Introduction: Cycles. The book of Judges is called Cycles. Why? Because when the people of God (Israel) fell into sin, but eventually cried out to God for deliverance, the Lord raised up a Judge to lead the nation. Are we facing a parallel in our nation today? With the presidential election now over, what direction will God’s people take? Will Christians be more or less committed to Jesus and His Church? If history repeats itself, the Church and state will merge, thus creating a diluting effect on the spiritual climate of America.

 

Please pay attention to what happened to Israel.

 

1. A Nonchalant Attitude from an Upcoming Generation! (Judges 2:10-11) – “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel… and the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.”

 

All it takes is one generation that does not know or serve the God of the Bible. What do you think about the upcoming generation in our nation that has been indoctrinated into the LGBTQ education? Has the damage been done? Is it non-repairable? Is there hope for them?

 

2. The Big Test! (Judges 3:1-4) – “Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof… And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.”

 

Did you notice that our God allowed certain enemies of His people to remain in order to TEST them to see if they would be true to Him? Would our Lord do the same today?

 

 Conclusion: If the book of Judges is written for our (see 1 Cor. 10, the Church) examples, then we had better be more determined not to get slack or spiritually lazy, but instead be more committed to loving, living, and learning the truth of Jesus Christ. Just as importantly, may our Lord help us to be seeking, surrendering, serving, and sharing the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.