WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.620 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:00:06.219 --> 00:00:08.839 And it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:12.359 A special welcome to those of you who are visiting. 00:00:12.620 --> 00:00:13.480 We're glad that you're here. 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:17.339 And we're glad that you're here not because we are trying to fill seats, 00:00:18.080 --> 00:00:21.039 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:26.420 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good. 00:00:26.420 --> 00:00:30.260 They don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:35.420 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has for us in His Word. 00:00:36.420 --> 00:00:39.380 We're continuing our series in the book of Judges, 00:00:39.420 --> 00:00:42.740 and you'll remember that the book of Judges is about a number of things. 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:47.780 It's about the need for constant renewal and revival among God's people. 00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:51.820 It's about the need for a true and faithful king, 00:00:51.820 --> 00:00:56.200 a king who can do what no human can do, which is to change. 00:00:56.420 --> 00:00:57.300 The hearts of men. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:01.300 It's about the power of spirit-filled leadership. 00:01:02.400 --> 00:01:08.260 And it's about God's mercy to hard-hearted people, people like you and me. 00:01:09.180 --> 00:01:12.579 This morning, we are beginning the Jethwa story. 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:16.700 We're going to spend the next three weeks looking at this particular judge. 00:01:16.780 --> 00:01:18.359 And if you're familiar with the story, 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:24.299 you know that this is one of the most challenging passages in all of Scripture to interpret, 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:26.859 and even more than that, to understand. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:32.079 And in fact, it is the most shocking story that we have seen so far in Judges. 00:01:32.219 --> 00:01:35.120 I won't say it's the most shocking story in Judges. 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:37.980 That's going to be reserved for very late in the book. 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:41.320 But it is, in fact, the most shocking we've seen so far. 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:48.719 And we find here a lesson, a warning of the danger of living in a pagan culture 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:51.680 and playing with pagan idols. 00:01:51.900 --> 00:01:55.800 A warning of what we saw Israel doing in our passage last week 00:01:55.800 --> 00:01:58.040 as we finish Judges chapter 10. 00:01:59.340 --> 00:02:03.540 And so with that, I invite you to turn with me to Judges chapter 11. 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:05.940 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:02:06.180 --> 00:02:07.200 You can turn on your phone. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:08.939 You can turn in your Bible. 00:02:09.640 --> 00:02:12.260 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:16.000 And God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, 00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:17.280 even the finest gold. 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:19.240 And it's sweeter than honey, 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:22.000 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:26.719 And so that's why we read now Judges chapter 11, starting at verse 1. 00:02:28.020 --> 00:02:30.700 Now Jethwa the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, 00:02:30.699 --> 00:02:33.679 but he was the son of a prostitute. 00:02:34.659 --> 00:02:36.379 Gilead was the father of Jethwa, 00:02:36.959 --> 00:02:39.679 and Gilead's wife also bore him sons. 00:02:40.819 --> 00:02:42.699 And when his wife's sons grew up, 00:02:42.799 --> 00:02:45.000 they drove Jethwa out and said to him, 00:02:45.399 --> 00:02:48.219 You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, 00:02:48.620 --> 00:02:50.959 for you are the son of another woman. 00:02:51.939 --> 00:02:55.319 Then Jethwa fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, 00:02:55.959 --> 00:02:59.859 and worthless fellows collected around Jethwa and went out with him. 00:02:59.860 --> 00:03:01.220 Verse 4. 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:05.120 After a time, the Ammonites made war against Israel. 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:08.180 And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, 00:03:08.379 --> 00:03:12.079 the elders of Gilead went to bring Jethwa from the land of Tob. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:14.419 And they said to Jethwa, 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:18.539 Come and be our leader, that we may fight against the Ammonites. 00:03:19.620 --> 00:03:21.800 But Jethwa said to the elders of Gilead, 00:03:22.180 --> 00:03:25.860 Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house? 00:03:26.460 --> 00:03:28.919 Why have you come to me now when you are in distress? 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:32.339 And the elders of Gilead said to Jethwa, 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:35.219 That is why we have turned to you now, 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:38.759 that you may go with us and fight against the Ammonites 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:41.839 and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. 