Joshua 1: Signs of Hope In The Midst Of Israel's Decline For Sunday Service. (Abbreviated)

We are Statement: We are teaching the consequences of not obeying Jesus (Judges 2:1-5)

Judges 1:1-3 says, “After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the Lord, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?” The Lord said, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.” And Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites. And I likewise will go with you into the territory allotted to you.” So Simeon went with him.”

It was commendable that Israel prayed after the death of Joshua. This will not be repeated again in the Book of Judges! From now on, when a judge dies the people will not pray; rather, they will begin to fall away from the LORD and ‘do what is right in their own eyes’. Each time this happens Israel will become progressively worse. (2:16-19)

When Israel prayed, the LORD instructed His people saying, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.”. This answer is short and easy to understand if Israel has faith. The LORD gives a command and a promise which through faith can produce more than enough grace in a person(s) so that they can obey the LORD and be victorious.

Judah immediately turns to Simeon and they form a powerful military alliance. From this moment on Judges 1 describes all of Israel’s failure to obey God’s word and the consequences that follow are sad and lamentable. This is expressed by Israel in Judges 2:4-5, “As soon as the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim (weepers).”

This morning I would like us to feel this sadness over these things in Judges 1 because these things will lead to God’s response in Judges 2:1-5. Last week we considered Judah and Simeon but today we will consider the second half of Judges 1, (v. 27-34) which focuses on some of the other tribes.

Let’s begin in verses 27-28. In verse 27 we see that Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants but “the Canaanites persisted dwelling in that land.” Then in verse 28 we read, “When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely.”

Consider two things about verse 28. First, notice the words, “When Israel”. Verse 27 referred to Manasseh’s failure but verse 28 widens it’s scope to also include all of Israel. Therefore, the things that are described in verse 27-28 about Manasseh can also be attributed to all of Israel. In these opening words we discover that this is not simply the description of a sinful cancer that was found among one tribe; no, this sin had spread and infected every tribe.

Second, notice the words, “When Israel grew strong”. Last week we saw that Judah and Simeon came together and they became a strong military power, however, they still failed to meet the objectives. Similarly, at times when the other tribes become strong they would fail to obey the LORD. The sickness in Israel’s soul persists even though there are some signs of outward external strength. With any strength that they had they would always seek to do their own will and not the LORD’s will.

Application: Our enemies are never vanquished by our own strength and power. (Galatians 2:20) The more we depend upon our strength and not the grace of God the less we will obey Him and accomplish His will. Grace, unlike dependence upon our own strength, will always produce a life that honors God in every area of our lives.

In verse 31- 32 we read, “Asher did not drive out the inhabitants...The Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out.”

The emphasis in these verses is clear, Asher did not drive out the inhabitants. This is repeated twice in v. 31-32. Another way that this is emphasized is that there is a verb, ‘lived among’ in v. 32 that is a ‘sequential imperfect’ verb. This makes a strong sequential connection with the previous verb in v. 31, ‘Asher did not drive out the inhabitants’. Because Asher did not drive out the inhabitants (31) they continually lived among them (32). Asher cannot blame giants, iron chariots, bad weather, or anything else. The fault is with their faith. As a result of the Canaanites living among them the Asherites fit in and assimilated with the Canaanites and became a reflection of them and their culture.

In verse 33 we read, “Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of the Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, but lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land...they became forced labor for them.” And lastly, in verse 34, we see that the tribe of Dan experienced such opposition from the Amorites that they were driven into the hill country and not allow them to come down into the plains.

Notice that in these verses there is no mention of the people ever humbling themselves in prayer as they had done in Judges 1:1. Although this was commendable in the beginning they have not persisted in prayer. They did not pray as their forefathers had done in Joshua 7:6-9, “Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put on their heads. And Joshua said, ‘Alas, O Lord GOD, why have your brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, When Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?’”

Because of all these things we see what happens next in Judges2:1-5, “Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land; you shall break down their altars. But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done?’ So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ As soon as the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim. And they sacrificed there to the LORD.”

Notice in v.1 that it does not say that the angel of the LORD left heaven and came to Bochim. It says that the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. Question: What was the angel of the LORD doing in Gilgal?

In the Book of Joshua God’s people often went to Gilgal and worship the LORD. This became the source of Israel’s strength and the LORD gave them victory over their enemies. Over time, however, God’s people began to neglect Gilgal. They had received God’s blessings when they sought Him there (Matthew 6:33) but something changed. Like so many professing believers today who do not go to church Israel probably came to believe that not much happened at Gilgal and wondered if the LORD was there. He was, until this particular day!

Like Samson, when Israel neglected Gilgal, Israel’s strength began to weaken and they did not perceive it. Israel no longer came to the LORD at Gilgal; therefore, in Judges 2:1-5 He came to His people at Bochim to judge them!

Application: Many believe they live beyond God’s reach but one day the LORD will come to them in judgment. On that day there will be nowhere to hide as the great and the small stand before the LORD. The sea will give up the dead, Death and Hades will give up the dead and every person will stand before the LORD and be judged. Those who do not stand in the righteousness of Christ will be thrown into Hell where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Revelation 20:11-15; 2:4-5)

The LORD does not send a judge to speak to His people. Question: Why not?

• Perhaps Israel would not listen to the judge. If they are not listening to His Word they will not listen to the messenger either.

• Perhaps this is such a significant moment that the LORD must speak to His people about their sin and the consequences.

• I cannot help but see the irony that at the beginning of the Book of Judges we see the LORD, but the summary of this book will be, “In those days there was no king in Israel…”. (21:25)

As we get to the end of Judges 1 the LORD must confront His people. The covenant breaker, Israel, must be confronted by the covenant maker. Judges 1 has given the evidence against God’s people and the people cannot refute it- they weep and offer sacrifices.

In Judges 1 we see God’s reaction and we ought to feel the seriousness and sadness of this situation, however, let me give you some reasons to have comfort and encouragement. In Judges 1 there are a few examples that provide hope even if a person is living in a day of faithlessness and declension. Even in a time such as this there examples are of people who are fulfilling the “We Are Statements”.

For example, in Judges 1:11-15 & 20 we see that Judah, under the leadership of Caleb, conquers Debir (formerly Kiriath-Sepher). And we also see in verse 20 we see that Caleb was able to drive out the three sons of Anak at the same time that Judah failed to overcome the iron chariots. (19)

This shows us that even in a time of national declension there will be faithful people, and others will follow them into a battle, who will obtain the victory. Even though Israel fails to obtain their full inheritance this is not true of Caleb and those associated with this man of faith.

In Judges 1:16 is another example of the Kenites who were related to Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. They were not direct descendants of Abraham, but like Rahab, they had fully associated with God and His people by faith. [Unlike the man in 1:22-26] The Kenites would be faithful to the LORD for centuries and were called ‘true Nazarines’.

We also live in a day of faithlessness and spiritual decline but these examples are here to encourage us. These stories are also types and shadows of the work of Christ. For example, Othniel, Israel’s first judge in v.11-15, is a picture of Christ who defeats our enemies so that He can receive a bride- the church. We will see some pretty sad things in the Book of Judges but these things help us to see God and His grace more clearly.