1. The High Cost of Low Living

2. Judges 6:1-10 – “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites,

3. and the children of the east, even they came up against them; And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into

4. the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the

5. house of bondage; And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.”

6. I.The Sin They Embraced (v.1a) “The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord” Judges 2:19 – “And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in the following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.”

7. I.The Sin They Embraced (v.1a) “The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord” Judges 3:5-7 – “And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, and Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites: And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.”

8. I.The Sin They Embraced (v.1a) When our leaders fail, we have a tendency to wander from the Lord Hebrews 12:1 – “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

9. I.The Sin They Embraced (v.1a) “Easily beset” – To skillfully surround James 1:13,14 – “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

10. II.The Suffering They Endured (vs.1b-6) Numbers 32:23 – “Behold, ye have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.”

11. II.The Suffering They Endured (vs.1b-6) They suffered invasion (vs. 1b-2a) They suffered imprisonment (v.2) o Their sin left them weak and defeated John 8:36 – “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”

12. II.The Suffering They Endured (vs.1b-6) They suffered invasion (vs. 1b-2a) They suffered imprisonment (v.2) They suffered impoverishment (vs.3-6) o “Impoverished” – To make slack or feeble Galatians 6:7 – “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

13. III.The Security They Evaded (vs.7-10) When Israel’s oppression was great, they called on the Lord God heard their cry and was gracious to them

14. III.The Security They Evaded (vs.7-10) They are reminded of God’s deliverance (vs.8b-9a) They are reminded of God’s deeds (v.9b) o He blessed them materially, physically, financially, and spiritually James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

15. III.The Security They Evaded (vs.7-10) They are reminded of God’s deliverance (vs.8b-9a) They are reminded of God’s deeds (v.9b) They are reminded of God’s demands (v.10) Exodus 34:14 – “For thou shalt worship no other god; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” o God has not changed, He is still a jealous God