AUGUST 2011 - THE LORD DELIVERS

God’s Chosen Deliverer

August 7, 2011

Lesson: Judges 13:1–8, 24–25

Key Verses: Judges 13:24–25

Introduction:

Samson, the son of Manoah, from the town of Zorah in the tribe of Dan, fulfilled the office of Judge for twenty years. The Lord had chosen Samson as His servant at birth. Manoah bore a son “and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.”

The Philistines, sometimes referred to as “the sea people,” came originally from Caphtor on the island of Crete. They failed in their invasion of Egypt, settling on the coast of Canaan. They invaded the land of Dan and Judah, becoming a thorn in the flesh of Israel even to the David’s reign. The time of Samson was not a pretty sight to behold, with thousands upon thousands being slain, with sin beguiling them without and within. It is not a time foreign to that of today, with its deceit and its wars, reminding us that the battle continues, the principalities and powers of this wicked world moving against God’s people. However, it is Christ, by way of His cross, that “having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:14-15).

The Spirit of God, having chosen Samson as a judge of Israel, moves His servant to do battle with the enemy, to win the battle to the glory of God; as when the “Spirit of the Lord” began to move Samson “in the camp of Dan” with might and strength, tearing a young lion “having nothing in his hand” (Judges 14:6); and when Samson slew thirty men at Ashkelon (14:19); and when the Spirit came mightily upon him and the cords that bound him became as wax burnt with fire, his freed hands finding a jawbone of a donkey, he “slew a thousand men” (15:16).

A Son is Given –Judges 13:1-5

And again and again; lessons are hard learn, even for the children of God. The Lord is longsuffering with His people as they continually turn their eyes to the world which brings them to cry out again and again for a Deliverer. However, before they could find hope in a deliverer they had to learn the depth of their transgression: “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.” The children of God would have to live under the rule of their neighbor. The Philistines were a violent people. For forty years they would be reminded of their transgression, yet without repentance.

However, the Lord had never left His people without a Deliverer. Again the Lord reveals His covenant love for His people, that by His grace they are delivered: “And there was a certain man of Zorah of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and bare not.” As the people of God too were barren without hope, so would this woman be the hope of Israel. For by grace we are saved, not of ourselves but of the love of God in Christ the Son. The Lord is the Deliverer of His people: “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.”

The son which the Lord would provide through the womb of this woman would be Samson, chosen of the Lord to be a judge of Israel, a deliverer. The angel revealed the divine appointment of her son, saying, “Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: for, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite (set apart/Amos 2:11) unto God from the womb: for he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” Matthew Henry made this observation: It is very desirable that our children may be not only devoted entirely to God themselves, but instrumental for the good of others, and the service of their generation - not recluses, candles under a bushel, but on a candlestick. Observe that He shall begin to deliver Israel. This intimated that the oppression of the Philistines should last long, for Israel's deliverance from it should not so much as begin, not one step be taken towards it, till this child, who was now unborn, should have grown up to a capacity of beginning it. And yet he must not complete the deliverance: he shall only begin to deliver Israel, which intimates that the trouble should still be prolonged. God chooses to carry on his work gradually and by several hands. One lays the foundation of a good work, another builds, and perhaps a third brings forth the top stone. Now herein Samson was a type of Christ.”

Discussion: How does God show His love toward His people?

The Angel of the Lord –Judges 13:6-8

The woman tells her husband about the visit of the Angel: “A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told me his name: but he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.” Manoah “entreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.”

Manoah asked of the Lord, “What is thy name, when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor? The Angel answered, “Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?” (3:17-18). The Angel declares that Manoah is in the presence of the glorious person of the Lord. The word ‘secret’ means remarkable or wonderful. M. Henry wrote that “The names of angels were not as yet revealed, to prevent the idolizing of them. After the captivity, when the church was cured of idolatry, angels made themselves known to Daniel by their names, Michael and Gabriel; and to Zacharias the angel told his name unasked (“I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings” Luke 1:19). But here it is secret, or it is wonderful, too wonderful for us. One of Christ's names is Wonderful, His name was long a secret, but by the gospel it is brought to light: Jesus a Saviour. We rejoice today in the Savior who was name Joshua (Jesus) for He would save His people from their sins: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6).

Discussion: What is important about the message delivered by the Angel?

The Spirit of the Lord –Judges 13:24-25

It is the Spirit of the Lord who gives strength and authority to His chosen servants. Under-shepherds who serve the King and Head of the Church (His congregation, gathering of people redeemed by the precious blood of Christ), serve by the authority and purpose of the Spirit. Without the Spirit there is no service. Christ by the Spirit abides with us; and it is the Spirit who leads us in all truth which He has recorded in His marvelous Word.

Samson is born, and he “grew, and the Lord blessed him.” The prophets and apostles were also chosen to serve their Lord; and this appointment must be seen as given when they were still in the womb of their mother. Thus it is confirmed that the Lord blessed them as they grew. Those who are chosen as Under-shepherds, as elders, etc, in the Church, the Congregation of Christ, not only realize their calling is “’til death do we part’, but that the Lord has been with them to direct their path that led to the day of ordination (that day when they were set apart in the Spirit to that chosen task).

Samson came to the age when the tasks were undertaken, that would deliver God’s people. A time when the Lord God Almighty would be glorified: “The Spirit of God moved Samson in the camp of Dan, that is, in the general muster of the trained bands of that tribe, who probably had formed a camp between Zorah and Eshtaol, near the place where he lived, to oppose the incursions of the Philistines; there Samson, when a child, appeared among them, and signalized himself by some very brave actions, excelling them all in manly exercises and trials of strength: and probably he showed himself more than ordinarily zealous against the enemies of his country, and discovered more of a public spirit than could be expected in a child. The Spirit moved him at times, not at all times, but as the wind blows, when he listed, to show that what he did was not from himself, for then he could have done it at any time. Strong men think themselves greatly animated by wine Psa. 78:65), but Samson drank no wine, and yet excelled in strength and courage, and every thing that was bold and brave, for he had the Spirit of God moving him; therefore be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit, who will come to those that are sober and temperate” (M. Henry).

