Good evening and welcome to our
continuing study of the book of Judges. We trust you had a
good holiday season and it's good to be back after a couple
of weeks off. And here we are, Judges chapter
10 tonight. Judges chapter 10, if you'd join
me there. We notice in the beginning of
this chapter, chapter 10, that the Lord sent Israel to Judges
they've very few words only two verses for one and three verses
for the other that they were judges of Israel, but in verse
2 it says and he judged Israel 23 years and Then another judge
raises up or is raised up and he judged Israel for 22 years And in verse five, it says, J.R. died and was buried in Cammon.
Well, verse six of our reading tonight, we have these words,
and it shares with us so much about Israel, national Israel,
that they were just like the Gentiles, and the children of
Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord. They were
kind of corralled during those two judges periods, and God gave
them peace at their borders, And now, as soon as this last
judge has died, we have the children of Israel did evil again in the
sight of the Lord. It is a very sad state that we
have here of Israel returning to idolatry, and this idolatry,
and adopting, as we're gonna read here, more idols than before. They're going to adopt the idols
of their neighbors. It says in verse six, the children
of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served
Balaam, and Ashtoth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of
Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children
of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the
Lord, and served not him." What a list we have here of these
various idols that the children of Israel had fallen into And
this list is probably the most conclusive that we have so far
in this book, and in the Bible this far, that they went after. And we notice that they're all
the gods of the people outside of Israel. They are instruments
of worship, and it just demonstrates the sad state that we have here
of Israel. You know, as we follow this,
we find that many, many years later, if you'll turn with me
to the book of Jeremiah, Many years later, we have that Jeremiah
is writing of the same situation in Jeremiah chapter 2, beginning
with verse 11. Jeremiah chapter 2 and verse
11, the statement made there in the book of Judges is just
indicative of what we're going to follow with the children of
Israel throughout the Old Testament, all of those that have no knowledge
of the God of heaven. Now, those who knew Christ, those
who knew the Messiah, We have a difference with them, but the
national Israel as a whole were all idolatrous. They worshipped
other gods. They did not have the capacity
of worshipping the true and the living God. And you know, in
that verse of Scripture, to some would be just an opportunity
to study what those various gods were and what they represented.
But we don't need to study the error. We need to study the truth. We know the truth, it will set
us free, we'll catch those that errs so quickly. But here in
the book of Jeremiah, chapter two, many, many years later,
Jeremiah is used by the Holy Spirit, is called upon by the
Holy Spirit to write these words. And it says in chapter two, in
verse 11, hath the nation changed their gods, which are yet no
gods? But my people have changed their
glory for that which doth not profit. It is not useful. It's not beneficial. It can do
no good. They have changed it to that
which does not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens,
at this, and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate, saith the Lord,
for my people have committed two evils." And we think, well,
that's two. That would be a great position
to be in, but the two that they've committed covers every aspect
of religion. It says here they've committed
two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain
of living waters. What a serious charge, and yet
by nature we find out that natural man, even natural Israel, could
not worship the true and the living God. Our heart is darkened,
our abilities, we're just not able. And we find here that the
Lord goes on and says, not only have they forsaken me, the fountain
of living waters, they've hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns
that could hold no water. And that truly is a statement
about the religious order that all people have by nature. It's
not the living waters, it's not the fountain of living waters
that we find ourselves at and worshiping. We find ourselves
creating different things that will prompt us to some sort of
worship, and that's just the Bible over. The whole Bible has
that shared in. And you know, we think about
Israel doing this after God had been so protective of them. And
if Israel would do this, what would the rest of the folks do?
What would you and I do without that as Gentiles? Well, we find
out we all fall into the same grouping. In the book of Isaiah,
Isaiah again, many years after the book of Judges, in the book
of Isaiah chapter 50, we read these words that the Lord prompted
Isaiah to write. It says in chapter 50 in verse
2, When I came, there were no man. Now just think for a moment that
we have an announcement that has gone out months in advance
that this wonderful, honorable, peaceable God of heaven, this
God that has all life and all hope in him, and he sends out
billboards years in advance, months in advance, It's on the
radio, it's on the television. He's going to be visiting. He
is the righteous one. He is the holy one of Israel.
