Well, good morning. It's good to see all of you. Happy Father's Day.
Open your Bibles, if you would, please, to Judges chapter 1.
! If you're using the Pew Bible, it's on page 200. Judges chapter 1.
Really, we kind of begin our journey this week. Last time we were together, it was more of an introduction,
kind of understanding what we're going to be looking at. And today, we're going to actually be in the book of Judges a little bit.
And begin this journey together. Anyone who's familiar with the book of Judges will perhaps be thinking,
why in the world are we going through this book? But what we're going to notice as we make our way through the book of Judges
is what should be obvious to all of us, and that is the truth of God's Word, regardless of where it's found in the Scripture,
is not only relevant, it's useful.
And as a matter of fact,
Paul will say this in 2 Timothy,
chapter 3, 16 and 17,
that the Word of God,
it's breathed out by God,
it's profitable for doctrine,
reproof, correction, instruction,
and righteousness,
that the man and woman of God might be
furnished, thoroughly equipped,
for every good work.
So every part of the Scripture is useful.
Every part of the Scripture is beneficial.
So as we come to the Word of God today,
I think we're going to see,
again,
and it shouldn't surprise us,
the relevant and penetrating
and useful Word of God.
One of the frightening things about compromise,
and we're going to see a lot of compromise
as we make our way through the book of Judges,
but one of the frightening things about compromise
is that it rarely feels dangerous
the second time,
or even the third time,
that we do a certain thing.
I can remember being in California,
I can remember riding motorcycle,
and one of the things you're allowed to do
in California when you ride motorcycles,
you're allowed to ride between the lanes.
And the first couple of times
of riding between the lanes,
I was really aware of the peril.
I was really aware of the danger.
I was sensitive to the drivers around me.
I took my time.
I was careful.
And the more you do that,
the more comfortable you become,
and the easier it is,
and you tend to forget about the danger.
It was important for me
every time I got on the bike
to say,
Lord, here we are again.
Help me to be wise.
Help me to trust you.
You see,
the first time that a line is crossed,
compromise begins to settle in.
And the more compromise settles in to your heart,
the less dangerous,
the less risky that compromise seems to be.
There have been several studies
that have been done over the years
to try to drive at this
and draw attention to it.
One is done by a researcher named Diane Vaughn.
She called this compromise,
the word that she used
or the phrase that she used
is normalization of deviance.
A normalization of deviance.
Small departures from a standard
get repeated
until they no longer feel like departures.
What once felt dangerous
begins to feel ordinary.
And that's the message of judges.
That's what we're going to see
coming right to the surface.
The things that once seemed very risky,
the danger of disobedience
begins to settle in.
And small compromises
begin to reduce our resistance
to larger compromises.
You see,
people rarely see rebellion
and do rebellion all at once.
No one wakes up in the morning
and says,
I think I'm going to destroy my life today.
I think I'm going to ruin my family today.
It doesn't happen that way.
It happens gradually.
It happens over the course of time.
It happens through gradual compromises
that take place day by day,
week by week,
and year by year.
And that pattern then begins to move
from one generation to the other.
You begin to set a baseline.
A new baseline is set.
And so now,
that baseline becomes the standard.
And so,
the children and grandchildren
that now live underneath
that new baseline,
any compromises that they make,
now take the baseline lower.
Another research was done
by Vern Bengston.
It's called
The Longitudinal Study of Generations,
and it tracked thousands of families
across multiple generations.
One striking finding
about this particular study
is not that transmission of religion
is the tendency,
but rather the opposite.
It's the transmission of non-religion
that rose among those individuals,
those parents,
those fathers,
those mothers,
as they failed to teach their children.
Then the next generation
didn't go back to church.
The next generation followed suit
and disconnected in the same way
as their parents.
In fact,
it rose from 40% to 63%
in one generation.
Once disconnection became
the inherited starting point,
it became more stable
than the next generation.
And that's exactly what we'll see
as we work our way
through the book of Judges.
We'll see this warning.
