Join me if you would tonight in the last chapter of the book of Judges. Judges last chapter. Now I'm going to leave the reading of this chapter to you. I read a commentary on this, and he left these words. This is his entire comment on the last three chapters of the book of Judges, and I can read it in about 13 seconds, I think.

Judges, chapter 21. We're going to spend our time on the last verse, but this is what this commentary said, commentator said on the last three chapters. The Benjamite deed of shame, a narrative of savage justice for a crime unspeakably horrible as a result of which the tribe of Benjamin was almost wiped out.

Quite a bit of the time in this chapter is spent in finding some wives for some of the Benjamites so that they won't be wiped out, and the various ways that they go through that. But the last verse of this chapter is a verse that we have been reminded of time and time again as we've gone through this glorious book, through the gospel according to the book of Judges.

We read here in this last verse of this, and the title of my message tonight, my lesson tonight is Postscript. Every once in a while I get a letter and, you know, a postscript is something that somebody thought of after they'd written everything up and signed it. And they put PS, postscript, which means added writing. And to me, that's what this verse is kind of like, because this is the way God left. This is the way that the Holy Spirit left the writer of this book. He had this as the last thing we come against in the book of Judges.

And it tells us right here, in those days, there was no king of Israel. This is the last thing. This is the postscript. It's not how good the judges were. Now there were some great judges, but you know what? We find out that every judge was a man. Just like we're gonna find out every king is a man and every priest is a man. And that's why it's so valuable that we have the king. that we have the prophet and we have the priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, because he is perfect in every way. There is no fraction of a sin in him.

But it goes on to tell us here, in those days, there was no king in Israel. Every man did that which was right in his own eyes. This, as we close this book, is what God the Holy Spirit intended for us to have as the final words about this book. And that was very interesting to me.

Now, as we go through the Old Testament, we do find that there is just a little bit more calamity in it, which shows the depravity of natural man than we find in the New Testament. We have longer books. We have history books. We have things about the history of Israel and so forth. But a lot of what we read in the Old Testament is a calamity. And it is just the demonstration of the depravity of natural man. And we find grace in the Old Testament. We find the gospel in the Old Testament.

But we have a passage here in the close of this book, the book of Judges, that resounds throughout the scriptures. Now, we have paid attention to thoughts like this as we went through the book of Judges over time, over the last few months. Turn with me, if you would, to the book of Judges chapter 17.

In Judges chapter 17, we read these words, Judges chapter 17, and they're in verse 6. It says the same thing that the postscript has, the last verse of this book of the Bible, the book of Judges. Here it tells us in the book of Judges chapter 17 verse 6, and in those days there was no king in Israel, But every man did that what was right in his own eyes. Now this is repeated three different times here in the book of Judges.

But we also find that in the book of Judges that God tells us a lot about natural man. As we go to the book of Judges chapter three, would you join me there?

In the book of Judges chapter three, we have a problem throughout the Old Testament. We have the fall. How much time from the creation to the fall, we don't have that timeline. But in comparison to what we have in the rest of the Old Testament, we have a lot written about the results of the fall. Natural man's state before God, and it's recorded here.

Now the point that really impresses upon me is this is Israel. This is not some pagan nation. This is not some pagan group of people in a far off country. This is Israel. And when we watch what Israel did after they have been taken care of so graciously by Almighty God, and yet the outcome is this. We find out the fall is very serious. It is not overcome by God being nice. It is not overcome by God being generous. It is not overcome by God being merciful. It took the blood, it takes the blood of Christ to overcome the problem. It takes the life of the Lord Jesus Christ trading himself for us. I have grown more and more to appreciate that. And Brother Lauren brought it up in his lesson or message the other day, his robe's not mine or traded for mine. That song sums up so much about the gospel.

So here in the book of Judges chapter three, verse seven, Judges chapter three and verse seven, it says, and the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God and served Balaam and the groves." Now this is Israel. This is the 12 tribes of Israel. This is the descendants of Abraham. They have nothing. without Christ. And this is what they will do without Christ. This is what they'll do without salvation. So it says there, as we just read it, verse seven, they served Balaam and other gods in the groves.

