Israel has peace Israel has peace The judges Israel rebels Israel - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Israel has peace Israel has peace The judges Israel rebels Israel rebels Israel rebels deliver Israel God has mercy and God has mercy and God God appoints judges appoints judges punishes Israel punishes Israel Israel cries Israel cries out to God out to God

In the Bible, the judges were divinely appointed individuals who led and delivered Israel from their (external) enemies. What the judges were unable to accomplish was deliver God’s people from the enemy within...their wayward hearts.

Recap of Jephthah’s story (Judges 10:6-12:7) The context: l Israel reverts to idolatry (10:6) l The Lord repeals his protection (10:7-9) l Israel’s request to the Lord (10:10) l The Lord’s reluctance to save (10:11-14) l Israel’s repentance (10:15-16a) l The Lord’s response toward his suffering people (10:16b) l The leaders of Gilead regroup and reckon who will lead the fight (10:17-18)

Recap of Jephthah’s story (Judges 10:6-12:7) Jephthah’s story: l Jephthah’s relatives (11:1) l Jephthah rejected (11:2) l Jephthah runs off and resettles (11:3) l The elders of Gilead request Jephthah to rule over them and lead the resistance (11:4-11) l Jephthah resorts to diplomacy for a peaceful resolution (11:12-13, 14-28) l Jephthah’s rash vow (11:29-39) l Requiem of a daughter lost (11:40) l Rally against Ephraim (12:1-6) l Résumé of Jephthah’s service/ministry (12:7)

Jephthah, who longed for family Family and connection were important to Jephthah: But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house ?...If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites...” (Judges 11:9) The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.” And Jephthah said to them, “ I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand.” (Judges 12:1-2)

Jephthah, man of faith Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation... And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah , of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. (Hebrews 11:1-2, 32-34)

Jephthah, man of faith Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites, and YHWH gives them over to me , I will be your head?”...And Jephthah spoke all his words before YHWH at Mizpah. (Judges 11:9, 11; 12:3) In his appeal to the pagan king, Jephthah unashamedly gives the LORD credit for all that Israel gained. (Judges 11:21, 23-24, 27) His vow, though not thought through and rash, seems to be an expression of his devotion and desire to worship the LORD (Judges 11:29; cf. 1 Samuel 1:11; 2 Samuel 15:7-8)

Jephthah, a man of words The only judge who appeals to the enemy for peace before acting. His words appeal to the facts of history and reason. But, his rash vow shows that even Jephthah was careless with his words.

Jephthah, a man who keeps his word Oaths, promises, and vows were a very serious matter in the culture of the Ancient Near East. Vows were often associated with an act of worship or sacrifice. “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:2) ”If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.” (Deuteronomy 23:21)

Jephthah, a man who keeps his word Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:3-5) But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. (James 5:12)

Did Jephthah sacrifice his daughter? Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld_Bibel_in_Bildern_1860_078.png

Did Jephthah sacrifice his daughter? Two views and texts to consider: 1) No. She was given to serve at the Tent of Meeting as a virgin (cf. Exodus 38:8; Jewish tradition) 2) Yes. (Judges 11:39-40; Josephus, Jewish tradition) The practice of the Ammonites and the Torah on child sacrifice: Genesis 22:1-18 Leviticus 18:21; 20:3 Deuteronomy 12:30-31; 18:10 “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering...”

So what ? Takeaways and application

So what? (takeaways and application) Difficult text for skeptics of the Bible and also for believers! Why doesn’t God always speak up against wrong-doing? Points us forward to an ultimate hope in the Gospel to deal with the real enemy within each one of us. Messiah Jesus, God’s beloved Son, is our ultimate deliverer and only sacrifice acceptable to God. We are never alone! We have each other in the body of Messiah, the family of God (Romans 8:23; 9:8; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19; 1Thessalonians 4:10; 1 Peter 2:17; 5:9; Revelation 1:6, 9; 5:10)

So what? (takeaways and application) God uses real, imperfect people, often the unlikely, even with broken backgrounds. How and where does God want to use you? Words matter. Do we speak the truth in love? For peace? Do we keep our word/promises? We need God’s Holy Spirit to work in us and through us as we serve the Lord and his people (1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 5...)

So what? (takeaways and application) There is only one kind of human sacrifice acceptable to God that a believer can offer: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice , holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)