He is all of these great terms that we find and has the characteristics
and attributes of only God. And he sends out this invitation
many years in advance, months in advance, weeks in advance.
And when he gets there, wherefore when I came, was there no man? When I called, there was none
to answer. Nobody would assemble at the feet of this one. Is my
hand shortened at all that I cannot redeem, or have I no power to
deliver? What a statement is made here
when Israel would fall after these idolatrous worship and
turn away from the living God, and isn't his hand able to save,
to redeem, or to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up
the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness, their fish stinketh because there's
no water, and dieth for thirst. I am capable of ruling the entire
world, in every moment of every second of every day, 365 times all the years that it's
been in creation, and yet when I call, when I make mention,
I'm gonna be in a certain place, nobody is there to arrive. And we find that the same sentiment
is brought out in the Psalms, Psalm 14. If you'd turn there
with me, Psalm 14, we read these words. that the Lord gave us,
a commentary on all peoples, and particularly it's a commentary
on Israel, because they've had the greatest amount of instruction.
They've had the sight of God, they had the word of God, they
had the prophets of God, and yet here is the commentary that
we hear from Almighty God. It tells us there in the book
of the Psalms, Psalm 14, The Lord looked down from heaven
upon the children of men. Now let's just back up to verse
one there. It says, the fool hath said in
his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt. They have done
abominable works. There is none that doeth good.
And when we follow Israel, there in the book of Judges, after
those two judges that ruled there and brought peace for a pretty
long period of time, as soon as they have died, their heart
is saying, there is no God. They said in there, we'll worship
these gods. These are the gods that have
delivered us. And then it tells us there, none that doeth good,
the Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see
if there were any that did understand and seek God. They are all gone
aside. They are all together become
filthy. There is none that doeth good, no, not one. So, this is
the commentary God had with regard to the people of God, we call
it National Israel, the children of Israel, in the wilderness,
under the judges, under the kings, under Joshua. Throughout time,
it's the same thing. We have a problem, and that's
ruined by the Fall. As we continue on here, we find
in the book of Jeremiah chapter 17, would you turn there with
me? The book of Jeremiah chapter
17, and there in verse 13, Jeremiah chapter 17 and verse 13, says,
O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed. And they that depart from me
shall be written in the earth because they have forsaken the
Lord, the fountain of living waters. They'll hew out cisterns. Now, a cistern doesn't have water
flowing through it. It's a storage tank. And as a
result of that, it's going to grow some moss and slime and
all kinds of things. A fountain of living water, moving
constantly, doesn't have that. Well, the Lord doesn't have any
imperfections. The Lord doesn't have any sin.
He doesn't have any of that nature. So he's not like the gods of
the Zidonians or the Philistines. They're just people represented
in stone or art or something. And they always have faults and
errors, but this one does not. And this is the fountain of living
water. Now we read on the same subject, turn with me to the
book of Revelation. the book of Revelation. In the
book of Revelation chapter 21, again we have the statement at
the conclusion of the writing of the New Testament In the book of Revelation, chapter
21, and there in verse 6, we have the conclusion as we reflect
on all the Old Testament, on all the New Testament. It is
given to us here, and he said unto me, it is done. I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him
that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He will give himself to those
who are a thirst." So God is able to create the thirst and
then quench the thirst with the fountain of living water, the
Lord Jesus Christ. So, this commentary on Israel
in the book of Judges, and under the kings, under Samuel, all
of these things, is certainly a statement about the natural
relationship that they had with Almighty God, and there is no
relationship. Now, what makes the difference
is found over in the book of Isaiah chapter 1. What makes
all the difference? Here we have in the book of Isaiah
chapter 1, and you know this passage of scripture, Isaiah
chapter 1, and there in verse 9, it says here, as Isaiah was
caused to write, he's writing about the people of Israel years
after the book of Judges, but the same problem has been identified
here among Israel in this day and time, and it tells us here
in the book of Isaiah chapter 1 and verse 9, except the Lord
of hosts, there is the issue, there is the only difference,
except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant,
we should have been a Sodom and we should have been like unto
Gomorrah. So the only difference that is
made is the Lord of hosts, except the Lord of hosts had left unto
us a very small remnant. And Isaiah was caused to recognize
that, the church is caused to recognize that, They are where
they are, the people of God are where they are because of the
Lord of hosts and that he had left a remnant and left to ourself
and left to outside of that remnant status we would be and we should
be like Sodom and Gomorrah. You know, the New Testament brings
this subject up in the book of 1 Thessalonians, as the apostle