This warning
that comes to the surface,
compromise,
now sets the new baseline
for a new generation,
the atmosphere in which they grow up,
the things that they begin to learn,
and now that new baseline
sets in,
and those children,
grandchildren,
inherit the understanding
of their forefathers,
and whatever compromises they make
now take the next generation
even deeper,
even further away from the Lord.
But embedded in the warning
that we're going to see this morning,
I want you to know
that there's also promise.
The book of Judges,
while it gives the dark side
of what happens
with lives of those
who have been unsettled,
those who are compromising,
the promise still stands,
and the power of God
is still at work.
It's still ready
to accomplish its objectives,
and it depends
upon the people of God
to enact the promises
and to see them through,
to carry out the objectives
and the purposes
that God has set before us.
This morning we're going to look
at several ways
in which the people of God
need to follow
the marching orders
that God has set for us
so that we can enjoy
the promises
that God has given.
The first is this,
simply trust and obey
God's word.
Trust and obey God's word.
Now I know that's not original.
Matter of fact,
I'm sure that many of you,
especially those of you
who have grown up in the church,
have heard this repeated
time and time again.
Whether you're in
a Sunday school class,
whether you were a child
and going through Awana,
the verses that you memorized,
the sermons that you heard,
the lessons that were taught
to you at VBS
and soccer camp,
trust and obey.
We even have a song
about trust and obey,
don't we?
when we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds
on our way.
When we do his goodwill,
he abides with us still
and with all
who will trust and obey.
In the refrain,
trust and obey.
For there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus
but to trust and obey.
We know this truth.
We understand its significance.
We've heard it time and time again.
And to the extent
that it's easy,
in hearing a truth
so many times,
we begin to shut it off.
We begin to numb our senses.
We begin to say,
I've heard that before.
I know what it means.
I'm okay.
I'm doing what God says.
And today is a reminder
of the importance
of trusting and obeying.
Recognizing the significance
of what God says
in his word.
Incorporating it
into our life.
Following through.
Obeying what it says.
And teaching
our children.
Teaching our loved ones.
Whether you're married
and have children.
Or whether you're single.
Whether you're a man
or a woman.
A boy or a girl.
Following the standard
of God's word.
Knowing what it says.
Seeing it through.
This is the way
in which we can enjoy
the blessings
and the promises
that God has given to us.
While we've been told
this a thousand times,
we need to recognize
that the warning
that we're going to see
through the book of Judges
is to help us recognize
what happens
for a generation
who fails to trust
and obey.
But,
the promise is there.
Moses,
as you know,
will hand off
leadership
to Joshua.
And,
the people
are then prepared
to face the obstacles
that are in front of them.
This was a direct
and simple strategy.
It was a strategy
that had been
time tested.
That Moses
wants to help
the people
of Israel.
This nation of Israel
as they're entering
into this promised land
to understand
and recognize
what is going to help
them carry out
the objectives
that God has for them.
So,
in the book of Deuteronomy,
he's giving this retelling
of the law.
He's kind of put it
all together.
He's consolidated it
in form
so that the people
know the most
important parts.
He's drawn that forward.
And what's the message?
Time and time again,
trust and obey.
Let me give you
a couple examples.
In Deuteronomy chapter 4,
verses 9 to 10,
it says this,
Only take care
and keep your soul
diligently,
lest you forget
the things
that your eyes have seen
and lest they depart
from your heart
all the days
of your life.
Make them known
to your children
and your children's children
how on the day
you stood before
the Lord your God
at Horeb,
the Lord said to me,
Gather the people
to me
that I may let them
hear my words
so they may learn
and fear me
all the days
that they live
on the earth
and that they may teach
their children so.
What's the summary?
Summary is remember
the words I've said.
Call them to mind.
Understand the significance
of the things
I've taught you.
Teach your children
so that they can teach
their children
and generation
after generation
will enjoy the benefits
of walking
after my standard.
In Deuteronomy chapter 11,
we find this
in verse 18.
It should sound familiar
because it's very similar
to what we find
in Deuteronomy 6.
It says,
You shall therefore
lay up these words
of mine in your heart
and in your soul
and you shall bind them
as a sign on your hand
and they shall be frontlets
between your eyes.
