

00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:22.700
 They carry

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.420
 our burdens.

00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:26.060
 They worry

00:32:26.060 --> 00:32:26.740
 about us.

00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:29.700
 They hear our

00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.400
 confession of

00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:30.720
 sin.

00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:32.799
 They visit us

00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.279
 when we are

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:33.680
 sick.

00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.720
 They preach

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.620
 and teach God's

00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.700
 word faithfully.

00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:38.420
 They create

00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:39.400
 opportunities for

00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.160
 us to grow in

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:40.779
 our faith.

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.700
 They have

00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.539
 incredible

00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:44.480
 potential to

00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.080
 strengthen our

00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:45.759
 faith and

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:47.000
 redirect us,

00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:48.259
 and confront

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.400
 us over sin

00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:50.100
 and teach us

00:32:50.100 --> 00:32:51.299
 what is right.

00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:51.700
 And I have

00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.140
 good news.

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.519
 I have good

00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:52.680
 news.

00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.320
 Now that I've

00:32:53.320 --> 00:32:54.060
 stepped off the

00:32:54.060 --> 00:32:54.680
 elder team,

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.820
 I can say this

00:32:55.820 --> 00:32:56.420
 without any

00:32:56.420 --> 00:32:57.039
 conflict of

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.420
 interest.

00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.080
 We have

00:32:59.080 --> 00:32:59.840
 wonderful

00:32:59.840 --> 00:33:01.660
 pastors and

00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:02.360
 elders and

00:33:02.360 --> 00:33:02.880
 deacons at

00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:03.380
 this church.

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.019
 They are the

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.960
 real deal.

00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:06.259
 And I can tell

00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:07.080
 you that as

00:33:07.080 --> 00:33:07.560
 someone who's

00:33:07.560 --> 00:33:08.100
 been on the

00:33:08.100 --> 00:33:08.580
 inside.

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:10.039
 They are

00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.920
 godly men

00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.580
 and women with

00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:12.100
 hearts that

00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:13.000
 seek after God

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:13.840
 and we are

00:33:13.840 --> 00:33:14.700
 really, really

00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:16.279
 blessed here to

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.579
 have these

00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.079
 people in

00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.779
 leadership over

00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:18.099
 us.

00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:22.339
 But if

00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:23.299
 pastors and

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:23.839
 elders and

00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.440
 deacons are

00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.399
 not led by

00:33:25.399 --> 00:33:28.240
 God, it

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.960
 is possible

00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:30.920
 to continue

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:32.160
 in unrepentant

00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:34.579
 sin, to

00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.379
 lose confidence

00:33:35.379 --> 00:33:36.019
 in God's

00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:38.119
 word, to

00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:38.700
 seek after

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:41.180
 power, to

00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:41.720
 mistreat

00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:43.839
 people, and

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.680
 then to just

00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.560
 keep right on

00:33:45.560 --> 00:33:46.120
 going with

00:33:46.120 --> 00:33:46.580
 ministry.

00:33:46.860 --> 00:33:47.120
 You know

00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:47.560
 that's true.

00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:49.440
 You can be

00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.060
 the worst

00:33:50.060 --> 00:33:50.660
 person with

00:33:50.660 --> 00:33:51.200
 the worst

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.240
 character, the

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.080
 most godless

00:33:53.080 --> 00:33:53.799
 individual with

00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.299
 all of that

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:55.360
 hidden sin, and

00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:55.779
 you can just

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.420
 keep right on

00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:56.860
 rolling through

00:33:56.860 --> 00:33:57.240
 ministry.

00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:58.620
 It's very easy

00:33:58.620 --> 00:33:59.200
 to do.

00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.200
 There's a form

00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:00.820
 of ministry,

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:03.039
 there's a form

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:03.660
 of leadership,

00:34:03.840 --> 00:34:04.320
 it looks

00:34:04.320 --> 00:34:05.299
 Christian, it

00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:06.360
 sounds Christian,

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.420
 but it's

00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:08.360
 lifeless and

00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:08.820
 godless.

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.400
 There's no

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.380
 spiritual power

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.059
 in it because

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.599
 no one is

00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.579
 actually listening

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.820
 to God and

00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:14.400
 his word.

00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:15.980
 These leaders

00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.719
 talk about

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:17.699
 him, they

00:34:17.699 --> 00:34:18.759
 refer to God,

00:34:18.899 --> 00:34:20.139
 all the usual

00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:21.159
 language is in

00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:21.619
 place.

