WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.300
 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church,

00:00:08.300 --> 00:00:11.540
 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today.

00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:15.679
 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here.

00:00:16.679 --> 00:00:20.160
 And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats,

00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:24.300
 but because we're following Jesus together as one community.

00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:28.780
 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good.

00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:32.500
 They don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it,

00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:38.280
 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in his word.

00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:43.160
 This morning, we're continuing our series in the book of Judges.

00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:48.799
 I will note, if you've been with us for a while, you know that we alternate between preaching books from the Old Testament

00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:54.659
 and books from the New Testament. Judges is 21 chapters, and we're now in chapter 15,

00:00:54.659 --> 00:00:56.659
 which means we're getting close to the end.

00:00:56.659 --> 00:01:01.039
 So I'll just tell you, when we end Judges, we are then going to turn to the New Testament,

00:01:01.319 --> 00:01:03.419
 and we're going to jump into the book of Romans.

00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:07.379
 But we're not in Romans yet. We're in Judges.

00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:11.280
 And you'll remember that Judges is about a number of things.

00:01:11.539 --> 00:01:16.099
 It is about the need for constant renewal and revival among God's people.

00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:19.459
 It's about the need for a faithful and true king,

00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:24.079
 a king who can do what no human can do, which is to change the hearts of men.

00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:28.140
 And it's about the power of spirit-filled leadership.

00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:35.099
 And it's about God's mercy to hard-hearted people, people like you and me.

00:01:36.179 --> 00:01:41.659
 This week, we're picking up again the story of Samson, which I believe is the longest story in the book.

00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:48.239
 And last week, we saw that while Samson is a mess, God is still at work.

00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:51.780
 Samson continues to be a mess this week,

00:01:51.799 --> 00:01:58.359
 but we'll turn from just Samson's individual problems to the problems of the nation of Israel,

00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:03.060
 and we'll see close up the danger of compromise.

00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:09.539
 With that, I invite you to turn with me to Judges chapter 15.

00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:11.500
 You can turn in your Bible.

00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:13.579
 You can turn on your phone.

00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:15.799
 You can turn in your worship guide.

00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:18.939
 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word.

00:02:19.799 --> 00:02:23.799
 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold.

00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:28.139
 And it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb.

00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:33.000
 And so that's why we read now Judges chapter 15, starting at verse 1.

00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:40.139
 After some days at the time of wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife with a young goat.

00:02:40.860 --> 00:02:44.219
 And he said, I will go into my wife in the chamber.

00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:47.780
 But her father would not allow him to go in.

00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:52.379
 And her father said, I really thought that you utterly hated her.

00:02:53.020 --> 00:02:54.819
 So I gave her to your companion.

00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:58.819
 Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she?

00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:01.099
 Please take her instead.

00:03:01.099 --> 00:03:09.639
 And Samson said to them, this time I shall be innocent in regard to the Philistines when I do them harm.

00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:14.599
 So Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took torches.

00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:19.879
 And he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails.

00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:26.819
 And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines.

00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:33.060
 And set fire to the stacked grain and the standing grain, as well as the olive orchards.

00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:37.239
 Then the Philistines said, who has done this?

00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:43.799
 And they said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.

00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:48.780
 And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.

00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:55.599
 And Samson said to them, if this is what you do, I swear I will be avenged on you.

00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:57.759
 And after that, I will quit.

00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:01.319
 And he struck them hip and thigh with a great blow.

00:04:01.420 --> 00:04:04.620
 And he went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Edom.

00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:06.199
 Verse 9.

00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:12.639
 Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah and made a raid on Lehi.

00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:16.599
 And the men of Judah said, why have you come up against us?

00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:22.919
 They said, we have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us.

00:04:24.019 --> 00:04:28.860
 Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Edom and said to Samson,

00:04:29.259 --> 00:04:32.740
 do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us?

00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:36.060
 What then is this that you have done to us?

00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:42.459
 And he said to them, as they did to me, so I have done to them.

00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:43.819
 Verse 12.

00:04:45.319 --> 00:04:50.599
 And they said to him, we have come down to bind you that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines.

00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:55.599
 And Samson said to them, swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves.

00:04:56.680 --> 00:05:00.860
 They said to him, no, we will only bind you and give you into their hands.

00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:02.599
 We will surely not kill you.

00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:07.400
 So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:12.179
 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him.

00:05:12.919 --> 00:05:19.019
 Then the spirit of the Lord rushed upon him and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire.

00:05:19.019 --> 00:05:21.680
 And his bonds melted off his hands.

00:05:22.539 --> 00:05:26.779
 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey and put out his hand and took it.

00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:29.500
 And with it he struck one thousand men.

00:05:30.620 --> 00:05:35.219
 And Samson said, with the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps.

00:05:35.220 --> 00:05:39.920
 With the jawbone of a donkey have I struck down a thousand men.

00:05:41.940 --> 00:05:46.180
 As soon as he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his hand.

00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:49.660
 And that place was called Ramath-Lehi.

00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:51.420
 Verse 18.

00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:55.440
 And he was very thirsty and he called upon the Lord and said,

00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:59.480
 You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant.

00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:04.639
 And shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?

00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:11.439
 And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi and water came out from it.

00:06:12.439 --> 00:06:15.860
 And when he drank, his spirit returned and he revived.

00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:19.759
 Therefore the name of it was called En-Hakor.

00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:22.379
 It is at Lehi to this day.

