WEBVTT

00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:05.060
 It's a joy to be with you tonight. I feel in a very exalted position here.

00:00:05.860 --> 00:00:08.120
 I hope I don't move around, I'll be falling off the stage.

00:00:11.140 --> 00:00:15.480
 After three great introductory sermons, and I took the time to listen to all three of them,

00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:24.660
 I have to say, very comprehensive, we come to the first of the judges tonight

00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:29.320
 that the Lord raised up to deliver his people.

00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:36.480
 So, if you have your Bible, we're in chapter 3, and we're reading from verse 7.

00:00:41.259 --> 00:00:43.980
 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:50.079
 They forgot the Lord their God, and they served the Baals and the Asharahs.

00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:54.960
 The anger of the Lord burned against Israel,

00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:01.439
 so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan Rishathayim, king of Aram Naharim,

00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:05.040
 to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years.

00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:10.240
 When they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer,

00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:15.640
 Othniel, son of Canaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them.

00:01:17.540 --> 00:01:22.300
 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war.

00:01:22.299 --> 00:01:30.319
 The Lord gave Cushan Rishathayim, king of Aram, into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.

00:01:31.259 --> 00:01:37.979
 So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel, son of Canaz, died.

00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:43.460
 Once again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord,

00:01:43.540 --> 00:01:48.920
 and because they did this evil, the Lord gave Eglon, king of Moab, power over Israel.

00:01:50.600 --> 00:01:54.800
 Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel,

00:01:55.620 --> 00:01:57.939
 and they took possession of the city of Pams.

00:01:58.659 --> 00:02:03.240
 The Israelites were subject to Eglon, king of Moab, for eighteen years.

00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:09.680
 Again, the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer, Ehud,

00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:14.259
 a left-handed man, the son of Gerah the Benjamite.

00:02:15.620 --> 00:02:19.620
 The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon, king of Moab.

00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:24.240
 Now, Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long,

00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:27.539
 which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing.

00:02:28.079 --> 00:02:31.659
 He presented the tribute to Eglon, king of Moab, who was a very fat man.

00:02:31.659 --> 00:02:37.659
 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way the men who had carried it.

00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:43.579
 At the idols near Gilgal, he himself turned back and said,

00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:46.979
 I have a secret message for you, O king.

00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:50.879
 The king said, Quiet.

00:02:52.139 --> 00:02:53.900
 And all his attendants left him.

00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:59.960
 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer palace,

00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:04.280
 and said, I have a message from God for you.

00:03:05.820 --> 00:03:09.480
 As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand,

00:03:10.580 --> 00:03:14.760
 drew the sword from his right thigh, plunged it into the king's belly.

00:03:16.379 --> 00:03:20.740
 Even the handle sank in after the blade which came out of his back.

00:03:22.020 --> 00:03:23.920
 Ehud did not pull the sword out,

00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:26.839
 and the fat closed in over it.

00:03:28.239 --> 00:03:30.319
 Then Ehud went out to the porch,

00:03:30.959 --> 00:03:33.060
 he shut the doors of the upper room behind him,

00:03:33.419 --> 00:03:34.399
 and he locked them.

00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:37.359
 After he had gone,

00:03:38.359 --> 00:03:41.619
 the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked.

00:03:41.959 --> 00:03:42.539
 They said,

00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:45.779
 He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the house.

00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:48.979
 They waited to the point of embarrassment,

00:03:49.259 --> 00:03:51.419
 but when he did not open the doors of the room,

00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:53.920
 they took a key and unlocked them.

00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:57.379
 There they saw their lord fallen to the floor,

00:03:58.420 --> 00:03:58.740
 dead.

00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:01.340
 While they waited,

00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:03.759
 Ehud got away.

00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:06.759
 He passed by the idols and escaped to Syrah.

00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:08.819
 When he arrived there,

00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:10.960
 he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim,

00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:14.040
 and the Israelites went down with him from the hills,

00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:15.680
 with him leading them.

00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:17.660
 Follow me, he ordered,

00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:21.379
 for the Lord has given Moab your enemy into your hands.

00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:23.980
 So they followed him down,

00:04:24.139 --> 00:04:26.819
 and taking possession of the fords of the Jordan

00:04:26.819 --> 00:04:28.379
 that led to Moab,

00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:30.620
 they allowed no one to cross over.

00:04:31.960 --> 00:04:34.939
 At that time they struck down about 10,000 Moabites,

00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:37.620
 all vigorous and strong.

00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:39.439
 Not a man escaped.

00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:43.019
 That day Moab was made subject to Israel,

00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:46.079
 and the land had peace for 80 years.

00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:50.279
 After Ehud came Shamgar,

00:04:51.060 --> 00:04:51.959
 son of Eanath,

00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:55.259
 who struck down 600 Philistines

00:04:55.259 --> 00:04:57.399
 with an ox god.

00:04:58.220 --> 00:05:01.600
 He too saved Israel.

00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:04.860
 And this is God's word.

00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:04.939
 Amen.

00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:11.219
 I was reminded recently

00:05:11.219 --> 00:05:14.399
 that in forming a worldview,

00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:19.480
 there are at least four specific questions

00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:22.540
 that need to be answered.

00:05:24.019 --> 00:05:28.259
 If you're wanting to see the world in a certain way,

00:05:28.339 --> 00:05:29.740
 you've got to answer four questions.

00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:31.680
 Question one,

00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:32.920
 where did everything come from?

00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:36.780
 The question of origins,

00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.080
 did everything come from nothing?

00:05:39.939 --> 00:05:41.600
 Or did everything come from something?

00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:45.660
 Or did everything come from someone?

00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:48.819
 To have a worldview,

00:05:49.060 --> 00:05:50.360
 you need to answer that question.

00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:53.139
 Second question,

00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:55.139
 what's happened to make us the way we are?

00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:57.800
 Something's wrong.

00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:00.860
 Why do people get sick?

00:06:02.099 --> 00:06:03.419
 Why do people die?

00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:05.500
 As the old hymn puts it,

00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:06.800
 change and decay

00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:09.360
 in all around I see.

00:06:10.219 --> 00:06:10.500
 Why?

00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:13.719
 These things and many other things

00:06:13.719 --> 00:06:14.800
 require an explanation

00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:16.000
 because things

00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:18.819
 are simply not as they are supposed to be.

00:06:19.219 --> 00:06:20.560
 And all of us deep down

00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:22.199
 know that to be true.

00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:23.800
 That's another question

00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:24.699
 that needs to be answered.

00:06:25.780 --> 00:06:26.420
 What's wrong?

00:06:28.460 --> 00:06:29.759
 The third question is,

00:06:29.900 --> 00:06:30.800
 is there any hope?

00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:35.620
 Can what is broken be fixed?

00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:38.120
 If so,

00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:41.519
 who or what can fix it?

00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:43.939
 And when and where and how

00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:44.819
 can it be fixed?

00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:48.360
 And then of course,

00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:50.199
 there's the fourth question.

00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:53.000
 What is the end of the story going to be?

00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:58.660
 We need to address the issue of destiny.

00:06:58.780 --> 00:07:00.139
 So, if you're making a worldview,

00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:02.259
 if you're wanting to have a worldview,

00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:04.199
 these are the questions

00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:06.879
 that need to be answered.

00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:08.900
 As far as the Christian worldview is concerned,

00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:10.319
 the first three questions

00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:12.460
 are answered in the first three chapters

00:07:12.460 --> 00:07:13.340
 of the book of Genesis.

00:07:14.900 --> 00:07:16.180
 The Bible begins,

00:07:16.180 --> 00:07:17.680
 In the beginning,

00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:19.900
 God created the heavens and the earth.

00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:22.759
 There's the first answer to the question,

00:07:22.900 --> 00:07:24.560
 as far as the Christian is concerned.

00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:27.620
 And we're told that everything God made

00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:29.100
 was very good.

00:07:30.400 --> 00:07:31.319
 Question one answered.

00:07:33.280 --> 00:07:34.620
 Then came the fall,

00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:36.079
 as our first parents rebelled

00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:37.360
 and disobeyed their Creator.

00:07:37.699 --> 00:07:38.819
 Death came into the picture,

00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:40.220
 as promised.

00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:42.180
 Everything was cursed.

00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:44.860
 Nature became raw in tooth and claw.

00:07:44.860 --> 00:07:47.620
 That answers the second question.

00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:49.180
 The problem is really

00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:50.580
 sin.

00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:56.759
 That answers question two.

00:07:58.040 --> 00:07:59.340
 No sooner had that happened,

00:07:59.420 --> 00:08:00.240
 and we have recorded

00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.759
 that wonderful promise of hope

00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.319
 in Genesis 3.15,

00:08:04.020 --> 00:08:05.420
 telling us that the seed of the woman

00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:06.199
 would come to bruise

00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:07.100
 the head of the serpent.

00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:10.980
 He, whoever he is,

00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:12.680
 when he came,

00:08:12.740 --> 00:08:13.720
 he would deal with the problem,

00:08:13.820 --> 00:08:14.700
 but he would deal with it

00:08:14.700 --> 00:08:16.860
 at great cost to himself.

00:08:16.960 --> 00:08:18.040
 And that points us, of course,

00:08:18.200 --> 00:08:19.640
 to the coming of the Lord Jesus

00:08:19.640 --> 00:08:20.439
 into the world

00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:22.720
 on his great rescue mission.

00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:23.980
 His name would be Jesus,

00:08:24.340 --> 00:08:25.700
 for he would save his people

00:08:25.700 --> 00:08:27.100
 from their sins.

00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:28.500
 That answers question three,

00:08:28.640 --> 00:08:30.060
 as far as the Christian is concerned.

00:08:31.640 --> 00:08:32.800
 And the rest of the Bible

00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:33.699
 moves us on

00:08:33.699 --> 00:08:35.259
 in expectation

00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:37.079
 and anticipation

00:08:37.079 --> 00:08:38.279
 of the day

00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:39.639
 when Jesus will come again

00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:42.219
 and usher in the new heavens

00:08:42.219 --> 00:08:43.799
 and the new earth.

00:08:44.599 --> 00:08:45.439
 And that

00:08:45.439 --> 00:08:46.959
 is the biblical answer

00:08:46.959 --> 00:08:48.439
 to question four.

00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:49.919
 How's it all going to end?

00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:51.979
 In a few sentences,

00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.120
 with a few broad brush strokes,

00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:55.719
 as it were,

00:08:55.719 --> 00:08:56.779
 there you have

00:08:56.779 --> 00:08:58.899
 the Christian's worldview.

00:08:58.899 --> 00:08:59.399
 However,

00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:03.579
 at every stage

00:09:03.579 --> 00:09:04.620
 in world history,

00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:06.860
 our problem

00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:09.399
 as the people of God

00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:10.699
 has been a failure

00:09:10.699 --> 00:09:11.860
 to live

00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:12.879
 in the light

00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:14.419
 of these great foundational

00:09:14.419 --> 00:09:16.299
 fundamental truths.

00:09:17.459 --> 00:09:19.019
 Always say we believe them,

00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:20.679
 but we've really failed

00:09:20.679 --> 00:09:21.959
 very often to live

00:09:21.959 --> 00:09:23.079
 in the light of them,

00:09:23.139 --> 00:09:24.019
 and never more so

00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:25.179
 than during the period

00:09:25.179 --> 00:09:25.799
 of the judges.

00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:29.079
 The problem

00:09:29.079 --> 00:09:29.899
 with the Israelites

00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:30.620
 in the time

00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:31.159
 of the judges

00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:32.379
 was that they fell

00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:34.000
 again and again

00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:35.740
 at this hurdle.

00:09:36.099 --> 00:09:36.799
 On the one hand,

00:09:36.839 --> 00:09:38.079
 they failed to take sin

00:09:38.079 --> 00:09:38.839
 seriously.

00:09:39.839 --> 00:09:40.699
 On the other hand,

00:09:40.719 --> 00:09:42.099
 they failed to fix their eyes

00:09:42.099 --> 00:09:43.319
 on the one

00:09:43.319 --> 00:09:44.179
 who is invisible.

00:09:45.859 --> 00:09:46.079
 Therefore,

00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:46.639
 they failed

00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:47.879
 to glorify God

00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:48.439
 in the midst

00:09:48.439 --> 00:09:49.240
 of a surrounding

00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:50.759
 godless culture.

00:09:52.459 --> 00:09:53.500
 God required of them

00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:55.379
 the most radical response,

00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:57.479
 in terms of

00:09:57.479 --> 00:09:59.199
 a biblical separation

00:09:59.199 --> 00:09:59.939
 from the world.

00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:00.839
 They were to be

00:10:00.839 --> 00:10:01.419
 in the world,

00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.539
 but not of the world,

00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:03.279
 not of the ways

00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:03.759
 of the world,

00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:04.979
 not of the wickedness

00:10:04.979 --> 00:10:05.659
 of the world.

00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:07.559
 The peoples of Canaan

00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:08.219
 were to be removed

00:10:08.219 --> 00:10:08.819
 from the scene

00:10:08.819 --> 00:10:09.779
 because their life

00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:10.399
 and their culture

00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:12.099
 had become incorrigible.

00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:14.799
 But Israel didn't do this

00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:15.639
 when they could have done it

00:10:15.639 --> 00:10:16.359
 and should have done it.