Discussion: What does it mean that the servants of the Congregation are chosen by God?

Your God is My God

August 14, 2011

Lesson: Ruth 1:1-22

Key Verse: Ruth 1:16

Introduction

The book of Ruth begins, “Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled.” Judges were raised to administer the laws of God (Judges 2:16-19). However, how quickly the people of God would they turn “out of the way their fathers walked in.” The Scriptures admonish us to teach our children with our hearts upon the Word of God and our eyes upon the generations to come: “Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go possess it. That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments; which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged” (Deut. 6:1-2). Failure to teach without taking in view the generations to come could easily lead us to be lax in teaching the full truth and mercy found in Christ our Lord and Savior. We are to hear Him who alone is our Lord: “The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. …and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (6:4-7).

Contrasted with the picture of the continued disobedience by the people of God, we have wonderful picture of the family of Elimelech and Naomi. They were from Bethlehem that glorious city where David the King would be born (Ruth 4:22); and city where the King of kings would be born (Matt. 1:1, 2:6). It was in this city that Elimelech and Naomi would bring their children up in the teachings of the Lord. Ruth, a Moabite woman, finds honor both in being known in a book which bears her name, and in an ordained place in the covenant of God. In God’s redemptive plan He chose Ruth to become an ancestress of David, of the royal house of Judah. Her words to Naomi have echoed down through the ages, “for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

Migration to Moab –Ruth 1:1-5

There was a great famine in the land. Elimelech and Naomi journeyed to the country of Moab, with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, from Bethlehem of Ephrata. It was here that Elimelech died. While living in the country of Moab the two sons took for them “wives of the women of Moab.” The name of one was Orpah, and the other Ruth. Ruth became the wife of the eldest son, Mahlon (Ruth 4:10). They dwelt in Moab for about ten years.

As you check your map, you will see that Bethlehem is located west of the Dead Sea and Moab is to the east. God, in His providential care for those whom He loves, directs Elimelech and his family to Moab during the time of famine. They find blessing in the midst of the pagan Moabites. Remember that it was the Lord who directed the life of Joseph that he might be a blessing to his people during the time famine. What God records in His word are not chance meeting of events, but His acts in history that His covenant would be kept by Him and known by His people. The family of Elimelech was sent to Moab for God had a chosen child through which David would be born; for Boaz and Ruth had Obed, and “Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David” (Ruth 4:22). Then through the line of David came Jesus. Both Mahlon and Chilion died and Naomi was left alone with her two daughters-in-law (1:5).

Discussion: Why did Elimelech and his family move to Moab? What blessings did they receive?

Naomi’s Advice –Ruth 1:6-13

After ten years Naomi went to her daughters-in-law and told them that she would return to Bethlehem for she had heard that the “Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.” Naomi began her journey with Orpah and Ruth: “They went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.”

It is here that we begin to see Naomi’s love for her Lord, which is in turn expressed to her daughters-in-law. First we see that Naomi has been waiting for that day when the Lord would bring the famine to an end, to give His people bread. Then there is that love for her daughters-in-law, and their love for her. They are willing to leave with Naomi for Bethlehem. However, Naomi says to these women, “Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.” Naomi asks the Lord’s blessing on each one.

Naomi knows the burden that her daughters-in-law carried how they showed their love for her sons and her. Her blessing for them was, “Go, return each to her mother’s house; the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead and with me.” She then kissed them as Orpah and Ruth wept. They both questioned Naomi, saying, “Surely we will return with thee unto they people.” Naomi answered, “Why will ye go with me? Are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?” She could not offer Orpah and Ruth sons for husbands, and if they were to wait for her to bear sons, it would be a foolish wait.

Naomi felt the grief that she had received when her husband and sons died. Her grief is not selfish. It is for her daughters-in-law as well. It is a grief that rests upon her Lord. Naomi testifies, “For it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.” Here is a real test of faith. Naomi believes that what has taken place is a result of the hand of the Lord. If our sorrow is not in the hands of the Lord, then the victory and joy which follow cannot be assured.

Our Lord is the Potter and we are the clay. All things work together for His glory, for His good pleasure and eternal purpose, and for our good. God is in full control of evil, and certainly is not moved by evil, directing it to the end which He so desires. Therefore, we put our faith in the King of kings, in the Lord Jesus our Savior, who carries us in His hand. We know, even when He brings sorrow into our lives, that He is able to deliver us and give us rest.

Discussion: How would you describe the love of Naomi for her Lord and daughters-in-law?

Return to Bethlehem –Ruth 1:14-22

Orpah and Ruth wept, and Orpah kissed Naomi, “but Ruth cleaved to her.” Naomi told Ruth to look to her sister-in-law who is returning to her people, “and to her god: return thou after thy sister-in-law.” The Holy Spirit gives to Ruth a grace by which she is able to grasp the opportunity to decide either to follow after the gods of her people or the God of Naomi. Ruth has learned of the Lord God of Israel through Naomi during those ten years. Therefore Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”

What did Ruth see in Naomi that she would make such a statement of faith? Ruth’s pleading for Naomi not to send her back to Moab commends the love of Naomi for her Lord, her people, and for Ruth. Our Lord’s covenant promises that He will be our God and we will be His people. This is the covenant which says that the people of God are to love Him with all their hearts and each other as they so love themselves. “Thus God blessed the faithful Naomi who so showed the presence of God in her life that a pagan girl was drawn to that God by Naomi’s life. God provided for Ruth a godly husband and together they raised a godly family which terminated in the person, Jesus Christ. All was not lost in this sinful godless age because God is gracious and would not let the light go out in Israel” (John Scott).

A great love had reached into the heart of Ruth that would commit all to the God and people of Naomi. Ruth goes on to say, “Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.” This is the love of which the beloved apostle spoke: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God …Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:7-11).

Naomi saw that Ruth was steadfast in her determination to go with her to Bethlehem. Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem and “and all the city was moved about them.” Is this really Naomi, the greeters asked? Naomi said, “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?”

