Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:06.440
For God's illumination upon his word.
Tonight, our father, we come to
2
00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:14.160
a section of your word tonight that
it's not pleasant. There's much sadness,
3
00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:18.399
there's much grief. But, Lord, yet, as we will read the
4
00:00:18.440 --> 00:00:22.760
words in a moment, it reminds
us of our own world, which is
5
00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:29.600
beset with so many things that grieve
us and things that are happening around our
6
00:00:29.640 --> 00:00:33.840
world. And Lord, we are
reminded that through all of this, you
7
00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:38.000
are the God over everything. And
so, Lord, tonight I pray,
8
00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:42.039
as I seek to deliver to your
people this word that you've given to me
9
00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:45.880
and that I have studied, I
pray, God, that it would be
10
00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:51.439
encouraging even in the midst of the
darkness of this passage. And Lord,
11
00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:56.000
I pray that through it all we
may see your glorious providence and that,
12
00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:02.520
Lord, we may see how nothing
happens outside out of you, that everything
13
00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:07.439
is ordained and has the hymn writer
says, whatever my God ordains is right.
14
00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:10.799
And so, Lord, we trust
in you, but we asked for
15
00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:15.400
you to enlighten your word to our
eyes and God, to help us to
16
00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:19.400
greater understand it. We pray all
these things in Christ names, Amen.
17
00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:26.959
I have an extended text tonight.
If you need to sit, please feel
18
00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:32.079
free, but if you can stand
stand, it is a longer text.
19
00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:36.200
Will be looking at chapter nine of
judges. Will Begin with verse twenty two
20
00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:42.280
and then going through verse fifty seven. Here is God's word. ABIMELECH ruled
21
00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:47.319
over Israel three years and God sent
an evil spirit between a BIMELECH and the
22
00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:52.079
leaders of Skim. The leaders of
Skim dealt treacherously with the Bimelech, that
23
00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:56.000
the violence done to the seventies sons
of Jerobaba might come and their blood be
24
00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:59.480
laid on a BIMELECH, their brother, who killed him, and on the
25
00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:02.319
men of Che Come, who strengthened
his hands to kill his brothers. And
26
00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:06.920
the leaders of Sheken put men in
ambush against him on the mountaintops and they
27
00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:09.639
robbed all who passed by them along
the way. and was told to a
28
00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:14.439
BIMELECH and goal, the son of
Ebad, moved into Shek Um with his
29
00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:17.240
relatives and the leaders of Sheke and
put confidence in him, and they went
30
00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:21.479
out into the field and gathered the
grape from their vineyards and trod them in
31
00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:24.319
held festival. They went into the
house of their God and ate and drank
32
00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:28.879
and reviled a Bimelech, and goal, the son of Ebad, said,
33
00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:31.319
who is a Bimelech and who are
we of Shek Um that we should serve
34
00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:35.919
him? Is he not the son
of Jerobabo, and is not Zebo,
35
00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:39.080
his officer? Serve the men of
Hamor the father of Shek Um? But
36
00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:44.080
why should we serve him? Would
that this people were under my hand,
37
00:02:44.439 --> 00:02:46.520
and then I would remove a BIMELECH. I would say to a Bimelech,
38
00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:52.400
increase your army and come out.
When Zebra, the ruler of the city,
39
00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:54.599
heard the words of gall the son
of Ebad, his anger was kindled
40
00:02:55.159 --> 00:03:00.919
and he sent messengers to Abimelech,
secretly saying the whole gall the son of
41
00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:04.759
Ebat and his relatives have come to
Shek Um and they're stirring up the city
42
00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:07.080
against you. Now, therefore,
go by night, you and the people
43
00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:10.439
who are with you, and set
an ambush in the field. Then in
44
00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:15.120
the morning, as soon as the
sun is uprise early and rush upon the
45
00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:17.479
city, and when he and the
people who are with him come out against
46
00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:23.000
you, you may do to them
as your hand finds to do. So
47
00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:24.879
a BIMELECH and all the men who
were with him rose up by night and
48
00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:29.719
set an ambush against Shek um in
four companies. And Goll, the son
49
00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:31.080
of EBB, went out and stood
in the entrance at the gate of the
50
00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:35.400
city, and the Bimelech and the
people who were with him rose from the
51
00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:38.520
ambush. And when Gal's all the
people, he said to zebral, look,
52
00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:44.759
people are coming down from the mountaintops, and Zebel said you mistake the
53
00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:49.719
shadow of the mountains for men.
Gall spoke again and said look, people
54
00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:53.280
are coming down from the center of
the land, and one company is coming
55
00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:58.120
from the direction of the diviner's Oak. Then Zebel said to him, where
56
00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:00.120
is your mouth now, you who
said who is a Bimelech, that we
57
00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.800
should serve him? Are Not these
the people whom you despised? Go out
58
00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:06.840
now and fight with them. And
goal went out at the head of the
59
00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:11.879
leaders of Skim and fought with the
Bimelech, and a Bimelech chased him and
60
00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:15.599
he fled before him and many fell
wounded up to the enemy of the gate.
61
00:04:15.160 --> 00:04:19.160
And the BIMELECH lived at Arama and
Zebo drove out Gaul and his relatives.