00:34:21.919 --> 00:34:22.599
 On the surface

00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:23.639
 it looks like

00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.579
 spirit-empowered

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:25.699
 ministry, but

00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.079
 they're really

00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:26.639
 just doing their

00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.059
 own thing.

00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:29.059
 They are leading

00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:31.599
 God's people, but

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:32.759
 they themselves are

00:34:32.759 --> 00:34:33.639
 not being led by

00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:33.960
 God.

00:34:35.299 --> 00:34:36.259
 And here's the

00:34:36.259 --> 00:34:37.099
 catch, here's the

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:38.359
 trick, and I think

00:34:38.359 --> 00:34:39.659
 this comes up in the

00:34:39.659 --> 00:34:40.579
 story of Jephthah,

00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:43.099
 that ministry

00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:43.879
 might thrive.

00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:46.379
 the church

00:34:46.379 --> 00:34:46.940
 might grow,

00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.719
 the budget

00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:49.159
 might get

00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:49.719
 bigger, they

00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:50.239
 might have to

00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:50.579
 go out and

00:34:50.579 --> 00:34:50.940
 build a new

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.539
 building because

00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:51.940
 it's getting

00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.460
 so big.

00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:54.019
 But all of

00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:54.639
 those gifts

00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.399
 of leadership

00:34:55.399 --> 00:34:56.579
 and networking

00:34:56.579 --> 00:34:58.199
 and communicating

00:34:58.199 --> 00:34:59.440
 clearly are

00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:00.440
 probably leading

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.079
 the people of

00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:01.799
 God toward the

00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:02.539
 wrong thing.

00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:07.119
 and the gifting

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:08.900
 and the skills

00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:09.980
 that they have

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:11.119
 are only making

00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:11.800
 that leader

00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:12.440
 more

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:16.179
 more

00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:17.940
 effective

00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:19.639
 at doing

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.099
 damage.

00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:22.880
 Like Jephthah,

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.519
 he was a skilled

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:26.239
 leader, but he

00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:26.960
 brought disaster.

00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.480
 Let me ask you

00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.019
 this question.

00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:30.599
 Let's think

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:31.239
 hypothetically

00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:31.539
 here.

00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:32.480
 Would Jephthah's

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.920
 daughter have

00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:34.400
 been better

00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:36.460
 off under the

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.139
 rule of the

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:38.960
 Ammonites or in

00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:39.579
 her father's

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:39.839
 house?

00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:43.139
 That's an easy

00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:43.460
 answer.

00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:44.839
 Here's another

00:35:44.839 --> 00:35:45.199
 question.

00:35:45.339 --> 00:35:46.079
 If you were an

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.759
 Ephraimite,

00:35:47.759 --> 00:35:50.039
 who is the

00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:50.659
 bigger threat?

00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:52.119
 The foreign

00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:53.259
 pagan Ammonites

00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:54.440
 pastor or

00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.000
 Jephthah?

00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:59.400
 A pastor or

00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:00.300
 someone who has

00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:00.780
 an official

00:36:00.780 --> 00:36:01.440
 position of

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:02.100
 authority at a

00:36:02.100 --> 00:36:02.760
 church who is

00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:04.080
 not led by God

00:36:04.080 --> 00:36:04.800
 has the potential

00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.880
 to do incredible

00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:06.720
 damage.

00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.920
 God is absent.

00:36:09.580 --> 00:36:10.180
 There is no

00:36:10.180 --> 00:36:11.200
 submission to his

00:36:11.200 --> 00:36:11.780
 word, but the

00:36:11.780 --> 00:36:12.480
 leaders just keep

00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:13.600
 on leading and

00:36:13.600 --> 00:36:14.300
 the ministry just

00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:15.020
 keeps on growing

00:36:15.020 --> 00:36:16.120
 until eventually it

00:36:16.120 --> 00:36:16.880
 crashes and burns.

00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:17.620
 And we've all

00:36:17.620 --> 00:36:19.120
 heard stories like

00:36:19.120 --> 00:36:19.480
 this.

00:36:19.720 --> 00:36:20.100
 It's tragic.

00:36:22.100 --> 00:36:22.360
 All right,

00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:22.980
 number two, let's

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:23.380
 talk about a

00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.019
 second group, and

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.780
 that is parents.