And then in that same chapter, verse 12, and the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord. You know, as we went through the book of Judges, we find this several times, in fact, five or six different times, this, kind of verse of scripture is mentioned. And then God would raise up a judge and God would use the judge to put down the enemy. And then things would be all right for a while. The judge would die and we're repeating it now throughout the book of the judges. And I cannot remember how many years it was through the book of the judges. And right now I cannot remember how many judges there were, but it just shares with us. God's great generosity and patience with this nation and to continue to demonstrate that without free grace demonstrated and given, they will continue on in the same mold all their life and the generations that follow will do the same thing.

So it's just a demonstration of the patience of God. It is no wonder that we finally get down to the point that they did not follow God and He regarded them not. How many years under how many judges, how many priests, how many kings did he give them patience to demonstrate again and again that they could do better, but natural man cannot do any better. And it's just so demonstrated by the nation of Israel throughout the Old Testament. So this postscript we find repeated here in the book of Judges several times. And then the finality of it given to us over there in the last verse of the last chapter of the book of Judges.

Sometimes I don't quite know how to state this thought. Grace is evident in the Old Testament, but give me the New Testament. Grace is alive in the Old Testament, but give me the New Testament. And you know what? Everyone that God ever saved in the Old Testament was given the New Testament. It is that covenant of grace. It is life in Christ Jesus through the finished work of the Savior.

The postscript of Judges chapter 21 verse 25 is restated. Would you follow me to the book of Romans chapter 8? This is restated in the book of Romans chapter eight, this problem that was among Israel, God's chosen people, the nation that he brought out.

It's interesting how, when we read through the book of the Psalms, how many times that God brings up through the Psalmist, the number of times he brought them out of Egypt. and brought them into the wilderness and fed them and guided them and directed them and brought them into the promised land. And they threw it up over and over and would not follow him. It's a terrible description of natural man, but it also is a statement that without grace, no one would ever be saved. They couldn't attain to it.

So here in the book of Romans, Romans chapter eight, now notice here in Romans chapter eight with me, Romans chapter eight in verse seven, because Romans chapter eight, verse seven, In Romans chapter 8 and verse 7, we find this postscript is nearly mentioning it, only in different words. It says here, Romans chapter 8 verse 7, because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Now, we just follow that through the book of Judges. We find the application of it everywhere through the book of Judges. The carnal mind is enmity. Now, if a person is not subject to the law of God, they are not subject to God. It's His law. It's His perfect word. And natural man is not subject to the law of God, therefore they're not subject. We were not subject to God Almighty. We had no subjection to Him.

Now we find it wonderful that God, before we were ever acquainted with Him through the new birth, He had His rule over us and moved us where He purposed us to be and brought to us the gospel of His free grace. But we were not subject to that. We didn't want that. We were not involved in that. It was not our part. So to be not subject to the law of God means I'm not subject to God. I don't want Him ruling over me. A person is not subject. If this person is not subject to the law of God, there is no subjection to God Almighty. And we find that throughout the book of Judges. They were not subject to the law of God.

Now, in studying in 1 Samuel, I've been glad to be there, but in studying 1 Samuel, several of the commentators said that Samuel was born around the same time that Samson was born. And you know what? That whole first couple chapters just gives me, again, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And it may be Hannah, and it may be Samson, and that may be it. I don't know about the husband. I don't know about the other wife. But Hannah and Samson understood grace and her words there in her prayer, my goodness. I would like to be able to pray like that. So sometimes I just read that and pray that. It's so good. Well, here we find during this time, there is, and some of the worst of the priests, we'll read about Hophni and Phinehas, worst of the worst of the priests and worst, The dad that was the priest, he's not very good. But during that period of time, there's Hannah and Samson is born. And you know, one of the commentators says, he's probably the finest example of a believer in the Old Testament because we don't read anything wrong about him. He is just that type of Christ. We'll get there, we'll get there.