62
00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:23.480
So that they could not dwell at
check Um. And the following day
63
00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:27.519
the people went out into the field
and a Bimelech was told he took us
64
00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:30.079
people and divided them into three companies
and said an ambush in the fields,
65
00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:33.720
and he looked and saw the people
coming out of the city. So he
66
00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:38.879
rose against them and killed him.
A BIMELECH in the company that was with
67
00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:41.839
him rushed forward and stood at the
entrance of the gate of the city.
68
00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:46.199
Well, the two companies rushed upon
all who were in the field and killed
69
00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.920
them, and the bimelech fought against
the city all that day. He captured
70
00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:54.160
the city and killed the people who
were in it, and he raised the
71
00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:58.079
city and sewed it with salt.
When all the leaders of the Tower of
72
00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:01.000
Shekem heard of it, they entered
the stronghold of the House of Alberith.
73
00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:05.079
A BIMELECH was told that all the
leaders of the Tower of Shechum were gathered
74
00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:10.360
together and the Bimelech went up to
Mount Zalman he and all the people who
75
00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:13.879
were with him, and the Bimelech
took an axe in his hand and cut
76
00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:16.399
down a bundle of brushwood and took
it up and laid it on his shoulder
77
00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:19.079
and he said to the men who
were with him, what you have seen
78
00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:23.759
me do, do hurry and do
as I have done. So every one
79
00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:27.160
of the people cut down his bundle
and, following the BIMELECH, put it
80
00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:31.040
against the stronghold and they set the
stronghold on fire over them, so that
81
00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:35.560
all the people of the Tower of
Shekum also died, about one thousand men
82
00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:41.279
and women. Then a Bimelech went
to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured
83
00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:44.360
it. But there was a strong
tower within the city, and all the
84
00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:47.040
men and women and all the leaders
of the city fled to it and shut
85
00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:50.199
themselves in and they went up to
the roof of the tower. And the
86
00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:54.480
Bimelech came to the tower and fought
against it and drew near to the door
87
00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:58.319
of the tower to burn it with
fire, and a certain woman threw an
88
00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:02.279
upper millstone on a bimelech his head
and crushed his skull. Then he called
89
00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:05.519
quickly to the young man his armor
bear and said to him, draw your
90
00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:10.199
sword and kill me lest they say
of me. A woman killed him and
91
00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:14.160
his young man thrust him through and
he died and when the minute of Israel
92
00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:17.519
saw a Bimelech was dead, everyone
departed to his home. Thus God returned
93
00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:23.120
the evil of Abimelech which he committed
against his father and killing his seventy brothers,
94
00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:26.240
and God also made all the evil
of the men of Sheek and return
95
00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:30.120
on their heads, and upon them
came the curse of Jotham, the son
96
00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:33.160
of JEROBAB. Thus I will end
the reading of God's word. Please be
97
00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:44.040
seated. As I mentioned, a
tough chapter. Not Much light in this
98
00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:48.959
chapter, not much grace, not
much to rejoice in, not much to
99
00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:56.439
be happy about, and it's not
easy reading at all. It starts terribly,
100
00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:00.240
the very beginning we saw last week, with Abimelech taking blood money from
101
00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:06.199
an idolatrous tempo and then going after
the sons of Gideon, the other sons,
102
00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:10.839
and killing all of them on one
stone, except for the youngest,
103
00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:14.680
who escaped. And then we had
the parable. You might remember that Jotham
104
00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:18.240
told about the trees electing the king
and we saw that. So this evening
105
00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:23.040
what I'd like to do is follow
the same procedure that I did last time,
106
00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:26.560
which I think is easier to do
in a passage like that. And
107
00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:29.160
this is basically I want to tell
you the story. I know you just
108
00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:31.240
heard the story, but I want
to tell it to you with some comments,
109
00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:35.120
who hopefully can follow it very easily, and then I'd really like to
110
00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:42.519
make some applications to that passage tonight. So first two tells us what I
111
00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:46.720
told you last time, that a
bimles reign only lasted three years, and
112
00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:49.600
I told you it's very unusual and
judges to tell the reign of a judge
113
00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:56.000
before his reign actually begins. This
is unusual. Usually it's afterwards, but
114
00:07:56.079 --> 00:08:00.000
this is going to be three years
and it's going to be a terrible three
115
00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:03.720
years, primarily because of what we
read in Verse Twenty Three. The God
116
00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:09.079
sends an Evil Spirit between a BIMELECH
and the leaders of check them. Now,
117
00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:13.360
that phrase, an evil spirit could
mean a couple of things. I
118
00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:18.839
suppose it could be interpreted as just
saying there's a bad spirit between them,
119
00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:20.639
like we might say, well,
there was bad blood between these two.
120
00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:24.759
People are saying like that and Um, and that could be part of it.
121
00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:30.000
But personally I'm inclined to believe that
this is actually an evil being,
122
00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:35.759
a demonic spirit or a wicked spirit
that God sends at that time. This
123
00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:37.559
is one of those rare occurrences.
We have a few in the Bible,
124
00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:41.519
but where we are actually permitted in
a little bit. This is maybe one
125
00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:45.919
of the lesser ones, but we're
permitted a little bit to look into heaven
126
00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:50.399
and to see how God rules and
deals in heaven, especially in regards to
127
00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:54.679
evil beings. The most prominent of
those kind of examples, of course,
128
00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:58.440
would be the book of job,
where we're told about job and we get
129
00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:03.840
a glimpse into Satan and what he
is doing and how God interacts with Satan,
130
00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.759
and so we have that. But
probably a similar thing to what we
131
00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:11.039
have here is a story that's found
in First Kings, chapter twenty two,
132
00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:16.759
and if I could just read those
verses, it says macaiah said, therefore
133
00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:20.679
hear the word of the Lord.
