The Book of Judges Series – Revival in the Land 6/6/21 “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did
what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6; 21:25 (NASB)
Introduction-“Who will go up for us…” (1:1-3)
I. Background of the period of the judges-The reason for Israel’s apostasy (1:4-3:6)
A. The political background-Hostilities between Israel and the Canaanites (1:4-36)
B. The spiritual background – Israel’s conduct and God’s response (2:1-3:6)
II. History of the period of the judges-The record of Israel’s apostasy (3:7-16:31)
A. 1st apostasy-Mesopotamian oppression-Othniel’s deliverance (3:7-14) B. 2nd apostasy-Moabite oppression-Ehud’s deliverance (3:12-30)
C. 3rd apostasy-Canaanite oppression-Deborah/Barak (4:1-5:31)
D. 4th Apostasy-Midianite oppression-Gideon’s deliverance (6:1-8:35)
Addendum: This “cycle” is different – “The Enemy Within” – Conspiracy (9:1-10:5) E. 5th apostasy-Ammonite oppression-Jephthah’s deliverance (10:6-12:7)
Addendum: Less well-known judges served between cycles of decline (12:8-15) F. 6th apostasy-Philistine oppression-Samson’s partial deliverance (13:1-16:31) III. The results of Israel’s apostasy – Spiritual, social and political chaos (17:1-21:25)
Introduction – Many expositors believe chapters 17-21 are not chronological
A. Spiritual and moral Chaos – Micah ‘s idolatry and private ‘religion’ (17:1-13)
B. Social Chaos – Danite apostasy and migration (18:1-31)
C. Political Chaos – The Benjamite war instigated by gross immorality (19:1-21:24)
Conclusion : Reason for the tragic consequences during the time of Judges (21:25) 1. The problem: The reason – Man’s sin nature and no “moral consensus” 2. The solution: The answer – God’s “living and abiding” Word —> REVIVAL
Key Verse(s) *The key to bringing revival to the land
Judges 21:25 (NASB) *The problem – No authority or standard of morality “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
2 Kings 22:8-11 (NASB) *The solution – The living and abiding Word of God
“Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, ‘I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.’ And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it. Shaphan the scribe…brought back word to the king and said, ‘Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.’ Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.’ And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.”
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NASB)
Judges 21:25 “Revive Us Again!”
What is the answer? 2 Kings 19:21-22:20
“This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me ”
Psalm 119:50 (NASB)
Key x-References– God’s Word —> Repentance —> Revival
Judges 10:10-16 (excerpts NASB) *Repentance is the root of revival
“Then the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, ‘We have sinned against You, for indeed, we have forsaken our God and served the Baals.’ The LORD said to the sons of Israel, ‘Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the sons of Am- mon, and the Philistines?…I delivered you from their hands. Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer deliver you. Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.’ The sons of Israel said to the LORD, ‘We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day.’ So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.”
Judges 20:16 (NAS) *Where does repentance come from? There has to be a standard “Out of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.” [Note: Hebrew “miss” = “sin” The standard is God’s perfection]
Matthew 5:48 (NAS) *“Sin” is missing the target, or standard, of God’s perfection “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Romans 3:21-24 (NASB) *Faith is the only biblical or logical way to meet the standard “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested…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.”
Amos 7:8 (NASB) *The standard – or plumb line – is the Word of God
“The LORD said to me, ‘What do you see, Amos?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said, ‘Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.” *Note: The Word allows us to see how crooked we really are!
Psalm 85:6 (NAS) *Repentance and revival are the key to sustained joy in the Lord “Will You not Yourself revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?”
Psalm 119:25 (NAS) *God’s Word brings revival in the midst of adversity and dismay “ My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.”
Isaiah 57:15 (NAS) *God’s presence brings continual revival to those who seek Him “For thus says the high and exalted One …‘I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Note: See 2 Corinthians 7:10 Key Terms (most words have a ‘field of meaning’ —> various translations) “revive” (Psalm 119:25) Hebrew #2421 (262x), NASB chayah, prim. root: — to live; e.g. come to life (11), keep…alive* (15), live* (167), preserve…alive* (6), recover* (6), restored to life (4), revive* (26), saved our lives* (4)
“Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!”
Jeremiah 7:2 (NASB)