There's no king, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes, is a two-point mantra that follows throughout all the scriptures. No king, and every person did what was right in their own eyes. Now, the wonderful thing about this is that that is all the world, worldwide. Nowhere will we find an exemption for that, but that's exactly where we find Romans, Revelation chapter five. Turn there with me if you would.

Everywhere we go, every people we're among, it doesn't matter if they have never seen a white man, It doesn't matter if they've never seen a black man. It doesn't matter whether they've not seen a oriental. It doesn't matter who they have not been involved with. We could go down to Papua New Guinea, get among some of those tribes with our dear brother, and we'd find out those folks, not that many generations ago, had never seen anybody else. And they were at warfare with the tribe on that side of them, and they were at warfare with the tribe on that side of them, and that was their existence. But they had the same problem that people that were in a civilized quote-unquote state had. There was no king, and they did what was right in their own eyes.

All right, Revelation chapter five. I need to get over there. Revelation chapter five and verse nine, we read this. Revelation chapter five and verse nine, the scripture says, and they sung a new song saying, thou art worthy to take the book and open the seals thereof for thou was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood. Now notice this, where he has done this from. Where did he redeem people from? Where there were people that had no king and every man which was doing right in their own eyes. the hinterlands, Israel, among every other group, people, place, language. And here it says, he is redeemed by his blood. He is redeemed as to God by thy blood out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.

So everywhere that God has a people, his redemptive work has been applied, and those who did not have a king and did what was right in their own eyes, God intervened, God brought the gospel, God crossed their path with his word and with his grace, and he saved them by his marvelous grace and brought them into the fold of God. What a blessing that God would do that. And it's to people who have no king.

Now we read there, as we get into Samuel, that Samuel brought that up. He says, they want a king and they've rejected me. And God said, no, they have not rejected you from ruling over them. They have rejected me from being king over them. So there was a king, but they had no interest. It was not interested in that king. Every man did what was right in his own eyes. The P.S. that we have at the conclusion of Judges chapter, the last chapter there, that what we read, there was every, no man, they didn't have a king and every man did what was right in their own eyes. That in a sense is what we find throughout the Old Testament. And we find evidence of that in the New Testament, but thanks be unto God, when I get to the New Testament and read the P.S.s there, I find out I have hope because almost every book of the New Testament, the final verses in it are something about the grace of God.

I don't have to deal with this. Oh my goodness, what a sad state of affairs to close out a book that talks about some of the great men of the Old Testament, the judges that God gave and the illustrations that he pointed out with regard to his gospel and concludes the book by saying, nobody knew anything about Almighty God except those he touched. There was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes.

The point I want to bring up, let's just go through the postscripts of several of the New Testament books. Because there, those postscripts, we can take to the bank and say hallelujah. This is how Paul was used to close out most of his books. was with the grace of God. He understood what grace was, but he had no knowledge about grace until God saved him. And when he wrote those books, just like whoever wrote the book of Judges, they wrote exactly what God wanted them to write. And Paul did the same thing.

I was mentioning to Mike on Sunday, I took a really nice looking paper bound book that I found online. called Old Testament versus in the New Testament or quoted in the New Testament. It was about that thick and I was going to read it on my trip. I really like that about taking a trip because I get time to just sit down and read a book from beginning to end. Now I could do that at home, but I don't.

But there, and I started reading this, and the very premise that this guy brought up was that the men who were used to write the New Testament took liberty in choosing words They took liberty in choosing quotes and they took liberty and tried to change it to meet what they wanted to say. The premise is all wrong because if you do not begin with holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, I'm throwing the book away. It is of no value. All he is doing is trying to discredit the word of God by saying that the apostles did wrong. The writers of the New Testament, Paul did wrong in quoting.

Now I have another book that just brings into the New Testament, shares with me the Old Testament quotes. Well, I'm gonna use it, because he's not trying to make me interpret anything. He's just trying to comfort me and say, God brought these verses into the New Testament. And much of the book of Romans is found in the Old Testament. Well, when someone comes up and says that they did wrong, and they chose wrong, and they got the wrong version, and they messed up the versions, and they chose the Septuagint instead of the original, I said, and it's in my trash can, in my study. I'm not gonna read it. There's no value in it.