Paul is writing, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to these
saints at Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians chapter one,
and we read this passage of scripture a number of times in the past
few years, because it is so indicative of the power of God in the gospel,
in the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace. And so, as Paul
recounts unto them in the book of 1 Thessalonians chapter 1,
beginning with verse 5, for our gospel came not unto you in word
only. Now, I even hate to use the word
gospel with regard to what Israel was doing in the book of Judges
chapter 10, but they had followed after all kinds of idols and
idolatrous worship, and there was no power in that. It couldn't change a soul. There
was always bidding to the God for help and offering sacrifices
that could not help. But here we find with regard
to the gospel of God's grace, and in the Holy Ghost, in much
assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for
your sake. We came and preached the gospel,
and this is what God did. He came with much power, much
assurance, and ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having
received the word in much affliction, with joy in the Holy Ghost, so
that ye were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and
Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not
only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your
faith Godward is spread abroad, so that we need not to speak
anything. For they themselves show of us
what manner of entering in we had unto you and how you turn
to God. Now Israel, when God was taking
care of them through a judge, as soon as the judge was gone,
they did not turn to God, they turned back to idolatry. But
here we have the effects of the gospel, and it says, and how
ye turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
What a difference this is, that the gospel of God's free and
sovereign grace in Christ Jesus the Lord the sacrifice of our
Savior, the Lord Jesus, on the cross on the behalf of His sheep. He's standing in our place, taking
our punishment. And here we have the result of
that. We turn to God. We don't go turning
to idols. In fact, we turn to God from
idols. We serve the living and true
God. What a statement is made here with regard to this. And
as we go back to the book of Judges, we want to follow the
theme that is carried out in that chapter, chapter 10 of the
book of Judges. Chapter 10 of the book of Judges,
as we move through this chapter, we find that the Lord is gracious
unto us. to share on how he is dealing
with this people of Israel. And it tells us in verse 7, and
you know, I was talking to a friend the other day, and he preaches
from the book of Revelation because he can scare people into the
kingdom. Well, if that worked, there would be no idolatry in
Israel, because it tells us in verse 7 of Judges chapter 10,
And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold
them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the children
of Ammon. That year they vexed and oppressed the children of
Israel 18 years all the children of Israel That were on the other
side of Jordan in the land of the Amorites Which is in Gilead? moreover the children of Ammon
passed over Jordan to fight against also Judah and against Benjamin
and against the house of Ephraim so that Israel was sore distressed
and Why? The anger of the Lord was hot
against Israel. And judgment has come. And if fear and judgment could
cause anybody to come to the Lord, we find that this would
have happened. But as the Lord notices and tells
us here, that they in fact turn away from that. Judgment comes
upon them and they go further away. So here it tells us in
verse 9, Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan.
And then in verse 10, And the children of Israel cried unto
the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee. both because we
have forsaken our God and also serve Balaam. Well, the children
of Israel in this passage of scripture shares with us what
natural man does when they're caught in a plight, when they're
caught in a place. almost every religious, major
religious experience that people go through is as a result of
doing some great crime or doing something terribly wrong. And
when they find out that they've been caught, they do this very
thing. I think I've shared in the past, I used to take students
down to Oregon State Penitentiary to the Lifer's Club. And the
only way that people could be in the Lifer's Club at Oregon
State Penitentiary was that they had committed murder. But if
you go in there and visit with those folks, not one of them
was guilty. They've been convicted of this
crime, heinous crime of murder, but nobody's guilty. They're
sorry they got caught, maybe, but here the children of Israel
say, we have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken
our God and served Balaam. And then verse 14 of the book
of Judges, chapter 10, we have the Lord's comment, So if this
is so important, if they are so important, if they're the
ones that you're going to follow, Don't bring your cry unto me
take your cry unto them see what they do to deliver you So go
cry unto the gods which ye have chosen So, you know if we follow
Later in the scriptures. We find that there was a great
prophet and some prophets of Baal prophet of God and prophets
of Baal and those prophets of Baal were so sincere in their
worship that that when fire didn't consume the sacrifice, they cut
themselves with knives and were bleeding all over. They were
committed to that God, but there was no hope or help in that God. They were tenacious for that
God. They'd give their life for that
God, but there was nothing in it. And so they just cut themselves
and that's all that happened. Well, we know what happened later.
