WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.419 All righty, good morning. 00:00:08.580 --> 00:00:14.280 Okay, if you haven't brought a Bible, there's some Bibles that look like this at the back, 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:19.059 but we're going to be following through from Judges 10, where we had the reading from this 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:19.339 morning. 00:00:19.719 --> 00:00:21.260 So Judges 10, verse 6 and following. 00:00:21.740 --> 00:00:23.859 So if you don't have a Bible, please go and grab one. 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:29.280 If you have never owned a Bible, then grab one of those Bibles and take it as our gift 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:29.620 to you. 00:00:29.820 --> 00:00:31.780 We'd love you to have a Bible. 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:35.820 Not only that, but come and chat with me after, and I'd love to sit with you and read through 00:00:35.820 --> 00:00:38.560 the Bible at your leisure. 00:00:38.900 --> 00:00:40.179 So yeah, there we go. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:42.400 Okay, so Judges chapter 6. 00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:46.299 It's an interesting story this week. 00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:49.520 Judges takes us to a whole new level. 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:56.939 We're halfway through the Judges and the cycle, the Judges cycle, it seems like the wheels 00:00:56.939 --> 00:00:57.680 are falling off. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:04.180 Certainly the cycle's showing itself to be a downward spiral more than a cycle round and 00:01:04.180 --> 00:01:05.540 round back to the same place again. 00:01:07.579 --> 00:01:17.019 And this particular account actually brings us face to face with the problem of evil. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:23.519 Now when I say the word evil, I'm sure you have perhaps, or perhaps you have people in 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:25.819 mind who you think you can attach that tag to. 00:01:26.420 --> 00:01:30.420 What Judges is going to push you to do though is attach it to yourself and start to understand 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:36.219 a little bit more about who you are in relation to God and why we so much need someone far 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:38.759 better than Jephthah to rescue us. 00:01:40.179 --> 00:01:45.299 See, the problem of evil, actually it became a very clear thing to me when I was a child. 00:01:45.299 --> 00:01:52.200 See, I was a child with two brothers and a sister and in a family of four kids, you very 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:57.539 quickly begin to realise that not everything that the people around you do is actually in 00:01:57.539 --> 00:01:58.700 your best interests. 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:01.039 Not everything they do. 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:07.759 Now I wouldn't call it pure evil when my brother or sister picked the biggest piece of cake 00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:08.659 for dessert. 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:12.020 But I got the sense, whoa, you know, something's going on here. 00:02:12.079 --> 00:02:13.180 Something's not quite right. 00:02:14.699 --> 00:02:17.919 And what I'm going to suggest to you is that we actually see the problem of evil in the people 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:18.439 around us. 00:02:18.599 --> 00:02:21.740 We see it very clearly when we're looking at the folk around us. 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:24.319 We struggle to see it when we're looking at ourselves. 00:02:27.139 --> 00:02:31.719 Man, and for many people, what I want to suggest to you as well is that the goodness of God is 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:42.280 hard to see, even though pretty much everyone in our society actually has a very clear vision 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:45.139 of the badness in the people around them. 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:50.379 So we struggle to see the goodness of God, but we have a real handle on what it looks like, 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:52.960 what badness looks like in the world around us. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:55.740 Now we have different explanations for it. 00:02:55.740 --> 00:02:56.419 I understand that. 00:02:56.419 --> 00:03:01.539 Some people blame the things that come out that could be tagged as evil. 00:03:01.839 --> 00:03:07.779 They blame them on their upbringing, the circumstances, or perhaps just the need for survival. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:12.459 And if you have a concept of the world that actually doesn't have a God in it at all, 00:03:12.899 --> 00:03:14.719 then really that's what's driving us, isn't it? 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:15.219 Survival. 00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:17.839 Me promoting myself in the world. 00:03:19.179 --> 00:03:20.519 Passing on my genes and so on. 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:28.860 But at the end of the day, whatever it comes down to in your mind, it's still individuals 00:03:28.860 --> 00:03:30.200 making choices. 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:35.340 Individuals making choices for good or for ill for the people around them. 00:03:37.379 --> 00:03:41.400 As I've said, Jephthah is halfway through the book of Judges and halfway through the book, 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:44.020 God wants us to see something. 00:03:44.020 --> 00:03:49.840 Turns out, the story of Jephthah is a mirror. 00:03:51.660 --> 00:03:54.100 It's one that shows us what we are really like. 00:03:55.460 --> 00:04:00.180 And one that shows us at the same time how good our God is. 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:04.980 I'm going to go through a few points as I speak. 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:08.379 Unconvincing repentance will be the first thing that I raise. 00:04:08.379 --> 00:04:12.479 And then I'll look through to the unlikely judge. 00:04:13.859 --> 00:04:21.779 And then, man, and then we'll actually look at the action of that judge at the very ends. 00:04:22.719 --> 00:04:26.839 The unbelievable, incomprehensible vow that he makes. 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:30.719 But let's start with the unconvincing repentance. 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:34.139 Because what we're going to see in this first section, the section that Beth read out to us, 00:04:34.459 --> 00:04:36.639 is the judge's cycle repeating itself. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:39.699 The usual repetition of the judge's cycle. 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:42.479 Way back in the first week, I explained this cycle. 