I saw the Lord sitting on his throne
134
00:09:20.679 --> 00:09:24.279
and all the hosts of Heaven standing
beside him, on his right hand and
135
00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:28.159
his left, and the Lord said, who will entice Ahab that he may
136
00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:31.559
go and fall at Raymond Gilead?
And one said one thing and another said
137
00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:37.399
another. Then a spirit came forward
and stood before the Lord saying I will
138
00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:39.960
entice him, and the Lord said
to him by what means? And he
139
00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:45.080
said I will go out and will
be a lining spirit in the mouth of
140
00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:48.240
all his prophets. And he said
you are to entice him and you shall
141
00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:52.639
succeed. Go Out and do so. Now, therefore, behold, the
142
00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:54.720
Lord has put a line spirit in
the mouth of all these your prophets.
143
00:09:56.200 --> 00:10:03.080
The Lord has declared disaster for you. There's a glimpse again that is given
144
00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:07.080
to us in a prophetic form by
the Prophet macayons. He tells us exactly
145
00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:11.440
what was going to happen, as
those prophets had prophesied falsely to Ahab.
146
00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:15.679
And we also see at least twice
in the life of King Saul that an
147
00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:20.399
evil spirit from the Lord comes upon
Him and causes him to do evil things.
148
00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:24.519
And again we have an Evil Spirit
here in first kings as well as
149
00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:28.360
in our text, where the evil
spirit is enticing people to do evil things.
150
00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:33.200
First Twenty four says that the reason
the Lord sends the Evil Spirit is
151
00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:37.960
that there may be justice done on
Abimelech for the killing of his seventy brothers.
152
00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:43.960
Now, Joatham Jonathan had in a
sense prophesied that this was going to
153
00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:48.519
happen. But it wasn't that Jotham
had brought this about by his prophecy.
154
00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:52.879
He didn't do that, but God
had shown him what was going to happen
155
00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:56.559
and how he was going to avenge
the murder of his brothers. So Verse
156
00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:01.759
Twenty Five gives us the first result
of sending the evil spirit the men of
157
00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:05.080
Shechem who had that earlier, Hey, we want you a Bimelech. Yeah,
158
00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:09.600
you're our guy, and now all
of a sudden they start ambition the
159
00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:13.559
men of a Bimelech as they come
by them in the mountain path. Some
160
00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:18.879
suggest that maybe they're doing this because
they weren't really getting the prosperity that a
161
00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:22.960
Bimelech had promised them, and so
therefore they decided to get their own by
162
00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:26.480
stealing from the men that would go
by them. But now the men who
163
00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:31.960
had backed to Bimelech are no longer
on his side. Indeed, they're rebelling
164
00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:35.399
against him. So in Verse Twenty
Six, another contender for the throne comes
165
00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:39.720
into the area, man by the
name of Gaul, whose name literally means
166
00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:45.480
loathing. Now we just found out
this week we're going to have a new
167
00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:48.639
grandson, um we knew we were
having a baby, but we didn't know
168
00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:50.000
what it was. But we found
out it's going to be a grandson,
169
00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:54.679
and so all of the kids were
kind of throwing in their name choices.
170
00:11:54.799 --> 00:12:00.399
You can probably guess that I'm lobbying
for no a lot, but nobody probably
171
00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.759
is going to do that, but
I'm trying anyway. Um, but I
172
00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:09.919
can tell you, Um, that
the name low thing is not high on
173
00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:13.320
the list for this baby. I
don't see that. You know, I
174
00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:20.279
know, Um, I'm having a
problem with with the name they just left
175
00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.919
me. I shouldn't go off my
note, because then my my brain goes
176
00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:30.759
all crazy. And methuselah there comes, came to me can be interpreted as
177
00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:33.039
messenger of death, which would because
a great name for a child, and
178
00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:37.120
the playground and said, hey,
here comes a messenger of death, and
179
00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:39.919
you know, I'm sure he was
very well received because of that. But
180
00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:46.240
nonetheless, the men of Sheck them
begin to put their trust in him instead
181
00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:50.600
of Abimelecht. And so in verse
seven we're told that gala arrives at the
182
00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.759
time of the grape harvest, and
so they go out and they chat out
183
00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.559
the grapes and they have a festival
to their God, and part of the
184
00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:01.120
time in the festival they spend reviling
the BIMELECH. Barry Webb says, this
185
00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:05.919
festival would have been more like a
drunken orgy than anything else. But in
186
00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:09.399
verse Twenty Eight, Gal gives another
reason why the Menischek I should put their
187
00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:15.080
trust in him. He is apparently
descendant of ham or, an old canaanite
188
00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:20.240
prince who had ruled and shake Um. So it seems like his claim is
189
00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:24.840
perhaps a greater claim than that of
Abimelech. And in Verse Twenty Nine He
190
00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:28.240
makes a boast, he says,
the people of Skum, if they were
191
00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:33.399
under his control, then he would
remove a Bimelech from power. He would
192
00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:37.679
even taunt Abimelech, he says,
and tell him to go ahead and increase
193
00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:41.720
his army and come out and fight. So he's making, perhaps under the
194
00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:46.120
influence of alcohol, some pretty great
threats. But in verse thirty another party
195
00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:50.279
enters the fray, amen by the
name of Zebo, who is the ruler
196
00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:54.480
of the city, and he hears
the boast of Gal and he gets mad.
