WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.660 You may be seated. Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at 00:00:07.660 --> 00:00:12.099 Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:17.859 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here, and we're glad 00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:22.839 that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, but because we're following Jesus together 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:28.620 as one community. And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced there's no one so good. They 00:00:28.620 --> 00:00:33.380 don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, which is why we come back 00:00:33.380 --> 00:00:40.320 week after week to hear what God has to say to us in his word. Just a couple weeks ago, after about 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:45.760 two years, we wrapped up our series in the Gospel of Mark, and the practice at our church is to 00:00:45.760 --> 00:00:51.460 change between Old Testament and New Testament to switch off every other series, and so now 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:56.240 we're headed into the Old Testament. And as I've mentioned a few times, we're going to be looking 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:01.800 at the book of Judges. The book of Judges is about many things. Some of the things it's about include 00:01:01.800 --> 00:01:08.659 this. It's about the need for constant renewal and revival among God's people. The book is about 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:16.099 our need for a faithful and true king, a king who can do what no human king can do, a king who's able 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:23.040 to change the hearts of people. And we're also going to see what happens when there are leaders 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:29.000 among God's people who lead with God's Spirit and lead in dependence on him. Of course, there's much 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:33.260 more that we could say about the book of Judges, but we're going to jump right in this morning. I'm 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:39.540 going to invite you to turn with me to Judges chapter 1. Now, I haven't done this maybe since 2019 00:01:39.540 --> 00:01:43.600 when we were in the book of Nehemiah. You'll remember when we were in the book of Nehemiah that we 00:01:43.600 --> 00:01:49.400 would sometimes read a whole chapter at a time. And so I would acknowledge, hey, sometimes it can be hard 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:53.920 in church to pay attention to a whole chapter being read at once. And so I would give you an 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.840 assignment. I have an assignment for you this morning. As you look at it, so that you're not 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:04.380 easily distracted, I want you again to track a phrase with me. I want you to track how many times 00:02:04.380 --> 00:02:11.819 you see the phrase, not drive out. Now, it could have some other words around it. It might say, 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:16.319 not drive them out. In some places, it might just say, not drive out. But where you see, 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:20.840 not drive out. If you have a pencil or a pen, maybe you can underline it. I want you to count 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:25.280 and see if you can track all of the things. Because as we've talked about in the past, 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:31.859 when the Bible teaches us, especially in the Old Testament, repetition is extremely important. 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:36.560 And so it's with that, I am going to invite you to turn with me. You can turn in your Bible. 00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:41.359 You can turn on your phone. You can turn in your worship guide. No matter where you turn, 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:46.360 remember that this is God's Word. And God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, 00:02:46.440 --> 00:02:51.740 even the finest gold. And it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:02:52.420 --> 00:02:56.420 And so that's why we read together now, starting at Judges 1, verse 1. 00:02:57.420 --> 00:03:01.100 After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, 00:03:01.440 --> 00:03:05.260 who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them? 00:03:05.259 --> 00:03:11.219 The Lord said, Judah shall go up. Behold, I have given the land into his hand. 00:03:11.959 --> 00:03:16.959 And Judah said to Simeon his brother, Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, 00:03:17.239 --> 00:03:22.840 that we may fight against the Canaanites. And I likewise will go with you into the territory 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:29.459 allotted to you. So Simeon went with him. Verse 4. Then Judah went up, and the Lord gave the 00:03:29.459 --> 00:03:34.579 Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they defeated 10,000 of them at Bezek. 00:03:34.580 --> 00:03:40.400 They found Adonai Bezek at Bezek and fought against him and defeated the Canaanites and 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:46.800 the Perizzites. Adonai Bezek fled, but they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:54.620 big toes. And Adonai Bezek said, Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to 00:03:54.620 --> 00:04:01.740 pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, 00:04:01.740 --> 00:04:08.200 and he died there. Verse 8. And the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it and struck 00:04:08.200 --> 00:04:13.939 it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire. And afterward, the men of Judah went down to 00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:19.680 fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country in the Negev and in the low land. And Judah 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:24.879 went against the Canaanites who lived in the Hebron. Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath Arba, 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:30.860 and they defeated Sheshai and Ahaman and Talmai. Verse 11. From there, they went against the 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:37.159 inhabitants of Debor. The name of Debor was formerly Kiriath-sephir. And Caleb said, He who attacks 00:04:37.159 --> 00:04:43.279 Kiriath-sephir and captures it, I will give him Oxa, my daughter, for a wife. And Ophniel, the son of 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:49.459 Kenes, Caleb's younger brother, captured it. And he gave him Oxa, his daughter, for a wife. When she came to 00:04:49.459 --> 00:04:55.319 him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said 00:04:55.319 --> 00:05:01.659 to her, What do you want? She said to him, Give me a blessing. Since you have set me in the land of 00:05:01.659 --> 00:05:07.779 the Negev, give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. 