Naomi reveals her total dependence upon the Lord. She had left Bethlehem with a husband and two sons. Now she returns empty. Though her friends are excited about seeing her again, Naomi tells them to call her the bitter one. Even though she knows that the Lord is her Lord, she still feels the bitterness of having lost her loved ones. She doesn’t question the work of the Lord. She knows that what has come from the Lord is a very bitter pill to take. However, the Lord had given her Ruth, and Naomi would have the balm of healing from the same Lord who had taken her husband and sons. Naomi and Ruth the Moabitess returns to “Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.”

Discussion: How does Ruth show her love for Naomi?

A Place of Refuge

August 21, 2011

Lesson: Ruth 2:1-23

Key Verse: Ruth 2:12

Introduction

Elimelech and his two sons had died in Moab. Naomi had remained in Moab for ten years after her husband Elimelech’s death, along with her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Orpah had remained in Moab while Ruth went to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, with this upon her heart: “for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

At Bethlehem Ruth was sent to the field to glean during the harvest. Boaz, who owned the field and was a near kinsman of Elimelech, gave Ruth permission to glean throughout the harvest season. Ruth lived with her mother-in-law and helped provide for the household. Boaz was pleased with the conduct of Ruth and let her glean from the fields with his maidens. “So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest” (Ruth 2:23). Naomi would find Ruth a husband in the person of Boaz. Boaz found Ruth to be a kind and virtuous woman (Ruth 3:10-11). She would perform the part of a kinsman to both Ruth and Naomi. He would be the redeemer-kinsman who would restore a household to Naomi, to purchase back the inheritance she had lost.

Boaz testifies to the people that they are witnesses that he has bought all that was Elimelech’s, “Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance” (Ruth 4:10). Boaz marries Ruth and they had a son. The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman” (Ruth 4:14).

We have not been left without a kinsman. Our Lord is our Redeemer-Kinsman. He has purchased us from the wrath of the Father through His own precious blood. He has given us an inheritance reserved in heaven for the children of God: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were …redeemed …with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot …being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:18-23).

The Kinsman –Ruth 2:1-7

Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, “a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” Ruth came to the field of Boaz in order to find help for herself and Naomi. She found more in Boaz, for he was a kind man who gave her food and drink and the protection of his reapers throughout the day.

Ruth asked for the blessing of Naomi that she might glean the field of Boaz: “Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.” Naomi said, “Go, my daughter.” The loving relationship between Naomi and Ruth grew as they saw each other as mother and daughter.

Ruth began to glean in the field, following after the reapers. What the reapers had left behind she was allowed to take. She then happened to come to the field belonging to Boaz; a happening which belongs to the hand of God and not to the hand of chance. Boaz comes out to this field from his home in Bethlehem, saying to the reapers, “The Lord be with you.” And they answered, “The Lord bless thee.” This exchange between Boaz and his reapers carries a sincere desire for the Lord’s benevolent presence, as well as a word of greeting. The intent of the heart comes from the measure of grace that one receives from Christ. May Christians, when they ask God’s blessing upon another, ask with much feeling and expectation.

Boaz approaches the reapers and asks about this girl who is following them. Boaz’ servant answers, saying, “It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab.” Ruth speaks: “I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.” Ruth had asked the foreman of the reapers for permission to glean throughout the day that she might support Naomi and herself. Boaz welcomed the poor to his fields that they may glean after his reapers, so he would approve of this permission. Also, his concern for whom this woman was reveals his kindness toward those around him. The kinsman that the Lord had for Naomi and Ruth was one who had compassion.

Discussion: How would you describe Boaz?

Grace is Found –Ruth 2:8-16

Surely Boaz had already known about Ruth. He was a kinsman of the husband of Naomi and most likely had welcomed her back. It would seem that he had already developed a feeling toward Ruth. Boaz responds to Ruth in the field, saying, “Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.” He calls her to glean only from his field. There he can keep watch over her. He further admonishes her to follow after his reapers, claiming that he has already charged the young men not to harm her. He further encourages her in telling her that she may freely drink of his vessels.

Ruth falls on her face, bowing herself to the ground, saying to Boaz, “Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?” Ruth had received an unexpected kindness. Boaz answers, “It hath fully been shown me, all thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.” Boaz and Naomi must have had quite a talk about their sojourn to Moab. Ruth’s love for Naomi was shown in her help toward her, and in the giving up of her own people to embrace the people of God. The Character of Ruth as a true child of the Lord comes out in her actions, toward both her new found mother and the people with whom she now dwells.

Therefore, the response of Boaz can be nothing less than this: “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” Ruth was now a child of God who could claim with the Lord’s people. “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings” (Psa. 36:7). Ruth would learn more of this kindness from Boaz.

Ruth replies to Boaz, “Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.” The Christian can learn from the response. First, that kindness must be shown to the new child of God, with no thought of the place where one comes from. Second, that the new Christian receives the grace of God and His people with much thanksgiving. There must be in the congregation a desire to love one another as Christ has loved us.

Boaz continues to bless Ruth with kindness asking her to come to eat with his people. She did so and was satisfied. As she was about to leave Boaz commanded his young men to let “glean even among the sheaves.” Boaz further instructed them to let some fall from their hands purposefully, leaving them on the ground for Ruth to glean. This reveals his kindness toward Ruth, and his kindness toward the poor of Bethlehem, or the sojourner among them. His kindness toward Ruth grew for he saw in her the love she had for Naomi and her people.

Discussion: How would you describe Ruth and her relationship with Boaz?

Blessed is He –Ruth 2:17-23

Ruth continued to glean from the field and took what she had to Naomi. Naomi asked Ruth where she had gleaned, saying, “Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.” The quality and quantity of the food which was brought home revealed a kindly benefactor. Ruth revealed the man’s name as Boaz.

Naomi said to Ruth, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi was without a husband, and, therefore, without an inheritance. A kinsman had responded to their need. Naomi tells Ruth of Boaz, “The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.” Boaz is one who stands close to Naomi and Ruth as a possible redeemer-kinsman. Naomi rejoices in that Boaz has responded as a true kinsman.

