WEBVTT

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 Please do have a seat and grab your Bibles.

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 And please turn to the book of Judges.

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 Let me pray and then we'll have a look at this together.

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 Father God, as we come now to your word,

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 Father, our prayer is that you would speak,

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 that we would hear,

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 that you would be glorified,

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 that we would be changed.

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 And Father, we would go out from here

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 with you in our sights.

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 And you as our goal as we transition from 2015 into 2016.

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 Father, teach us great things.

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 From this great book of your great word we pray.

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 In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 If you came in, you should have got a little A5 sheet

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 that looks like that.

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 That'll just help you keep track on where we're going.

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 If perhaps you're a youngster, you could have fun.

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 I'm trying to fill in the words as we go through.

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 But I wonder, how would you view,

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 how would you describe your 2015?

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 How would you describe your 2015?

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 Perhaps it was a year of blessing,

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 where you had success and abundant provision.

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 Perhaps you were given and took opportunity.

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 Perhaps 2015 for you was a year of blessing.

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 But perhaps 2015 was a year of struggle,

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 a year of illness,

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 a year of bereavement,

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 a year of stress,

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 where you were asked to do even more

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 with even less than you'd done before.

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 Perhaps it was a year of newness.

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 Perhaps you became parents for the first time,

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 the second time, the third time.

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 I think we only had third time.

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 I don't think we had a fourth time.

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 Perhaps she became grandparents again,

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 or for the first time.

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 Perhaps she got married in 2015.

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 Perhaps there was a new job,

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 perhaps a new relationship,

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 perhaps new life,

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 given through faith in the Lord Jesus.

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 But perhaps 2015 was just another year.

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 Same old, same old,

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 just another diary consigned

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 to the waste paper basket of life.

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 No particular highlights

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 and nothing to write home about.

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 And so as we leave 2015 behind

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 and go into 2016,

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 what do you think about 2016?

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 Perhaps it's a fresh start,

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 a new hope.

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 Perhaps you're hoping for more of the same.

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 Perhaps you're hoping for none of the same

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 that 2015 held.

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 Perhaps it's a year of potential,

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 a chance to change.

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 A year where you get serious in your Bible reading

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 or your resolutions will last,

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 at least until the second week of January,

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 if not beyond.

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 I think 2016 is incredibly hope-filled.

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 I think as a church,

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 2016 has tremendous potential

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 to be a landmark year

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 in the life of our church,

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 to be perhaps the best year

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 so far in the life

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 of Brunsfield Evangelical Church.

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 And my thinking for that

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 is not because of anything

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 we can do or I can do,

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 but all that God

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 is able and willing to do

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 amongst us.

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 And so I think at a juncture

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 such as this,

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 as we transition from

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 one period into another,

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 I think the book of Judges

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 has wonderful things

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 to challenge us about,

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 to teach us,

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 things that we can learn

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 even by the bad example

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 of the Israelites

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 in this book.

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 It's a dramatic book.

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 We all love Judges

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 at Sunday school.

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 We met people like

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 the Incredible Hulk of the Bible,

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 Samson,

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 who would rip a lion

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 in half with his bare hands.

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 It's a book of heroes

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 and villains,

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 of cycles and spirals,

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 of violence and scandal,

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 of intrigue and incident.

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 And I hope God

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 might use this book

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 and our time,

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 our short time in it

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 this morning,

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 to launch us

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 in dependence upon him

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 into 2016.

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 Judges is 21 chapters,

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 618 verses,

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 just under 20,000 words,

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 three-ish centuries

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 from Joshua

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 to Samuel

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 with 12 judges

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 as the central characters.

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 And we're going to do it

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 in about 20 minutes max.

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 In all truth,

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 Judges should be

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 a very short book.

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 God has rescued

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 his people from Egypt,

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 he's given them

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 the law at Sinai,

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 he's forgiven their rebellion

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 at Kadesh Barnea,

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 he's been patient

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 through the wilderness,

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 he's been powerful

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 in conquering the land,

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 and now they're settled in.

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 And so you'd expect

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 Judges to just be

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 seven words,

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 and they all lived

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 happily ever after.

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 That's what you'd think.

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 They've got there,

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 God promised them

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 many people,

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 a land of their own,

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 and they're there.

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 We even finished

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 Joshua on a really

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 high note,

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 that Joshua

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 renews the covenant

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 at Shechem,

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 and everyone declares

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 the Lord our God

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 we will serve,

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 and his voice

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 we will obey.

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 Wouldn't that be

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 a great declaration

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 that we would make?

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 As we go into 2016,

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 the Lord our God

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 we will serve,

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 and his voice

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 we will obey.

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 God has delivered

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 on three out of four

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 of his promises.

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 He's given them

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 the land,

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 he's been their God,

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 they've got many

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 descendants,

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 and we're going to see

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 whether this people

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 are going to be

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 a blessing

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 to the whole world.

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 But what we see

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 in Judges

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 is that God's people

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 are still a rabble

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 of sinful,

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 faithless,

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 fickle rebels,

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 who have only

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 gotten this far

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 by God's grace

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 and mercy.

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 It's all been

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 because God

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 has been so kind,

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 even though they

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 have been so wicked.

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 So I've got four

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 sentences to try

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 and get us

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 into the book

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 of Judges

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 that might be

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 helpful to us.

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 Here's the first one.

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 People respond to God's

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 great blessing

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 by gravely sinning

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 against him.

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 People respond to

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 God's great blessing

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 with grave sinning.

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 Chapter 1, verse 1,

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 there's a leadership

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 crisis.

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 Joshua is dead,

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 and so they come

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 before the Lord

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 and they say,

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 who of us is to go

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 up first to fight

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 against the Canaanites?

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 Joshua's dead,

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 he's been their leader.

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 He's led them

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 in all their campaigns,

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 he's been at the

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 front of the charge

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 when they've gone up

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 against Jericho

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 and Ai

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 and all these other

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 places.

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 Now he's dead,

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 who's going to lead us?

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 Judah is chosen,

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 God says,

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 Judah shall go up.

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 And the first 18 verses

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 go really well,

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 it's business as usual.

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 Israel fights,

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 God is with them,

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 and they win.

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 They start clearing out

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 the Canaanites,

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 the Perizzites,

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 great victories are gained,

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 the land is starting

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 to be conquered,

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 things are going

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 really well.