00:03:42.839 --> 00:03:44.659 Jethwa said to the elders of Gilead, 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:48.339 If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites 00:03:48.339 --> 00:03:50.179 and the Lord gives them over to me, 00:03:50.819 --> 00:03:52.179 I will be your head. 00:03:52.839 --> 00:03:55.199 And the elders of Gilead said to Jethwa, 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:59.459 The Lord will be witness between us if we do not do as you say. 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:02.879 So Jethwa went with the elders of Gilead, 00:04:03.079 --> 00:04:06.139 and the people made him head and leader over them. 00:04:07.079 --> 00:04:10.799 And Jethwa spoke all his words before the Lord at Mizpah. 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:12.740 Verse 12, 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:16.900 Then Jethwa sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:21.360 What do you have against me that you have come to me to fight against my land? 00:04:21.980 --> 00:04:25.240 And the king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jethwa, 00:04:25.939 --> 00:04:29.560 Because Israel on coming up from Egypt took away my land 00:04:29.560 --> 00:04:31.759 from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:34.900 Now therefore restore it peaceably. 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:40.000 Jethwa again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said to him, 00:04:40.939 --> 00:04:42.139 Thus says Jethwa, 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:46.799 Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites. 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:49.120 But when they came up from Egypt, 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:52.919 Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh. 00:04:53.979 --> 00:04:56.859 Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom saying, 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:59.019 Please let us pass through your land. 00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:01.339 But the king of Edom would not listen. 00:05:01.339 --> 00:05:05.639 And they sent also to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. 00:05:06.479 --> 00:05:08.659 So Israel remained at Kadesh. 00:05:09.579 --> 00:05:10.319 Verse 18, 00:05:11.159 --> 00:05:15.120 Then they journeyed through the wilderness and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:17.699 and arrived on the east side of the land of Moab 00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:20.259 and camped on the other side of the Arnon. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.539 But they did not enter the territory of Moab, 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:25.979 for the Arnon was not the boundary of Moab. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:31.079 Israel then sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Ammonites, king of Heshbon, 00:05:31.339 --> 00:05:32.919 and Israel said to him, 00:05:33.139 --> 00:05:35.779 Please let us pass through your land to our country. 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:39.899 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:45.279 So Sihon gathered all his people together and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel. 00:05:46.219 --> 00:05:47.139 Verse 21, 00:05:47.799 --> 00:05:52.599 And the Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:53.759 and they defeated them. 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:59.299 So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who inhabited that country. 00:05:59.300 --> 00:06:04.540 And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok 00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:06.340 and from the wilderness to the Jordan. 00:06:07.660 --> 00:06:12.840 So then the Lord, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:16.220 And are you to take possession of them? 00:06:16.960 --> 00:06:20.480 Will you not possess what Chemosh, your God, gave you to possess? 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:25.800 And all that the Lord our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess. 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:27.639 Verse 25, 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:32.899 Now are you any better than Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab? 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:37.539 Did he ever contend against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them? 00:06:38.459 --> 00:06:42.439 While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aror and its villages, 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:45.459 and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:47.300 300 years, 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:51.120 why did you not deliver them within that time? 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:57.180 I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making war on me. 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:03.399 The Lord, the judge, decide this day between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon. 00:07:04.220 --> 00:07:08.819 But the king of the Ammonites did not listen to the words of Jethpah that he sent to him. 00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:11.180 Verse 29, 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:16.459 And the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jethpah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:18.319 and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead. 00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:21.819 And from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites. 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:25.100 And Jethpah made a vow to the Lord and said, 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:27.860 If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:33.680 then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:37.420 shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. 