WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.759 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:10.240 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:15.400 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here, 00:00:15.780 --> 00:00:19.559 and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:20.500 --> 00:00:23.679 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:28.839 And as we follow Jesus together, we've become convinced that there's no one so good. 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:32.740 They don't need God's grace, and no one's so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:39.140 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. 00:00:40.100 --> 00:00:45.320 We are continuing our series in the Book of Judges, completely unrelated to the Book of Judges. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:53.980 Today is June the 9th, and I've been reflecting on the fact that it was June the 7th of 2017 00:00:53.980 --> 00:00:57.000 that my U-Haul arrived in Colorado Springs. 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:04.079 And it was June the 12th, Monday of 2017 that was my first day of work at Cheyenne Mountain. 00:01:04.739 --> 00:01:06.219 So I'm hitting seven years. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:09.299 Thank you. 00:01:11.299 --> 00:01:15.740 And so I've been reflecting on that, and I just wanted to say I'm so grateful to be with all of you 00:01:15.740 --> 00:01:19.159 and to still be here in Colorado Springs, Cheyenne Mountain. 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:23.979 We're continuing our series in the Book of Judges. 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:27.359 You'll remember that the Book of Judges is about a number of things. 00:01:27.959 --> 00:01:32.500 It's about the need for constant renewal and revival among God's people. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:36.780 It's about the need for a faithful and true king, 00:01:37.479 --> 00:01:41.900 a king who can do what no human can do, which is to change the hearts of men. 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:45.960 And it's about the power of spirit-filled leadership. 00:01:46.859 --> 00:01:52.280 And it's about God's mercy to hard-hearted people, people like you and me. 00:01:53.300 --> 00:01:56.060 Last week, we looked at Judges chapter 19, 00:01:56.540 --> 00:02:01.200 and I told you that Judges 19 is arguably the most tragic, the most violent, 00:02:01.980 --> 00:02:04.560 the most gruesome story in the entire Bible, 00:02:04.680 --> 00:02:08.780 out of all 66 books and almost 1,200 chapters. 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:13.039 And we saw that that is, in fact, how it all ends 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:16.180 when everyone does what is right in his own eyes. 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:22.460 That is the end state, the ugly fruit of autonomy and individualism. 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:26.500 And I told you that we cannot have a beautiful community 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:31.400 and also demand what is most convenient for us. 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:34.979 That's the sober warning that comes at the end of the Book of Judges. 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:37.659 Now, this week, as we head into chapter 20, 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:40.859 we're going to see the nature of sin, the ugly nature of it, 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:44.280 and what happens when we leave it unaddressed, 00:02:44.699 --> 00:02:47.960 when we refuse to fight it or put it to death. 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:52.280 And with that, I invite you to turn with me to Judges chapter 20. 00:02:53.060 --> 00:02:55.120 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:02:55.519 --> 00:02:56.460 You can turn on your phone. 00:02:57.180 --> 00:02:58.319 You can turn in your Bible. 00:02:59.019 --> 00:03:01.840 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:05.479 And God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:08.620 even the finest gold, and it's sweeter than honey, 00:03:08.920 --> 00:03:11.159 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:16.240 And so that's why we read now Judges chapter 20, starting at verse 1. 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:21.520 Then all the people of Israel came out from Dan to Beersheba, 00:03:22.320 --> 00:03:23.980 including the land of Gilead, 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:27.760 and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah. 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:31.580 And the chiefs of all the people of all the tribes of Israel 00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:34.040 presented themselves in the assembly of God, 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:37.620 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword. 00:03:38.580 --> 00:03:42.560 Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:47.080 And the people of Israel said, Tell us, how did this evil happen? 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:50.840 And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:55.140 answered and said, I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, 00:03:55.979 --> 00:03:58.319 I and my concubine, to spend the night. 00:03:59.080 --> 00:04:01.340 And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me 00:04:01.340 --> 00:04:03.240 and surrounded the house against me by night. 00:04:03.920 --> 00:04:08.259 They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:12.319 So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces, 00:04:12.560 --> 00:04:16.060 and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel. 00:04:16.939 --> 00:04:20.379 For they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:24.019 Behold you, people of Israel, all of you, 00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:26.840 give your advice and counsel here. 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:28.399 Verse 8, 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:32.399 And all the people arose as one man, saying, 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:36.860 None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:39.899 But now this is what we will do to Gibeah. 00:04:39.899 --> 00:04:42.439 We will go up against it by lot, 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:46.719 and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:50.979 and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, 00:04:51.359 --> 00:04:53.139 to bring provisions for the people, 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:56.239 that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin, 00:04:56.779 --> 00:04:59.859 for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel. 00:05:00.659 --> 00:05:03.219 So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, 00:05:03.339 --> 00:05:04.679 united as one man. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:08.819 And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout all the tribe of Benjamin, 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:09.340 saying, 00:05:10.139 --> 00:05:13.100 What evil is this that has taken place among you? 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.819 Now, therefore, give up the men, 00:05:15.980 --> 00:05:17.800 the worthless fellows in Gibeah, 00:05:17.900 --> 00:05:21.759 that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel. 00:05:22.819 --> 00:05:25.740 But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:26.800 the people of Israel. 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:31.560 Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities of Gibeah 00:05:31.560 --> 00:05:33.939 to go out to battle against the people of Israel. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:37.980 And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 00:05:37.980 --> 00:05:40.459 twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, 00:05:41.100 --> 00:05:42.980 besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, 00:05:43.100 --> 00:05:45.280 who mustered seven hundred chosen men. 00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:48.959 Among all these were seven hundred chosen men 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:49.920 who were left-handed. 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:54.079 Everyone could sling a stone at a hare and not miss. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:57.060 And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, 00:05:57.279 --> 00:05:59.860 mustered four hundred thousand men who drew the sword. 00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:02.840 All these were men of war. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:04.879 Verse 18. 