00:06:22.379 --> 00:06:28.339
 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:33.920
 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word.

00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:40.060
 Our Father in heaven, we do thank you again that you've given us your word,

00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:44.420
 that you instruct us, that you teach us, that you lead us and guide us.

00:06:45.060 --> 00:06:46.779
 And we ask that you would do that this morning.

00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:50.600
 That you would use this passage in the book of Judges

00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:52.860
 to warn us and to encourage us.

00:06:53.520 --> 00:06:55.640
 Most of all, you would use it to show us Jesus.

00:06:56.200 --> 00:07:01.020
 That we would see again that his grace is greater than our sin.

00:07:02.180 --> 00:07:04.920
 That you're faithful even when we're faithless.

00:07:05.520 --> 00:07:09.320
 We ask that we would see him as more beautiful and glorious

00:07:09.320 --> 00:07:13.200
 and loving and powerful than we ever knew.

00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:16.139
 And we ask all of these things in his mighty name.

00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:17.099
 Amen.

00:07:21.420 --> 00:07:24.539
 Like a good drama, like any good drama,

00:07:25.159 --> 00:07:28.899
 the author of Judges left us last time with a real cliffhanger.

00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:33.259
 If you remember the end of chapter 14, the very last verse,

00:07:33.860 --> 00:07:34.899
 we were told this,

00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:38.099
 Samson's wife was given to his companion

00:07:38.100 --> 00:07:41.379
 who had been his best man.

00:07:42.580 --> 00:07:44.100
 Okay, not just someone else.

00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:48.280
 It's not just that there's another man with Samson's wife.

00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:52.120
 No, we're told it is his best man.

00:07:53.700 --> 00:07:55.660
 The reason being, the verse before,

00:07:55.820 --> 00:07:57.500
 Samson leaves in anger.

00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:00.160
 You may remember that he had this competition

00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:02.439
 with the people of his wife

00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:05.960
 and they had this bet, this riddle they were supposed to solve

00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:07.519
 and they threatened his wife.

00:08:07.739 --> 00:08:09.779
 So she revealed the answer to the riddle.

00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:13.319
 And so Samson is filled with rage,

00:08:13.719 --> 00:08:15.419
 goes to town on the Philistines.

00:08:16.379 --> 00:08:17.879
 What is very clear though,

00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:21.180
 is that he and this woman are in fact married.

00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:23.179
 She is not his girlfriend.

00:08:23.799 --> 00:08:25.099
 She is not his fiance.

00:08:25.779 --> 00:08:27.459
 She is his wife.

00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:32.439
 And so his father-in-law has no business doing what he did.

00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:34.319
 He is completely out of line,

00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:37.180
 having handed her off to another man.

00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:41.160
 That sets the stage for our drama here in chapter 15.

00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:44.879
 Verse two, the father makes this attempt at appeasement

00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:48.760
 saying, hey, you can have another one of my daughters.

00:08:48.920 --> 00:08:49.360
 And you know what?

00:08:49.379 --> 00:08:51.140
 Actually, you're gonna get a good deal out of this.

00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:52.400
 She's actually more attractive

00:08:52.400 --> 00:08:53.520
 than the woman that you married.

00:08:54.020 --> 00:08:55.320
 So why don't we do that?

00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:56.640
 And we can just call it good.

00:08:58.020 --> 00:08:59.940
 Samson is not interested in appeasement.

00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:03.000
 He actually sees an opportunity for revenge.

00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:06.159
 And that's in fact exactly what he does

00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:07.620
 in verses four and five.

00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:11.679
 We might call this a disproportionate response.

00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:16.379
 Samson has been offended by one man.

00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:19.080
 He goes after all the Philistines.

00:09:19.799 --> 00:09:22.840
 There has been a private offense.

00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:27.220
 Samson goes on a public campaign.

00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:30.480
 He picks these 300 foxes.

00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:34.220
 He splits them into 150 pairs.

00:09:34.379 --> 00:09:37.960
 And then he goes and destroys the Philistines' food supply.

00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:41.680
 I have a problem with one man.

00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:43.580
 There's tension in one family.

00:09:44.160 --> 00:09:44.940
 You know what?

00:09:45.019 --> 00:09:46.120
 Let's wreck all men.

00:09:47.680 --> 00:09:49.340
 Let's wreck every family.

00:09:49.560 --> 00:09:51.360
 That seems like a really kind of proportion,

00:09:51.660 --> 00:09:53.220
 measured, reasonable response.

00:09:53.220 --> 00:09:57.379
 Now, it's easy for us to focus here on the grain

00:09:57.379 --> 00:09:58.379
 that he destroys.

00:09:58.519 --> 00:09:59.759
 They're not going to have anything to eat.

00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.519
 It's actually even worse than that.

00:10:01.920 --> 00:10:02.960
 Note in verse five,

00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:04.660
 he's not just going after the grain.

00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:07.200
 He goes after the olive orchards.

00:10:08.180 --> 00:10:10.080
 And if you're familiar with the Mediterranean,

00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:13.440
 you know that olive orchards are a big deal.

00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:15.160
 Not only are they a big deal,

00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:18.720
 they take generations to build up and cultivate.

00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:23.620
 Many olive trees survive for 500 years.

00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:27.019
 There's at least one olive tree

00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:30.720
 that's known to have been in existence for 1,500 years.

00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:36.379
 Samson is out for revenge.

00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:39.320
 Samson is out of control.

