Part 3: The depth of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 17:1-21:25), continued

Religious corruption (Judges 17:1-18:31), continued

Religious corruption of a tribe (Judges 17:1-18:31)

• Judges 18:6 – Notice that this is a very ambiguous response. There is no indication that the priest actually inquired of God.
• Judges 18:20 – The Levite’s allegiance was not to God or even to Micah, but to his own ego.
• Judges 18:25 – See Judges 17:13. This did not turn out well for Micah.

Moral and societal corruption (Judges 19:1-21:24)

Moral outrage at Gibeah (Judges 19:1-21)

• Judges 19:12 – Gibeah was associated with several faithful priests who took a stand against sin in the Old Testament. Eleazer was buried there (Joshua 24:33) and it was the town of his son Phinehas (see Numbers 25:1-13). The contrast here seems to be the declining values of the city since the days of Phinehas. Gibeah was also the hometown of Saul.

Class 12 takeaway

• Idolatry was so endemic to Israelite life that they were unable or unwilling to recognize it and root it out of their culture, ultimately leading to their captivity. This is clearly seen in the Micah-Levite-Danite affair.
• We can be similarly entrenched in idolatry and self-made religion. When we fail to carefully and thoughtfully study the Bible – and respectfully question long held conclusions in light of God’s truth – we risk stumbling into the same trap these Israelites (and later Jews who killed the Messiah) fell into.

Introduction

• Ecclesiastes 1:10

People sin.

• Genesis 6:5-6
• II Timothy 3:1-5, 13
• We may be tempted to think we live in uniquely horrible times, but sin has been here from the beginning.
• II Peter 3:3-4, 7 – Judgment is coming!
• II Peter 3:17 – Don’t let the sinful ideas of the day or wars and strife get you down!

Wisdom fails.

• Genesis 11:4 – They were doing this out of pride.
• I Kings 12:26-30 – Jeroboam set up idols out of political fear and envy. He consulted with fools!
• Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 – Solomon’s view was pessimistic because he was looking at life without God.
• I Corinthians 1:19, 30-31 – Wisdom from God brings us fulfillment and salvation.

Promises remain.

• Genesis 12:2, 7, 3 – God keeps His promises!
• Joshua 23:14
• Psalms 33:1-22 – We are frail and have little control. God controls all. Lean on His promises.

God saves.

• Genesis 3:14-15 – God had planned for man’s salvation.
• Hebrews 2:14
• I John 3:8
• Jeremiah 31:31-34

II Timothy 3, continued

II Timothy 3:13-17 – Sacred writings

• “Man of God” was used 71 times in the Old Testament, usually referring to either an angel or prophet. Here it seems to be referring to Timothy specifically.
• If God required diligent study from people of this time, how much more so from us with much better access to the scripture?

II Timothy 4

II Timothy 4:1-4 – “Preach the word”

• II Timothy 4:2
  • “reprove” – to show someone they are wrong; to correct
  • “rebuke” – to punish; overlaps with “reprove”
  • “exhort” – to help; encourage
• II Timothy 4:3 – This was already happening in Paul’s day. The tendency of people is to stray, so we must work against it.

II Timothy 4:6-8 – “I have fought the good fight”

• II Timothy 4:6 – See Numbers 15:7; Philippians 2:17. Paul evidently thought his time of death was near.
• II Timothy 4:7 – Paul says that now he has fought “the good fight.” Before his conversion, Paul had been in some fights that were not so good.

II Timothy 4:9-22 – Companions and enemies

• II Timothy 4:16 – At that time, persecution was severe. It might have been dangerous for others to even stand beside Paul at his defense.

Physical

Esther

• Esther 2:5-7 – Esther was an orphan. Mordecai was her cousin, but he raised her as his own daughter.
• Esther 4:1, 4 – It deeply hurt Esther that Mordecai was distressed.
• Esther 4:13-17

Moses

• Acts 7:20

Samuel

• I Samuel 1:11, 20, 24-28; 2:11
• I Samuel 2:12, 19-20 – Eli’s own sons were disobedient and abused their positions, but Samuel served the Lord and was a bright spot in Eli’s life.

Jesus

• Luke 1:35
• Luke 3:23
• John 6:42

Modern adoption

• Psalms 68:5
• James 1:27 – Those who adopt are going far beyond this command.

Spiritual

• I Peter 1:3-5
• Romans 8:14-17, 22
• Romans 9:3-4
• Galatians 4:1-7
• Because God adopted us, we are heirs of the blessings.
• Ephesians 1:1-10
• We are adopted as full heirs.
• Physical adoption is precious. Spiritual adoption is even more so!

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31)

Samson (Judges 13:1-16:31)

Samson and the Philistines, part 2 (Judges 16:1-31)

• Judges 16:1-3 – The gates would have weighed close to 5,000 pounds. Removing these gates would have also weakened the defenses of the city.
• Judges 16:4 – It is not stated what Delilah’s nationality was. It’s possible she was either Philistine or Israelite.
• Judges 16:5 – Why did the Philistines think there was something that could diminish his power? Samson could have just said his strength was a blessing from God and left it at that.
• Judges 16:7-17 – Samson lied three times before telling her the truth.
• Samson continually flirted with sin and acted with hubris, considering himself untouchable. This got him in trouble, just like it would us.
• Samson could not see the danger he was putting himself in. How often do we do the same? After not being able to see, it’s ironic that his greatest act of deliverance came once he lost his eyes.

Part 3: The depths of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 17:1-21:25)

Religious corruption (Judges 17:1-18:31)

Religious corruption of a household (Judges 17:1-6)

• Judges 17:1 – Micah is an abbreviation of Micah-yehu, which means “who is like Yahweh?”

Religious corruption of a Levite (Judges 17:7-13)

• Judges 17:6 – Are we effectively leaderless today, doing what is right in our own eyes?

Class 11 Takeaway

• Samson was strong and heroic but lacked an essential characteristic to be pleasing to God: self-control (Proverbs 25:28; Galatians 5:23). His Achilles’ heel was lust for women, and he was driven by that lust – and revenge – to his downfall.
• Left unchecked, our desires will lead us down the same deadly road Samson was on. When we fail to exercise self-control, our unbridled desires separate us from God and leave a damaging wake in our path, jeopardizing others’ souls (II Peter 1:6, 8-11). Like Samson, we may do some good, but it will be nowhere near what God intends.