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 The great successors

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 of Joshua seem to be

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 spilling over

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 into judges.

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 But it all comes down

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 to earth with a bang

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 in verse 19.

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 Chapter 1, verse 19,

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 the Lord was with

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 the men of Judah.

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 They took possession

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 of the hill country,

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 but they were unable

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 to drive the people

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 from the plains

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 because they had

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 chariots fitted

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 with iron.

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 God had said,

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 your job is to not

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 only be in the

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 promised land,

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 but to conquer

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 the promised land,

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 to get rid of

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 all the Canaanites

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 and the peoples.

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 And in verse 19,

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 we get,

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 but Judah

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 didn't do it all.

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 They didn't drive

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 the people out

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 of the plains.

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 And in 121,

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 we read,

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 but Benjamin

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 didn't get rid

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 of the Jebusites.

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 And then in 127,

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 Manasseh

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 did not

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 drive out

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 the people of

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 Beth,

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 Shan,

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 or Tarnak.

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 Israel didn't

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 in 128.

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 Ephraim didn't

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 in 129.

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 Zebulun didn't

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 in 130.

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 Asher didn't

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 in 131.

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 Naphtali

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 didn't in

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 133.

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 They had one

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 job.

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 They left

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 Joshua,

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 the Lord we

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 will serve,

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 and his voice

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 we will obey.

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 What did he tell

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 them to do?

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 He said,

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 you need to get

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 rid of all these

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 people because

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 they'll infect you

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 and they'll lead

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 you away.

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 And we read

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 that God has

00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:54.559
 greatly blessed

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 them.

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 He's given

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 them this land

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 and what have

00:08:57.179 --> 00:08:57.419
 they done?

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 They've gravely

00:08:58.019 --> 00:08:58.620
 sinned against

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 him by only

00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:00.580
 partially doing

00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:00.940
 what he's

00:09:00.940 --> 00:09:01.179
 called.

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 We did

00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:03.899
 most of it

00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:04.419
 but we

00:09:04.419 --> 00:09:04.860
 didn't do

00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:05.379
 this bit.

00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:07.379
 We conquered

00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:08.120
 most of them

00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:08.620
 but we left

00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:09.679
 this little

00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:10.039
 pocket.

00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:10.820
 It's partial

00:09:10.820 --> 00:09:11.480
 obedience.

00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:13.980
 Everyone

00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:15.139
 partially does

00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:15.659
 what God

00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:16.060
 has asked.

00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:16.519
 They did

00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:17.620
 just enough.

00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:19.519
 They conquered

00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:20.139
 just enough

00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:20.740
 land to make

00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:21.000
 it look

00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:21.740
 reasonable but

00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:22.179
 they didn't

00:09:22.179 --> 00:09:22.759
 do it all.

00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:25.200
 Let's face

00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:25.720
 it, we can

00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:26.259
 all be a bit

00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:27.039
 like Israel.

00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:28.759
 We can do

00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:29.379
 just enough,

00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:29.779
 we can

00:09:29.779 --> 00:09:30.639
 partially obey,

00:09:31.319 --> 00:09:31.879
 we can

00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:32.600
 faithfully do

00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:33.019
 the bits

00:09:33.019 --> 00:09:34.519
 that align

00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:35.240
 with our

00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:36.679
 dreams and

00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:37.259
 ambitions

00:09:37.259 --> 00:09:39.659
 but so easily

00:09:39.659 --> 00:09:39.980
 we go,

00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:40.319
 well that's

00:09:40.319 --> 00:09:40.720
 enough.

00:09:42.299 --> 00:09:42.639
 I've done

00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:43.399
 that religious

00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:44.399
 thing enough

00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:44.779
 this week,

00:09:44.819 --> 00:09:45.200
 now I can

00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:45.639
 do what I

00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:46.259
 want to do.

00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:47.559
 Partial,

00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:48.659
 obedient,

00:09:48.980 --> 00:09:49.360
 cheap,

00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:50.439
 comfortable,

00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:51.580
 convenient,

00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:53.080
 congruent.

00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:53.519
 That's what

00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:54.679
 the relationship

00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:55.200
 that Israel

00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:55.860
 has with God

00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:56.220
 will do

00:09:56.220 --> 00:09:56.460
 what you

00:09:56.460 --> 00:09:56.980
 want if

00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:57.300
 it doesn't

00:09:57.300 --> 00:09:58.060
 cost us,

00:09:58.800 --> 00:09:59.139
 if it doesn't

00:09:59.139 --> 00:09:59.480
 make us

00:09:59.480 --> 00:09:59.980
 uncomfortable,

00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:01.620
 if it fits

00:10:01.620 --> 00:10:02.080
 in with our

00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:02.740
 timeline and

00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:03.720
 it is

00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:04.500
 congruent with

00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:04.860
 where we

00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.419
 want to go.

00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:06.879
 And in

00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:07.480
 amongst this

00:10:07.480 --> 00:10:08.360
 partial obedience

00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:09.159
 we get the

00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:10.080
 rose among

00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:10.500
 thorns,

00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:11.120
 the diamond

00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:11.659
 in the rough,

00:10:11.820 --> 00:10:12.399
 Caleb in

00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:12.980
 120.

00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:14.980
 As Moses

00:10:14.980 --> 00:10:15.519
 had promised,

00:10:15.680 --> 00:10:16.180
 Hebron was

00:10:16.180 --> 00:10:16.700
 given to

00:10:16.700 --> 00:10:17.680
 Caleb who

00:10:17.680 --> 00:10:18.279
 drove from

00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:18.580
 it the

00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:19.139
 three sons

00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:19.920
 of Anak.

00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.279
 Caleb is

00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.519
 held up as

00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:23.080
 this person

00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:23.759
 who worshipped

00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:25.399
 God wholeheartedly.

00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:26.879
 And in

00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:27.539
 amongst this

00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:28.800
 partial obedience

00:10:28.800 --> 00:10:29.759
 of all God's

00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:30.320
 people there's

00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:31.019
 one man

00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:32.600
 who is

00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:33.279
 flourishing

00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:34.759
 and successful

00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:35.580
 and forever

00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:36.139
 written in

00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:36.899
 God's word

00:10:36.899 --> 00:10:38.120
 because he

00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:39.200
 wholeheartedly

00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:39.779
 did all that

00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:40.419
 God wanted him

00:10:40.419 --> 00:10:40.879
 to do.

