We start the book of Jdgses which picks up the scene in Canaan after the death of Joshua. There are many parallels here with faith cycles that occur in churches and countries.
Judges 1: The Continuing Conquest of Canaan
1 After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the LORD, "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?"
2 The LORD said, "Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand."
3 And Judah said to Simeon his brother, "Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites. And I likewise will go with you into the territory allotted to you." So Simeon went with him.
4 Then Judah went up and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they defeated 10,000 of them at Bezek.
5 They found Adoni-bezek at Bezek and fought against him and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6 Adoni-bezek fled, but they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his big toes.
7 And Adoni-bezek said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me." And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8 And the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire.
9 And afterward the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the Negeb, and in the lowland.
10 And Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba), and they defeated Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.
11 From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. The name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher.
12 And Caleb said, "He who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter for a wife."
13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife.
14 When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What do you want?"
15 She said to him, "Give me a blessing. Since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water." And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
16 And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad, and they went and settled with the people.
17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction. So the name of the city was called Hormah.
18 Judah also captured Gaza with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory.
19 And the LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.
20 And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said. And he drove out from it the three sons of Anak.
21 But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
22 The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the LORD was with them.
23 And the house of Joseph scouted out Bethel. (Now the name of the city was formerly Luz.)
24 And the spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, "Please show us the way into the city, and we will deal kindly with you."
25 And he showed them the way into the city. And they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go.
26 And the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city and called its name Luz. That is its name to this day.
Failure to Complete the Conquest
27 Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.
28 When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labour, but did not drive them out completely.
29 And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.
30 Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but became subject to forced labour.
31 Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon or of Ahlab or of Achzib or of Helbah or of Aphik or of Rehob,
32 so the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out.
33 Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, so they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labour for them.
34 The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain.
35 The Amorites persisted in dwelling in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily on them, and they became subject to forced labour.
36 And the border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela and upward.
Judges 2: Israel's Disobedience
1 Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, "I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you,
2 and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.' But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?
3 So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you."
4 As soon as the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept.
5 And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the LORD.
The Death of Joshua
6 When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land.
7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel.
8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110 years.
9 And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.
10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.
Israel's Unfaithfulness
11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.
12 And they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the LORD to anger.
13 They abandoned the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.
14 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.
15 Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.
The LORD Raises Up Judges
16 Then the LORD raised up Judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.
17 Yet they did not listen to their Judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so.
18 Whenever the LORD raised up Judges for them, the LORD was with the Judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the Judges. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.
19 But whenever the Judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.
20 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he said, "Because this people has transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice,
21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died,
22 in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not."
23 So the LORD left those nations, not driving them out quickly, and he did not give them into the hand of Joshua.
Things to think about…
1. Judges 1:1-26 is a brief summary of Israel’s continued obedience after the death of Joshua. The land continued to be taken. This first generation after Joshua continued to take the land because they had seen the mighty acts of the Lord. Sometimes those that have experienced the blessing of being raised in Christian families have not had to endure the fight. We should never try and protect our children from experiencing spiritual warfare. It is the only way they can grow and know that the war for their souls is real. We must never protect them from the reality of spiritual warfare over their souls.
2. We will all be humbled at some point in our lives. In Judges 1:7 Adoni-bezek the captured Canaanite king say, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me." We eventually reap what we sow. Better to sow in love, grace and ruth and reap better rewards.
3. Note that Jerusalem is taken in Judges 1:8. Remember the Jebusites were there and hard to defeat. The elders after Joshua retake the city. They then move south to Hebron and towards the Negev conquering the land. After leaders such as Moses and Joshua, others had to step up. The elders of Israel tool on this leadership. Pray for church leaders, especially elders that they do not compromise back take back the land with the bold truth of Christ and His gospel.