You shall teach them
to your children.
Talking of them
while you're sitting
in your house,
when you're walking
by the way,
when you lie down,
when you rise up,
you shall write them
on the doorposts
of your house
and on your gates.
that your days
and the days
of your children
may be multiplied
in the land
the Lord swore
to your fathers
to give to them
as long as the heavens
are above the earth.
Did you see that?
God desires
his people
to enjoy
the blessing
of his word.
The word of God
that is living
and active.
The word of God
that is sharper
than a two-edged sword.
The word of God
that accomplishes
its objective.
The word of God
that transforms hearts.
So what is the
master strategy
for parents
in helping
to raise their kids?
What is the
master strategy
for you
who have friends
who may not
know the Lord?
The master strategy
is know the word
of God
and teach
that word
to your own heart
and teach that word
to the ones you love.
Of course,
this is the strategy
we find through
all of scripture.
Ephesians chapter 6
says the same thing.
Fathers,
do not provoke
your children to anger
but bring them up
in the discipline
and instruction
of the Lord.
Know the word of God.
Embrace the word of God
for yourself.
Trust it.
Obey it.
And teach it.
And what we're going to study
as we work through
the judges
is this case study
on a people
who started so well
and then as they
began to move
into the land
and as compromise
began to fill their hearts
there was slippage
in their hearts.
We find this
in Judges chapter 2
verse 10.
This is part of our passage
for this morning.
It says,
And there arose
another generation
after them
who did not know
the Lord
or the work
he had done
for Israel.
That was the problem.
The problem was
they didn't know the Lord.
It wasn't that they
weren't aware of the Lord.
They were certainly
aware of him.
But in knowing him
they didn't obey him.
In being aware
of who he was
they didn't embrace
the standard
that God had set
for them
and work it out.
And so this generation
that rose up
they chose
to walk away
from the Lord.
And we see
what we'll see
through the testimony
of the book of Judges
that when they did not
know the Lord
what happened?
Well,
everyone did
what was right
in their own eyes.
That's what they did.
They had the standard.
They rejected the standard.
They did their own thing.
But there's also
a promise here.
There is a promise.
Moms and dads
I want you to know
there is hope.
There is hope.
When a people
know the Lord
then God
uses his word
to preserve
his people.
When you know
the Lord
and you pass on
that knowledge
to the ones you love
God can use
his word
to shape hearts.
And by the way
this is not a guarantee
but it is a principle
that we find
throughout scripture.
Knowing and teaching
the word of God
is the way
the instrument
in which
that God can use
to shape the hearts
of those around you.
And so this is
how he begins
how God begins
this leadership
journey with Joshua
in Joshua 1.8.
What does he do?
The same standard.
This book of the law
shall not depart
from your mouth
Joshua
but you shall
meditate on it
day and night
so that you may
be careful
to do according
to all
that is written
in it.
For then
you
will make
your way
prosperous
and then
you
will have
good success.
See our problem
is not that we
are unfamiliar
with the word
of God.
Our problem
is that we
don't put
God's word
to work.
So what is
the result?
Well we see
the result
in Judges
chapter 2
verse 7.
The people
they served
the Lord
all the days
of Joshua
and all the days
of the elders
who outlived
Joshua
who had seen
all the great
work that the
Lord had done
for Israel
but then
there arose
a generation
that did not
know
the Lord.
So dads
moms
teens
whether you're
single
or married
the challenge
for us
know the word.
Not just know
about the word
but allow the word
of God
to settle
in your heart.
Study the word
love the word
obey the word
and teach the word.
Be a conduit
of that life
giving message
to those around you
so that you can
enjoy the benefits
of the objectives
and the promises
that God
has given to us
through
his word.
So trust
and obey
God's word.
Second
enjoy the promises
of obedience.
We see that.
There is promise
here
and the book
of Judges
starts out
with this promise
of God
working through
his people
God accomplishing
the objectives
they know the word
they are obeying
the word
and God allows
them to enjoy
success.