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:09.379 The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:12.980 Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin? 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:16.480 And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first. 00:06:17.460 --> 00:06:20.860 Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. 00:06:21.379 --> 00:06:23.960 And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:27.439 and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.420 The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah 00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:34.040 and destroyed on that day twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites. 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:37.920 But the people, the men of Israel, took courage 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:41.139 and again formed the battle line in the same place 00:06:41.139 --> 00:06:42.819 where they had formed it on the first day. 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:47.040 And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:49.159 And they inquired of the Lord, 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:52.259 Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:53.899 the people of Benjamin? 00:06:53.899 --> 00:06:57.500 And the Lord said, Go up against them. 00:06:58.359 --> 00:06:59.139 Verse 24. 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:04.019 So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day. 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:07.959 And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah that second day 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:10.899 and destroyed eighteen thousand men of the people of Israel. 00:07:11.739 --> 00:07:13.599 All these were men who drew the sword. 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:16.759 Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, 00:07:17.019 --> 00:07:18.919 went up and came to Bethel and wept. 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:22.980 They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:26.400 and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 00:07:27.840 --> 00:07:30.060 And the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:33.300 for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days. 00:07:34.020 --> 00:07:36.319 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, 00:07:36.520 --> 00:07:38.259 ministered before it in those days, 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:42.639 saying, Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:43.800 the people of Benjamin? 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:45.660 Or shall we cease? 00:07:46.780 --> 00:07:51.220 And the Lord said, Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand. 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:53.180 Verse 29. 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:57.360 So the men set in ambush around Gibeah. 00:07:57.500 --> 00:07:59.620 So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. 00:08:00.019 --> 00:08:03.900 And the people of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day 00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:07.680 and set themselves in array against Gibeah as at other times. 00:08:08.220 --> 00:08:10.699 And the people of Benjamin went out against the people 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:12.340 and were drawn away from the city. 00:08:12.339 --> 00:08:14.339 And as at other times, 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:17.379 they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:20.739 one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah. 00:08:21.419 --> 00:08:24.259 And in the open country, about thirty men of Israel. 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:26.839 And the people of Benjamin said, 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:29.719 They are routed before us as at the first. 00:08:30.559 --> 00:08:32.059 But the people of Israel said, 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:35.679 Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways. 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:39.339 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place 00:08:39.339 --> 00:08:41.559 and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar. 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:45.779 And the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place from Merah Geba. 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:50.159 And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel. 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:51.919 And the battle was hard. 00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:56.199 But the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them. 00:08:56.739 --> 00:08:59.219 And the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel. 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:05.159 And the people of Israel destroyed twenty-five thousand one hundred men of Benjamin that day. 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:08.100 All these were men who drew the sword. 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:11.759 So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:18.799 The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they trusted the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah. 00:09:19.579 --> 00:09:20.740 Verse thirty-seven. 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:24.600 Then the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah. 00:09:25.319 --> 00:09:28.779 The men in ambush moved out and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. 00:09:28.779 --> 00:09:33.500 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush 00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:37.059 was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city, 00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:39.679 the men of Israel should turn in battle. 00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:44.539 Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. 00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:46.159 They said, 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:49.279 Surely they are defeated before us as in the first battle. 00:09:49.839 --> 00:09:53.399 But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:55.659 the Benjaminites looked behind them. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:59.159 And behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven. 00:09:59.939 --> 00:10:03.279 Then the men of Israel turned and the men of Benjamin were dismayed. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:06.279 For they saw that disaster was closed upon them. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:11.319 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.480 But the battle overtook them. 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:17.460 And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst. 00:10:18.379 --> 00:10:19.700 Surrounding the Benjaminites, 00:10:19.800 --> 00:10:24.600 they pursued them and trod them down from Noha as far as opposite Gibeah on the east. 00:10:25.940 --> 00:10:27.980 Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:30.539 all of them men of valor. 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:35.240 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the Rock of Rimen. 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:39.080 Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways. 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:41.860 And they were pursued hard to get them. 00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:44.519 And two thousand men of them were struck down. 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:50.320 So all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword, 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:52.460 all of them men of valor. 00:10:53.100 --> 00:10:57.180 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the Rock of Rimen 00:10:57.180 --> 00:11:00.940 and remained at the Rock of Rimen for months. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:05.220 And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:07.720 and struck them with the edge of the sword. 00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:11.580 The city, men and beasts, and all that they found. 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:15.759 And all the towns that they found, they set on fire. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:21.240 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:11:22.819 --> 00:11:27.460 Our Father in heaven, we do thank you that you haven't left us alone 00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:30.139 as orphans in a merciless universe, 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:32.620 but instead you've given us your word. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:35.039 You've given us the Old Testament and the New Testament. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:39.259 You've spoken to us to guide us and challenge us and instruct us, 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:41.719 and most of all, to show us Christ. 00:11:42.579 --> 00:11:48.159 That we would know and see and understand our need for His grace 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:51.639 and how He meets us at that very same place of need. 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:54.120 And so we ask that you would do that this morning, 00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:56.319 that you would use your word in a powerful way, 00:11:57.220 --> 00:12:02.080 that we would see your beauty and your glory and your mercy more than ever before, 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:06.899 that it would lead us to love you, to worship you, to follow you. 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:11.080 We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:20.200 You'll remember that our story last week ended on a particularly gruesome note. 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:24.400 As the Levite takes his concubine, who has been violated, 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:27.640 he cuts her into 12 different pieces, 00:12:28.020 --> 00:12:31.280 and then sends those pieces all throughout Israel. 00:12:31.900 --> 00:12:36.720 And we have this chilling statement at the very end of chapter 19 in verse 30, 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:40.180 which reminds us of how terrible this is. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:40.840 And it says, 00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:45.520 Such a thing has never happened or been seen 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:50.579 from the day that the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt 00:12:50.579 --> 00:12:52.220 until this day. 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:55.179 Consider it. 00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:58.340 Take counsel and speak. 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:02.620 And we see here at the beginning of chapter 20 00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:06.120 that this graphic statement that the Levite makes 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.939 certainly has the impact that he has intended. 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:12.780 There are a lot of things going on in chapter 20, 00:13:12.900 --> 00:13:15.920 and we will certainly not be able to get into all of them this morning. 00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:20.480 But if there's one thing that the author of Judges wants us to know, 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:21.340 it is this. 00:13:22.020 --> 00:13:25.720 Israel has incredible unity. 00:13:26.880 --> 00:13:29.440 And in fact, we hear it and see it over and over. 00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:30.340 Verse 1, 00:13:30.520 --> 00:13:32.780 All the people of Israel came out. 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:33.640 Same verse. 00:13:33.760 --> 00:13:36.740 The congregation assembled as one man. 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:38.080 Verse 7, 00:13:38.200 --> 00:13:40.139 Behold you people of Israel, 00:13:40.560 --> 00:13:41.919 all of you. 00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:44.180 We saw in verse 2, 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:46.019 the chiefs of all the people, 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:48.700 of all the tribes of Israel. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.100 Verse 8, 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:54.000 All the people arose as one man. 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.779 Verse 11, 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:57.620 All the men of Israel gathered, 00:13:58.019 --> 00:13:58.379 united, 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:00.680 as one man. 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:02.940 You think that we've heard it enough? 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:03.320 Nope. 00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:04.700 Verse 26, 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:06.360 All the people of Israel, 00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:08.480 the whole army. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.520 And in case we missed it, 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:13.200 we're also told, 00:14:13.820 --> 00:14:14.360 verse 1, 00:14:14.420 --> 00:14:17.280 they came from Dan to Beersheba. 00:14:17.660 --> 00:14:20.960 Dan being the northernmost point of Israel, 00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:24.700 Beersheba being the southernmost point. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.020 In other words, 00:14:26.180 --> 00:14:27.980 over and over again, 00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:29.100 the author repeats this, 00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:30.379 so that we know 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.419 Israel, 00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:31.559 Israel, 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:34.779 in the midst of a book full of their factions 00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:37.659 and selfishness and infighting, 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:41.100 are finally gathered together. 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:43.299 With, of course, 00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:44.840 one exception. 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:47.500 Verse 3 reminds us, 00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:51.000 Benjamin was not there. 00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:52.679 Why? 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.399 Well, 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:56.639 the men of Gibeon are Benjaminites. 00:14:57.439 --> 00:14:59.439 And so they decide not to show up 00:14:59.439 --> 00:15:01.100 to answer for the actions 00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.779 of their own people. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.740 And as we read this 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:08.240 and think and see 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:10.360 that Israel is finally gathered together, 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:12.319 they finally have one mind 00:15:12.319 --> 00:15:13.600 and one mission, 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:15.620 there is this sadness 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:17.080 and this irony 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:18.299 that we're meant to feel. 00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:22.980 Why couldn't they do this 00:15:22.980 --> 00:15:25.500 back in chapter 1? 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:31.019 Why does it take 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:32.439 such a gruesome 00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:33.779 and violent action 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.860 for Israel 00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.659 to finally be 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:38.600 what she should have been? 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.600 And in fact, 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.879 it's not just a question 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:43.319 of why did this not happen 00:15:43.319 --> 00:15:44.539 back in chapter 1. 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:46.240 No, even more than that, 00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.919 there are echoes here 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:48.819 of chapter 1. 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:50.120 Now, I know it's been 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.000 a long time, 00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:51.899 it's been about a year 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.559 since we started 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:53.360 the book of Judges, 00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:54.279 and so you have to think 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.480 all the way back 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:56.080 to what we saw 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:56.820 at the very beginning. 