Ruth further tells Naomi that the blessings will continue through the harvest, saying, “He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.” Naomi responds, “It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.” So Ruth “kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest; and dwelt with her mother-in-law.”

Naomi and Ruth were provided for by their kinsman, Boaz. Soon Boaz and Ruth would marry and Naomi would have her inheritance. The inheritance which is eternal is also present. For Boaz and Ruth would have a child. The child’s name was Obed. Obed’s son was Jesse, and Jesse begat David. Through David Bethlehem was chosen as a worthy place for the Son of God to take on our flesh, as He was born of Mary. Christ is our Redeemer-Kinsman, “In whom we redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7).

Discussion: Why did Naomi rejoice over what Ruth had gleaned from the field?

An Inheritance

August 28, 2011

Lesson: Ruth 4:1-10

Key Verse: Ruth 4:5

Introduction

Boaz was chosen as the Naomi’s kinsman. Job was easily condemned by his so called friends: “How long will ye torment my soul, and break me in pieces with words?” (Job 19:1). They were playing ‘god’ with the life of Job: “Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?” (19:21-22). There is neither pity nor hope of redemption in the actions of men, whether without or within the congregations of believers. Job knew that only a Redeemer-Kinsman could save his life: “For I know that my redeemer (kinsman) liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (19:25-26). Job would know the truth of the words of his Redeemer-Kinsman, Christ Jesus: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). Boaz, as the kinsman elect of Naomi, is a revelation of the Kinsman elect of God the Father, Christ Jesus.

Leviticus 25:25 gives us the understanding of what a kinsman is: “If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem (‘gaal’-kinsman; i.e., to ransom, to redeem) it, then shall he redeem (‘gaal’) that which his brother sold.” Naomi speaks to Ruth of Boaz as a kinsman: “Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. …The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen” (Ruth 2:20). Christ is our Kinsman: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13). For God the Father “hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21). Our Kinsman paid the ransom price!

The closer kinsman –Ruth 4:1-5

Naomi knew that Boaz would see that she would receive a kinsman; saying to Ruth, “Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day” (3:18). Boaz went to one who was a closer kinsman than he; and spoke to him, “Ho, such a one! Turn aside, sit down here.” He also called together “ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here.” The kinsman and the witnesses of the elders sat with Boaz. Boaz stated the case to the kinsman, “Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: and I thought to advertise thee, saying, But it before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee.” The kinsman replied, “I will redeem it.”

Though the land would add to his own estate the kinsman takes a second thought about marrying Ruth. It seems that Naomi desires that the inheritance which she lost would be more than returned if the redemption included the blessing of Ruth becoming the wife of the Kinsman. We see the providential purpose and work of the Lord whereby Christ Jesus would be the true Kinsman-Redeemer of His people. Thus Boaz includes Ruth in the redemption of Naomi: “What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.” For whatever reason the kinsman without a name thought it better not to have a wife attached to the inheritance. Boaz, by the witness of the elders, revealed his compassion for Naomi and Ruth, and his desire to do things honestly and open, with regard to that which is right.

Discussion: Why did Boaz call the kinsman and elders together?

The name of Elimelech –Ruth 4:6-10

The kinsman replies to Boaz, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.” The kinsman rightly made his decision on the truth that he thought it would hurt his own inheritance. Therefore, according to the “manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and give it to his neighbor; and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.” Thus those who were there witnessed that the kinsman gave to Boaz the right to purchase the land which included the marriage to Ruth.

Boaz said to the elders and to the people, “Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place; ye are witnesses this day.”

By the providential grace, and the keeping of His covenant, Ruth became part of that promise, the people saying, “We are witnesses, The Lord make the woman that is come into thing house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel; and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem” (4:11). Ruth’s lineage could be traced back to Abraham, and was abiding in Moab.

The blessings of the Lord were shown in that He gave Ruth a son 4:13). Ruth bore a son, who, being in the lineal ancestor of Christ, becomes a witness to those of every nation, that there is a true Savior. These words of Matthew Henry remind us that we should more than value that life in the womb of a mother: “Prayer to God attended the marriage, and praise to him attended the birth of the child. What a pity it is that pious language should not be more used among Christians, or that it should be let fall into formality!” The women of Bethlehem rejoiced, “Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman (one who redeems), that his name may be famous in Israel” (4:14). The name given to the child was ‘Obed,’ meaning, ‘to serve.’

The glorious mystery of the eternal Kinsman would come many years later. For Obed would father, Jesse, who would father David. From the line of David, Christ would come, to be born in Bethlehem. He would be the Redeemer-Kinsman of all those whom the Father would give Him. The time would come when another mother would rejoice in the coming of the Redeemer, saying, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation” (Mary, Luke 1:46-50). Come to Christ, who is our Redeemer-Kinsman. For in Him alone “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7).

Discussion: What is the true joy of Boaz taking Ruth as his wife?

JULY 2011 - THE LORDS JUDGES

The Anger of the Lord

July 3, 2011

Lesson: Joshua 7:1-13

Key Verse: Joshua 7:1

Introduction

What does it mean for God to be angry? “Anger” (Aph) refers to the face, specifically to the nostril, revealing the disposition of a person (i.e. toward another) by his intense breathing (the long-suffering of the Lord is also revealed in His anger). The Lord’s wrath also reveals His disposition toward those who transgress His law. Israel was in covenant relationship with God; so when Achan (meaning ‘troubler’) violated the righteousness of the Lord, affecting the whole of Israel. When one person within the Congregation of Christ teaches or practices some form of false doctrine or evil activity, it affects the whole in the practice of their faith.

The acts of ‘looting” Jericho, having been forbidden to do so, resulted in a retreat from Ai, the only defeat Joshua experienced. Joshua confronted Achan with these words, “My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.” Achan answered, “I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: when I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.” (Joshua 7:19-21)

The result of this transgression was the taking away of all the goods of Achan’s whole family. And Joshua spoke to him, “Why hast thou troubled us? The Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor (Trouble), unto this day” (Joshua 7:24-26). Israel “were all spectators of it, that they might see and fear. Public executions are public examples. Nay, they were all consenting to his death, and as many as could were active in it, in token of the universal detestation in which they held his sacrilegious attempt, and their dread of God's displeasure against them” (M. Henry).