00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:43.460
 And so I

00:10:43.460 --> 00:10:44.399
 wonder as we

00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:45.300
 transition into

00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:46.320
 2016 we've got

00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:46.860
 a choice.

00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:47.700
 We can be like

00:10:47.700 --> 00:10:48.399
 the Israelites

00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:50.059
 and partially

00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:50.799
 do what God

00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:51.279
 has called us

00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:51.759
 to do.

00:10:52.079 --> 00:10:52.539
 Or we

00:10:52.539 --> 00:10:53.100
 can strive

00:10:53.100 --> 00:10:53.679
 to be like

00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:54.299
 Caleb who

00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:55.059
 wholeheartedly

00:10:55.059 --> 00:10:55.720
 obeyed and

00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:56.519
 worshipped God

00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:58.299
 in all things.

00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:00.600
 And there's

00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:01.620
 grave consequences.

00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:04.100
 Chapter 2

00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:04.740
 The angel of

00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:05.379
 the Lord went

00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:06.120
 up from Gilgal

00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:06.840
 to Bochim

00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:07.279
 and said,

00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:08.319
 I brought you

00:11:08.319 --> 00:11:08.840
 up out of

00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:10.539
 Egypt and led

00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:11.159
 you into the

00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:11.720
 land that I

00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:12.419
 swore to give

00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:13.259
 to your ancestors.

00:11:13.939 --> 00:11:14.340
 I said,

00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:14.879
 I will never

00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.639
 break my covenant

00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.579
 with you and

00:11:16.579 --> 00:11:17.220
 you shall not

00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:17.879
 make a covenant

00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:18.480
 with the people

00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:19.080
 of this land

00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:19.700
 but you shall

00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:20.180
 break down

00:11:20.180 --> 00:11:21.019
 their altars.

00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.240
 Yet you have

00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.240
 disobeyed me.

00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:24.460
 Why have you

00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:25.279
 done this?

00:11:25.680 --> 00:11:26.420
 And I have also

00:11:26.420 --> 00:11:27.340
 said I will not

00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:27.920
 drive them out

00:11:27.920 --> 00:11:28.519
 before you.

00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.360
 They will become

00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:31.080
 traps for you

00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:31.899
 and their gods

00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:32.820
 will become snares

00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:33.340
 to you.

00:11:34.040 --> 00:11:34.660
 When the angel

00:11:34.660 --> 00:11:35.160
 of the Lord

00:11:35.160 --> 00:11:35.960
 had spoken these

00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:36.600
 things to all

00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:37.220
 the Israelites

00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:38.120
 the people

00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:38.879
 wept aloud

00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:40.600
 and they called

00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:41.220
 the place

00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:42.480
 Bochim.

00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:43.860
 There they

00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:44.840
 offered sacrifices

00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:45.580
 to the Lord.

00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:47.020
 they didn't

00:11:47.020 --> 00:11:47.740
 realize what

00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.360
 they were doing

00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:49.040
 in their partial

00:11:49.040 --> 00:11:49.800
 obedience and

00:11:49.800 --> 00:11:50.300
 it caused

00:11:50.300 --> 00:11:51.680
 great distress

00:11:51.680 --> 00:11:53.460
 great weeping

00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:56.020
 because they

00:11:56.020 --> 00:11:56.639
 only partially

00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:57.320
 obeyed and

00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:57.580
 they were

00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:58.300
 storing up

00:11:58.300 --> 00:11:59.120
 trouble.

00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:01.040
 And it's

00:12:01.040 --> 00:12:01.700
 just down in

00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:02.280
 chapter 2

00:12:02.280 --> 00:12:02.940
 verse 11

00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:03.540
 that we read

00:12:03.540 --> 00:12:03.840
 then the

00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:04.580
 Israelites did

00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:05.120
 evil in the

00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:05.600
 eyes of the

00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:06.020
 Lord and

00:12:06.020 --> 00:12:06.400
 serve the

00:12:06.400 --> 00:12:06.960
 Baals.

00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:08.800
 They forsook

00:12:08.800 --> 00:12:09.200
 the Lord

00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:09.759
 the God of

00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.520
 their ancestors

00:12:10.520 --> 00:12:11.060
 who had

00:12:11.060 --> 00:12:11.440
 brought them

00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:11.720
 out of

00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:12.140
 Egypt.

00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:13.520
 They followed

00:12:13.520 --> 00:12:14.120
 and worshipped

00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:15.000
 various gods

00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:15.559
 of the people

00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:16.179
 around them.

00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:17.360
 They aroused

00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:18.080
 the Lord's

00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:18.519
 anger.

00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:20.539
 They only did

00:12:20.539 --> 00:12:21.240
 a little bit

00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:22.980
 and it cost

00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:24.379
 them gravely

00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.320
 from their

00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:26.539
 disobedience

00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:27.259
 in chapter 1

00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:27.779
 they never

00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:28.340
 recover

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:30.299
 in the whole

00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:31.059
 book.

00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:33.539
 The Canaanite

00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:34.240
 gods became

00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.000
 a snare to

00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:35.340
 that.

00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:37.019
 Canaanite

00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:37.639
 religion must

00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:37.879
 have been

00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:38.840
 very attractive

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:40.299
 that God

00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:40.639
 had given

00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:41.000
 them his

00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:41.460
 law which

00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:41.720
 was all

00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:42.419
 about holiness

00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:43.439
 and being

00:12:43.439 --> 00:12:44.219
 set apart

00:12:44.219 --> 00:12:44.719
 and living

00:12:44.719 --> 00:12:45.319
 differently

00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:45.779
 from the

00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:46.379
 people around

00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:46.679
 them.

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:47.779
 And the

00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:48.259
 Canaanite

00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:48.879
 religion was

00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:49.639
 basically a

00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:50.699
 fertility cult

00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:51.679
 where you

00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:52.199
 could worship

00:12:52.199 --> 00:12:52.919
 Baal and

00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:53.860
 Asherah.

00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.059
 He could

00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:55.699
 worship him

00:12:55.699 --> 00:12:57.179
 with licentiousness,

00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:59.079
 sexual immorality

00:12:59.079 --> 00:13:00.379
 and the more

00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:01.179
 you engaged

00:13:01.179 --> 00:13:01.860
 the more

00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:02.860
 prosperity that

00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:03.620
 he promised.

