WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.000 Okay, I'm not sure if you're aware, if you're up on the current art scene, 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:08.140 but there's an artist called Banksy. 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:12.740 And he started out as a bit of a street artist, a social commentator, 00:00:12.820 --> 00:00:17.980 a social critic, really, but entered into mainstream art as well. 00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:20.620 But he still remained almost anonymous. 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:23.019 We're kind of not really sure who he is. 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:26.060 And this guy, Banksy, has painted a whole bunch of paintings 00:00:26.060 --> 00:00:28.539 all over different buildings all throughout Europe and America. 00:00:29.219 --> 00:00:35.899 He's actually the artist of Britain's favourite painting. 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:38.460 Why should that matter to you? 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:40.820 Well, it's Britain, in their opinion, should matter to us. 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:45.500 They, after all, are still our overmasters, yes? No? 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:48.620 And this particular painting is it, The Girl with the Balloon. 00:00:48.620 --> 00:00:53.820 That's Britain's favourite painting of all time. 00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:58.259 Now, interestingly, it sold at auction about a week and a half ago. 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:01.960 And at auction, something crazy happened. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:07.879 You see, at this auction, Banksy had actually built into the frame of the painting, 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:10.000 two years before, I think it was. 00:01:10.500 --> 00:01:12.879 He built a shredder into the frame of the painting. 00:01:13.019 --> 00:01:15.939 So when it sold at auction, it triggered an alarm, 00:01:16.299 --> 00:01:18.879 which then the painting descended through the shredder at the bottom 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:20.359 and shredded this painting. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:25.239 1.04 million pounds, like a trillion dollars in our money, isn't it? 00:01:25.239 --> 00:01:30.560 About nearly $2 million in our money just started to drop through this shredder 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:31.560 at the bottom of the frame. 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:36.019 And all these people are just staring, watching this favourite painting of Britain 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:38.579 disintegrate before their very eyes. 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:41.819 And you can see, I think, in the pictures, there's some of the photos. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.379 This is actually a cut-down version of the photo that Banksy actually posted 00:01:45.379 --> 00:01:50.019 on his Instagram feed of the auction itself. 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:51.459 What he was doing? 00:01:51.859 --> 00:01:56.939 Well, he was actually critiquing the consumerist approach to life 00:01:56.939 --> 00:01:58.500 that people seem to have. 00:01:58.679 --> 00:02:02.599 In particular, obviously, as an artist, the consumerist approach to art. 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:09.939 So he decided to destroy one of his most loved pieces of art 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:13.840 at the point at which someone tried to make a massive profit out of it. 00:02:15.359 --> 00:02:19.280 People were horrified for about a day or so. 00:02:20.740 --> 00:02:24.000 And now people are saying, artists and critics are saying, 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:27.139 it's actually increased in value because of the statement that was made 00:02:27.139 --> 00:02:28.039 about consumerism. 00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:29.139 Isn't that wonderful? 00:02:29.139 --> 00:02:34.039 The poor guy must be scratching his head wondering what he can possibly do 00:02:34.039 --> 00:02:39.659 to get the message across to us that we are just caught up in so many things 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:46.659 that if we really soberly looked at them would prove to have absolutely no value, really. 00:02:48.679 --> 00:02:55.519 He's trying to expose our flawed values to show us how we're going so wrong as a society 00:02:55.519 --> 00:02:58.519 and we just don't want to get the message. 00:02:59.139 --> 00:03:05.039 Friends, what I want to say to you today is that as we go into these last five chapters of Judges, 00:03:05.379 --> 00:03:09.739 this is what the writer of the book of Judges is wanting us to do. 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:13.719 He's wanting us to take up that mirror again and look at ourselves afresh. 00:03:14.399 --> 00:03:15.219 He's wanting to... 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:18.219 There's two key stories in this section. 00:03:18.579 --> 00:03:21.779 And he's wanting us to actually really reflect on who we are. 00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:26.000 Our flawed values. 00:03:26.840 --> 00:03:28.039 And he's wanting us... 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:31.280 He's wanting to promote the right direction to be looking in. 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:35.060 So this is a conclusion to the book of Judges. 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:39.159 And in this conclusion, we need to pay homage to the very beginning of Judges, 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:42.259 which in chapter 1, verse 1, we learn that Joshua has just died. 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:43.639 He's... 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:44.580 Why is this important? 00:03:44.659 --> 00:03:46.479 Well, because Joshua had held the people together, 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:48.099 not just as a military leader. 00:03:48.679 --> 00:03:50.340 Joshua pointed them toward God. 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:52.659 He was a spiritual leader too of sorts. 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:54.579 He actually famously said these words. 00:03:54.620 --> 00:03:59.419 And I remember these from being a child and hearing them in church and at Sunday school. 00:04:00.079 --> 00:04:01.099 He's the man who said, 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:04.560 Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, 00:04:05.079 --> 00:04:06.399 we will serve the Lord. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:08.479 The whole section is... 00:04:09.539 --> 00:04:13.939 More of the section is this in verse 14 and following of Joshua chapter 4. 00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:18.439 Now, therefore, he says to the people of Israel in the Promised Land, 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:21.759 Fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:27.639 Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the river in Egypt and serve the Lord. 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:30.339 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:32.000 choose this day whom you will serve, 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:34.720 whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:37.600 or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now dwell. 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:41.420 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:04:41.420 --> 00:04:43.600 And all the people say, 00:04:44.280 --> 00:04:45.240 So will we. 00:04:46.379 --> 00:04:47.460 And Joshua says, 00:04:47.540 --> 00:04:48.300 No, you won't. 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:49.400 Yes, we will. 00:04:49.520 --> 00:04:51.199 And that's kind of the thing that the... 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:53.240 A bit of an argument that goes on at the end of Joshua. 00:04:53.960 --> 00:04:57.460 But I can tell you now that Judges is the story of how their argument continues. 00:04:58.100 --> 00:04:58.700 No, we won't. 00:04:58.780 --> 00:04:59.340 Yes, we will. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:00.160 No, we won't. 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:05.400 What we have in the book of Judges is no Joshua, 00:05:05.520 --> 00:05:08.220 no leader to lead the people toward God. 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:12.560 And they have no king to lead them toward God. 00:05:12.860 --> 00:05:14.280 See, as the book of Judges progresses, 00:05:14.640 --> 00:05:17.420 we don't find another leader like of the caliber of Joshua. 00:05:17.580 --> 00:05:18.820 We just don't see him. 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:21.520 Lots of different leaders arise with all kinds of different attributes. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:29.939 But none of them match up to Joshua in pointing them toward God as successfully as Joshua did, 00:05:30.719 --> 00:05:34.079 even though that turned out not to be as successful as they'd hoped. 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:38.939 And as the book of Judges progresses, 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:42.539 the writer begins to turn to thoughts of a king. 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:46.699 And in this section is where this really comes to the fore. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:54.719 So in chapter 17, verse 6, 18, verse 1, 19, verse 1, and 21, 25, the very end. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.620 So the beginning and the end and twice in the middle. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:59.419 The writer says these words. 00:05:59.779 --> 00:06:03.539 In those days, there was no king in Israel. 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:09.120 Now the writer's desire here is for a king to solve the spiritual problem. 00:06:10.919 --> 00:06:14.699 Someone that would actually draw them back to worship of their God, 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:16.000 faithful worship of their God. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:18.740 Because everyone's basically doing what they want. 00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:22.079 So they have no Joshua, they have no king. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:24.799 They don't even have a judge to save them. 00:06:24.799 --> 00:06:27.339 This is the book of Judges and five chapters passes 00:06:27.339 --> 00:06:29.979 without there being a judge to come to the fore. 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:33.120 Five chapters. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:35.399 Israel spirals down. 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:38.899 But no one arises to save them. 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:45.280 Then again, in five chapters, there is no external threat. 00:06:45.660 --> 00:06:48.660 The last five chapters are an awful, bloody mess. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:51.879 But it's a self-inflicted mess. 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:54.319 There's no enemies from the outside oppressing them. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:56.500 They're oppressing each other from within. 00:06:56.500 --> 00:07:01.420 No Joshua, no king, no judge. 00:07:02.620 --> 00:07:03.680 Spoiler alert though. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:06.279 No spiral either. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:07.740 No cycle. 00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:09.420 No downward spiral. 00:07:09.420 --> 00:07:17.080 You see, what actually happens in these last five chapters is we discover that the ending is actually the beginning. 00:07:17.939 --> 00:07:23.379 The first story that we'll look at, the first Levi, is actually the third generation from Moses. 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:27.439 The second story is the third generation from Aaron, Moses' brother. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:31.920 They're kind of roughly in the same time frame. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:34.699 We like to think of things getting worse. 00:07:34.699 --> 00:07:43.460 But what these two stories, only like the third generation from Moses and Aaron tell us is that things were always bad. 00:07:43.840 --> 00:07:46.740 The last five chapters are the first five chapters. 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:50.500 Israel is already fully bad from the inside out. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:58.139 This conclusion has no Joshua, no king, no judge of any kind, not even a spiral. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:01.740 What it does have is this. 00:08:02.620 --> 00:08:06.040 It has one rule, two Levites, and three generations. 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:08.379 First, the one rule. 00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:15.199 In Judges 17, verse 6, we actually see this rule explained after he declares that there is no king in Israel. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:16.699 And it reads this. 00:08:16.699 --> 00:08:19.500 So Judges 17, second half of verse 6. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:24.279 Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:30.980 This is basically the rule that has been functioning throughout the book of Judges. 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:34.500 Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 00:08:35.179 --> 00:08:42.059 Doing what is right in my own eyes is when I become the reference point for what right and wrong is. 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:44.240 I decide how I'm going to live my life. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:49.580 But friends, a point that the writer to the Judges is trying to say here is this. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:56.299 When we live our own way, we have replaced God and become God ourselves. 00:08:58.259 --> 00:08:59.320 So this is one rule. 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:01.060 Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 00:09:01.059 --> 00:09:02.059 Judges. 00:09:02.059 --> 00:09:03.579 The second, the two Levites. 00:09:04.839 --> 00:09:09.119 We need to bear in mind as we open up these stories that the Levites were actually meant to teach and guide Israel. 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:12.159 They were the ones who were supposed to guide people toward God. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:14.719 First, in how we relate to God in terms of religion. 00:09:14.839 --> 00:09:17.799 And second, in how we relate to each other in terms of morality. 00:09:18.219 --> 00:09:19.959 Teaching us what God's word actually says. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:21.300 That's what they were meant to do. 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:29.000 Judges concludes with two stories of two Levites. 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:32.920 And these Levites are meant to expose our own values. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:37.379 To challenge us to examine our religion and our morality. 00:09:38.680 --> 00:09:42.720 As you read these five chapters, you are meant to judge yourselves. 00:09:46.100 --> 00:09:46.900 One rule. 00:09:46.899 --> 00:09:48.600 Two Levites. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.100 Three generations. 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:54.500 The Levite in the first story is Moses' grandson. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:57.659 As I've already said, the high priest in the second story is Aaron's grandson. 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:00.579 Only three generations from Moses. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:02.419 The point is stark. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:08.000 It's meant to be saying, look at the depth of the problem that's already there among you. 00:10:10.319 --> 00:10:11.860 How will a king resolve this? 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:17.180 Well, let's just start and have a look with the first story. 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:20.019 That's Judges 17 to 18. 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:25.159 And this is the introductory part of this was actually read out by John. 00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:28.220 Okay, so let's start with some of the characters. 