JUDGES Expect the Unexpected
Series: The Flawed and the Flawless
Speaker: Takeshi Shibuya
Date: 19th August 2018
Passage: Judges 3:1-31
00:00:01 --> 00:00:08 As some of you might know, we have an eight-month-old daughter, Sera.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:18 Recently, she finally started to sit by herself without any help.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:24 Even a few weeks ago, when we went back to Japan, she couldn't sit up.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:30 Because of this, she wouldn't let us leave her by herself.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:39 It was also a real challenge to hold her for more than eight hours, nine hours on the airplane.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:47 So when I saw her sit by herself for the first time, I was so excited.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:55 But until that stage, she actually went through many different stages.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:01 And lots of practice, so she could sit by herself.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:07 At first, she started to move her hands and legs.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:12 And then she started to touch her feet with her hands.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:17 And she also started to roll over and back.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:26 She was continually practicing moving her body and learning to control it using her muscle.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 And in the end, she finally made it.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 I'm really proud of her.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:47 I've been learning throughout those last eight months that children learn to master things by repeating them over and over and over again.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:54 To achieve those things, they need to go through many different stages day to day.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 But it's not only in parenting.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 We can see this.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 But many things are improved in this way.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:12 So if you experience the opposite of this, how would you feel?
00:02:13 --> 00:02:17 If you repeated things and went through different stages.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 But things went to different stages.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 But things are more and more worse and worse.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 Kind of a downward spiral.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 Naturally, you would feel really discouraged.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 And even upset with things.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:38 Right?
00:02:38 --> 00:02:47 Actually, we will see this sort of negative spiral cycle in the book of Judges.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:53 Today, we will have a look at this Judges cycle first.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:58 And we will investigate chapter 3 and focus on two Judges.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:10 So first of all, who were the judges?
00:03:10 --> 00:03:17 When we hear the word judge, we might think of something like this.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:26 If someone does something wrong, the judge decides whether they are innocent or guilty.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:33 Or if you like to follow the tennis, a judge means kind of an empire.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:34 Empire.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:42 In the Old Testament, however, the word judge is not used in the modern sense.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 Judges weren't judge-courled officials.
00:03:47 --> 00:04:00 Rather, they were often military leaders who handed out justice to Israel's enemy and oppressors.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:10 In other words, the judges were deliverers or saviors who redeemed the people from slavery and the other nations.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:19 As Steve preached in his last two messages, Israel failed to drive idols out on their land.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:27 Steve highlighted the dramatic tension between God's holy commands and his loving, faithful promise.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:32 On the other hand, God demands obedience from Israel.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:37 Yet, on the other hand, he has promised to save them.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:51 As a consequence, Israel enters a cyclical pattern of decline caused by their idolatry and subsequent revival through God's saving mercy.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:58 Today, I give you some paper to draw this cycle on your own.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:05 So, if you don't have one, please let us know by raising your hand so that our team can get for you.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:11 So, judge cycle.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 I go through one to seven.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 Stage one, the people reveal or sin.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 Stage two, God is angry.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:28 Stage three, God sent the enemies.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 Stage four, the people cry out.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:40 Stage five, God sent the judge to save.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:46 Stage six, peace in the land.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 And lastly, stage seven, judge dies.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:55 This is called the judge cycle.
00:05:55 --> 00:06:00 And it keeps not only repeating, but worsening.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:08 As we progress through chapters three to sixteen, towards the end of the book,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:15 Israel's morality has declined so much that they became like a Canaanite.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:22 While Israel's moral corruption declines, God's covenant never changes.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:31 So, please keep this cycle and downward spiral in your mind as we continue through this series.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:39 So, now with this judge cycle in mind, we can have a look at today's passage.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:45 Today, we will be focusing on two judges, Othniel and Ephod.
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 So, firstly, Othniel.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:53 The history of Othniel shows us the judge cycle at its simplest.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:57 Let's have a look at the text step by step.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:02 So, stage one, the people reveal all sin.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 Verse seven says, they forgot the Lord.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 What is the opposite word of forgot?