00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:30.340
 Parents, God has

00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:31.460
 placed us in

00:36:31.460 --> 00:36:32.579
 authority over our

00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:33.559
 children for their

00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:33.880
 good.

00:36:35.720 --> 00:36:37.160
 No one has the

00:36:37.160 --> 00:36:38.840
 ability to

00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:39.740
 influence our

00:36:39.740 --> 00:36:40.840
 children like we

00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:41.039
 do.

00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:43.519
 We are ingrained

00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.660
 in our children's

00:36:44.660 --> 00:36:45.660
 hearts and minds in

00:36:45.660 --> 00:36:46.360
 a way that can

00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:47.240
 never be replaced

00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:48.059
 by someone else.

00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:50.340
 We have incredible

00:36:50.340 --> 00:36:51.300
 power to help them

00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:52.340
 grow and develop

00:36:52.340 --> 00:36:54.059
 and thrive.

00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:55.559
 We can teach our

00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:57.760
 kids to be good

00:36:57.760 --> 00:36:59.160
 conversationalists and

00:36:59.160 --> 00:37:00.120
 to have a variety of

00:37:00.120 --> 00:37:01.100
 interests and to do

00:37:01.100 --> 00:37:02.300
 well in school and to

00:37:02.300 --> 00:37:03.240
 eat healthy and to

00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:04.240
 play sports and to

00:37:04.240 --> 00:37:05.280
 set them up for a

00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:06.120
 successful life.

00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:07.500
 We can give them a

00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:09.079
 sense of safety and

00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:10.460
 security and a

00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:11.280
 knowledge that they're

00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:13.280
 loved, and that is

00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:13.800
 just going to give

00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:14.320
 them a great

00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:15.240
 foundation for

00:37:15.240 --> 00:37:16.840
 launching off into

00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:17.340
 life.

00:37:17.340 --> 00:37:18.820
 And we, more than

00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:21.840
 anyone else, are in

00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:22.519
 an influential

00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.480
 position to point

00:37:23.480 --> 00:37:24.260
 them toward Jesus.

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:27.240
 There's a reason that

00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:28.519
 God calls himself our

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:29.240
 father.

00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:33.500
 Because dads, we are a

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.840
 daily picture of God to

00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:35.900
 our kids, and we can

00:37:35.900 --> 00:37:37.380
 help them love him.

00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:42.800
 But listen, if we are

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:44.480
 not ourselves led by

00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:46.940
 God, we can be skilled

00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:48.240
 parents in many ways.

00:37:49.340 --> 00:37:51.039
 But then we can use the

00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:52.180
 great influence that we

00:37:52.180 --> 00:37:54.840
 have over our children to

00:37:54.840 --> 00:37:55.920
 destroy their faith.

00:37:55.920 --> 00:38:00.360
 The problem with Jephthah

00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:01.340
 was not that he was

00:38:01.340 --> 00:38:02.780
 unskilled, it's that he

00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:04.079
 was skilled, and that

00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:06.539
 was why Israel chose

00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:06.740
 him.

00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:08.059
 The problem with Jephthah

00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:09.019
 was that he was

00:38:09.019 --> 00:38:11.039
 self-centered, interested

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:13.000
 only in power, he was

00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:14.200
 proud, and he was

00:38:14.200 --> 00:38:14.579
 harsh.

00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:18.240
 And I'm just going to

00:38:18.240 --> 00:38:19.079
 speak to myself here.

00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:20.220
 If we are not being led

00:38:20.220 --> 00:38:22.280
 by God, parents, we can

00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:23.480
 do incredible damage to

00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:23.940
 our kids.

00:38:23.940 --> 00:38:26.240
 We can teach our

00:38:26.240 --> 00:38:27.920
 children that church is

00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:30.300
 not that important by

00:38:30.300 --> 00:38:31.700
 prioritizing other things

00:38:31.700 --> 00:38:32.579
 on a regular basis.

00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:36.280
 We can teach our kids

00:38:36.280 --> 00:38:38.220
 that sins should be

00:38:38.220 --> 00:38:39.320
 hidden and ignored

00:38:39.320 --> 00:38:41.360
 rather than be models of

00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:44.460
 confession, apology, and

00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:44.840
 repentance.

00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:48.019
 We can teach our children

00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:50.179
 to be cruel toward other

00:38:50.179 --> 00:38:51.800
 people when we ourselves

00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:53.300
 laugh at what is wrong.

