WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.480 Thank you so much to Jamie for leading us there. 00:00:03.640 --> 00:00:10.160 Thank you to Alistair and David who I set upon only when they came in the building to do the reading for us this evening. 00:00:12.460 --> 00:00:19.059 Well, here we are having heard this third and final section of the Gideon narrative read. 00:00:19.820 --> 00:00:23.400 Perhaps it would be worth recapping where we have been so far. 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:35.019 Judges as a whole began with those two chapters of introductory material showing us that all was not well with God's people in this land that God had gifted to them. 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:42.679 Joshua was dead and soon the people forgot God and started following the gods of the surrounding nations. 00:00:43.299 --> 00:00:50.179 But God in his grace and in his mercy, he did not abandon them to their idolatry. 00:00:50.179 --> 00:00:55.560 He did not let them stray their own way senselessly without a check. 00:00:55.939 --> 00:01:02.859 Rather, he used the surrounding nations to bring Israel back to their senses. 00:01:04.620 --> 00:01:18.120 And during our studies in Judges, we have found some fairly low points that Israel has had to get to before they would wise up and call out to the God that they should have been serving. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:29.320 When they realized their folly, they called out to God and it seems to be that he continually is willing to raise up a deliverer to rescue his people. 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:36.959 And we see Gideon, this most recent deliverer that we've had. 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:43.679 And we remember that God plucked him from utter obscurity to deliver Israel. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:51.419 Gideon had a little bit of a tendency to listen to everything but what God had actually said. 00:01:51.420 --> 00:01:58.900 But God nonetheless used Gideon to save his people amazingly. 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:04.519 But sadly, last week we left Gideon acting like a Canaanite king. 00:02:04.620 --> 00:02:09.659 We heard some of that with the first bit of our reading this evening. 00:02:09.920 --> 00:02:12.080 We left Gideon acting like a Canaanite king. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:13.319 Like a pagan king. 00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:14.740 A king who did not know God. 00:02:14.740 --> 00:02:18.860 And he established false worship in his hometown. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:32.360 But as we come to our passage for this week that we've just heard, the third section of Gideon, it doesn't finish with false worship and illegitimate government. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:35.439 No, it gets much, much, much worse. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:42.439 Before we dig into our passage, I wonder if I can set you thinking. 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:49.979 I wonder if you've ever sat with a friend over a cup of coffee and you've put the world to rights. 00:02:50.099 --> 00:02:51.479 You know that phrase, don't you? 00:02:52.099 --> 00:02:55.099 If only I was running the show, you would say. 00:02:56.419 --> 00:03:01.240 And then you would propose your solution to all the problems of the world. 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:10.520 Perhaps if I were king for a day, if only they would let me into 10 Downing Street, then I would sort out all these niggling problems. 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:18.540 Immigration, unemployment, the NHS education, we can solve it all in the time that it takes to sip at a latte. 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:19.939 Amazing. 00:03:19.939 --> 00:03:31.139 But thankfully, very few of us are ever in a position to take the reins as our daydream and fantasies would want us to. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:39.780 And I know that for myself, and I know the thoughts of a Tim-led country is a terrifying thought to many of you. 00:03:39.780 --> 00:03:50.139 If I were able to implement even a few of those solutions, the wider cost would be staggering in so many ways. 00:03:51.780 --> 00:03:59.500 And I wonder, in your mind, can you imagine the nightmare of a you-led nation? 00:04:00.340 --> 00:04:02.680 Of a you-ruled world? 00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:10.599 Perhaps we can just shelve that idea for a little while and come back to it later this evening. 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:12.319 Let's try and work through our passage. 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:18.199 But before we dig into the material that we've read, let's pray and ask God to help us this evening. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:22.960 Father, what we have read this evening is troubling. 00:04:24.379 --> 00:04:27.500 What we have read this evening is not pleasant reading. 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:31.540 It is not a nice story. 00:04:33.019 --> 00:04:36.839 And yet it comes as part of your holy and inspired word. 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:40.259 And so we long that you would speak to us through it. 00:04:41.220 --> 00:04:43.439 That you would teach us through it. 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:49.480 That we would leave this place not just with a little more information in our heads, 00:04:49.480 --> 00:04:54.860 but with fuel for the faith that we long to live in. 00:04:54.860 --> 00:05:01.040 We long that we would know what we are to do and how we are to do it in this world. 00:05:02.139 --> 00:05:07.920 And so we pray, Father, would you in grace and in mercy speak to each one of us this evening. 00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:11.759 And would you get all the glory in Jesus' name. 00:05:12.900 --> 00:05:13.220 Amen. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:17.300 God gives the people what they deserve. 00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:21.100 Sadly, I don't have a PowerPoint, but God gives the people what they deserve. 00:05:21.100 --> 00:05:25.340 That's what we see in the first section of our passage this evening. 00:05:26.140 --> 00:05:33.879 After the rather negative bent in Gideon's story, there's something of a positive gloss given to the end of Gideon. 