00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:16.859
 Instead,

00:10:17.079 --> 00:10:17.639
 again and again,

00:10:17.859 --> 00:10:18.699
 they deliberately

00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:19.819
 disobeyed the Lord.

00:10:22.939 --> 00:10:24.240
 They became idolaters.

00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:28.259
 They adopted a policy

00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:30.679
 of peaceful coexistence.

00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:33.859
 They compromised their faith

00:10:33.859 --> 00:10:35.039
 in such a way

00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:36.359
 that it led to their moral

00:10:36.359 --> 00:10:37.740
 and spiritual influence

00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:39.259
 being snuffed out.

00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:42.039
 They reached a point

00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:43.319
 where it was almost impossible

00:10:43.319 --> 00:10:44.719
 to distinguish them

00:10:44.719 --> 00:10:45.579
 from their neighbors.

00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.620
 They fell into the trap

00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.779
 old Matthew Henry,

00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:51.000
 the English Puritan,

00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:51.639
 wrote about

00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:52.919
 and warned God's people

00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:54.199
 in the 17th century

00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:54.940
 when he said,

00:10:55.060 --> 00:10:55.820
 men that have broken

00:10:55.820 --> 00:10:56.480
 the fence

00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.520
 wander endlessly.

00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:01.940
 They gave way

00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:02.600
 in one thing

00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:03.259
 and then another

00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:04.180
 until everyone

00:11:04.180 --> 00:11:06.560
 was doing what was right

00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:07.379
 in his own hands.

00:11:08.920 --> 00:11:10.180
 That's why the book of Judges

00:11:10.180 --> 00:11:11.180
 I think is so relevant.

00:11:13.060 --> 00:11:14.100
 That's why I think

00:11:14.100 --> 00:11:15.600
 it's so contemporary.

00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:17.680
 If we put the world's view

00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:18.140
 of anything

00:11:18.140 --> 00:11:19.560
 before God's world view,

00:11:19.900 --> 00:11:20.759
 give it any room

00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:21.440
 to take root

00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:22.400
 in our hearts and minds,

00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.299
 we will find

00:11:23.299 --> 00:11:24.279
 that such compromise

00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:25.419
 will only lead

00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:26.840
 ultimately to catastrophe.

00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:29.759
 Joshua

00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:32.299
 saw this coming

00:11:32.299 --> 00:11:35.059
 one generation earlier.

00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:37.379
 He threw down

00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:37.919
 the gauntlet

00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:39.000
 to the people of God

00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:39.740
 towards the end

00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.340
 of his life.

00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:42.699
 He told them

00:11:42.699 --> 00:11:44.079
 about all that God

00:11:44.079 --> 00:11:44.959
 had done for them

00:11:44.959 --> 00:11:45.980
 in bringing them

00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:47.079
 into the promised land

00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:48.300
 and then he said

00:11:48.300 --> 00:11:49.759
 this to them

00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:51.200
 in Joshua 24

00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:53.080
 verses 14 and 15

00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:54.060
 in what was his

00:11:54.060 --> 00:11:54.840
 farewell address

00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:55.420
 to the nation.

00:11:55.680 --> 00:11:56.200
 I think it's been

00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:56.879
 quoted before

00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:57.580
 in one of the three

00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:58.080
 introductions.

00:11:58.840 --> 00:11:59.780
 Now fear the Lord,

00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:00.160
 he said.

00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:01.240
 He's an old man now.

00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:02.960
 Fear the Lord,

00:12:03.060 --> 00:12:03.360
 he said,

00:12:03.400 --> 00:12:04.200
 and serve him

00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:05.840
 with all faithfulness.

00:12:06.400 --> 00:12:07.280
 Throw away the God

00:12:07.280 --> 00:12:08.120
 your forefathers

00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:09.220
 worshipped beyond the river

00:12:09.220 --> 00:12:09.740
 and in Egypt

00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:11.180
 and serve the Lord.

00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:12.800
 But if serving the Lord

00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:14.240
 seems undesirable to you,

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:15.700
 then choose for yourselves

00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:16.240
 this day

00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:17.519
 who you will serve.

00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:18.940
 Whether the gods

00:12:18.940 --> 00:12:19.740
 your forefathers

00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:20.840
 served beyond the river

00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:22.279
 or the gods of the Amorites

00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:22.940
 in whose land

00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:23.480
 you are living.

00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:24.480
 But as for me

00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:25.360
 and my household,

00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:27.180
 we will serve the Lord.

00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.299
 In other words,

00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:30.139
 listen,

00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:32.440
 I have made my choice.

00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.580
 You must make

00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:35.480
 your choice.

00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:37.539
 But remember this,

00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:38.940
 we will all become

00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:40.200
 the choices that we make.

00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:42.279
 And you remember

00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:42.879
 how the people

00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:44.139
 replied to that challenge?

00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:46.680
 Verses 16 and 18

00:12:46.680 --> 00:12:47.440
 of that chapter.

00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:49.060
 Far be it from us,

00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:49.580
 they said,

00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:50.759
 to forsake the Lord,

00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:52.299
 to serve other gods.

00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.600
 It was the Lord,

00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:54.659
 our God himself,

00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:55.399
 who brought us

00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:56.060
 and our fathers

00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:57.019
 up out of Egypt,

00:12:57.139 --> 00:12:58.180
 that land of slavery,

00:12:58.419 --> 00:12:59.320
 and performed those

00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:00.960
 great signs before our eyes.

00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:02.220
 He protected us

00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:03.820
 on our entire journey

00:13:03.820 --> 00:13:05.259
 and among all the nations

00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.320
 through which we traveled.

00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.639
 And the Lord drove out

00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:08.180
 before us

00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:09.299
 all the nations,

00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:10.419
 including the Amorites

00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:11.539
 who lived in the land.

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.299
 We too will serve

00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:13.879
 the Lord

00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.019
 because he is

00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:15.819
 our God.

00:13:16.219 --> 00:13:16.799
 Sounds good.

00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:20.559
 Sounds plausible.

00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:23.259
 But old Joshua

00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:24.019
 wasn't blind.

00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:27.259
 Nor was he stupid.

00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.859
 Their words were not

00:13:30.859 --> 00:13:32.299
 matched by their deeds.

00:13:32.979 --> 00:13:34.539
 And he could see it

00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:36.519
 beginning to take place.

00:13:36.859 --> 00:13:38.039
 He saw the way

00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:38.659
 they were living

00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:39.599
 day in and day out.

00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.080
 He could see the signs.

00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:42.460
 He could read the trends.

00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.560
 He saw the writing

00:13:44.560 --> 00:13:45.300
 was on the wall.

00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.320
 He told them

00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:47.740
 that what they were saying

00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.379
 with their lips

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.720
 was not being worked out

00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:51.560
 in their everyday lives.

00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:54.240
 The red lights of danger,

00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:55.460
 metaphorically speaking,

00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.340
 were flashing.

00:13:57.180 --> 00:13:58.360
 The alarm bells

00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.000
 were ringing.

00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:00.639
 The people

00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:02.540
 lacked a heart experience

00:14:02.540 --> 00:14:03.940
 of God.

00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:04.940
 A generation

00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:06.320
 was rising up

00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.820
 who knew about the Lord.

00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:09.600
 They probably have quoted

00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.580
 all the doctrines

00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:11.460
 that they'd been taught

00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:12.360
 as wee boys

00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.120
 and wee girls.

00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:14.240
 But a generation

00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:15.020
 was rising up

00:14:15.020 --> 00:14:16.100
 who knew about the Lord

00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:17.240
 but who didn't know

00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:17.860
 the Lord.

00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:19.500
 And it was second hand

00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.200
 to them.

00:14:20.400 --> 00:14:21.660
 They had forsaken the Lord.

00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:22.640
 They had done evil

00:14:22.640 --> 00:14:23.680
 in the eyes of the Lord.

00:14:24.680 --> 00:14:25.980
 When the days of Joshua

00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:26.520
 were over,

00:14:27.760 --> 00:14:29.020
 but he had seen it coming.

00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:33.100
 They entered into

00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:34.000
 what is now known

00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:34.639
 as the period

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.340
 of the judges

00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:36.079
 with hearts

00:14:36.079 --> 00:14:37.100
 that were rebellious

00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:38.399
 and cold

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.259
 towards

00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:40.460
 the God

00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:41.419
 who created them

00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:41.960
 and the God

00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:42.419
 who had entered

00:14:42.419 --> 00:14:43.139
 into a covenant

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.679
 with them.

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:45.759
 God delivered them

00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:46.379
 into the hands

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.079
 of their enemies

00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:48.059
 again

00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:49.399
 and again

00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:50.980
 and again.

00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:52.659
 Enemies

00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:54.319
 who would eventually

00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:54.939
 move them

00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:55.659
 to cry out

00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:56.159
 to the Lord

00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:56.679
 for help

00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:57.579
 and when they did so

00:14:57.579 --> 00:14:59.199
 he would deliver them

00:14:59.199 --> 00:14:59.919
 again

00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.120
 and again

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.259
 and again

00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:04.259
 by raising up judges,

00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.120
 saviors,

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:07.879
 deliverers,

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.679
 military leaders,

00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:10.719
 call them what you will.

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:13.099
 So what I want to do

00:15:13.099 --> 00:15:14.299
 is to look at

00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.219
 the first three judges

00:15:15.219 --> 00:15:15.599
 tonight.

00:15:15.719 --> 00:15:16.219
 That's what I've been

00:15:16.219 --> 00:15:16.839
 asked to do.

00:15:17.979 --> 00:15:18.539
 Othniel,

00:15:20.359 --> 00:15:20.819
 Ehud

00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:22.939
 and Shamgar.

00:15:23.719 --> 00:15:24.559
 I've called them

00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:25.559
 the three mister men

00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:27.059
 so that you might

00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:27.659
 remember it.

00:15:27.719 --> 00:15:28.719
 I did a series once

00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:29.259
 in Musselboro

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.479
 on the mister men

00:15:30.479 --> 00:15:31.579
 for the boys and girls.

00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:32.759
 I was over

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:34.179
 in Ireland

00:15:34.179 --> 00:15:35.439
 and I met a family there

00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:36.239
 and one of them

00:15:36.239 --> 00:15:36.699
 said to me

00:15:36.699 --> 00:15:37.699
 when I was a wee girl

00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:39.079
 I remember you did

00:15:39.079 --> 00:15:40.579
 a series on the mister men.

00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:43.099
 Three mister men.

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.299
 Othniel.

00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:48.379
 What shall we call him?

00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:50.759
 Mister Unique.

00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:53.639
 Mister Unique.

00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:55.580
 God had delivered

00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.059
 the people

00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.779
 into the hands

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.419
 of this man

00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:58.919
 called Cushan Rishathain

00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:01.019
 king of Aram

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:02.679
 in verse 7

00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:03.580
 chapter 3

00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.600
 because of their sin

00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:05.819
 worshipping and serving

00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:07.199
 the Baals and the Ashtaroths.

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.240
 The heat

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:12.100
 of God's jealous love

00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:13.819
 will not allow

00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:14.460
 his people

00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:15.659
 to remain

00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:16.740
 cosy and comfortable

00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:17.819
 in their sin.

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.340
 If they don't

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.340
 obey his commands

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:23.000
 they will have to

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.560
 endure

00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:24.560
 his chastening.

00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.620
 It's the mark

00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:27.160
 of being

00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:28.379
 a real

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:29.200
 genuine

00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:31.080
 child of God.

00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:33.160
 Cushan Rishathain

00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:34.320
 in the Hebrew language

00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:34.960
 I understand

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.920
 literally means

00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:37.000
 Cushan of the

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:38.040
 double wickedness.

00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.879
 God was angry

00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.639
 with his people

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.580
 and that's why

00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.320
 he delivered them

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:44.940
 into the hands

00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:45.660
 of this wicked

00:16:45.660 --> 00:16:46.600
 pagan king.

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.639
 I like what

00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.220
 Ralph Davis

00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:50.200
 has to say on this.

00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:51.620
 he says Cushan

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.780
 wasn't good news

00:16:52.780 --> 00:16:54.320
 or bad news.

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:56.160
 He was good

00:16:56.160 --> 00:16:56.860
 bad news

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:59.200
 in the sense

00:16:59.200 --> 00:16:59.620
 that God

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.220
 is prepared

00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:00.820
 to inflict

00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:01.580
 misery on his

00:17:01.580 --> 00:17:01.879
 people

00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:02.879
 to waken them

00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.140
 up.

00:17:03.420 --> 00:17:04.000
 Only Davis

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.559
 could put it

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.000
 that way.

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.000
 What God

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.500
 was doing

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.039
 would not

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:09.580
 save his

00:17:09.580 --> 00:17:09.920
 people

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.740
 but it would

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.259
 at least be

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.759
 the beginning

00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.460
 of them

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.700
 feeling their

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.200
 need.

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.539
 Helping

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.180
 them to see

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:17.779
 what their

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.700
 true condition

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.360
 is.

00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:20.279
 Their true

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:20.840
 position

00:17:20.840 --> 00:17:21.500
 is.

