Israel Sins Judge Given Israel is judged Israel repents Judge dies

Judges 2:16-19 “Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do as their fathers. 18 When the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19 But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.”

Judges 3:3-4 These nations are: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 4 They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses.

Israel’s battles in Judges Othniel: defeats king of Mesopotamia; rest for 40 years; Israel sins. Ehud: defeats king of Moab; rest of 80 years; Israel sins. Shamgar: defeats Philistines; saves Israel; Israel sins. Deborah: defeats king of Canaan; rest for 40 years. Israel sins. Gideon: defeats Midian; Israel sins. Jephthah: defeats the Ammonites; Israel sins. Samson: defeats the Philistines once, but is eventually overtaken. Israel sins.

1 Samuel 4 v. 1-3a - Israel is defeated by the Lord at the hands of the Philistines. v. 3b-4 - Israel brings the Ark of the covenant into battle. v. 5-9 - The Philistines are scared, but “take courage” and “act like men.” v. 10-11 - Thirty thousand Israelites die, including Eli’s two sons. The Ark is taken. v. 12-18 - After hearing the news of his sons and the Ark, Eli dies. v. 19-22 – “The glory has departed from Israel.” God was gone.

Are you in the Faith? 1 Samuel 4; 2 Corinthians 13:5

Acknowledgement We must acknowledge that we fit the cycle of the Judges Not just that we sin but that we do it habitually. Israel could not see the years and years of sin. The blessing is God “is moved to pity by [our] groaning because of those who afflict [us].” He will send us Judges.

Take Action The Ark returns and Samuel says, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hands of the Philistines” (1 Sam. 7:3). The Israelites never put away their foreign gods.

Faith We must have faith to be in the faith. The Ark of the Covenant returned! Jesus was raised! We must have faith that God has returned and he will return again.

Are you in the Faith? 1 Samuel 4; 2 Corinthians 13:5