OUR SOVEREIGN GOD

BE STRONG IN THE LORD Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage; Your mighty Defender is always the same! Mount up with wings, as the eagle ascending; Victory is sure when you call on His name!

CHORUS Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord, And be of good courage, For He is your Guide. Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord, And rejoice for the victory is yours.

Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage; Your mighty Commander will vanquish the foe. Fear not the battle for the victory is always His; He will protect you wherever you go.

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord, And be of good courage, for He is your Guide; Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord, And rejoice for the victory is yours!

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise! I will say, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad!” HE HAS MADE ME GLAD

He has made me glad, He has made me glad; I will rejoice for He has made me glad! (2x)

BLESS THE LORD Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, Bless His holy Name! (repeat) He has done great things, (3x) Bless His holy Name!

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, Bless His holy Name! (repeat)

Jesus, Name Above All Names Jesus, Name above all names, Beautiful Savior, Glorious Lord. Emmanuel, God is with us, Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.

The Battle Belongs To The Lord © 1984 & 1997 Fairhill Music, ARR, UBP In heavenly armor We’ll enter the land, The battle belongs to the Lord. In heavenly armor We’ll enter the land, The battle belongs to the Lord.

No weapon that’s fashioned Against us will stand, The battle belongs to the Lord. No weapon that’s fashioned Against us will stand, The battle belongs to the Lord.

We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord. We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord! We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord. We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord!

When the power of darkness Comes in like a flood, The battle belongs to the Lord. When the power of darkness Comes in like a flood, The battle belongs to the Lord.

He’s raised up a standard, The power of His blood, The battle belongs to the Lord. He’s raised up a standard, The power of His blood, The battle belongs to the Lord.

We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord. We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord! We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord. We sing glory, honor, Power and strength to the Lord!

Awesome God  1988 Edward Grant, Inc. ARR ICS UBP Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above; With wisdom power and love Our God is an awesome God. Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above; With wisdom power and love Our God is an awesome God.

Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above; With wisdom power and love Our God is an awesome God. Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above; With wisdom power and love Our God is an awesome God.

OUR SOVEREIGN GOD “selective history” God selects or includes what will help us understand His Great Plan of Redemption. Judges is not a repeat of Joshua’s campaigns. There were still many pockets of Canaanites. A major concern of the author is Israel’s behavior during the days of the judges.

NEGATIVE FACTORS 1 - Each tribe, for the most part, functioned independently, selfishly. What is God’s goal? A unified people whose love for one another and for Him would glorify His name. 2 - Israel had no central leadership during this time.

Home-town heroes Occasional, abbreviated rule Authority limited to military realm National figures Life-long leadership National authority & influence DIFFERENCES MOSES & JOSHUAThe JUDGES

JUDGES 2:10-14 In Judges we find what we call “sin cycles" – apostasy  servitude  repentance  deliverance apostasy  servitude 

SUMMARY: 1 Israel did enter the land of promise to occupy it, but disunity hindered swift acquisition. 2 God provided local “deliverers" to rescue Israel from the trials brought on by sin. 3 These repeated immoral and godless conditions stirred up God’s anger. Short on unity, faith, and godliness

THE BOOK OF RUTH Evidence of grace, favor, kindness, and love Happens when most men were grossly out of sorts with God and each other!! God is still doing something during the judges!! The story of God’s redemptive plan continues. There was gross idolatry and immorality during those days. But something else was happening, something God wants you to know about.

WHAT IS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF RUTH? God is at work making provision for a _______ King! Are you encouraged by God's ways? Even in the darkest hour, God is still in control! Even here, God is preparing for His ultimate goal - an earth filled with His glory.

Ruth was not an Israelite, yet God made her a relative of Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah!! What does the inclusion of non-Jews in the Messiah’s pedigree picture? God’s ultimate goal involves, not just the Jews, but all the peoples of the earth. Gentiles are invited into the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THAT’S GRACE So, be encouraged by God's ways today. Even in the darkest hour, God is still in control!

Alt tune GOD MOVES

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.

Deep in un-fath-om-a-ble mines Of never failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will.

Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain: God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Though now we see through darkened glass, We'll see Him face to face!