The Book of Judges – “Who Is the Judge Who Delivers Us?” 5/2/21
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 3:13 (NASB)
Introduction (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11-13)
There are many “pictures,” or types, in the Old Testament that God used to prepare us for the fulfillment that was coming in the New Testament (e.g. Judges 2:11-19)
THEN – General rule (not a specific case) – Imperfect judges, temporary deliverance
I. God’s chosen people in the OT were consistently rebellious and unfaithful (2:11-13) II. God’s anger resulted in discipline because of His people’s sin (2:14-15)
III. God’s provision of imperfect judges to deliver them temporarily (2:16)
IV. But God’s people continually relapsed into unfaithfulness and sin (2:17-19)
NOW – God’s ultimate fulfillment – Christ the perfect Judge, eternal deliverance
I. God’s chosen people in the NT are STILL rebellious and unfaithful (1 John 1:8,10)
II. God’s anger STILL results in discipline because of His people’s sin (Hebrews 12:4-11) III. God’s provision – the perfect judge who provides eternal deliverance (Heb. 7:23-25) IV. But God’s NT people STILL continually relapse into unfaithfulness and sin (Heb 12:1) V. Key difference – Christ’s provision ALWAYS makes restoration possible (1 Jn. 1:8-9)
Key Verse(s) *God’ plan for the redemption of mankind has never changed
Judges 2:19 (NASB) *The Old Testament “picture” was imperfect and temporary “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.”
Hebrews 7:23-25 (NASB) *Like the judges, OT priests were also imperfect “pictures” “The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Acts 2:22-23 (NASB) *The enigmatic intersection-God’s sovereignty vs man’s free will
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst…this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”
Acts 17:30-31 (NASB) *Just as God ordained the crucifixion, judgment day is coming!
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. .”
1 John 1:8-9 (NASB)
Judges 2:11-19 True and Lasting Deliverance
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.’”
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NASB)
Key Verses – What was concealed in the Old Testament is revealed in the New Romans 3:9-12 (NASB) *Jesus is the only “good” (i.e. perfect) man who ever lived “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” (cf. Ps. 14:1-3; Ps. 53:1-3)
Romans 3:21-26 (NASB) *That’s why Christ had to die to pay the price for our sin
“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…”
Hebrews 12:4-11 (NASB) *Believers STILL sin and are disciplined, NOT condemned “…you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us…they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.” (cf. Job 5:17; Prov. 3:11-12)
John 3:17-18 (NASB) *The difference between heaven and hell – faith and ONLY faith! “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
John 5:24 (NAS) *God’s absolute promise of eternal life on the basis of Christ’s death “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB) *Believers are judged for rewards based on what they do “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad .”
Hebrews 9:28 (NASB) *Christ’s deliverance is perfect and complete – “once for all” “…so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
“…But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NASB)