All right, let's look here, if you would, at the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 16. Let's look at some postscripts. Let's look at what we have here under New Testament writing, the gracious writing, the gospel writing. Now, they had this same gospel in the Old Testament. There is no question about it. Nobody has saved any differently in the New Testament than they were in the Old Testament. But I'm so thankful that as I get to the New Testament, I find that God is gracious to leave me the message of grace so plainly, so upfront. Now, I think Hannah understood that. I think Samson understood that. I think the people of the Old Testament, Moses understood that. But notice with me, here in the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 16, 1 Corinthians chapter 16, verse 23, it says, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus, amen.

Now, does that sound just a teensy-tinesy better than what we read in the last verse of the book of Judges? I like this. Now, anybody that God had ever saved in the times of the Judges understood this. And I'm thankful that God shares that with us.

The postscript, when we get to the New Testament, is so often almost identical to this, almost identical to that verse 23. Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Travel just a little further, if you would, to 2 Corinthians chapter 13. 2 Corinthians chapter 13.

Now, I'm not trying to say by any means that we shouldn't read the book of Judges and shouldn't read the last verse of it. I'm just saying, when it says there was no king in Israel and every man did what was right in his own eyes, that gives us an idea of what natural man is like, and this is what the, is the only thing that will bless that condition.

In the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 14, it says, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost. What do we find there? We find that glorious Trinity. And it goes on to say, be with you all, amen. I read that and I say, hallelujah. It's the graciousness of God, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost is brought out here as this book is concluded.

This is what I can finish up with the book of 2 Corinthians and say, you know, that's a high mark. That's a good way to end a book. It reflects on what that book has in it, and it reflects on our position in Christ Jesus.

Turn with me, if you would, to the book of Galatians. Galatians chapter six and verse 18. Galatians chapter six, verse 18. Now, you can just go through the New Testament and look at the concluding words of almost every one of these books, and we have the postscript. that is gracious. Here we go again, the book of Galatians chapter six, verse 18. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, amen. And I walk away and I say, well, I'm glad I read that book. I walk away and I'm thankful for the grace of God.

And this is what we find so often in the concluding verses of the books of the New Testament. Matthew, and I think it's Matthew and Mark conclude, preach Christ. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. In the book of Luke, we have the Lord Jesus Christ pointing those disciples, the two on the road to a mass, Emmaus and Jesus Christ speaking to his disciples and pointing out how the Old Testament points to him. That's what we have there. Isn't that a good way to end the book? That's a glorious statement of God's grace, and we find that throughout the New Testament.

Turn with me one more time, at least, to the book of Ephesians, chapter 6 and verse 24, and I would encourage you, you know, read the last three or four verses of all the books of the New Testament, and you can just say, wow, I'm on holy ground. This is graciousness exemplified. Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 24, grace be with you all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Unmerited favor, favor that we did not deserve, favor that God imposed upon us in the great covenant of grace that has been involved with the world, people of the world, since the foundation of the world. And in Philippians chapter four, verse 23, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

So as I conclude the book of Judges, I find that statement, it's been repeated four or five times in there. It's repeated about they had no king and therefore every man did what was right in their own eyes. The children of Israel did again sin against God and go after idols. The statement about natural man is brought out so often there in the book of Judges. And then we find that God's intervention, as we found there in the book of Revelation, chapter five, that he would go into every nation, people, and tongue And his blood, the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ would find everyone that he paid the price for and bring them out of that.

And then we read. the postscript written to them, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be to you. The grace of God the Father be to you. How wonderful that is. The postscripts that we find in the scripture. And you know, you just go down through all of the, almost all of the New Testament books, and they conclude that way. The grace of God, the grace of God.

The postscript of Judges chapter 1 and verse 25, every man did that which was right in his own eyes. There are a number of the postscripts found in the Bible. Turn with me, if you would, to the book of Galatians chapter 5. Here is a postscript. It's a sad postscript, like it was brought out there to In the book of Judges, notice this. God is still faithful in the New Testament to point out the postscripts to people.

