WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.480 Well, here we go. 00:00:03.419 --> 00:00:07.780 What does it look like for a nation to be ruled by fools? 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:12.099 I'm sure for most of you as I ask this question, 00:00:12.179 --> 00:00:13.280 your thoughts go to this guy. 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:17.400 It seems that the whole world is instinctively nervous 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:20.480 about someone like Donald Trump ruling one of the largest 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:22.500 and most powerful nations in the world. 00:00:23.660 --> 00:00:25.859 People worry because he's so impulsive 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:29.260 and he doesn't even attempt to cover up his shortcomings. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.439 Or even acknowledge them as shortcomings. 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:37.060 And we're especially worried because this guy's his opposite number. 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:41.120 And the combination of these two men is frankly a concern. 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:46.799 We probably feel then we don't really need to be taught 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:49.079 what it looks like for a nation to be ruled by fools. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:51.460 But we actually do. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:54.719 We need to be shown what folly looks like 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:57.179 because very often we don't understand 00:00:57.179 --> 00:01:00.619 what it is actually that folly consists in. 00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:04.620 We can easily misjudge what makes a ruler foolish. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:08.519 And this is why the book of Judges is in the Bible. 00:01:09.539 --> 00:01:12.840 The book of Judges offers us ample illustration 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:16.079 of what it looks like for a nation to be ruled by fools. 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:20.060 What's interesting is that the rulers that we meet 00:01:20.060 --> 00:01:21.599 all the way through the book of Judges, 00:01:22.459 --> 00:01:24.420 they're like the curate's egg. 00:01:25.579 --> 00:01:26.980 They're a mix of good and bad. 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:30.219 They demonstrate both wisdom and folly. 00:01:31.659 --> 00:01:33.599 I think you can only get a handle 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:36.319 on what the book of Judges is trying to teach us 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:40.680 when you can see how this is actually part of a much bigger story 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:43.720 of wise and foolish leadership. 00:01:44.320 --> 00:01:47.820 And the narrative, of course, finds its great climax in Solomon. 00:01:48.600 --> 00:01:51.880 King Solomon is supremely the wise yet foolish ruler. 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:54.440 Which is why the book of Proverbs 00:01:54.440 --> 00:01:57.400 holds the key to understanding Judges. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:59.300 The book of Proverbs warns us 00:01:59.300 --> 00:02:01.260 that a ruler who lacks understanding 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:03.560 is a cruel oppressor. 00:02:04.520 --> 00:02:05.800 And we see a bit of that tonight. 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:09.819 Proverbs also urges us to see how wisdom 00:02:09.819 --> 00:02:11.520 is the essence of leadership. 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:15.500 One of the most beautiful passages in Proverbs, 00:02:15.699 --> 00:02:18.020 I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence. 00:02:18.439 --> 00:02:20.560 I possess knowledge and discretion. 00:02:21.359 --> 00:02:23.259 Counsel and sound judgment are mine. 00:02:24.019 --> 00:02:25.560 I have understanding and power. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:28.319 By me, kings reign. 00:02:28.819 --> 00:02:31.019 And rulers make laws that are just. 00:02:31.659 --> 00:02:33.319 By me, princes govern. 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:35.939 And all nobles who rule on earth. 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:38.859 So Proverbs is very important 00:02:38.859 --> 00:02:40.299 to understanding the book of Judges. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:42.539 And there are actually very specific Proverbs 00:02:42.539 --> 00:02:44.979 that put the wisdom and the folly 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:48.000 of each of the Judges in a nutshell. 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:50.280 And we'll see how that works out for Jephthah. 00:02:51.079 --> 00:02:52.280 But before we get to him, 00:02:52.340 --> 00:02:54.819 let's remind ourselves of what we're up to in the story. 00:02:54.919 --> 00:02:56.219 We've had a couple of weeks off 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:58.759 the madcap story of Judges. 00:02:58.959 --> 00:03:00.620 After the disaster of Abimelech, 00:03:01.079 --> 00:03:02.139 which was a Gideon's son, 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:04.019 we have this string of leaders recounted 00:03:04.019 --> 00:03:05.239 in short succession. 00:03:05.239 --> 00:03:06.459 And we're told that the Israelites 00:03:06.459 --> 00:03:08.679 keep turning away from God 00:03:08.679 --> 00:03:10.619 to worship the local gods, 00:03:10.819 --> 00:03:11.679 the local idols. 00:03:12.859 --> 00:03:14.579 And the Jephthah story begins 00:03:14.579 --> 00:03:16.219 on the back of this situation. 00:03:17.359 --> 00:03:20.359 And we find the Eastern Israelites 00:03:20.359 --> 00:03:22.759 under invasion from the Ammonites. 00:03:22.819 --> 00:03:24.479 And what's worse, they're leaderless. 00:03:25.639 --> 00:03:27.339 And so we pick up the story at this point. 00:03:27.379 --> 00:03:28.500 And the first thing we're shown 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:31.659 is the folly of Israel's elite. 00:03:32.539 --> 00:03:34.659 The elite of Gilead are in a crisis, 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:36.560 but they don't ask God for help. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:39.280 They need a leader, 00:03:39.419 --> 00:03:42.659 but there's absolutely no consultation of God whatsoever. 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:44.960 Instead, they dangle the carrot of power 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:46.819 in front of the masses. 00:03:46.819 --> 00:03:50.039 In chapter 10, verse 18, 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:54.620 chapter 10, verse 18, 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:55.539 they say, 00:03:55.799 --> 00:03:57.900 whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites 00:03:57.900 --> 00:04:00.379 will be the head of all of those living in Gilead. 00:04:01.979 --> 00:04:04.479 Now, appealing to the base instincts of power 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:06.659 is a surefire way of making sure 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:08.719 you don't get a wise leader, isn't it? 00:04:09.299 --> 00:04:11.159 If you dangle the carrot, you'll get a donkey. 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:14.740 And interestingly, there is no donkey foolish enough 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:17.079 to take up this offer. 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:20.360 Instead, they have to go hunting 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:22.939 and find the infamous outlaw Jephthah. 00:04:24.019 --> 00:04:25.519 And so they go and they find Jephthah 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:26.819 and repeat the offer to him, 00:04:26.920 --> 00:04:28.319 and he accepts. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:30.300 But now in their folly, 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:32.680 they have a profoundly ill-qualified ruler. 00:04:34.180 --> 00:04:35.680 And the narrator makes this clear 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:37.120 by including the detail 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:39.740 that Jephthah is the son of a prostitute. 00:04:39.740 --> 00:04:43.740 Now, what marks Jephthah out as an ill-qualified leader 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:45.879 is actually not his pedigree, though. 00:04:46.540 --> 00:04:48.620 What really marks him out is his folly. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:51.379 And the story goes on to show us this 00:04:51.379 --> 00:04:53.879 in two select incidents. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:55.660 I'm sure there are many more in his life 00:04:55.660 --> 00:04:56.800 they could have chosen, 00:04:56.900 --> 00:04:57.980 but they choose two. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:00.220 Jephthah's infamous oath 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:03.740 and Jephthah's infamous treatment of his challenges. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:06.740 And it's crucial to recognize, though, 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:08.220 that in both of these, 00:05:08.220 --> 00:05:11.900 we see ways that Jephthah also exercises wisdom. 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:14.600 And the reason this is so important 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:16.400 is that we are supposed to see 00:05:16.400 --> 00:05:19.460 that it isn't just evil men who are fools. 