00:10:40.420 --> 00:10:42.120
 Samson chooses a response

00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:45.379
 that is wildly out of proportion

00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:47.200
 to what has happened here.

00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:51.580
 To understand the severity of what Samson's doing,

00:10:51.700 --> 00:10:52.460
 I'll remind you of something

00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:53.800
 I told you a couple years ago.

00:10:54.280 --> 00:10:56.960
 If you're familiar with Colorado gun laws,

00:10:57.100 --> 00:11:00.100
 you know that to use lethal force,

00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:02.580
 there needs to be a lethal threat.

00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:05.980
 In other words, if you are stealing my car,

00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:07.540
 I'm not allowed to shoot you

00:11:07.540 --> 00:11:09.520
 because you're not threatening my life.

00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:11.420
 Okay, so I can end up in trouble for that,

00:11:11.540 --> 00:11:13.920
 except in one circumstance.

00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:18.019
 Colorado law says you can use lethal force

00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:20.579
 if someone is attempting arson.

00:11:22.079 --> 00:11:22.599
 Why?

00:11:23.339 --> 00:11:26.679
 Because it's so destructive, right?

00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:29.539
 Because the threat of someone's life,

00:11:29.659 --> 00:11:31.860
 lethal threat is downstream of arson.

00:11:32.099 --> 00:11:33.219
 This is something, right,

00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:35.159
 that could burn up our state.

00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:36.500
 And so it makes sense

00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:38.939
 that this would be something considered so serious

00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:40.480
 that that's the one exception

00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:43.840
 where you're allowed to use lethal force.

00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:45.700
 That helps us understand

00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:48.960
 the severity of the Philistines' response here.

00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:51.580
 To wreck someone's food supply,

00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:54.620
 to destroy all their grain

00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.900
 and all their olive trees,

00:11:56.260 --> 00:11:59.320
 is an absolute declaration of war.

00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:02.520
 Samson has a problem with one family.

00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:05.399
 He declares war on the entire nation.

00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:08.220
 We see once again,

00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:11.240
 Samson is a mess.

00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:13.779
 Now, I don't mean to excuse

00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:15.460
 the Philistines' behavior here,

00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:16.980
 but understanding that,

00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:19.259
 their response begins to make sense.

00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:20.220
 Verse six, they say,

00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:21.939
 look, you're gonna burn our fields.

00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:24.679
 You're gonna burn our olive trees.

00:12:25.419 --> 00:12:25.939
 Guess what?

00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:27.740
 We'll burn your wife

00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:30.179
 and your father-in-law.

00:12:30.179 --> 00:12:32.259
 Even worse than that,

00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:33.439
 we're gonna take a step further.

00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:37.259
 We are going to launch an offensive against Judah.

00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:39.819
 You come after our nation.

00:12:39.959 --> 00:12:41.059
 You come after our people.

00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:43.339
 We'll come after your nation.

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.259
 We'll come after your people.

00:12:45.959 --> 00:12:47.519
 What's good for the goose

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:49.859
 is good for the gander.

00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:52.679
 Fair is fair.

00:12:54.779 --> 00:12:55.899
 And it's at this point,

00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:59.279
 we begin to see the main theme,

00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:02.039
 the main problem of this chapter.

00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:03.620
 Verse 10,

00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.600
 they come against the people of Judah.

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:07.019
 And the men of Judah say,

00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:08.220
 hey, what's going on?

00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:09.860
 Why are you here?

00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:11.600
 Philistines tell them

00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:12.839
 there's one simple reason

00:13:12.839 --> 00:13:14.659
 that we're here, Samson.

00:13:16.199 --> 00:13:18.039
 Now, at this point,

00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:20.600
 if we were earlier in the book of Judges,

00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:23.120
 we would expect one thing to happen.

00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:25.480
 What should Judah do at this point?

00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:27.060
 Oh, the Philistines,

00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:28.360
 who are our oppressors,

00:13:28.420 --> 00:13:30.340
 are coming up against us to attack us.

00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:32.700
 There's only one logical answer.

00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:34.120
 Let's muster our troops.

00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:35.139
 Right?

00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:36.840
 It is time for war.

00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:40.800
 It is time for us to see God at work once again

00:13:40.800 --> 00:13:43.600
 and to throw off the shackles of our oppressors.

00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.820
 That's what we should expect Israel to do.

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:47.920
 What should we expect Samson to do?

00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:50.940
 If he was like any other judge,

00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:52.940
 he would show some leadership at this point.

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:54.420
 If you haven't noticed,

00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:56.680
 Samson is not exactly a team player.

00:13:58.340 --> 00:14:00.380
 All the other judges were.

00:14:01.280 --> 00:14:02.760
 Samson should be saying,

00:14:03.260 --> 00:14:04.860
 I will lead you, right?

00:14:05.020 --> 00:14:06.640
 I am the strong man.

00:14:06.680 --> 00:14:07.880
 I'm even stronger than Jethro.

00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:09.880
 You thought Jethro was great at war?

00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:12.860
 Wait till you see what I can do.

00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:16.980
 Israel should be uniting together

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:18.780
 to fight the Philistines.

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:23.579
 And they do the exact opposite.

00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:27.139
 Oh, you're here because of Samson?

00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:29.799
 I think we can clear this up.

00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:33.720
 Why don't you take him?

00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.559
 He's our judge.

00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.819
 God raised him up.

00:14:38.699 --> 00:14:40.500
 He has this incredible birth story.