that the God of heaven demonstrated to the prophet of God that he
was God and there was none else. And as we follow this, then in
verse 15, verse 15 is such a changed verse of scripture in this whole
context of Judges chapter 10. The peace that God gave Israel
through those first two Judges, 123 years, 122 years, We have
45 years that they've had relative peace in the land, and then when
they die, they cannot carry on, they don't have the ability of
carrying on, their nature is not in it, they are far from
God, heart is not with God, they turn into idols. God brings this to their attention,
says, let those gods take care of you, let them deliver you
in the time of your tribulation. In verse 15, we have something
so different than we have prior to this. In this passage of Scripture
with regard to Israel, the children of Israel, the words of Israel
to God are Holy Spirit prompted. We see the characters and characteristics
of true repentance in this verse of Scripture. They lie low in
the dust. acknowledging God's sovereign
right to do as he pleases. And they plead for mercy in this
verse of scripture, so different than it has been previous to
this. Now, this is going to happen
every time God saves one of his sheep. This is how they're going
to come to God. It's not through the great punishment
that he has. It's not because they fear hell.
It's not because they fear what God might do in their lives.
It's because of the gospel, the good news. And someone brought
the gospel to these people of Israel. Now, whether all Israel,
we doubt that very seriously. whether all the children of Israel
felt this way, but there were some, a remnant, according to
the election of grace, that felt this way, and it tells us in
verse 15, the children of Israel said unto the Lord, now they're
coming to the right place with this. Their message is to the
right place, and that is to Jehovah. They come to Jehovah, to the
Lord. We have sinned. Well, if we back
up there to verse 10, we find the same thing is mentioned there.
We have sinned against thee, because we have forsaken God
and followed after Balaam. Well, verse 15, we have sinned. Now, the next statement that
is made here is so indicative of their heart. It tells us in
the next verse, and this is where God puts us when he brings us
to himself. He puts us in this position. They said, do thou unto us whatsoever
seemeth good unto thee. What a statement. A sinner is
a sacred thing. The Holy Spirit hath made him
thus. So this is more than just saying
we got caught. It's more than saying that we've
done wrong. We are saying, and it is truly
a statement of the heart, that we have sinned against Jehovah,
and he has the right to do with us as he sees fit. You know,
in David, in his confession in Psalm 51, verse four, it says,
against thee and thee only have I sinned. Well, let's just turn
over there to Psalm 51 for just a moment, because I want to read
the next verse too. In the book of the Psalms, Psalm
51, David's great confession after his immorality, Here we
have the Lord come to him through a prophet, shared with him, thou
art the man, and David is broken just as we find Israel, be it
unto me according to thy word. Well, here in the Psalm, Psalm
51, David says, against thee and thee only have I sinned.
Well, if we follow the whole issue there in the book of Samuel,
First Samuel, with regard to David, we find that he sinned
against Bathsheba, he sinned against Uriah, her husband, he
sinned against Israel, he sinned against his own family, he sinned
against his wives, he sinned against his children, he sinned
against himself, and he sinned against God. But when it came
down to it, David was able to say, against thee and thee only
have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest
be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest.
Well, in the first verse of that chapter of that Psalm, we read
this about David. Now, it says there, have
mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according
unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. I plead mercy. I have sinned
against God. And we find that what we read
here with regard to Israel is that they're doing the same thing.
We've sinned against God. He has the right to do with us
as he pleases. We plead for mercy. You know,
as we think about mercy, we find out that mercy cannot be demanded.
Mercy never can be demanded. Mercy is admitting guilt. We're guilty before the one we're
pleading mercy for. Mercy is a request of the guilty
to one who is not only able, but can show mercy. So this is
a statement that we find here in Israel, and just as with David.