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.700 But the reason that Israel 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.600 is in this problem 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.000 is because they refused 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.379 to do what God 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.279 had told them to do. 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.420 They refused 00:16:04.420 --> 00:16:06.560 to drive out the Canaanites. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:07.879 And what is it 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.420 that we read 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:09.259 at the very beginning? 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.500 Not just chapter 1, 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:11.560 verse 1, 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:12.620 they go to God 00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.139 and they say, 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.740 who shall go up first 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.399 for us 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:16.500 against the Canaanites? 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:18.299 And God answers them, 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:18.820 verse 2, 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:20.000 Judah shall go. 00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:22.539 In case we miss it, 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.679 here in chapter 20, 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:25.740 we see the exact same words. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:26.799 Verse 18, 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.879 who shall go up first 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.960 for us to fight 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:30.759 against the people 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.320 of Benjamin? 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:32.960 Same verse, 00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:36.519 Judah shall go up first. 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:41.039 As I've told you many times, 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:43.860 bookends are extremely powerful. 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:46.560 It is not a coincidence 00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:47.820 that we see this 00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:48.899 in chapter 1 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:50.259 and chapter 20. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.159 The author is telling us this. 00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:59.720 You would not drive out 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.580 the Canaanites 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.360 in chapter 1. 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.759 You wouldn't fight 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:05.920 God's enemies 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.339 in chapter 1. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.160 Well, guess what? 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:12.460 Now in chapter 20, 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.920 you get to fight 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.799 each other. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.120 You can either fight 00:17:20.120 --> 00:17:20.600 your enemies 00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:21.420 on the outside 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:24.539 or you can destroy 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:26.259 yourself on the inside. 00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:30.059 Those are the only choices. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.519 Last week, 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.860 we said this is how it ends 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.819 when everyone does 00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:35.519 what is right 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.480 in their own eyes. 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.620 This week, 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.319 we get to see 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:40.200 this is how it all ends 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:42.259 when sin is not 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:43.340 addressed. 00:17:45.600 --> 00:17:47.120 You can fight sin now 00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:49.740 or you can fight it later, 00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:52.259 but you will fight it 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:52.960 one day. 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:56.080 You can face enemies 00:17:56.080 --> 00:17:57.140 on the outside 00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:59.700 or you can self-destruct 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:01.160 on the inside. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:02.480 In fact, 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.120 the principle 00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:04.900 that we've waited 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:06.460 20 chapters to get to 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:07.039 is this. 00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:08.579 Sin 00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:10.120 does not 00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:11.340 just sit there. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.700 It grows 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:15.079 and grows 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:16.319 and grows. 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.120 I have 00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:20.680 two 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:22.200 personal characteristics 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.900 which are 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:23.880 a bad combination. 00:18:24.840 --> 00:18:25.460 One of them 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.039 is that sometimes 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:27.200 I can be a little bit clumsy 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:29.420 and the other one 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:29.940 is that I like 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.759 to drink a lot of coffee. 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:32.620 And when those 00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:33.860 two traits interact, 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:35.160 what that results in 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.759 is I get a large number 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.600 of coffee stains 00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:38.340 on my clothes. 00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.300 The good thing 00:18:41.300 --> 00:18:42.040 about that though 00:18:42.040 --> 00:18:42.460 is this. 00:18:42.540 --> 00:18:43.340 Coffee is one 00:18:43.340 --> 00:18:44.200 of the easiest 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.220 stains to get out. 00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:47.019 It's contained. 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.820 It's not going to spread. 00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:50.640 It's not red wine. 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.779 I can wash it today. 00:18:54.320 --> 00:18:56.100 I can wash it next week. 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.840 I can wash it next month. 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:59.200 It is going to come out. 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:01.180 As long as I don't wait 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.019 six months, 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.380 as long as I 00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:04.519 don't wait a year, 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:06.279 it's going to be fine. 00:19:06.560 --> 00:19:07.640 It's not going to get worse. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.600 I'm going to be able 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:09.279 to address it. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.200 I can do it 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.920 on my own timeline. 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.660 The problem is this. 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.519 Sometimes we think 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.480 about sin that way. 