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 Right, it's remember.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:21 In the Bible, those words remember and forget are used in regards to spiritual matters.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:30 For example, in Psalm 25, 6, when the people asked God to remember your great mercy and love.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:39 And in Isaiah 64, 9, they asked God to not remember their sins.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:50 Last week, Steve told us that although the people of Israel knew all about Exodus from slavery in Egypt,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:57 the miraculous red sea crossing and all of the other awesome ways that God has rescued them,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:02 the saving acts of God were no longer precious to them.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:11 They had not learned to revere and rejoice in what God had done for them.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:17 Their hearts were not wholehearted, but half-hearted.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:24 They were holding on to God and the other gods at the same time.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 Sage two, God is angry.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 Chapter three, verse eight says,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 The anger of the Lord burned against Israel.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 God was indeed angry.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:45 Because his covenant people committed idol worship.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 If your partner played around with others,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 what emotion would you feel?
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 Of course, you wouldn't be angry
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 at their betrayal.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:05 That's why God sent trouble to the people to Israel.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:12 Verse eight,
00:09:12 --> 00:09:17 God sold Israel into the hands of other kings,
00:09:17 --> 00:09:22 to whom the Israel was subjected to for eight years.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 But even in judging his people,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 God was merciful to them.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:32 If God had not brought about suffering and hardship,
00:09:32 --> 00:09:37 Israel would never understand their wrongdoing against God.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:43 They wouldn't know what judgment they are facing.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:49 God didn't simply send trouble to his people for the sake of it,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:54 but he didn't it so that Israel would turn back to him.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 God was faithful to them.
00:09:57 --> 00:10:01 Even though Israel didn't love him.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 Sage four,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 the people cry out.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 Finally, after struggling under physical oppression,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 the people in verse eight B,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 cried out to the Lord.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:23 Although it took eight years for them to see their wrongdoing
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 and need to turn back to the true God,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 they finally started to cry out.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:35 The only thing the people contribute to their rescue
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 was to cry out to the Lord.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:46 We can learn from here that repentance is the key for renewal and restoration.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:54 Verse nine,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:58 God sent a leader to the people of Israel.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 God's chosen leader was Othniel,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:06 the wholehearted disciple who was a member of Caleb's family.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 Remember,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 after Moses,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:13 only Josiah and Caleb could enter to the promised land
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 because they had a true faith.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 Probably,
00:11:18 --> 00:11:23 Othniel learned from Caleb about God and how to serve in the land.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 At the beginning of the book,
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 chapter one,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:32 Othniel showed great faith and strong leadership in the world.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 In one sense,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 he was a charismatic type of leader
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 who had power and good reputation.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:48 But we shouldn't miss the point that God sent Othniel as the savior.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 And also,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 look at verse 10.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57 The spirit of the Lord came on him.
00:11:57 --> 00:12:05 The reason why Israel won through Othniel is that God was with him.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:12 Not because of his physical strength or cleverness in battle.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 Salvation comes only from God.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 Stage six,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 peace in the land.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 As a result,
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 verse 11 says,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:29 Israel enjoyed peace for 11 years.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 In stage seven,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 judge dies.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 Verse 11 continues,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 until Othniel,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 son of Canaz,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 died.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 Actually,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:43 this charismatic leader died after 40 years.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 And this is the first cycle came to the end.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 Now,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:55 hopefully everyone had a kind of clear idea of the judge cycle.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 We have one more cycle today on EFood.
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 But I want to ask you,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:08 do you find that the EFood story gives you a funny sense or sense of bitterness?
00:13:08 --> 00:13:16 I think this story reminds me of something like the investigation drama like CSI,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:21 with a great title like Murder in the Toilet,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 or something like that.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 The main character seems like a spy.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 Actually,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:30 if the story is nothing like Othniel,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 there is great imagery,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:39 and time seems to get slower and slower towards to the end of the climax.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:45 We are often bogged down by the details of the story,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 or unexplained things,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:51 but we shouldn't miss the whole point and the context.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 Actually,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:59 EFood cycle is also a story about how God saves his people.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:04 And it says that God is responsible for EFood,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 because he chose him.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:11 God himself raised up for them as a savior.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:18 He did not say a murder, an assassin, a liar, or a deceiver, but a savior.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 This is the story of the gospel.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 So let's dive into the passage.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:30 With Othniel's death, the cycle begins again.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:36 This time, God gave the Israelites over to Egron, king of Moab,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 who, in verse 13,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 took possession of the city of Perm.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 Actually, the city of Perm was Jericho.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:53 Jericho was the place where God had specifically given his obedient people
00:14:53 --> 00:14:58 victory over their enemies in Joshua 6.