Judges chapter 1
verses 1
says this
after the death
of Joshua
the people
of Israel
inquired of
the Lord
who shall
go up
for us
against the
Canaanites
to fight
against them
the Lord
said Judah
shall go up
behold I
have given
the land
into his hand
the people
now without
a leader
they had had
a leader
in Moses
they had had
a leader
in Joshua
now they are
without a leader
and here they are
facing this
conquest
that is incomplete
so they ask
the right
question
they understand
and have learned
from the pattern
they need God
to supply them
some direction
so they ask
for help
similar to what
Moses had done
in Numbers
chapter 27
Moses knew
that he was
departing
from the scene
so what does
Moses do
he doesn't just
raise up Joshua
on his own
no he goes
to the Lord
and inquires
of the Lord
says let the Lord
the God
of the spirits
of all flesh
appoint a man
over the congregation
who shall go out
before them
and come in
before them
who shall lead
them out
and bring them
in
that the congregation
of the Lord
may not be
a sheep
that have no shepherd
so the Lord
said to Moses
take Joshua
the son of Nun
a man
in whom
is the spirit
and lay your hand
on him
Moses
understood
that God
was the one
who needed
to provide direction
and while
Joshua
had been
an assistant
he did not
bypass
the wisdom
of the Lord
and asked God
for help
give me some
direction
and now the people
of Israel
learning from that
example
are doing the same
now that Joshua
has departed
and they say
who shall go up
for us
but notice
notice what had
been the standard
before
was one
key leader
Moses had been
the leader
during the
wilderness
wanderings
Joshua
had been
the leader
during the
conquest
but now
look there's
a shift
a transition
that's beginning
to take place
and now
not a man
who will lead
but now a tribe
Judah
things are now
beginning to be
in motion
the promise
that God
had given
to his people
about a future
king
was now
beginning to be
to unfold
in front of
their very eyes
we see
going all the
way back
to Genesis
chapter 49
we see
how Jacob
who is the
grandson
of Abraham
prophesied
that Judah
would be the
one
the scepter
shall not
depart
from Judah
nor the
ruler's
staff
from between
his feet
until tribute
comes to him
and to him
shall be
the obedience
of the peoples
who will go up
Judah will go up
he will go up
in accordance
with the promise
that had been
set
he'll go up
to begin
to help
this plan
this master
plan
that God
had
for all
eternity
to begin
to be set
in motion
so Judah
goes up
he obeys
he takes
the lead
we find that
in verse 3
of Judges
chapter 1
it says
and Judah
said to Simeon
his brother
come up with me
into the territory
allotted to me
that we may
fight against
the Canaanites
and I likewise
will go with you
into the territory
allotted to you
so Simeon
went with him
then Judah
went up
and the Lord
gave the Canaanites
and the Perizzites
into their hand
and they defeated
10,000 of them
at Bezek
they trust
and obey
the Lord
and God gives them
victory
but immediately
we begin to notice
that the book
of Judges
is somewhat
unfamiliar
in some respects
there's
new
nations
there's new
peoples
that are
involved
we are
familiar
with the
Canaanites
but who
in the world
are the
Perizzites
and there
will be
several others
as well
there will be
customs
that will be
unfamiliar
there will be
traditions
and language
that will be
unfamiliar
as we work
our way
through
this book
look at
verse 5
we can kind of
approach
some of this
here
they found
Adonai Bezek
at Bezek
and fought
against him
and defeated
the Canaanites
and the Perizzites
and Adonai Bezek
fled
but they
pursued him
and cut off
excuse me
and caught him
and cut off
his thumbs
and his big toes
and Adonai Bezek
said 70 kings
with their thumbs
and big toes
cut off
used to pick up
scraps under my
table
as I have
done so
God has
repaid me
and they
brought him
to Jerusalem
and he died
there
right out of
the gate
we recognize
there's some
unfamiliar ground
what is taking
place
and as we work
our way through
this book
we're going to
see that there
are certain
customs