00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:05.799
 And his

00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:06.599
 people start,

00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:07.399
 God's people

00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:07.939
 start to be

00:13:07.939 --> 00:13:08.860
 snared by the

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.240
 sin.

00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:11.060
 they start

00:13:11.060 --> 00:13:11.580
 to worship

00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.480
 these gods

00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:14.080
 and it

00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:14.940
 comes back

00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:16.180
 and it

00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:16.720
 bites them

00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.340
 again and

00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:17.940
 again and

00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:19.860
 again to

00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:20.200
 the point

00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:20.539
 that there's

00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:21.340
 great distress.

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:23.320
 Chapter 2

00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:23.899
 verse 15

00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:24.560
 Whenever Israel

00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:25.039
 went out to

00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:25.440
 fight the

00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:25.960
 hand of the

00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:26.279
 Lord was

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:26.759
 against them

00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:27.180
 to defeat

00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:28.019
 them just

00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:28.460
 as he had

00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:28.779
 sworn to

00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:29.019
 them they

00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:29.279
 were in

00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:29.820
 great distress.

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.460
 When we

00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:32.180
 listen to the

00:13:32.180 --> 00:13:32.720
 lies of the

00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:33.120
 world and

00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:33.560
 go after

00:13:33.560 --> 00:13:34.180
 them it's

00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:34.860
 always great

00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:35.200
 distress.

00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:37.200
 The world

00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.240
 offers prosperity

00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:39.200
 and fun.

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:40.639
 The world

00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.539
 offers greatness

00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:43.539
 and glory and

00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:44.060
 yet in the

00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:44.820
 end it always

00:13:44.820 --> 00:13:45.820
 ends in great

00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:46.980
 distress.

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:47.980
 Great temptation

00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:49.000
 as a church

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:50.480
 to partially

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.480
 obey to go

00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.740
 for what is

00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.639
 easy to go

00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:55.120
 for what is

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:55.680
 fun and in

00:13:55.680 --> 00:13:56.299
 the end if it's

00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:57.759
 not the real

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.440
 true God and

00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.440
 obedience to him

00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:01.220
 it always ends

00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:02.860
 in great distress.

00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:03.740
 God had told

00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:05.159
 them in the

00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:05.700
 law when the

00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:06.399
 Lord your God

00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:07.080
 brings you into

00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:07.860
 the land you

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.440
 are entering

00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:09.080
 to possess

00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:09.820
 and drives

00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:10.740
 out before

00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:11.259
 you many

00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:11.840
 nations.

00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:14.100
 And when the

00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:14.840
 Lord your God

00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:15.379
 has delivered

00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.180
 them over to

00:14:16.180 --> 00:14:17.000
 you and you

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:17.519
 have defeated

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:18.039
 them then you

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:18.700
 must destroy

00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:19.320
 them totally

00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:20.200
 make no treaty

00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:21.259
 with them and

00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.879
 show them no

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.800
 mercy do not

00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:23.600
 intermarry with

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.500
 them do not

00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:24.840
 give your

00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:25.460
 daughters to

00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:26.180
 their sons to

00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:26.720
 take their

00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:27.300
 daughters for

00:14:27.300 --> 00:14:28.659
 your sons for

00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:29.240
 they will turn

00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:30.019
 your children away

00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:30.820
 from following me

00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:31.580
 and serve other

00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:33.000
 gods and the

00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:33.820
 Lord's anger will

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:34.639
 burn against you

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.379
 and will quickly

00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:36.200
 destroy you.

00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:37.640
 that is what

00:14:37.640 --> 00:14:38.280
 you are to do

00:14:38.280 --> 00:14:38.900
 to them break

00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:39.300
 down their

00:14:39.300 --> 00:14:40.040
 altars smash

00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:40.600
 their sacred

00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.300
 stones cut

00:14:41.300 --> 00:14:41.759
 down their

00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.540
 asherah poles

00:14:42.540 --> 00:14:43.440
 and burn

00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:43.980
 their idols

00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:44.640
 in the fire

00:14:44.640 --> 00:14:45.460
 for you are

00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:46.600
 a people holy

00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.160
 to the Lord

00:14:47.160 --> 00:14:47.680
 your God.

00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.160
 The Lord your

00:14:49.160 --> 00:14:49.759
 God has chosen

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:50.440
 you out of all

00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:51.120
 the peoples on

00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.740
 the face of the

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.259
 earth to be

00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.379
 his people his

00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.680
 treasure possession

00:14:54.680 --> 00:14:56.700
 and they fail.

00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.879
 Even Joshua gives

00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.520
 them a final

00:14:59.520 --> 00:15:00.360
 pep talk.

00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:02.720
 Be very strong

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.680
 be very careful

00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:04.639
 to obey all

00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:05.220
 that is written

00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:05.659
 in the book

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.139
 of the law

00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:06.700
 of Moses

00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:08.139
 without turning

00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:08.820
 aside to the

00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:09.279
 right or to

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:09.680
 the left

00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:10.919
 do not associate

00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.419
 with these

00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.120
 nations that

00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:12.759
 remain among

00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:13.080
 you.

00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:13.899
 Do not invoke

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.440
 the names of

00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:14.960
 their gods

00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.720
 or swear by

00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:15.980
 them.

00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.080
 You must not

00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:17.580
 serve them

00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:18.240
 or bow down

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:18.639
 to them

00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.399
 but you are

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:20.279
 to hold fast

00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:20.759
 to the Lord

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.220
 your God

00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:21.680
 as you have

00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:22.340
 until now.

00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:23.200
 The Lord

00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:23.600
 has driven

00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:24.320
 out before you

00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:24.840
 great and

00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:25.659
 powerful nations.

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.639
 To this day

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.300
 no one has

00:15:27.300 --> 00:15:27.879
 been able to

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.500
 withstand you.

00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:29.259
 One of you

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.019
 wraps a thousand

00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:30.639
 because the

00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:31.240
 Lord your God

00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:31.879
 fights for you

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.399
 just as he

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:32.679
 promised.

00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:34.699
 So be very

00:15:34.699 --> 00:15:36.679
 careful to

00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:37.019
 love the

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:37.779
 Lord your God.

00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:39.159
 He says three

00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:39.500
 things.

00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:40.899
 Be very strong

00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.620
 in obedience

00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.899
 and they haven't.