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:29.220 We've got Micah. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:31.060 He's introduced right up front. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:33.539 And there's so much irony in this story. 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:37.840 Micah actually means who is like Yahweh. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:41.019 Well, not Micah, as we discover in the story. 00:10:41.100 --> 00:10:41.660 He's a thief. 00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:43.000 He's cursed by his mother. 00:10:43.280 --> 00:10:43.980 He's an idolater. 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:46.259 He already has his own shrine set up in his house. 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:49.399 But he's religious. 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:54.460 He's sensitive to his mother's curse, which is probably why he came forward in the first place, 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:56.120 to own up to his sin. 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:57.740 He has a shrine in his home. 00:10:57.960 --> 00:11:01.980 So he's obviously got some desire to actually please God and seek God's favor. 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:07.680 And in the story, we discover that he wanted a priest, a father figure he describes, 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.759 to guide him in the path of righteousness. 00:11:13.659 --> 00:11:18.039 Now, maybe if we replace his idols for the idols that we choose in this day and age, 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:22.200 we discover that he was actually very much like us. 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:28.379 Perhaps so close to being like us that if he was here in this room, 00:11:28.379 --> 00:11:30.460 we couldn't tell him apart from us. 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:34.580 We have Micah. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:36.740 And then we have his mother. 00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:42.779 His mother who worships the Lord, Yahweh, sort of. 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:43.680 Yeah? 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:47.320 She's eager to forgive, which is quite nice, 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:50.159 and horrified that she's cursed her son and tries to turn that around 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.659 by replacing that curse with a blessing. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:57.200 But then she ensures with her actions that they're both cursed by God. 00:11:58.700 --> 00:12:01.060 Firstly, in misappropriation of money dedicated to God. 00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:06.759 She dedicates all the money to God, only gives about a tenth of it to make the idol. 00:12:08.459 --> 00:12:16.059 In Leviticus 27, 28, you can read about the issue of money or goods or anything 00:12:16.059 --> 00:12:17.199 that's actually devoted to God. 00:12:17.239 --> 00:12:18.579 You cannot even buy it back. 00:12:18.739 --> 00:12:20.599 You cannot replace it with something of like value. 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:22.679 If it's devoted to God, it's God's. 00:12:22.739 --> 00:12:23.639 It stays God's. 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:30.879 And not only that, but with that 10% that she does give to Micah, 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:34.559 is to make a carved image and a metal image. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:44.379 Deuteronomy 27 has a list of curses and reasons that you can bring these curses from God on yourself. 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:52.339 And it uses this exact phrasing in verse 15 to describe anyone who makes a carved image or a metal image. 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:55.179 Anyone who does that is cursed by God. 00:12:55.179 --> 00:13:01.620 So she tries to worship Yahweh her way, not God's way. 00:13:04.579 --> 00:13:10.079 What we're meant to discover from this story is that it doesn't matter whether her heart is in the right place. 00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:12.779 It's almost comical how far wrong she's gone. 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:16.659 It doesn't matter whether your heart is in the right place. 00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:20.480 We worship God on his terms. 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:27.740 And then the Levite finally comes into the story. 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:30.100 And he's an interesting character too. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:30.959 He's an opportunist. 00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:32.360 He has an inheritance. 00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:35.600 And he has a key role within God's people. 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:41.240 And yet he moves from the place that Yahweh has given him to look for something better. 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:45.279 Ironically, his name is Jonathan. 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:47.820 And Jonathan means Yahweh has given. 00:13:49.560 --> 00:13:54.200 Jonathan, son of Gershom, grandson of Moses, we find out in chapter 18, verse 30. 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:57.879 So we know this is happening early in the time of Judges. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:02.360 And yet he's not Aaron's son, so he should not have been made a priest. 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:05.500 That role was not given to him. 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:08.120 But he took it anyway. 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:14.299 And we read in verses 11 and following of chapter 17, everyone was happy. 00:14:15.340 --> 00:14:17.100 The Levite was content to dwell with the man. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:20.039 And the young man became to him like one of his sons. 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.840 And Micah ordained the Levite. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:26.460 And the young man became his priest and was in the house of Micah. 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:28.100 And then Micah said, 00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:37.340 My goodness. 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:41.000 Could things get worse? 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:43.320 Well, they can because a tribe turns up. 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.659 A tribe of Danites. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.940 The Danites couldn't take possession of the land that they were giving. 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:53.100 And we discover this is where it kind of builds from the very beginning of Judges. 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:56.600 See, in chapter 1, verse 34, we discover this. 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:59.879 The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:02.060 for they did not allow them to come down to the plain. 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:06.259 So the Danites couldn't actually take possession of the land that God had given them. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:10.800 In chapter 2, verse 2, we discover it's because of their idolatry. 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:14.379 They couldn't take possession of the inheritance that God had given them. 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:16.980 So they went looking for another one. 00:15:18.040 --> 00:15:18.659 And the result? 00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:23.139 Well, as we read in the story, the scouts find Jonathan. 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:27.139 In chapter 18, verse 3, we actually recognized his voice. 00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:29.360 Some coincidence. 00:15:29.719 --> 00:15:30.819 They actually knew him. 