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:44.740 It shows us the pattern to each of the stories. 00:04:45.139 --> 00:04:47.039 And sure enough, the pattern continues here. 00:04:48.159 --> 00:04:55.120 After a 45-year period of peace under Tola and then Jer, we read in the first verses of chapter 10, 00:04:55.959 --> 00:04:58.099 the people abandon God again. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:03.779 In chapter 10, verse 6, and this is the first stage in that judge's cycle, abandoning God. 00:05:04.479 --> 00:05:06.000 In chapter 10, verse 6, we read this. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:09.360 The people again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:15.160 But even as we read those words, they're familiar words from the judge's cycle, 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:17.399 this was no ordinary rebellion. 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:20.120 It was an epic rebellion. 00:05:20.740 --> 00:05:22.699 A seven-fold rebellion. 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:28.779 If we read on, we read that they served the Baals, the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:32.139 the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, 00:05:32.139 --> 00:05:34.500 and the gods of the Philistines, seven. 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:39.959 And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:48.259 If you're not familiar, the number seven tends to either, well, it tends to be used in, 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:51.159 particularly in the Old Testament and then in Revelation, 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:54.640 as a number four perfection or completeness. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:06:04.279 So when we see seven different ways that the people of Israel actually rebelled against God, 00:06:04.919 --> 00:06:07.039 we're seeing epic rebellion. 00:06:07.659 --> 00:06:11.939 They abandoned God and they took up idols from literally every single direction 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:13.319 that they could have looked in. 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:17.699 So if you saw the geographical map of Israel and you considered all the different countries around, 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:20.040 you point your finger in any direction, 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:25.839 and that was where they were drawing their idols and their idolatry from, 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:27.920 their religion from. 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:30.680 Syria and Sidon to the north. 00:06:31.539 --> 00:06:32.680 Moab to the south. 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:35.639 The Ammonites to the, which way is east? 00:06:35.719 --> 00:06:36.639 That's west, isn't it? 00:06:36.819 --> 00:06:37.180 East. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:38.939 And the Philistines to the west. 00:06:38.939 --> 00:06:43.980 They looked in every direction apart from God. 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:47.719 And the nature of their worship? 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:50.040 We need to understand what's going on there too, 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:52.019 because the nature of their worship was this. 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:58.459 It degenerated into child sacrifice, self-harm, and temple prostitutes. 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:01.620 Epic rebellion. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:07.379 The book of Judges isn't just a history lesson though. 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:08.079 It's a mirror. 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:10.259 It's a mirror into their hearts. 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:12.219 They saw these nations. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.419 They thought these nations had something better to offer. 00:07:16.599 --> 00:07:20.439 So they embraced their gods and their ways in the hope of getting that better. 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:24.740 Whatever it took to get what they wanted, 00:07:25.539 --> 00:07:27.899 that was what was in the hearts of the Israelites. 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:31.939 They abandoned God. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:35.939 Then they were punished by God, unsurprisingly, really. 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:37.980 God followed through with a consequence. 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:40.879 It's actually a surprising consequence too. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:43.459 You see, God gave them over to the nations that they so admired. 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:48.459 The Ammonites in particular, they crushed Israel and oppressed them for 18 years. 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:52.199 And they were one of the nations that they drew gods from. 00:07:54.419 --> 00:07:58.819 God used the people that Israelites envied to punish them. 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:02.639 It's so often the first outcome of sin in our lives, isn't it? 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:08.399 To suffer in pursuit of the sin that we're delving into. 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:13.860 So often God uses that. 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:17.219 Even in Romans 1, you can actually see that unfolding. 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:18.719 God giving people over to their sin. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:26.720 But after 18 years, finally, Israel eventually cries out to the Lord for help. 00:08:27.880 --> 00:08:29.600 This is the next stage in the cycle. 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:31.860 Abandon God. 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:33.360 Punished by God. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:34.779 They cry for help. 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:38.040 And in verse 10, we read their first attempt at this. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.019 We have sinned against you because we have forsaken our God. 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:44.980 Now, I've got to say, this is an unconvincing attempt at forgiveness. 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:45.660 And I'll tell you why. 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:47.719 They diagnose a problem, okay, that's good. 00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:49.919 But they haven't changed at all. 00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:52.919 They still have their idols and their false gods. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:55.620 And the Lord calls them on that. 00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:58.980 And it's a really interesting way that he calls them on it. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:00.399 He basically says, no. 00:09:01.579 --> 00:09:03.779 They cry for help and God says, no. 00:09:06.199 --> 00:09:11.000 As I've said, the judges cycle, it kind of sets us a pattern to follow as we go through the narrative. 00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:13.699 It provides a theological framework for the narrative. 00:09:13.700 --> 00:09:18.320 But every now and then, there's a tweak to that narrative, that cycle. 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:21.440 Every now and then, the framework is changed. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.680 And it's meant to highlight something important. 00:09:24.800 --> 00:09:26.940 Here is one of those places. 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:29.320 Israel cries out for help. 00:09:30.020 --> 00:09:31.780 And God says, no. 00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:39.220 Their character is evident in their sevenfold rebellion. 00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:44.799 The first thing the Lord does is to demonstrate his character. 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:47.519 In verse 11, the Lord says this. 00:09:47.519 --> 00:10:00.720 Seven again. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:00.759 Seven again. 00:10:01.319 --> 00:10:07.460 They oppressed you and you cried out to me and I saved you from their hands. 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:14.040 He answers them with his evidence of his sevenfold faithfulness. 00:10:14.920 --> 00:10:22.379 The completely unfaithful people of God are appealing to the completely faithful God. 00:10:25.040 --> 00:10:27.540 Hold up the mirror to your life and it will show you clearly. 00:10:28.420 --> 00:10:31.240 The same mirror shows up God's character and he's perfect. 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:32.660 Faithful. 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:36.519 And that's why what God says here is even more shocking. 00:10:36.959 --> 00:10:39.059 They cry out for rescue and God says no. 00:10:41.939 --> 00:10:43.879 Verse 13 and 14, he says this. 00:10:44.279 --> 00:10:46.339 You have forsaken me and served other gods. 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:48.439 Therefore, I will save you no more. 00:10:48.539 --> 00:10:50.279 Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen. 00:10:50.579 --> 00:10:54.579 Let them save you in this, basically this time, in your time of distress. 00:10:54.580 --> 00:10:59.400 Israel is appealing to the God that they have cast out. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:02.340 They have made God an exile in the land that he gave them. 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:04.620 Why should God answer? 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:09.120 So the people have another go at repenting. 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:14.560 They put away the idols this time and they return to worshipping Yahweh, their covenant God. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:22.479 And in response, God became impatient, we read, with Israel's suffering. 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:26.179 And he decided he would send a rescuer in the end. 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:28.299 That's what we can glean from these verses. 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:30.500 But it's an unusual word, isn't it, to use? 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.319 Impatient. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:34.219 It implies that God has reached his limit. 00:11:35.939 --> 00:11:38.679 That God is fed up with Israel's suffering. 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.779 That God is over the whole judge's cycle himself. 00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:50.100 Perhaps that God is going to act in a way that will end the cycle once and for all. 00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:55.179 But for now, at least, Israel know that a rescuer is coming. 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:57.819 And he is an unlikely judge. 00:11:58.819 --> 00:11:59.919 That rescuer is Jephthah. 00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:01.559 In chapter 11, verse 1, we read, 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:04.939 Jephthah is a Gileadite, a mighty warrior. 00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:07.319 But he was a son of a prostitute. 00:12:08.459 --> 00:12:11.319 Now, he's an unlikely choice because he's an outcast. 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:12.740 Although he does have skills. 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:14.260 But just think through. 00:12:14.540 --> 00:12:18.160 And as I'm speaking, just read through that passage. 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:22.580 And look at how it reflects the position that God was in. 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:30.940 The God who had been rejected by his people chose a saviour who had been rejected by his people. 00:12:32.780 --> 00:12:34.600 Jephthah is an outcast. 00:12:34.940 --> 00:12:36.820 He's the illegitimate son of a prostitute. 00:12:37.260 --> 00:12:38.660 Israel is descended into sin. 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:42.000 Jephthah was a child of that time. 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:43.980 He was a child of sin. 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:47.699 And as an illegitimate child, Jephthah had no inheritance in Israel. 00:12:47.819 --> 00:12:52.019 He'd been driven out by the legitimate sons of his father. 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:56.860 And he lives in exile in Tob, a land called Tob, which ironically means good. 00:12:57.559 --> 00:12:59.959 Even though he's surrounded by a bunch of no good men. 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:05.180 Either way, though, he lives as an outcast from God's people. 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:08.620 Perhaps his choice is meant to be ironic. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:14.840 So I said he represents the until recently outcast God. 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:17.759 So Jephthah's an outcast. 00:13:18.660 --> 00:13:20.100 But he has skills. 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:23.220 Jephthah is a mighty warrior. 00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:25.620 He's a man that the fighting men are drawn to. 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:28.519 He's the man for this kind of trouble. 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.019 But fighting isn't his only skill. 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:32.139 And we see that very quickly. 