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:19.279 It's contained. 00:19:21.080 --> 00:19:22.040 It's going to be there 00:19:22.040 --> 00:19:23.080 when I want to deal with it. 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.960 I can address it 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:25.960 when I want to address it. 00:19:27.060 --> 00:19:28.300 And when I choose 00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:29.019 to address it, 00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:29.640 I'll be able 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.340 to get rid of it. 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.540 While I wait, 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:34.700 nothing will get worse. 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:37.900 Yet the problem is this. 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:40.340 Sin is not a coffee stain. 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.060 Sin is in fact a cancer. 00:19:44.560 --> 00:19:45.880 Sin is like mold. 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:48.880 It grows and grows and grows. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:53.320 The longer it is left unaddressed, 00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:55.700 the larger it gets. 00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:59.500 There's a domino effect to sin. 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:03.779 Israel refused to drive out 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:05.420 the Canaanites in chapter 1. 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.519 They have become 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.859 like the Canaanites 00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.880 in chapter 20. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.500 Their failure, 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.500 their refusal 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:17.099 to drive out 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:18.000 the pagan nations 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.460 has finally come home 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.339 to roost. 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:23.380 They left it alone 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:24.640 and it grew 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.839 and grew 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.940 and grew. 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:29.299 Israel thought 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:30.299 that she could have 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:30.880 her cake 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.519 and eat it too. 00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:34.320 She thought 00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:34.759 she could have 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.840 a halfway compromise 00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:36.640 with sin 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:38.779 and still have 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.539 all the benefits 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.340 of God's people. 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:43.360 And now we see 00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:44.299 at the very end 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:44.840 of the book, 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.680 you can't have it 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:48.059 both ways. 00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:51.700 You deal with sin now. 00:20:52.360 --> 00:20:53.340 You deal with it later. 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:55.099 One of those 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:56.919 is much easier 00:20:56.919 --> 00:20:57.959 than the other. 00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.179 And so there's 00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:02.980 a sadness here. 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.839 What would have happened 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:07.099 if Israel had been 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:08.279 obedient in chapter 1? 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:10.839 How many lives 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.579 would have been saved? 00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:12.399 How much dignity 00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:13.539 would have been retained? 00:21:14.679 --> 00:21:15.679 And yet what happened? 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.319 They didn't understand 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:16.759 the threat. 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:18.500 Israel didn't see 00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.079 the urgency. 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.659 They didn't see 00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:21.319 the need to obey 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.319 in hard ways 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.319 that God had commanded 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:23.980 them to go 00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.740 and be bold 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.359 in battle 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.179 and take out 00:21:26.179 --> 00:21:27.460 the foreign nations. 00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:31.099 If they had been 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:32.240 this unified 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:34.220 in chapter 1, 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.599 the story would have 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:38.399 been very different. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:41.360 And so there is 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:42.080 a warning here 00:21:42.080 --> 00:21:43.380 as we come to the end 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.060 of the book 00:21:44.060 --> 00:21:44.900 and that's this. 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:48.180 There is great danger 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:50.860 in spiritual complacency. 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:54.920 There is great danger 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:56.019 in refusing 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:57.320 to address sin 00:21:57.320 --> 00:21:59.780 because it will 00:21:59.780 --> 00:22:01.780 only get worse. 00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:06.259 It may be hard 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:08.579 to confront 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.240 scandal 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.079 and abuse 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.000 in an organization 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:14.339 and if you do not, 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.920 it will get so bad 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:18.299 you cannot hide it 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:18.980 anymore. 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.619 You may shut yourself 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:23.399 off to others 00:22:23.399 --> 00:22:24.240 and think that you 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.319 can have connection 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.139 and community 00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:27.139 one day 00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:28.539 when you choose it 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.799 on your own terms. 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:33.200 and then you wake up 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:33.819 and you realize 00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.539 that your heart 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.379 is hard 00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:37.139 and closed off 00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:38.799 and you're all alone. 00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:43.539 You can face 00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.519 the consequences 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:46.099 of your selfishness 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.940 in your marriage 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.359 now 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:49.539 or you can face 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:49.960 it later. 