00:05:08.599 --> 00:05:14.599 Verse 16. And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:20.220 the city of Palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negev near Arad. And they went 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:25.200 and settled with the people. And Judah went with Simeon, his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites 00:05:25.200 --> 00:05:32.240 who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah. Judah also 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:38.879 captured Gaza with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory. And the 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:46.319 Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country. But he could not drive out the 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:52.240 inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron. And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:59.879 said, and he drove out from it the three sons of Anak. But the people of Benjamin did not drive out 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:05.180 the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:10.920 Jerusalem to this day. The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:17.939 And the house of Joseph scouted out Bethel. Now the name of the city was formerly Luz. And the spies saw 00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:23.500 a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, Please show us the way into the city, and we will deal 00:06:23.500 --> 00:06:29.340 kindly with you. And he showed them the way into the city. And they struck the city with the edge of the 00:06:29.340 --> 00:06:34.819 sword, but they let the man and all his family go. And the man went to the land of the Hittites and built 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:44.099 a city and called its name Luz. That is its name to this day. Verse 27. Manasseh did not drive out 00:06:44.099 --> 00:06:50.339 the inhabitants of Bethshean and its villages, or Tannic and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:56.319 and its villages, or the inhabitants of Iblium and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its 00:06:56.319 --> 00:07:02.860 villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. When Israel grew strong, they put the 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:11.400 Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. And Ephraim did not drive out the 00:07:11.400 --> 00:07:17.699 Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. Zebulun did not drive out 00:07:17.699 --> 00:07:22.460 the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalul, so the Canaanites lived among them, 00:07:22.780 --> 00:07:30.139 but became subject to forced labor. Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Akko, or the inhabitants 00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:36.579 of Sidan, or of Ahlab, or of Ahzib, or of Helba, or of Afik, or of Rehob. So the Asherites lived among 00:07:36.579 --> 00:07:46.479 the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out. Verse 33. Naphtali did not 00:07:46.479 --> 00:07:51.839 drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth Anath, so they lived among the 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:58.379 Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and of Beth Anath became 00:07:58.379 --> 00:08:04.459 subject to forced labor for them. The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill 00:08:04.459 --> 00:08:10.579 country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain. The Amorites persisted in dwelling in 00:08:10.579 --> 00:08:16.459 Mount Heraz in Ejolon and in Shalbam, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily on them, 00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:22.300 and they became subject to forced labor. And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of 00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:30.220 Akrabim, from Selah, and upward. Chapter 2. Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochum, 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:35.860 and he said, I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give your fathers. 00:08:36.460 --> 00:08:42.980 I said, I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:51.220 of this land. You shall break down their altars, but you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? 00:08:51.220 --> 00:09:00.220 So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:05.720 and their gods shall be a sneer to you. As soon as the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:11.720 the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:19.240 place, Bochum, and they sacrificed there to the Lord. I invite you to pray with me as we come to this 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:28.480 portion of God's Word. Our Father in heaven, we thank you again that you speak to us clearly in 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:33.879 your Word. You speak to us not just through the New Testament, but also through the Old Testament, 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:41.500 that we see your Son and our Savior, our Lord Jesus, from the very beginning of Scripture all the way to 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:48.779 the very end. We thank you for what you've reminded us of in 2 Peter chapter 1, that you have precious 00:09:48.779 --> 00:09:54.980 and very great promises that we can hold on to and cling to. We ask that you would remind us of those 00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:59.500 this morning, and that you would help us to understand your Word, and most of all, you'd help us 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:06.879 to see Jesus Christ. We'd understand His love for us and His provision for us, and we'd follow Him with 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:12.259 faith and obedience. We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:20.700 It's been quite some time now since we've been in the Old Testament. The last time we were there was, 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:27.580 I believe, 2021, when we finished the book of Daniel. And so it's important just to remember where we are 