00:05:20.820 --> 00:05:22.140 We need to see this 00:05:22.140 --> 00:05:24.160 if we had let God's Word 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.180 get some traction on our lives 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:27.720 now, this evening, 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:29.800 to hear what God is saying in this book. 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:32.460 It isn't just evil men that act foolishly. 00:05:33.220 --> 00:05:34.980 People who show some degree of wisdom 00:05:34.980 --> 00:05:37.639 can still act very foolishly. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.780 Even people endowed with the Spirit of God. 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:45.580 And Jephthah is both of these. 00:05:47.220 --> 00:05:48.939 And this should make us quiver in our boots. 00:05:49.939 --> 00:05:51.519 It should make us quiver in our boots 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:53.259 because I take it that we, too, 00:05:53.259 --> 00:05:56.740 are people who show some degree of wisdom in our lives 00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:00.259 because God has given us of His Holy Spirit 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:03.639 if we've put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:07.560 So Jephthah actually looks a lot like us, 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:10.779 even though we might not have thought that at first. 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:14.219 And if we were to avoid his folly, 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:16.279 we need to understand exactly where he went wrong. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:17.479 And so to do that, 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:19.959 we need to look quite closely at these two incidents, 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:24.259 his oath and his treatment of his challenges. 00:06:24.259 --> 00:06:29.620 Now, the situation of Jephthah's disastrous oath 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:35.899 was his admittedly challenging responsibility 00:06:35.899 --> 00:06:37.620 to take the fight to the Ammonites. 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:41.060 And it's here that we see some remarkable qualities in the man. 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:42.300 I don't know if you noticed that, 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:45.500 but we're told that he's some kind of pirate, 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.180 but we actually see him acting more like a prophet. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:50.500 He gives this long speech 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:53.639 that started at verse 15 in chapter 11. 00:06:54.259 --> 00:06:57.120 Jephthah indicts the king of Ammon of his sin. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:00.680 The king of Ammon is accusing Israel of stealing land from him, 00:07:01.039 --> 00:07:02.219 but Israel has stolen nothing. 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:05.079 Israel was given that land by God, 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:08.279 and it was God who took that land, actually, 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:09.860 from the king of the Ammonites. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:11.379 It wasn't the Ammonites at all, 00:07:11.539 --> 00:07:12.560 and he gave it to Israel. 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:15.180 And Jephthah also emphasizes 00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:17.000 that he is not the great ruler. 00:07:18.079 --> 00:07:19.899 It is simply God's representative. 00:07:20.539 --> 00:07:22.719 God, not Jephthah, 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:24.660 is the judge of Israel. 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:27.600 He's actually the only person in the whole book that says that. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:29.480 God is the judge of Israel, 00:07:29.940 --> 00:07:30.980 in verse 27. 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:33.260 So like a true prophet, 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:35.580 Jephthah publicly entrusts 00:07:36.200 --> 00:07:38.080 the whole situation to God's ability 00:07:38.080 --> 00:07:39.560 to defend his own honor. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.379 So these are the words of a man 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:45.060 upon whom the Spirit of God rests. 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:48.300 And we're told that explicitly in verse 29. 00:07:49.139 --> 00:07:51.240 God has opened Jephthah's mouth, 00:07:51.740 --> 00:07:53.920 and that's actually what his name means. 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:56.740 In Hebrew, Jephthah means God opened. 00:07:57.879 --> 00:07:59.840 So there's puns running all the way through 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:01.379 about Jephthah in his big mouth. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:03.319 But God opened. 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:05.719 And so we see that. 00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:08.339 When Jephthah opens his mouth, 00:08:09.139 --> 00:08:10.860 he speaks wisdom. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:12.839 But also when Jephthah opens his mouth, 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:14.240 he speaks like a fool. 00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:18.680 Now Jephthah musters the men of Manasseh for war, 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:20.039 and on the eve of battle, 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:20.860 he makes a vow. 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:24.720 In verses 30 and 31, 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:28.860 Jephthah says to God, 00:08:28.960 --> 00:08:31.360 If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:33.759 whatever comes out of the door of my house 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:35.600 to meet me when I return in triumph 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:37.960 from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.240 and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering. 00:08:44.180 --> 00:08:45.620 It's here that the book of Proverbs 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:47.800 really helps us to understand what's going on. 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:50.680 Many of you will know it. 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:53.860 Proverbs 20 verse 25 warns us, 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:55.980 It is a trap for a man 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:58.480 to dedicate something rashly 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:01.360 and only later to consider his vows. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:05.300 Now Jephthah is the very definition 00:09:05.300 --> 00:09:06.440 of a rash vow, isn't it? 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:08.279 What we've got to see though 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:09.639 is that the rashness of the promise 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:10.879 isn't necessarily determined 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:12.419 by how quickly it's made. 00:09:13.180 --> 00:09:16.159 It's possible to make a very well calculated promise 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:17.759 in haste. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:22.460 The rashness of a promise really though 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:24.139 is determined by its folly. 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:27.840 Now most English Bibles actually smooth over this 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:29.720 by using the word whatever. 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:32.819 In English, whatever implies a thing, 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:33.480 doesn't it? 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:35.440 A thing could be a person, 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:37.840 but it isn't necessarily a person. 00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:40.060 It's here that I think the RSV, 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:41.580 did anyone grow up with the RSV? 00:09:41.659 --> 00:09:43.639 I remember struggling with that as a nine-year-old 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:44.779 trying to read the RSV. 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:47.500 But the RSV actually gets it right. 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:50.100 Verse 31 in the RSV version, 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:51.200 it says, 00:09:51.200 --> 00:10:04.660 The reason I think that it's really clear 00:10:04.660 --> 00:10:06.120 to see that the RSV gets it right 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:09.080 is that animals don't go out the front door 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:11.620 to meet returning conquerors, do they? 00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:14.759 Jephthah is not thinking that his pet dog's 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:15.980 going to come bounding up to him 00:10:15.980 --> 00:10:18.500 and to lick him when he comes home in triumph. 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:21.559 In all likelihood, he's thinking of a male servant 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:22.799 or a male slave. 