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:34.259 And so with the scouting done and the main force on the march, 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:36.539 they decided to take Micah and the idols with them. 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:41.100 They failed to take the land they were given because of their disobedience. 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:45.860 So they slaughter a peaceful people to take a land that they weren't given 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:48.040 because it was easier. 00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:54.360 Jonathan becomes the priest of a religion of convenience. 00:15:56.120 --> 00:16:00.779 He and his descendants, we discover, served at the shrine of convenience. 00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:05.959 All the way until the Assyrian conquest in 722. 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:13.399 This shrine that the Danites set up was meant to be a center of worship of Yahweh 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:16.439 to prevent the Israelites from having to travel to the temple in Jerusalem. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:18.720 But it became a center of syncretism. 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:23.459 Worship God, or virtually worship any God you want, however you want. 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:30.299 Friends, what the story is trying to teach us here 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:35.859 is it's trying to teach us the ridiculousness of pursuing our own religion 00:16:35.859 --> 00:16:36.699 on our own terms. 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:38.859 You see, when we worship God our own way, 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:41.819 when we do this, when we worship God our own way, 00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:45.679 we have replaced God as the focus of our worship. 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:49.639 Worship that indulges my personal preferences. 00:16:50.079 --> 00:16:51.859 Worship that is more convenient to me. 00:16:54.859 --> 00:16:56.139 Indulging ourselves 00:16:56.139 --> 00:17:01.419 becomes the pathway to judging each other as well. 00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:03.019 Our church, 00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:04.740 the people in it. 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:07.420 Our preferences, 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:09.259 if we indulge them, 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.900 can become the standard by which we judge each other. 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:12.980 Music, 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:15.180 too loud, 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:15.799 too soft, 00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:17.000 not enough hymns, 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:19.000 not enough rocky stuff, 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:21.859 too much drums, 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:22.839 not enough bass. 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:26.500 There can be all kinds of different things, 00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:27.720 issues and concerns 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:30.000 that come into our perceptions of how things are. 00:17:30.179 --> 00:17:32.000 And if we start to judge things by that, 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.199 then we'll find them wanting. 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.259 I can guarantee you. 00:17:35.179 --> 00:17:36.220 If you have a preference, 00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:38.980 it will not be met by every song we sing. 00:17:40.399 --> 00:17:41.799 What about teaching style? 00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:46.159 I find this one, 00:17:46.459 --> 00:17:47.599 it's a difficult one, isn't it? 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.599 I'm actually teaching it now. 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:51.639 I find this one a difficult one to address on that basis. 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.000 But I can tell you now 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:57.359 that if you promote your preference 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:59.059 in terms of teaching style, 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:00.559 you will be guaranteed 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:02.799 to be able to find someone 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.399 whose teaching you resonate with better 00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:07.139 than myself, David, Boe and Adam 00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:10.059 and other people who we share this pulpit with. 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.819 You will be guaranteed to find someone. 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:20.939 I think it's a wonderful thing 00:18:20.939 --> 00:18:22.359 that different churches 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:25.439 are putting their preaching up on websites 00:18:25.439 --> 00:18:27.339 and it's a great thing 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:29.619 that there are so many different teaching resources 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.899 to engage in. 00:18:31.139 --> 00:18:33.279 And if you actually want some advice on that, 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:35.240 we'd be more than happy to point you 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:37.879 to folk who are actually really faithful 00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:39.259 at teaching God's word. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.779 No question. 00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:44.579 But when we exercise that preference, 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:46.720 we indulge it, 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:49.139 we'll find each other lacking. 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:54.879 I've been asked to preach like Alistair Begg. 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.740 Alistair Begg's a great preacher. 00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:59.559 I'm not Alistair Begg. 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.759 He has a Scottish accent. 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:03.339 I can't even do David's accent 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:05.480 and I've been working with him for four years. 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:10.700 What about spirituality? 00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:14.200 You see, if we're not careful, 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:16.779 we'll actually start to develop a concept, 00:19:17.120 --> 00:19:19.519 an expectation of what it looks like, 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:21.440 what a spiritual person looks like. 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:25.620 An expectation that we impose on the people around us, 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.579 superimpose on them. 00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:34.220 And if they don't fit that concept of spirituality that we have, 00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:36.359 we find them lacking. 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:41.099 One of the... 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:42.939 another area that comes up quite frequently, 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.339 all too frequently, 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.559 is the issue of reconciliation. 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:45.759 reconciliation. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.579 How do we reconcile to each other? 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:52.399 How do we move toward each other in love? 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:54.240 How do we actually recognize 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.619 when there's a problem between us 00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:57.099 and what does it look like 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:59.099 to actually move toward each other through that? 