Sin breeds trouble –Joshua 7:1-5

The sin of a leader will spoil the whole while encouraging others to follow his way. However, no rationalization that puts blame on the leader for one’s transgressions: “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing.” The greed of one man Achan (7:22) is charged or imputed to the whole of Israel. The people must realize that they are not exempt from the pollution of one that they must bear this burden for transgression is not to be taken lightly. How many times do we continue to vote for leaders who we know have committed some kind of transgression? There must have been those who saw Achan hiding his loot and turned their head away. Calvin wrote that “The reason, however, why God charges a whole people with a secret theft is deeper and more abstruse. He wished by an extraordinary manifestation to remind posterity that they might all be criminated by the act of an individual, and thus induces them to give more diligent heed to the prevention of crimes.” Achan brought trouble upon himself and others: “for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.”

The result of Achan’s greed brought about the anger of the Lord, a transgression which weakened the people’s resolve to fight. Joshua had sent men to Ai, commanding them: “Go up and view the country.” Traveling from Jericho they viewed Ai, returning with Joshua with this message: “Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few.” Three thousand went up against Ai, and “they fled before the men of Ai.” By the providence of God His people are shown how transgression has weakened them, His anger was shown along with His mercy. “And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.” Calvin wrote: “The true cause was the secret counsel of God, who meant to show a sign of his anger, but allowed the number to be small in order that the loss might be less serious. And it was certainly a rare display of mercy to chastise the people gently and without any great overthrow, with the view of arousing them to seek an instant remedy for the evil.”

Discussion: What are the results of transgressing the law of God?

Joshua repents –Joshua 7:6-13

As God’s chosen shepherd of His sheep, Joshua “rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.” The elders of God’s congregations stand before the Lord representing the people; and if they sin the elders become examples of for the sheep, reminding them of their deliverance from their transgressions through the ransom price paid by Christ their Savior. Joshua prayed for his people upon the hope that God alone is able to deliver them, and that His Name must be glorified: “Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name!” Joshua’s appeal for deliverance is that both the Name of the Lord and that of His people must be glorified.

The Lord answers Joshua, “Get thee up, wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?” Look, Joshua, and carefully hear why Israel would experience defeat: “Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. The people also hid the gold among their goods. “Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed thing among you.” Repentance must come to the people. They must own up to what they have done. For their sin has made them weak from within, that they would not stand up against the enemy. The answer of deliverance is this: “Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow; for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of you, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.” This is the spirit of these words of the beloved apostle, which gives first the condition of the unrepentant heart: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us;” and second, the heart that is sanctified in Christ’s righteousness: “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all righteousness” (1 John 1:8-9). Thus, the heart that is right with God is the one who can stand strong in the face of His enemies.

Discussion: What makes the children of God weak before the enemies of righteousness?

Help Is on the Way

July 10, 2011

Lesson: Judges 2:11-20

Key Verse: Judges 2:17

Introduction

Psalm 96 impels us to sing a new song: “Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people” (96:1-2). All of the earth is called to “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” The Psalm goes on to implore us to “Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.” Therefore, the heavens are to rejoice and the earth is to be glad,” that the Lord would so judge. This rejoicing is to come before the Lord: “for he cometh to judge the earth; he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”

Christ Jesus, the divine Son of God, carries the scepter of righteousness and truth. He reigns today. He reigns, and the Holy Spirit applies this reign to our lives, even to that of nations. Did not our Lord promise the coming of the Spirit who would be called the “Comforter” (John 16:7-11)? He, in the name of Christ the King, reproves “the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” The unbelief of the world will not go unpunished, neither will the work of Christ and His righteousness go unattended, nor will the prince of this world be not judged.

Therefore, let us come to the times of the judges with the King of kings ever before us. It is His reign that the times of the judges speak, an evidence of the reality of God’s sovereign comfort which comes only through His righteousness and truth. What is true in the time of David was true in the time of judges, and is true in our time: The Lord comes “to judge the earth; he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”

His Sight –Judges 2:11-13

It is written that the people of God “served the Lord all the days of Joshua” (Judges 2:7). Joshua was Moses’ minister (Joshua 1:1). Moses himself was excluded from entering the promise land, while Joshua was set apart as his successor. He was qualified as the people’s leader by the laying on of the hands of Moses. Joshua’s ministry was to lead the people in the conquering of Canaan, and in ordering the division of land among the tribes of Israel. It was a time of great blessing for the people of God, as they were encouraged to be faithful by God’s ambassador. However, a new generation came after the death of Joshua, “which knew not the Lord, nor the works which he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).

As with all nations, and churches, which turn from their Deliverer, they purposefully forget Him in whom they have life; they do “evil in the sight of the Lord.” God gives two characteristics of evil which help us in our prayers to be faithful: One that all evil is done in the sight or presence of the Sovereign Creator. That is why people must cry out, “there is no God!” The humanist must maintain a separation of Christian faith and its teaching from the classrooms of the schools. That is why this statement is made, “All scientists believe that evolution is a fact.” Two, that to do evil a different god must be honored and served. In humanism man becomes a god, and works the same false magic as do the gods made of wood and stone, or the false gods of the cults. It is true what our Savior has taught, that no “servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other” (Luke 16:13). You cannot serve both God and the idols of this world. This also gives us a clue to God’s creation: All men, male and female, are servants before their Creator.

Therefore, it follows that Israel “forsook the Lord God,” who had delivered them from Egypt, to follow other gods. Necessarily it follows that God, as their Creator and Savior, is provoked to anger, for they abandoned the Lord to served Baal.

Discussion: What is the nature of evil in light of what we witness in society and church today?