there are certain
pagan rituals
that the further
we go
the more embedded
they seem to be
in the
people of Israel
and so even
those who are
raised up by
God
to help bring
deliverance
to God's
people
are polluted
and corrupted
by these
customs
that seem to be
so embedded
among the people
this was the
warning that God
had set
before they even
entered the
promised land
and then we
notice
what Adonai
Bezek
says
here
he says
as I have
done
so God
has repaid
me
I want to
draw attention
to this
because we're
going to see
as we work
our way
through
this
book
that there's
going to be
some language
that seems
to refer to
God
but don't
be confused
don't be
misled
because
this is a
polluted
people
this is a
corrupted
people
and blended
worship
that we're
going to see
this syncretistic
kind of worship
that tends
to blend
the customs
of the people
and mix
them in
with the
worship
of God
that produces
corrupted
worship
polluted
worship
and blended
worship
is never
the kind
of worship
that is
accepted
by the
Lord
as a matter
of fact
in Matthew
chapter 15
verse 8
the Lord
says this
this people
honors me
with their
lips
but their
heart is
far from
me
you see
Adonai Bezek
could talk
about God
but he
wasn't
talking about
the God
of Israel
he was
speaking in
generalities
and it's
important for
us to
recognize
how easy
it is
for the
people in
our culture
even to
talk about
God
talk about
the Lord
but recognize
that when
we worship
the Lord
we need to
worship
according to
God's
standard
dads
parents
blended
worship
is always
corrupt
worship
compromise
will eventually
lead to
trouble
but it
won't happen
overnight
we need to
recognize this
and bringing
our children's
heart to
God
is an
act
of worship
and obedience
to the Lord
but we need to
do it in a
way that
doesn't expose
them to
to the
compromise
of culture
trust and
obey
God's word
enjoy
the promise
of obedience
and then this
experience
God's
present
power
we see that
as we're in
Judges chapter 1
beginning in
verse 19
we see that
behind
all of
the things
that God
is doing
among his
people
that when
they enjoy
success
they enjoy
success
because
the Lord
is with
them
verse 19
of chapter 1
it says
and the
Lord
was with
Judah
and he
took possession
of the hill
country
because he
could not
drive out
the inhabitants
of the plain
because they
had chariots
of iron
in Judges
chapter 1
verse 22
it says
the house
of Joseph
also went
up against
Bethel
and the
Lord
was with
him
and we
find in
chapter 2
verse 18
whenever the
Lord
raised up
a judge
for them
the Lord
was with
the judge
the people
enjoyed
the benefits
of the
Lord
being with
them
even in
the midst
of compromise
when they
obeyed
the Lord
was with
them
and helped
them accomplish
the objectives
that God
had set
before them
this is an
important distinction
for us to
understand
the Lord
was with
them
and remember
the question
that Joshua
asked as he
walked into
the promised
land with
the people
there having
just passed
the Jordan
River
and the
commander of
the Lord's
army came
and revealed
himself
and Joshua
asked the
question not
are you with
us
he asked
are you
for us
are you
for us
and what
does the
commander of
the Lord's
army say
no
I am the
commander of
the Lord's
army
meaning
I fight
for God
and the
question is
not are you
for us
the question
should be
are we
walking with
obeying
the commandments
of the Lord
are we with
him
Joshua chapter
5 verse
13
we see
that question
for those of
you who are
taking notes
so consistently
God strengthens
his people
in obedience
as they are
obedient to
him
and so
the people
fought as
God told
them to
fight
and when
they fought
in the way
that God
asked them
to fight
the Lord
was with
them
enabling
them
helping
them
strengthening
them
see when
God is
with his
people
God
empowers
his
people
to
accomplish
again
those
strategies
those
objectives
that he set
before them
that's why
God says
to Joshua
in Joshua
chapter 1
verse 9
have not
commanded you
be strong
and courageous
do not
be dismayed
for the Lord
your God
is with
you
wherever
you go
don't be afraid
Joshua