4. We are told in the NT that “You do not have, because you do not ask.”, James 4:2. But here in Judges 1:14 this bold woman asks her father Caleb for springs, and she receives them. Not she has just received a new husband after he captured Kiriath-sepher (Debir), vs 13. Caleb gives the upper and lower springs, vs 15 to her. May we be faithfully bold in asking our gracious Lord for blessings that will further His kingdom.
5. We know that some spiritual battles are harder than others. Joshua could not take the land of the Philistines on the plain “because they had chariots of iron”, Judges 1:19. Jesus said some demons come out with much prayer (some texts add “and fasting”), Mt 17:21. The Lord’s authority is always available, but some demons have greater power and resistance than others, only mature Christians can see them defeated. Hence our need to grow stronger spiritually through prayer the reading of the word of God.
6. Judges 1:27-36 shows that Israel tolerated the Canaanites. The decree was that they were all to be destroyed, but Israel put them to forced labour. This may sound like a good practical way of sourcing cheap labour, but it would ultimately cost them their freedom over the next few hundred years. A bit of leaven goes through the whole lump. Their attraction to the idols of Canaan would force them into captivity again. The same is true for Christians that don’t seek out and read God’s Word and prayer for obedience, deliverance and conformity to Christ.
7. Judges 2 is the tragic outworking of Israel’s disobedience to take the land as the Lord commanded and sets the scene for how Judges were raised up. We see what happens when the next generation have only a cultural rather than spiritual understanding of the Lord. In Judges 2:10 it says “there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD”. As such we see in this chapter that land was lost to Israel or the original inhabitants were allowed to stay…Jerusalem is a good example, where the Jebusites remained in the city.
8. What a tragedy it is when even the Lord is against you. This next generation did not know the Lord and the Lord had said He would not drive out the inhabitants, but that they would be a snare to Israel. We read in Judges 2:15 “Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them for harm, as the LORD had warned, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress”. When churches turn away from the central truth of the gospel and the teachings of Christ and the role of the Holy Spirit to convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgement, sin will abound in the church and it will lose its influence as salt and light in the community.
9. God had made the call in Judges 2:20-22 to test them. The church is often tested today to see whether it will be obedient to God’s word or falls victim to the temptation and ways of sin and the world. Encouraging each other to stand firm in the Word and in faith brings about victory over sin and the world. Hebrews 10:24 and 1John 1:9 should be a culture that is promoted in every church.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. Continuing through the Sermon on the Mount. Wednesday night 6:30pm.
Young adult Life group - a meat lovers lunch this Sunday after church!
Prayer Points
1. Pray for Pastor Ric. Goes in for a heart op to adjust AF on his heart this Friday.
2. 30th June Special meeting re financial position and direction of the church.
3. Land slide in New Guinea that has claimed around 1000 lives. May God have mercy in the recovery efforts.
4. Keep praying for Anna and the Playgroup, pray for more families to be reached.
5. Conflict in Israel and Ukraine.
6. Church finances to cover all expenses. Budget presently not being met.
7. Pray for Kids@Church, Life groups. Young Adults.
8. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Wednesday afternoons, 5:30pm in the church cafe. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
9. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
10. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Combined Baptist One prayer meeting was an encouragement to hear what the Lord is doing in the other churches and to pray for revival in our city.
2. Great meeting on Sunday with new comers – give thanks
3. Tad’s health getting better all the time.
4. Glenys is looking well and receiving good treatment as she recovers from her stroke.
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Playgroup 9:30-11am on Friday.
2. Special Members (all congregation) meeting 30th June after the service. Lunch afterwards
3. Young Adults after church on Sunday – Meat Mayhem lunch!”.
4. Wednesday evening prayer at church 5:30-6:30pm
5. Life Groups Wednesday 6:30pm at church.
6. Kids@Church every Sunday.
7. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
8. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for June...
Q. 21. In what condition did God make Adam and Eve? A. He made them holy and happy.
Bible References – Gen.1:26-28; Ps.8:4-8.
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” Jer 33:3