197
00:13:56.200 --> 00:14:00.320
And so in versus thirty one to
thirty three, in retaliation and he
198
00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:05.120
sends messengers to Abimelech telling them what's
happening, that the man Gal has come
199
00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:09.799
in and he's making threats against Abimelech, and he even suggests in verse thirty
200
00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:16.399
two a military strategy to a Bimelech
that he says will be successful. And
201
00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:20.919
so in versus thirty four and thirty
five, Abimelech basically does what Zebel instructed,
202
00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:28.039
but he also follows the strategy of
Gideon and separates his army into four
203
00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:33.120
companies to ambush the men of shekeum. And so when Gal stands in the
204
00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:37.159
gate of the city, the men
and the army of Abimelech began their ambush.
205
00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:43.639
And then we have this basically comical
I guess it's one little point of
206
00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:48.000
laughter in the whole story here.
We've got to have one light thing before
207
00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.799
we get into more darkness, and
and it's really a very funny kind of
208
00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:54.879
verse where, you know, a
Bimelech says I see the men coming down
209
00:14:54.919 --> 00:15:00.799
the mountain and and he's told no, no, that that's uh, that's
210
00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:05.240
just the shadow of the mountains.
It's it's not men coming down. And
211
00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:09.120
so apparently gold believes at this time
that Zebra is still on his side.
212
00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:13.320
But all of a sudden, this
time he looks and he said no,
213
00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:18.120
indeed, people are coming down and
they become more visible as they come down
214
00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:22.399
the mountain. And so this time
he knows what's happening. And so zebral,
215
00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:26.960
knowing that he can't fool can't fool
goal anymore, he says uh to
216
00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:28.759
him. Well, okay, now
is the time. Put your money where
217
00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:31.480
your mouth is. You said what
you do, you're gonna take care of
218
00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:35.360
these, these guys. You'RE gonna
take care of Abimelex so we don't rule
219
00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:37.440
anymore. So this is the time. Go ahead, get out there and
220
00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:41.039
fight. And said, where is
your mouth now? And and so,
221
00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:46.440
in goading him, he's trying to
do actually he wants, he wants goal
222
00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:50.080
to do exactly what will play into
Abimelech's hand, and he does that.
223
00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:54.159
So we have a very short account
in versus, thirty nine to forty one,
224
00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:56.600
of the battle, for it seems
like it's a very short battle.
225
00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:02.960
Indeed, in short order, of
Bimelek disposes of gall and his forces and
226
00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:06.960
assumes like as soon as Gal got
there to fight, he turned around and
227
00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:10.840
ran with his men and there were
many of his army that was wounded and
228
00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:15.879
in verse. But then drives gall
and his clan out of Scheckum and they
229
00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:21.120
will never be heard from again.
And the BIMLEAC himself, and kind of
230
00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:26.000
an odd move, doesn't even dwell
and check them, but instead he goes
231
00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:30.559
to dwell at Arama, which is
really a few miles away from Schek Um.
232
00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:33.879
Now we're not exactly sure why he
chose to do that, but it
233
00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:38.000
does appear from what it's about to
happen he still doesn't even trust the men
234
00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:42.200
of shake Um. And so he's
got plans, apparently, and we are
235
00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:48.039
going to see in a terrible way
those plans come to fruition as we look
236
00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:52.679
at the last part of the chapter
versus forty two through fifty seven. And
237
00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:56.679
so we're told that the people of
Skum go out into the field and we're
238
00:16:56.679 --> 00:17:00.159
not told how many people went out
and we're not told why they did this.
239
00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:04.400
somethink it's perhaps was to fight other
think it was perhaps to finish the
240
00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:08.519
grape hartist which appeared to be in
process at that time and had been interrupted.
241
00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:14.920
Well, the First Maxim of conflict. Maybe never get involved in the
242
00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:21.039
land war in Asia, but a
close second or third is never anger and
243
00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:26.319
arrogant man, and that is exactly
what happens here. A BIMELECH has been
244
00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:30.920
shown to be a very arrogant man
and now we are going to see the
245
00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:36.759
beginning of his anger. So in
verses forty three through forty five, but
246
00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:41.839
BIMELECH sets an ambush for the people
of Sheke Um and basically kills all the
247
00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:45.519
people. So we're talking about not
just the men but the women and the
248
00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:48.720
children that he's killing, all of
those that go out in the fields.
249
00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:56.079
We have a wholesale massacre that's going
on, and it says not only does
250
00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:00.079
he kill and destroy the city but
according to verse forty five, he he
251
00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.839
sows it with salt, which is
a way to curse the city and to
252
00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:07.720
put it on the ground so that
the ground is not able to produce crops.