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:22.860
 Israel was

00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.559
 subject to

00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.059
 this man

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:24.600
 Cushan

00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:25.519
 Rishathain

00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.440
 for eight

00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.120
 years until

00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:28.259
 finally and

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:28.799
 in sheer

00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.519
 desperation

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.340
 and as a

00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.100
 last resort

00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:32.039
 they cried

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:32.759
 out to God

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.279
 to deliver

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.460
 them.

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.440
 Now it

00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:35.340
 doesn't say

00:17:35.340 --> 00:17:37.319
 they repented

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:37.779
 of their

00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:38.220
 sins.

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.700
 They may

00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.160
 have done

00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:42.240
 but on the

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:42.660
 other hand

00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:43.259
 they may not

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:43.720
 have done

00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.319
 when they

00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:44.880
 cried out

00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.440
 but they

00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:45.900
 cried out

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.620
 for deliverance

00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:47.259
 and God

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.939
 had compassion

00:17:47.939 --> 00:17:48.299
 on them.

00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:48.819
 He was

00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:49.439
 reacting

00:17:49.439 --> 00:17:50.919
 if not

00:17:50.919 --> 00:17:52.599
 to their

00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:53.279
 penitence

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.339
 then to

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.019
 their pain.

00:17:56.699 --> 00:17:56.919
 And we

00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:57.239
 read in

00:17:57.239 --> 00:17:57.839
 verse 9

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.779
 when they

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.359
 cried to

00:17:59.359 --> 00:17:59.839
 the Lord

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.279
 he raised

00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:00.639
 up for

00:18:00.639 --> 00:18:00.939
 them a

00:18:00.939 --> 00:18:01.539
 deliverer

00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.219
 Othniel

00:18:02.219 --> 00:18:02.799
 son of

00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.299
 Canaz

00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.039
 Caleb's

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.319
 younger

00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:04.739
 brother

00:18:04.739 --> 00:18:05.579
 who saved

00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:05.879
 them.

00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.219
 He's the

00:18:08.219 --> 00:18:08.759
 first judge.

00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:11.259
 The man

00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:11.899
 chosen by

00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:12.379
 God to

00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:12.759
 be their

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.379
 deliverer

00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:14.479
 was called

00:18:14.479 --> 00:18:15.439
 Othniel.

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.400
 I call

00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.259
 him Mr.

00:18:17.360 --> 00:18:17.720
 Unique

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:18.000
 even

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.360
 although

00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:18.860
 there's

00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:19.160
 nothing

00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:19.480
 really

00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:19.799
 very

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.360
 outstanding

00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:20.779
 about

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:20.960
 him.

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:21.299
 He

00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:21.580
 has

00:18:21.580 --> 00:18:21.740
 been

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.240
 described

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.660
 as a

00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:23.100
 colourless

00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:23.660
 character

00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:24.460
 with no

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.480
 flash or

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.440
 dash and

00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:27.420
 yet he

00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.080
 was unique

00:18:28.080 --> 00:18:29.080
 in the

00:18:29.080 --> 00:18:29.480
 sense that

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:29.920
 he was the

00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.380
 first of

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:30.799
 the twelve

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.279
 judges.

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:33.940
 Now there's

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.360
 a sense

00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:34.900
 we all know

00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:35.180
 in which

00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:35.519
 we're all

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:35.900
 unique.

00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:37.799
 The

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.100
 dictionary

00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:38.539
 meaning of

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:38.820
 the word

00:18:38.820 --> 00:18:39.279
 unique is

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:39.559
 to be

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.039
 single and

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.700
 kind having

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.220
 no like

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:41.920
 or equal.

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.279
 When God

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:44.880
 made each

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.320
 and every

00:18:45.320 --> 00:18:45.620
 one of

00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:45.900
 us he

00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:46.140
 broke

00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:46.320
 the

00:18:46.320 --> 00:18:46.740
 mould we

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.500
 often say

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:47.980
 that.

00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:49.520
 We're all

00:18:49.520 --> 00:18:49.940
 unique in

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:50.420
 that sense

00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.080
 but Othniel

00:18:51.080 --> 00:18:52.080
 was also

00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:52.560
 unique in

00:18:52.560 --> 00:18:52.920
 the sense

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.560
 that he

00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.220
 had no

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.020
 previous

00:18:55.020 --> 00:18:55.720
 examples

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.840
 to follow

00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:58.040
 no role

00:18:58.040 --> 00:18:58.860
 model to

00:18:58.860 --> 00:18:59.220
 give him

00:18:59.220 --> 00:18:59.800
 his bearings

00:18:59.800 --> 00:19:00.180
 as a

00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:00.520
 judge.

00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:02.840
 There were

00:19:02.840 --> 00:19:03.860
 no guidelines

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:05.300
 laid down

00:19:05.300 --> 00:19:05.900
 by those

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.220
 who had

00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:06.840
 gone before

00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:07.720
 because nobody

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.580
 had gone

00:19:08.580 --> 00:19:09.160
 before.

00:19:10.840 --> 00:19:11.660
 He was

00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:12.160
 the first.

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:14.800
 pioneer

00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:15.540
 if you

00:19:15.540 --> 00:19:15.800
 like

00:19:15.800 --> 00:19:16.820
 in his

00:19:16.820 --> 00:19:17.040
 own

00:19:17.040 --> 00:19:17.580
 field

00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:19.320
 and that's

00:19:19.320 --> 00:19:19.980
 never an

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.900
 easy slot

00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:21.460
 to fill

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.000
 but he's

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.560
 God's

00:19:22.560 --> 00:19:22.980
 man

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.180
 God

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:24.660
 raised them

00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:24.880
 up

00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:25.140
 he's

00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:25.600
 God's

00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:26.000
 man

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.019
 for the

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.380
 hour.

00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:27.900
 Not

00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:28.560
 everybody's

00:19:28.560 --> 00:19:29.000
 type of

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.420
 ministry

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.120
 but it's

00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:30.560
 got to be

00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:31.180
 somebody's

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:31.580
 ministry

00:19:31.580 --> 00:19:32.279
 to be

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:32.980
 the pioneer

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.540
 to be

00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:34.519
 the trailblazer

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.680
 as a new

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.380
 need arises

00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.100
 and a new

00:19:37.100 --> 00:19:37.519
 ministry

00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:37.980
 emerges

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.800
 as a new

00:19:38.800 --> 00:19:40.160
 day dawns

00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:41.960
 Othniel.

00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:44.320
 Surely a

00:19:44.320 --> 00:19:45.140
 privilege to

00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:45.420
 be the

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:45.960
 first to

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.580
 do whatever

00:19:46.580 --> 00:19:47.080
 it is

00:19:47.080 --> 00:19:47.860
 that needs

00:19:47.860 --> 00:19:48.160
 to be

00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:48.420
 done.

00:19:50.060 --> 00:19:50.259
 I think

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.380
 it's

00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:50.740
 interesting

00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:51.220
 to read

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:51.500
 that the

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:51.740
 Jewish

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.320
 rabbis

00:19:52.320 --> 00:19:53.120
 were so

00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:53.519
 impressed

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.320
 by Othniel

00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:54.759
 that they

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.240
 spoke of

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:55.540
 him and

00:19:55.540 --> 00:19:55.940
 they wrote

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.360
 of him

00:19:56.360 --> 00:19:57.360
 as the

00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:57.920
 first among

00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.420
 the judges

00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:59.180
 not only

00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.560
 in a

00:19:59.560 --> 00:20:00.220
 chronological

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:00.779
 sense but

00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.120
 in a

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:01.480
 spiritual

00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:01.980
 sense.

00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:04.480
 Apart

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.000
 from his

00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.200
 own

00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:05.759
 God-given

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.300
 abilities

00:20:06.300 --> 00:20:07.340
 I think

00:20:07.340 --> 00:20:07.640
 there are

00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:07.980
 a couple

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.560
 of things

00:20:08.560 --> 00:20:09.320
 that

00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:10.060
 contributed

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.679
 to his

00:20:10.679 --> 00:20:11.139
 ministry

00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:11.940
 being used

00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.579
 by God

00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:13.980
 and we

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.339
 can pick

00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:14.619
 them up

00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:14.960
 from the

00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.279
 text.

00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:15.859
 The Puritans

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.179
 would say

00:20:16.179 --> 00:20:16.539
 let the

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.359
 text do

00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.879
 the talking.

00:20:19.679 --> 00:20:20.259
 What can

00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.559
 we pick

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:20.960
 up from

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.419
 the narrative

00:20:21.419 --> 00:20:21.799
 here?

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:22.899
 Well one

00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:23.240
 thing we

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.639
 can pick

00:20:23.639 --> 00:20:23.960
 up on

00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.319
 was his

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:24.700
 previous

00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.399
 experience.

00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:27.460
 He had

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.139
 already proved

00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:28.720
 himself to

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.500
 be a suitable

00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.259
 material as

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:30.639
 a judge,

00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:31.159
 as a

00:20:31.159 --> 00:20:31.559
 saviour

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.740
 in Israel.

00:20:33.919 --> 00:20:34.299
 He wasn't

00:20:34.299 --> 00:20:34.759
 a saviour

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.099
 who would

00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:35.799
 save people

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.460
 from their

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:36.700
 sins.

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.299
 That unique

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.799
 kind of

00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:38.159
 saviour

00:20:38.159 --> 00:20:39.359
 is still

00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:39.879
 to come.

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.659
 But at

00:20:41.659 --> 00:20:41.839
 least

00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.519
 Othniel can

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:42.799
 be of

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.359
 great help

00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:43.679
 to the

00:20:43.679 --> 00:20:44.079
 people of

00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.419
 his day.

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.399
 I cannot

00:20:45.399 --> 00:20:46.460
 stress how

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.639
 important it

00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:48.419
 is for all

00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:49.119
 of us to

00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:49.899
 first of all

00:20:49.899 --> 00:20:50.879
 prove ourselves

00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:53.019
 before we

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:54.019
 take on a

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.879
 leadership role.

00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:56.639
 And that's

00:20:56.639 --> 00:20:57.299
 what this man

00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:57.539
 did.

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.259
 When God

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:58.879
 chooses to

00:20:58.879 --> 00:20:59.399
 use a man

00:20:59.399 --> 00:20:59.740
 at this

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.039
 level,

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.899
 it's because

00:21:00.899 --> 00:21:01.740
 he's already

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.879
 proved his

00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:04.259
 worth to a

00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.079
 certain degree

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:06.000
 at another

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.319
 level.

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:06.980
 That was

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.359
 true of

00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:07.700
 Othniel.

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.299
 How do

00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:08.539
 you know?

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.220
 Well, Caleb,

00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:10.539
 the great

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:10.980
 man of

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.299
 faith,

00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:11.880
 a man who

00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:12.360
 wholly

00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:13.019
 followed the

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:13.319
 Lord,

00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:14.259
 he had led

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.799
 the attack

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.380
 against the

00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:15.799
 heart of

00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.279
 Canaanite

00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:16.940
 power at

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.700
 Hebron

00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:18.460
 earlier,

00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:19.380
 also known

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.519
 as Kiriath-Yarba,

00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.299
 and God

00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:21.660
 had given

00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.160
 him a great

00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:22.600
 victory.

00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:23.759
 But there

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.220
 was another

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:24.840
 center of

00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.620
 Canaanite power

00:21:25.620 --> 00:21:26.240
 at a place

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.200
 called Debir,

00:21:27.600 --> 00:21:28.019
 known as

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.039
 Kiriath-sephir,

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.799
 and Caleb

00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.600
 had issued a

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:31.500
 challenge back

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.440
 in Judges 1

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.700
 and verse 12.

00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:34.880
 Caleb said,

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:36.040
 I will give

00:21:36.040 --> 00:21:36.920
 my daughter

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:38.440
 Aksa in

00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.020
 marriage to

00:21:39.020 --> 00:21:39.500
 the man who

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.140
 attacks and

00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:42.040
 captures Kiriath-sephir.

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.220
 Othniel,

00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:44.380
 son of

00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:44.800
 Canaan,

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.860
 Caleb's younger

00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.180
 brother,

00:21:46.320 --> 00:21:46.780
 took it.

00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:48.420
 So Caleb gave

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:49.000
 his daughter

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.060
 Aksa to

00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:51.060
 him in

00:21:51.060 --> 00:21:51.540
 marriage.

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.200
 Othniel

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:55.320
 was Caleb's

00:21:55.320 --> 00:21:55.640
 nephew.

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.620
 He had

00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.200
 earned his

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.760
 spurs

00:21:58.760 --> 00:22:00.560
 sometime

00:22:00.560 --> 00:22:01.100
 earlier

00:22:01.100 --> 00:22:02.340
 on the

00:22:02.340 --> 00:22:03.140
 field of

00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:03.460
 battle.

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.019
 I don't

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.259
 know what

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:04.600
 age he

00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:04.880
 would be

00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:05.299
 probably

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.019
 in the

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.480
 50s,

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:06.960
 Caleb in

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.680
 his 80s,

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:08.779
 the prelude

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.539
 to and the

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.259
 preparation for

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:10.840
 greater things.

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.420
 It's an

00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:11.940
 elementary

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.539
 principle,

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.100
 isn't it?

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.700
 But an

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.360
 essential one

00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:14.720
 that needs

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.000
 to be

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.400
 observed.