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:27.600 And that's where actually the gender in Hebrew 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:28.320 helps us too. 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:30.360 There's masculine and feminine gender. 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:33.480 And Jephthah's vow, we just see, 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:35.519 is supremely foolish at this point. 00:10:36.700 --> 00:10:39.379 Jephthah is promising God a human sacrifice. 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:42.460 What makes this so bad 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:46.019 is that he's treating God like Chemosh, 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:49.139 the very pagan deity that he's opposing 00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:50.699 in God's name. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:54.199 Now remember how this battle was framed 00:10:54.199 --> 00:10:57.139 as a fight between Chemosh and God. 00:10:57.659 --> 00:10:59.740 In his wonderful prophetic speech, 00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:00.639 in verse 24, 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:02.340 Jephthah says to the king of Ammon, 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:05.679 Will you not take what your God Chemosh gives you? 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:08.079 Likewise, whatever the Lord, 00:11:08.199 --> 00:11:09.340 our God has given us, 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:10.559 we will possess. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:14.959 Now, Chemosh was worshipped with human sacrifices. 00:11:15.819 --> 00:11:17.759 In 2 Kings chapter 3, 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:19.859 we're told how our battle was going very poorly 00:11:19.859 --> 00:11:20.819 for the king of Moab. 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:23.039 So he offers up his son as a sacrifice 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.019 on the city wall. 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:26.579 And here we have Jephthah promising to do 00:11:26.579 --> 00:11:27.639 exactly the same. 00:11:28.819 --> 00:11:31.379 And it is this total ignorance of God 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:34.679 that makes Jephthah so profoundly ill-qualified 00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:35.939 to lead his people. 00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:40.040 And Jephthah and his daughter pay a very high price 00:11:40.040 --> 00:11:41.640 for this folly. 00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:46.880 But Jephthah's folly holds 00:11:46.880 --> 00:11:49.880 more wide-ranging consequences for the nation. 00:11:51.420 --> 00:11:53.240 And I think you can get so shocked 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:54.360 by what's happened so far 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:55.620 with his daughter being sacrificed 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:56.460 that you can miss this, 00:11:57.380 --> 00:11:58.540 that we've got to see it. 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:00.940 His folly holds far worse consequences 00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:01.660 for the nation. 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:04.860 And that's what we're given the two stories, 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:06.300 the two little examples. 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:08.200 And so we come to the second one. 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:13.200 The second example of Jephthah's folly 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:15.419 shows us not just how Jephthah himself 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:16.500 suffered for his folly, 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:18.759 but how he made the nation suffer. 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:20.860 Now like all rulers, 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:22.639 all leaders, 00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:24.519 maybe some leaders here in business 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:25.300 will know this well, 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.720 you encounter challenges, 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:28.680 challenges to your authority. 00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:31.000 And we're told how the unruly Ephraimites, 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:32.039 they come after him. 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:34.399 In chapter 12, verse 1, 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:37.080 the Ephraimites come up to Jephthah 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:37.460 and they say, 00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:39.480 why did you go to fight the Ammonites 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:41.180 without calling us to go with you? 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.019 We're going to burn down your house 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:43.620 over your head. 00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:47.120 Now Jephthah opens his mouth 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:48.259 in folly once more. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:52.399 Jephthah doesn't see that a dispute with God, 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:54.340 God's enemies, sorry, 00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:55.519 a dispute with God's enemies 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:57.519 might require a different response 00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:59.620 to dispute among God's children. 00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:02.679 And Jephthah sadly adopts 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:03.679 the exact same approach 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.120 that he did with God's enemies, 00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:06.480 with the king of the Ammonites. 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:07.720 And tragically, 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:09.600 this leads to the same outcome, 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:12.279 to a war on his fellow Israelites. 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:14.120 Now what we've got to remember, 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:16.139 this stands in stark contrast 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:17.539 to what Gideon did 00:13:17.539 --> 00:13:18.899 a few chapters before. 00:13:20.179 --> 00:13:22.120 Gideon handles the same problem 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:24.019 with the same people 00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:25.039 in chapter 8. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:27.679 There we see how the Ephraim apps, 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:28.679 they come up to Gideon 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:29.480 and they accuse him 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.459 of the same things 00:13:30.459 --> 00:13:32.839 and he responds with gentle speech. 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:34.339 Here again, 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.419 the book of Proverbs 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:37.179 helps us get a handle 00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:39.620 on what God's trying to teach us here. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:42.279 Proverbs 15 verse 1 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:42.980 reminds us, 00:13:43.099 --> 00:13:44.199 and perhaps many of us 00:13:44.199 --> 00:13:45.279 know this 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.339 because we need to be told 00:13:46.339 --> 00:13:47.240 this many times 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:48.120 in the course of a week 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:49.259 that a gentle answer 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:51.199 turns away wrath. 00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:54.360 Jephthah, however, 00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:55.480 has no gentle words 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:56.360 for the Ephraimites. 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:58.019 Instead, his anger 00:13:58.019 --> 00:13:59.120 and his answer 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:00.740 stirs up more and more wrath 00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:01.659 and it precipitates 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:03.139 something close to genocide. 00:14:04.419 --> 00:14:05.480 We're told in verse 6 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:06.840 that Jephthah is responsible 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:07.560 for the death 00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:10.600 of 42,000 Ephraimites. 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:12.840 And here, 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:13.680 we're supposed to see 00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:14.879 something of a 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:16.200 sobering comparison 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:17.860 with the previous judge of Biblick, 00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.340 if you can cast your minds 00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:21.360 back to previous weeks. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.399 Things are going from bad to worse 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:24.899 in Israel. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.879 Abimelech killed thousands 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:29.639 of fellow Israelites. 00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:31.819 Jephthah, however, 00:14:31.959 --> 00:14:33.419 kills tens of thousands. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.759 And the point is simply 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.779 that Jephthah lacks 00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:38.019 the wisdom of Gideon 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:39.519 and his folly 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.779 vastly outweighs 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:41.600 that of Abimelech. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:44.940 So things are going 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:46.320 from bad to worse 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:48.000 and just to keep this thought 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:48.500 in your mind 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.740 as we go into 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:51.159 the sermon series further 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:52.040 over the next weeks 00:14:52.040 --> 00:14:53.100 and the closing chapters, 00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.940 we see a repeat 00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:57.360 of these same stories 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:59.279 but in a more dissonant key. 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.659 We see the shameful treatment 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:02.759 of another girl 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:04.180 and the genocide 00:15:04.180 --> 00:15:05.300 of another tribe. 00:15:06.300 --> 00:15:07.920 It's good to keep that in view 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:08.779 as we keep going. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.279 So the story of Jephthah 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.299 is an object lesson 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.639 in what it looks like 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.240 for a nation 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.579 to be ruled by fools. 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.459 But what are we 00:15:19.459 --> 00:15:20.219 to make of all this? 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.459 I heard that Neil 00:15:21.459 --> 00:15:22.360 was being a bit cheeky 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:22.799 this morning 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:24.399 saying probably 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.079 how I'd apply the passage. 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:27.519 How does it connect 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.259 with our lives? 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.860 At a very basic level, 00:15:29.959 --> 00:15:30.899 actually agree with Neil, 00:15:30.979 --> 00:15:31.620 I think he's right. 00:15:31.699 --> 00:15:32.779 Don't try this at home. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:35.120 Don't sacrifice your daughter. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:37.919 Jephthah is clearly 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:39.159 not an example to follow, 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:39.740 is he? 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:41.240 But I doubt anybody here 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.519 really will find themselves 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.120 tempted, you know, 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:45.039 to make that promise 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.799 to offer a human sacrifice 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:47.379 through the week 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:48.360 when things are getting tough. 00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.679 It's the bizarreness 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:51.500 of these stories 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:53.000 that can make it really hard 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:53.899 to miss the point 00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:55.519 that they're making. 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.980 But if we do take that effort 00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.480 to scratch the surface a bit, 00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.820 it's actually not too hard 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:01.620 to see how it gets traction 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:03.100 on our lives. 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:05.740 The Bible shows us 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.700 these two sides 00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:07.659 to Jephthah's folly, 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.040 the personal 00:16:09.040 --> 00:16:10.000 and the public. 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.800 Did you notice how 00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:13.259 Jephthah's rash vow 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.519 cost him dearly, 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.139 but it didn't hold 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.879 any consequences 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.620 for the nation? 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.980 And how his rash treatment 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:22.019 of the Ephraimates 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:24.540 held devastating consequences 00:16:24.540 --> 00:16:25.220 for the nation, 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:27.259 but it actually didn't affect Jephthah. 00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:28.980 We're shown both 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:31.139 his personal and public 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:34.180 consequences of his folly. 00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:36.440 And if we follow this through, 00:16:36.560 --> 00:16:37.320 it actually becomes 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.220 pretty clear 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:39.379 how these consequences 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:41.659 also hold implications for us. 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.500 Let's just think about 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.920 the personal side of things first. 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:48.060 Ignorance of God 00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:50.200 is what lay at the root 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:52.139 of Jephthah's rash vow. 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:54.840 Jephthah acted foolishly 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:56.019 because he was ignorant 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:57.620 of how God 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.340 should be worshipped. 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:00.620 This dynamic of ignorance 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:01.600 leading to folly, 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.080 I'd like to suggest 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.340 is every bit as real 00:17:04.340 --> 00:17:04.900 for us 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:06.500 as it was for Jephthah. 00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.620 Like Jephthah, 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.380 we too 00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:11.019 need to know 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.620 how God 00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:12.519 is to be worshipped. 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.640 Paul tells us 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.920 in the letter 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.579 to the Romans, 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.899 I urge you, 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.199 brothers, 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.460 in view of God's mercy 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.980 to offer your bodies 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.480 as living sacrifices, 00:17:23.199 --> 00:17:24.859 holy and pleasing to God. 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.740 This is your spiritual 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.539 act of worship. 00:17:30.419 --> 00:17:31.339 So in the same way 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.399 that Jephthah acted in folly 00:17:32.399 --> 00:17:33.119 because he didn't know 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:34.379 the answer to this question, 00:17:35.159 --> 00:17:35.919 what does it mean 00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:36.639 to actually 00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:38.299 offer your body 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.119 as a living sacrifice? 