follow the word
of God
incorporate it
into your life
do what it
says
understand
God's
direction
follow it
through
and when
you do
that
the Lord
is with
you
and when
God
is with
you
his
power
is present
he's
working
through
your
activities
see God
is faithful
to bring
his people
into the
land
and we
see that
here at
the start
of judges
we see
the faithfulness
of God
in helping
his people
to begin
this settling
process
this enduring
promise
that we have
throughout the
scripture
that when
God is
with his
people
they enjoy
the benefits
of his
strength
Isaiah 41
10 says
fear not
for I am
with you
be not
dismayed
for I am
your God
I will
strengthen
you
I will
help
you
I will
uphold
you
with my
righteous
right hand
God's
enduring
promise
consistently
the mercy
of God
is with
his people
dads
is so
easy
for us
to be
afraid
it's
easy
for us
to let
insecurities
have their
way
we don't
feel like
we can
measure up
we don't
feel like
we have
anything
to offer
we don't
think we
can answer
the questions
that our
kids have
we don't
feel like
we can
direct
them in
the way
that's
appropriate
we feel
so
incapable
insufficient
inadequate
but as
we come
to understand
the significance
of the
direction
that the
word of
God
gives
we know
that we
need to
lead well
and lead
courageously
lead
biblically
lead
consistently
and this
is the same
promise
by the way
that we
find in
the new
testament
Matthew
chapter 28
verses 19
and 20
says this
go therefore
and make
disciples of all
nations
baptizing them
in the name
of the father
and the son
and the holy
spirit
teaching them
to observe
all that
I've commanded
you
and behold
I am
what church
with you
I'm with you
always
to the end
of the age
that's the
promise
we don't have
to be afraid
following the
objectives that
God has set
before us
whatever
wherever we
are in the
in the
continuum
of being
fathers
or single
wherever we
might be
on the
spectrum
obeying
the
the commands
that God
has set
before us
in making
disciples
God will
empower that
because his
strength
is there
he's walking
beside us
and this
most important
command
especially for
families
disciple
make disciples
and the
first order
of business
in making
disciples
in families
is children
what a great
promise for us
that God
is with us
in that
disciple
making
endeavor
we can
trust
and obey
we can
enjoy
the promise
of obedience
we can
experience
God's
present
power
but then
this
we need
to resist
the drift
of compromise
resist the
drift of
compromise
and this is
where the
book of
judges
now begins
to take
a turn
and we
see there
in judges
chapter 1
verses 18
and 19
we see the
compromise
that begins
to fill
the lives
of the
people
of this
nation
it says
Judah
captured Gaza
with its
territory
and Ashkelon
with its
territory
and Ekron
with its
territory
and the
Lord was
with Judah
and he
took possession
of the hill
country
but he
could not
drive out
the inhabitants
of the plain
because they
had chariots
of iron
we move
to verse
21
but the
people of
Benjamin
did not
drive out
the Jebusites
who lived
in Jerusalem
and we move
to verse
27
Manasseh
did not
drive out
the inhabitants
of Bethshean
and its
villages
then in
verse 29
and Ephraim
did not
drive out
the Canaanites
who lived
in Gezer
and then in
verse 30
Zebulun
did not
drive out
the inhabitants
of Kitron
or the
inhabitants
of Nahol
verse 31
Asher
did not
drive out
the inhabitants
of Akko
verse 33
Naphtali
did not
drive out
the inhabitants
of Bethshanish
or the inhabitants
of Bethana
it was
compromise
it was
incomplete
obedience
they didn't
follow through
they didn't
entrust
themselves
to the word
of God
and his promise
they stopped
short
the promise
was intact
the power
was present
but their lack
of follow
through
planted the
seeds of
failure
in future
moral decay
they became
satisfied with
partial obedience
and it created
this new
baseline
this new
starting point
this new
atmosphere
as we saw
earlier
these small
departures
that begin
to set
the course
for future
generations
you see
the challenges
of the enemies
were present
they were real