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:15.980
 If we're

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.519
 not proving

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.240
 ourselves in

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.740
 the work of

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.079
 God in

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:18.779
 smaller things,

00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.319
 then we

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.019
 mustn't expect

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.559
 to be called

00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.180
 in later life

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.480
 to do

00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.259
 greater things.

00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.640
 When it

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.039
 comes to

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.420
 leadership,

00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.259
 you don't

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.880
 call people

00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.319
 to be

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:26.680
 faithful,

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.100
 you call

00:22:27.100 --> 00:22:27.840
 people who

00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:28.600
 are already

00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:29.480
 faithful.

00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.740
 And Othniel

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.340
 was already

00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:32.079
 that kind of

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:32.360
 man.

00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:33.079
 That was

00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.839
 his experience.

00:22:34.439 --> 00:22:34.899
 But of

00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:35.099
 course,

00:22:35.159 --> 00:22:35.599
 his previous

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.459
 experience at

00:22:36.459 --> 00:22:37.179
 another level

00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:37.959
 was not in

00:22:37.959 --> 00:22:38.179
 and of

00:22:38.179 --> 00:22:38.839
 itself enough

00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:39.199
 for this

00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:39.719
 new venture.

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:42.360
 there's also

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:43.019
 his personal

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.600
 empowering.

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.680
 You can see

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.279
 that in the

00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:45.680
 text.

00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.400
 So, no

00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:47.960
 matter what

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.460
 the task

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.980
 is, if

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.299
 it's to

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.059
 bring glory

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.680
 to God

00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.120
 and not

00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:52.700
 ourselves,

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.759
 if it's to

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.460
 bring blessing

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.140
 to others,

00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:55.900
 if it's to

00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:56.720
 thin the ranks

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.339
 of the enemy

00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.319
 and result in

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.140
 victory, it

00:22:59.140 --> 00:22:59.819
 will need to

00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.299
 be carried

00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:01.519
 out in the

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.860
 power of

00:23:02.860 --> 00:23:03.180
 the Holy

00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:03.519
 Spirit.

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:05.700
 And we

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.139
 all need to

00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:06.599
 be reminded

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.079
 of that,

00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:07.500
 although we

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.000
 already know

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.259
 it in our

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.420
 heads.

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:08.900
 I need to

00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:09.359
 be reminded

00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:09.799
 of it.

00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:11.779
 We did in

00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.379
 verse 10,

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:12.799
 that the

00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.299
 Spirit of

00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:13.660
 the Lord

00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.240
 came upon

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.519
 him, so

00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:15.740
 that he

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.579
 became Israel's

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.200
 judge and

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:17.879
 he went to

00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:18.220
 war.

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:18.920
 The Lord

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.240
 gave

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.279
 Cushan

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:20.940
 Rishatham

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.359
 king of

00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:21.759
 Aram into

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.119
 the hands

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.579
 of Othniel,

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.599
 who overpowered

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.400
 him, so the

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:24.920
 land had

00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:25.319
 peace for

00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.039
 forty years,

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.000
 until Othniel

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.420
 son of

00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.039
 Canaz died.

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.119
 It was that

00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.539
 touch from

00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:31.779
 God, that

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:34.460
 rush of

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.099
 the Spirit

00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:35.940
 coming upon

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:37.139
 him, that

00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:37.980
 made all the

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.460
 difference.

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.099
 It was, call it

00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.960
 an anointing if

00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.460
 you like, it

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:41.779
 was that

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.659
 anointing that

00:23:42.659 --> 00:23:44.039
 made all the

00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:44.299
 difference.

00:23:44.399 --> 00:23:44.759
 It was the

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.579
 empowering by

00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:46.680
 the Spirit that

00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.720
 brought transformation

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.420
 not just on the

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.099
 home front, but

00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:50.500
 in penetrating the

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.440
 enemy's ranks.

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.899
 I'm not saying

00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:54.639
 this is a second

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.019
 blessing.

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:56.960
 I'm simply

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.879
 saying this man

00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:59.060
 went about his

00:23:59.060 --> 00:23:59.680
 God-given

00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:01.480
 ministry depending

00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.280
 on the Holy

00:24:02.280 --> 00:24:02.600
 Spirit.

00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:04.360
 Yes, he had

00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:05.280
 something in the

00:24:05.280 --> 00:24:06.500
 box of experience

00:24:06.500 --> 00:24:08.260
 he could draw on

00:24:08.260 --> 00:24:09.460
 from his earlier

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.960
 days, but he

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.760
 needed more than

00:24:11.760 --> 00:24:12.160
 that.

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.500
 Every preacher,

00:24:16.620 --> 00:24:18.660
 every leader,

00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.520
 every child of

00:24:21.520 --> 00:24:22.640
 God engaged in

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.920
 ministry of

00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:25.040
 any kind,

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.139
 God.

00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.799
 No matter how

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.899
 gifted and how

00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:31.279
 talented and

00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.399
 experienced they

00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:35.019
 may be, it

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:36.200
 must always be not

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:38.339
 by might, nor by

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:40.980
 power, but by my

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:43.200
 Spirit, says the

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:43.460
 Lord.

00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:46.099
 The preaching of

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:48.460
 orthodoxy, the

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.379
 leading with great

00:24:49.379 --> 00:24:49.960
 skill, the

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.740
 multiplication of

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:52.559
 activities, absolutely

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.899
 useless unless the

00:24:53.899 --> 00:24:56.240
 Holy Spirit sent

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:56.940
 down from heaven

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:58.519
 is our portion.

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.559
 Now, I'm not

00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.159
 quoting John

00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:01.960
 Wimber here, I'm

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:02.599
 quoting Professor

00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:04.899
 John Murray, who's

00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:05.659
 at the other end of

00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:06.240
 the theological

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.419
 spectrum because this

00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:08.659
 lies at the heart of

00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:10.740
 historic reformed

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.299
 theology.

00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:13.079
 We're back here to

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:14.159
 the importance of the

00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:15.339
 place of prayer in our

00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:16.940
 lives and in the life

00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:18.599
 of the church, which

00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:20.019
 Al Martin once

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.879
 referred to as the

00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.900
 conscious spreading

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.520
 out of our

00:25:22.520 --> 00:25:24.280
 helplessness before

00:25:24.280 --> 00:25:24.760
 God.

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.060
 You look at

00:25:26.060 --> 00:25:26.500
 Othniel.

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.300
 Something in the

00:25:29.300 --> 00:25:30.280
 box of experience,

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.780
 yes, but he needed

00:25:31.780 --> 00:25:33.860
 that anointing of

00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:34.360
 the Spirit.

00:25:36.040 --> 00:25:36.980
 Without him, we

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.640
 can do nothing.

00:25:39.940 --> 00:25:40.740
 Therein lies the

00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.400
 strength of the

00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:42.540
 persecuted church in

00:25:42.540 --> 00:25:43.580
 so many parts of the

00:25:43.580 --> 00:25:44.220
 world tonight.

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.980
 Therein lies the

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.640
 strength of any

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.720
 church worthy of

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.080
 the name.

00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:50.240
 Therein lies the

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.500
 strength of Othniel,

00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.579
 the first judge.

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.279
 Mr.

00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:53.880
 Unique.

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:58.160
 But alas, it would

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.960
 only be temporary

00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:01.839
 because you read

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:04.039
 that he died.

00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:07.420
 So time moves on.

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.740
 Life moves on.

00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.599
 And along comes

00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:13.120
 Ehud.

00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:16.019
 How shall we

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.700
 describe him?

00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:20.700
 Mr.

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:21.340
 Unusual.

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.279
 Gordon

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:25.140
 Keddie in his

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.840
 commentary on

00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:26.720
 Judges suggests

00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.660
 that the story of

00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.860
 Ehud is the

00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:30.180
 stuff of which

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:31.559
 swashbuckling

00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.799
 Hollywood movies

00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.620
 are made of.

00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.299
 That's how he

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:34.660
 puts it.

00:26:36.340 --> 00:26:37.980
 A man can

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.640
 change his

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.559
 generation if

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:40.000
 he's a man

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.940
 entirely at God's

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.400
 disposal.

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:43.080
 But that same

00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:44.799
 man cannot

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.680
 guarantee the

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.720
 spirituality of

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.139
 the next

00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:47.700
 generation.

00:26:49.299 --> 00:26:49.859
 The spiritual

00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.980
 tide ebbs and

00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.299
 flows.

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.539
 After 40 years

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.740
 of peace under

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.480
 Othniel's

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.639
 leadership, the

00:26:55.639 --> 00:26:56.379
 cycle of sin

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.200
 returns as the

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.079
 Israelites become

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.839
 prayerless and

00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.919
 careless following

00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.799
 his death and

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.579
 they begin to do

00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.879
 evil again in the

00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:04.299
 eyes of the Lord.

00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:05.180
 And in verse 12

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:05.779
 we read of how

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.460
 God dealt with

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:06.539
 them.

00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:07.079
 It's interesting

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.720
 when you read it.

00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:09.079
 Because they did

00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:10.079
 this evil, the

00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:11.720
 Lord gave Eglon,

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.740
 king of Moab,

00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:13.759
 power over Israel.

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.579
 You have to read

00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.200
 that sentence

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.660
 twice.

00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:18.000
 Because they did

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.200
 this evil, the

00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:21.460
 Lord gave Eglon,

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.819
 king of Moab,

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:24.079
 power over

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.700
 Israel.

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.740
 Getting the

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.420
 Ammonites and

00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:28.259
 the Amalekites to

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.859
 join him, Eglon

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.660
 came and attacked

00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.059
 Israel.

00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:31.799
 They took possession

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.519
 of the city of

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.440
 Palms, Jericho.

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.640
 The Israelites were

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:35.599
 subject to Eglon,

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.740
 king of Moab, for

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.460
 18 years.

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.240
 Now you read that

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:38.980
 and you immediately

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.759
 come to the

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.759
 conclusion that God's

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.279
 in control.

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.119
 He always is.

00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:43.039
 We read that it

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.740
 was God who

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.859
 handed Israel over

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.639
 into the hands of

00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:46.700
 Eglon, king of

00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:46.899
 Moab.

00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.659
 It wasn't a fluke

00:27:47.659 --> 00:27:48.039
 incident.

00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:48.980
 It wasn't a freak

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.399
 accident.

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.920
 God raised up this

00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:52.099
 man, king of Moab,

00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.240
 actually strengthened

00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:54.319
 him so that he

00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.779
 would be in a

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.420
 position of power

00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.700
 to actually inflict

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.740
 damage on Israel,

00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:58.759
 his people.

00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.500
 And it took Israel

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:03.319
 18 long years

00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.639
 before they

00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:05.859
 eventually came to

00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:07.159
 their senses and

00:28:07.159 --> 00:28:08.259
 cried out to the

00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.619
 Lord.

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.779
 And needless to say,

00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.879
 God heard their

00:28:11.879 --> 00:28:14.480
 cry, raised up

00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.519
 another deliverer,

00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.639
 another man he

00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:17.480
 could use, but a

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.279
 man completely

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.019
 different from

00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.420
 Othniel.

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.079
 His name was

00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:22.519
 Ehud.

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.859
 The etymology of

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.879
 the word Ehud or

00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:27.180
 Udea as it is for

00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.619
 short is unknown.

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.399
 I called him Mr.

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.119
 Unusual simply

00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.859
 because he was a

00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.639
 left-handed man.

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.460
 No disrespect to

00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.440
 anybody here who

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.259
 might be left-handed,

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.379
 but he's unusual

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.160
 because he's a

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:39.359
 left-handed man and

00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:40.039
 he belongs to the

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.959
 tribe of Benjamin,

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:42.459
 which means son of

00:28:42.459 --> 00:28:43.319
 my right hand.

00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:46.719
 Now, for any of us

00:28:46.719 --> 00:28:47.439
 to be left-handed

00:28:47.439 --> 00:28:48.079
 may mean nothing

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.759
 more than to be

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.579
 slightly different

00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:50.399
 from most other

00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:51.479
 people in how we

00:28:51.479 --> 00:28:52.379
 handle things.

00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:55.379
 Perhaps a little

00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.099
 awkward, especially

00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:56.779
 if you're looking to

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.339
 borrow somebody

00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.279
 else's golf clubs.

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.959
 It's not a

00:29:00.959 --> 00:29:02.019
 handicap or something

00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:03.179
 that puts limitations

00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:03.779
 on anyone.

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:06.099
 But the meaning of

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.939
 the word in Hebrew

00:29:06.939 --> 00:29:08.459
 carries with it a

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.220
 sense of being

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.519
 bound or hindered

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.200
 in some way.

00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:13.640
 I also read

00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.600
 somewhere that the

00:29:14.600 --> 00:29:15.380
 word in Latin

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:17.079
 actually means

00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:18.740
 sinister.

00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:21.620
 Now, we also

00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:22.400
 know that in those

00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:23.160
 days it was thought

00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:24.180
 by some as being

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.100
 a defect.

00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:25.680
 We're not going to

00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:26.420
 go down that road,

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.220
 be that as it may.

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.240
 It certainly made

00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.319
 Ehud because he was

00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:29.960
 a lefty.