00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.159
 But you know what?

00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:41.980
 None of that really matters.

00:14:43.339 --> 00:14:44.839
 Things are good as they are.

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.420
 How about we just hand him over?

00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:48.660
 You know, we say, it's all good.

00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:49.879
 We wash our hands of this.

00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:56.960
 Once again, we have a sad and crushing disappointment.

00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:02.899
 Once again, God's people are worse than ever before.

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:08.560
 Israel is completely upside down.

00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:17.159
 God's people should be rallying behind their judge

00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:18.579
 and fighting their enemies.

00:15:19.819 --> 00:15:23.919
 Instead, they betray their judge

00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:27.179
 and they're sympathetic to their enemies.

00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:30.279
 Notice their words in verse 11.

00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:34.339
 Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us?

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.239
 That's what's stated.

00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:37.839
 What's unstated is this.

00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:41.759
 And that's the way we like it.

00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:47.060
 Don't you know these people are the ones in charge?

00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.940
 Why, Samson?

00:15:49.660 --> 00:15:53.899
 Why would you disrupt the status quo?

00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:59.300
 If you oppose your leader

00:15:59.300 --> 00:16:02.060
 and you befriend your enemies,

00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:06.320
 something is very wrong.

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:09.460
 Judah is not just sick.

00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:11.420
 She is really sick.

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:14.100
 Things are not just twisted in Israel.

00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:17.320
 They are completely upside down.

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.740
 This helps us understand, by the way,

00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:23.040
 what was happening in Judges chapter 14.

00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:28.079
 Remember when Samson goes out to find a Philistine wife,

00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:30.740
 his parents are so upset and distraught over it.

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:33.759
 And we had that key verse, verse 4, where it said this,

00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:37.279
 his father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord,

00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:41.319
 for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines.

00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:46.240
 Why is the Lord seeking an opportunity against the Philistines?

00:16:47.280 --> 00:16:49.860
 Because Judah isn't.

00:16:51.140 --> 00:16:55.280
 Why does God need to use Samson to stir the pot?

00:16:55.280 --> 00:16:59.200
 Because God's people are complacent with their oppression.

00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:06.259
 Israel is okay being ruled by the Philistines.

00:17:07.340 --> 00:17:12.039
 Israel is happy for a pagan nation to be in control.

00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:19.039
 Israel is content to be ruled by sin.

00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.259
 So the point is this.

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:29.559
 Things have gotten so bad that God's people now embrace oppression.

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:37.379
 Things are so bad that they see the wrong leaders as the right leaders.

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:44.079
 Things are so upside down that they betray their very own judge.

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:48.799
 Remember also what was weird about chapter 14.

00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:52.639
 This was the first time Israel did not cry out for God's help.

00:17:54.680 --> 00:18:00.299
 What once they saw as wrong, they now see as normal.

00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:03.379
 And in fact, as the book of Judges goes on,

00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:05.139
 it's going to continue to go downhill.

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:09.919
 They will embrace the pagan culture more and more.

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:16.480
 Judah has made a devastating compromise with sin.

00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:21.400
 This brings out another element of the book of Judges,

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:25.059
 which is that we see the way in which evil works,

00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:26.460
 the way that sin operates.

00:18:27.120 --> 00:18:33.500
 Satan loves to chip away at God's people generation by generation.

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:41.140
 Compromise in one generation becomes apostasy in the next.

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:48.519
 Laziness in one generation turns into abandonment in the following one.

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:52.819
 Satan is willing to play the long game,

00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:56.880
 and at least for a moment, it seems to be working.

00:18:56.880 --> 00:18:59.720
 Remember, Judges 2, verse 19,

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:03.140
 things got worse every generation.

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:08.980
 Every cycle, God's people go further down.

00:19:09.520 --> 00:19:14.200
 There is compounding compromise that's happened in Israel.

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:17.920
 Albert Einstein once said,

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:22.799
 the most powerful force in the universe is compound interest.

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:28.080
 We might say another one of the most powerful forces in the world

00:19:28.080 --> 00:19:30.059
 is compound compromise.

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.940
 Israel has given in over and over.

00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:39.019
 Israel is becoming worse and worse.

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:45.720
 So our passage reminds us of one of the great tensions of the Christian life,

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:47.000
 tension we already read about,

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:49.400
 Scott read to us from John chapter 17.

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.480
 And the tension is this,

00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:54.099
 that God calls his people to be in the world,

00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:56.319
 not of the world.

00:19:58.299 --> 00:20:01.359
 That's what Jesus prays for in John chapter 17.

00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:04.059
 This is on page 3 of your worship guide.

00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:05.920
 In verse 11, he just says it straightforward.

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:07.880
 They are in the world.

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.039
 He's referring to his people.

00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.220
 He's referring to the church.

00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:14.140
 And then he gives this prayer in verses 15 and 16.

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:16.480
 I do not ask that you take them out of the world,

00:20:16.620 --> 00:20:19.180
 but that you keep them from the evil one.

00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:21.100
 They are not of the world,

00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:24.100
 just as I am not of the world.

00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:29.400
 Judges 15 challenges us

00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:31.580
 to examine

00:20:31.580 --> 00:20:34.539
 where are we in the world

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.820
 and of the world.

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:40.980
 Where have we made compromises with sin?

00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:44.720
 Where have the twisted parts

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:48.340
 of our culture become normal to us?

00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:52.860
 You'll see this on page 9 of your worship guide.