00:14:58 --> 00:15:01 This is very ironic,
00:15:01 --> 00:15:05 because Jericho was Israel's first great success
00:15:05 --> 00:15:10 in the inversion of Canaan under Joshua's leadership.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:16 Now the Israelites have lost their great achievement
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 because of their disobedience.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 The story continues like the Othniel cycle,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:29 but this time the Bible keeps focusing on one word,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:34 left hand, in verse 15 and 21.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:41 Generally speaking, Hebrew literature has a very simple word structure,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:46 and it doesn't explain in very much detail like modern languages.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:50 Often, quite often,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 even, the verb is dropped off.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 In this context,
00:15:57 --> 00:16:01 if a word or phrase is used repeatedly,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04 it means it is very important.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 It's something like a highlighter for us.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:14 So why here does the Bible keep mentioning Ephus's left hand?
00:16:15 --> 00:16:20 If we look up references in the Bible in relation to right hand,
00:16:21 --> 00:16:26 we will find that they all have quite positive meanings.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 For example,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:31 God swears by His right hand.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 He has pleasure by His right hand.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:40 And His chosen one will sit at His right hand.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:47 It is possible that the right hand was a symbol of power and ability
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 in the time of Old Testament.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:55 But chapter 315 literally says that
00:16:55 --> 00:17:00 Ephus was unable to use his right hand.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:04 It is most likely that
00:17:04 --> 00:17:10 Ephus's right hand was paralyzed or disabled in some way.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 Considering this,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 Ephus was a surprising choice
00:17:16 --> 00:17:21 because he was appointed as Israel military leader,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:25 even though he probably couldn't use his right hand in the battle.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:30 Yet, God chose Ephus as a savior for Israel.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:34 It's an unexpected choice.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 In man's eyes,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:41 it's almost impossible to win a battle
00:17:41 --> 00:17:44 if someone has a physical weakness.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47 But God chose Ephus this time.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 Look at verse 19.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 The king said to his attendants,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 Leave us.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 And they all left.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 Can you believe that?
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 If Ephus was recognized as a potential danger,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:10 King Eggron's gods would probably not have allowed Ephus
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 to stay alone with the king.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 Likewise,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:18 probably King Eggron did not expect Ephus
00:18:18 --> 00:18:21 to be in any way dangerous.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:25 His physical limitation
00:18:25 --> 00:18:29 probably enabled him to be alone with the king.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:36 The narrator makes it very clear in verse 22
00:18:36 --> 00:18:41 that it was Ephus's left hand
00:18:41 --> 00:18:45 that allowed him to strike down the enemy.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:50 This unexpected lefty savior
00:18:50 --> 00:18:54 is almost the main point of this story.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 God saved the people of Israel
00:18:57 --> 00:19:00 through a lefty judge.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:06 The narrator describes the significance of this event
00:19:06 --> 00:19:10 when reporting that the people of Israel
00:19:10 --> 00:19:13 followed after Ephus and won the battle,
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 even though the people of Moab
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 were very strong and powerful.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 And finally, verse 13 says,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:24 they enjoy peace for the next 80 years.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:28 This is the second cycle of judges.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:35 So what we can learn from this cycle?
00:19:35 --> 00:19:38 As we've seen,
00:19:38 --> 00:19:42 Israel repeatedly failed to walk with God faithfully,
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 even though God had so much for them.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 Today, we saw only two cycles,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:53 but Israel experienced exactly the same pattern
00:19:53 --> 00:19:58 of sin, repentance, sin, repentance, and so on.
00:19:58 --> 00:20:02 Even though Israel was unfaithful,
00:20:02 --> 00:20:05 God was faithful to his covenant.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 He sent the enemies, the judges,
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 and his spirit to try restore the relationship
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 between them.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 People don't deserve God's love and mercy.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 But this was not just for Israel,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:24 but their sin speaks to our own sin.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:29 Judges saved Israel from suffering
00:20:29 --> 00:20:32 and from their enemies.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 Salvation and peace restored
00:20:35 --> 00:20:38 on the leadership of God's judges.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:41 But it didn't last,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 since the judge did not last.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 They all died.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 It was only temporary.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 Although the judge could save the nation of Israel
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 from suffering,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 and their enemies,
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 they could change,
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 they couldn't change people's heart
00:20:58 --> 00:21:01 and attitude towards God.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 But the Bible said that
00:21:03 --> 00:21:06 Jesus is the eternal judge
00:21:06 --> 00:21:09 and perfect Savior,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 better Savior.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 He said,
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 Do not be afraid.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 I am the first and the last.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 I am the living one.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 I was dead.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 And now,
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 look,
00:21:20 --> 00:21:23 I am alive forever and ever.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:28 Human leaders are limited and temporary.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 But Jesus,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 our Savior,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 is eternal and unlimited.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:37 This cycle points out
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 Jesus is the better
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 and the true Savior
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 to every generation.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:47 As we have seen,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 Othony was a man,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 a great faith,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 and deeds.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 He had great leadership
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 and military skills.