00:15:43.079 --> 00:15:44.199
 Be wholehearted

00:15:44.199 --> 00:15:44.819
 in worship

00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:45.939
 and they haven't.

00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.299
 Be very careful

00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:48.079
 to love the

00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:48.899
 Lord your God

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:50.779
 and they haven't.

00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:52.519
 And so I

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.100
 wonder will we

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.299
 listen to Joshua's

00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:55.379
 words to us

00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.759
 as we go into

00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:58.340
 20, 16.

00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.199
 Be strong

00:15:59.199 --> 00:15:59.759
 in obedience.

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:02.299
 Be wholehearted

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.879
 in worship.

00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.980
 Be very careful

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:06.860
 to love the

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.679
 Lord your God.

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.939
 In one chapter

00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:10.120
 in one generation

00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:11.279
 hope and zeal

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:11.799
 of Joshua

00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.460
 has become

00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:13.620
 tokenistic.

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.319
 They've taken

00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:15.879
 God's great

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.659
 blessing of this

00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:17.100
 land.

00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:19.960
 God has been

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.779
 so kind,

00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:21.480
 so gracious,

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:22.199
 so patient,

00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:22.960
 so protective,

00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:23.720
 so powerful

00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.840
 and what have they

00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:25.000
 done?

00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:25.720
 They've gravely

00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.399
 sinned against

00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:26.679
 him.

00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:29.439
 They took

00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:29.899
 grace for

00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.319
 granted

00:16:30.319 --> 00:16:31.899
 and gratitude

00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:32.659
 was replaced

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.399
 by greed.

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:35.419
 And as we

00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:35.759
 go into

00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.439
 2016,

00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:37.099
 as people

00:16:37.099 --> 00:16:37.399
 that have

00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:37.979
 been created

00:16:37.979 --> 00:16:38.699
 by God,

00:16:39.239 --> 00:16:39.859
 redeemed by

00:16:39.859 --> 00:16:40.079
 God,

00:16:40.079 --> 00:16:40.959
 gifted by God,

00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:42.039
 blessed outrageously

00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:42.699
 by God,

00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.599
 how are we going

00:16:43.599 --> 00:16:44.059
 to use that

00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:44.659
 blessing?

00:16:46.099 --> 00:16:47.500
 In wholehearted

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.519
 commitment to

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:50.240
 him and the

00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:51.000
 obedience that

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:51.360
 follows,

00:16:51.459 --> 00:16:51.939
 or are we going

00:16:51.939 --> 00:16:52.639
 to use it

00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:54.519
 for self-indulgence,

00:16:54.719 --> 00:16:56.379
 self-gratification

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.740
 and self-advancement?

00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:59.680
 How are we

00:16:59.680 --> 00:17:01.139
 stewarding the

00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.860
 loving kindness

00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:02.460
 of God?

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:04.240
 Mindful of

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:04.440
 him,

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.279
 grateful to

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:05.539
 him,

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:07.160
 useful in

00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:07.759
 his hand.

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.779
 People respond

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.319
 to great

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.039
 blessing with

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:12.380
 grave sinning,

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:12.880
 that's what we

00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.319
 learn in

00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:13.819
 Judges.

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.420
 But then we

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:16.839
 learn that

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.620
 God's people

00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.599
 respond to

00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.819
 God's punishment

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:21.319
 with repentance.

00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:22.819
 If you spend

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.640
 any time in

00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:23.940
 Judges,

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.440
 you know that

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.059
 it's a deeply

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:26.140
 depressing cycle.

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:27.900
 It starts

00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:28.759
 with sin,

00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:29.900
 servitude,

00:17:30.560 --> 00:17:31.320
 supplication,

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.060
 salvation.

00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:33.460
 God's people

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:33.820
 sin,

00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.380
 they worship

00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:35.300
 other gods.

00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:37.400
 God puts

00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:37.860
 them under

00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:38.580
 the heel of

00:17:38.580 --> 00:17:39.060
 a foreign

00:17:39.060 --> 00:17:39.700
 ruler to

00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.360
 serve him

00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:41.420
 in servitude.

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.400
 In the

00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:43.880
 depths of

00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:44.620
 this oppression,

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:45.320
 God's people

00:17:45.320 --> 00:17:46.040
 cry out to

00:17:46.040 --> 00:17:47.500
 him in

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.480
 supplication.

00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:49.780
 And God

00:17:49.780 --> 00:17:50.800
 graciously raises

00:17:50.800 --> 00:17:51.600
 up a judge to

00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:52.180
 bring them

00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:53.259
 salvation.

00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:55.180
 This goes

00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:55.759
 round and

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.060
 round.

00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:56.380
 in the

00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:56.680
 book of

00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.240
 Judges,

00:17:57.520 --> 00:17:57.940
 it goes

00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.680
 round 12

00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.560
 times.

00:18:01.060 --> 00:18:01.840
 12 times

00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:02.200
 they're put

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.600
 under the

00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:02.940
 heel of

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:03.780
 the Midianites

00:18:03.780 --> 00:18:04.120
 and the

00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:04.980
 Philistines.

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.420
 And 12

00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:07.220
 times God

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.160
 hears their

00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:08.680
 cry as

00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:09.000
 they're in

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.460
 the depth

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:09.940
 of this

00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.759
 oppression

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.259
 and he

00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:11.820
 raises up

00:18:11.820 --> 00:18:12.540
 a judge.

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.140
 But when

00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:15.920
 God's people

00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.980
 realize the

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.700
 discipline of

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.080
 God, they

00:18:18.080 --> 00:18:18.780
 cry out to

00:18:18.780 --> 00:18:19.340
 him, they

00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:21.380
 repent, and

00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:21.960
 they turn to

00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:22.340
 him for

00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:22.820
 salvation.

00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:26.059
 God is

00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:26.980
 testing his

00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.279
 people.

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.159
 He's so

00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:28.899
 committed to

00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:29.839
 them covenantally

00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.339
 that he won't

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:30.839
 just let them

00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.519
 walk away.

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:32.980
 But he's

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.960
 constantly bringing

00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.539
 things into

00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.379
 their path so

00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:35.960
 that they might

00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.679
 turn to him.

00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:38.879
 And as we

00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:39.720
 look out on

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.599
 2016, we

00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:41.139
 don't know what

00:18:41.139 --> 00:18:41.619
 will happen.