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:34.000 You see, Jephthah is a clever negotiator. 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:36.419 First with the leaders of Gilead. 00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:42.360 Because the elders actually approached Jephthah with a bad offer. 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:44.279 They offer leadership of the army. 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:49.500 The army that had lost to the Ammonites for 18 years straight. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:14:00.120 Now, if Jephthah's going to take that risk for them, the people who kicked him out, he wants more reward than what they're offering him. 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:05.940 So he successfully negotiates to be their ruler beyond this war. 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.700 If, that is. 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:10.980 If he's successful in battle. 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:17.500 So firstly, he negotiates the position to basically almost be the king of the people, the ruler of the people. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:22.680 And the second time we see his negotiating skills is with the king of Ammon. 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:25.840 You see, then Jephthah turns his negotiating skills. 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:30.899 Once he's got his position and he's got everything locked down, they've made their vows before the Lord at Mishpah. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.360 Everything's, you know, it's like a contract has been signed. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:38.100 Then Jephthah actually turns his negotiating skills on the king of the Ammonites. 00:14:39.060 --> 00:14:43.560 In chapter 11, verse 4 and 5, we discover that the Ammonites have already gathered their troops. 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:46.039 They are already on the march into Gilead. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:47.480 The war has begun. 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:51.899 So Jephthah begins negotiation with the king. 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:57.680 It would have taken several days for these messages to pass, you know, between Jephthah and the Ammonites. 00:14:57.680 --> 00:15:00.519 It's not like email, Facebook message or anything like that. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:06.980 It would have taken several days for these messages to pass backwards and forwards. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:09.860 Messages that stalled the Ammonites' progress. 00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:13.139 Messages that undermined the Ammonites' rights to invade. 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:21.200 And messages that reminded the people of Israel all the time of the faithfulness of their God throughout the past. 00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:28.200 Jephthah just lists one time after another, after another, after another of how God has provided them with the lands. 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:35.460 Messages that remind the people of Israel of the faithfulness of their God. 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:43.680 So we paraphrase chapter 11, verses 12 to 20, he basically says this. 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:44.960 Why are you fighting against us? 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:49.580 The Ammonite king responds, because you fought us 300 years ago and stole our lands. 00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:52.180 Jephthah, no we didn't. 00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.240 We respected your borders. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:57.700 We only fought the Ammonites because they attacked us and our God gave us victory there. 00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:00.240 Why don't you keep the land your God's given you? 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.820 And we'll keep the land our God has given us. 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:05.620 You guys are the ones that are in the wrong. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:10.539 And if you continue with your invasion, our God will judge you. 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:19.459 And all the time while this conversation is taking place, it appears that, if you look at verse 29, 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:24.500 it appears that Jephthah is traveling through the tribes of Manasseh and Gilead. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.779 Verse 29 says this. 00:16:29.339 --> 00:16:33.459 Then the spirit of the Lord was upon Jephthah and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh 00:16:33.459 --> 00:16:35.539 and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead. 00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:38.240 And from Mizpah of Gilead, he passed on to the Ammonites. 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:45.259 The Hebrew word that's represented by then in that verse, the very beginning, is kind of a loose term. 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:49.279 It's like a linking term, but it doesn't necessarily mean sequential order. 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:55.719 So what Jephthah is doing here is he's basically stalling for time while he gathers his own army. 00:16:57.179 --> 00:17:02.419 He creates this time using diplomatic cleverness and then he uses this time to gather the troops. 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:08.659 And throughout Jephthah's exchanges, he shows great confidence in what God can do. 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:16.259 This confidence in God is being breathed through the people that Jephthah is gathering to himself. 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:17.619 The message? 00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:24.019 Well, trust the Lord to rescue you. 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:27.420 The message to the people of Israel? 00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:32.639 This is one of those times when God will rescue you. 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:38.500 Everything just looks so, so positive up until this point. 00:17:40.139 --> 00:17:42.240 Jephthah is appointed. 00:17:42.879 --> 00:17:44.079 He's following the plan. 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:45.279 He's following a great plan. 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:47.039 His army is gathered together. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:51.819 In all of this, you'd think things were going really well. 