00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:58.119
 we can give our kids

00:38:58.119 --> 00:39:01.159
 entertainment that is dark

00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:03.460
 and violent and impure

00:39:03.460 --> 00:39:07.119
 and that will harden their

00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:08.480
 hearts to the things of God.

00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:11.700
 We can teach our kids that

00:39:11.700 --> 00:39:13.280
 God is untrustworthy and

00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:15.539
 unsafe when we are

00:39:15.539 --> 00:39:17.940
 unreliable and unfaithful

00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:22.639
 faithful and harsh and when we

00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:23.340
 mistreat them.

00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:26.659
 As parents, we are in

00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:28.280
 leadership over our kids.

00:39:28.280 --> 00:39:30.000
 That has been given to us

00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:32.119
 by God and they depend on us

00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:34.000
 and they learn from us day

00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:35.820
 after day in close quarters

00:39:35.820 --> 00:39:37.519
 and it's impossible to fake

00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:37.740
 it.

00:39:38.840 --> 00:39:40.740
 So we have to be dependent on

00:39:40.740 --> 00:39:43.220
 the Lord and to be people of

00:39:43.220 --> 00:39:44.559
 character who do things God's

00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:44.740
 way.

00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:46.919
 Finally, let's talk about a

00:39:46.919 --> 00:39:47.839
 third group of leaders and

00:39:47.839 --> 00:39:50.219
 here I'm going to cheat and

00:39:50.219 --> 00:39:51.119
 just include everyone.

00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:54.879
 Everyone has influence in

00:39:54.879 --> 00:39:55.739
 certain situations.

00:39:57.139 --> 00:39:58.379
 It doesn't matter who you

00:39:58.379 --> 00:39:58.599
 are.

00:39:59.259 --> 00:40:01.159
 There is someone who looks up

00:40:01.159 --> 00:40:01.459
 to you.

00:40:02.379 --> 00:40:04.259
 There is someone who hopes

00:40:04.259 --> 00:40:06.719
 that you will step up and

00:40:06.719 --> 00:40:08.500
 take the lead in doing what is

00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:08.799
 right.

00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:11.960
 God has given us to each

00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:14.039
 other to lead in various

00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:15.420
 capacities and at different

00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:16.640
 times and in different ways

00:40:16.640 --> 00:40:17.920
 for our good.

00:40:18.200 --> 00:40:19.780
 And in the church and in our

00:40:19.780 --> 00:40:21.019
 daily lives, we have the

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:23.160
 opportunity, all of us, to

00:40:23.160 --> 00:40:25.160
 use that influence to benefit

00:40:25.160 --> 00:40:26.820
 other people and to point

00:40:26.820 --> 00:40:28.519
 them toward the Lord.

00:40:28.620 --> 00:40:30.720
 We have a responsibility to

00:40:30.720 --> 00:40:32.519
 use whatever influence and

00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:34.780
 resources we have to make it

00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:36.760
 easier for the people around

00:40:36.760 --> 00:40:38.140
 us and in the household of

00:40:38.140 --> 00:40:40.600
 faith to love and obey God

00:40:40.600 --> 00:40:42.140
 and to make it harder for

00:40:42.140 --> 00:40:44.700
 them to become discouraged

00:40:44.700 --> 00:40:46.200
 and to fall into sin.

00:40:47.660 --> 00:40:49.760
 We can be leaders in

00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:52.560
 protecting the vulnerable and

00:40:52.560 --> 00:40:54.200
 standing up for those who are

00:40:54.200 --> 00:40:55.960
 weak and need extra support.

00:40:57.860 --> 00:40:59.200
 Jephthah came from a difficult

00:40:59.200 --> 00:40:59.700
 background.

00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:00.620
 His mother was a

00:41:00.620 --> 00:41:02.900
 prostitute and that meant that

00:41:02.900 --> 00:41:04.400
 he was probably very poor.

00:41:04.400 --> 00:41:06.400
 He had been rejected, probably

00:41:06.400 --> 00:41:08.099
 socially, but certainly by his

00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:08.579
 family.

00:41:09.940 --> 00:41:11.400
 But he had leadership ability

00:41:11.980 --> 00:41:13.400
 and the problem was that

00:41:14.800 --> 00:41:16.000
 instead of caring for the

00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:17.400
 vulnerable and the poor, he

00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:18.900
 exploited them.