00:05:34.660 --> 00:05:40.020 God has delivered Israel from the oppression of the Midianites and there's peace in the land. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:44.240 For 40 years, the land has been at peace. 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:49.460 And this has been a common part of the Judges cycle up until this point. 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:56.160 But notably, if you read further on in Judges, this is the last time the land gets peace. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:00.699 The cycle is breaking down. 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:06.240 And what we read this evening is all a part of a breakdown in the cycle of Judges. 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:12.759 The people do exactly what we'd expect them to do by this stage in our study of Judges. 00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:17.199 They sin, they go astray after the death of their last deliverer. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:21.180 But there's a massive difference to what happens next. 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:24.540 God doesn't do what he normally does. 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:37.640 He doesn't raise up a neighbouring nation to come and to punish Israel or to try and teach them their lesson or to oppress them or to try and bring them back. 00:06:38.620 --> 00:06:41.300 There's no fresh Midianite oppression. 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:44.580 Something else is happening here. 00:06:44.700 --> 00:06:48.160 Something different is happening in our cycle. 00:06:49.200 --> 00:06:50.820 But there's a similar trend. 00:06:50.819 --> 00:06:55.379 They make a beeline for idolatry as soon as Gideon dies. 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:57.980 They worship Baal, Baal. 00:06:58.620 --> 00:07:02.240 But Baal worship wasn't the worship of a single god. 00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:07.939 It's not like Judaism or Islam or Christianity or any of the monotheistic religions that we think of today. 00:07:08.539 --> 00:07:12.079 There seems to have been many strands in Baal religions. 00:07:12.719 --> 00:07:14.899 And we find a curious detail here. 00:07:14.899 --> 00:07:23.939 Their master, the Baal that they were going to give themselves to, if you translate Baal, it turns to something like Lord. 00:07:24.339 --> 00:07:30.459 The so-called Lord that they prostitute themselves spiritually to is Baalbereth. 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:31.259 Baalberet. 00:07:31.739 --> 00:07:36.799 The Lord of the covenant is what that word means, is what that name means. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:42.259 And perhaps you kind of skim over that and that doesn't really surprise you. 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:45.020 But remember who this was written to. 00:07:45.139 --> 00:07:46.379 This was written to Israelites. 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:50.660 To the inheritors of a covenant from God. 00:07:51.400 --> 00:07:53.100 Made through Abraham. 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:56.439 Confirmed through Isaac and Jacob. 00:07:56.759 --> 00:08:00.879 Made afresh at Sinai with Moses and that fledgling nation. 00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:04.019 Their parents have inhabited the land. 00:08:04.019 --> 00:08:07.839 And these children of Israel, they're enjoying peace. 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:11.919 Because of a deliverer raised up by the God of the covenant. 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:13.339 By Yahweh. 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:15.319 By the real true God. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:17.180 But they forget Yahweh. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:18.979 The God that made the covenant. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:22.639 And they create for themselves Baalberet. 00:08:23.419 --> 00:08:25.319 The Lord of the covenant. 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:31.620 Do you see how this is so utterly heinous? 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:37.000 What a slap in the face this is to God. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:42.620 They'd made a counterfeit to serve. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:47.080 And forgotten the genuine God with whom they had relationship. 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:51.580 This is madness. 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:55.560 And yet how often can we. 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:58.840 Yes, even we Christians. 00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:01.960 How often if we were to honestly examine our hearts. 00:09:02.620 --> 00:09:06.080 Would we find that a counterfeit has become our God. 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:12.800 How easily we slip into the same pattern as these people. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:17.879 Does our God never challenge us? 00:09:18.839 --> 00:09:22.299 Does our God never really require too much from us? 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:28.019 Does our God seem to have his top priority as our comfort? 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:34.500 Perhaps it could be that we have slipped. 00:09:35.459 --> 00:09:38.639 That we have forgotten the true God of heaven. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:42.360 And have created for ourselves a God in our own image. 00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:45.980 It could be that we come to church. 00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:48.299 And claim to worship the true God. 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:50.100 And to follow his son. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:53.559 And yet that we serve ourselves. 00:09:56.460 --> 00:09:59.559 And I'm sure we would find a much nicer way to put this. 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:02.739 But could it be. 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:06.079 That even tonight we find ourselves in that place. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.539 In their self-serving idolatry. 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:13.619 We find that they're faithless toward Gideon. 00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:15.279 And to Gideon's family. 