253
00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:14.680
But he's not done yet. Versus
forty to forty nine, there's not
254
00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:18.559
only apparently a city of Skum,
but now we hear there's also a tower
255
00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:23.039
of Schek Um and there are leaders
and people that have gathered together at the
256
00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:29.039
house of the God beareth. As
Albert Barnes notes in his commentary, combining
257
00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:33.519
the advantages of a sanctuary and a
fortress, but it will not turn out
258
00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:38.440
to be much of an advantage for
them. And the BIMELECH instructs all the
259
00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:42.400
men with him to copy what he
does, and he cuts down a bunch
260
00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:47.759
of brush and takes it with his
ZAS and it tells him to follow him
261
00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:51.400
and they carry the brush. They
put it all up against this house of
262
00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:55.319
the God beareth and they set it
on fire, which causes the death,
263
00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:59.799
we are told, of thousand men
and women and we can assume as well
264
00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:06.079
children. They would all die in
a literal Holocaust. We're talking the other
265
00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:11.839
night and someone's house and talking about
World War Two, movies and talking about
266
00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:15.559
some people at a hard time.
I said I I have a hard time.
267
00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:18.319
I have a difficulty. Uh.
Some people are saying, well,
268
00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:22.640
it was easier time, because it
was true, but for me it's a
269
00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:26.319
harder time because it's true for whatever
reason, but especially World War Two.
270
00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:30.279
I just I just have a real
problem with that and and watching the things
271
00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:33.279
that do that, because it seems
like such a horrible time. Of course
272
00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:37.599
it was, but this is the
same kind of thing. This is the
273
00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:41.000
same kind of terrible stuff. That
is that is happening here. And we
274
00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:45.119
see the fulfillment, though, of
the prophecy of Jotham. That was earlier
275
00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:48.960
that I'll remind you of from Verse
Fifteen, where he says, and the
276
00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:52.480
Bramble said to the trees, if
in good faith you are anointing me king
277
00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:55.799
over, you come and take refuge
in my shade, but if not,
278
00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:00.960
let fire come out of the Bramble
and devour the Cedars of Lebanon, meaning
279
00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:06.440
the men of Shecheckum, and that
is exactly what is happening here. Well,
280
00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:10.759
you think that was enough death and
destruction for any one man, but
281
00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:17.240
in verse fifty, Abimelech continues on
to the city of thebez. His Paranoia,
282
00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:22.440
which often attacks leaders of this caliber, has now reached new limits.
283
00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:27.279
He no longer can stop his thirst
for blood and destruction, and so Barry
284
00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:33.240
Webb says, he's drunk with power
now and he cannot stop. And here
285
00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:37.119
again we read about a tower where
all the inhabitants of the city go and
286
00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:41.799
barricade themselves in the roof of the
tower. The BIMELECH, having already found
287
00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:47.119
a strategy that works, decides that
he will use the same strategy at this
288
00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:52.759
tower again. But even though it
doesn't look like it, in God's Providence,
289
00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:57.920
Abimelech has gone one step too far. As he draws near to the
290
00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:02.480
tower, a woman above as a
millstone. Now this would not be the
291
00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:07.119
giant millstones that you see often in
pictures, that were uh, that were
292
00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:11.319
that were turned by animals and and
ground out the weed at the mill houses.
293
00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:15.319
This would have been more personal grinder. But the stone would have been
294
00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:19.839
big enough that dropping it from the
height to which it was dropped would indeed
295
00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:25.640
have the power to kill a man. And so this woman drops the millstone
296
00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:30.720
and crushes his skull. Earlier in
the book of judges, we saw the
297
00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:34.599
General Sisterra, had been killed with
a tent peg at the hands of the
298
00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:40.720
woman jail. But now judges,
in a short time, has introduced three
299
00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:45.640
women who have been great leaders in
the sense or those who have accomplished great
300
00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:49.279
things. We have had Deborrah,
we have had Gil and we now have
301
00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:52.599
this woman who is not named for
us. We don't know who she is,
302
00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:56.799
and in some way, I don't
know how, if he looked up
303
00:21:56.880 --> 00:22:00.119
or how he knew it or somebody
told him by it in some way,
304
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:06.359
a bimelech found out that the person
who dropped the millstone down on his head
305
00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:11.759
was a woman, and so he
asked his armor bear if he wouldn't draw
306
00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:15.920
him through with his sword and kill
him so that nobody would say that he
307
00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:18.480
had been killed by a woman.
So the armor bear does that. So
308
00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:25.359
we have kind of a combined murder
assisted suicide here. Peter Margaret Martyr Vermigley
309
00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:29.279
writes. What madness is this?
He's at the point of death and he
310
00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:33.599
vainly thinks on glory. He thinks
that a reproach to be killed of a
311
00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:37.680
woman, and there's nothing careful for
the soul nor for the afterlife. He
312
00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:44.480
only cares for his name and fame. We certainly see no example of deathbed
313
00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:48.960
repentance here, do we? And
really none of it does any good,
314
00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:52.799
doesn't? Because we read this account
and what do we think? Oh,
315
00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:56.160
he was killed by a woman,
right, we all think that. So
316
00:22:56.200 --> 00:23:00.799
I really didn't do any good anyway. But I don't want you to miss
317
00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:03.039
the irony here, because there is
irony here and we're meant to see it.
318
00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:08.440
I believe it goes back to earlier
in the beginning of the chapter remember
319
00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:12.759
we talked about this that, and
a couple of people talk with me about
320
00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:19.119
this, that that Abimelech had killed
the seventies sons of Gideon on one stone.