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:52.480 The longer you wait, 00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:53.879 the harder 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:55.019 it gets. 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.579 We can choose 00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.319 to ignore 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.919 compromise 00:23:00.919 --> 00:23:01.899 and error 00:23:01.899 --> 00:23:03.519 in God's church. 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.720 And not only 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.759 will it not go away, 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:10.480 it will get worse 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.500 the longer 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.439 we wait. 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.919 You can refuse 00:23:16.919 --> 00:23:19.019 to discipline 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.819 your kids now 00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:23.480 and the problems 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.119 and the challenges 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:25.000 will only grow 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.639 with each year. 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:29.140 you can refuse 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.860 to reconcile 00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.680 with your brother 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.360 or your sister. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.840 The distance 00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:34.840 will only increase. 00:23:36.060 --> 00:23:36.820 The challenge 00:23:36.820 --> 00:23:37.920 will only be more. 00:23:41.520 --> 00:23:42.700 Sin collects 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.320 interest 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:45.100 day by day, 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:47.560 year by year. 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:50.279 You'll see this 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.960 on page 10 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.879 of your worship guide. 00:23:52.639 --> 00:23:53.179 Albert Einstein 00:23:53.179 --> 00:23:53.679 is famous 00:23:53.679 --> 00:23:54.159 for saying 00:23:54.159 --> 00:23:55.059 the most powerful 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:56.419 force in the universe 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:58.440 is compound interest. 00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:01.099 We might say 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:02.339 that the most destructive 00:24:02.339 --> 00:24:03.599 force in the universe 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:05.960 is compound sin. 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:08.359 The longer we wait, 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.480 the worse 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.740 it gets. 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:14.099 sin 00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:16.779 is on a relentless march. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.140 It's not stopping 00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:24.779 and when you ignore it, 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.299 it gains ground. 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:30.539 The cancer 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.359 that has been 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.779 killing Israel 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:35.099 for 19 chapters 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:37.420 finally gets so bad 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:38.539 they can't turn 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.640 their eyes anymore. 00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:42.279 It's finally 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.400 metastasized. 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.059 It's finally 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.779 terminal. 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:49.059 They have become 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.420 worse than the nations 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.519 around them. 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.380 And so the point 00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.039 is simple. 00:24:59.220 --> 00:24:59.859 Christian, 00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:02.200 deal with it now. 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.099 Obedience 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.740 is hard. 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.380 Disobedience 00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:09.440 is even 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.200 harder. 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:13.519 again on page 10 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.440 of your worship guide, 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:16.720 be killing sin 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.140 or sin 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:19.420 will be 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.839 killing you. 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.740 If Israel 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.299 had done 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:25.359 that very thing 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.279 in chapter 1, 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.319 chapter 20 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.460 would look 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.940 very different. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.079 Thankfully, 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.940 we don't simply 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:36.859 see a sober warning 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:38.140 in Judges chapter 20. 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:39.380 we also see 00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:40.640 one of our 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.360 major themes 00:25:41.360 --> 00:25:41.960 for Judges 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.640 that has come up 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.860 again and again, 00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:45.200 which is God's 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.540 mercy towards 00:25:46.540 --> 00:25:47.480 hard-hearted people, 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.220 people like you 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:50.160 and me. 00:25:51.040 --> 00:25:51.840 And the good news 00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.800 is that even 00:25:52.800 --> 00:25:53.880 as everything 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:54.920 is finally 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.600 hemming in 00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.259 on Israel, 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.400 God 00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:58.860 has not 00:25:58.860 --> 00:26:00.060 given up 00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:00.980 on his people. 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.880 God is still 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.580 at work 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.020 guiding 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.180 and protecting 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.539 them. 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.940 Verse 35 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.700 at the beginning 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.379 gives us 00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:09.940 the author's 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.420 interpretation 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.339 of this chapter. 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.440 He tells us this, 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.859 and the Lord 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.519 defeated 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.099 Benjamin 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:16.180 before 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:17.000 Israel. 