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.799 What does it mean 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.659 to worship God? 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.679 What does it mean? 00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:43.879 Because Jephthah 00:17:43.879 --> 00:17:44.480 couldn't actually 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.659 answer that question, 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:47.180 he acted in folly. 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.380 And we too 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.140 will act in folly 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.060 if we do not know 00:17:51.060 --> 00:17:52.080 the answer to this question. 00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:53.019 Our lives will be 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.400 a blasphemous act 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:55.580 of worship 00:17:55.580 --> 00:17:57.580 if, like Jephthah, 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.460 we are ignorant 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:00.740 of what pleases God. 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:04.259 So how are we to know 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.840 what pleases God? 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:07.980 The answer is 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:08.920 incredibly simple. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.480 God has told us. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.740 He's told us in the Bible 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.920 all we need to do 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:16.279 is to listen to him. 00:18:18.080 --> 00:18:18.840 In this regard, 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:21.539 a really troubling aspect 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.340 of contemporary 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:23.800 evangelicalism 00:18:23.800 --> 00:18:25.259 is the increasing 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.240 retreat of Scripture 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.560 in church services, 00:18:28.060 --> 00:18:29.300 especially the Old Testament. 00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:30.820 In many, 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:31.500 if not most, 00:18:31.560 --> 00:18:32.039 contemporary 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:33.019 evangelical churches, 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:33.800 the only Scripture 00:18:33.800 --> 00:18:34.300 that's read 00:18:34.300 --> 00:18:35.940 is the ten or so verses 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.980 that forms the basis 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.600 of a sermon. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.440 And this is a fairly 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.259 recent development. 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:42.259 It's only happened 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.660 in the last 20 or so years. 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:45.539 In the church 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.379 I grew up, 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.740 there was always 00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.799 an Old Testament reading 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:50.180 and a New Testament reading. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.799 And the service 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.519 usually began 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.220 with a psalm. 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.960 I'm getting grey hair, 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:55.480 but I'm actually 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.240 not that old. 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.819 It's only in the last 00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.559 20 years 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.779 that things have changed. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.440 But in evangelical churches 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:01.819 today, 00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:02.839 that would be a rarity. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.700 An Old Testament reading, 00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.619 a New Testament reading, 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.119 and a psalm. 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.420 That would be a rarity. 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:09.220 And this is a troubling 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.960 development because 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:11.200 the Bible is to be 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.820 the mirror 00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:14.220 that shows us 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.039 whether our worship 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:16.380 is pleasing to God. 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.360 And if the Bible 00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:18.160 takes a back seat 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:19.160 in our church services, 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.500 how will we know 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:22.640 whether our worship 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:23.180 is in fact 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:24.480 pleasing to God? 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.700 There's a very real 00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.460 temptation though 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.320 to be lured into thinking, 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.120 oh, it could never 00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:30.039 happen to us. 00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:31.060 We could never possibly 00:19:31.060 --> 00:19:32.560 be led into Jephthah's folly. 00:19:33.360 --> 00:19:34.180 But think about it. 00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:36.940 Jephthah was no 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.220 liturgical innovator. 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.720 Sacrifice was the right way 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.960 to worship God. 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.180 And Jephthah thought 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:43.720 he was offering 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.700 the most preeminently 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.920 valuable sacrifice 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.660 he could think of. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.180 The life of a person 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:49.440 is infinitely more valuable 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:51.460 than that of an animal, 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.080 isn't it? 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:53.440 The Bible even says that. 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:54.840 Why else would the 00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:56.100 Chemosh worshippers 00:19:56.100 --> 00:19:57.100 offer up their children? 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:00.259 See, Jephthah was offering 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:01.680 up worship par excellence. 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.559 And however alien it might seem, 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.879 there is a logic 00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:07.419 to what Jephthah did. 00:20:08.919 --> 00:20:10.019 He was only sorry 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.879 that it was his daughter 00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:12.159 that came out the front door, 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.740 not one of his servants. 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.839 And in his cultural context, 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:19.259 that vow made perfect sense. 00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:20.460 And we too can be convinced 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.539 that we are offering up 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.259 the most valuable 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.740 worship there could be. 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:26.039 And with our cultural 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.799 frame of reference, 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:28.339 it will all make perfect sense. 00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:30.740 But this is precisely 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:32.079 why we have to be on our guard. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.799 There is always logic 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.399 to folly. 