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:31.500 right now in the story of the Old Testament. If you're familiar with the story of the Old Testament, 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:36.259 you know we start in Genesis, and we move quickly to the patriarchs. We have Abraham, Isaac, 00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:42.519 Jacob, and Joseph. Joseph ends up taking God's people into Egypt, and in Egypt, they end up becoming 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:49.879 slaves for 400 years. Then God delivers them out of Egypt. They wander in the desert for 40 years, 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:56.720 and after that point, God brings them into the Promised Land. It's the book of Joshua, which comes right 00:10:56.720 --> 00:11:03.000 before the book of Judges, that tells about God's people entering the Promised Land and the beginning 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:09.340 of their conquest of the Promised Land. So where we are right now, and you may have noticed this, 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:18.139 chapter 1, verse 1, Joshua dies. So it is the end of the beginning of God's people settling the 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:23.159 Promised Land, but they have not finished settling the land. So that's why you see in verse 1, 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:29.620 who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them. So the goal of God's people 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:34.379 at this point, this is the mission that God's given them, to go into Canaan, the land that God promised 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:40.039 them when they left Egypt, and to clear it of the other nations who would tempt them to worship other 00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:46.580 gods. So big picture, here's where we are in the story of the Old Testament. We are after Israel has been 00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:54.740 saved from Egypt after their wandering in the desert. We are before the time of the kings. So we're after 00:11:54.740 --> 00:12:00.980 wandering in the desert. We're before Saul comes in as the first king of Israel. And that period in between 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:06.539 is the period of the Judges. It's important for us to know that and know the history of what's come 00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:12.960 before in the book of Joshua, because if we do, then we know the job that Israel has in here. And God 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:20.139 repeats this again through his angel in chapter 2. The job that Israel has is to clear the Promised Land 00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:26.899 of the Pagan Nations. They are supposed to completely drive them out. That's what starts 00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:33.720 in the book of Joshua. That's what's supposed to be finished in the book of Judges. It's that 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:38.720 background that helps us to understand kind of the big picture of what we've looked at in all of 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:43.679 chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2. And the big picture is this, that their obedience 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:53.699 is partial at best. The obedience of God's people in obeying his command to take the Promised Land 00:12:53.699 --> 00:13:01.899 is partial at best. Now, things start out overall pretty good. Judah is chosen as the tribe that is 00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:08.319 meant to go up first. And things are mostly good with Judah's conquest. This is, say, verses 1 through 19, 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:14.260 essentially. However, we have just even a small hint at the very beginning. What does God tell his people? 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:21.120 He says, I want Judah to go. I'm going to be with them. What does Judah say? Hey, verse 3, Simeon, 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:28.660 how about you come along and party with us? And if you come and fight with us, we'll go back and fight 00:13:28.660 --> 00:13:37.900 with you. Except God did not say for Judah and Simeon to go. God said for Judah to go. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:44.540 In other words, even at the very beginning, Judah decides, you know what? We know God's promise and 00:13:44.540 --> 00:13:50.420 he's with us. He's got that power and that presence we've heard about. But let's take some insurance 00:13:50.420 --> 00:14:00.080 just in case. Let's have a backup plan just in case God doesn't come through. And so it's not, 00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:04.000 you know, it's not the end of the world. We see worse things in the chapter. But we're given a small 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:08.820 hint here. Even at the beginning, there's this question, is God actually going to do what he said 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:13.559 he's going to do? Is he going to keep his word? Is he actually powerful enough to drive out the 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:18.360 nations? Is his presence enough for Judah? Or do we need to bring in some other allies, you know, 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:23.779 just in case? I mean, maybe God's going to have a bad day when we're fighting against the Canaanites. 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:28.379 And Simeon can come and kind of shore us up and that will bring us over the top. 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:35.080 Now, things are mostly good with Judah. We have a few interesting stories. We have Adonai Bezek, 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:41.159 who gets his toes and his big toe and his thumbs chopped off. That reminds us of the Old Testament 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:45.639 principle that the punishment fits the crime, something he himself understands. He said, 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:51.220 I've done it to 70 other people, so it makes sense that I have it done to me. And then we have this 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:57.279 quick story about Aksa, who is the daughter of Caleb. Caleb, remember, is one of the only two 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:02.899 Israelites who remained faithful in taking the promised land. This takes us back to Numbers chapter 14. 