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:58.180 Perhaps, finally, we've got a bit of a change here in terms of the way that these judges turn out. 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:02.000 I mean, the spirit of the Lord is on Jephthah for the task. 00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.460 The army is assembled. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:06.920 Everything is going according to plan. 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:13.600 But Jephthah is a man who is about to risk everything. 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:21.000 And up until this point, he's a man who's had to trust in his own wits and abilities to survive. 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:25.400 Jephthah is a man who understands God's power. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:29.580 But he struggles to accept God's grace. 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:33.480 The freedom with which God will rescue his people. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:37.059 So he turns his negotiating skills toward God. 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:44.839 He makes a bargain, or attempts to make a bargain, in an attempt to ensure the outcome of the battle. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:51.480 Why would this God rescue this people through him? 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.059 There wasn't enough certainty there for him. 00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:58.240 So Jephthah, in verse 30, we read, 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:00.440 Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:03.299 If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:07.100 then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:09.440 when I return in peace from the Ammonites, 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.240 shall be the Lord's, 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:13.640 and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:17.900 The spirit of the Lord was upon him. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:21.220 The Lord himself, he knew, was the decider of the outcome. 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:23.600 But it's just so often not enough. 00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:27.700 Jephthah wanted a deal of his own to rely on. 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:30.700 He wanted to be able to guarantee God's support in this venture. 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:34.200 So he offered God anything. 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:38.240 Whatever comes out of the doors of my house. 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:43.259 That's effectively writing God a blank check. 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.420 He knew what he was doing. 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.799 It's clear what he was saying. 00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:50.380 Whatever is a general term. 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.640 It could mean the pet dog. 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.980 It could mean his wife. 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:57.460 Turns out it meant his daughter. 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:59.220 But whatever it was, 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:04.079 Jephthah was willing to sacrifice it for his ends. 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.799 The Lord himself is the decider. 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.920 He is a good God. 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:15.059 He's proven it time and time again. 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:17.220 But so often, 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:19.079 it's not enough for us. 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:21.720 We want more than God's goodness. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:24.099 We want his support for our plans, 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:24.980 our goals, 00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:26.000 our desires. 00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:34.919 So easy to drift back into a religious approach to God. 00:20:35.179 --> 00:20:36.839 A legalistic approach to God. 00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:38.759 A rule-based approach to God. 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:39.799 To earning his favour. 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:44.399 In verse 34, 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:46.119 Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.359 And behold, 00:20:47.419 --> 00:20:49.919 his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dancers. 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:52.519 She was his only child. 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.279 Beside her, 00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:56.480 he had neither son nor daughter. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.019 The outcast, 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:02.299 with no inheritance in the land, 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.180 now lost, 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:06.180 the only person 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:06.919 that he would, 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:08.279 of the next generation 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:10.620 would actually be able to carry on his name in some way. 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.680 And he was heartbroken. 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:16.539 But even in his heartbreak, 00:21:16.580 --> 00:21:18.000 you notice the language he uses. 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:19.000 It was her fault. 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:19.500 My daughter, 00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:20.320 what have you done? 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.080 It was her fault. 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:28.320 But he was heartbroken. 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.300 He was heartbroken. 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:33.840 But he still did it. 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:35.939 In verse 39, 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.179 we read, 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.419 Now he's sending his daughter away, 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.179 yeah, for two months, 00:21:39.399 --> 00:21:41.839 to mourn the fact that she was going to die a virgin. 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.699 But when she comes back, 00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:47.579 he does exactly what he vowed. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:52.379 He sacrificed his daughter as a burnt offering to the Lord. 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.659 Now, let's be clear. 00:21:55.959 --> 00:21:58.720 This was offensive to God on so many levels, 00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.359 it's not funny. 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.740 But in Jephthah's mind, 00:22:02.199 --> 00:22:03.079 he couldn't go back. 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:06.359 His way of relating to God was through religion. 00:22:06.879 --> 00:22:08.279 He'd given his word to God. 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.059 He'd made a bargain. 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:11.599 He had to fulfill his bargain. 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:14.139 God wasn't calling him to hold to his bargain. 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:18.199 Jephthah was calling himself to hold to his bargain 00:22:18.199 --> 00:22:20.299 because that's the way his world worked. 00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:22.679 And that's the way relating to God worked for him. 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:26.119 And this is what religion does to you. 00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:26.619 You see, 00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:29.480 if you believe that you'll earn God's favor, 00:22:30.139 --> 00:22:32.059 you earn God's favor through what you do, 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:34.119 then, frankly, 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:35.779 you will sacrifice family, 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.039 friendships, 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.559 values, 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.799 even God-given principles 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:43.019 to try and secure God's favor. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:47.599 You probably won't even realize that you're doing it. 00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:48.759 You probably believe, even, 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.759 that you're being godly in how you're doing it, 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.859 just like Jephthah did. 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:55.939 And you do it to try and ensure that you can get 00:22:55.939 --> 00:22:58.559 what you can only get through Christ. 00:23:00.199 --> 00:23:01.559 Do I do this? 00:23:02.719 --> 00:23:03.979 All the time. 00:23:04.939 --> 00:23:06.519 When I get frustrated, 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:07.859 short-tempered, 00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:11.659 angry with somebody else's faults, 00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:16.240 why am I surprised when you're not perfect? 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:19.339 Unless we're all pretending that we all are perfect. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:23.759 Why should I be surprised when you have flaws and faults? 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:27.440 Why in the world should that promote me to get angry? 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:29.920 How does God respond to us in our flaws and faults? 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:33.460 But love us and forgive us 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:35.099 and draw us to himself. 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:41.199 When I gossip, 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:43.459 when I gossip about 00:23:43.459 --> 00:23:45.240 and slander a person, 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.939 why do I tear them down? 00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:52.459 Because I'm trying to build myself up. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.699 And frankly, 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:59.039 when there's not much to build up, 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:01.539 perhaps the easiest way to deal with, 00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:02.379 to do it, 00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:04.599 is to start to bring the people around you down. 00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:08.439 Do I do this? 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.939 All the time. 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:14.599 An attitude to the world and to life 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:16.659 that says we relate to God by our works. 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.899 An attitude that, 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.139 I mean, 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.859 as you know, 00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:24.119 I've been a pastor in a Baptist church before this. 00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:25.459 This is an independent church. 00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:28.179 It kind of grew out of the Reformed Baptist movement. 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.240 And let me tell you this. 00:24:29.699 --> 00:24:31.919 The Reformed Baptist movement has a reputation 00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:34.619 for upholding the doctrines of grace 00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:37.859 in the most ungracious way possible. 00:24:41.239 --> 00:24:41.919 We have a, 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:42.319 you know, 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.559 the Reformed Baptist church has, 00:24:44.919 --> 00:24:46.019 we're independent, 00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:46.579 don't get me wrong, 00:24:46.639 --> 00:24:47.179 this is not our, 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.719 not who we are now, 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.839 not how we identify ourselves. 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:53.759 as we identify ourselves as a Bible-believing church. 00:24:55.459 --> 00:24:56.599 Now let me tell you 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:58.779 that our roots 00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:00.799 come from a context 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.599 that is now, 00:25:01.959 --> 00:25:03.919 that is perceived as 00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:06.799 graceless 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:09.659 in pursuit of doctrine. 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:12.240 how can we do that? 