Judges as Deliverers!

Mo. 11/25/13: Judges 2:8, 10                  What arose after Joshua’s death?

Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old.

When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.

What arose after Joshua’s death? A generation arose that knew not God.

Tu. 11/26/13: Judges 2:11 – 12                  What did the children do?

Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger.

What did the children do? They became idol worshippers.

We. 11/27/13: Judges 2:14 – 15                  What was the result?

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.

What was the result? The Lord gave them into the hands of their enemies.

Th. 11/28/13: Judges 2:18 – 19                  What did their groaning do?

And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.

What did their groaning do? The Lord pitied them and gave them a Judge as a deliverer.

Fr. 11/29/13: Galatians 1:3 – 5                   What about us?

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

What about us? The Lord Jesus Christ will deliver us from this evil age.

An Altar named Witness

Mo. 11/18/13: Joshua 22:10, 12                  What did Reuben and Gad build?

And when they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan—a great, impressive altar.

And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go to war against them.

What did they build? They built an altar outside Jerusalem.

Tu. 11/19/13: Joshua 22:16, 20                  Why was Israel inflamed?

… They (a delegation of leaders) spoke with them, saying, “Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord: ‘What treachery is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that you have built for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel this day against the Lord?

Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.’”

Why was Israel inflamed? Israel recalled the nationwide penalty at Ai-Ai.

We. 11/20/13: Joshua 22:22                  What was Reuben and Gad’s answer?

“The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, He knows, and let Israel itself know—if it is in rebellion, or if in treachery against the Lord, do not save us this day.

What was Reuben and Gad’s answer? If the claim of rebellion was correct, they were willing to die.

Th. 11/21/13: Josh. 22:23, 26 – 27                  Why did they build the altar?

If we have built ourselves an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer on it burnt offerings or grain offerings, or if to offer peace offerings on it, let the Lord Himself require an account.

Therefore we said, ‘Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, but that it may be a witness between you and us and our generations after us …

Why did they build the altar? They built a witness for their children, not sacrifice.

Fr. 11/22/13: Joshua 22:33 – 34                  How did it end?

So the thing pleased the children of Israel, and the children of Israel blessed God; they spoke no more of going against them in battle, to destroy the land where the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.

The children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar, Witness, “For it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”

How did it end? Israel was satisfied: the altar was named ‘Witness.’

Thorns In The Eye

Mo. 11/11/13: Joshua 16:10                  Who did not drive out the enemy?

And (the children of Ephraim) did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.

Who did not drive out the enemy? The Ephraimites willfully did not drive out the Canaanites but enforced them to labor.

Tu. 11/11/13: Joshua 15:63, 17:12 – 13                  Who could not drive out the enemy?

As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

Who could not drive out the enemy? The children of Judah and Manasseh were unable to drive out the Jebusites and the Canaanites.

We. 11/11/13: Joshua 21:43 – 45                  Who delivered all enemies into Israel’s hand?

So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.

Who delivered all enemies into Israel’s hand? The Lord God.

Th. 11/11/13: Josh. 23:11 – 13                  What warning did Israel receive?

Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, … know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

What prophetic warning did Israel receive? To love the Lord their God or their enemies would be thorns in their eyes.

Fr. 11/11/13: Matthew 13:22                  Do we have a similar warning?

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Do we have a similar warning? Yes, in the parable of the sower.

Our Battle

Mo. 11/4/13: Joshua 11:16 – 17                  What are we to capture?

Thus Joshua took all this land: the mountain country, all the South, all the land of Goshen, the lowland, and the Jordan plain—the mountains of Israel and its lowlands, from Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, even as far as Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings, and struck them down and killed them.

What are we to capture? Here are areas that our Lord wants us to capture: our testimonies before family, friends and neighbors.

Tu. 11/5/13: Joshua 11:18 – 19                  How long will the battle last?

Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. All the others they took in battle.

How long will the battle last? The battle will neither be short nor life-long.

We. 11/6/13: Joshua 11:20                  Are we to be merciful to the enemy?

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, and that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Are we to be merciful to the enemy? No, the Lord wants us to take our inheritance in battle: He fights for us, so victory is assured.

Th. 11/7/13: Joshua 11:21 – 22                  Do giants oppose us?

And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakim from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.

Do giants oppose us? Yes, we have besetting sins but can destroy them in our territory.

Fr. 11/8/13: Joshua 11:23                  Can we capture our inheritance?

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war.

Can we capture our inheritance? Yes, we can, and have rest from war in our lifetime.

Scoffer

Mo. 10/28/13: Proverbs 9:8            What’s the antonym of scoffer?

      Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;

      Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

What’s the antonym of scoffer? A wise man, reading the Bible

Tu. 10/29/13: Proverbs 13:1            How can sons be different?

      A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,

      But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

How can sons be different? A scoffer does NOT listen.

We. 10/30/13: Proverbs 15:12            Will the scoffer see love?

      A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,

      Nor will he go to the wise.

Will the scoffer see love? No, not in one who wishes him well.

Th. 10/31/13: Prov. 21:11            What does a scoffer understand?

      When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;

      But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

What does a scoffer grasp? Punishment and to avoid it.

Fr. 11/1/13: Prov. 21:24            How does a scoffer act?

      A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;

      He acts with arrogant pride.

How does a scoffer act? A scoffer is arrogant and proud.