00:07:37.420 --> 00:07:41.840 So Jethpah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, 00:07:41.980 --> 00:07:43.759 and the Lord gave them into his hand. 00:07:44.540 --> 00:07:48.360 And he struck them from Aror to the neighborhood of Mineth, twenty cities, 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:51.480 and as far as Abel-Kiramam with a great blow. 00:07:52.400 --> 00:07:56.540 So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel. 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:01.939 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:06.439 Our Father in heaven, we praise you and thank you again. 00:08:07.420 --> 00:08:13.240 And that you remind us not only of what's encouraging, but what's discouraging. 00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:15.060 You tell us the truth. 00:08:15.140 --> 00:08:16.600 You tell us what's good and what's hard. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:21.300 We ask that you would help us this morning as we look at this challenging passage, 00:08:21.780 --> 00:08:24.720 that you would speak clearly through your Word, 00:08:25.460 --> 00:08:27.759 that most of all we would see your grace, 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:30.660 and we would see our Lord Jesus in his beauty, 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:33.000 in his glory, and his mercy. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:36.899 We ask all these things in his mighty name. Amen. 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:47.000 If you were to rank the greatest rappers of all time, 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:49.759 which I'm sure many of you do regularly, 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:57.320 Tupac Shakur would be one of, if not the best, of all time. 00:08:57.320 --> 00:09:02.520 He's known for his tragic death at age 25 in 1996. 00:09:03.340 --> 00:09:05.320 And he had a hard early life. 00:09:05.400 --> 00:09:08.740 He was raised by a single mom with an addiction to crack cocaine. 00:09:09.400 --> 00:09:12.040 And so he's known for these famous words. 00:09:12.160 --> 00:09:12.460 He says, 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:26.400 Which is Tupac's way of saying that there are unfortunate circumstances that do really shape us. 00:09:26.780 --> 00:09:30.360 And we might say the same thing about Jethro here in this passage. 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:33.280 He didn't choose the outlaw life. 00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:36.840 The outlaw life chose him. 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:42.899 The first thing we find out in verse 1 is that he is a mighty warrior. 00:09:43.060 --> 00:09:46.060 This is going to prove important in this story. 00:09:46.560 --> 00:09:48.460 But he's not just a mighty warrior. 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:53.160 The other important thing we need to know is that he is the son of a prostitute. 00:09:53.820 --> 00:09:58.519 That helps us understand what happens next in verse 2 when he becomes an outcast. 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:01.680 He's not without resources, though. 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:09.459 We find out in verse 3 that Jethro has enough charisma and power to attract a group around him, 00:10:09.459 --> 00:10:12.899 even if this group is made up of worthless men. 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:20.459 In fact, we can combine verses 1 and 3 to see that Jethro is what we would call an alpha male. 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:22.839 Jethro knows how to fight. 00:10:23.239 --> 00:10:24.859 He's clearly a leader. 00:10:25.019 --> 00:10:27.199 He has this charisma and this power. 00:10:27.339 --> 00:10:29.699 He has his own gang, his own crew. 00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:37.080 If Jethro were to drive up 115 and walk into Vasa this afternoon to get in his workout, 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:39.160 heads would turn. 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:42.200 Okay, Jethro is a leader. 00:10:42.700 --> 00:10:43.379 He's a fighter. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:50.240 And yet he has been cast out by his brothers out of their own greed, 00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:54.640 their own desire to have the inheritance of their father for themselves. 00:10:56.140 --> 00:10:57.540 Things change quickly, though. 00:10:57.539 --> 00:11:01.000 Verse 4, the Ammonites come and make war with Israel. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:06.439 You'll remember from last week, chapter 10, verse 7, we were told God had sold Israel 00:11:06.439 --> 00:11:09.579 into the hands of the Ammonites and the Philistines. 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:13.099 And so this is simply that prediction coming true. 00:11:13.599 --> 00:11:16.459 The Ammonites are now coming, just as God has said. 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:18.199 He's sold them into their hands. 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:21.599 Jethro is going to deliver them from the Ammonites. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:26.980 And then later, we're going to come to Samson, who will deliver them from the Philistines. 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:34.259 They perhaps begin to regret their decision to cast out Jethro because now what they actually 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:36.159 need is a strong man. 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:41.820 And so in verses 5 and 6, the elders of Gilead, they go down to the land of Tob because they 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:43.159 want to retrieve Jethro. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:45.940 They don't want to simply just retrieve him. 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:51.300 They also make him this offer, you can be our number one leader. 