00:10:15.719 --> 00:10:17.419 The deliverer that God used. 00:10:17.419 --> 00:10:22.099 And we find that. 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:25.559 This deliverer who. 00:10:26.579 --> 00:10:27.659 God used. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:28.419 He did what. 00:10:28.699 --> 00:10:29.599 We've already said. 00:10:29.699 --> 00:10:31.219 He acted like a paganite. 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:32.860 A Canaanite king. 00:10:33.199 --> 00:10:34.919 And he did what we'd expect of any of them. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:36.559 He married many wives. 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:39.019 These would have been political maneuvers. 00:10:39.699 --> 00:10:42.879 This is way back before the day of alliance treaties. 00:10:43.839 --> 00:10:45.679 These would have been political maneuvers. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:48.319 Alliances would have been forged through these marriages. 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:50.599 And many of these marriages came. 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:53.719 With these many marriages came. 00:10:54.059 --> 00:10:55.239 Many possible heirs. 00:10:56.099 --> 00:10:59.779 This wasn't what God had told his king of his people to do. 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:01.879 This was in direct violation. 00:11:02.339 --> 00:11:04.419 Of the covenant that God had made. 00:11:05.359 --> 00:11:06.639 But this is what Gideon did. 00:11:06.979 --> 00:11:09.000 And we're introduced to Abimelech. 00:11:10.339 --> 00:11:12.479 His name means my father is king. 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:16.759 And we find that he isn't the son of a wife. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:18.200 But of a concubine. 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:20.860 And she's come from Shechem. 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:23.039 Probably a Canaanite. 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:25.659 Probably from a Canaanite woman. 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:29.139 And there's so many layers of politics. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.720 And problems here. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:33.240 But the simplest way. 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:34.539 To cut through it all. 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:37.000 Seems to be that Gideon has slighted Shechem. 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:40.480 The alliance that he's made with them. 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:42.220 Is made through only a concubine. 00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:44.100 It's a second class treaty. 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:45.399 If you will. 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:47.899 And so Abimelech. 00:11:48.039 --> 00:11:50.139 This treacherous son. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.120 When his father dies. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.139 He plays on the political situation. 00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.360 And he puts himself forward. 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:58.279 As the candidate for king. 00:11:59.080 --> 00:12:01.279 He uses an ethnic argument. 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:03.179 I'm one of you. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.539 All those other people. 00:12:04.539 --> 00:12:05.899 They're not here. 00:12:06.699 --> 00:12:08.059 They're far away. 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:11.459 They don't belong to your people. 00:12:11.579 --> 00:12:12.240 But I do. 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:14.419 Make me king. 00:12:16.059 --> 00:12:17.419 And Shechem supports him. 00:12:18.179 --> 00:12:21.360 They give him money to start his campaign. 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:23.539 Money from the temple of their gods. 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:26.259 Note the amount they gave him. 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.480 70 shekels. 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.939 It seems like an odd figure to me. 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:32.839 I wonder why on earth would that possibly be the amount. 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:33.860 And why is it recorded? 00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:38.780 Isn't it convenient that he had 70 competitors to the throne? 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:42.360 This is blood money. 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:47.500 And he spends it on a mercenary army. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:51.320 To go and to systematically and brutally kill his half brothers. 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:55.580 What sort of a king will this be? 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:58.800 What sort of a leader are they supporting? 00:13:00.420 --> 00:13:02.940 Seemingly one exactly to their tastes. 00:13:03.780 --> 00:13:07.660 They are getting the leader they both desire and deserve. 00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:09.600 And to make it official. 00:13:09.920 --> 00:13:12.879 They go to the nearby oak at the pillar of Shechem. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:17.299 This is a monument that was set up by Joshua. 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:21.740 And it was done to serve as a witness to the law. 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:24.600 To the covenant that was being read to the nation of Israel. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:26.980 And what are they doing here? 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:29.120 They're showing their exact waywardness. 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:32.600 They're showing exactly the way that they don't care. 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:34.539 And the way that they want to go. 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.940 To crown Abimelech king. 00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:44.160 But God warns the people about the dangers. 00:13:45.020 --> 00:13:47.760 God warns the people about the dangers. 00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:51.380 Just as the pomp and the circumstance is at its pinnacle. 