00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:56.180
 It's easy for us to look at another culture

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:58.100
 and see how a member of God's people

00:20:58.100 --> 00:21:01.340
 has sold out to the surrounding culture.

00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:04.439
 We're more unwilling to look hard

00:21:04.439 --> 00:21:07.099
 at where we might have done so.

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:11.299
 Brings us back to one of the major themes

00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.279
 of the book of Judges,

00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:15.279
 the need for constant renewal

00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:17.500
 and revival among God's people.

00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:20.959
 It is our default setting

00:21:20.959 --> 00:21:23.619
 as we walk in this world

00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:27.579
 to assume that what's normal for the culture

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:30.379
 must be normal for us.

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:33.700
 And so we forget

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:35.580
 what it means

00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:39.720
 the water around us that we swim in.

00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:41.540
 So we give in

00:21:41.540 --> 00:21:43.940
 to self-expression

00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:45.860
 and radical individualism,

00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:49.400
 which leads us to rampant divorce

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.340
 and isolation.

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:53.000
 We assume

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:55.579
 that the culture's level

00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.539
 of consumption

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.579
 is good

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.759
 and right.

00:22:00.159 --> 00:22:01.240
 We believe

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.980
 the good life

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:03.779
 is made up

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.939
 of materialism

00:22:04.939 --> 00:22:05.720
 and sex

00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:06.859
 and status.

00:22:08.939 --> 00:22:10.459
 We're desensitized

00:22:10.459 --> 00:22:11.779
 to the sexual images

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.799
 that assault us

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.059
 on social media

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.339
 and in line

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.220
 at the grocery store.

00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:19.200
 We adopt

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.839
 the tone

00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.660
 and anger

00:22:20.660 --> 00:22:22.420
 of the political discourse

00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.079
 around us

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.700
 as normal

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.940
 for Christians

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:25.720
 to take part in.

00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:31.620
 Where have we

00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.460
 become comfortable

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:35.680
 with the twisted values

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:37.100
 of the world

00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:37.660
 around us?

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.140
 Where do we say

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.220
 don't you know

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.940
 that the Philistines

00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.799
 are rulers

00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.700
 over us

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:46.660
 and that's

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.440
 the way

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.740
 we like it?

00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:55.779
 Thankfully,

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.880
 Israel's betrayal

00:22:56.880 --> 00:22:58.380
 does not have

00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.140
 the last word

00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:01.759
 and thankfully,

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.819
 God's grace

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:04.080
 really is

00:23:04.080 --> 00:23:04.759
 greater

00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:06.220
 than our sin.

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.740
 The story

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:10.100
 does not end

00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:12.100
 with Samson

00:23:12.100 --> 00:23:13.160
 being defeated

00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:14.319
 by the Philistines.

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:14.799
 In fact,

00:23:15.399 --> 00:23:16.299
 quite the opposite.

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.939
 The 3,000 men

00:23:18.939 --> 00:23:19.759
 who should be

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.099
 marching

00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.220
 against the Philistines

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.159
 come instead

00:23:22.159 --> 00:23:23.259
 to Samson.

00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.500
 This is verse 11

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:26.700
 and they bind

00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.700
 the sacrifice

00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:29.339
 that they're offering

00:23:29.339 --> 00:23:30.139
 for the sake

00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:31.200
 of peace.

00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.019
 They don't just

00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.480
 bind him,

00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:34.019
 by the way.

00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.980
 It's not simply

00:23:34.980 --> 00:23:35.480
 ropes.

00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:37.439
 They are new ropes.

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.559
 This is verse 13.

00:23:39.679 --> 00:23:40.500
 And new ropes

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.460
 are going to be

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.299
 even tighter

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.240
 than old ropes.

00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.519
 They're going to be

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.059
 even harder

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.720
 to pull apart.

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:46.980
 They know

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.120
 Samson's strong

00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.759
 solution

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.299
 make his bonds

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.960
 even stronger.

00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.579
 We're not going to

00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.079
 get tricked

00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:54.680
 or fooled.

00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:56.259
 We're not going to

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.039
 give him

00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:57.799
 or bind him

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.240
 in something

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.019
 that he can easily

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.799
 break out of.

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:00.839
 No,

00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.819
 we're going to make sure

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:02.460
 Samson,

00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:03.160
 for once,

00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:04.039
 is actually

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.680
 under control.

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:08.620
 And God

00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:10.220
 once again

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.360
 pours out

00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.039
 his spirit

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:13.460
 on his judge

00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.360
 to deliver

00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:15.440
 his people.

00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:17.620
 Verse 14

00:24:17.620 --> 00:24:18.380
 or 13.

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.220
 No,

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.000
 it's verse 14.

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.400
 The ropes

00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:21.900
 that were on

00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.380
 his hands

00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:22.980
 became as

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.519
 flax

00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:23.940
 that has

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:24.640
 caught fire

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:26.080
 and his bonds

00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:27.000
 melted off

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.720
 his hands.

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.279
 Why?

00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:31.559
 Because the spirit

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.559
 of the Lord

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.539
 rushed

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.779
 upon him.

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.139
 God performs

00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:39.180
 another miracle

00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:40.059
 on behalf

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.879
 of Samson.

00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:43.559
 God saves

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.599
 his judge

00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.700
 once again.

00:24:46.899 --> 00:24:47.940
 God keeps

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.740
 his promise.