321
00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:22.160
And might wonder, well, why? Why does the Scripture say was
322
00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:26.279
killed on one stone? Well,
now we see, don't we? Now
323
00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:30.680
the scripture makes it clear, because
it will be one stone that will kill
324
00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:37.839
him. The entire chapter shows us
again and again the principle that you reap
325
00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:42.880
what you sow. Again I want
to quote Barry Webb, who says abimelech
326
00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:48.599
is going to shake Um to incite
his leaders to conspire against Gideon Sons.
327
00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:52.640
is answered by Gal's arrival and shake
Um to incite his leaders to conspire with
328
00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:57.079
him against a BIMELECH. The ambush
the men of Schekum said against a bimelech
329
00:23:57.160 --> 00:24:04.200
in verse is answered by the ambush
set by against Skum in verse Thirty Four.
330
00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:10.279
And so we see this again.
And, as I mentioned, this
331
00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:15.920
this single stone, so him seven
fourteen through seventeen, has a striking application.
332
00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:19.839
It says, behold, the wicked
man conceives evil and is pregnant with
333
00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:26.519
mischief and gives birth to lies.
He makes a pit digging it out and
334
00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:33.039
falls into the hole that he has
made. His mischief returns upon his own
335
00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:38.359
head and on his own skull,
his violence, the sins. Doesn't that
336
00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:44.480
kind of remind you of what happens
here in the story? So everyone is
337
00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:48.759
being rewarded according to their deeds.
The people of Shek Um have the bramble
338
00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:53.960
bring fire upon them, a Bimlak
himself is killed and the curse of Jatham
339
00:24:55.079 --> 00:25:02.960
is fulfilled in a somewhat satisfying,
in an awful conclusion. And then again,
340
00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:08.359
almost the strange ending to the chapter, when the Bebelech dies, everyone
341
00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:12.480
goes back home. It seems kind
of strange, doesn't it? Now it's
342
00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:15.880
all over, every everything's done.
They just give up the battle and all
343
00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:22.799
of that. There are no winners
here except God, and thus ends perhaps
344
00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:27.599
one of the worst chapters, and
judges there are other contenders as well well.
345
00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:32.759
That's the story. Now let me
give you some application, and I
346
00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:37.359
mentioned that we wanted to talk about
providence tonight, because the story isn't evidence
347
00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:42.119
and it is an example to us
of the difficulties that we sometimes have with
348
00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:49.359
God's Providence. First we have the
difficulty of why God allows terrible atrocities to
349
00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:56.000
happen in our world. The tragedy
that is told in one verse in our
350
00:25:56.119 --> 00:26:00.400
text, Verse Five, seems horrible. Seventies sons of Gideon slain in one
351
00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:07.680
day, slain on one stone.
But we've come across these things regularly in
352
00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:12.640
our life, don't we? Those
of us were old enough to remember nine
353
00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:19.599
eleven can probably remember that day vividly. You probably remember very clearly. I
354
00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:22.559
mean even I can remember, even
though I was just a young boy.
355
00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:26.839
I can remember what happened there,
where I was when Kennedy the news came
356
00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:33.119
out about President Kennedy being shot.
I'm sure those of you that were older
357
00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:37.319
and of adult age can remember exactly
where you were when we heard that the
358
00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:42.039
plane had flown into the World Trade
Center and we wondered what in the world
359
00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:45.680
did that mean. I remember asking
someone had told me that. What was
360
00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:48.880
it? A little plane? Wasn't
like, you know, cropduster or what?
361
00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:52.319
What? What was it that?
We have no idea and people didn't
362
00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:55.279
know. Details were just coming out
little by little and we had no idea.
363
00:26:55.359 --> 00:27:02.000
And then of course a second plane
comes in and again you can probably
364
00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:06.519
remember that day, the emotional ups
and downs as you heard about the people
365
00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:11.799
jumping from the buildings and the people
in the staircase and the firefighters and all
366
00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:17.039
of the things that took place on
that day. But yet on a regular
367
00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:22.240
basis we're informed someone who goes into
a crowd and with a car or a
368
00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:29.000
truck or a gun kills a great
number of people, and these things can
369
00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:34.000
bother us and upset us and make
us wonder. We may also wonder at
370
00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:37.559
Verse Twenty Three, where it says
God sends out an Evil Spirit between a
371
00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:42.319
Bimelech and the rulers of check them. And I told you, the question
372
00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:47.240
is there whether it's a just a
bad spirit between them or it's an actual
373
00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:52.880
evil spirit that God actually sends but
what we have here is a scriptural principle
374
00:27:53.799 --> 00:28:02.200
that God often punishes the sins of
people by the sins of people. The
375
00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:06.680
men of Skum are punished by the
sins of Abimelech and the BIMELECH is punished
376
00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:11.400
by the sins of shake Um,
which is what we refer to as God
377
00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:18.359
giving people up. God doesn't incite
people to sin, but he simply lists
378
00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:25.200
the restraints which have hindered them from
sinning up to that point, which again
379
00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:30.440
results in the truth of the scriptural
saying you reap which your soul. The
380
00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:36.240
men of Shakeum consulted to the annihilation
of the family of Gideon, so they're
381
00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:41.720
annihilated. Abimelech killed the family of
Gideon, so he himself is destroyed.
382
00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:47.200
I love the way that the Presbyterian
Puritan reformer, Arthur Jackson puts it.