In Galatians chapter 5 verse 4, it has these words. It says, Galatians chapter 5 verse 4, Christ has become of no effect unto you. Whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace. For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love.

Now notice this. Verse seven, ye did run well. What a sad postscript. You did run well. Who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth? You started out well, looked like you're okay. But as you went on, I just, it is so interesting as I get older and see those that have grown older, The folks that just, as we find in the book of the Psalms, they're like a tree planted by the water. And even in their old age, they produce fruit. Old age is not a time to stop. That's what we have here. Someone stop. I've done enough. I've said enough. I've preached enough. And you did run well. Who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you."

So what a postscript about whoever that was and whoever that is. that we find in the Bible. And if you'll turn with me to the book of Matthew 13, we have another postscript, a statement. After many thoughts, a statement is made here in the book of Matthew chapter 13. Matthew chapter 13. And there in verse 20, Matthew 13, verse 20, the postscript to the last chapter of the book of Judges, there was no king in Israel, and every man did that what was right in his own eyes, and that's how we leave that book. Well, that subject, that postscript is mixed in here in the New Testament. And once in a while, we run into a passage of scripture that says, this is what it is to be without grace. This is a postscript about that. And here in the book of Matthew chapter 13, verse 20, it says these words, but he that receiveth the seed into stony places, the same as he that heareth the word and anon with joy receiveth it, yet hath he no root in himself, but dureth for a while, for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended.

What a statement about someone who made a good profession and never could carry it out because there's no root in themselves.

Now, on a positive site, let's look at another postscript for a group of people as they're being presented glory. In the book of Matthew chapter 25, Matthew chapter 25, and there in verses 32, 33, and 34, we have this said. Now this is just before entering into the glories of eternity. I don't understand all I read about this, but I'm going to rejoice in all I can.

Here in the book of Matthew chapter 25, verse 32, read this, and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divided the sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on the right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the king say unto them on the right hand.

Now this is a wonderful postscript. Look at this. My goodness, and he's not saying that you're here because you did good job. He's not saying that because you were better than the Israelites of the Old Testament. This is not a reward. This is God's evidence of grace. Demonstrate, this is the redeemer. demonstrating to the redeemed ones what it is to be redeemed. And he says there, the king shall say, come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

What a closing statement about, as we stand before him, to be invited into glory with that kind of statement, welcome. to inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Now, turn with me, if you would, over to the book of 3 John. I didn't have these in my notes until this last Sunday. 3 John, there are three postscripts in the book of 3 John, and they have to do with three people.

Third John, it says there, verse one, the elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. That would be nice to have on your headstone, wouldn't it? This is how this man was remembered. Gaius, the elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

The next one in there is not quite as complimentary, but it is the final statement that we have about him. His name is Diotrephes. who loveth to have the preeminence among them receiveth us not." Can you imagine the final words about a person? And this is God's word about him. Every man did that what was right in his own eyes. receiving on. Wherefore, if I come, now it was John's plan to come, but if I come, I will remember his deeds, which he doth." Pratting against us with malicious words.

And I am convinced because John was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving such high authority that if he ever got there and that man was there, he stuck his face in his face. and said, that was not right. My feeling about it is, as soon as Deotrephes heard that John was coming, he left. I'm not gonna have anybody tell me I did wrong.

Anyway, it goes on, and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

Final words, opening words, middle words, and final words about an individual, and then, We go down to Demetrius, verse 12. Demetrius hath good report of all men. And the truth itself, yea, we also bear record and ye know that our record is true.

So as we conclude the book of Judges with that final verse of scripture, it is so prevalent throughout the Old Testament and quite prominent in the New Testament. And yet here we find the gracious act of grace. And we're often reminded, as the book is closed out, may the grace of the Lord Jesus and the love of the Father and the Holy Spirit be with you for now and for eternity. What a blessing.

Well, Lord willing, next Wednesday evening we'll begin a study of the gospel according to the book of Samuel, and we will continue on with two judges that are mentioned there. Now, they may not have the same judgeships that these had in this book, but they are called judges.