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:02.500 To allow what Christ did on the cross 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:04.319 to teach us and inform us 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:06.859 on how to actually resolve 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:08.359 our differences with each other. 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:14.279 We'll have all these different views. 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:16.919 We'll be frustrated with it. 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:18.859 We'll build in frustration for one another. 00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:21.119 And you know the crazy thing is 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:23.479 that we will be convinced that we are right, 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.439 just like Micah did. 00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:27.879 Now God will show me favor, he says. 00:20:27.939 --> 00:20:28.519 I've got everything. 00:20:28.639 --> 00:20:29.979 I've got all my ducks lined up. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.539 Except listening to God and his will. 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:39.599 We can be convinced that we are right, 00:20:39.659 --> 00:20:41.579 even though God's word does not support us. 00:20:43.659 --> 00:20:45.720 Friends, this story is meant to be saying this. 00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:48.359 Look at the ridiculousness of how far wrong they go, 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:50.779 and yet how much they celebrate how right they are. 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:57.059 Let's look at ourselves. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.200 Judge ourselves. 00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:59.440 Judge our religion. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:02.059 Expose it to God's word 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:04.679 and allow God's will to prevail. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:08.899 That's the lesson that we're called to learn here 00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:12.220 from this first section of the conclusion of Judges, 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:13.220 the first Levites. 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.599 Judge yourself. 00:21:16.659 --> 00:21:17.419 Judge your religion. 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:21.440 And he goes on with the second story straight away. 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:24.559 And judge your morality. 00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:30.779 This next story, Judges chapter 19 to 21, 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:34.039 is meant to be seen against the backdrop 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:37.180 of the one rule that I brought to your attention earlier. 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:40.240 The first verse, 19 verse 1, 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.779 explains the context of this story. 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:45.299 And the fact that there was no king in Israel 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:49.779 implies that the other half of that statement, 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:53.259 everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes. 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:57.059 What does that look like? 00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:01.240 Well, that's what the next Levite actually brings to our attention. 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:04.460 You see this new Levite that enters into the story. 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:07.039 This time the Levite enters up front in the story. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.519 We don't learn much about him initially, 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:12.259 but we certainly learn a lot about him as the story goes on. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.339 We don't even learn his name in the whole time. 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:16.879 But we know he lives in the same area, Ephraim, 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.379 at roughly the same time. 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:23.380 And we learn one detail, that he has a concubine. 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:24.900 We learn that up front. 00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:26.560 Now, just so you understand, 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:29.160 a concubine is most commonly, 00:22:29.780 --> 00:22:33.000 it's a second wife or a wife who has no dowry. 00:22:33.800 --> 00:22:36.120 So we can see through the story 00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:42.440 that the Levite refers to the father of his concubine 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.620 as father-in-law. 00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:45.979 So there seems to be a formal relationship here. 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:49.099 It probably fits into one of those two, 00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:50.819 a second wife or a wife who has no dowry. 00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:52.699 And we learn something about her up front. 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.039 In verse 2, 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:56.379 his concubine was unfaithful to him, 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:58.459 and she went away from him to her father's house 00:22:58.459 --> 00:22:59.399 in Bethlehem in Judah, 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.579 and was there some four months. 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:04.239 How was she unfaithful? 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:04.899 We don't know. 00:23:05.479 --> 00:23:07.539 All we do know is that she left her husband's. 00:23:08.159 --> 00:23:10.019 There's no reason given as to why, 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.699 but whatever the reason, it was big. 00:23:11.700 --> 00:23:14.140 It took four months for the Levite 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:15.240 to go and try and win her back. 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:19.259 Any of you who are married will know this. 00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:22.500 You sit on a relational conflict for four months, 00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:24.900 and it's pretty big. 00:23:25.580 --> 00:23:26.400 It's pretty big. 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.080 You feel it. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.740 Feel it long before four months. 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.759 Seconds, I think you can measure it in, 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:35.140 or fractions of seconds. 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:38.700 Then you have the father-in-law of this concubine 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.960 who appears to be really open-hearted. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.100 I mean, he takes his daughter back in for those four months, 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:45.000 and he accepts his son-in-law joyfully, 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.519 even after, you know, 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:48.140 he's probably heard what's happened with his daughter. 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:51.940 And then he goes on to even practice excessive hospitality. 00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:55.079 Time after time, 00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:56.920 he talks him into staying for another night. 