Introduction #2 to the Book of Judges

A few weeks ago pastor Ray Haas preached a sermon entitled, “The Next Step: God helps us take our next step in life”. Ray’s teaching had three points:

• First, God directs us into our next step in life.

• Second, God show us how to take the next step in life.

• Third, God shows us who will help us take that next step in life.

That sermon had very practical applications to our lives and the challenge for me was that I had to ask myself if I really believed that God is this detailed about the next steps in my life? If I do believe this then why do I often live as though God does not care what I do. A we begin to study the Book of Judges we will see that they were called by God to take this next step but they ended up falling.

As we come now to the beginning of the Book of Judges we will see that God’s people find themselves in the very circumstances that Ray described in his sermon. As Joshua dies God would be directing their next steps, telling them exactly what they are to do and not do, and He tells them who they are to associate with and who they are not.

To understand this we need to look at a few historical facts that are recorded in Joshua 23 regarding this time of transition. As we read this chapter we should be aware that these words are Joshua’s last words to the people; therefore, they are probably very important. This also makes us aware of the fact that this transition will pose difficulties for those who are living through it. Joshua 23 says,

A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, “I am now old and well advanced in years. And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you. Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you. Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you.

“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.”

Joshua 23 begins with these words, “A long time afterward...” (1a) These words should make us ask what happened such a long time ago that Joshua is referring to with these words? Well, there are two answers to that question. First, in the larger context God has fulfilled every one of His promises to bring His people into the Promised Land and give His people rest. Secondly, these words refer to the event that happened at the very end of Joshua 22.

This event was when the tribes that lived on the east of the Jordan began to build what appeared to be an idolatrous altar. I would like to focus on this moment in Israel’s history because it is significant to our study of Judges. What we will see is that at this time in Israel’s history they were zealous to serve God and punish anyone who would turn to idolatry. (Joshua 22:1-34)

When it was discovered by Israel that Reuben and Gad began building this altar they did not overlook this apparent sin or take it lightly. They did not consider it to be an insignificant project that would not affect everyone else. No, on the contrary, when they saw that this was being done they quickly joined together to make war against the people of Reuben and Gad. They knew that this type of sin would bring upon all of God’s people swift judgment, misery, and trouble.

When the other tribes saw Reuben and Gad building this altar they took decisive action. But soon it was discovered what Reuben and Gad intended to do with this monument and that they had not created it to be an idolatrous altar. No, they were afraid that over time they would be alienated from God’s people and so they built this altar to let future generations know that the tribes beyond the Jordan were also part of the people of God and that they had a portion in the worship of the One True God.

Consideration: My friends, Reuben and Gad feared that a river could divide the hearts of God’s people from each other. Was this possible? Sure, there are all kinds of things that can divide God’s people. Distance and separation can threaten family and friends. Warning: prolonged willful isolation and separation from God’s people is never good and often leads to giving the devil a foothold in our lives. Therefore, what are those things in our life that threaten our closeness to God and His people and how should we respond according to the Scriptures?

In reality, this monument was unnecessary because God had already told his people build a monument when they had first crossed the Jordan. (Joshua 4) The monument that God had directed them to make probably seemed pretty small and insignificant compared to this new one. Even though God had already had them build an altar it seems to be in our fallen nature to add things; rather than, simply to do only what God has said and to teach only the things that God has taught. (4:21-22) {What has God ordained to ensure that His people are unified? He has united us by His Spirit and given us His truth, called us to honor the Sabbath, Christian Fellowship, The Gospel of Faith which removes all barriers because of grace, Baptism, Communion, The one another commands in scripture, etc.}

Because Reuben and Gad did not build this monument to engage in any idolatrous sin the other tribes dispersed and returned to their homes and war was averted. For the next twenty-five years the people of God began to settle into their new land, their new cities, and their new homes.

It was important to mention these things as we begin to study the Book of Judges because in those early days all of Israel appeared to be so aware, so sensitive, so atune to sin and they desired to honor God and to not offend His holiness and righteousness through any idolatrous affections. They were quick to respond to this perceived sin because they did not want to provoke God to jealousy. Therefore, when it was thought that Reuben and Gad had sinned the rest of the people assembled to take decisive action.

Illustration: I remember being at a youth night bowling party. At one point on the televisions an inappropriate scene came on the televisions and the youth pastor jumped up and ran to the front desk to have them turn the televisions off. That youth pastor had a sensitive conscience that was easily provoked to action! It made a lasting impact upon me.