00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:23.300
 He used his influence to secure

00:41:23.300 --> 00:41:25.440
 his own power to increase his

00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:27.820
 own power no matter what it

00:41:27.820 --> 00:41:29.740
 cost the people around him.

00:41:29.739 --> 00:41:32.739
 teenagers.

00:41:36.339 --> 00:41:39.799
 There are other kids your age who

00:41:39.799 --> 00:41:40.439
 look up to you.

00:41:43.779 --> 00:41:45.399
 You have some kind of influence.

00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:49.179
 There is a popularity system.

00:41:49.459 --> 00:41:50.239
 I know about it.

00:41:50.459 --> 00:41:50.779
 We know.

00:41:52.859 --> 00:41:54.439
 There are other kids who look up

00:41:54.439 --> 00:41:54.739
 to you.

00:41:55.419 --> 00:41:56.739
 What are you doing with that

00:41:56.739 --> 00:41:57.139
 influence?

00:41:57.139 --> 00:41:58.639
 What are you doing with that

00:41:58.639 --> 00:41:59.139
 influence?

00:41:59.879 --> 00:42:01.639
 Are you leading the way to

00:42:01.639 --> 00:42:05.739
 stand up for the kid that

00:42:05.739 --> 00:42:06.859
 everyone picks on and makes

00:42:06.859 --> 00:42:07.259
 fun of?

00:42:09.199 --> 00:42:10.960
 Are you encouraging others in

00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:12.239
 your school or in your youth

00:42:12.239 --> 00:42:14.619
 group to do what is right?

00:42:15.139 --> 00:42:16.480
 Or are you using your

00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:18.619
 influence, like Jephthah, to

00:42:18.619 --> 00:42:20.379
 gain even more popularity no

00:42:20.379 --> 00:42:22.199
 matter how much the people

00:42:22.199 --> 00:42:23.500
 around you get hurt?

00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:26.059
 Actually, those are pretty good

00:42:26.059 --> 00:42:27.500
 questions for adults too.

00:42:29.139 --> 00:42:30.239
 Because every time we walk

00:42:30.239 --> 00:42:31.500
 into a room, we look around

00:42:31.500 --> 00:42:33.599
 and we say, who here is

00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:34.659
 greater than I am?

00:42:34.699 --> 00:42:36.139
 And who here is less than I

00:42:36.139 --> 00:42:36.319
 am?

00:42:36.359 --> 00:42:38.920
 And how can I angle in order

00:42:38.920 --> 00:42:40.879
 to influence, in order to

00:42:40.879 --> 00:42:42.059
 increase my influence and

00:42:42.059 --> 00:42:42.339
 power?

00:42:42.960 --> 00:42:44.480
 It's a constant temptation for

00:42:44.480 --> 00:42:44.980
 all of us.

00:42:45.839 --> 00:42:47.940
 When people look up to us, that

00:42:47.940 --> 00:42:49.339
 is a kind of power.

00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:51.039
 And we should say to the Lord,

00:42:51.299 --> 00:42:52.539
 Lord, this is a resource.

00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:54.460
 What do you want me to, who do

00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.420
 you want me to encourage?

00:42:55.420 --> 00:42:58.180
 Who do you want me to

00:42:58.180 --> 00:42:58.720
 protect?

00:43:00.119 --> 00:43:01.320
 Who do you want me to

00:43:01.320 --> 00:43:01.760
 confront?

00:43:02.659 --> 00:43:03.659
 Who do you want me to

00:43:03.659 --> 00:43:05.800
 organize so that we can all

00:43:05.800 --> 00:43:07.119
 serve you more effectively?

00:43:07.380 --> 00:43:09.039
 How can I use the influence

00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:11.200
 that I have, as small as it

00:43:11.200 --> 00:43:13.059
 may be, in this family of

00:43:13.059 --> 00:43:14.159
 faith and in my personal

00:43:14.159 --> 00:43:15.900
 life in order to honor you?

00:43:16.579 --> 00:43:18.740
 Or am I just using my own

00:43:18.740 --> 00:43:19.980
 influence to just gain more

00:43:19.980 --> 00:43:20.380
 power?

00:43:21.480 --> 00:43:23.159
 No matter who gets trampled in

00:43:23.159 --> 00:43:23.759
 the process.

00:43:26.199 --> 00:43:28.500
 Now, let's just finish with

00:43:28.500 --> 00:43:29.399
 this, some good news.