Now, The problem that we have here is that God has blessed
them by his very presence, and without the Gospel, without the
grace, without God coming in mercy, They fall into worshiping
dumb idols, just like we find all natural men do. They'll change
the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served
the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."
That's Romans chapter 1, verse 25. That's the problem that we
face by natural man, and except the Lord of hosts had left a
very small remnant. Now, we're reading about that
remnant over there in the book of Judges chapter 10 and verse
15, where we read there that the children of Israel, we have
sinned, do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good in thy sight. Remember
with me a passage in the book of Luke about a man full of leprosy? And if there was ever leprous
people, that's Israel, found here in Judges chapter 10 and
verse 15, a leprous people. In the book of Luke chapter 5,
turn with me if you would to the book of Luke chapter 5, we
have a wonderful picture here. It's a true account, but what
a picture it is of God saving his people, and how he saves
his people, and what he brings them to. Now this man that was
a leper recognized the fact that he had leprosy. Most people never
recognize the fact that they are worthy of everlasting damnation. It only is those that God brings
to grace, only those he acquaints with the Lord, only those he
causes to repent and believe the gospel. In Luke chapter five,
verse 12, and it came to pass when he was in a certain city,
behold, a man full of leprosy, who seeing Jesus fell on his
face, a man full of leprosy. And this man recognized that
he had leprosy and he came to the right place. who seeing Jesus
fell on his face and besought him saying, now he didn't come
and say, you must do this because you love everybody in the world.
This man came full of leprosy, came and fell at the feet of
Jesus, just like we find Israel in the dust, came and fell on
his face and besought him saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou can't
make me clean. What a statement we have from
a heart that is broken before God. If thou wilt, I make no
demands, I plead for mercy, I plead from a God that is merciful,
but it is in your hands to do with me as you see fit. Well,
in verse 13, he put forth his hand and touched him saying,
now what gave him an interest in coming to the Lord and making
this statement? we find the Holy Spirit has already
visited him. The Holy Spirit has drawn him
to the Lord, and he rings to him his confession, do unto me
as you see fit. If thou wilt, thou can make me
clean. He put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will
be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed
from him. Now, it wasn't because the leper
was penitent. It wasn't because the leper bowed
down. It wasn't for any of those reasons. It was because the Holy
Spirit had made him a recipient of divine and sovereign grace. the Holy Spirit had visited him,
just as we find over there in the book of Judges chapter 10,
that the Holy Spirit had visited the people and had given them
the words to say to the Lord, do unto us according to your
word. Well, this is a common theme that we find through the
scriptures, that God's people will say that to God because
they recognize him in a fact that he is the sovereign king
of all things. He's the sovereign king over
salvation. He's the sovereign king over
life. Mary, the mother of Jesus, when it was brought to her attention
that she was going to bear the Christ child, she's going to
bring into the world Emmanuel, She brings up the subject, Luke
chapter one, if you'd back up with me to the book of Luke chapter
one, what a statement Mary makes here as we find out where her
heart is. In Luke chapter one, verse 34,
then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know
not a man? And the angel answered and said
unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power
of the high shall overshadow thee. What does he say in there?
God's gonna have his way. God is in charge. God of heaven,
the highest, shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy
thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son
of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth,
she hath also, wherever we go, wherever God's people acknowledge
him as God, it's going to be that God does the same thing.