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.460
 He will begin

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.399
 to save

00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:52.079
 his people

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.460
 from the Philistines.

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.579
 What does

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.200
 Samson do?

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:56.940
 he finds

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:58.380
 a jawbone

00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:01.880
 and he wrecks

00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:02.860
 the Philistines.

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:08.039
 Verse 15.

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.400
 With it

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.019
 he struck

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.759
 one thousand

00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.680
 men.

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.460
 Yes.

00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.240
 Israel

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.279
 has turned

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:20.539
 upside down.

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.700
 And yes,

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.340
 Israel

00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.500
 opposes

00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.259
 their leader

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:27.440
 and cozies

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:27.759
 up to

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.339
 their friends.

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.359
 And

00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:31.440
 God

00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:32.480
 remains

00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.319
 faithful

00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:34.279
 to his

00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:34.619
 people.

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.440
 God

00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.039
 continues

00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:38.839
 to keep

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.819
 his promise.

00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:41.579
 God

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.519
 continues

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.640
 to rescue.

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.059
 God

00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.839
 uses

00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:49.299
 Israel's

00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:49.720
 compromise

00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:51.619
 and

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.640
 he uses

00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:53.759
 Samson's

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.160
 anger

00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.460
 to accomplish

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.660
 his purpose.

00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.460
 No matter

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.000
 what,

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:00.980
 God

00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.800
 still

00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:02.720
 prevails.

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.279
 No matter

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:05.660
 what,

00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.220
 God

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.120
 is still

00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:08.140
 in control.

00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:10.180
 No matter

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.620
 what,

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.800
 he remains

00:26:11.800 --> 00:26:12.700
 faithful

00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.640
 to his

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.080
 people

00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:15.000
 and his

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.400
 promises.

00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:18.720
 God

00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.320
 rescues

00:26:19.320 --> 00:26:19.940
 his people

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:21.600
 even when

00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:22.480
 they don't

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.460
 deserve it.

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:25.840
 Christian,

00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:27.700
 God

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.300
 rescues

00:26:28.300 --> 00:26:28.700
 you

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:30.360
 even when

00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:30.840
 you don't

00:26:30.840 --> 00:26:31.740
 deserve it,

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:33.640
 which is

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.340
 every time.

00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.540
 God's

00:26:37.540 --> 00:26:38.019
 grace

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:39.420
 really is

00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:39.820
 greater

00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:40.860
 than our

00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:41.100
 sin.

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.719
 God

00:26:41.719 --> 00:26:45.599
 even

00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:46.099
 after this

00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:46.599
 rescue,

00:26:47.179 --> 00:26:47.659
 Samson's

00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:48.219
 behavior

00:26:48.219 --> 00:26:49.159
 leaves much

00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:49.500
 to be

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.000
 desired.

00:26:50.699 --> 00:26:51.399
 Verse 16

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.079
 and 17,

00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.579
 we see

00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.179
 Samson's

00:26:54.179 --> 00:26:54.539
 version

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.419
 of a

00:26:55.419 --> 00:26:55.759
 touchdown

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.579
 dance.

00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:58.559
 And you

00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:58.859
 may have

00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.339
 noticed

00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.599
 verse 16

00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:01.740
 and 17,

00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.419
 he writes

00:27:02.419 --> 00:27:02.879
 a poem

00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.879
 and this

00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.699
 poem is

00:27:04.699 --> 00:27:05.459
 exclusively

00:27:05.459 --> 00:27:06.899
 focused on

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.699
 how great

00:27:07.699 --> 00:27:08.699
 God is

00:27:08.699 --> 00:27:09.240
 in his

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.079
 salvation for

00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.539
 his people.

00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:10.779
 Right?

00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:11.119
 You see

00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:11.379
 that?

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.259
 No.

00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.519
 Verse 17,

00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.179
 with the

00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:16.779
 jawbone of

00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:17.220
 a donkey

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.119
 have I

00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:18.980
 struck down

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.699
 a thousand

00:27:19.699 --> 00:27:20.039
 men.

00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:20.879
 There's no

00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:21.339
 mention of

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:21.679
 the Lord.

00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:23.720
 Samson,

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.119
 even as

00:27:25.119 --> 00:27:25.799
 God shows

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.259
 him great

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:27.059
 mercy and

00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.519
 grace,

00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.659
 is completely

00:27:28.659 --> 00:27:29.159
 full of

00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:29.559
 himself.

00:27:30.419 --> 00:27:31.220
 Verse 17,

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.079
 we find

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.980
 out that

00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:33.859
 Samson is

00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:34.319
 the one

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.059
 who invented

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.939
 the process

00:27:35.939 --> 00:27:36.619
 of dropping

00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.119
 the mic.

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.199
 Except instead

00:27:38.199 --> 00:27:38.679
 of dropping

00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:39.100
 the mic,

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.900
 he tosses

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.519
 the jawbone

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:40.779
 on the

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.060
 ground.

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:42.799
 Y'all see

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.060
 that?

00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:43.480
 I killed

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:43.880
 a thousand

00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.420
 Philistines,

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:44.700
 I got

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.120
 a poem.

00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:46.560
 What?

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.960
 Look at

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.560
 Samson

00:27:50.560 --> 00:27:51.700
 now.

00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.060
 Then,

00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.220
 verse 18,

00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.580
 he talks

00:27:56.580 --> 00:27:56.980
 to God

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.279
 with this

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:57.440
 little

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:57.900
 passive

00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.400
 aggressive

00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:59.320
 statement.