00:18:41.619 --> 00:18:43.639
 But there'll be

00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.319
 lots of

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:46.839
 opportunities to

00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:47.460
 show what is

00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:49.279
 for real and

00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:49.779
 what is for

00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.220
 show.

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:51.299
 different

00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:52.440
 struggles and

00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:53.339
 difficulties and

00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:54.460
 opportunities come

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.120
 our way.

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.140
 There'll be

00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:56.740
 countless

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.779
 opportunities to

00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:58.420
 do what this

00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.680
 people does and

00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.620
 turn to God

00:19:00.620 --> 00:19:03.039
 and seek to

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.720
 worship and

00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.759
 follow him, of

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.940
 pressing into

00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:06.740
 him rather than

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.420
 running on our

00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.740
 own away from

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.079
 him.

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.420
 Repentance is

00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:12.160
 always the

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:12.980
 response, leaning

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.759
 on God when we

00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.380
 get it right,

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.620
 trusting God in

00:19:15.620 --> 00:19:16.100
 the midst of

00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.000
 difficulty, running

00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.660
 to God when we

00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:18.180
 get it wrong.

00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:20.000
 And so you

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.740
 get this cycle

00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.560
 and every time

00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:22.340
 God's people

00:19:22.340 --> 00:19:24.400
 respond to

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:24.860
 God in

00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:27.440
 repentance, they

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.220
 realize that he

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.140
 is the only one

00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:29.779
 that can save

00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.080
 them.

00:19:31.100 --> 00:19:32.000
 He is the one

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.680
 who holds their

00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.560
 hope in his

00:19:34.560 --> 00:19:35.220
 hands.

00:19:36.820 --> 00:19:37.660
 God's people

00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:38.360
 respond to

00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:39.720
 God's punishment

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.259
 with repentance.

00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:41.980
 Let's make sure

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.920
 repentance is the

00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:43.580
 first thing we're

00:19:43.580 --> 00:19:43.940
 doing.

00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.779
 When trouble

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.460
 comes our way,

00:19:46.580 --> 00:19:47.799
 reorientating our

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.519
 lives towards

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:50.079
 God and

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:50.619
 trusting in

00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:51.379
 his grace.

00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:53.539
 Number three,

00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.259
 God gives his

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.200
 people temporary

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.720
 rest through

00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.759
 imperfect judges.

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.539
 Throughout the

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.119
 book we've got

00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:01.200
 famous people,

00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:02.599
 famous people that

00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:03.480
 we've learnt in

00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:03.940
 our Sunday

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.159
 school.

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:04.980
 We've got 12

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.180
 judges in total,

00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.940
 12 small-s

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:09.299
 saviors that God

00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.379
 uses to rescue

00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:11.000
 his people.

00:20:11.919 --> 00:20:12.599
 Some are covered

00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.460
 in a verse like

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.940
 Shamgar, some

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.700
 get a paragraph

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:17.000
 like Tolajer,

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.640
 Ibzan,

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.940
 Elon, and

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.819
 Abdon.

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.759
 Others get all

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.480
 or most of a

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.119
 chapter like

00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:24.740
 Othniel or

00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:26.160
 Ehud, whilst

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:26.720
 others get

00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.559
 several chapters

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.279
 like Deborah,

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.140
 Gideon,

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.500
 Jephthah, and

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.059
 Samson.

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:33.160
 And as we see

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:33.880
 this cycle

00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:36.259
 progress, it is

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.259
 somewhat of a

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:38.240
 downward spiral.

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.460
 In general, the

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.680
 rest period that the

00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.480
 judge brings gets

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.940
 shorter, and the

00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:44.079
 moral fiber of the

00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.859
 judge gets more

00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.659
 dubious.

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.699
 The troughs get

00:20:47.699 --> 00:20:48.659
 lower and the

00:20:48.659 --> 00:20:49.579
 peaks don't go as

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.199
 high as you

00:20:50.199 --> 00:20:51.799
 progress through the

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.179
 book.

00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.779
 Tremper Longman III,

00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:55.279
 one of the

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.679
 commentators, he's

00:20:56.679 --> 00:20:57.599
 got the best name,

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.619
 if not necessarily

00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.740
 the best commentaries.

00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:00.599
 He says,

00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:01.459
 what a collection of

00:21:01.459 --> 00:21:02.359
 human beings in the

00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:03.159
 book of Judges.

00:21:03.679 --> 00:21:04.819
 Strange heroes they

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.619
 are, a reluctant

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:07.299
 farmer, a left-handed

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:08.759
 assassin, a prophetess,

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:10.319
 an illegitimate bandit,

00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:11.539
 a sex-crazed

00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:13.339
 Nazarite, and

00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:13.959
 others.

00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.659
 They're unlikely

00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.379
 heroes.

00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.439
 They're people that

00:21:19.439 --> 00:21:20.740
 God raised up to

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:22.459
 bring temporary rest

00:21:22.459 --> 00:21:23.519
 to his people.

00:21:25.699 --> 00:21:26.879
 But they did all

00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:27.759
 believe the word of

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:30.160
 gods at times and

00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.180
 in portions of

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:31.960
 their lives.

00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:34.400
 All had faith.

00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.119
 Though often

00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:36.940
 failing and

00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:37.940
 faltering, they

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.940
 trusted God and

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:40.019
 God used them to

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.259
 do great things.

00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:43.680
 Some even make it

00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:44.720
 into Hebrews 11.

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.480
 And what more

00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:47.319
 shall we say?

00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.680
 I do not have

00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.379
 time to tell you

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.079
 about Gideon,

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.039
 Barak, Samson,

00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:51.759
 and Jephthah,

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:53.440
 about David and

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.180
 Samuel and the

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.660
 prophets, who

00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.220
 through faith

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.119
 conquered kingdoms

00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.819
 and ministered

00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:58.500
 justice and

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.139
 gained what was

00:21:59.139 --> 00:22:00.419
 promised, who

00:22:00.419 --> 00:22:01.059
 shut the mouths

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.579
 of lions,

00:22:01.719 --> 00:22:02.539
 quenched the fury

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.219
 of the flames,

00:22:03.579 --> 00:22:04.379
 and escaped the

00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:04.859
 edge of the

00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.799
 sword, whose

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.500
 weakness was

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:06.979
 turned to

00:22:06.979 --> 00:22:07.539
 strength and

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.000
 who became

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.759
 powerful in

00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:10.000
 battle and

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.039
 routed foreign

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:12.079
 armies.