00:13:51.680 --> 00:13:55.640 Just as the coronation procession is in full swing. 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:56.680 Jotham. 00:13:57.640 --> 00:13:59.060 This odd character. 00:13:59.420 --> 00:14:01.440 A survivor of the extermination. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:05.720 He appears on the mountain overlooking Shechem. 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.980 And he makes this rather odd address to the people in the valley. 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:13.720 He tells them this parable about trees. 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:15.440 Isn't it curious? 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:20.440 He talks of the trees choosing for themselves a king. 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:24.820 And they go to three productive and valuable trees. 00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:27.340 To the olive tree, the fig tree and the vine tree. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.960 And all three of these trees. 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:31.000 They decline. 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:34.220 Because they produce something valuable. 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:41.080 It seems that they don't want to give up their value innately to serve as king. 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.980 But there's another candidate. 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:45.759 The bramble. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:47.240 The thorn. 00:14:48.420 --> 00:14:50.060 This is a worthless tree. 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:55.279 A bramble in these days was a common cause of wildfires. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:59.000 If you had brambles on your land, you wanted to get rid of them. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:00.419 Because they were dry. 00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:02.720 They easily caught fire in the summer heats. 00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:10.039 And they would be cause of wildfires that would then destroy the valuable trees that you had planted on your land. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.319 And the bramble's a small thing. 00:15:14.459 --> 00:15:15.860 It's about two foot high. 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.939 A bit of a bush. 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:21.240 It has thorns instead of leaves. 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:30.620 And so as we read this fable, see the utter absurdity of what's being said. 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:37.000 This idea that all the trees of the field will take shade under this bramble here. 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.080 It's laughable. 00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:44.080 There ought to be a wry smile coming across our face at that point. 00:15:45.300 --> 00:15:51.480 But the thing that drives this parable, that fable, is this idea of good faith. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:58.840 In the fable, the bramble, he thinks, perhaps these trees are having me on. 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:05.180 Perhaps this offer of kingship is just a cruel joke towards me. 00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:11.179 So I'll put this blessing or curse scenario on the situation. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:20.000 And when Jotham applies it to Abimelech and to Shechem, it's wrapped up with this idea of good faith. 00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:21.059 Do they really mean it? 00:16:22.479 --> 00:16:24.459 Is it done in trustworthiness? 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.779 Is it done in loyalty? 00:16:28.439 --> 00:16:32.500 Jotham doesn't say explicitly whether they are being loyal or disloyal. 00:16:32.599 --> 00:16:34.399 Whether they are doing it in good faith or not. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:37.079 But it's blatantly clear what he meant. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:43.360 He's showing to them that their treachery against Gideon and to his family is heinous. 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:46.899 And he's cursing them for their unfaithfulness. 00:16:47.579 --> 00:16:49.240 For their faithlessness. 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:55.519 Desiring the mutual destruction of both murderous Abimelech and his sponsors Shechem. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:17:02.699 But although it comes in this curse form and it's hard for us to recognize. 00:17:02.939 --> 00:17:07.240 I think Jotham is here warning the people of Shechem. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:14.259 There is perhaps a chance for them in the middle of this ceremony to turn back. 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:17.420 To listen to what Jotham has to say. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:20.420 And to avoid this curse. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:32.160 And perhaps as that wisdom that Jotham proclaimed back then caught their hearers. 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:34.640 We should hear it ourselves. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:46.980 We must recognize that those who we allow to lead are our responsibility to some level or another. 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:51.900 Whether in the church or in government or wherever we have a say. 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:57.920 We cannot wash our hands of the people who we have sponsored and supported. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:02.320 And we ought to be very careful about who we will follow. 00:18:02.840 --> 00:18:05.060 And who we will give the reins to. 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:12.040 We ought to take heed of those who would warn us about leaders who are dangerous. 00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:14.220 Men like Jotham. 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:22.140 And maybe unlike the people of Shechem we ought to pay attention. 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:29.339 And to be willing to break ties with leaders who we have sponsored. 