00:11:53.160 --> 00:11:58.880 They have this funny exchange in verses 7 through 8 where Jethro says, basically, why 00:11:58.880 --> 00:12:01.400 are you coming to me now that you're in distress? 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:09.160 And their answer is, yes, we're coming to you now because we are in distress. 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:13.839 We didn't need you then, we need you now. 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:20.899 The need is great, and what would be really good is if we had a mighty warrior. 00:12:22.319 --> 00:12:28.819 And so Jethro is presented with this opportunity, verses 8 through 10, to go from an outcast to 00:12:28.819 --> 00:12:31.980 be the head of all Gilead. 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:42.340 And we're told all of this to underscore and underline one thing, hard times call for hard 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:42.860 men. 00:12:44.420 --> 00:12:49.720 And Jethro is nothing if not a hard man. 00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:57.019 Jethro is exactly who they want in this moment. 00:12:57.019 --> 00:13:03.419 At the leader that he is, Jethro immediately jumps into action and he starts negotiating 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:07.460 with the Ammonites who have come to come against Israel. 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:12.840 And he has this long land dispute in verses 12 through 28. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:17.139 We're not going to go into all the details of that land dispute because ultimately they 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:22.659 don't help us understand the main thrust of this passage, except that they help us see 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:24.519 that Jethro is a great negotiator. 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:32.699 He is not just good in strength, he's good with his words, which will turn to be his downfall. 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:40.600 The main thing we need to know from the negotiation is that it fails, and so it is time for Israel 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:42.240 to go to battle. 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:49.199 Verse 28, the king of the Ammonites did not listen to the words of Jethro that he sent to 00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:49.480 him. 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:53.259 And so, so far everything is going great. 00:13:53.259 --> 00:13:59.480 Jethro has had this sort of background to prepare him for this moment in the history 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:00.319 of God's people. 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:07.439 Verse 29, the spirit of God comes upon Jethro, which is a fulfillment of the promise from 00:14:07.439 --> 00:14:08.559 Judges chapter 2. 00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:14.100 Remember God says, chapter 2, verse 18, that when he chooses a judge, his spirit is going 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:14.819 to be upon them. 00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:21.000 And so we should see only positive things at this moment as God is using the right man 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:24.840 at the right time to come and rescue and deliver his people. 00:14:27.420 --> 00:14:33.820 Until we get hit with verses 30 and 31. 00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:42.360 Everything is great for Jethro until he opens his mouth. 00:14:44.280 --> 00:14:48.420 Jethro makes what he's most famous for, which is his fateful vow. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:51.920 And it's not clear at this point in the story. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:55.040 We're going to have to wait till next week to see how it all unfolds. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:59.779 But essentially, Jethro vows a human sacrifice. 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:02.279 Hey, I'm going into battle. 00:15:03.179 --> 00:15:04.719 What do I need to make sure? 00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:06.579 What do I need to secure and guarantee? 00:15:07.339 --> 00:15:10.679 Well, I need to secure and guarantee victory in God's favor. 00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:12.519 How am I going to do it? 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:15.860 Well, I'm going to offer him the most valuable thing I can offer. 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:21.340 I would be willing to sacrifice another person for God. 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:27.800 There have been various attempts by commentators to explain this passage away. 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:32.600 You know, maybe Jethro intended it to be an animal that was coming out. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:38.100 Maybe Jethro was vowing he thought his favorite dog, you know, Fido, was going to run out to 00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.519 him to greet him on his way out. 00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:44.620 The problem, of course, is that's a very modern way of thinking about animals. 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:46.299 The other problem is this. 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:48.500 Verse 31 tells us what he vows. 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:53.500 Then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me. 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:55.980 This is person language here. 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:57.320 This is human language. 00:15:57.960 --> 00:16:03.080 Who comes out of the doors of a house to meet someone victorious in battle? 