His Anger –Judges 2:14-15

Not only does God express His anger against evil, but His anger was “hot against Israel.” The word ‘hot’ means to burn, to glow, as the Lord zealously turns His anger against His people. God uses the word anger here to help us understand that His anger is real and directed against the people. The word ‘anger’ refers to the nostril, giving us a picture of one whose emotions are seen in the movement of a nose through heavy breathing. We can, in other words, grieve the Spirit of God. Though His wrath is directed toward the unrighteous with truth and righteousness, it is with control and without prejudice.

God’s anger is expressed in action. He delivers the people into the hands of their enemies. Their enemies become the instrument of God’s punishment. The people could try with all their earthly strength to defeat the enemy, but whatever they did, it was the hand of the Lord which was against them. We try to soften the blow of God’s anger when we say that God hates the sin but loves the sinner, as if that takes away the punishment due to us. We must remember that we are in God’s tender care by His tender mercies. Christ took that punishment for us by taking our sin and guilt upon Himself. The Father’s anger was discharged against Christ so that we might have life.

Discussion: How do we see God’s anger, as real or as a symbol?

His Deliverance –Judges 2:16-18

“Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges.” His grace is beyond our understanding. For this we must always be in a spirit of praise and thanksgiving. God’s purpose of giving judges was for the deliverance of His people, not by any good works in them, but by His good pleasure (Luke 12:32, Eph. 1:3-9). The judges were God’s instruments of deliverance, a picture of our deliverance out darkness into His marvelous light, through the Son whom the Father has sent.

Would we laugh at the foolishness of the people because “they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods”? How careful we must be to listen and obey the Word of God. For we like to rationalize, to see tiny loopholes to help us do what seems right in our own eyes. Let us pray and study earnestly, with repentance and reliance upon the Holy Spirit.

It was the Lord who raised up the judges; and it was He who was with them. Their cries revealed much of their anguish in their punishment. They had received justice at the hand of the Lord. They would now receive mercy upon mercy. They would be delivered from their enemies. The Lord rose up judges “to excite them to love in return by this manifestation of His love and mercy, and to induce them to repent” (Keil & Delitzsch).

Discussion: What are some of the reasons God sent judges to His people?

Their Way –Judges 2:19-20

Why did the people of God turn away from their Lord at the death of His ambassadors? Does this not remind us that we need to be continually on our guard? The cycle of judges was that “when the judge was dead” the people returned to their old ways, corrupting “themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them.” God calls their own doings as “their stubborn way.” Another characteristic of sin is stubbornness, the obstinate nature of evil; as God speaks of knowing “that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass” (Isa. 48:4).

Again the Lord is hot against Israel. The reason is that the people had transgressed His covenant which He had commanded; i.e., they had not listened to His voice. It is easy not to listen, just use our Bibles as a show piece on the coffee table; pray once in a while but do not study His communication to us, etc. It is always a question of our way or His when it comes to obedience or disobedience. To hearken or hear is a glorious demand upon our fellowship with our Lord. It means to give our undivided attention. “Hear me” is a necessary command of Scriptures. It is Christ who says, “He who hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 2:29). He who has an ear is one who has been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ!

The raising up of judges is not prompted by the people but by covenant promise of the Lord, “I will never break my covenant with you.” The dry bones that rattled noisily against the Lord would find, by the Spirit's grace, a suit of flesh which could repent and know the wonder of the mercy of their Deliverer: “the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.”

And the cycle begins. The people continued after other gods, turning from the paths of their fathers, whereby they obeyed “the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so.” Yet the Lord raised up His judges. He would be with them, to deliver His people “out of the hand of their enemies.”

It is recorded that the Lord sent judges “for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.” The Lord's purpose and will is accomplished through the sending of oppression, to bring about a change of heart, of repentance. The change in the heart of God is within His will that His people repent. When there is repentance, our Lord removes the curse and responds with mercy. God's change of heart is in accord with His covenant promise which includes man's change of heart through repentance. This change of heart on the part of God reflects this truth: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

We see that when the judge, whom God chose, died, the people again “corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them.” And the anger of the Lord rose "hot against Israel" for they transgressed His covenant and would not listen to His voice. Again the Lord places them under the oppression of the evil nations, that through them He “may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein ... or not.”

Obedience to the Law of God must be seen as the way of righteousness in which the people of God should walk. The law must not be relegated to another age; it must be applied by the Christian as well as by nations. The question of whether we will receive a blessing, and therefore deliverance from evil, rests upon our obedience to the word and law of God. But, thanks be to God for His marvelous gift of His Son, “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Cor. 1:10).

Discussion: Why did God raise up Judges?

The Deliverer

July 17, 2011

Lesson: Judges 3:12-30

Key Verse: Judges 3:15

Introduction

Again the children of Israel “did evil in the sight of the Lord.” Again the Lord in His longsuffering and mercy raises up a judge who would be a deliverer in the His hand. The judge was Ehud of the tribe of Benjamin, who lived about the year 1300 B.C. He was left-handed, which was to be a tool in the hand of the Lord, which brought about the defeat of the Moabites.

Because the people of Israel had chosen to do the evil they had once been delivered from, the Lord chose to chastise them through the Moabites. The Lord raised up Eglon, “another king of Moab, whom God strengthened against them, put power into his hands, though a wicked man, that he might be a scourge to Israel. The staff in his hand with which he beat Israel was God's indignation; howbeit he meant not so, neither did his heart think so (Isa. 10:6, Isa. 10:7). Israelites did ill, and, we may suppose, Moabites did worse; yet because God commonly punishes the sins of his own people in this world, that, the flesh being destroyed, the spirit may be saved, Israel is weakened and Moab strengthened against them” (M. Henry). Israel is weakened that they may repent; Moab is strengthened that the punishment may be just in the hand of the Lord.

In the Lord’s sight –Judges 3:12-14

“And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord.” Is it that easy to return to the sins of the past? Had it been that long ago that the people had witnessed the punishment of the Lord for their sins? For eight years the people had been under bondage “the hand of Cushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia” (Judges 3:8). Then the Lord heard the peoples cry of repentance and He sent another deliverer, Othniel; and “the land had rest forty years” (3:11).

