DTB Judges: Sin Cycles and Saviors

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I. We Reap what we Sow; wise people sow loyal obedience  2:10 generation arose who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel.  11 Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD,  served the Baals 12 they forsook the LORD God...out of  Egypt; and they followed other gods; provoked the LORD to anger. 13 They forsook the LORD and served Baal 14  anger of the LORD was hot cx Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them...no longer stand before their enemies. 15 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.

II. God uses faithful people to accomplish His will 2:16 Nevertheless, the LORD raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods; turned quickly from the way, in obeying the commandments of the LORD 18 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 19 when the judge was dead, they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, following other gods, to serve them,  bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way. 

III. Every day of life is a loyalty test 2:20 Then the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant and has not heeded My voice, 21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 22 so that thru them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the LORD, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not." 3:12 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, 'cse they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 15 when Israel cried out the LORD raised up a deliverer

IV. God sends a prophet in response to our cry, but we don't always listen 6:1 Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian for 7 years, 7 Israel cried out 8 LORD sent a prophet "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I brought you up from Egypt out of bondage; 9 I delivered...oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 Also I said to you, "I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell." But you have not obeyed My voice.' " 

V. We need to see ourselves as what God wants us to become (with Him) 6:11 Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 Angel of the LORD appeared: "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" 13 "O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all His miracles?'  LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." 14 Then the LORD said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" 15 "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." 16 And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."

VI. Seeking and Doing God's will: A. Seeking God's Favor 6:17 "If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me. 18 Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering  21 fire rose out of the rock 

B. Devoted Service: Burning Bridges  25 same night LORD said "Take your father's young bull, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; 26 and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down."

C. Deceived Opposition 31 Joash said to all who stood against him, "Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!"

D. Divine Power 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; then he blew the trumpet, the Abiezrites gathered behind him

VII. Building confidence in God's revelation 36 If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said 37 dew on the fleece only...then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said 7:2 “too many...lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' 3 'Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart 22k returned...10k...300 9 LORD said "Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. 10 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, 11 and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened 

VIII. Egos and Ephod 8:1 Ephraim "Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight the Midianites?" they reprimanded him sharply. 4 exhausted but still in pursuit. 5 "Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing 23 Gideon said "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you."

27 Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city. All Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon/house

IX. Disloyalty to God extends to His servants 8:33 as soon as Gideon was dead, Israel again played the harlot...made Baal-Berith their god. 34 Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies 35 nor did they show kindness to the house of (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.  9:16 “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his 70 sons...son of his female slave, king 'cse he is related to you. NIV 23 God sent a spirit of ill will 24 that the crime 70 sons of be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech t  53 woman dropped  millstone on  head and crushed his skull. 56 Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father....

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Do we immediately recognize causes- effects in our daily lives? How get better?

2. Why are we usually more interested in God's will than God? Why is Him being with us paramount? How can we foster that rlshp?

3. Did Gideon use a fleece to determine God's will? Should we? What's the usual way for God to reveal His will to us?

4. Why are people so quick to forget the goodness of God and others? Is ingratitude a sin? Cf 2Tim 3:2