383
00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:52.279
He says has the stink of the
dunghill rises not from the sun, though
384
00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:57.079
the sun shining on it be the
occasion of it. I think that's a
385
00:28:57.079 --> 00:29:04.240
good description. But we must remember
and we must be clear as believers that
386
00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:10.359
it is essential to our faith that
we believe that God rules all the affairs
387
00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:17.960
of men. We can't allow any
event to happen outside the Providence and control
388
00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:22.680
of God. We might be troubled
by the events of Providence, we must
389
00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:30.240
remember in that time we serve a
perfectly holy and loving God and, like
390
00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:36.160
Abraham, we need to be able
to say shall not the judge of all
391
00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:41.680
the Earth do right? The Puritan
Richard Rogers puts it like this. Many,
392
00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:48.519
not ill minded, desire to know
why God allows such abominations. I
393
00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:53.920
answer that God knows the cause rules
justly, and there's a godly father speaks
394
00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:59.759
orders the evil appetites of the wicked. To fulfill this Providence, though it
395
00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:03.640
is not infuse them with evil,
just as he wrought the salvation of his
396
00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:10.079
elect by the fall of Adam and
the treachery of Judas. And yet we
397
00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:14.839
are not, neither ought to be
altogether ignorant by God does this. We
398
00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:18.640
are not to prescribe to the Lord
how to govern the world, nor by
399
00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:22.160
whom nor how he will be glorified. And he who may marvel that God
400
00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:27.559
is patient towards the bad, how
can he think himself too good to suffer
401
00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:33.599
for his own defects? Be The
instruments never so evil when our savior suffered
402
00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:40.559
for us without cause. But if
any of us be without danger and hurt
403
00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:45.319
by such wicked persons, who are
one of God's scourges to correct us,
404
00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:51.440
let us reckon it among the great
blessings of God and use it accordingly.
405
00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:56.279
In chapter nine we're missing something that
we've had up to this point, that
406
00:30:56.359 --> 00:31:02.599
every chapter of judges, we don't
end it in chapter nine. What is
407
00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:07.880
it? The Covenant, Name of
God, the name Yahweh the name in
408
00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:14.359
our bibles that is Lord in all
capital letters, but in chapter nine his
409
00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:19.799
name is conspicuously absent. And again
we have examples here of what Paul says
410
00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:25.599
three times in Romans one. But
God gave them up, but God gave
411
00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:30.119
them up, but God gave them
up. The terrible, horrible things of
412
00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:36.000
chapter nine, or what happens when
God gives the people up. Tim Keller
413
00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:40.119
points out in his commentary. God
may have been silent, but he was
414
00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:45.279
not absent. There comes a time
when the restrainer no longer restrains. There
415
00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:49.359
come a time when it seems that
God's spirit has been withdrawn. Instead,
416
00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:56.880
the evil spirits are let loose.
This chapter is different than any other in
417
00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:01.119
judges, but it reminds us that
the scriptures, when it speaks about God's
418
00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:10.519
judgment and Isaiah, it says that
judgment is God's strange work. Verry Webb
419
00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:15.000
says we cannot say that God has
judgment in the same way that we say
420
00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:24.359
God is love, but God will
judge. But let me particularly apply it
421
00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:31.720
this lesson to US tonight. As
I close, it's interesting to me what
422
00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:37.160
I noted in reading the text was
what happened when God sent an Evil Spirit
423
00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:44.759
and what is interesting to me as
to what happens and what results from this
424
00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:52.319
is immediately it is division, it's
rivalry. It's always been interesting, well,
425
00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:55.880
not always, but for several years
been interesting to me when Paul lists
426
00:32:55.920 --> 00:33:00.119
seventeen works of the flesh in the
book of the Tions, Chapter Five.
427
00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:12.680
Seven of the seventeen deal with division, strife, enmity, strife, jealousy,
428
00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:17.680
fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and we could probably
429
00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:24.000
include even an eighth. The next
one envy. When you think about it,
430
00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:30.839
it's really amazing to realize how much
of the New Testament is given over
431
00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:36.920
to speak against division and also,
on the other hand, the positive side,
432
00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:42.319
to exhort us to unity. I
think I could go through every New
433
00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:45.240
Testament book, but I gave up. I didn't give up, but I
434
00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:49.559
stopped Um with about going through all
of them. But let me just remind
435
00:33:49.599 --> 00:33:53.319
you of some of these, starting
with the epistles, with Romans, in
436
00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:58.480
Roman seen pulses. I appeal to
you, brothers, to watch out for
437
00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:02.160
those who cause divisions and create obstacles, contrary to the doctrine you have been
438
00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:07.599
taught. Avoid them. First,
Corinthians one ten and you know I could
439
00:34:07.719 --> 00:34:12.039
quoted a lot of scriptures on the
first Corinthians. I appeal to you,
440
00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:15.239
brothers, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you
441
00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:19.159
agree and there be no divisions among
you, but you be united in the
442
00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:23.239
same mind in the same judgment.
The Second Epistle of Corinthians, Chapter Twelve,
443
00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:27.400
verse twenty. For I fear that
perhaps when I come I may find
444
00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:30.920
you not as I wish and that
you may find me not as you wish,
445
00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:36.320
that perhaps there may be quarreling,
jealousy, anger, hostility, slander,
446
00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:42.400
gossip, concede in disorder. I
already mentioned Galatians. I could go
447
00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:46.119
further. Ephesians as much to say
about unity. We could keep going on
448
00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:51.960
and you could find how true it
is. But how much of the New
449
00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:55.519
Testament is given over to warness against
divisions? I wonder why that is.