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:35.759 And who we have sadly allowed to become our leaders. 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:39.940 Sadly Abimelech becomes king. 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:47.140 And for three years it seems that Abimelech's murderous ambition is rewarded. 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:57.140 And I'm sure for Jotham in those three years it felt like what Bruce was talking about this morning. 00:18:58.059 --> 00:19:01.460 He talked about being in St Andrews and being caught in the har. 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:04.580 And you can see nothing for the fog. 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:10.439 I'm sure that Jotham felt like that in those three years. 00:19:10.699 --> 00:19:12.899 I doubt he saw beyond the circumstances. 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:19.759 I doubt he saw beyond Abimelech's actions against him. 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:23.740 But let us be patient. 00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:29.199 Let's remember that God is in control when we see what happens next. 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:34.860 God punishes the treachery of Abimelech and the people. 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:39.160 God punishes the treachery of Abimelech and the people. 00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:43.200 This final or almost final section of our passage. 00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:46.700 This is kind of the main bulk of the material that we have. 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:52.440 And thankfully the author gives us a little bit of a peek behind the scenes. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:56.380 Just before he lets us into what happens. 00:19:56.380 --> 00:20:04.780 He lets us see that this is God working to bring justice to bear on Abimelech and on Shechem. 00:20:05.080 --> 00:20:07.680 And if we didn't have verses 23 and 24. 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:12.120 This whole section would read like a sad bloody coup. 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:16.200 That failed and what the aftermath happened. 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:22.380 But the happenings here are divine judgment on these faithless and treacherous people. 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:24.120 And it's important that we pick that up early. 00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:28.099 And that we have that in our minds as we read on to what actually happened. 00:20:29.239 --> 00:20:32.659 Firstly it seems that Abimelech is living away from Shechem. 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:34.759 And ruling it by a governor. 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:38.979 And the leaders of Shechem are discontent with this situation. 00:20:39.399 --> 00:20:41.799 And they begin to sponsor civil unrest. 00:20:42.699 --> 00:20:45.179 They fund people to disrupt travellers. 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:47.359 To rob passing traitors. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:52.659 This would have been amazingly damaging to Abimelech's reputation as a leader. 00:20:53.479 --> 00:20:55.959 If he was unable to secure his territory. 00:20:55.959 --> 00:20:57.679 To secure safe passage. 00:20:57.679 --> 00:21:02.759 He would be greatly weakened in his position. 00:21:04.159 --> 00:21:09.039 And Abimelech hears this and you expect him to come in vengeance right away. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:11.259 But before he's even able to react. 00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:14.200 A new character is introduced to the story. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:15.799 Gal. 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.899 A nobody. 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:20.819 It says that he's the son of. 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:23.059 That's the son of a slave. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.200 He's a nobody. 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:27.879 Who's recently seemingly came back to Shechem. 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:30.280 But he seems to have been a native. 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:32.960 He seems to have come from Shechem originally. 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:36.160 And he's full of bluster and talk. 00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:39.420 And the leaders of Shechem put their trust into Gal. 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:42.720 And it's summer time. 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:47.940 And there the Shechem International Festival is in full swing. 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:53.000 I'm sure they had a fringe and a book festival and a film festival and all the others to go along with it. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:59.720 And the party has moved up to the Esplanade at the top there. 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:01.920 Actually it's the Temple of Belberite. 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:03.539 But you know you get the idea. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:06.240 And the wine is flowing. 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:10.759 And Gal starts to become the centre of attention. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:12.700 He starts to talk. 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.559 He's ambitious. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.220 And he's charismatic. 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:17.380 And he captures the attention of the people. 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:20.180 And notice the irony. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:25.360 Notice that Gal makes exactly the same play for power that Abimelech did. 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:30.100 He calls in the support of the people based on their ethnicity. 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:33.080 And his relationship to them. 00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:38.740 Shechem existed before the Israelites came back into the land. 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:41.200 And it was built by Canaanites. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:44.700 And these inhabitants were seemingly descendants of Hamor. 00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:49.160 Perhaps intermingled with a little Israelite blood here and there. 00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:54.240 And Gal shoots off his mouth and gives this great show of bravado. 00:22:54.580 --> 00:22:57.580 If only he was here I would fight him. 00:22:57.900 --> 00:23:04.300 I would wait for him to bring out all of his army so that he couldn't claim that I bit him at a disadvantage. 00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:08.460 He strikes me a little like Conor McGregor. 00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:10.860 If you've been following that situation. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:15.640 If only Mayweather was here I would take the fight to him right now. 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:20.680 If only Mayweather would actually sign the contract so that we could get this over with. 00:23:21.520 --> 00:23:24.680 Well we all know what happens to McGregor in the end. 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:31.080 And this is the fire that's kindled from Shechem against Abimelech. 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:33.060 As Jotham put it in his fable. 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:36.320 Treachery against Gideon and his family. 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:42.179 Which led to Abimelech's ascension has morphed into treachery against Abimelech. 00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:47.039 And so the stage is set for the fire to come from Abimelech. 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.379 Abimelech's governor. 00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:50.980 This man Zebel. 00:23:51.379 --> 00:23:55.700 He hears this and his blood boils at the treasonous talk. 00:23:55.700 --> 00:24:03.039 And that very night Abimelech's army comes and moves into position near Shechem. 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:11.960 And the next day you can almost imagine Gal wandering down to the gate of the city. 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:18.440 Perhaps after his rough night he has his favourite hangover cure in his hand. 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.920 A coffee and a couple of pro plus. 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:23.460 And he sits at the gate. 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.840 And he looks out. 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.960 And he thinks he sees something. 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:31.460 And he turns to Zebel who's there with him. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.000 And he says, 00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:35.279 Are those people coming down from the mountain? 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:40.440 Zebel brushes it off. 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:40.640 No. 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:43.660 Are you still blurry for last night? 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:46.220 Are you still a little bit hungover? 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:48.080 Maybe you need your eyes checked. 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:54.700 But Gal sees more from a different place. 00:24:54.800 --> 00:24:56.480 And more from a different place. 00:24:57.500 --> 00:25:01.420 And I'm sure there was a flash of panic across his face. 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:06.880 And can you just imagine the relish that Gal has in saying these words? 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:09.480 Where is your mouth now? 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:15.799 Oh you who were so full of talk with a little bit of drink in you last night. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:21.180 Oh you who was so willing to put up a fight last night when he wasn't here. 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:23.880 Well, here's the man in his army. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:28.140 Go and do what you boasted about. 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:32.880 It's all gone wrong for Gal. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:35.940 He mounts a hasty defence. 00:25:36.540 --> 00:25:39.000 But is utterly defeated. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.300 He's shown to be a coward. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.500 You see him flee. 00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:47.880 And Zebel has the great pleasure of expelling him from Shechem. 00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:52.200 And you think that that would be the end of the tale. 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:55.880 But Abimelech isn't satisfied. 00:25:55.880 --> 00:26:02.740 And this is where we step into the horrifying aspects of our story this evening. 00:26:03.280 --> 00:26:05.320 The people of Shechem think that all is well. 00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:06.900 Gal has been punished. 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:09.200 And now everything can go back to normal. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:12.660 But they don't reckon on Abimelech's rage. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:17.380 He comes again the next day while they're out in the fields. 00:26:17.820 --> 00:26:19.740 And he catches the people unaware. 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:22.060 And he ruthlessly kills. 00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:24.100 He captures the gate. 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.500 He destroys the city. 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:28.659 He ensures that no one can escape from the violence. 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:31.899 He even sows the city with salt. 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:35.399 This was an incredibly expensive thing to do. 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:41.099 And it ensured that the city would be unproductive. 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:44.980 That he couldn't grow crops in the place for generations. 00:26:46.919 --> 00:26:50.939 We see it getting rebuilt after Solomon's reigns. 