00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.339
 God gives his

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.459
 people temporary

00:22:15.459 --> 00:22:16.679
 rest through

00:22:16.679 --> 00:22:17.779
 imperfect judges.

00:22:19.179 --> 00:22:19.879
 They were

00:22:19.879 --> 00:22:20.819
 faltering and

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.519
 failing and still

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.319
 useful to God

00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:22.699
 and what an

00:22:22.699 --> 00:22:23.379
 encouragement to

00:22:23.379 --> 00:22:24.039
 us who know

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.679
 what it is to

00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:26.339
 falter and fail

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:26.740
 that there's

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:27.399
 still hope,

00:22:27.899 --> 00:22:28.639
 that God can

00:22:28.639 --> 00:22:29.500
 use us.

00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.779
 But it is very

00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.639
 short-lived.

00:22:34.439 --> 00:22:35.419
 When the judge is

00:22:35.419 --> 00:22:36.519
 alive, they win,

00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:38.119
 and when the judge

00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:39.039
 dies, it all

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.899
 unravels again.

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.599
 There's a summary

00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:41.919
 passage in 2.18.

00:22:42.959 --> 00:22:43.759
 Whenever the Lord

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.639
 raised up a judge

00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.699
 for them, he was

00:22:45.699 --> 00:22:47.139
 with the judge and

00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:47.980
 saved them out of

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.759
 the hands of their

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.699
 enemies as long as

00:22:49.699 --> 00:22:50.619
 the judge lived.

00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.659
 For the Lord

00:22:51.659 --> 00:22:52.779
 relented because of

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.639
 their groaning under

00:22:53.639 --> 00:22:54.439
 those who oppressed

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.299
 and afflicted them.

00:22:55.580 --> 00:22:56.600
 But when the judge

00:22:56.600 --> 00:22:58.480
 died, the people

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.660
 returned to ways

00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.680
 even more corrupt

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.480
 than those of their

00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:03.320
 ancestors, following

00:23:03.320 --> 00:23:04.299
 other gods and

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:04.960
 serving and

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.720
 worshipping them.

00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:06.940
 They refused to

00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.779
 give up their evil

00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:09.019
 practices in stubborn

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.100
 ways.

00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:12.259
 Even the best judges

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.180
 were not enough.

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.799
 Even when they

00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.900
 heard these mighty

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.759
 men leading them,

00:23:18.820 --> 00:23:19.820
 even when Deborah,

00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:21.000
 the wise prophetess,

00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.900
 was leading them,

00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.220
 it was not enough to

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.019
 give them lasting

00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.700
 rest.

00:23:25.860 --> 00:23:27.220
 No small s,

00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.360
 saviour, was able to

00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:30.079
 save them completely.

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.519
 And it warns us about

00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:33.839
 over-reliance on our

00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:35.960
 leaders, that leaders

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:37.180
 are best to fallen

00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:37.759
 people.

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.700
 And therefore, let's

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:41.299
 never rely on others

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:43.339
 to do for us what God

00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.200
 has called us to do

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.620
 ourselves, to commit to

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:47.299
 him, to love him, to

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.620
 worship him, to give him

00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:49.460
 our best.

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:52.059
 But when the leader was

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:53.000
 good, the people were

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.639
 good, but when the

00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:54.559
 leader died, it all

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.059
 unraveled.

00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:55.720
 There was nothing

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.700
 lasting.

00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.399
 And this brings us to

00:23:59.399 --> 00:24:00.440
 our last point.

00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.919
 God is showing our

00:24:02.919 --> 00:24:03.700
 need of what will

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:05.259
 ultimately and only be

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:06.279
 provided in Jesus.

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.220
 God was showing our

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.000
 need of what will

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.220
 ultimately and only be

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:13.039
 provided in Jesus.

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:15.960
 This cycle of sin and

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.899
 servitude and

00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:17.980
 supplication and

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.519
 salvation continues up

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.680
 until chapter 17.

00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:22.779
 After Samson, no one

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.599
 repents anymore.

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.879
 No one turns to God.

00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:26.359
 There's no more judges.

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.579
 There's no more rest.

00:24:28.879 --> 00:24:31.000
 It is dissolution and

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.960
 decay that escalates on

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:34.299
 a societal and massive

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.839
 scale.

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:37.319
 That a society stops

00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.279
 worshipping God.

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.960
 They fail to repent.

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.259
 They're no longer

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.180
 more to his truth.

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.960
 They're no longer

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.220
 engaged in his worship.

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.879
 And rapid decline

00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.639
 follows.

00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:49.320
 Licentiousness.

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:51.140
 Canaanite gods bring

00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:52.600
 total destruction

00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:54.920
 to the very fabric of

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.860
 Israelite society.

00:24:56.340 --> 00:24:57.520
 The last five chapters

00:24:57.520 --> 00:24:59.280
 move from cowardice to

00:24:59.280 --> 00:25:00.380
 unfaithfulness to

00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.900
 widespread immorality to

00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:03.000
 gang rape, murder,

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.660
 civil war and people

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.160
 trafficking.

00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:07.020
 The last five chapters

00:25:07.020 --> 00:25:09.020
 utter dissolution of

00:25:09.020 --> 00:25:09.960
 society.

00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:11.840
 If you're ever asked to

00:25:11.840 --> 00:25:14.020
 read Judges 17 to 21

00:25:14.020 --> 00:25:15.400
 out loud, don't do it.

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:17.620
 It's really uncomfortable

00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:20.240
 as you see just how low

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.620
 God's people will go when

00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:22.940
 they fail to worship him

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.700
 and serve him.

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.900
 By the time you get to

00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:26.720
 the end of the book of

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.880
 Judges, you are morally,

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:29.620
 spiritually and emotionally

00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.240
 exhausted.

00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.620
 It is a book you experience

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:34.540
 and as you experience it,

00:25:34.840 --> 00:25:36.000
 it's exhausting.

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:41.100
 It robs you of all

00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:42.840
 confidence in humanity's

00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:44.280
 ability to save itself.

00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:46.460
 The sin is so heavy.

00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:48.980
 The cycle is so repetitive.

00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.559
 The learning curve of the

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.799
 people so steep that

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.839
 they're not seeing the

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.960
 error of their ways.