00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:06.919 Well, you're not keeping your sacrificial animals in your house. 00:16:07.940 --> 00:16:13.740 No, it's going to be the women who have stayed behind while you went out to battle. 00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:21.659 It is people, not animals, that come out of the house to greet the victorious warrior. 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:24.740 Verse 31 also, we can't get around this. 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:28.440 He says, I will offer it up for a burnt offering. 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.460 This is, again, sacrifice language. 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:36.720 Jethro is thinking to himself, okay, how am I going to make this happen? 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:39.820 How are we going to have the victory that we need? 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:43.260 How will I end up being head over all Gilead? 00:16:44.040 --> 00:16:46.940 I know I'll seal the deal. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:52.560 I will make God an offer he cannot refuse. 00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:56.220 Of course, the problem is this. 00:16:57.660 --> 00:16:59.040 Deuteronomy chapter 12. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:04.500 God says, do not be like the other nations. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:11.019 Don't do the things that are an abomination like human sacrifice. 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:16.879 This is the practice of the nations around you. 00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:19.980 It is not your practice. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.659 This is what the pagan people do. 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:27.559 It is not what my people do. 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:32.319 And so there's a shock for us here as readers. 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.980 What is going on here? 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:40.059 Wasn't it just last week, right, that God's people had truly repented and turned back? 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:46.680 Remember, we were told they put aside the foreign gods and they worship the true God. 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:49.759 Shouldn't everything be good now then? 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:54.700 If they've truly repented, if they have made a heart change, if they've turned back, 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:59.160 why is Jephthah suddenly making this move? 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:06.599 Well, in one sense, yes, they have turned back to the true God. 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:12.359 Jephthah does not offer a human sacrifice to the Baals and the Ashtaroth. 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:14.979 He doesn't offer it to the pagan gods. 00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:20.000 No, he's putting this great offer for Yahweh, the one true God. 00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:22.919 So what's the problem? 00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:26.119 The problem is this. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:36.339 Jephthah relates to the one true God as if he was a pagan God. 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:44.679 Jephthah relates to the one true God as if he was one of the pagan gods. 00:18:46.679 --> 00:18:48.480 And so the point is this. 00:18:50.500 --> 00:19:00.240 Eighteen years of worshiping pagan gods cannot be undone in one day. 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:13.079 Eighteen years of serving the nations around them has deeply affected the patterns, 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:17.240 the mindset, and the lifestyle of God's people. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:24.640 Yes, they are worshiping God and they are thinking like pagans. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:29.040 Yes, they have turned back. 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:36.200 And the residue of their former life is still on them. 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:44.980 Their hands are still sticky from worshiping the gods of the other nations. 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:53.259 The beliefs and the behaviors and the values of the world around them are pushing in on them. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:20:00.200 The way the world acts is the way they copy. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:06.340 And so in the midst of this attempt of spiritual renewal, 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:10.620 as they are trying to return to Yahweh, the true God, 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:16.920 we cannot miss this complex of deep evil and corruption within Israel. 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:20.320 What is it that's happening in verse one, 00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:25.400 except that Gilead, presumably a leader here, is having a child by a prostitute. 00:20:25.800 --> 00:20:30.980 His sons then proceed to cast out their brother on basis of pure greed. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:37.080 Verses five through 11, the people of Gilead treat Jephthah just like they treated God. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:41.600 We're only interested in you when we need you. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:46.399 And now this, the cherry on top, 00:20:47.179 --> 00:20:52.619 Jephthah thinks it's a good idea to offer a human sacrifice. 00:20:52.619 --> 00:21:04.559 And so the warning for God's people here in the book of Judges is the same warning for us. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:09.839 Yes, we worship the one true and living God. 00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:19.599 And we are still tempted to live out the values of the pagan world around us. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:25.939 Yes, we come on Sunday and sing God's praises. 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:34.599 And Monday through Saturday, the world is calling us to live by its values. 00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:41.039 We know that following Jesus means taking up our cross and following him. 00:21:41.219 --> 00:21:47.959 And then we turn around and live our lives as if they are primarily about pleasure and comfort. 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:53.500 Yes, God tells us that it's his glory that matters. 00:21:53.700 --> 00:22:03.120 And yet, we still hunger and work for fame and recognition and power and the thanks and praise of men. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:10.899 Yes, we come on Sunday and worship the God of generosity. 00:22:12.679 --> 00:22:19.459 And then we have the same thirst and greed for wealth as the world around us. 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:29.360 God tells us that our sexuality is something that's expressed between one man and one woman who are married to each other. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:36.799 And then we turn around and we use our sexuality in all other different ways outside of that. 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:46.639 We worship the God who tells us that people who stir up division in a community are an abomination. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:56.300 And we still choose the world's tactics of gossip and innuendo and lies. 00:22:58.300 --> 00:23:06.220 Judges reminds us of the need for constant renewal and revival among God's people. 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:16.680 Judges warns us that the values of the world are constantly pressing in on us. 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:25.759 That as we come back week after week to remind ourselves of what's true, 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:30.519 we're also constantly being told what's false. 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:38.700 We live in a constant battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil. 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:44.440 And so you'll see this in the back of your worship guide from Kurt Thompson. 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:50.299 We can imagine that once we are introduced to Jesus, he has us, and that's that. 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:58.639 We forget that evil has no intention of permitting us to follow Jesus undisturbed. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:04.520 And even though God is not at war with us, evil is. 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:15.320 Jethro is still deep in the battle with evil. 00:24:16.340 --> 00:24:21.160 He's still affected more than he realizes by the ways of the world around him. 00:24:21.800 --> 00:24:27.240 He still thinks that God is just another pagan deity. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:35.400 And so that's why he heads towards human sacrifice in this passage. 00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:37.900 That's what the pagan gods want. 00:24:39.520 --> 00:24:41.380 That's what the one true God must want. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:44.360 That's what works with the pagan gods. 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.800 That's how you get victory from them. 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:47.660 That's what must work with Yahweh. 00:24:47.780 --> 00:24:51.420 That's what must earn victory from him as well. 00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:56.940 And so he makes the mistake of thinking that God is a God who can be bought off. 00:24:58.259 --> 00:25:00.320 This is on page 9 of your worship guide. 00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:08.140 Jethro was not only infected by pagan moral codes, but also by the pagan works righteousness understanding of God's character. 00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:13.900 Human sacrifice was how you could buy off a pagan god. 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:24.000 And so Jethro has missed the logic and the goodness and the grace of the gospel. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:29.500 In the gospel, the call is not for human sacrifice. 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:37.859 The call is not that we would do enough that we could impress God, that somehow we could earn something from him. 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:42.099 No, the gospel provides human sacrifice. 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:53.039 The gospel comes and tells us that God gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will have eternal life. 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:59.939 God is the one who makes the payment for his people, not vice versa. 00:26:01.159 --> 00:26:04.459 When we pray to God, often you'll hear me say in a service, 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:07.639 Hey, we can't earn anything from you or deserve anything. 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:10.139 And so we simply ask this in Jesus' name. 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:12.280 And we say that because it's true. 00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:15.620 We have earned nothing from God. 00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:18.460 We can buy nothing from him. 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:24.259 God does not ask Jethro to purchase his victory. 