we don't want to
dismiss
the difficulties
that the people
of Israel
really faced
certainly
there were
struggles
no doubt
there was
loss
of life
hardened
opposition
reinforced
resistance
it allowed
this mentality
I think
this is good
enough
I think
I've worked
hard enough
we're tired
we're weary
we've faced
opposition
we've incurred
losses
I think
this is good
enough
there wasn't
the tenacity
for complete
obedience
so this
remnant
left
seeds of
corruption
in their
path
I'm reminded
I've got
a little
flower bed
outside of
my house
and in
this flower
bed
there's
little
thistles
that just
keep
popping up
and I've
been working
on this
probably
for over
a month
trying to
get rid
of all
of these
thistles
that keep
growing up
and I've
got this
shovel
it's a
long
slender
shovel
I'm
telling you
I'm going
deep
I think
I'm getting
everything
it's going
about a foot
into the ground
and this
itty bitty
little
thistle
that's sticking
up
has a root
and I'm not
joking
it's about
this long
it's ridiculous
and every
single week
I'm pulling
up thistles
like you
wouldn't
believe
just the last
several days
I'm just
working through
trying to
pull these
babies out
and it just
keeps
coming
back
and
I'm sure
Mr. Gardner
can help me
know how to
resolve the
problem
but I
certainly
don't have
a clue
how to get
rid of these
thistles
but it's a
reminder to us
of how easy
it is
for us
to say
you know
what
I give
up
I'm done
with this
work
this is
good enough
I'm going to
leave it
for next
year
and the
work that
we're called
to
is an
enduring
work
the work
that we're
called
to
is a
faith
filled
work
you see
God is
even
using
the
thistles
that grow
up
and the
opposition
that we
face
to press
us in
more deeply
to trusting
him
and exercising
in our
life the
patterns of
obedience
what does
God's word
say
what do I
need to do
and how do I
trust him
and how do I
set this example
for future
generations
of what it
looks like
to trust the
Lord
even when
opposition
is in the
way
you see
there was
compromise
among
these
people
and we
see that
in at least
a couple
of different
ways
we see
that they
lived
among
them
the
Canaanites
and the
people of
the land
lived among
the nation
of Israel
but we also
see this
in negotiated
compromise
that they
put them
and subjected
them to
forced labor
they thought
that that was
good enough
but they
didn't drive
them out
you see
they were
supposed to
drive them
out
they were
supposed to
follow through
and when
they
obeyed
they saw
the benefits
of God's
strength
applied
see dads
when we
allow compromise
to enter
into our
lives
personally
and enter
into
our parenting
we begin
to notice
the same
kind of
weeds
where are
you
where am
I
allowing
compromise
the slippage
of life
the
kind of
the
this is
going to
be okay
kind
of
posture
to enter
into
our daily
routine
God
had given
warnings
his warnings
were in
place
because he
wanted the
people to
enjoy the
benefits
of
the
faithfulness
and the
fruit
of having
a culture
that enjoyed
a weed
free
kind of
life
Ephesians
chapter 5
verses 11
and 12
provide special
warning to
us
it says
take no
part
in the
unfruitful
works
of darkness
but instead
expose them
for it is
shameful
even to
speak of
the things
that they
do
in secret
I imagine
that even
in this
moment
as you
are reviewing
in your
mind
and in
your heart
there are
certain
things
that you
know
that you
would never
tell
and have
never told
anyone
there are
those secret
compromises
that you've
made
there are
those
danger
zones
that you've
explored
there are
those websites
that you
have attended
there are
those
individuals
that you
keep company
with
whatever it
is
you know
even as I'm
saying these
words
you know
that there
are
compromises
in your
life
but God
has called
us to be
holy
as he is
holy
he's called
us to be
sober and
watchful
in our
prayers
he's called
us to
study
to show
ourselves
approved
to God
a workman
that needs
not to be
ashamed
rightly
dividing
the word
of truth
recognizing
the significance
of the
gift
that God
has given
to us
in the
scriptures
and how
easy it
is
and I
even as
I say