00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.680 Lodge here, and let your heart be merry, 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.819 and tomorrow you should arise, 00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:02.940 and go early in the morning for your journey, 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.900 and so on. 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:08.560 And in fact, he causes the Levite, 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.740 his son-in-law, 00:24:09.840 --> 00:24:12.180 to set off on his journey way too late, we read. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:14.259 And because he's fed up of all the delays, 00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:15.780 his frustration gets the better of him, 00:24:15.820 --> 00:24:17.580 he thinks, forget this, I'm going. 00:24:17.780 --> 00:24:19.519 I'm not going to get out of here unless I go now. 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.519 And so he goes. 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.700 He's not going to make it all the way home. 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:24.300 He's not going to make it to where he wanted to get to 00:24:24.300 --> 00:24:24.940 by nightfall. 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.900 So he has to stop somewhere. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.440 But where? 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:30.340 Well, not Jerusalem, he says, 00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.759 because it's run by the Jebusites. 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:34.039 But Gibeah is run by Benjamites. 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:36.140 That's actually the people of God. 00:24:36.340 --> 00:24:37.519 That's got to be a safe place. 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:40.519 Surely the Benjamites can be relied on for hospitality, 00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:41.340 for safety. 00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:44.000 But no. 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.440 The tribe that enters in, 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:48.880 this Benjamite tribe that enters into the story, 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:51.180 is not a safe place at all. 00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:56.240 In 1915 and 18, the fact is repeated. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:00.380 No one from Gibeah would practice hospitality toward them. 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.700 But it's worse than that. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:03.299 They're actually unsafe in Gibeah. 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:06.480 The ominous words of the old man from Ephraim who sees them. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.099 He says this in verse 20, 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:08.940 Peace be to you. 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.180 I will care for all your wants, 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.980 only do not spend the night in the square. 00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:16.799 He's horrified that they might actually be staying there. 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.099 And the result? 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:25.120 Even though they have the hospitality of this old man, 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:27.679 a drunken mob comes to his house. 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:30.579 They demand to have the man turned over to them. 00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:34.779 And it's very clear what their intentions are. 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.719 They want to rape him. 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:41.439 Depravity like this has not been seen in the Bible 00:25:41.439 --> 00:25:44.019 since Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:47.519 And God wiped those cities off the map. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:54.119 But now, now, it's surfaced within God's people. 00:25:56.900 --> 00:26:00.799 The Levite, well, under threat, his true colors come out. 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:02.259 He acts decisively. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.139 What does he do? 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:07.200 He grabs his concubine and forcibly throws her out to the mob. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:11.440 And then in the morning, he sets off on his journey again. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:14.319 And there she is lying on the doorstep. 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:19.500 As the Levite steps over her to continue his journey, 00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:21.660 to set out on his journey, he says to her this, 00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:22.960 Get up. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.480 Let's be going. 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:27.259 But there was no answer. 00:26:27.580 --> 00:26:28.680 We read in 1928. 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.319 She's dead. 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:34.579 So he takes her body home. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:39.720 This is a man who serves, we read in this story as well, 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:44.779 he serves at the sanctuary before God. 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:47.039 He takes her body home. 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:50.359 He chops it into 12 pieces and he sends each piece 00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:52.599 to the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:58.799 They are horrified to a man. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.220 The Benjamites aren't, though. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.500 So civil war breaks out, we read. 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:05.859 The Benjamites fight to protect the rapists from justice. 00:27:06.179 --> 00:27:07.720 The other tribes fight for justice. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:10.220 The other tribes win and they get carried away 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:11.679 and they actually kill everyone. 00:27:12.939 --> 00:27:13.339 Everyone. 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.659 Man, woman and child in Benjamin, 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:17.819 except for the 600 Benjamites who actually escape 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.359 into the wilderness. 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:24.539 Pretty soon after that, they realize that this was overkill. 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:25.639 Literally. 00:27:26.159 --> 00:27:28.519 The tribe of Benjamin is nearly extinct. 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:31.299 After only three generations in the Promised Land. 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:33.980 So what's their solution? 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:37.500 Get the survivors some wives so they can actually start 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.700 to rebuild the tribe again. 00:27:40.899 --> 00:27:41.299 How? 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:42.759 Because they've all said that they, 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:44.700 none of them are actually going to take an oath. 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:46.839 None of them are going to give wives to these guys. 00:27:47.419 --> 00:27:50.639 Well, they kill the inhabitants of an entire town 00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:51.899 except for the virgins. 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:58.320 Jabesh Gilead hadn't sent people to fight in what turned out 00:27:58.320 --> 00:28:00.259 to be the massacre, so they deserve to die. 00:28:00.840 --> 00:28:02.360 They just erased that town. 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:06.460 The second great idea they had was to let the Benjamites 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:09.759 steal 200 girls from the festival at Shiloh. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:11.560 Again, Shiloh is where the tabernacle is. 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:16.460 From before God, from in front of God, 00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.859 they're allowing these things. 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.960 Promoting these things even. 00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:24.980 Hospitality, morality, justice, restitution. 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:28.839 Even when they try and fix their mistakes, 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.500 they blow it. 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:34.360 Again, it just goes to such an ugly, awful extreme. 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:36.220 It's so uncomfortable to read these stories. 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.759 And it's meant to be. 00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:43.839 The whole account, the whole book of Judges 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:45.000 finishes with the words, 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:56.480 We're meant to read the ugliness of these stories 00:28:56.480 --> 00:29:00.279 and see that when we live life our own way, 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:03.180 we have replaced God as God. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.680 It's rebellion. 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:09.880 The things we do are just an expression of this rebellion. 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.640 Apart from God's intervention, 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:13.319 we are like the Benjamites. 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:15.240 We are like the Israelites. 00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:19.139 There was a song, 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:21.259 I can remember from when I was younger, 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.159 called Bad to the Bone. 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.240 I don't know if you know this song. 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.159 B-b-b-bad, yeah? 00:29:25.439 --> 00:29:26.399 I'm not going to sing it. 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:28.139 But that's kind of how it goes. 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:30.039 And it kind of makes it cool 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:31.619 to be a rebellious kind of person. 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:33.019 To be, you know, to be bad 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:35.480 in that kind of James Dean kind of way. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:37.599 That rebel type person. 00:29:39.679 --> 00:29:41.279 If you read the words on face value, 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:42.559 they're actually quite accurate though. 00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:45.339 See, we like to think, 00:29:45.879 --> 00:29:47.319 yeah, a bit of badness is cool 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:49.480 because it actually makes it easier for us 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:51.439 to cope with the fact that there is badness in us. 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:55.360 We also like to think about badness in the sense 00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:58.140 that it's something that comes from outside into us. 00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:04.299 It's something that, an influence in a sense. 00:30:06.100 --> 00:30:07.700 Because that then means that, you know, 00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:09.019 I'm okay really, 00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:10.720 but all this stuff around me is just, 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:12.519 just having an effect on me. 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.620 It's, you know, 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.059 it's making me look bad, 00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:15.799 it's making me feel bad, 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:17.039 it's making me do bad things, 00:30:17.159 --> 00:30:18.460 but I'm not really bad myself. 00:30:21.159 --> 00:30:25.500 That is not what the book of Judges is showing us. 00:30:25.659 --> 00:30:27.099 The book of Judges is showing us 00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:29.159 that we are bad, 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.220 bad to the bone. 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:32.099 And given time, 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:34.339 we'll express it in all kinds of ways. 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:40.119 And Banksy shredded his painting 00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:43.539 to expose the skewed values of our culture. 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:47.459 These stories are meant to do the same. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:50.799 They're meant to expose our skewed values. 00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:53.259 They're meant to show us who we are 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:56.359 and when and where we try and replace God. 00:30:58.379 --> 00:31:00.240 They're meant to show us who we are 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:02.000 apart from God's intervention. 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:06.519 Friends, if the center of your moral framework is you, 00:31:06.619 --> 00:31:08.399 then you are already utterly lost 00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:11.240 and you won't even realize it. 00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.720 But can you see? 00:31:17.439 --> 00:31:19.259 Or do you resent me for pointing it out? 00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:23.159 I can remember when our children were young, 00:31:23.699 --> 00:31:26.679 there are some newfangled potty training methods 00:31:26.679 --> 00:31:28.039 where you hold your babies over a potty 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.740 when they're two weeks up. 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:29.720 Well, we didn't have that system. 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.519 Our kids were toddlers 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:32.119 when they were being toilet trains. 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:34.659 And I can remember when our kids were toddlers, 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:37.899 you get that whiff that lets you know 00:31:37.899 --> 00:31:39.099 that it was time to change their nappy. 00:31:39.219 --> 00:31:41.299 Some of you parents, you remember that? 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:42.559 You're probably already in the middle of that. 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.399 You get the whiff. 00:31:43.479 --> 00:31:43.839 You know. 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:46.079 This is the toddler age, 00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:47.279 not where they're really, really young 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.339 and it kind of escapes the nappy 00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.159 when they go sometimes. 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:51.359 I'm talking about just that age 00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.759 when little toddlers, 00:31:52.859 --> 00:31:53.379 and you go to them, 00:31:53.479 --> 00:31:54.219 and they know too. 00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:55.939 And so you say to them, 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:57.819 do I need to change your nappy? 00:31:58.459 --> 00:31:59.500 And they'll look at you 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.559 and they'll shake their head. 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.660 And if you start to move toward them, 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.960 they turn and they run. 00:32:06.619 --> 00:32:07.660 It's kind of comical. 