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:26.100 He's already given it. 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:32.020 God does not come for us asking for us to atone for our sins. 00:26:32.520 --> 00:26:34.920 He atones for them. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:39.040 Jethro has forgotten. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:41.720 God's great grace. 00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:46.019 And that's the same grace we saw last week. 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:49.000 Remember, God's people turn away from their sins. 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.259 And what does it say? 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:55.839 It doesn't say God then had compassion on them as a result of their repentance. 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:57.720 No, it says, 00:26:57.720 --> 00:27:03.899 He became impatient over the misery of Israel. 00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:11.059 God had compassion on his people because he had compassion on his people. 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:18.819 God remains faithful not because Jethro earned something or bought him off. 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:25.419 God remained faithful because of God's promise and character. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:30.079 God remained faithful because of his steadfast love. 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.079 God's grace. 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.460 God's grace. 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:40.500 The steadfast love that the Jesus Storybook Bible calls his never-stopping, never-giving-up, unbreaking, always-and-forever love. 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.500 God's grace. 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.500 God's grace. 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:48.140 And so we see in this passage that very same grace. 00:27:48.140 --> 00:27:48.740 God's grace. 00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:56.620 Before Jethro makes this vow in verse 30, we've already seen it, verse 29, 00:27:56.619 --> 00:28:02.779 Then the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jethro, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh. 00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:07.279 The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jethro. 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:13.599 God had already given Jethro everything he needed for victory. 00:28:15.239 --> 00:28:23.019 God in his mercy and grace had already provided the strength and power that Jethro needed. 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:25.739 And then what do we see a few verses later? 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:28.119 Verse 33, 00:28:28.939 --> 00:28:46.519 In the midst of Jethro's misguided and sinful vow, 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:52.339 despite the deep evil and wickedness of his people, 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:55.859 God is faithful again. 00:28:56.619 --> 00:29:03.799 Despite Jethro's foolishness, God shows up again. 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:14.319 As things get worse in the book of Judges, and they will, God will show up again. 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:21.019 Christian, that is your hope as well. 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:29.960 As the church struggles forward, stumbling as we follow our Lord Jesus, 00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:33.920 God's grace remains. 00:29:36.140 --> 00:29:40.480 God continues to be faithful to his people. 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:47.100 In fact, Scott already read it for us this morning in our New Testament reading on page 3, 00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:50.440 verse 13 of 2 Timothy 2. 00:29:50.440 --> 00:30:01.580 Let's pray. 00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:08.559 Our Father in heaven, we praise you that you are faithful and we are not. 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:14.879 Oh, we thank you that you stick with us, your people, even though we don't deserve it. 00:30:15.419 --> 00:30:20.539 We thank you most of all for your provision in Christ, your son and our Savior, 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:25.119 who is the sacrifice that earns everything for us. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:35.179 We don't come to you with bribes or better behavior, ways to impress you or to put you in our debt. 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:37.799 We know that we can't, we haven't, and we won't. 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:42.439 Instead, we hope and hope alone in your son, our Lord Jesus. 00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:44.179 We ask these things in his name. 00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:44.799 Amen. 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:44.959 Amen. 00:30:44.959 --> 00:30:45.019 Amen. 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:45.059 Amen. 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.079 Amen. 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.119 Amen. 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.139 Amen. 00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:45.159 Amen. 00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:45.179 Amen. 00:30:45.179 --> 00:30:45.219 Amen. 00:30:45.219 --> 00:30:47.179 Amen. 00:30:47.179 --> 00:30:47.219 Amen. 00:30:47.219 --> 00:30:49.179 Amen. 00:30:49.179 --> 00:30:49.219 Amen. 00:30:49.219 --> 00:30:49.259 Amen. 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:51.179 Amen. 00:30:51.179 --> 00:30:51.259 Amen. 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:53.259 Amen.