00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:37.759 It always makes sense. 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:38.819 It's the only reason 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:40.000 we ever do foolish things. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.939 We only ever act foolishly 00:20:41.939 --> 00:20:42.679 because it seemed like 00:20:42.679 --> 00:20:43.839 a good idea at the time. 00:20:45.199 --> 00:20:46.259 And there is always 00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:47.359 this logic to folly. 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.899 And the only thing 00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.639 that is capable 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:51.039 of unhinging that logic 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:52.519 is the Word of God. 00:20:54.399 --> 00:20:55.000 Jephthah's worship 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.679 made sense, 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.659 but it was not guided 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:58.519 by the Word of God. 00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:01.119 Jephthah had plainly 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.220 never heard Deuteronomy 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.819 chapter 18, verse 10. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.480 Let no one be found 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.720 among you who sacrifices 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:09.059 his son or daughter 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.879 in the fire. 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:13.400 Had he heard this, 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.379 it would have cut across 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.759 the logic of his worship 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:17.519 like the knife that passed 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.599 across his daughter's throat. 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:22.079 But what verses of Scripture 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:22.779 might there be 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.519 that cut across 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.759 the logic of our worship? 00:21:26.379 --> 00:21:27.700 Which passages of Scripture 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.720 would shine a light 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:31.500 on what in our worship 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.980 is unpleasing to God 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:35.480 or profoundly unwise? 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.660 And I like to suggest 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.299 in the same way 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:41.600 that Jephthah couldn't know 00:21:41.600 --> 00:21:42.940 what he didn't know, 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.980 we too cannot know 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.900 what we don't know. 00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:48.080 We will not be able 00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:48.960 to recognize 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:50.420 where there's a mismatch 00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.279 between our worship 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:53.180 and what is pleasing to God 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:55.580 unless we cultivate 00:21:55.580 --> 00:21:56.759 a deep familiarity 00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.799 with what God 00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.799 sets out in his word. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:02.039 Now if we want to avoid 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.119 this kind of mismatch 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:04.140 between what we think 00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:04.980 is pleasing to God 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.599 and what is in fact 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.579 pleasing to God, 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:08.640 we need to make it 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.119 our business 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:10.420 to familiarize ourselves 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.619 with every nook and cranny 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.420 of the word of God. 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.359 This will keep us 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:15.359 from the kind of ignorance 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:17.640 that led to Jephthah's folly. 00:22:18.879 --> 00:22:20.039 Now one practical way 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.779 of checking whether 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.740 we are doing this 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.920 is simply asking ourselves 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:24.640 questions like 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:27.019 when was the last time 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.259 I read the book of Judges 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:30.700 or to Peter 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:33.200 or Zephaniah 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:35.160 or, or, or? 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:37.120 One of the things I do 00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.700 to make sure 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.440 that I can answer 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:38.960 this question 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.480 is I make a photocopy 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.480 of the contents page 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.779 of my Bible 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:44.059 and as I read 00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.480 the scriptures 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.420 by myself 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:46.000 through the week 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.660 I cross off 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.759 put a line through 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:50.039 one of the books 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.559 of the Bible 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.599 on that sheet 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.099 and eventually 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:52.839 I work my way 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:53.440 through all of it 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.799 and when I'm done 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:56.480 I photocopy 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.639 the contents page again 00:22:57.639 --> 00:23:00.440 and start crossing 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.420 off books 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:02.259 once again. 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.119 I do this 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:03.720 so that I don't 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.660 leave bits out 00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:06.359 so that I don't 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:06.819 end up just 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:07.819 gaining a lopsided 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.259 picture 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.759 of who God is 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:11.119 and a lopsided 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.779 picture of 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.339 what actually 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:13.159 pleases Him. 00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:14.500 I can know 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.019 that wherever 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.579 I do develop 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.759 this lopsided 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.579 picture of God 00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.539 and everybody does 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.139 it will only be 00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:21.939 a matter of time 00:23:21.939 --> 00:23:23.039 before I come 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.759 across the verses 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.699 that will challenge 00:23:24.699 --> 00:23:25.919 that conception 00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:26.439 of God 00:23:26.439 --> 00:23:27.519 that is faulty. 