A generation would have ended in forty eight years. Did they think they could get away with their sin because of God’s mercy? For in the very presence of the Lord and His glorious mercy which brought to their lives His forgiveness, they began to practice various wicked deeds bringing trouble to the land. M. Henry wrote, “What, and after all this, again to break his commandments! Was the disease obstinate to all the methods of cure, both corrosives and lenitives (medicine/laxative)? It seems it was. Perhaps they thought they might make the bolder with their old sins because they saw themselves in no danger from their old oppressor; the powers of that kingdom were weakened and brought low. But God made them know that he had variety of rods wherewith to chastise them”. The Lord seized Eglon king of Moab and made him strong against Israel.

Eglon gathered the “children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.” The children, the families of Israel now belonged to Eglon, for they had chosen evil over against the goodness of their Lord.

Discussion: What makes the evil of God’s people look most foolish and oppressive?

The Left-handed Gift –Judges 3:15-22

The Lord is Almighty in every area of life. He is Sovereign over all actions, whether it be those who are righteous or those who are unrighteous. His Sovereignty implies that in all and everything He is in full control and will receive all honor and glory. The Lord brings His people into bondage and they “cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left-handed.” By Ehud “the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.” While the people seek the pleasure of Eglon, the Lord desires to free His people and bring them back to His fold. Even while the Lord is answering their cry, they are trying their way of deliverance. One must give his all to the Lord when seeking His help.

Ehud, the servant of the Lord, prepares for battle. As with Gideon it will not be done with a large army. “Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.” The enemy would expect such a weapon to be carried on the left side by one who was left-handed. Ehud “brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab” a very fat man. The Spirit records the basic facts, large and small, of the Lord’s deliverance, that one may see His hand in each act to the accomplishment of what He wills.

Ehud presents the gift to the king, sending his people away who bore the gift. Ehud had gotten into the king’s presence. It is as if we were watching a play, wondering what will happen next. But this is a historical moment for Ehud as he follows the will of his Lord. Ehud speaks to the king, “I have a secret errand unto thee.” The king “Keep silence” and “all who that stood by him went out from him.” Eglon sat in his personal parlor. Ehud came to him saying, “I have a message from God unto thee.” As the king rose out of his seat “Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.” He drove the dagger deep within Eglon, “the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.” By the providence of God the king received his just reward.

Discussion: How do Ehud’s actions reveal the Sovereignty of the Lord?

The Lord Delivers -Judges 3:23-30

Ehud went out through the porch, shutting the doors of the parlor, locking them. The king’s servants came to the door, finding it locked, thought that their master his rest: “Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.” They waited there until they felt ashamed, foolish, that the king did not open the door: “therefore they took a key, and opened them and behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.” While the servants tarried, Ehud “passed beyond the quarries, and escaped” into the wooded area of Seirath.

Deliverance of God’s people and justice upon Moab came by the hand of the Lord. Ehud escaped the mountain of Ephraim, and blowing a trumpet, “the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.” Ehud spoke to the people, “Follow after me: for the Lord hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” Deliverance before the actual fact of it being done is seen as already accomplished. There is no negative thought; it will be done as God has so promised. “And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.” God’s hand brought victory as He so willed: “So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel.” Again the grace of God had come upon Israel and they “had rest fourscore (80) years.” M. Henry wrote: “We may hope that there was likewise a reformation among them, and a check give to idolatry, by the influence of Ehud which continued a good part of this time. It was a great while for the land to rest, fourscore years; yet what is that to the saints' everlasting rest in the heavenly Canaan?” Our victory is in Christ from whom we find rest or refreshment for our souls. “For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5).

Discussion: What does it mean that the Lord is the Deliverer?

God is our Refuge

July 24, 2011

Lesson: Judges 7:1-25

Key Verses: Judges 7:7, 15

Introduction

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. …Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in all the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psa. 46:1, 10-11). This is the lesson Gideon had to learn, that he had to wait upon the Lord and not depend upon the strength of his army. Charles Spurgeon wrote that “Not our armies, or our fortresses. Israel’s boast is in Jehovah, the only living and true God. Other vaunt their impregnable castles, placed on inaccessible rocks and secured with gates of Iron, but God is a far better refuge from distress than all these: and when the time comes to carry the war into the enemy’s territories, the Lord stands his people in better stead than all the valour of legions or the boasted strength of chariot and horse. Soldiers of the cross, remember this, and count yourselves safe, and make yourselves strong in God.”

Christ Jesus spoke to the churches of Asia saying, “for the time is near” (Rev. 1:3). Persecution and tribulation were upon the congregations and the war between the unrighteous and the righteous was a reality. Would His Church be victorious? Who would lead them? Christ directed their eyes to Himself. “who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 1:5-7). Christ has come and continues to come on the scene today as the “faithful witness,” the “resurrection and the life,” as the one who is above all, the “prince (ruler) of the kings of the earth.” Christ is our victory as we hear His words for us today: “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1:8).

Eliminating Temptation –Judges 7:1-6

The Lord had spoken to Gideon saying, “Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it. And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down” (Judges 6:25-26). Gideon, during the night, took ten men and did as the Lord had commanded him. In the morning the men of the city noticed that the altar of Baal was destroyed. Finding that Gideon had done the task they said unto his father, Joash, “Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal.” Joash replied, “Will ye plead for Baal? Will ye save him? He that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. Therefore on that day he called (Gideon) Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar” (6:30-32).

The Spirit of the Lord was with Gideon, giving him the assurance that He would be with him by the placing of a fleece of wool on the ground and in the morning the ground was wet while the fleece was dry (6:37-40); and Gideon knew that it would be the Lord who would save Israel. The Lord confirmed His promise to Gideon that he would be the instrument of salvation for Israel. Gideon, who was now called Jerubbaal, along with his army, camped beside the well of Harod. The dreaded Midianites were on their north side by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. And the Lord began His conversation with Gideon, saying, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’”

God has just begun to destroy any self-esteem that Israel was hoping for. Here is the test of the ages, “who will be acclaimed with glory, and power, honor, and praise?” Gideon would learn this lesson of his Master: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:24-26).