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:08.600 So Caleb and Joshua are kind of the premier leaders of Israel, the ones who believed God's 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:14.059 promises when no one else believed them. And so they're the only ones in that generation who get to 00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:18.240 enter the promised land. That's why there's the wandering in the desert for 40 years. That whole 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:24.740 other generation dies off except for Caleb and Joshua. So Caleb, Joshua, we see the end of him at the 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:30.340 beginning of the chapter. Caleb here, it's supposed, wants his daughter to end up with a man like him. 00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:35.960 He's a strong and valiant warrior who believes God's promises. And so he says, look, here's what 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:40.600 I want. I want a man for my daughter who is strong and valiant and believes God's promises. And so 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:45.139 whoever is willing to go out and do what God's commanded, they are going to receive her as their 00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:51.840 wife. We learn quickly that this is a phenomenal deal for that man because Aksa is a force multiplier. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:58.480 She understands the importance of water rights, something we understand all too well in Colorado. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:03.680 Verse 15, she says, look, you're going to give us this land. We need some water as well. And then 00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:07.440 she's kind of behind the scenes telling her husband, hey, you need to go ask for more things. 00:16:08.180 --> 00:16:13.700 We're not told whether he acts on his wife's advice. I won't spend too much time talking about Aksa 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:18.019 except to say we're going to see this later throughout the book of Judges. This lays the foundation 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:24.179 of the fact that over and over what we're going to see, a variety of wise and powerful women. 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:30.500 And just like in the time of Judges, we still need wise and powerful women today. 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:39.379 Now, those are some bright spots in what is mostly a dark chapter. Things start small and they get worse 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:46.620 as the chapter goes on. They are especially bad in verse 19. And this, by the way, was the first time 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:52.000 you saw those three words, not drive out. And the Lord was with Judah and he took possession of the 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:58.659 hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots 00:16:58.659 --> 00:17:05.039 of iron. Now, I just read to you two statements that can't be true at the same time. 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:12.619 Verse 19, God was with them and they could not drive them out. Either God was with them 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:20.179 or they could not drive them out. Those things cannot both be true. 00:17:22.719 --> 00:17:26.219 And in fact, God says as much through his angel later on in chapter two. 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:30.839 One man has said this is written as if it's a press report from the Israelites trying to defend 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:37.659 their actions. And so when they say could not drive them out, there's perhaps a little bit more 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:44.220 going on than that. And we see right after it, Caleb kind of beats the odds, right? Verse 19, 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:49.640 they can't drive out because of the chariots, but Caleb's able to take Hebron and he drives out 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:55.500 from it the three sons of Anak. And so we see Judah as a tribe overall, failing in faithfulness 00:17:55.500 --> 00:18:01.779 to God and Caleb remaining strong as he always has. Verse 19, though, is just the beginning. 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:06.759 Verse 21, the people of Benjamin will not drive them out. And then in verses 27 through 36, 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:13.559 we have this absolute cascade of failure. And this is where if you were marking, you're just 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:19.960 having to constantly mark phrases. Okay, how many not drive outs did you find? 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:28.339 Yeah, I have a list. I could be wrong, but I have a list of 10. And here's where I have them. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:36.420 Verses 19, 21, once for every verse, 27 through 32. And then it shows up finally in that sobering 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:43.140 statement in verse 3 of chapter 2. God says, you did not drive out, so I will not drive out. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:48.259 So the author of Judges is telling us over and over, he wants to make it crystal clear. 00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:54.200 Beginning things started out okay, at the end they fell apart. And why did they fall apart? 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:56.700 Because God's people did not obey His word. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:19:04.319 Now we don't have to wonder why. We actually have another hint. Not drive out appears 10 times. 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:07.860 We have another phrase that appears four times in that section, which is this. 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:10.620 They put them to forced labor. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:13.640 What's going on? 00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:20.319 People of Israel have decided that they are slightly wiser than God. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:23.879 God has told them to drive these people out. 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:29.059 But that's actually not the best strategy. And here's why it's not the best strategy. 00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:34.460 If we drive these people out, they will not be able to provide us with free labor. 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:40.079 The economy will not be booming if we do what God has commanded. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:51.259 It actually makes, I mean, we understand what the priests are trying to say, but they are so heavenly minded that they're of no earthly good. 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:54.339 They don't understand the reality on the ground. 00:19:54.699 --> 00:19:57.799 I mean, look, we've got this land to capture. We've got to cultivate it. 00:19:58.059 --> 00:20:00.619 Of course we need to put these people to forced labor. 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:05.299 Yeah, we know that technically what God said was to drive them out. 00:20:06.179 --> 00:20:08.899 Okay, but let's face the reality on the ground. 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:12.240 Reality on the ground is we need to put them to forced labor. 00:20:12.320 --> 00:20:14.580 That actually makes a lot more sense. 00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:18.840 We know what God said, but let's be practical. 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:25.100 We're not actually going to give up all these people who can do all this work for us. 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.740 And so the point is this. 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:33.820 As one man has said, pragmatism is the opposite of faith. 00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:38.880 Pragmatism is the opposite of faith. 00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:42.560 And it's the opposite of faith, as he explains for this reason. 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:46.200 Pragmatism operates only based on what we can see. 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:51.080 Pragmatism operates only based on what we can see. 00:20:51.320 --> 00:20:54.900 Pragmatism leaves no room for God to act. 00:20:56.820 --> 00:20:59.320 Pragmatism has a earthly perspective. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:01.040 It has no heavenly perspective. 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:08.879 Pragmatism believes it is up to what I can do right now, not what God can do in his power. 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:17.240 And so pragmatism excludes at the very beginning the option that maybe God might intervene. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:21.480 Maybe he might do something supernatural to honor our obedience. 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:25.259 Maybe God is wiser than we are. 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:32.920 And so doing the practical thing often leads to a world of compromise and unbelief. 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:39.640 That's the trajectory we see in Judges chapter 1. 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:45.340 They choose to do the sensible thing rather than the right thing. 00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:51.720 They do what makes sense to them, not what God has instructed. 00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:57.519 And so what are we to make of all of that? 00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:04.639 Well, we have sort of an earthly interpretation in chapter 1. 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:09.819 And we get a heavenly perspective in chapter 2. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.920 Eventually, for all things, rent comes due. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:19.940 And rent comes due for Israel when the angel of the Lord shows up. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.900 Chapter 2, verse 1. 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:24.660 And he reminds them of two things. 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.400 He reminds them of God's command. 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:29.740 And he reminds them of their disobedience. 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.019 Verse 2. 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:35.320 You shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:37.380 You shall break down their altars. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:41.279 But you have not obeyed my voice. 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:48.920 And so that's where we have this sobering quote on page 9 of your worship guide, 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:51.940 which contrasts the story that the Israelites tell in verse 19 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:54.660 from God's statement in verse 2 here. 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:57.200 We read the Israelites were unable. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:00.759 Chapter 2, verse 2 is a flat contradiction of this claim. 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:04.039 Essentially, the Israelites said we could not. 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:07.640 And God answers here, you would not. 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:11.120 I gave you a command. 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:13.460 You failed to obey. 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:16.960 The angel just doesn't tell them that, though. 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:20.700 Before he points out God's command and their disobedience, 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:22.220 he shares something else with them. 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:23.920 Look back at verse 1. 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:30.559 He reminds them of God's faithfulness in the past. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:34.220 I brought you up from Egypt. 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:39.480 And he reminds them of God's promise for the present and the future. 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:43.960 I will never break my covenant with you. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:48.379 God reminds them of his faithfulness in the past. 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:50.220 I brought you out of Egypt. 00:23:50.919 --> 00:23:55.059 And he reminds them of his promises for the present and the future. 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:58.579 I will not break my covenant with you. 00:23:58.579 --> 00:24:03.919 Not only did I give you my word, 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:08.740 not only did I tell you my covenant would be unbroken, 00:24:09.679 --> 00:24:13.839 but I'd already showed you how powerful I was. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:17.119 It wasn't just words. 