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:29.839 And this is 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.179 something that 00:23:30.179 --> 00:23:31.019 churches can do too 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:31.939 churches can order 00:23:31.939 --> 00:23:32.659 the public reading 00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:33.259 of their scripture 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.399 in such a way 00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:34.939 that there won't 00:23:34.939 --> 00:23:35.740 be passages of 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.220 scripture that 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.199 their congregations 00:23:37.199 --> 00:23:38.199 have simply never 00:23:38.199 --> 00:23:38.579 heard. 00:23:39.179 --> 00:23:39.639 One of the most 00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.359 stunning things 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:41.539 for me as a pastor 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.319 over four years 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.539 was we had a 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.399 reading of one 00:23:44.399 --> 00:23:44.700 of the most 00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:45.359 famous stories 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:46.019 of King Solomon 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:47.159 and there was a 00:23:47.159 --> 00:23:47.659 woman in our 00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:48.220 church who had 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.759 a theological 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.579 qualification 00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.599 and she said 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:50.980 I've never 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:51.399 heard that 00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:52.039 story before. 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:55.500 That was a 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.119 stunning moment 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:57.119 of what I'm 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:57.839 saying is it's 00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.460 not made up. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.740 There is a 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.599 profound retreat 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.259 of the scriptures 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.599 in evangelicalism 00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.899 and even someone 00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:05.279 could hear for the 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.179 first time as an 00:24:06.179 --> 00:24:07.980 adult one of the 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.639 most well-known 00:24:08.639 --> 00:24:09.679 stories of the 00:24:09.679 --> 00:24:10.279 life of Solomon. 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:12.119 So in a very 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:12.799 practical way we 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:14.740 can learn I 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.359 think from this 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:16.220 personal dimension 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:16.879 of Jephthah's 00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:18.160 folly just to 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.019 take an audit of 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:19.680 our ignorance. 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.759 If Jephthah had 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.460 Deuteronomy on 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.859 his reading list he 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:24.660 would never have 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.420 made that vow. 00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:28.119 It's as simple 00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:28.500 as that. 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.399 Now that's the 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:30.920 personal side. 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:31.980 But you see 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.160 Jephthah's folly had 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:34.279 a very public side 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.299 and I think it's 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:35.879 hard for us to 00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.500 feel this but I 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:36.980 actually think this 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.920 is the weight in 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.660 the book of Judges. 00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:40.540 His actions held 00:24:40.540 --> 00:24:42.200 disastrous consequences 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:43.100 for the nation. 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.420 Absolutely disastrous 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.320 consequences because 00:24:46.320 --> 00:24:46.960 he was a ruler. 00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.220 Now none of us are 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.500 rulers. 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:50.840 I know some of us 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:52.400 work with rulers but 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.340 none of us actually 00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:53.860 are rulers. 00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:54.720 Even if we were there 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.640 would be very important 00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:57.080 differences between 00:24:57.080 --> 00:24:58.180 the first minister of 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:58.980 Scotland being the 00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.779 first minister and 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.140 being a ruler of the 00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:02.000 tribes of Israel. 00:25:03.040 --> 00:25:04.140 But what's exactly the 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:05.800 same is that we like 00:25:05.800 --> 00:25:06.519 the people of Israel 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:08.279 stand to suffer if our 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.359 nation is led into 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:09.759 folly. 00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:11.980 This is why the 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:13.399 Apostle Paul tells us 00:25:13.399 --> 00:25:14.740 that we should uphold 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:16.819 our rulers in prayer. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:20.619 In his first letter to 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.599 Timothy Paul writes, 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.539 I urge then, 00:25:22.660 --> 00:25:23.319 first of all, 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.379 first of all, 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.420 that requests, 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.160 prayers, 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.200 intercession and 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:29.660 thanksgiving be made 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.339 for everyone, 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:32.399 for kings and for all 00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:33.279 those in authority, 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.859 that we may live 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:36.059 peaceful and quiet 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:37.299 lives in all 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.940 godliness and 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.319 holiness. 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.819 This is good and 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.779 pleases God our 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.720 Saviour who wants 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.980 all men to be saved 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.619 and come to a 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.059 knowledge of the 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.319 truth. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:50.240 Because we stand to 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.279 suffer under foolish 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.079 leadership, Paul makes 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.859 it really clear that we 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.940 should pray for our 00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:54.220 rulers. 00:25:54.659 --> 00:25:55.480 We should pray for 00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:56.759 them so that life can 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:58.519 proceed under normal 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.000 conditions. 00:25:59.099 --> 00:25:59.940 And note how this is 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.779 linked to people coming 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.879 to a knowledge of the 00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.460 Lord Jesus. 