Unusual and unexpected deliverance May 11The roots of Israel’s unfaithfulness – 1:1-3:11 May 18 Unusual and unexpected deliverance – 3:12-5:31 May 25 The reluctant leader who eventually trusts God – June 15 Success and failure often go together – June 22 God is both Saviour and Judge – 8:29-9:56 June 29 Failing to see what God is really like – July 13 The God who does the impossible – July 20How can womanising Samson be God’s saviour? – July 27 The depths of Israel’s unfaithfulness –
Introduction The economy is looking up. God must be happy with us? The spiritual outlook is gloomy. We should be concerned.
The Judges’ cycle 1. The people rebel 3. Oppression by enemies 2. God is angry 4. The people cry out (repentance ) 5. Salvation through chosen judge 6. A Period of peace 7. The judge dies
1350 BC 1050 BC 1300 BC 1250 BC 1200 BC 1150 BC 1100 BC Othniel Ehud & Shamgar Deborah Barak Gideon Tola Jair Jephthah Ibzan Elon Abdon Jephthah Ibzan Elon Abdon Samson Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6 The Judges’ Timeline
The Unusual Deliverers Ehud – Wrong character
1.Initially subservient to King 2.No direct divine guidance 3.Plotted treasonable crime 4.Hoped people would rally Ehud
Deborah Wrong Gender The Unusual Deliverers
Mrs. D. Lappidoth 1.Woman therefore home-maker 2.Commanded no military force 3.Authority based on spirituality 4. Did not plan to go to the front
Barak wrong self-image The Unusual Deliverers
Barak 1.Feared the enemy forces. 2.Didn’t marshal his troops 3.Didn’t provide leadership 4.Didn’t trust in God’s word
Jael wrong alliance The Unusual Deliverers
Jael 1.A simple homemaker 2.Allied to her enemies 3.Clearly treacherous 4.Unfeminine strategy
GOD USES THE INADEQUATE GOD USES THE INADEQUATE
2Corinthians 5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (NIV)
The unexpected response 1. The people rallied to the leader’s call 2. They were patriotic 3. They endangered their lives in battle 4. If they lost, they risked worse situations than the status-quo
Psalms 110:3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendour, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.
Lessons I am not too unusual to be used by God Faith in God is essential for anyone who would be used by God. No matter how unusual the leader God sends is, I will follow him or her sacrificially