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:21.359 You already saw me free you from Egypt. 00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:23.679 It wasn't just words. 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:27.139 You've already seen the ten plagues that I brought upon the Egyptians. 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:31.140 It wasn't just words you saw when I parted the Red Sea. 00:24:31.800 --> 00:24:36.700 It wasn't just words you saw me bring you into this land. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:41.060 I will not break my covenant with you. 00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:43.980 I delivered you out of Egypt. 00:24:45.360 --> 00:24:46.780 And what have you done? 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:52.379 They've forgotten the lesson of Caleb and Joshua from Numbers chapter 14. 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:54.859 God told them to take the promised land. 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:57.500 Only Caleb and Joshua were willing to do it. 00:24:58.660 --> 00:25:01.740 And here the same cycle repeats again. 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:07.740 And so what's happening in Judges at the beginning is very simple. 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:12.359 Israel has failed to remember God's power in the past. 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:17.620 Israel has failed to remember God's promises for the present and the future. 00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:22.639 Israel has failed to remember God's power in the past. 00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:27.619 And they have failed to remember his promises for the present and the future. 00:25:28.479 --> 00:25:33.000 God's people have refused to take God at his word. 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:39.039 They assessed the situation only by what made sense on the ground. 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:41.880 They looked at only what was practical. 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:46.259 They only were concerned with what made sense financially. 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:55.000 And so we might say that they failed to act on Psalm 20 verse 7. 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:58.779 Some trust in chariots and some in horses. 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:03.660 But we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:12.740 Israel had too much in the chariots and horses bucket 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:16.599 and too little in the name of the Lord our God bucket. 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:26.180 And so for us, the reminder and challenge is this, 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:30.720 that we have to trust in God's power and his promises. 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:34.700 What is this passage teaching us? 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:39.920 It is teaching us how important it is to take God at his word. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:44.500 We look to what he has done in the past 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:47.340 and we know what kind of power he has. 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:51.580 We look at his promises for the future 00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:54.300 so that we can obey. 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.300 Remember, we have already read this. 00:26:58.340 --> 00:27:00.220 2 Peter 1 verse 4, 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:03.800 he has precious and very great promises. 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:07.500 How is Israel supposed to obey him? 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:09.620 How are we supposed to obey God today? 00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:12.679 It's by remembering his power and believing his promises. 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:19.339 It means that when we are tempted to compromise, 00:27:20.479 --> 00:27:23.539 to appease or please our family, 00:27:24.979 --> 00:27:29.500 we remember God's promise in Psalm 27 verse 10. 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:32.619 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:35.000 but the Lord will take me in. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:41.119 When we are tempted to give up the fight 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:44.160 and we believe that everything is all over, 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:49.619 we remember God's promise to us in 1 Corinthians 2 verse 10. 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:53.140 What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:57.099 nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared 00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:59.079 for those who love him. 00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:04.720 It means that when society seems to be crumbling around us 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.639 and we're tempted with poor choices and poor words, 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:12.819 we remember God's promise in Psalm 46. 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:15.619 God is our refuge and strength, 00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:17.299 a very present help in trouble. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.039 Therefore, 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:20.980 we will not fear that the earth gives way, 00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:24.539 though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:32.339 It means that we remember God's promise in Revelation chapter 21 verse 4 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:36.000 that he's going to wipe away every tear from our eyes 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.599 and death shall be no more. 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:47.779 It means if you're unsure of whether your faith can survive tragedy, 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:52.199 you remember God's promise in Psalm 34 verse 18 00:28:52.199 --> 00:28:54.699 that he's near to the brokenhearted 00:28:54.699 --> 00:28:57.740 and he saves the crushed in spirit. 00:28:57.740 --> 00:29:03.660 And it means that when you are faced with challenges on every side, 00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:08.079 unsure of which way to go, 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:13.000 and tempted to do something rash or foolish, 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:17.779 you remember God's promise in James chapter 1 verse 5. 