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.460 It pleases God that we 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.659 can live peaceful and 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.580 quiet lives in all 00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:07.460 godliness and holiness 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.840 because God wants all 00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:09.620 men to be saved. 00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:12.120 Now of course God is 00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:13.100 still capable of saving 00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:14.620 people in the midst of 00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.640 chaos, but from what 00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:18.120 Paul says, I think we 00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:19.259 can take it that peace 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:20.180 and stability is what 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.720 allows the gospel to 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.180 flourish. 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:24.019 And so we should be 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.680 praying for Nicola 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:26.160 Sturgeon and for the 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:26.740 SNP. 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.620 We should be praying for 00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.640 Theresa May and the 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.500 Conservative Party. 00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.700 Irrespective of whether 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:33.840 we support the agenda 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.819 of these parties, their 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.699 leaders deserve our 00:26:35.699 --> 00:26:36.119 prayers. 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.619 And we should pray, 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.919 especially on behalf of 00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:40.519 our brothers and 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:42.299 sisters around the 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.079 world for the leaders 00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:44.439 of the less stable 00:26:44.439 --> 00:26:45.720 countries in the world. 00:26:46.459 --> 00:26:47.359 If things get out of 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.179 hand between Donald 00:26:48.179 --> 00:26:49.619 Trump and King 00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:51.699 Jong-un, our Asian 00:26:51.699 --> 00:26:52.500 brothers and sisters 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.279 stand to suffer 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:53.980 tremendously. 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.659 Who can imagine what 00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:57.259 would unfold if the 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.159 shenanigans we see in 00:26:58.159 --> 00:26:58.919 the papers actually 00:26:58.919 --> 00:27:00.079 escalated into some 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.619 kind of armed 00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.039 conflict? 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:03.599 Paul reminds us that 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:05.319 we should pray, first 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.759 of all, that all 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.680 Christians can live 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:09.619 quiet and godly lives 00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:10.240 and that this will 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.680 result in a saving 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.460 knowledge of the Lord 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:14.480 Jesus Christ, a saving 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.019 knowledge of his 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.359 gospel. 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.920 So as we leave church 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.119 tonight, I think we 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:21.180 need to remind ourselves 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.819 once more that it's not 00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.940 just evil men that can 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.759 act foolishly. 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.619 I think that's actually 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.920 the key to letting this 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.819 really come home. 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:30.759 even people endowed 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.779 with the Spirit of God 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.819 can act foolishly. 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.460 And the story of 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.059 Jephthah is a good 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.419 reminder. 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.619 We shouldn't think that 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.839 we're somehow immune to 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:39.119 folly. 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:40.939 And let's take note of 00:27:40.939 --> 00:27:42.039 the core problem of 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.960 Jephthah's folly. 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.419 Take that into the 00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:45.960 coming week. 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:47.059 It was ignorance that 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.619 led to his rash 00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:49.500 promise. 00:27:50.179 --> 00:27:51.019 And we too will act 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:52.159 foolishly if we are 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:52.819 ignorant of what is 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.700 pleasing to God. 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:56.259 And we stand to 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:57.920 suffer personally if we 00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:58.960 fail to uphold the 00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.799 leaders of our nations 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.340 in prayer. 00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:02.460 But a failure to uphold 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.160 our leaders in prayer 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:04.299 risks hindrance to the 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.319 progress of the gospel. 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.680 In the book of Jephthah 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.680 we're given this portrait 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.759 of what it looks like 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.680 when a nation is ruled 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.360 by fools. 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.559 Why don't we pray that 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.960 we'll be delivered from 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:16.920 that being replicated in 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.519 our lifetime. 00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:18.860 Let's pray. 00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:18.940 Amen. 00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:18.960 Amen. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.000 Amen. 00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:25.500 Loving Lord Jesus we 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.259 ask that you would 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:28.640 preserve our lives from 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:28.980 folly. 00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:31.880 Fill us with the wisdom 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:34.340 that comes from an 00:28:34.340 --> 00:28:35.380 intimate knowledge of 00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:38.100 you through your word 00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:39.660 and empower us Father 00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.680 to walk in wisdom. 00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:42.400 We pray Father that you 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:44.240 would do that in our 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.240 lives at a personal 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:45.480 level. 00:28:45.600 --> 00:28:46.779 We also pray Father that 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:49.100 you would have mercy on 00:28:49.100 --> 00:28:51.059 rulers of our nation 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:52.779 of the nations of our 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.460 brothers and sisters. 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:55.240 We ask this according to 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.960 Jesus' name. 00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:56.920 Amen.