this
in my
own
heart
I know
that
there are
days
that go
by
and I
don't
spend
enough
time
in the
word
of God
and in
prayer
like I'd
like to
little
compromises
that our
enemy can
use
to steal
our hearts
away
and to
eventually
lead our
families
in the wrong
direction
finally
I want to
end on
this
consider the
reality
of God's
mercy
consider the
reality
of God's
mercy
and as we
work through
the book
of Judges
we're going to
see this
more and
more
how God
continually
shows up
notice Judges
chapter 2
verses 1
it says this
thou the angel
of the Lord
went up
from Gilgal
to Baquim
and he said
I brought
you up
from Egypt
and brought
you into
the land
that I swore
to give
to your
fathers
and I
said I
will never
break my
covenant
with you
that's our
God
he is a
covenant
maker
and a
covenant
keeper
and we're
going to
see the
testimony
of this
people
who
in varying
degrees
not just
compromise
but full
on rebellion
and we
get a
taste of
that
when we
look
at the
next
several
verses
we find
in Judges
chapter 2
verse 10
all this
generation
also were
gathered to
their fathers
and there
arose another
generation
after them
who did
not know
the Lord
or the
work that
he had
done for
Israel
and now
verse 11
and the
people of
Israel
did what
was evil
in the
sight of
the Lord
and served
the Baals
and they
abandoned
the Lord
the God
of their
fathers
who had
brought them
out of
the land
of Egypt
they went
after other
gods
from among
the gods
of the
peoples
who were
around them
and bowed
down to
them
provoked
the Lord
to anger
they abandoned
the Lord
and served
the Baals
and the
Ashtra
what would
you do
sorry
over
done
promise
over
no that's
not what
our God
does
our God
is a
promise
maker
and a
promise
keeper
notice
verse 16
then the
Lord
raised up
judges
why did
he do
that
because
he's a
God
of
mercy
he
saved
them
out of
the
hand
of those
who
plundered
them
even
in
the
rebellion
of his
people
yet
they did
not
listen
to their
judges
for
they
whored
after
other
gods
and
bowed
down
to
them
they
soon
turned
aside
from
the
way
in
which
their
fathers
had
walked
who
had
obeyed
the
commandments
of
the
Lord
and
they
did
not
do
so
whenever
the
Lord
raised
up
the
judges
for
them
the
Lord
was
with
the
judge
he
saved
them
from
the
hand
of
their
enemies
and
all
the
days
of
the
judge
for
the
Lord
get
this
was
moved
to
pity
by
their
groaning
because
of those
who
even
though
they
didn't
deserve
it
even
though
they
rebelled
time
and
time
again
God's
promises
stood
and
as soon
as they
turned
back
to
the
Lord
God
was
there
to
listen
to
forgive
and
to
raise
up
more
deliverers
the
testimony
is the
same
for
us
today
we
have
a
God
who
saves
a
God
who
delivers
and
the
testimony
of
his
saving
power
is
what
we're
going
to
enjoy
and
celebrate
in
because
what we
participate
in
communion
is not
a saving
work
there's
nothing
about
communion
that
saves
us
but
it
reminds
us
of
what
Christ
did
to
allow
us
to
enjoy
the
benefits
of
forgiveness
and
salvation
his
death
and
resurrection
has
made
a way
for
us
to
be
united
to
him
it
shouldn't
be a
surprise
that
Jesus
in
instituting
the
communion
says
this
do
in
remembrance
of
me
that
should
sound
familiar
because
that's
what
we're
to
do
as
fathers
that's
what
the
nation
of
Israel
was
supposed
to
do
to
their
children
remind
them
of
my
standard
tell
them
about
my
word
help
them
to
recognize
what
I
have
said
do
this
in
remembrance
of
me
that's
what
we're
going
to
do
this
morning
let
me
pray
!
Father
thank you
for sending
your son
Jesus
thank you
for making
a way
for us
to enjoy
salvation
through faith
in the
Lord Jesus
his perfect
work
in this
life
living this
perfect
life
and then
dying on
the cross
for our
sins
not because
he had
to
but because
he made
a way
through
his
death
for us
to
enjoy
the
benefits
of
salvation
so Lord
we praise
you
for
your
goodness
to us
and we
praise
you
for the
reminder
today
the
warning
and also
the
promise
of how
following
after your
word
allows us
to enjoy
the benefits
and the
blessings
of your
promise
help us
to do
that faithfully
in Jesus
name
amen
Thank you.