The Lord begins to weed out of his human army, those who are fearful and afraid: “Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.” And twenty-two thousand people returned, while ten thousand remained. Thirty-two thousand men would have a fighting chance against the Midianites. But ten thousand? And did God weed out the fearful because He was unable to make them victorious? These men were not cowards. God used this method of bringing the number of His human army down to the number, whereby they would have no doubt that if victory came; it came by the hand of the Lord. “And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men.”

Discussion: What temptations do we face that show we depend upon ourselves rather than the strength of our Lord?

Promise of Salvation –Judges 7:7-14

The Lord told Gideon to bring ten thousand men to the water’s edge. The test was, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart, by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” Those who were chosen to fight under the Lord would go against the great army of the Midianites. The rest went home. The Lord said to Gideon: “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites unto your hand.” Gideon and his 300 men took provisions for the needs of an army, along with their trumpets. The Midianites would be like Goliath looking down on the shepherd man, David. David had his sling slot, which would seem much better than three hundred men carrying trumpets to fight the army of the Midianites.

The promise of our salvation, the work which guarantees victory over eternal death-for the wages of sin is death-rests upon Christ and His atoning work on the cross of Calvary. Salvation is of the Lord, alone! The promise of forgiveness of sins and life eternal rests in the Son of God. We have been saved by grace through faith, and not of any works we can hope to do. This is our Lord’s promise to us: “In (Christ) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:13-14).

The “Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.” Gideon was to look at this great people from the eyes of the Lord. In a vision Gideon saw: “Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread crumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.

The Midian camp was just below Gideon and his 300 men army. In the night the Lord speaks to Gideon, saying, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.” Notice that the Lord does not say to go against the enemy and see if you can make a dent in their armor. Nor does God say that we are to hope for some crumbs from the table of the enemy. He promises complete victory; for God sends His people into the battle with the surety or confidence that victory is guaranteed. The Lord sends Gideon into battle as if it has already been won: “For I have delivered (the victory) into your hand!”

Discussion: What victories have we won, personally or as a congregation, by the hand of the Lord?

Armor of God –Judges 7:15-25

Gideon, after hearing these words, rushes back to the camp of Israel, and commands, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand!” Gideon then divides the 300 men into three companies. At his command the men carry a trumpet in one hand, and in the other a pitcher, with a torch inside. Gideon then tells the men to do just as he does. In the middle of the night Gideon and his men blow the trumpets, break the pitchers, and, holding high the torches in their left hands, and with the trumpets in their right hand, blowing as loud as they could; and crying, as with one voice, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” Then the Lord “set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host.” The Lord will bring confusion to the enemy that they will fight against themselves. Look and see if this is not true, whether it be in the halls of congress or on the battle fields of nations.

Have you asked yourself the question, “Why does it look like evil prevails around us like a plague of locusts? It is like asking whether a glass is half empty or half full. We are more apt to see with our own eyes than with the eyes of our Lord. See the enemy of Christ and His church as Gideon saw the armies of Midianites and Amalekites: “And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried and fled.”

Discussion: How did Gideon and his army win the battle?

Who shall be worshiped?

July 31, 2011

Lesson: Judges 10:6-16

Key Verse: Judges 10:16

Introduction

Again and again Israel turned to the idols for worship rather than keeping their faith in the Lord of Israel. Again and again the Lord raised up judges to bring deliverance to His people: “there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. And after him arose Jair, a Gileaadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.” (Judges 10:1-3). Lessons are hard to learn, especially when one takes his eyes off the Teacher. Israel waffles between two kingdoms, as if they can pay homage to both. The King of kings has this to say, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other, Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24).

Time of Trouble –Judges 10:6-9

How blatant can a child of God, on the one hand calling himself a Christ while with the other hand paying homage to the gods of this world. This is not foreign to us today as tyrants and other false gods are bowed down to with expectation the will not hurt us, and may even give us blessings. Israel, in the sight of the true Lord did evil: “and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him” (“gods” or “authorities” over against the Almighty’s word: “I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt have no other gods before me”). This is the nature of all sin that one places another authority, even self, in place of their Creator and Lord.

Therefore, “the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel.” The punishment was that He “sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.” These nations, by the hand of the Lord, oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight against the Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.” Though Israel was oppressed by the enemies of God, their oppression was of the Lord to the end that they would repent and He would bring them back into active fellowship with Him.

Discussion: What was the sin that brought God’s wrath upon them?

Humbled before the Lord –Judges 10:10-16

Again, “Israel cried unto the Lord, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.” Humility before God reveals that He alone is sufficient for what is needful in life. M. Henry give us this understanding: “It is necessary, in true repentance, that there be a full conviction of the utter insufficiency of all those things to help us and do us any kindness which we have idolized and set upon the throne in our hearts in competition with God. We must be convinced that the pleasures of sense on which we have doted cannot be our satisfaction, nor the wealth of the world which we have coveted be our portion, that we cannot be happy or easy any where but in God.”

The Lord reminds the children of Israel of what they already knew, but willfully forgot, that they were His children: “Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.” We thought our sin, convicted that this or that would bring us blessings. If we chose to serve other gods, ought not then these gods to grant us the grace and love we need. We take too lightly our choices, as if God should understand and put up with them. Do we have to hear him say to us, “Go”, before we will understand the gravity of our sin?

The children of Israel cried again, “We have sinned: so thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.” Even a continued punishment by the hand of the Lord is better than that of the world’s gods, if but we would be kept in the hands of our Lord. Knowing that the depth of sin kept them from their Deliverer, the people turned in repentance and followed it with the grace afforded them by the Lord: “And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved (His soul mourned for His people) for the misery of Israel.” The Lord had never left His people, they had left Him. We may act in sin as if it was our choice, but the Lord will not leave us without a pathway of repentance and faith to bring us back into active fellowship with Him. His people willfully sin against God. However, be taught in the time of temptation that “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10:13-14).

May we have the Spirit of hope as we face times of evil, as did Paul: “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Tim. 4:17-18).

Discussion: How and why does God bring us back to Him when we sin?