In Joshua 22:16 we we read these words when the congregation gathers to confront Reuben and Gad, “Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD...”. Aren’t these beautiful words. This is not one man who has risen up to protect God’s holiness and righteousness but a whole congregation of God’s people. These words show us that God’s people saw themselves as a ‘whole congregation’ who were responsible to see sin, resist it, and be ready to deal with it at any time anywhere.

At that time this congregation of people gathered together and they said to Reuben and Gad, “What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the LORD by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the LORD?”

During this confrontation the congregation perceived the seriousness of this sin because they had not forgotten the lesson they had learned from their past sins. For example, in Joshua 22:17 they mention the sin of Peor which brought upon God’s people a great plague. Therefore, they reason that if God judged that sin He will judge this sin as well? They also mentioned Achan who broke faith in the matter of the devoted things of God. Achan’s sin affected the whole congregation and many died as a result of his sin. This sin was so serious that the LORD's wrath came upon Achan, his family, and his possessions. (20)

Application#1: One of the things that we can admire about the generation of Joshua was that they were sensitive to sin and its consequences. When they perceived that a sin had been committed against God and His Word they knew that something had to be done or it would bring danger upon everyone. Question: Are we as individuals and as a congregation sensitive to sin and its consequences? Are we quick to see sin and respond to it? Are we quick to protect ourselves and others from sin's devastating consequences?

• Question: How can we endeavor to become more sensitive to sin and deal with it quickly? Be in the Word and prayer every day.

Application#2: Another thing that we can admire about the generation of Joshua is that they remembered the effects of past sin and this gave this a healthy fear of it and it kept them pursuing holiness. One of the things that we will see in the Book of Judges is that the future generations would quickly forgot past sins and the consequences of those sins. They did not remember, as James taught us, that sin is our greatest danger because it always leads to death. Because they had a short memory of sin they quickly fell back into sin.

• Question: How is our memory regarding sin and its effects? Do we have a healthy understanding of sin and what it causes? If we do, how does this help us to daily live in coming to the Throne of Grace for mercy and grace in our time of need?

Application#3: We will also discover in the Book of Judges that those who do not have a high view of sin and its effects will not understand the goodness, grace, and mercy of God that saves them from it. If sin is not that bad then the antidote does not need to be that powerful. But if sin is that bad we will know that we need to daily depend upon our strong and powerful Savior. (Christ who is greater than the judges we will be studying.)

• Question: Do we have a proper view of sin so that we will have a healthy view and dependence upon Christ our Savior?

It was a long time after these things that Joshua speaks these words in Joshua 23 to the people. By this time in Israel’s history twenty-five years had past. Back in those early days they had to fight battles against great enemies but over the past twenty-five years Israel lived in cities they did not construct. They lived in houses that they did not build. They enjoyed the produce of large fields that they did not have to labor, sweat, and toil to create. And it would seem that over time Israel, who had been so quick to submit to God and His Word at the beginning had slowly begun to weaken in their faith and their consciences were hardened.

As Joshua and the people of that generation grew older and began to pass away, that next generation would soon be called upon to take ‘The Next Step’ that God was calling them to take. This next step would test them to see if they were strong in the faith and determined to obey the LORD as their fathers had done.

Joshua knew the importance of this 'Next Step Transition' so he reminds them of several important things.

God directs them as to what their next step is to be

After Joshua speaks of God’s past faithfulness he says to this next generation, “Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you.” (4-5)

God shows them how to take that next step

Then Joshua tells them how they are to take that next step by saying in verse 6, “Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left.” He also says to them in verse 11, “Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.” (And to be careful to keep His commands.)

God shows them who is called to take this next step and who is not

God’s people were to remain a family of faith and be the people of God in the land. Then Joshua says in verse 7-8, “...you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day.” They are not to take this next step with a faithless and godless people.

This next step that Israel will have to take will be without their great leader Joshua. This is scary but in this moment Joshua does not direct their attention to himself but to the LORD. They will take this next step without Joshua, but they will not take it alone. God, the LORD, their King will be with them. Joshua says, “I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.”

This great comfort also comes with a warning. Joshua says, “But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.”

Conclusion: As we study the Book of Judges we will see that Israel always failed to obey God’s word and in doing so they brought great disaster upon themselves. This cycle will happen over and over again and each time things continued to get progressively worse. Yet, through it all God proved time and again to be faithful to His covenant and to all the promises that He has ever made. He is not obligated to those who make great boasts regarding their own ability to be faithful. (24:14) However, we will see that God will always show mercy and grace to those who truly repent and turn to Him to receive mercy and grace. God was faithful to bring His people into the Promised Land and He would also be faithful to one day bring His righteous King and Judge into the world to save sinners. All of the Judges we will look at will be flawed and sinful. They will leave us wanting to know and draw closer to Jesus Christ our LORD.