00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:32.160
 It made him stand

00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:33.019
 out as being

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:34.180
 markedly different

00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.880
 from others.

00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:36.019
 And that's why the

00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:36.700
 person who wrote

00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.799
 the narrative draws

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.700
 our attention to it.

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.900
 He never said when

00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.500
 he introduced

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.519
 Othniel, he's a

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.460
 right-handed man,

00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.400
 but when he's

00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.420
 introducing Ehud,

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.279
 he tells us he's a

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.500
 left-handed man, the

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.200
 son of Gerard the

00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:47.600
 Benjamite.

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.980
 He's a left-handed

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:50.180
 man in a world of

00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:51.200
 right-handed people.

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.580
 He comes from the

00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:54.319
 tribe of Benjamin,

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.340
 as I've said, son of

00:29:55.340 --> 00:29:56.000
 my right hand.

00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:56.920
 And for that reason

00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:57.740
 alone, I call him

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.539
 Mr. Unusual.

00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.519
 But God chose him.

00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:04.420
 And again, I would

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.059
 like to mention just

00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:05.940
 a couple of things

00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:07.420
 from the text about

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:07.639
 him.

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:09.039
 When you read the

00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.839
 narrative, you come

00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.599
 to this conclusion,

00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:13.059
 Ehud was a faithful

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:13.440
 man.

00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.259
 You read in the

00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.019
 book of Proverbs

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.180
 20, verse 6,

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:19.240
 many a man claims

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:20.039
 to have unfailing

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.099
 love, but a

00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:22.579
 faithful man, who

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.200
 can find?

00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.200
 To be a faithful

00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:27.160
 man is to belong to

00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:27.980
 a rare breed,

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:29.139
 especially when the

00:30:29.139 --> 00:30:30.099
 spiritual tide is

00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.440
 out.

00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.519
 Anybody in

00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.180
 Christian leadership

00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:33.960
 would tell you,

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.660
 give me a dozen

00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.819
 faithful people.

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.579
 Makes all the

00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.079
 difference.

00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:41.220
 And yet, this is

00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:42.400
 the quality that

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.079
 God looks for,

00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:43.379
 isn't it?

00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:44.099
 More than anything

00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:44.799
 else in a human

00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.059
 being.

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.099
 This is the quality

00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:47.000
 he'll reward more

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.639
 than anything else

00:30:47.639 --> 00:30:48.579
 on the last day.

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.240
 I mean, let me

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.720
 throw it out.

00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.400
 Is there anyone

00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:51.279
 here who doesn't

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.900
 want to hear the

00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.720
 Lord say to them

00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.259
 when we render

00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.759
 our account,

00:30:53.879 --> 00:30:54.599
 well done, good

00:30:54.599 --> 00:30:55.839
 and faithful servant?

00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:57.900
 Enter into the

00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.819
 joy of your Lord?

00:30:59.220 --> 00:30:59.819
 Of course we want

00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.359
 to hear that.

00:31:00.359 --> 00:31:02.639
 Ehud was faithful

00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.899
 because he was a

00:31:03.899 --> 00:31:04.699
 man who not only

00:31:04.699 --> 00:31:06.199
 trusted God, he was

00:31:06.199 --> 00:31:06.979
 a man who could be

00:31:06.979 --> 00:31:08.159
 trusted by God,

00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:11.599
 especially when it

00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.159
 came to money.

00:31:13.659 --> 00:31:14.619
 Don't miss that in

00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.159
 the passage.

00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.579
 Handling money.

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.619
 No one in human

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:19.079
 history has been

00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:20.219
 able to serve God

00:31:20.219 --> 00:31:20.939
 and money at one

00:31:20.939 --> 00:31:21.719
 and the same time.

00:31:21.919 --> 00:31:23.159
 It is absolutely

00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:24.459
 impossible to do

00:31:24.459 --> 00:31:24.659
 both.

00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.640
 I can say that

00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.540
 with confidence

00:31:26.540 --> 00:31:27.759
 because Jesus

00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.360
 said it.

00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:31.800
 It's got to be

00:31:31.800 --> 00:31:32.340
 the one or the

00:31:32.340 --> 00:31:32.540
 other.

00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.140
 Ehud was a man

00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:35.420
 who served God

00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:36.380
 in his day

00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.759
 and he was able

00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:39.400
 to handle money

00:31:39.400 --> 00:31:41.259
 wisely and

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:41.800
 carefully.

00:31:43.040 --> 00:31:43.840
 We read in verse

00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:44.660
 15 that the

00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:46.000
 Israelites sent him

00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:46.960
 with tribute

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:49.060
 to Edwin,

00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:49.759
 king of Moab.

00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.440
 He's entrusted

00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:51.359
 with the task

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.720
 of paying the

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:54.019
 tax that was

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.519
 due to this

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.400
 overweight,

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.180
 blubbery,

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.740
 20 stone plus

00:31:58.740 --> 00:31:59.099
 king.

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.859
 Those who sent

00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:03.640
 him obviously

00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:04.579
 trusted him to

00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.500
 deliver the goods

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.619
 without dipping

00:32:06.619 --> 00:32:08.160
 into the purse

00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:09.400
 as Judas did

00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:10.059
 in his day.

00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:12.559
 In that sense

00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.279
 he's similar

00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:14.200
 in caliber

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.119
 to Othniel.

00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:17.460
 Clearly he's

00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.259
 proved his worth

00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.059
 to be given

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.839
 such a task

00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.279
 in the first

00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:20.659
 place.

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.539
 And as we look

00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:22.019
 into what

00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.399
 happened,

00:32:22.679 --> 00:32:23.119
 we need to be

00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:23.399
 careful.

00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:24.019
 We don't need

00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:24.819
 to allegorize

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.139
 this.

00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:26.139
 We don't need

00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:27.079
 to typologize

00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:27.200
 it.

00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:27.579
 We don't need

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:28.240
 to moralize

00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:28.700
 the story.

00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:29.359
 We don't need

00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:29.859
 to put any

00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.460
 spin on it.

00:32:30.679 --> 00:32:31.220
 The person

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:31.579
 who wrote

00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:32.059
 this story,

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.700
 he's not

00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:33.259
 embarrassed

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.039
 in writing it.

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:34.759
 If anything,

00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.399
 he enjoyed

00:32:35.399 --> 00:32:35.960
 writing it.

00:32:36.179 --> 00:32:36.539
 And it must

00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:36.940
 have been a

00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.599
 story often

00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.379
 told and

00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:38.799
 accompanied

00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:39.379
 with great

00:32:39.379 --> 00:32:39.700
 laughter

00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:40.140
 for years

00:32:40.140 --> 00:32:40.480
 to come

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:40.779
 and many

00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.140
 in Israel

00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:41.620
 like home.

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:42.759
 What happened

00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.160
 that day?

00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.680
 This man,

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.120
 who was a

00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:47.799
 faithful man,

00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.940
 had a

00:32:49.940 --> 00:32:50.860
 pointed message.

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.200
 He had a

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:53.860
 pointed message

00:32:53.860 --> 00:32:54.700
 in more ways

00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.180
 than one.

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.920
 You remember

00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:58.440
 when God

00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:59.500
 made Esther,

00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:00.420
 he made her

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.200
 very beautiful

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.120
 and it was

00:33:02.120 --> 00:33:02.559
 her beauty

00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:02.940
 that was

00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:03.580
 instrumental

00:33:03.580 --> 00:33:04.779
 in her

00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:05.559
 being in

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:05.920
 the right

00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:06.620
 place at

00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:06.960
 the right

00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.400
 time.

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:09.920
 when God's

00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.440
 people would

00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:10.880
 be in a

00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:11.259
 state of

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.740
 crisis.

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:13.940
 When God

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:14.680
 made Ehud,

00:33:14.800 --> 00:33:15.180
 he made

00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:16.080
 him unusual,

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:16.660
 if I can

00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:17.700
 allow you to

00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:18.140
 use that

00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:18.420
 term,

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.200
 in terms of

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:19.580
 being a

00:33:19.580 --> 00:33:20.400
 lefty in

00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:20.759
 a right

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.280
 handed

00:33:21.280 --> 00:33:21.840
 world.

00:33:21.840 --> 00:33:22.660
 He chose

00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.140
 a left

00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:23.940
 handed man

00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:24.680
 to be the

00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.220
 man of

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.680
 his right

00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:26.200
 hand and

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:26.500
 it was

00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.000
 this that

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.420
 won the

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:27.680
 day.

00:33:29.840 --> 00:33:30.080
 It was

00:33:30.080 --> 00:33:30.759
 this unusual

00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.380
 feature

00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:32.440
 yielded to

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.320
 God that

00:33:33.320 --> 00:33:34.240
 was instrumental

00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:35.200
 in defeating

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.859
 the enemy

00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:36.620
 and in

00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:37.220
 delivering the

00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:37.660
 people of

00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:38.019
 God from

00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:38.660
 a tyrant.

00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.160
 Yes,

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.620
 it took

00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:42.160
 courage for

00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:42.599
 Ehud to

00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:42.960
 do what

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:43.359
 he did.

00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:45.120
 Yes,

00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:45.480
 he must

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:45.920
 have thought

00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:46.500
 things through

00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.259
 carefully before

00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:47.740
 he did it,

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.059
 but the

00:33:48.059 --> 00:33:49.099
 impact of

00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:49.460
 what he

00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:49.839
 did was

00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:50.799
 felt for

00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:51.319
 eighty

00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:51.880
 years.

00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:54.500
 Yes,

00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:54.880
 he was a

00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.259
 man of his

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:55.680
 times and

00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:55.960
 we must

00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.700
 understand what

00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:57.120
 he did in

00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:57.819
 that context.

00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:58.559
 He was able

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.200
 to salute the

00:33:59.200 --> 00:33:59.500
 king with

00:33:59.500 --> 00:33:59.859
 his right

00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.279
 hand without

00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:00.839
 making the

00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:01.880
 king sense

00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.759
 there was any

00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.460
 danger coming

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.819
 from his

00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.480
 left hand.

00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:06.579
 Thus he

00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:06.920
 caught the

00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:07.279
 king off

00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:07.880
 guard when

00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:08.320
 he said,

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.079
 I have a

00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:09.699
 secret message

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.139
 for you,

00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:10.559
 O king.

00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:12.720
 And then

00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:13.199
 later when

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:13.619
 he got the

00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:13.940
 king on

00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.380
 his own in

00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:14.659
 the upper

00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:15.099
 room of

00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.440
 his summer

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:15.900
 palace,

00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:16.980
 I have a

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:18.179
 message from

00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:19.179
 God for

00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:19.539
 you,

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.220
 O king.

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:21.820
 And it

00:34:21.820 --> 00:34:22.220
 was then he

00:34:22.220 --> 00:34:22.780
 delivered the

00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.480
 pointed message

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.059
 in the form

00:34:24.059 --> 00:34:24.659
 of thrusting

00:34:24.659 --> 00:34:25.840
 what was

00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:27.940
 probably an

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.659
 eighteen inch

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:30.619
 dagger into

00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.220
 the king's

00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:31.519
 belly.

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:33.900
 it says in

00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:34.539
 verse 22,

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:34.940
 even the

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.679
 handle sank

00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.360
 in after the

00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:36.840
 blade which

00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:37.420
 came out of

00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:37.920
 his back.

00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:39.079
 Ehud did

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:39.759
 not pull the

00:34:39.759 --> 00:34:40.500
 sword out and

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.340
 the fat closed

00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:42.199
 in over it.

00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.739
 And so he

00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:45.400
 walked out the

00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:45.980
 room, shut

00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:46.659
 the doors behind

00:34:46.659 --> 00:34:47.139
 him, locked

00:34:47.139 --> 00:34:47.920
 them, left

00:34:47.920 --> 00:34:48.400
 the king's

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:49.239
 servants to

00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:49.739
 wonder for a

00:34:49.739 --> 00:34:50.139
 while as to

00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:50.719
 what was going

00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:51.280
 on while

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.480
 Ehud made

00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:53.539
 his getaway.

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:55.599
 Now,

00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:56.539
 brothers and

00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:56.820
 sisters,

00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.539
 it's a long

00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.039
 time ago.

00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:01.559
 But there

00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.179
 are principles

00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:02.559
 here.

00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:03.960
 There are

00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.360
 bits and

00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:04.840
 pieces in

00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.219
 all of our

00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:05.579
 lives that

00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.119
 make you

00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:06.539
 and me

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.619
 tonight unique.

00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:10.980
 And perhaps

00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.519
 some of it is

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.440
 even unusual.

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.519
 Sometimes we

00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:16.079
 lament over

00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:16.559
 these things,

00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:17.259
 we forget that

00:35:17.259 --> 00:35:17.699
 this is the

00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.539
 way God

00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.139
 has put us

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:19.759
 together in

00:35:19.759 --> 00:35:20.279
 our mother's

00:35:20.279 --> 00:35:20.639
 womb for

00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:21.279
 his eternal

00:35:21.279 --> 00:35:21.639
 glory.

00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:22.259
 We excuse

00:35:22.259 --> 00:35:22.800
 ourselves

00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:23.719
 sometimes from

00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:24.300
 being useful

00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:25.059
 and usable

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:25.860
 instead of

00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:26.659
 offering ourselves

00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:27.179
 just as we

00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:27.639
 are to the

00:35:27.639 --> 00:35:28.119
 Lord, making

00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:29.639
 our mark on

00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:30.259
 the sands of

00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:30.940
 time before

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.699
 it is forever

00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.420
 too late.