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.160
 Shall I

00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:02.759
 now die

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.259
 of thirst

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.640
 and fall

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:03.960
 into the

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.240
 hands

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.539
 of the

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.440
 uncircumcised?

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:08.539
 Just in

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:08.900
 case it's

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.440
 not clear,

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.680
 that is

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.180
 not the

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.759
 way you

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.620
 speak to

00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:12.940
 the living

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.279
 God.

00:28:16.360 --> 00:28:17.100
 God has

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:17.840
 no response,

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:21.039
 just

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:21.440
 provision.

00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.559
 Verse 19,

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.620
 he gives

00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:25.559
 Samson

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.519
 water.

00:28:28.080 --> 00:28:28.480
 And then

00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:28.840
 in verse

00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.299
 20,

00:28:30.360 --> 00:28:31.200
 God drops

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.600
 the mic.

00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:33.599
 and he

00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:34.159
 judged

00:28:34.159 --> 00:28:34.799
 Israel

00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.199
 in the

00:28:35.199 --> 00:28:35.679
 days

00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:36.059
 of the

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.799
 Philistines

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:38.319
 20 years.

00:28:40.439 --> 00:28:41.119
 What does

00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.519
 it say

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:41.819
 at the

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.119
 end of

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:42.379
 all the

00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:42.579
 other

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:42.959
 judges'

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.500
 reigns?

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.799
 It says

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.219
 the people

00:28:46.219 --> 00:28:47.179
 had peace

00:28:47.179 --> 00:28:48.139
 for X

00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:48.619
 number of

00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:48.899
 years.

00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.619
 Not so

00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:51.899
 here.

00:28:53.439 --> 00:28:53.699
 The

00:28:53.699 --> 00:28:54.259
 Philistines

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:54.779
 are rulers

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.439
 over them.

00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.019
 The

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.639
 Philistines

00:28:56.639 --> 00:28:57.359
 continue

00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.139
 to be

00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:58.439
 rulers

00:28:58.439 --> 00:28:59.000
 over them.

00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:00.679
 Samson's

00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:01.119
 work

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.059
 as a

00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.500
 judge

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.179
 is

00:29:03.179 --> 00:29:03.799
 compromised

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.639
 and

00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:05.599
 incomplete.

00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:08.019
 Remember

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.539
 from chapter

00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.059
 14,

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.639
 he will

00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:10.359
 begin

00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:11.579
 to save

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.179
 his people

00:29:12.179 --> 00:29:12.979
 from the

00:29:12.979 --> 00:29:13.599
 Philistines.

00:29:14.979 --> 00:29:15.419
 Samson

00:29:15.419 --> 00:29:16.359
 is

00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:16.919
 the

00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:17.479
 worst

00:29:17.479 --> 00:29:18.659
 judge.

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:23.479
 As we

00:29:23.479 --> 00:29:24.179
 come to

00:29:24.179 --> 00:29:24.659
 the end

00:29:24.659 --> 00:29:24.899
 of the

00:29:24.899 --> 00:29:25.199
 book of

00:29:25.199 --> 00:29:25.539
 Judges,

00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:25.899
 we see

00:29:25.899 --> 00:29:26.639
 two things

00:29:26.639 --> 00:29:27.319
 that are

00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:27.539
 going to

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.079
 stand out

00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:28.599
 over and

00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.299
 over again,

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.419
 and they're

00:29:30.419 --> 00:29:30.799
 this.

00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:34.519
 Israel is

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.099
 dripping

00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:35.979
 with

00:29:35.979 --> 00:29:36.799
 compromise,

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:40.679
 but God

00:29:40.679 --> 00:29:41.779
 is dripping

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:43.259
 with grace.

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.979
 Israel has

00:29:47.979 --> 00:29:48.739
 completely

00:29:48.739 --> 00:29:49.539
 lost her

00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:49.939
 way.

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:51.799
 God

00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:52.899
 saves her

00:29:52.899 --> 00:29:53.799
 again

00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:55.279
 and again.

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.740
 God

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.660
 will

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.279
 do

00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.139
 that.

00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:59.980
 The

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:00.420
 tension

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:01.240
 of the

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.579
 book of

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:01.920
 Judges

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.379
 is this.

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.039
 How can

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.539
 God

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.819
 do that

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:06.200
 over and

00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.480
 over?

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:08.420
 Why is

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.039
 he gracious

00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.119
 to his

00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.579
 people who

00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:10.980
 have lost

00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.359
 the way?

00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:12.899
 Why does

00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:13.279
 he give

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.359
 water to

00:30:14.359 --> 00:30:15.299
 judges who

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:15.859
 praise

00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:16.559
 themselves

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.539
 rather

00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.519
 than him?

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:21.359
 God

00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:21.519
 can

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:21.859
 God

00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.099
 be

00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:22.599
 just

00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.539
 and

00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:23.940
 merciful?

00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:25.660
 Of course,

00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.240
 the answer

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.619
 comes in

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:27.960
 our Lord

00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.299
 Jesus.

00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.220
 God

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.000
 is able

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.900
 to show

00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:32.299
 us

00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:32.859
 mercy

00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:34.039
 when we

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.579
 lose the

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.000
 plot

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:37.599
 because he

00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:37.940
 showed

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.420
 judgment

00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:39.099
 to Jesus

00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:39.680
 when he

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:39.940
 was on

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.359
 the cross.