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 On the other hand,
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 Ephod had a physical weakness,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 which was like a handicap.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:06 No one would have wanted
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 to choose him
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 to be their military leader,
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 but God chose him
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 as the Savior.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 So what can we learn from this?
00:22:18 --> 00:22:21 That God doesn't always work
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 in obvious ways
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 or by common sense.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 He saved his people
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 through Ephod's weakness.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:33 And we can see this
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 in our Savior Jesus,
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 can't we?
00:22:36 --> 00:22:39 Isaiah 53, 2-3 says,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 He grew up before him
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 like a tender shoot
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 and like a root
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 out of dry ground.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 He had no beauty
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 or majesty
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 to attract us to him.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 Nothing in his appearance
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 that we should desire him.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 He was despised
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 and rejected by mankind,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 a man of suffering
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 and familiar with pain.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 Like one from
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 who people hide their face,
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 he was despised
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 and he hold him
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 in low esteem.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 Jesus saved us
00:23:17 --> 00:23:20 not through military victory
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 or physical strength,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:24 but through crushing defeat.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 In the historical narratives
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 in Judges,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 God was showing
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 the world
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 that his salvation
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 was not going to come
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 like a hero movie
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 at all.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 It would come
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 from the baby born
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 in a major
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43 through weakness,
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 not what the world
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 would call strength,
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 not what the world
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 would call victory.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 He died on the cross
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 and rose again
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 from death.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 This is God's
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 unexpected way
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 to save us.
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 Why is that?
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 Because God
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 wants us
00:24:04 --> 00:24:07 to be humble.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 1 Corinthians
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 chapter 1
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 26 to 29
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 says,
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 Brother and sisters,
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 think what you were
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 when you were called.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 Not many of you
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 are wise
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 by human standards.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 not many
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 were influential.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 Not many
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 were of novel birth,
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 but God
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 chose
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 the foolish
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 things of the world
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 to shame
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 the wise.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 God
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 chose
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 the weak
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 things of the world
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 to shame
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 the strong.
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 God
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 chose
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 the lowly
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 things of this world
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 and the despised
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 things
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 and the things
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 that are not
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 to
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 notify,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 the things
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 that are so
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 that no one
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 may boast
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 before him.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 Our brain
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 may not
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 make sense
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 of the ways
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 of God.
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 We can't
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 understand
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 why God
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 would choose
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 a judge
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 who had
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 a severe
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 weakness.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 Yet,
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 this was
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 God's way
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 to save
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 his people.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 we can't
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 understand
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 why God
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 sent
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 his only
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 son
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 to the
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 earth
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 to suffer
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 and die
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 for us.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 But,
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 we can
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 understand
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 this,
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 that God
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 is righteous
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 yet
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 loves
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 us
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 so much.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 Even
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 though
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 we are
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 sinners
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 and hopeless,
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 he still
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 wants to
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 restore
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 his
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 relationship
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 with us.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 today,
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 who here
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 wants to
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 receive
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 this
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 wonderful
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 invitation?
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 Who wants
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 to repent
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 before God?
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 Who here
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 needs to
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 renew
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 their faith?
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 The judge's
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 cycle
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 reminds us
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 of our
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 need for
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 spiritual
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 renewal.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 As a
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 follower of
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 Christ,
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 we need
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 to be
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 renewed
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 by the
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 word of
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 God
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 and by
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 his
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 spirit
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 continuously
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 by crying
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 out to
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 the
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 God.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 Don't
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 we need
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 to cry
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 out
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 today?
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 If
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 you don't
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 know
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 whether
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 or not
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 you have
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 eternal
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 hope
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 in
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 Christ,
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 today,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 our God
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 is calling
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 you to
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 come.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 Any
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 leaders
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 in the
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 world
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 can't
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 save
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 your
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 life,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 but
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 our
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 eternal
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 Savior,
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 Jesus,
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 can
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 save
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 you.