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:09.380 They spread the smell around the house 00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:11.000 as they, you know, bounce around. 00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:13.559 This nappy full of poo. 00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:19.279 Is that what we're like? 00:32:22.159 --> 00:32:24.919 There's a truth that we don't want to face. 00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:30.879 And so we run around with that truth, 00:32:31.379 --> 00:32:32.779 undealt with, 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:35.419 like a toddler with a dirty nappy. 00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.339 These stories, 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.319 they're meant to expose our sin 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:42.639 and to expose our need. 00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.879 To cause us to yearn for a king 00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:46.539 who will turn our hearts back to God. 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:49.619 A king who will inspire us to love God 00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:51.019 with all of our hearts. 00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:53.599 A king who will awaken that same love for God 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:57.259 in our own hearts. 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:59.720 A king who will move our hearts 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:02.559 to hang on God's every good word. 00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:08.779 The next book after Judges 00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:09.819 is Samuel, 00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:13.319 which begins the process of finding kings. 00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:15.859 God does go on and provide kings for his people. 00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:17.240 Kings who did inspire. 00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:19.740 But none of them could deal with the problem 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:21.379 that already existed in their own hearts. 00:33:22.419 --> 00:33:24.359 Our hearts are hopelessly lost too. 00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:28.759 There was only one king who could deal with that. 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:33.180 The king who died that we could be forgiven, 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:36.000 renewed and restored. 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:41.259 The king who daily, lovingly exposes 00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:42.539 our own rebelliousness. 00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:45.839 And even as he does, 00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:48.680 who lovingly speaks words of grace, 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:51.000 words of life to us. 00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:56.740 The book of Judges is meant to show us 00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:58.660 the problem of our hearts. 00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:02.940 To point forward beyond Judges 00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:06.640 to a future solution that God would provide. 00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:10.360 Not just a king, but the king. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:14.760 The king who could rescue us and restore us. 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.119 The king. 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:21.119 Jesus Christ. 00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:25.119 And friends, if you don't know who Jesus is today, 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:27.179 if you're visiting and you have absolutely no idea, 00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.980 come and talk to me after the service. 00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:31.000 I'd love to introduce you to him. 00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:32.500 I'd love to explain to you 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:35.380 the truth of the song we sang just before I got up here 00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:37.519 and how you actually live that out. 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.799 How you actually come to him 00:34:38.799 --> 00:34:40.819 and allow him to heal you, 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.519 to rescue you, 00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.559 to restore you. 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:46.000 But friends, if you're already Christians, 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:48.259 like me, 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:50.539 what this book is trying to do is say, 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.059 you're Christians. 00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:56.119 Are you judging yourself? 00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:58.619 Are you allowing God's word 00:34:58.619 --> 00:35:00.840 to speak authoritatively into your lives? 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:04.139 Are you accepting the solution that God provides 00:35:04.139 --> 00:35:05.400 and living for him, 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:07.360 worshipping him his way? 00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:12.639 Judges. 00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.960 The book is done now. 00:35:16.279 --> 00:35:16.860 We've finished. 00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:20.300 All that's left for us now is to judge ourselves. 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.700 Let me pray. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.980 Father God, we thank you for the journey 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:29.559 you've taken us on through Judges. 00:35:29.740 --> 00:35:34.059 We are not sure if we all expected it 00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:36.180 to take the route that it did, 00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:39.220 but it has been such a privilege 00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:40.799 to see 00:35:40.799 --> 00:35:47.059 the faithfulness that you've shown 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:47.959 toward your people 00:35:47.959 --> 00:35:49.319 throughout history 00:35:49.319 --> 00:35:50.779 despite 00:35:50.779 --> 00:35:52.799 what we are like. 00:35:55.379 --> 00:35:56.159 Thank you, Lord, 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:57.139 for the privilege it is 00:35:57.139 --> 00:35:57.779 to know 00:35:57.779 --> 00:35:59.159 the king, 00:35:59.859 --> 00:36:01.619 the king that this judge, 00:36:01.879 --> 00:36:03.279 that this writer anticipated. 00:36:03.279 --> 00:36:04.899 We actually know him personally. 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:08.139 And thank you, God, 00:36:08.180 --> 00:36:08.960 that through him 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:11.039 we've become your precious children. 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:14.440 Lord, help us to see 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:16.820 how precious you are. 00:36:17.680 --> 00:36:19.700 Help us to serve you 00:36:19.700 --> 00:36:22.700 your way. 00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:25.660 Help us to submit to you, Lord, 00:36:27.220 --> 00:36:28.320 according to your word. 00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:31.980 With hearts filled with thankfulness. 00:36:33.180 --> 00:36:33.700 Amen. 00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:37.500 Amen. 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:40.119 Amen. 00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:40.820 Amen. 00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:41.619 Amen. 00:36:41.619 --> 00:36:43.619 Amen. 00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:43.740 Amen. 00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:49.300 Amen. 00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:54.480 Amen. 00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:56.660 Amen.