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.379
 God

00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:43.980
 is able

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.539
 to be

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.180
 present

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:46.600
 with his

00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:47.460
 people in

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.259
 their failure

00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:49.320
 and their

00:30:49.320 --> 00:30:49.720
 mess

00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:51.840
 because he

00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.539
 forsake

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.860
 his one

00:30:53.860 --> 00:30:54.820
 and only

00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:55.519
 son.

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.340
 God's

00:30:58.340 --> 00:30:58.900
 grace

00:30:58.900 --> 00:31:00.220
 is greater

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.740
 than our

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.100
 sin

00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:02.880
 because

00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:03.500
 Jesus'

00:31:04.060 --> 00:31:04.920
 sacrifice

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:05.799
 paid

00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.740
 the price.

00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:10.400
 We

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.080
 have

00:31:11.080 --> 00:31:12.220
 a great

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.460
 and greater

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.519
 judge.

00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:19.100
 Jesus

00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:19.539
 is the

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:19.860
 reason

00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:20.460
 that God

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.160
 can show

00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:21.460
 his

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:21.840
 people

00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:22.400
 grace

00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:23.240
 in the

00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:23.440
 midst

00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:23.620
 of

00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:23.980
 failure.

00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:26.580
 Jesus

00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:26.980
 is the

00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.240
 reason

00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.580
 that if

00:31:27.580 --> 00:31:28.160
 we lose

00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.360
 the

00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:28.799
 plot,

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.440
 God

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.640
 is still

00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:32.759
 at work.

00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:40.460
 We need

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:40.880
 a faithful

00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.279
 and true

00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:41.600
 king.

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.200
 We need

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:43.720
 a king

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.180
 who can

00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.560
 do

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.159
 what no

00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:45.559
 human

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:45.839
 can

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.200
 do

00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:46.940
 which

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.259
 is to

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:47.839
 change

00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.379
 the

00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:48.839
 hearts

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.440
 of

00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:49.720
 men.

00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.240
 Samson

00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.579
 is a

00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:51.899
 failure.

00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.200
 He'll

00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:53.559
 never

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:55.579
 be the

00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:55.919
 one

00:31:55.919 --> 00:31:56.440
 we can

00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:56.799
 rely

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.179
 on.

00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.039
 Jesus,

00:31:59.559 --> 00:31:59.700
 the

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.079
 king,

00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:00.720
 we

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.220
 actually

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:02.019
 need.

00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:05.740
 So that's

00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.039
 why we

00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.539
 started this

00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:06.940
 sermon with

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.159
 this.

00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:07.559
 Great is

00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:07.759
 thy

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.480
 faithfulness,

00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:09.539
 O God

00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:09.740
 my

00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.099
 father.

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.299
 There

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:11.819
 is no

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:12.299
 shadow

00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:13.259
 of

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.659
 turning

00:32:13.659 --> 00:32:14.700
 with

00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:14.940
 thee.

00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.740
 God's

00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.259
 grace

00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:18.819
 is

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.220
 greater

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:19.440
 than

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:19.680
 our

00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:19.940
 sin.

00:32:20.940 --> 00:32:21.440
 If we

00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:21.639
 are

00:32:21.639 --> 00:32:22.240
 faithless,

00:32:22.379 --> 00:32:22.619
 he

00:32:22.619 --> 00:32:23.220
 remains

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:23.700
 faithful,

00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:24.779
 for he

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.419
 cannot

00:32:25.419 --> 00:32:26.639
 deny

00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:27.619
 himself.

00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.399
 Let's

00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:29.599
 pray.

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.299
 Our

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:32.759
 father in

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:32.919
 heaven,

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.419
 we do

00:32:33.419 --> 00:32:34.039
 praise you

00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:34.539
 and thank

00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.500
 you that

00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.359
 you are

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:37.399
 merciful and

00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:38.680
 gracious to

00:32:38.680 --> 00:32:39.060
 us.

00:32:39.840 --> 00:32:40.540
 Even when

00:32:40.540 --> 00:32:40.940
 we live

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.360
 Samson

00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:41.780
 lives,

00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:42.420
 even when

00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:42.820
 we lose

00:32:42.820 --> 00:32:43.340
 the plot,

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.519
 even when

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.100
 we compromise

00:32:45.100 --> 00:32:45.540
 with the

00:32:45.540 --> 00:32:46.120
 world around

00:32:46.120 --> 00:32:46.440
 us,

00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:47.120
 that you

00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:48.280
 don't give

00:32:48.280 --> 00:32:48.500
 up.

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.300
 We ask

00:32:49.300 --> 00:32:49.500
 that you

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:49.960
 would remind

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.259
 us of

00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:50.640
 that truth

00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:51.040
 again,

00:32:51.860 --> 00:32:52.120
 that you

00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:52.540
 would drive

00:32:52.540 --> 00:32:52.900
 it deep

00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.259
 into our

00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.540
 hearts,

00:32:53.620 --> 00:32:53.800
 that it

00:32:53.800 --> 00:32:54.519
 would change

00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:56.060
 our lives,

00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:57.320
 our minds,

00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:58.860
 our affections.

00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.280
 We ask

00:32:59.280 --> 00:32:59.820
 these things

00:32:59.820 --> 00:33:00.200
 in Jesus'

00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:00.580
 name.

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.259
 Amen.

00:33:02.800 --> 00:33:03.460
 I invite

00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:03.700
 you to

00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:04.160
 stand for

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.259
 our