00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:35.099
 Even in dark

00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:35.559
 days when

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:36.139
 everyone was

00:35:36.139 --> 00:35:36.539
 doing what

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.139
 was right in

00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:37.440
 their own

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.500
 eyes, God

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.119
 was at work

00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:40.059
 during the

00:35:40.059 --> 00:35:40.980
 period of the

00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:41.259
 judges.

00:35:42.879 --> 00:35:43.379
 I said there

00:35:43.379 --> 00:35:43.940
 were three

00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.239
 Mr.

00:35:44.319 --> 00:35:45.279
 Men in

00:35:45.279 --> 00:35:45.920
 chapter 3,

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:46.960
 Mr.

00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:47.400
 Unique,

00:35:48.319 --> 00:35:48.579
 Mr.

00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.179
 Unusual,

00:35:50.179 --> 00:35:50.799
 and finally

00:35:50.799 --> 00:35:51.400
 Mr.

00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:52.420
 Unknown,

00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:54.719
 Shamgar.

00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:57.359
 I wonder

00:35:57.359 --> 00:35:57.659
 if you were

00:35:57.659 --> 00:35:57.959
 the preacher

00:35:57.959 --> 00:35:58.259
 tonight,

00:35:58.299 --> 00:35:58.519
 what would

00:35:58.519 --> 00:35:58.759
 you say

00:35:58.759 --> 00:35:59.419
 in Shamgar?

00:36:01.179 --> 00:36:01.859
 He appears

00:36:01.859 --> 00:36:02.179
 at the end

00:36:02.179 --> 00:36:02.359
 of the

00:36:02.359 --> 00:36:02.799
 chapter in

00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.399
 one verse.

00:36:04.939 --> 00:36:05.519
 He comes

00:36:05.519 --> 00:36:06.039
 in between

00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:07.639
 Ehud and

00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.579
 Deborah in

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:08.899
 the next

00:36:08.899 --> 00:36:09.359
 chapter,

00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:10.319
 as someone

00:36:10.319 --> 00:36:10.699
 has said,

00:36:10.759 --> 00:36:11.239
 just like an

00:36:11.239 --> 00:36:11.759
 advert in

00:36:11.759 --> 00:36:12.159
 television,

00:36:12.279 --> 00:36:12.899
 between two

00:36:12.899 --> 00:36:13.859
 interesting and

00:36:13.859 --> 00:36:14.239
 exciting

00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:14.899
 programs.

00:36:15.339 --> 00:36:16.159
 The story of

00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:16.519
 Ehud,

00:36:16.699 --> 00:36:17.439
 that's exciting.

00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:18.379
 The story of

00:36:18.379 --> 00:36:18.679
 Deborah,

00:36:18.959 --> 00:36:19.500
 wow, that's

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:20.219
 exciting too.

00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:22.879
 But Shamgar?

00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:26.820
 He's only

00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:27.480
 referred to

00:36:27.480 --> 00:36:28.099
 in this one

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.480
 verse,

00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:29.220
 chapter 3,

00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:29.920
 verse 31,

00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:30.519
 but what a

00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:30.960
 significant

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.420
 mention.

00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.180
 Even though

00:36:32.180 --> 00:36:33.200
 some commentators

00:36:33.200 --> 00:36:34.099
 have little

00:36:34.099 --> 00:36:34.539
 or nothing

00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:35.380
 to say about

00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:35.599
 him,

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:36.940
 they pass

00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:37.360
 him by.

00:36:39.240 --> 00:36:39.660
 It says,

00:36:39.740 --> 00:36:40.380
 after Ehud

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:41.420
 came Shamgar,

00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:42.320
 son of Anath,

00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:43.160
 who struck

00:36:43.160 --> 00:36:44.079
 down 600

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:44.740
 Philistines

00:36:44.740 --> 00:36:45.320
 with an ox

00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:45.680
 goat,

00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:46.800
 he too

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.840
 saved Israel.

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:50.720
 Not bad

00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:51.079
 for a one

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:51.460
 line-up.

00:36:52.880 --> 00:36:54.320
 He's also

00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:54.900
 mentioned later

00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.380
 in the Song

00:36:55.380 --> 00:36:55.820
 of Deborah,

00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:56.660
 chapter 5,

00:36:56.720 --> 00:36:57.340
 verse 6,

00:36:57.599 --> 00:36:58.140
 where we read,

00:36:58.260 --> 00:36:58.579
 in the days

00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.160
 of Shamgar,

00:36:59.260 --> 00:37:00.640
 son of Anath,

00:37:00.840 --> 00:37:01.420
 in the days

00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:02.000
 of Jael,

00:37:02.220 --> 00:37:02.579
 the roads

00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:03.140
 were abandoned,

00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:03.940
 travelers took

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.420
 to winding

00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:04.840
 paths.

00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:05.019
 Now,

00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:05.700
 you take

00:37:05.700 --> 00:37:06.180
 those two

00:37:06.180 --> 00:37:07.000
 little snippets

00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:07.940
 of truth,

00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:08.840
 and you come

00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:09.240
 out with the

00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:09.880
 conclusion that

00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.300
 life was

00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:10.920
 difficult and

00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:11.300
 life was

00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:11.940
 dangerous in

00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:12.500
 those days.

00:37:13.180 --> 00:37:14.300
 And Shamgar,

00:37:14.740 --> 00:37:15.720
 he doesn't

00:37:15.720 --> 00:37:17.920
 come onto the

00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:18.480
 stage of

00:37:18.480 --> 00:37:19.320
 Israelite history

00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:20.460
 with a fanfare

00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:21.340
 of trumpets.

00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:22.680
 We know

00:37:22.680 --> 00:37:23.579
 very little

00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.320
 about him.

00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:27.900
 Paul,

00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:30.120
 Saint Paul,

00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:33.300
 Augustine,

00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:35.940
 Saint Augustine,

00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:36.880
 Columba,

00:37:37.220 --> 00:37:38.280
 Saint Columba,

00:37:40.220 --> 00:37:40.720
 Shamgar,

00:37:42.720 --> 00:37:44.320
 Saint Shamgar,

00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:46.660
 he's an unknown

00:37:46.659 --> 00:37:47.319
 quantity.

00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:52.000
 His life is

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.119
 summed up in

00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:53.920
 the briefest of

00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:54.679
 comments.

00:37:55.960 --> 00:37:56.879
 But he was a

00:37:56.879 --> 00:37:57.559
 legend in his

00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:57.779
 day.

00:37:59.859 --> 00:38:00.619
 Some time ago,

00:38:01.139 --> 00:38:01.799
 I read a book

00:38:01.799 --> 00:38:02.359
 called The

00:38:02.359 --> 00:38:03.259
 Elect Lady.

00:38:05.059 --> 00:38:05.839
 It was on

00:38:05.839 --> 00:38:06.199
 Selina,

00:38:06.279 --> 00:38:06.920
 the Countess of

00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:07.399
 Huntington.

00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:08.039
 Some of you may

00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:08.599
 have read it.

00:38:09.339 --> 00:38:09.920
 She was an

00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:10.579
 aristocrat.

00:38:10.759 --> 00:38:12.039
 She was able

00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:12.980
 to support men

00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:13.500
 like George

00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:14.339
 Whitfield and

00:38:14.339 --> 00:38:15.179
 John Charles

00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:15.579
 Wesley.

00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:16.639
 In their day,

00:38:16.699 --> 00:38:17.159
 other great

00:38:17.159 --> 00:38:18.159
 evangelical preachers

00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:18.639
 in the 18th

00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:18.920
 century,

00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:19.539
 Howe Harris

00:38:19.539 --> 00:38:20.099
 in Wales.

00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:22.039
 She moved

00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:22.360
 in high

00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:23.059
 society as

00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:23.840
 an aristocratic

00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:24.639
 ambassador for

00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.219
 the Lord Jesus.

00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.119
 In Paul's

00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:26.639
 letter to the

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:26.960
 Corinthians,

00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:27.559
 remember what

00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:27.920
 he said?

00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:28.559
 He said,

00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:28.880
 brothers,

00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:29.519
 think of what

00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:29.920
 you were

00:38:29.920 --> 00:38:30.259
 when you

00:38:30.259 --> 00:38:30.799
 were called.

00:38:31.980 --> 00:38:32.539
 Not many

00:38:32.539 --> 00:38:32.980
 of you were

00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:33.599
 wise by

00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:34.259
 human standards.

00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:34.799
 Not many

00:38:34.799 --> 00:38:35.500
 were influential.

00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:36.319
 Not many

00:38:36.319 --> 00:38:36.619
 were of

00:38:36.619 --> 00:38:37.119
 noble birth,

00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:37.500
 but God

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:37.940
 chose the

00:38:37.940 --> 00:38:38.579
 foolish things

00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:39.299
 of the world

00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:39.739
 to shame

00:38:39.739 --> 00:38:40.139
 the wise.

00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:40.659
 God chose

00:38:40.659 --> 00:38:41.199
 what's weak

00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:41.819
 in the world

00:38:41.819 --> 00:38:42.239
 to shame

00:38:42.239 --> 00:38:42.759
 the strong.

00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:43.259
 God chose

00:38:43.259 --> 00:38:43.779
 what's low

00:38:43.779 --> 00:38:44.460
 and despised

00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:44.880
 in the world,

00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:45.679
 even things

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.199
 that are not

00:38:46.199 --> 00:38:46.579
 to bring

00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:47.019
 to nothing

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.699
 things that

00:38:47.699 --> 00:38:47.900
 are.

00:38:48.300 --> 00:38:48.740
 Selina,

00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:49.599
 the elect lady

00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:49.820
 of the

00:38:49.820 --> 00:38:50.300
 Countess of

00:38:50.300 --> 00:38:50.780
 Huntingdon,

00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:51.519
 she used to

00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:52.099
 say she was

00:38:52.099 --> 00:38:52.760
 grateful for

00:38:52.760 --> 00:38:53.199
 the letter

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:54.679
 M in the

00:38:54.679 --> 00:38:56.000
 word many

00:38:56.000 --> 00:38:56.840
 in that

00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.320
 passage.

00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:57.960
 if it had

00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:58.740
 said not

00:38:58.740 --> 00:38:59.220
 any,

00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:00.840
 not any

00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:01.500
 wise,

00:39:01.640 --> 00:39:02.360
 not any

00:39:02.360 --> 00:39:03.160
 influential,

00:39:04.260 --> 00:39:04.500
 she would

00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:04.680
 have been

00:39:04.680 --> 00:39:05.260
 left out.

00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:06.539
 She was

00:39:06.539 --> 00:39:07.240
 an aristocrat.

00:39:08.200 --> 00:39:08.700
 I don't

00:39:08.700 --> 00:39:09.000
 know that

00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:09.200
 there are

00:39:09.200 --> 00:39:10.019
 any aristocrats

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:10.280
 here.

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:12.019
 Most of us

00:39:12.019 --> 00:39:12.340
 are very

00:39:12.340 --> 00:39:12.640
 ordinary

00:39:12.640 --> 00:39:13.220
 creatures.

00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:15.440
 Came from

00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:15.900
 a background

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.519
 of relative

00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.380
 obscurity in

00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:17.780
 the world.

00:39:18.820 --> 00:39:19.200
 My father

00:39:19.200 --> 00:39:19.660
 was a coal

00:39:19.660 --> 00:39:19.920
 miner.

00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:21.400
 His father

00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:21.840
 was a coal

00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:22.120
 miner.

00:39:22.760 --> 00:39:23.080
 And his

00:39:23.080 --> 00:39:23.539
 father before

00:39:23.539 --> 00:39:24.019
 him was a

00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:24.440
 coal miner.

00:39:24.440 --> 00:39:26.480
 I come

00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:26.860
 from a wee

00:39:26.860 --> 00:39:27.240
 village in

00:39:27.240 --> 00:39:27.480
 the west

00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:28.039
 of Scotland,

00:39:28.619 --> 00:39:28.840
 New York

00:39:28.840 --> 00:39:29.119
 Hill.

00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:30.079
 It's a dump.

00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:31.480
 Forgive me

00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:31.880
 for saying

00:39:31.880 --> 00:39:32.079
 it.

00:39:32.220 --> 00:39:32.440
 There's

00:39:32.440 --> 00:39:32.920
 nothing in

00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:33.220
 it.

00:39:35.639 --> 00:39:35.840
 I think

00:39:35.840 --> 00:39:36.440
 Shamgar was

00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:36.740
 a wee bit

00:39:36.740 --> 00:39:37.200
 like that.

00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:39.300
 Nothing

00:39:39.300 --> 00:39:40.119
 exceptional in

00:39:40.119 --> 00:39:40.659
 his breeding,

00:39:40.820 --> 00:39:41.300
 but God

00:39:41.300 --> 00:39:41.880
 used him

00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:42.360
 mightily.

00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:42.900
 He slew

00:39:42.900 --> 00:39:43.440
 600

00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:44.079
 Philistines

00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:45.460
 with an

00:39:45.460 --> 00:39:46.139
 ox goad.