Here's another example. Behold thy cousin Elizabeth,
she hath also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the
sixth month with her, who was called barren. She's way past
childbearing age, and yet the Lord is able. For with God, nothing
shall be impossible. Now notice verse 38. And Mary
said, behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according
to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
How was she able to say that? Because of God's grace, only
because of God's grace. Now, we find that the children
of Israel, if you go back with me to the book of Judges, chapter
10, verse 15, Judges 10, verse 15, we have these words. Verse
15, deliver us only. In other words, have mercy on
us. Have mercy on us. And as I've
mentioned, mercy can never be demanded. Mercy is a request. Be it unto me according to thy
word. Be it unto me according to your
purpose. You are the Lord. What was the
first words out of Saul of Tarsus' mouth after God had given him
salvation? Lord. So you are the Lord. Mercy is also admitting that
I'm guilty. I'm guilty of everything God
said I'm guilty of, and I know it. So I'm pleading for mercy
because I'm guilty before him, and mercy is a request of the
guilty to one who is not only able but can show mercy. So we have the ability to show
mercy. You know, there are several passages
in the Gospels about someone coming to the Lord and saying,
Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. The only one that can
have mercy is the Lord. Now, we may have a merciful spirit
and we may forgive people of doing wrong against us, but only
one can have mercy, that is the change in heart. A new heart
is given unto us. Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou
Son of David. Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou
Son of David. These are the words that we find
recorded in the scripture. What was it? that the publican
had to say, he would not even raise his head towards heaven,
but smote his breast and said, God be merciful to me, a sinner. That verse of scripture, please
may payment be made on my behalf. May my sins be paid for, propitiated. Well, who does the Lord show
mercy to? Turn with me to the book of Romans.
We noticed over there in the Old Testament, Judges chapter
10. Excuse me. Judges chapter 10, verse 15. He showed mercy to some people
that he brought to their knees. They acknowledged who he was
and he was able to show mercy. He had that ability. Well, the
book of Romans, Romans chapter nine. Now the Apostle Paul is
led by the Spirit to round up a number of passages from the
Old Testament that share with us where mercy is. In the book
of Romans chapter nine, verse 15, for he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will
have mercy, and I'll have compassion on whom I'll have compassion.
There is no compunction in anybody that requires him to have mercy
on. There's no good deeds in them.
There are no worship in them. They don't have the ability.
But I'll have mercy on whom I will have mercy. And then in verse
16, so that it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that
runneth, but God that showeth mercy. It is God that shows mercy,
not because of our works of righteousness, but because of his own sovereign
grace, own sovereign will. Verse 17. The scripture saith
and the Pharaoh even for the same purpose have I raised thee
up That I might show my power in thee and that my name might
be declared throughout all the earth He's gonna do that with
Israel to His he raised him up to show his power verse 18 then
of Romans chapter 9 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he'll have
mercy and who he will he hardeneth thou wilt say unto me Why doth he yet find fault? For
who hath resisted his will? Nay, but, O man, who art thou
that replyest against God? Shall the thing form say to him
that formed it? Why hast thou made me thus? Hath
not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make
one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God,
willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured
with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?
Most of Israel fits that description. There are vessels of wrath fitted
to destruction. He's long-suffering, and then
he says in verse 23, and that he might make known the riches
of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he had aforeprepared
unto glory, even us whom he hath called, not of the Jews only,
but also of the Gentiles. So we have the Lord coming to
Israel there in the Old Testament. He came with judges, He came
with judgment, and yet a few, He came in such power that they
acknowledged Him as the true Lord, and they could say, we
have sinned against Thee, both because we have forsaken our
God, Verse 15 of the book of Judges chapter 10, the children
of Israel said unto the Lord, we have sinned, do thou unto
us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee, have mercy, deliver us
only, we pray thee this day. And they put away the strange
God from among them and served the Lord, and his soul was grieved
for the misery of Israel. And the children of Ammon were
gathered together and encamped in Gilead. And the children of
Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah. And the
people and the princes of Gilead said one to another, what man
is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon?
He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Now we're
going to be introduced to another king, or excuse me, not another
king, but another judge. But the people said, what man
is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon?
Well, we find ourselves in that same situation. What man? The God-man. the Holy One, Immanuel. He's the only one that can do
what he promised to do, and that is to take care of the sin of
his people. We're gathered together around
his feet knowing he full well can do that, and he has taken
care of that issue at Calvary nearly 2,000 years ago. And we're
thankful for that. And we're introduced to someone
who can continuously do that, and that's the Lord. Well, we're
gonna stop there for tonight, and we'll pick up next time we
get to meet, looking at Judges chapter 11. And we have a new
judge come along. It's Jephthah the Gileadite.
He's a mighty man of valor. He doesn't have a very glorious
background. He's the son of a harlot. but
we find out that God continuously uses sinners, saved by His grace,
to do His purpose and will. So God bless you until we meet
again.