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.799 God 00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.480 still brings 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.119 justice 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:21.859 to 00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:22.759 and for 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.500 his people. 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.779 God is still 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.160 active 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:27.660 in the story 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.420 of Israel, 00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:29.740 and even more 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.240 than that, 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.700 God still 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.420 gives guidance 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.380 to his people. 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.120 Note what they 00:26:35.120 --> 00:26:35.600 do here 00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:35.940 that they 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.480 haven't done 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.500 for some time. 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.320 They inquire 00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:38.820 of God 00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.539 three times. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.740 Three times, 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.640 God answers. 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.440 Verse 18, 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.039 verse 23, 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.980 verses 27 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.680 and 28. 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.279 And in verse 28 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:51.220 he tells them this, 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.640 go up, 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:53.480 for tomorrow 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.539 I will give them 00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.580 into your hand. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.620 And then 00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:58.460 verses 29 00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.120 through 48 00:26:59.120 --> 00:26:59.740 we see this 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.440 ambush 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.740 that they set up, 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.620 their final move 00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:03.240 that brings them 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.900 success 00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:05.299 and all its 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.200 after effects. 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:08.480 Which reminds us 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:08.940 of this, 00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.460 in the midst 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.779 of imperfection 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.660 and sin 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.420 and failure, 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.400 God 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:17.200 still 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.120 hears 00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:18.960 his people. 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:23.319 In the midst 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:24.299 of Israel's 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.039 mess, 00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:26.759 God 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.279 has not 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.799 given up. 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.420 Which returns 00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:30.820 us 00:27:30.820 --> 00:27:31.779 to something 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.180 we haven't 00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:32.680 talked about 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.160 for a few 00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:33.779 chapters now 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.519 which is this, 00:27:35.320 --> 00:27:35.800 no matter 00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:36.500 where you are 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.920 and no matter 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.300 what you've 00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:38.600 done, 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.980 because of 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.720 God's 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.480 grace, 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.240 there is 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.720 still hope. 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.420 Now there's 00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:48.800 some odd 00:27:48.800 --> 00:27:49.420 things here. 00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:50.779 There's three 00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.580 different battles. 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:53.180 The first two 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:53.700 battles, 00:27:54.060 --> 00:27:54.800 Israel loses 00:27:54.800 --> 00:27:55.360 and loses 00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:56.100 a bunch of men. 00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.579 It's not 00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:58.219 until the end 00:27:58.219 --> 00:27:58.480 that they 00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:58.919 actually have 00:27:58.919 --> 00:27:59.659 success and 00:27:59.659 --> 00:28:00.019 that raises 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.639 this question, 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.519 like why is 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.039 it that God 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.539 doesn't allow 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.139 them to conquer 00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:03.679 in the first 00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:04.019 battle? 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:05.199 There's all 00:28:05.199 --> 00:28:05.639 sorts of 00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.279 different theories 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:06.799 at work. 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.559 People have 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.240 different ideas. 00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:09.639 Ultimately, 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.399 we don't know. 00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.179 We're not told. 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.819 What we do 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:13.539 know is this, 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.279 God still 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:15.779 listens to 00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:16.179 his people. 00:28:17.879 --> 00:28:18.719 God listens 00:28:18.719 --> 00:28:19.539 to his people 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.279 despite the 00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:21.159 compromise of 00:28:21.159 --> 00:28:21.519 Benjamin, 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.299 the fact that 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:22.639 they're not 00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:23.159 willing to 00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.699 hand over 00:28:23.699 --> 00:28:24.379 this subset 00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:25.120 from Gibeah. 00:28:26.060 --> 00:28:26.700 God listens 00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:27.460 to his people 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.540 even though 00:28:28.540 --> 00:28:29.320 the Levite 00:28:29.320 --> 00:28:30.180 runs a spin 00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:30.860 story and 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:31.500 changes a bunch 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.040 of the facts 00:28:32.040 --> 00:28:32.460 about what 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:32.900 happened with 00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:33.420 his concubine. 