00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:46.820
 Now we're

00:39:46.820 --> 00:39:47.559
 not told if

00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:48.039
 he did it

00:39:48.039 --> 00:39:48.639
 all on his

00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:49.240
 own or was

00:39:49.240 --> 00:39:49.760
 it as a

00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:50.200
 leader with

00:39:50.200 --> 00:39:50.539
 the help

00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:51.000
 of others.

00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:51.619
 You know

00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:51.900
 it says

00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:52.420
 sometimes in

00:39:52.420 --> 00:39:52.679
 the Bible

00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:53.920
 David slew

00:39:53.920 --> 00:39:54.619
 the Philistines

00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:54.940
 but it

00:39:54.940 --> 00:39:55.300
 was David

00:39:55.300 --> 00:39:55.599
 with the

00:39:55.599 --> 00:39:56.220
 army behind

00:39:56.220 --> 00:39:56.360
 him.

00:39:56.519 --> 00:39:57.019
 Well was

00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:57.360
 it here

00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:57.920
 that Shamgar

00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:58.300
 had men

00:39:58.300 --> 00:39:58.760
 behind him

00:39:58.760 --> 00:39:58.980
 when he

00:39:58.980 --> 00:39:59.280
 did this?

00:39:59.400 --> 00:39:59.680
 I don't

00:39:59.680 --> 00:39:59.960
 know.

00:40:00.340 --> 00:40:00.579
 I don't

00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:00.760
 know.

00:40:01.380 --> 00:40:01.659
 All I

00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:01.940
 know is

00:40:01.940 --> 00:40:02.420
 a

00:40:02.420 --> 00:40:03.079
 ox goad

00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:03.360
 was a

00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:03.579
 wooden

00:40:03.579 --> 00:40:04.099
 stick that

00:40:04.099 --> 00:40:04.380
 could be

00:40:04.380 --> 00:40:04.720
 as long

00:40:04.720 --> 00:40:05.240
 as eight

00:40:05.240 --> 00:40:06.320
 feet long

00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:06.840
 with a

00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:07.579
 sharp metal

00:40:07.579 --> 00:40:08.079
 point at

00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:08.500
 one end

00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:09.440
 for driving

00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:09.880
 the ox

00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:10.240
 and a

00:40:10.240 --> 00:40:10.659
 blade at

00:40:10.659 --> 00:40:10.920
 the other

00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:11.300
 end for

00:40:11.300 --> 00:40:11.599
 cleaning

00:40:11.599 --> 00:40:12.099
 the plough

00:40:12.099 --> 00:40:12.800
 and yet

00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:13.820
 he put

00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:14.480
 to death

00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:15.500
 all these

00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:16.300
 Philistines.

00:40:20.599 --> 00:40:21.159
 That was

00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:21.400
 all he

00:40:21.400 --> 00:40:21.659
 had.

00:40:23.920 --> 00:40:24.539
 Just a

00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:24.860
 couple of

00:40:24.860 --> 00:40:25.280
 things about

00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:25.559
 him.

00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:28.400
 It would

00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:29.019
 appear that

00:40:29.019 --> 00:40:29.420
 this man

00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:29.760
 came out

00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:30.400
 of paganism.

00:40:33.180 --> 00:40:33.780
 It's easy

00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:34.340
 to miss that

00:40:34.340 --> 00:40:34.800
 point but

00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:35.380
 Shamgar is

00:40:35.380 --> 00:40:36.260
 probably not a

00:40:36.260 --> 00:40:36.880
 Hebrew name

00:40:36.880 --> 00:40:37.440
 at all.

00:40:37.900 --> 00:40:38.400
 You check the

00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:39.059
 commentators.

00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:41.139
 It is in all

00:40:41.139 --> 00:40:42.019
 probability a

00:40:42.019 --> 00:40:42.880
 Canaanite name

00:40:42.880 --> 00:40:43.519
 just as his

00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:43.900
 father

00:40:43.900 --> 00:40:45.000
 Anath

00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:46.079
 is the name

00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:46.340
 of a

00:40:46.340 --> 00:40:47.039
 Canaanite god

00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:47.599
 of sex

00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.059
 and war.

00:40:48.240 --> 00:40:48.800
 Now that's a

00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:49.139
 guess

00:40:49.139 --> 00:40:50.059
 although it

00:40:50.059 --> 00:40:50.460
 may go down

00:40:50.460 --> 00:40:50.699
 as an

00:40:50.699 --> 00:40:51.179
 educated

00:40:51.179 --> 00:40:51.619
 guess

00:40:51.619 --> 00:40:54.159
 we have a

00:40:54.159 --> 00:40:54.839
 problem in

00:40:54.839 --> 00:40:55.420
 that from a

00:40:55.420 --> 00:40:56.699
 family lineage

00:40:56.699 --> 00:40:57.500
 perspective

00:40:57.500 --> 00:40:58.960
 we don't

00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:00.039
 know if he

00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:01.099
 ever had any

00:41:01.099 --> 00:41:02.400
 Israelite roots

00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:03.699
 this man.

00:41:05.099 --> 00:41:06.099
 God seems

00:41:06.099 --> 00:41:06.599
 to have

00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:07.679
 dug him

00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:08.739
 out of the

00:41:08.739 --> 00:41:09.599
 pit of

00:41:09.599 --> 00:41:10.699
 raw paganism

00:41:10.699 --> 00:41:12.420
 to enlist him

00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:12.940
 into his

00:41:12.940 --> 00:41:13.900
 royal service.

00:41:15.259 --> 00:41:15.539
 The name

00:41:15.539 --> 00:41:16.159
 Shamgar

00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:17.059
 unknown in

00:41:17.059 --> 00:41:17.699
 Israel until

00:41:17.699 --> 00:41:18.480
 this moment

00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:19.480
 in history.

00:41:20.699 --> 00:41:21.259
 He comes

00:41:21.259 --> 00:41:21.779
 out it

00:41:21.779 --> 00:41:22.859
 probably is

00:41:22.859 --> 00:41:23.460
 true he

00:41:23.460 --> 00:41:23.980
 comes out

00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:24.399
 out of

00:41:24.399 --> 00:41:25.239
 paganism but

00:41:25.239 --> 00:41:25.759
 and he also

00:41:25.759 --> 00:41:26.919
 stands out as

00:41:26.919 --> 00:41:27.259
 being a

00:41:27.259 --> 00:41:27.599
 peasant.

00:41:29.059 --> 00:41:30.019
 His weapon

00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:30.779
 tells us he's

00:41:30.779 --> 00:41:31.359
 something of a

00:41:31.359 --> 00:41:32.039
 country yokel

00:41:32.039 --> 00:41:32.739
 and yet he

00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:33.699
 saved Israel

00:41:33.699 --> 00:41:34.139
 from their

00:41:34.139 --> 00:41:34.639
 enemies.

00:41:37.439 --> 00:41:38.019
 Shamgar was

00:41:38.019 --> 00:41:38.639
 later written

00:41:38.639 --> 00:41:39.139
 into the

00:41:39.139 --> 00:41:39.679
 annals of

00:41:39.679 --> 00:41:40.159
 their history

00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:40.759
 as a hero

00:41:40.759 --> 00:41:41.460
 his name

00:41:41.460 --> 00:41:42.179
 being mentioned

00:41:42.179 --> 00:41:43.619
 in the lyrics

00:41:43.619 --> 00:41:44.379
 of a song

00:41:44.379 --> 00:41:45.339
 by those who

00:41:45.339 --> 00:41:45.980
 came later.

00:41:46.859 --> 00:41:47.419
 Shamgar

00:41:47.420 --> 00:41:48.079
 what else

00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:48.539
 can I say

00:41:48.539 --> 00:41:48.800
 I don't

00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:49.059
 know what

00:41:49.059 --> 00:41:49.380
 else to

00:41:49.380 --> 00:41:49.820
 say about

00:41:49.820 --> 00:41:50.340
 these things.

00:41:51.519 --> 00:41:51.800
 Let me

00:41:51.800 --> 00:41:52.119
 just say

00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.500
 this we're

00:41:52.500 --> 00:41:52.980
 all unique

00:41:52.980 --> 00:41:54.820
 in some

00:41:54.820 --> 00:41:55.380
 respects.

00:41:55.920 --> 00:41:56.440
 Tonight we're

00:41:56.440 --> 00:41:57.579
 all unusual

00:41:57.579 --> 00:41:59.320
 in many

00:41:59.320 --> 00:42:02.659
 ways and

00:42:02.659 --> 00:42:03.059
 we are all

00:42:03.059 --> 00:42:03.760
 without exception

00:42:03.760 --> 00:42:04.539
 in the category

00:42:04.539 --> 00:42:04.980
 of being

00:42:04.980 --> 00:42:05.440
 known as

00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:07.480
 unknown as

00:42:07.480 --> 00:42:08.059
 far as this

00:42:08.059 --> 00:42:08.659
 world is

00:42:08.659 --> 00:42:09.139
 concerned.

00:42:11.500 --> 00:42:12.340
 But do not

00:42:12.340 --> 00:42:13.059
 forget tonight

00:42:13.059 --> 00:42:13.500
 that God

00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:13.960
 knows you.

00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:17.199
 He loves

00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:17.400
 you.

00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:20.099
 Look what

00:42:20.099 --> 00:42:20.519
 He's done

00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:21.119
 for you

00:42:21.119 --> 00:42:23.559
 in Christ

00:42:23.559 --> 00:42:23.960
 and what

00:42:23.960 --> 00:42:24.280
 He's been

00:42:24.280 --> 00:42:24.760
 doing for

00:42:24.760 --> 00:42:26.940
 you, many

00:42:26.940 --> 00:42:27.280
 of you,

00:42:27.840 --> 00:42:28.480
 for decades.

00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:30.760
 When I was

00:42:30.760 --> 00:42:31.240
 in Burma,

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:33.619
 Myanmar as

00:42:33.619 --> 00:42:34.059
 it's called

00:42:34.059 --> 00:42:35.119
 today, with

00:42:35.119 --> 00:42:35.400
 Martin

00:42:35.400 --> 00:42:36.119
 Dudgeon from

00:42:36.119 --> 00:42:36.760
 Asia Link,

00:42:36.820 --> 00:42:37.159
 we had a

00:42:37.159 --> 00:42:37.480
 couple of

00:42:37.480 --> 00:42:37.980
 hours free

00:42:37.980 --> 00:42:38.500
 when we were

00:42:38.500 --> 00:42:39.139
 in Rangoon,

00:42:39.699 --> 00:42:40.619
 Yangon, the

00:42:40.619 --> 00:42:41.599
 capital city,

00:42:41.599 --> 00:42:42.699
 and we

00:42:42.699 --> 00:42:43.299
 decided to

00:42:43.299 --> 00:42:43.699
 visit the

00:42:43.699 --> 00:42:44.299
 cemetery on

00:42:44.299 --> 00:42:44.860
 the outskirts

00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:45.420
 of the city

00:42:45.420 --> 00:42:45.860
 where we

00:42:45.860 --> 00:42:46.219
 knew that

00:42:46.219 --> 00:42:46.759
 hundreds and

00:42:46.759 --> 00:42:47.319
 hundreds of

00:42:47.319 --> 00:42:47.960
 British soldiers

00:42:47.960 --> 00:42:48.319
 had been

00:42:48.319 --> 00:42:49.000
 laid to rest,

00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:50.279
 men who

00:42:50.279 --> 00:42:50.880
 fell in the

00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:51.259
 Burmese

00:42:51.259 --> 00:42:51.639
 War.

00:42:53.380 --> 00:42:53.980
 Most of

00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:54.339
 them were in

00:42:54.339 --> 00:42:54.679
 their late

00:42:54.679 --> 00:42:56.679
 teens or

00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:57.059
 their early

00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:57.380
 twenties.

00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.219
 It was quite

00:42:58.219 --> 00:42:59.219
 something just

00:42:59.219 --> 00:43:00.599
 to grave

00:43:00.599 --> 00:43:01.239
 after grave,

00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:01.799
 headstone

00:43:01.799 --> 00:43:02.659
 after headstone,

00:43:02.779 --> 00:43:03.579
 19 years of

00:43:03.579 --> 00:43:04.179
 age, 21

00:43:04.179 --> 00:43:04.860
 years of age,

00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:05.679
 18 years of

00:43:05.679 --> 00:43:06.219
 age, 22

00:43:06.219 --> 00:43:06.799
 years of age,

00:43:07.079 --> 00:43:07.759
 right along

00:43:07.759 --> 00:43:08.179
 the line,

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:09.239
 line after

00:43:09.239 --> 00:43:09.519
 line.

00:43:09.519 --> 00:43:11.360
 We walked

00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:11.679
 up and

00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:12.259
 down, row

00:43:12.259 --> 00:43:12.900
 after row

00:43:12.900 --> 00:43:13.460
 of graves.

