Rebellion: The people rebel against God.
Enslavement: God allows His people to be overtaken
Repentance: The people cry out to God to be rescued.
Deliverance: God raises up a Judge to deliver His people
Restoration: God provides peace for His people.
A Shift from External Conflict to Internal Conflict
A Glaring Need for a Greater Deliverer
“Who will be a faithful judge for God’s people?”
Continued cycles of rebellion and idolatry will never lead to
The Theological Compromise of God’s People (17-18)
Spiral #1: The Deterioration of the Family (17:1-6)
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6
I dedicate the silver to the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. Now therefore I will restore it to you. Judges 17:3
Spiral #2: The Deterioration of the Leaders (17:7-13)
Spiral #3: The Deterioration of the Society (18:1-31)
“In those days there was no king in Israel.” Judges 18:1a
“The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain.” Judges 1:34
And when these went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the metal image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?” 19 And they said to him, “Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?” 20 And the priest’s heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. Judges 18:18-20
“Who am I promoting with my platform?”
The Moral Compromise of God’s People (19-21)
“In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was sojourning in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.” Judges 19:1
“Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.” 23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing. 24 Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man do not do this outrageous thing.” Judges 19:22-24
Spiral #1: Twisted
Spiral #2: Twisted
Spiral #3: Twisted
Spiral #4: Twisted
“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25
And as we saw the question at the beginning of the sermon, “Who will be a faithful judge for God’s people?” We discover that our answer is found within the person and the work of none other than Jesus Christ Himself.
And within these closing chapters of the book, we can see exactly how Jesus is superior to any human figure in these stories.
Unlike the self-promoting Levite who abandoned serving his people, Jesus is a humble servant who laid down His life for His people.
Unlike the husband who selfishly allowed his bride to be used and abused for the pleasure of others, Jesus is a self-sacrificing husband who continually honors and protects His bride, the church.
Unlike the tribes of Israel, who sought revenge upon their enemies, Jesus seeks forgiveness and reconciliation towards His enemies.
Jesus is a better Judge, and He has done what no other judge was able to do because He is God, and He became man so that we were once far from God could be brought near to Him (cf. Eph. 2:17).