00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:21.180 He gives wisdom to those who ask. 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.960 Brothers and sisters, 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:29.279 God has given us his precious and very great promises. 00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:34.279 And so we must take him at his word. 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:40.120 It means that when we're tempted to give up and stop fighting sin, 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:42.200 we're reminded of God's promise to us. 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:44.559 In Philippians chapter 1 verse 6, 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:46.220 for I'm sure of this, 00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:48.860 that he who began a good work in you 00:29:48.860 --> 00:29:52.680 will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:58.840 It means that when we are tempted to deny our Savior 00:29:58.840 --> 00:30:03.940 so that we don't have to risk a smaller salary 00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:06.259 or fewer friends, 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:10.039 we remember his promise in Matthew chapter 5. 00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:14.019 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:17.360 and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:19.679 Rejoice and be glad, 00:30:19.979 --> 00:30:23.319 for your reward is great in heaven. 00:30:26.679 --> 00:30:28.500 Now the people of Israel here, 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:31.299 they knew God's promise. 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:33.139 His promise we're reminded of in verse 1. 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:35.279 I will never break my covenant with you. 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:39.339 And Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 20 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:44.500 that all the promises of God are yes and amen in Jesus Christ. 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:53.240 How much more of a reason then do we have to believe and trust? 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:58.619 Yes, Israel in the Old Testament had seen God's power 00:30:58.619 --> 00:31:01.240 when he rescued them from Egypt. 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:06.279 Christian, you have seen God's power 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:08.420 when Christ rescued you, 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.960 not from slavery to Egypt, 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:11.440 but from slavery to sin. 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:13.980 You have seen God's power, 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.840 not in the parting of the Red Sea, 00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:19.059 but in raising a dead man to life. 00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:21.840 You have seen God's mercy, 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.960 not from provision of food in the wilderness, 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:28.019 but providing his one and only son 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:30.840 to be a sacrifice for us. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:37.519 All the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:40.680 And of course we have the promise we're given 00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:42.539 in Romans chapter 8 verse 32 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.599 where Paul tells us, 00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:45.400 if he gave you his son, 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:49.900 will he not with him give you all things? 00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:54.379 Brothers and sisters, 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:57.859 how do we follow God 00:31:57.859 --> 00:32:02.259 when the practical thing is very different? 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:07.460 We do it because we remember God's power in the past, 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:12.019 his power most of all shown in his redemption in Christ, 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:15.440 and we remember the promises he has given 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:16.940 that he's guaranteed to us 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:19.960 in the present and in the future. 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:25.420 And so that's why we're able to stand and sing, 00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:26.860 when the woes of life ortake me, 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.800 hopes deceive and fears annoy. 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:32.460 Never shall the cross forsake me. 00:32:33.560 --> 00:32:35.279 It glows with peace and joy. 00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:37.240 Let's pray. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.880 Our Father in heaven, 00:32:41.060 --> 00:32:43.880 we praise you and thank you 00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:45.180 that you have given us your word. 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:48.039 You've reminded us of what's true 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:51.039 when we're tempted with lies and unbelief. 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:54.639 And we ask that you would remind us this morning 00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:56.359 of your great power, 00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:00.420 that you are stronger than anyone and anything else, 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:02.200 and of your promises. 00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:05.940 Scriptures tell us that 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:08.519 if we are faithless, you remain faithful, 00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:10.379 for you cannot deny yourself. 00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:12.819 We ask that that would strengthen us and motivate us, 00:33:12.879 --> 00:33:15.980 that we would follow you with joy and faith. 00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:18.500 We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.200 Amen.