00:43:13.860 --> 00:43:14.380
 The headstone

00:43:14.380 --> 00:43:14.840
 would tell us

00:43:14.840 --> 00:43:15.460
 what regiment

00:43:15.460 --> 00:43:15.900
 they fought

00:43:15.900 --> 00:43:16.280
 with, how

00:43:16.280 --> 00:43:16.759
 old they

00:43:16.759 --> 00:43:17.699
 were, but

00:43:17.699 --> 00:43:18.440
 we came to

00:43:18.440 --> 00:43:18.940
 a grave

00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:19.280
 where it

00:43:19.280 --> 00:43:20.079
 just simply

00:43:20.079 --> 00:43:20.599
 said,

00:43:21.219 --> 00:43:21.619
 unknown

00:43:21.619 --> 00:43:22.139
 soldier.

00:43:24.780 --> 00:43:25.420
 And Martin

00:43:25.420 --> 00:43:25.840
 turned to

00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:27.320
 me, and

00:43:27.320 --> 00:43:27.880
 he said to

00:43:27.880 --> 00:43:28.019
 me, he

00:43:28.019 --> 00:43:28.099
 said,

00:43:28.159 --> 00:43:28.480
 John, he

00:43:28.480 --> 00:43:28.679
 says,

00:43:28.860 --> 00:43:29.920
 there are

00:43:29.920 --> 00:43:30.679
 many unknown

00:43:30.679 --> 00:43:31.360
 soldiers in

00:43:31.360 --> 00:43:31.800
 the Lord's

00:43:31.800 --> 00:43:32.099
 army.

00:43:34.800 --> 00:43:35.440
 Very few

00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:35.920
 people, if

00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:36.300
 any, know

00:43:36.300 --> 00:43:36.639
 who they

00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:37.039
 are.

00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:39.779
 beyond the

00:43:39.779 --> 00:43:40.159
 place where

00:43:40.159 --> 00:43:40.639
 they live,

00:43:41.980 --> 00:43:42.860
 but God

00:43:42.860 --> 00:43:43.239
 knows who

00:43:43.239 --> 00:43:43.639
 they are.

00:43:45.259 --> 00:43:45.779
 I just

00:43:45.779 --> 00:43:46.219
 want to say

00:43:46.219 --> 00:43:46.519
 to you

00:43:46.519 --> 00:43:46.820
 tonight,

00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:47.699
 whatever age

00:43:47.699 --> 00:43:47.980
 you're at,

00:43:48.039 --> 00:43:48.699
 whatever stage

00:43:48.699 --> 00:43:49.079
 you're at,

00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:49.800
 I just want

00:43:49.800 --> 00:43:50.320
 to say to

00:43:50.320 --> 00:43:50.759
 you, if

00:43:50.759 --> 00:43:51.179
 you are

00:43:51.179 --> 00:43:51.579
 one of

00:43:51.579 --> 00:43:53.159
 his unknown

00:43:53.159 --> 00:43:54.000
 children,

00:43:54.940 --> 00:43:55.360
 God can

00:43:55.360 --> 00:43:55.820
 take you

00:43:55.820 --> 00:43:56.159
 up and

00:43:56.159 --> 00:43:56.500
 use you

00:43:56.500 --> 00:43:56.840
 for his

00:43:56.840 --> 00:43:57.219
 glory.

00:43:58.320 --> 00:43:58.880
 If you'll

00:43:58.880 --> 00:43:59.340
 but place

00:43:59.340 --> 00:43:59.659
 at his

00:43:59.659 --> 00:44:00.900
 disposal all

00:44:00.900 --> 00:44:01.199
 that you

00:44:01.199 --> 00:44:01.779
 are and

00:44:01.779 --> 00:44:02.400
 all that

00:44:02.400 --> 00:44:02.920
 you have,

00:44:03.360 --> 00:44:03.759
 no matter

00:44:03.759 --> 00:44:04.400
 how little

00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:05.039
 it may

00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:05.259
 be.

00:44:05.260 --> 00:44:06.080
 I speak

00:44:06.080 --> 00:44:06.440
 to those

00:44:06.440 --> 00:44:06.680
 of you

00:44:06.680 --> 00:44:06.860
 who are

00:44:06.860 --> 00:44:07.520
 my age,

00:44:07.860 --> 00:44:08.640
 mid-70s,

00:44:09.120 --> 00:44:09.460
 you think

00:44:09.460 --> 00:44:09.800
 it's all

00:44:09.800 --> 00:44:10.080
 over?

00:44:10.340 --> 00:44:10.700
 No, it's

00:44:10.700 --> 00:44:11.100
 not.

00:44:12.020 --> 00:44:12.440
 You've got

00:44:12.440 --> 00:44:12.900
 to go on

00:44:12.900 --> 00:44:13.360
 until you

00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:13.880
 breast the

00:44:13.880 --> 00:44:14.200
 tape.

00:44:15.400 --> 00:44:15.760
 You've got

00:44:15.760 --> 00:44:16.000
 to be

00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:16.720
 faithful unto

00:44:16.720 --> 00:44:17.180
 death,

00:44:18.020 --> 00:44:18.360
 and he

00:44:18.360 --> 00:44:18.720
 will give

00:44:18.720 --> 00:44:19.420
 you the

00:44:19.420 --> 00:44:19.820
 crown of

00:44:19.820 --> 00:44:20.040
 life.

00:44:20.120 --> 00:44:20.380
 It's not

00:44:20.380 --> 00:44:20.800
 about how

00:44:20.800 --> 00:44:21.220
 much we

00:44:21.220 --> 00:44:21.460
 have,

00:44:21.520 --> 00:44:21.800
 it's what

00:44:21.800 --> 00:44:22.220
 we do

00:44:22.220 --> 00:44:22.980
 with what

00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:23.520
 we have

00:44:23.520 --> 00:44:24.280
 that counts,

00:44:24.360 --> 00:44:24.620
 no matter

00:44:24.620 --> 00:44:25.140
 how little

00:44:25.140 --> 00:44:25.920
 it may be.

00:44:26.220 --> 00:44:26.520
 And that's

00:44:26.520 --> 00:44:27.120
 the challenge

00:44:27.120 --> 00:44:27.800
 of this

00:44:27.800 --> 00:44:28.280
 chapter, I

00:44:28.280 --> 00:44:28.560
 think, and

00:44:28.560 --> 00:44:29.040
 in particular,

00:44:29.320 --> 00:44:29.740
 the man at

00:44:29.740 --> 00:44:30.240
 the end of

00:44:30.240 --> 00:44:30.620
 the chapter,

00:44:30.740 --> 00:44:31.160
 but the other

00:44:31.160 --> 00:44:31.580
 two as

00:44:31.580 --> 00:44:31.840
 well.

00:44:32.360 --> 00:44:32.680
 Put them

00:44:32.680 --> 00:44:33.260
 all together.

00:44:34.320 --> 00:44:34.460
 You know,

00:44:34.519 --> 00:44:34.960
 it was D.L.

00:44:35.079 --> 00:44:35.519
 Moody who

00:44:35.519 --> 00:44:36.120
 once said,

00:44:36.220 --> 00:44:36.500
 the world

00:44:36.500 --> 00:44:37.079
 has yet to

00:44:37.079 --> 00:44:37.500
 see what

00:44:37.500 --> 00:44:37.900
 God can

00:44:37.900 --> 00:44:38.260
 do with

00:44:38.260 --> 00:44:38.720
 one man

00:44:38.720 --> 00:44:39.519
 fully yielded

00:44:39.519 --> 00:44:39.900
 to him,

00:44:40.360 --> 00:44:40.800
 and by the

00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:41.160
 grace of

00:44:41.160 --> 00:44:41.559
 God, I

00:44:41.559 --> 00:44:42.140
 intend to

00:44:42.140 --> 00:44:42.539
 be that

00:44:42.539 --> 00:44:42.820
 man.

00:44:43.100 --> 00:44:43.440
 Now, God

00:44:43.440 --> 00:44:43.940
 doesn't want

00:44:43.940 --> 00:44:44.400
 you to be

00:44:44.400 --> 00:44:44.860
 Othniel,

00:44:45.280 --> 00:44:45.559
 and he

00:44:45.559 --> 00:44:46.059
 doesn't want

00:44:46.059 --> 00:44:46.480
 you to be

00:44:46.480 --> 00:44:46.960
 a lefty

00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:47.519
 like Ehud,

00:44:47.579 --> 00:44:47.780
 and he

00:44:47.780 --> 00:44:48.240
 doesn't want

00:44:48.240 --> 00:44:48.660
 you to be

00:44:48.660 --> 00:44:49.019
 Shamgar,

00:44:49.160 --> 00:44:49.579
 he wants

00:44:49.579 --> 00:44:50.039
 you to be

00:44:50.039 --> 00:44:50.360
 you,

00:44:51.480 --> 00:44:51.880
 in your

00:44:51.880 --> 00:44:52.440
 generation,

00:44:52.579 --> 00:44:52.840
 me and

00:44:52.840 --> 00:44:53.680
 my generation,

00:44:54.140 --> 00:44:54.960
 living for

00:44:54.960 --> 00:44:55.579
 his glory.

00:44:57.039 --> 00:44:57.280
 Mr.

00:44:57.380 --> 00:44:57.740
 Unique,

00:44:59.740 --> 00:45:00.039
 Mr.

00:45:00.039 --> 00:45:00.559
 Unusual,

00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:03.599
 Mr.

00:45:03.659 --> 00:45:03.940
 Unknown,

00:45:03.940 --> 00:45:06.639
 but God

00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:07.619
 has got his

00:45:07.619 --> 00:45:08.279
 hand on you,

00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:09.360
 and he

00:45:09.360 --> 00:45:09.860
 wants to

00:45:09.860 --> 00:45:10.420
 use you

00:45:10.420 --> 00:45:12.079
 with every

00:45:12.079 --> 00:45:12.699
 breath you've

00:45:12.699 --> 00:45:13.299
 got in your

00:45:13.299 --> 00:45:13.659
 body,

00:45:14.380 --> 00:45:14.920
 until he

00:45:14.920 --> 00:45:15.519
 calls you

00:45:15.519 --> 00:45:16.039
 home.

00:45:17.799 --> 00:45:18.619
 Father in

00:45:18.619 --> 00:45:18.860
 heaven,

00:45:19.440 --> 00:45:20.599
 we thank

00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:20.940
 you for

00:45:20.940 --> 00:45:21.519
 your word,

00:45:22.980 --> 00:45:23.679
 we thank

00:45:23.679 --> 00:45:23.940
 you for

00:45:23.940 --> 00:45:24.579
 these men

00:45:24.579 --> 00:45:25.239
 who lived

00:45:25.239 --> 00:45:26.340
 so long

00:45:26.340 --> 00:45:26.840
 ago,

00:45:27.739 --> 00:45:28.059
 in a

00:45:28.059 --> 00:45:28.480
 completely

00:45:28.480 --> 00:45:28.900
 different

00:45:28.900 --> 00:45:29.559
 world from

00:45:29.559 --> 00:45:29.980
 the world

00:45:29.980 --> 00:45:30.500
 we live

00:45:30.500 --> 00:45:30.740
 in,

00:45:31.320 --> 00:45:32.139
 we thank

00:45:32.139 --> 00:45:32.539
 you that

00:45:32.539 --> 00:45:33.659
 you raised

00:45:33.659 --> 00:45:34.260
 them up,

00:45:35.039 --> 00:45:35.659
 you shaped

00:45:35.659 --> 00:45:35.920
 them,

00:45:36.639 --> 00:45:37.179
 you equipped

00:45:37.179 --> 00:45:37.480
 them,

00:45:37.940 --> 00:45:38.559
 and you

00:45:38.559 --> 00:45:39.159
 used them

00:45:39.159 --> 00:45:40.659
 for the

00:45:40.659 --> 00:45:41.320
 extension of

00:45:41.320 --> 00:45:41.780
 your kingdom,

00:45:42.159 --> 00:45:42.539
 for the

00:45:42.539 --> 00:45:43.079
 blessing of

00:45:43.079 --> 00:45:43.579
 your people,

00:45:44.340 --> 00:45:45.639
 for the

00:45:45.639 --> 00:45:46.519
 glory of

00:45:46.519 --> 00:45:46.980
 your great

00:45:46.980 --> 00:45:47.280
 name.

00:45:48.559 --> 00:45:49.240
 Help us

00:45:49.240 --> 00:45:49.719
 to feel

00:45:49.719 --> 00:45:50.159
 tonight,

00:45:50.320 --> 00:45:50.659
 to know

00:45:50.659 --> 00:45:51.019
 tonight,

00:45:51.119 --> 00:45:51.400
 that in

00:45:51.400 --> 00:45:52.079
 some small

00:45:52.079 --> 00:45:52.340
 way,

00:45:52.579 --> 00:45:54.539
 we can be

00:45:54.539 --> 00:45:55.019
 in the

00:45:55.019 --> 00:45:55.760
 same train

00:45:55.760 --> 00:45:56.139
 that they

00:45:56.139 --> 00:45:56.480
 are in.

00:45:56.480 --> 00:45:58.719
 and we

00:45:58.719 --> 00:45:59.139
 pray this

00:45:59.139 --> 00:45:59.539
 in Jesus'

00:45:59.760 --> 00:45:59.960
 name.

00:46:02.059 --> 00:46:02.460
 Amen.

00:46:02.460 --> 00:46:02.820
 Amen.

00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:07.059
 OK.

00:46:07.059 --> 00:46:37.039
 Thank you.