00:26:50.939 --> 00:26:53.399 Perhaps centuries after these events. 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:58.740 His rage and his spite seem to know no limit. 00:27:00.899 --> 00:27:03.039 And then he comes into the city. 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:06.000 And there seems to have been a contingent left behind. 00:27:06.459 --> 00:27:12.699 And they flee into the temple that they were partying in the previous night. 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:16.439 And there seems to have been something of a fortification there. 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:24.500 And so Abimelech goes and he takes wood from a nearby hill. 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:27.680 And he burns the place to the ground. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:34.180 And this is a truly horrific act for anyone to do. 00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:37.240 But just let this settle into your mind. 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:40.060 That he was meant to be their king. 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.340 Their leader. 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:47.000 He was meant to be their protector under God. 00:27:47.120 --> 00:27:48.900 And he massacres them. 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:55.140 But remember only three years before this was the leader that they chose to anoint. 00:27:55.140 --> 00:28:02.500 Abimelech isn't done. 00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:02.520 Abimelech isn't done. 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:07.660 He goes to nearby Thebes. 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:12.619 Whether they were rebellious or not we don't have any evidence for. 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:16.460 But he goes full of rage. 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:18.859 He's presented with a similar defensive tower. 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.980 And he thinks I've seen this before. 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:23.480 I'll do the same again. 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:29.319 And just as Abimelech seems to be ready to place the flaming torch to the woods. 00:28:30.360 --> 00:28:34.200 This unnamed woman drops the upper millstone. 00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:36.420 And it strikes him on the head. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:38.720 And leaves him helpless. 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:50.460 The shame for King Abimelech to be killed in battle by a woman is immeasurable. 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:56.079 And this story seems to be retold not just in what we hear in the Bible. 00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:59.200 But in folklore and in military tactics. 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:05.940 We hear something about it happening in Samuel when David is attacking a town. 00:29:08.340 --> 00:29:11.019 And full of pride and full of anger. 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:14.079 He calls this young man to finish him off. 00:29:14.360 --> 00:29:17.059 So that at least his memory would be preserved. 00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:20.340 At least his bravado would be intact. 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:24.799 And with Abimelech dead the army disintegrates. 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:27.259 And Thebes escapes destruction. 00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:32.220 They are awful events aren't they? 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:38.200 It is hard to read these things and to try and make sense of them. 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:41.160 There's nothing for us to emulate here. 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:44.100 As I've said repeatedly and others too. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:48.519 Judges is not a handbook for leadership. 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:54.180 It's not a book of examples, characters to try and follow. 00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:57.500 But there is a warning to us. 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:01.819 Evil does not go unpunished. 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:07.799 There is no such thing as a sin free sin. 00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:12.480 And those who abuse. 00:30:13.159 --> 00:30:14.379 Who wound. 00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:15.779 Who boast. 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:17.019 Who denigrate. 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:19.659 Who envy and lie. 00:30:19.919 --> 00:30:23.059 Who cheat and who steal and who kill. 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:26.700 They should see here. 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:30.259 That there is no hiding place from the consequences of flagrant sin. 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:35.779 But it doesn't always look like what we would expect. 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:41.839 One of my favourite comic book artists. 00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.700 A guy called Larson. 00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:46.519 Has this fantastic one of a computer screen. 00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:48.220 With a man walking along. 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:50.960 And you see a piano dangling above his head. 00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:54.139 And the keyboard is laid out in front. 00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:56.099 And it has a large smite button. 00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:59.119 With a finger poised over it. 00:30:59.939 --> 00:31:03.079 Sometimes that's what we think God is like. 00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:06.919 We think God will smite with a lightning bolt. 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:13.079 That he will sweep in and instantly destroy the evil person. 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:19.799 But far more often his justice is carried out through seemingly normal workings. 00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:21.700 Of men and women. 