00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:35.660 God still 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.220 listens to 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.700 his people 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.360 even though 00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:37.860 they have 00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:38.600 let the 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.260 influence of 00:28:39.260 --> 00:28:39.780 the culture 00:28:39.780 --> 00:28:40.600 around them 00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.360 twist them 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:42.120 and change 00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:43.260 them and 00:28:43.260 --> 00:28:43.900 shape them. 00:28:45.340 --> 00:28:45.980 That reminds 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.440 us of what 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.240 we already 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.920 read for us 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:48.360 this morning. 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.340 Hebrews 10 00:28:49.340 --> 00:28:51.140 verse 19. 00:28:52.020 --> 00:28:52.340 Therefore, 00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:52.940 brothers, 00:28:53.040 --> 00:28:53.540 since we have 00:28:53.540 --> 00:28:54.280 confidence to 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:54.859 enter the 00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:55.819 holy places 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:57.059 by the 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.119 blood of 00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:58.440 Jesus. 00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:00.700 Why does 00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.240 God listen 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:01.720 to his 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.079 people? 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.619 Not because 00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:04.119 they've earned 00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:04.339 it. 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.799 Not because 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.299 they deserve 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:06.559 it. 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:07.980 They don't. 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.440 No, he 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.079 listens to 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:10.379 them. 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.099 He stays 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.420 in their 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:14.180 story because 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:14.619 and only 00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.279 because of 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:15.980 his great 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:17.559 mercy and 00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:17.980 grace. 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.099 His grace 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.399 to hard-hearted 00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:21.920 people, 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.379 people like 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.700 you and 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:24.940 me. 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.860 Because we 00:29:27.860 --> 00:29:28.840 have a 00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:29.980 true and 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.440 faithful 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:30.840 king. 00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:32.340 A king 00:29:32.340 --> 00:29:32.660 who can 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.120 do what 00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:33.700 no human 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.300 can do, 00:29:35.020 --> 00:29:35.600 which is to 00:29:35.600 --> 00:29:36.820 change the 00:29:36.820 --> 00:29:37.780 hearts of 00:29:37.780 --> 00:29:38.000 men. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.640 It's the 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.100 promise of 00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:40.580 the gospel. 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.040 It's the 00:29:42.040 --> 00:29:42.680 promise for 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:44.140 you if you're 00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.700 in Christ. 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.640 If you're a 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.340 Christian following 00:29:47.340 --> 00:29:48.260 after him and 00:29:48.260 --> 00:29:49.700 you know that 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.080 you haven't 00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:50.960 deserved it and 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.280 you haven't 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:53.039 earned it, but 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.579 instead you 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:54.220 look in faith 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.839 to Christ who 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.339 lived the 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.079 perfect life that 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.519 we should have 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.839 lived and who 00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.619 died the death 00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.099 that we 00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:01.740 deserved, we 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:03.779 know that 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.879 God's words in 00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:06.399 2 Timothy 2 are 00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.440 true for us. 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.299 If we are 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:11.019 faithless, he 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:12.220 remains faithful 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.980 for he cannot 00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:16.460 deny himself. 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:16.539 love. 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.440 Let's pray. 00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.360 Our Father in 00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:23.140 heaven, we do 00:30:23.140 --> 00:30:24.759 praise you and 00:30:24.759 --> 00:30:25.700 thank you for 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.620 your great mercy 00:30:26.620 --> 00:30:27.380 and your grace, 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:29.140 your mercy to 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.640 Israel in the 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.140 midst of their 00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:32.519 failure, your 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.259 mercy to us in 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:33.779 the midst of our 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.160 failures. 00:30:34.860 --> 00:30:35.519 We ask that you 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.620 would remind us of 00:30:36.620 --> 00:30:37.319 that truth and 00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:37.700 that you would 00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.819 grow our faith and 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:40.120 trust in it, that 00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:42.059 we would follow 00:30:42.059 --> 00:30:43.160 you more and 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.360 more with love 00:30:44.360 --> 00:30:44.819 and obedience. 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:46.119 We ask these 00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:46.700 things in the 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.359 mighty name of 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:48.059 Jesus Christ. 00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:48.679 Amen.