00:43:29.579 --> 00:43:30.719
 The Jephthah story is pretty

00:43:30.719 --> 00:43:31.079
 dark.

00:43:31.980 --> 00:43:33.420
 But God is still there.

00:43:34.739 --> 00:43:35.579
 He is there.

00:43:35.759 --> 00:43:37.599
 And as we watch the book of

00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:39.659
 Judges just disintegrate and

00:43:39.659 --> 00:43:42.259
 degenerate into moral disaster,

00:43:43.299 --> 00:43:44.739
 God is still there.

00:43:44.879 --> 00:43:46.739
 He's still there in the

00:43:46.739 --> 00:43:48.259
 background, no matter how much

00:43:48.259 --> 00:43:50.179
 Israel sins and rejects God.

00:43:50.980 --> 00:43:52.639
 In fact, it's about to get

00:43:52.639 --> 00:43:53.039
 worse.

00:43:53.400 --> 00:43:54.920
 Samson is worse than Jephthah,

00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:56.019
 and then after that, it really

00:43:56.019 --> 00:43:56.619
 gets dark.

00:43:57.739 --> 00:43:59.659
 And yet, God is always there.

00:43:59.779 --> 00:44:01.500
 And in fact, the worse things

00:44:01.500 --> 00:44:03.279
 get in the book of Judges, the

00:44:03.279 --> 00:44:05.079
 better God looks by comparison.

00:44:06.339 --> 00:44:07.199
 He is loving.

00:44:08.679 --> 00:44:09.940
 He is patient.

00:44:11.119 --> 00:44:12.379
 He is gentle.

00:44:14.279 --> 00:44:15.219
 He's forgiving.

00:44:16.739 --> 00:44:18.719
 He leads us like a kind

00:44:18.719 --> 00:44:19.179
 shepherd.

00:44:19.179 --> 00:44:21.940
 He lifts us up when we're weak

00:44:21.940 --> 00:44:23.319
 and gives us strength instead

00:44:23.319 --> 00:44:24.480
 of exploiting us.

00:44:25.279 --> 00:44:27.839
 And that is a model for us as

00:44:27.839 --> 00:44:29.759
 we discern how we can use our

00:44:29.759 --> 00:44:31.000
 influence in the lives of other

00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:31.339
 people.

00:44:31.839 --> 00:44:33.779
 God is worthy of our trust, and

00:44:33.779 --> 00:44:34.940
 it is important that we be led

00:44:34.940 --> 00:44:35.460
 by him.

00:44:36.759 --> 00:44:38.779
 And then that we lead other

00:44:38.779 --> 00:44:40.699
 people in a way that honors him

00:44:40.699 --> 00:44:41.059
 as well.

00:44:41.059 --> 00:44:42.779
 Let's pray.

00:44:47.400 --> 00:44:48.639
 Father, thinking about all these

00:44:48.639 --> 00:44:50.460
 things just reminds us again that

00:44:50.460 --> 00:44:51.239
 we need you.

00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:53.619
 We need your Holy Spirit to empower

00:44:53.619 --> 00:44:56.900
 us to do what is right, to point

00:44:56.900 --> 00:45:01.239
 out our blind spots, to help us to

00:45:01.239 --> 00:45:02.380
 see things in a new way.

00:45:02.380 --> 00:45:06.519
 We know that the story of Jephthah

00:45:06.519 --> 00:45:10.019
 is a negative example, but Lord, we

00:45:10.019 --> 00:45:11.500
 thank you that we serve a God who

00:45:11.500 --> 00:45:14.059
 leads us so well, so kindly and

00:45:14.059 --> 00:45:18.820
 gently, and has provided grace in

00:45:18.820 --> 00:45:20.599
 Jesus Christ for those times when we

00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:21.519
 have not measured up.

00:45:22.500 --> 00:45:27.720
 We know that in our church, in our

00:45:27.719 --> 00:45:31.199
 families, in our parenting, in our

00:45:31.199 --> 00:45:34.959
 ministries, we have a lot of

00:45:34.959 --> 00:45:38.519
 responsibility, and it's hard to

00:45:38.519 --> 00:45:39.279
 always get it right.

00:45:40.319 --> 00:45:41.719
 And so we pray for your help.

00:45:41.980 --> 00:45:43.399
 In Jesus' name, amen.