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:28.619 And this is something of a comfort to some of us who have been wronged. 00:31:29.159 --> 00:31:31.200 Who have never seen justice done. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:35.759 That God will punish those who do evil. 00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:43.059 But it's also a stark reminder that we ourselves have need of salvation from our own sin. 00:31:45.659 --> 00:31:49.659 Because we have all at various times and in various ways tried to make ourselves. 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:51.839 The captain of our own lives. 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:55.019 Remember the image that we had at the beginning. 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:58.200 Of a world ran by you. 00:31:58.440 --> 00:32:00.919 A king of your own life. 00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:06.619 We have all sought to be kings and queens of our own situations. 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:11.200 We've all sought to make gods for ourselves of our own comfort. 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:15.059 Or wealth or family or a million other things. 00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:19.680 And these false gospels lead us straight into sin. 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:28.440 But our only hope is to relent from our ceaseless pursuit of these false gods. 00:32:28.919 --> 00:32:32.460 And to turn back to the only true God. 00:32:33.159 --> 00:32:35.899 To submit to the only true king. 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.619 King Jesus. 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:44.659 Whose mercy and grace and love are the very antithesis of what we see here. 00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:48.080 The rage and the bloodthirst that we've seen in Abimelech. 00:32:48.860 --> 00:32:51.560 The very opposite we see in Jesus. 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:57.140 Who will we make king of our life? 00:32:58.800 --> 00:33:01.320 Will we make ourselves the king of our lives? 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:04.700 Do you trust yourself to lead yourself? 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:08.200 You who cannot go through a day without sinning? 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:13.340 You who cannot go through a day without messing up? 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:17.860 Or will we make Jesus the king of our life? 00:33:18.600 --> 00:33:24.120 The one whose love is proven even though he had to die for us? 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:33.759 Notice finally that even after all this disaster and rebelliousness. 00:33:35.099 --> 00:33:36.319 God still delivers. 00:33:36.879 --> 00:33:39.719 We didn't read verses 1 to 5 of chapter 10. 00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:42.379 Although they were part of my passage this evening. 00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.759 But here's the quick version. 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:49.960 Tola is raised up in somewhere near the same region as Shechem. 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:53.559 He has very little said about him. 00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:57.379 All that we know is for 23 years he judged Israel. 00:33:58.420 --> 00:33:59.940 But notice something very odd. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:01.519 There's no enemy mentioned here. 00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:05.420 There was no invading army to deal with again. 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:11.500 Tola was raised up in the aftermath of Abimelech to save the Israelites from themselves. 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:15.219 And following him Jer is raised up. 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:17.920 Another man with very little said about him. 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:21.179 And he again delivers without an enemy. 00:34:21.820 --> 00:34:25.579 And you have this time of stability and peace. 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:30.639 And even after all of their rebelliousness and folly. 00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:34.199 God is still working among his people for their good. 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:39.500 And whatever situation we find ourselves in this evening. 00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:43.519 There is yet hope that God will work in our lives. 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:51.340 Perhaps some of us are living with heavy burdens of shame and of sin. 00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:54.760 And despairing of the consequences. 00:34:57.739 --> 00:35:00.460 We have hope that God will still work. 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:06.480 Others of us live wounded by the evil of others. 00:35:06.720 --> 00:35:08.099 Hurt by consequences. 00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:13.079 Pained by bodies and minds that don't work how they should. 00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:17.519 We too have a refuge to run to. 00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:21.179 To this King Jesus who can heal. 00:35:21.799 --> 00:35:24.500 Who can bind up our broken hearts. 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:31.639 Who will one day fix these broken bodies and make them glorious like his own. 00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:36.279 The question I want to leave you with as I sit down is. 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:38.299 Who will we install as our King? 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:47.539 A mixture of Mother-knau. 00:35:47.620 --> 00:35:47.640 Th Tôi will đó. 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:48.420 Th互 от X sair. 00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:51.120 Staff người Mote him. 00:35:51.260 --> 00:35:53.160 Q marathon to here best Remain. 00:35:53.160 --> 00:35:55.460 fruit心 Dead. 00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:57.260 Assessor. 00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:59.420 ATQ408W4 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:01.900 I see him in Warden emalım. 00:36:02.140 --> 00:36:03.500 Taking care. 00:36:03.820 --> 00:36:05.100 Tweet me shirt.