450
00:34:57.079 --> 00:35:00.400
It almost sounds like it's something we
might be prone to, even as believers.
451
00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:06.519
But on the other side there are
many scriptures that speak of the blessedness
452
00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:12.320
of unity. I think of that
Wonderful Psalms on one thirty three. Behold
453
00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:15.960
how good and pleasant it is when
brothers dwell in unity. It's like the
454
00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:20.840
precious oil on the head, running
down on the beard, on the beard
455
00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:23.400
of air, and running down on
the collar of his robes. It's like
456
00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:28.760
to do of Herman, which falls
on the Mountains of Zion, for there
457
00:35:28.840 --> 00:35:35.480
the Lord has commanded the blessing life
forevermore. I suppose we could have been
458
00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:38.800
told a lot of things that Jesus
prayed in his high priestly prayed in John
459
00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:45.599
Seventeen, but in verse twenty one, he says and he prays that they
460
00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:49.119
may all be one, just as
you, father, are in me and
461
00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:52.239
I in you, that they also
may be in us, so that the
462
00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:59.840
world may believe that you have sent
me. And I say that because the
463
00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:05.239
make it come home to us.
There are Christians who would never think perhaps
464
00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:15.360
committing murder, committing adultery, committing
homosexuality, but yet I would think nothing
465
00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:22.679
of dividing or causing division the brothers
and sisters. It's a great evil.
466
00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:29.719
It's something we have to always be
aware of in the church, and God
467
00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:32.960
has given us the means to avoid
it. He said, what do you
468
00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:38.639
mean? I've seen in my life
people that have gotten angry at someone in
469
00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:44.760
the church and as a result they've
left the church. Never said anything just
470
00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:49.320
walked up and left the church.
But you know, God has given us,
471
00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:53.239
through the lips of our Lord Jesus, a wonderful procedure in Matthew Chapter
472
00:36:53.320 --> 00:37:00.239
Eighteen, and in here I find
personally the glory of the Presbyterian System of
473
00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:05.599
government, because it allows us to
actually do this, and I think it
474
00:37:05.719 --> 00:37:12.039
is so great that we should go
to our brother when he's done something against
475
00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:15.400
us and we perceive it, and
then, if that doesn't work, we
476
00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:20.280
should take somebody else with us and
then, if that doesn't work, we
477
00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:23.679
go to the Church and the Church
seeks to work it out in the best
478
00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:28.360
way. Now, I'm not saying
we can solve every division that way because
479
00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:36.199
unfortunately people are sinful, but God
has given us away to do this and
480
00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:39.239
I pray. I love the unity
of this body of people that I have
481
00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:45.119
perceived. Very thankful for it,
and you should bless God for it constantly,
482
00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:49.440
that God has given you a unity
like this and a love for each
483
00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:52.639
other, a love for your pastor
and his family, love for your elders,
484
00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:58.079
love for your deacons, the love
that you have together. That's a
485
00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:01.679
precious thing, folks. Not Every
church has it, but again, to
486
00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:06.119
pray and say, God, keep
us, don't allow that spirit to come
487
00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:10.199
in that might divide brother and against
sister and sister against sister and brother against
488
00:38:10.199 --> 00:38:15.880
brother. But keep us, Lord. But we don't want that. We
489
00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:21.239
want the blessing of unity, the
blessing of being able to come together,
490
00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:25.639
to love one another, the fellowship
with one another, to serve one another.
491
00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:30.519
I know I'm probably preaching to the
choir, but nevertheless, folks,
492
00:38:31.400 --> 00:38:38.559
don't underestimate our enemy. He's always
seeking to bring division, he's always working
493
00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:44.360
to that. So we must be
careful and we must watch our hearts,
494
00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:50.599
that God would not allow us to
sin in this area, but instead may
495
00:38:50.679 --> 00:38:54.920
cover us with love and unity.
Can We pray, Lord again, we
496
00:38:54.960 --> 00:39:00.159
thank you for your word. We
think of your providence. We don't always
497
00:39:00.199 --> 00:39:07.079
understand it. Such things are too
high for us. We don't know why
498
00:39:07.320 --> 00:39:13.480
particular things happen. But God,
we do know that you are the judge
499
00:39:13.480 --> 00:39:17.239
of all the earth and what you
do is right, and we rest in
500
00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:22.440
that, our God. We rest
in it, that God, we can
501
00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:25.760
even glory in things that no one
else can glory in, but we,
502
00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:30.960
as the children of God, can, because we say thus, it seem
503
00:39:30.039 --> 00:39:36.880
good to my father and so it
seems good to me help us to rest
504
00:39:36.920 --> 00:39:44.159
in providence and keep this great body
of believers that are here in love and
505
00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:47.400
unity to one another. I pray, Lord, that it would keep any
506
00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:53.239
enemies from coming in that would seek
to destroy the unity, but instead,
507
00:39:53.320 --> 00:40:00.079
Lord, would cause the blessing of
the oil upon Aaron's head to come upon
508
00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:06.400
this body of believers as well,
and that love may be the keynote that
509
00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:12.159
folks will say about this body.
Behold how they love one another. I
510
00:40:12.280 --> 00:40:15.599
pray, Lord, she would do
this and keep us, Lord, in
511
00:40:15.679 --> 00:40:19.760
your care. We pray in Christ's
name. Amen.