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.460 How can we hold on to something 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.820 so beautiful 00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:15.920 as a doctrine of grace 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:17.600 and end up 00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:19.960 being such mongrels to each other? 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.700 Because friends, 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:25.000 I think we can actually understand 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.800 the doctrines of grace 00:25:25.800 --> 00:25:26.779 and see the doctrines of grace 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.500 as beautiful 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.779 and yet 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:31.120 want to secure something for ourselves 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:33.339 that's not there 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.579 for us to earn. 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.899 This man who sacrificed 00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:38.579 his only daughter, 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:43.079 he was that kind of man. 00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:45.979 He was serving God. 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:49.579 He was God's chosen rescuer 00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.299 for that time. 00:25:52.979 --> 00:25:54.000 And do you know what? 00:25:57.199 --> 00:25:58.739 Because of the kind of God 00:25:58.739 --> 00:25:59.500 who chose him, 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:01.920 even this man 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.640 who sacrificed 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.599 his only daughter 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:05.039 made it 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:06.380 to the Hebrews 11 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.059 Hall of Fame. 00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:09.240 In Hebrews chapter 11 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.299 we get a list of people, 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.299 a great cloud of witnesses 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:11.880 who just, 00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:13.640 and Bo's already read a verse 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.440 from this passage. 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.480 Great cloud. 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.579 I'd encourage you to read 00:26:17.579 --> 00:26:20.539 this list of people 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:22.839 who acted by faith. 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:26.119 The amazing thing is 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:28.140 in verse 32, 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.800 Jephthah, 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.020 is listed 00:26:30.020 --> 00:26:31.200 in this list 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.180 of people of faith. 00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:34.600 This man. 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.180 Why? 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.200 Well, 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.640 if we're even asking 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.180 that question, 00:26:42.300 --> 00:26:43.320 we're still thinking 00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:44.320 in that legalistic, 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.620 religion-based way. 00:26:46.040 --> 00:26:46.440 You see, 00:26:47.080 --> 00:26:49.400 he's not chosen 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:51.600 as the man of faith 00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:53.000 because he was perfect. 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:55.819 He was chosen 00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:57.019 because the God 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.980 who chose him 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.099 was perfect. 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:02.099 He did trust in God. 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.819 Don't get me wrong. 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:04.640 Jephthah did trust in God. 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:06.259 He was far from perfect 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.599 in his character, 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:09.539 but his character 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:11.039 was not the basis 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.900 of his relationship 00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:12.480 with God. 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.759 It was God's character 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.279 that made up 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.420 for Jephthah's lack. 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:19.599 Now, 00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.539 Jephthah's in that list 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.859 because he trusted in God. 00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:23.379 He trusted in God 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:24.119 and went to battle 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:25.099 to rescue the people 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.639 of Israel. 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:28.559 Now, 00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:29.299 remember this. 00:27:30.939 --> 00:27:32.059 Jephthah also 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.759 recognized the problem 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.339 that he tried 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.039 to shore up 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.000 with a ridiculous, 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:38.539 such a tragic vow. 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:43.079 He saw the problem 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:45.019 of the evil 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.819 in his own heart. 00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:48.099 He saw the lack 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.679 that he had 00:27:48.679 --> 00:27:49.899 and the lack 00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:50.519 of leverage 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:50.899 he had 00:27:50.899 --> 00:27:51.399 to get God 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.200 to do what he wanted. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.940 But he struggled 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.900 to see the character 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:57.440 of that God, 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.400 the heart of that God 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.780 who so desired 00:28:00.780 --> 00:28:01.720 to rescue him. 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:05.720 Jephthah only saw 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.620 this rescue plan 00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:07.240 from afar. 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.340 In Jesus, 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.780 we see it up close. 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:12.420 The perfect judge 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.720 who would save us 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.360 from ourselves 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.500 by giving himself 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.360 in our place. 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:19.259 man, 00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:19.579 you and I 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.039 are no different 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.399 in this. 00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:21.339 We are imperfect 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.059 people who God 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.500 has committed 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:24.679 himself to. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.199 Imperfect people 00:28:27.199 --> 00:28:27.679 that God 00:28:27.679 --> 00:28:28.279 will choose 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.119 to use, 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:31.679 not because 00:28:31.679 --> 00:28:32.019 we're better 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.500 than the people 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.319 around us. 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.679 We are people 00:28:36.679 --> 00:28:37.079 that God 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.839 will use 00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.919 because of 00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:39.939 who he is 00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:41.600 and not 00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:42.720 because of 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.380 who we are. 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.720 Friends, 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.500 the story of Jephthah 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:49.500 is meant to show us 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.559 the problem 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:51.340 of our hearts 00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:54.279 and the solution 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:56.000 of God's. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.279 The story of Jephthah 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:59.720 is meant to remind us 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.680 again 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:02.279 that we are 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.720 children of grace. 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:06.420 Let me pray. 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.019 Father God, 00:29:11.100 --> 00:29:11.880 time and time again 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:12.900 we read your word 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.640 and it keeps coming 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.339 back to Jesus, 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:15.180 keeps pointing us 00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:16.100 to the necessity 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:18.759 of Jesus' death 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:20.000 on our behalf. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.360 And yet, 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:23.680 Lord, 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:27.279 we're so far 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.039 from our way 00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.440 of thinking 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:30.980 that we struggle 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.680 to live that way. 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.200 We know it, 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.640 the truth of it, 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.180 we know the beauty 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.420 of it, 00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:33.880 but we struggle 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.680 to live that way. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.060 So help us, 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:37.240 Lord. 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.880 Help us not just 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:39.259 to see grace 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:41.539 as the beautiful 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.580 doctrine that it is, 00:29:42.820 --> 00:29:44.039 to see your love 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.660 for us 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:47.320 as immeasurable 00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:48.080 as it is, 00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:49.180 but Lord, 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.039 to reflect it 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:50.640 in how we live 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.340 toward each other, 00:29:52.800 --> 00:29:53.980 to so delight in it 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.720 and bask in it 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.920 that it just 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:57.320 comes out 00:29:57.320 --> 00:29:58.180 of our every pore 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.840 in how we 00:29:58.840 --> 00:29:59.860 love one another 00:29:59.860 --> 00:30:00.539 in this church 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.880 and in our 00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:02.519 wider community. 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.879 Lord, 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:04.519 help us 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:05.680 to be children 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:06.180 of grace. 00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.740 Amen.