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.339
 You pretty much just

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:59.399
 despair by the time you

00:25:59.399 --> 00:26:00.819
 get to Judges chapter 21.

00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.259
 And the repeated refrain

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.339
 in those last five

00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:05.359
 chapters,

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:08.399
 in those days Israel had no

00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:08.799
 king.

00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:11.319
 And everyone did what was

00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:12.659
 right in their own eyes.

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.339
 And what they did was

00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:16.859
 horrendous and horrible and

00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:19.019
 grievous and immoral.

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.759
 And so, so far in the story

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.960
 of the Old Testament, Adam

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.680
 messed up.

00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.940
 And God restarted in Noah,

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:28.379
 but Noah was just the same as

00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.579
 Adam and he couldn't save.

00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:32.339
 And then God chose Abraham,

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:34.139
 but Abraham was a scoundrel as

00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:36.200
 well and nothing Abraham could do

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.860
 could save.

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.319
 And then God rescued them

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.319
 through Moses and through

00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.779
 Moses God gave them the law,

00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:43.840
 but the law just highlighted

00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:45.160
 all the places they were going

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.240
 wrong and couldn't save.

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:49.039
 And then we get Judges and

00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:51.000
 the Judges couldn't save,

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.059
 not for a long period.

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:53.980
 There was no proper rest given

00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:55.019
 through the judge.

00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:56.900
 And then God finally gives them

00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:58.120
 a king, but the king

00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:58.779
 couldn't save.

00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.680
 There's a few high points

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.920
 amongst David and Solomon,

00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.279
 but in general it's downward.

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:05.339
 And no king could save.

00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.899
 And then God graciously

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:08.019
 gives them the prophets

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:10.460
 who remind them of all this

00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.339
 stuff, but none of the

00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:12.180
 prophets could save.

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.899
 And so you end Judges

00:27:14.899 --> 00:27:16.019
 spiritually, emotionally,

00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:17.119
 and morally exhausted.

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.399
 You're pretty much in the

00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:19.599
 Old Testament spiritually,

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.119
 morally,

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:23.119
 and emotionally exhausted

00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:24.359
 because no one seems to be

00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:26.180
 able to save people from sin.

00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:33.100
 And then, after 400 years

00:27:33.100 --> 00:27:34.620
 of silence as God prepares

00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:38.700
 his people, God doesn't speak,

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.420
 he comes.

00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:43.460
 God doesn't raise up a leader

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:45.060
 for a while, he raises up a

00:27:45.060 --> 00:27:46.279
 king who will last forever.

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:51.019
 And we read great words like,

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:52.600
 but now apart from the law,

00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.680
 the righteousness of God

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.660
 has been made known,

00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:56.279
 to which the law and the

00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:57.080
 prophets testify,

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.440
 this righteousness is given

00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:00.060
 through faith in Jesus Christ

00:28:00.060 --> 00:28:01.940
 to all who believe.

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:04.120
 No longer a king who

00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:05.940
 just lives and dies,

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:07.080
 but a king who will live

00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:08.460
 forever, who even gives us

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.759
 his Holy Spirit so that we

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.220
 don't fluctuate, we can

00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.580
 worship fully.

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.519
 And so we read in Hebrews,

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.440
 and with this we finish,

00:28:16.540 --> 00:28:18.560
 therefore he is able to

00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:19.820
 save completely those who

00:28:19.820 --> 00:28:20.940
 come to God through him,

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:23.279
 because he always lives to

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.960
 intercede for them.

00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:26.079
 He's the king forever,

00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:29.259
 the one good God promised.

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:32.139
 And so four sentences to get

00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:33.160
 our head around judges.

00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:36.000
 That people respond to God's

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.279
 blessing by gravely sinning

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.859
 against him.

00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.039
 I wonder, will that be us in

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.619
 2016?

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.940
 When we receive all that God

00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:43.139
 has done for us, how will we

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.700
 use it?

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:45.619
 How will we steward it?

00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:48.899
 God's people respond to God's

00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:50.779
 discipline with repentance.

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:52.319
 Will it be countless

00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:54.019
 opportunities to turn to God

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:56.099
 and trust him as we go

00:28:56.099 --> 00:28:58.519
 through 2016 and all that

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.819
 lies before us?

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.539
 God gives his people

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.579
 temporary rest through

00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.460
 imperfect judges.

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:06.059
 Let's not trust our leaders

00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:06.500
 too much.

00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:08.599
 Let's not rely on them too

00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.720
 much, but make sure we

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:11.359
 ourselves are seeking to

00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:13.960
 grow and to love Jesus more

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:15.920
 tomorrow than we do today,

00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:17.399
 and even more the day after,

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:19.539
 and pressing into him, and

00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.799
 trusting him and receiving

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:22.299
 from him all that he has

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.980
 for us.

00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:25.359
 And let's remember that what

00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:27.319
 we ultimately need, what

00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:28.899
 judges ultimately shows us,

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.180
 is that we have an absolute

00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:32.720
 profound and total need of

00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.579
 Jesus Christ.

00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:35.920
 Jesus who did for us what we

00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:37.019
 couldn't do for ourselves,

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:39.539
 and Jesus who did for us what

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:42.159
 no one else will ever or can

00:29:42.159 --> 00:29:43.960
 ever do for us.

00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:45.180
 Let me pray.

00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:53.299
 Father God, we thank you so

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.279
 much for your word.

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:57.220
 We thank you that it undoes

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:57.640
 us.

00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:00.519
 It shows us how sinful we are,

00:30:01.320 --> 00:30:04.140
 how lost we are, how in need

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:04.720
 we are.

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:07.299
 And then into that gaping

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:09.420
 uncoveredness that you've

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:11.519
 revealed, you pour into the

00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:14.720
 glorious balm of the gospel.

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:17.460
 Father, when we see our sin,

00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:19.539
 when we see our need, when we

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.860
 see our hopelessness, thank you

00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:22.339
 that Jesus meets that need,

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:25.160
 that he is our hope, that he

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:27.019
 is our king, and he is the one

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.759
 who offers us eternal rest.

00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:31.980
 And so Lord, may 2016 be a

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:35.740
 year where we decrease and he

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:37.100
 increases in us.

00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:39.779
 We pray this for his glory and in

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.380
 his name.

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:41.279
 Amen.

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.380
 Amen.