A Damaged People (Part A)

Seems good to them, just as God did not put his approval on the watch in the direction of what they thought were solutions to problems they created solutions that they created. Also, they sought God by asking him to bless their good ideas.

Many problems with that instead of just asking God what should I do believe God. This is what we what would like to do this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Judges. Please stay with us after today's message here.

More information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Judges chapter 21 as he begins a new message called damaged people.

Judges 21 according to plan.

Plan is finish the book of Judges damaged people. That's the title and hopefully the title title helps us understand which direction I'm going in with these things. But before we get into chapter 21. I like to briefly review chapter 20. Riley's comment on some things about it. I got a lot out of last Wednesday.

Sessions not so much the things it I said, but the material is in print and what I got out of it. Of course, was the teaching that even if defeated, we are expected to get up and continue to fight for that which is right and worth fighting for.

Defeat should lead to renewed and improved strategies and efforts and though repeated defeats may come our way.

Perseverance is what is expected of us. Paul wrote this to Timothy but you have carefully followed my doctor and manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering love, perseverance, Timothy was a first-hand witness to many of Paul's defeats according to the flash sure not Paul's flesh but in the sense of the beatings that he took the persecution and the discomforts that he suffered, and yet Paul is telling him you were eyewitness of how the Lord delivered me from the mall and of these lessons are for us today. I know that I expect to be delivered from everything that's bad but that's not reality. And that's not Scripture, not in this life, so that is just my brief look back at chapter 20 where of course the Benjamite's had to be punished for the egregious sins that they committed and they were but it was a hard victory in this evening's consideration.

Chapter 21 we are learning about good ideas without God answered big trap and unfortunately it's practice too often. Ephesians 5 verse 17 therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is I'm purposely not quoting Proverbs 3 verse five lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge the Lord because we are so familiar with that.

It may have lost some of its impact. But Ephesians 5. Again, do not be unwise, but understand what is the will of the Lord. What does God want not what I want, not what I even think is right I will you know many times we get in trouble trying to do what is right when it is not God's timing doesn't mean were doing wrong and maybe this story will develop what I'm saying. Also, first Corinthians chapter 1 verse 17 Paul says.

Therefore, when I was planning this.

Did I do it lightly, of the things I plan do I plan them according to the flesh. How beautiful is that. Also, when I make a plan. I'm I've been in front of the throne of God. I don't just come a good idea. The apostle Paul.

This is what we should do is what I want to do is take this lightly. This chapter concerning the decisions and of the leaders of the leaders of the tribes stacked with errors from ideas again.

It seemed good to them just God did not put his approval on the men and they marched in the direction of what they thought were solutions to problems they created solutions that they created. Also, they sought God by asking him to bless their good ideas. Many problems with that instead of just asking God what should I do delay God. This is what we what would like to do now this might sting some of you. You don't have to agree with it but to be in your best interest to you know people to give your prayer request and they give you a set of instructions with another seeking a job. Pray that all like the employer pray that the appraiser in a telling you what to pray. I reject that I had to I want to know what to pray for. I don't want to script handed to me with the spirit, that's what. Maybe God is put in your heart how I know that's right.

How I know that's what he wants. How do you know that's what he wants. How many times is something seemed so perfect and juicy and yet God said no. I mean this is the case throughout our lives. I think the Holy Spirit is to guide us all all the time. Lean not on your own understanding. Don't be wise. Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord Jesus himself, giving us that the greatest example. Nevertheless, not my will but your will be done. John's gospel chapter 14 verse 18 I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you and he comes in prayer and what I don't get too many email prayer requests any longer because well I don't because I don't get my email out people nice enough not try to figure it out.

But anyway, when I would get plenty of prayer request for pray this pray for that I'm not doing that Lala Lala not listening. John 16 verse 13.

However, when he the spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth. I believe that, and it is a discipline go through this life. Learning to live without. What you think you want in this chapter is going to bring this out what it means to not lean on one's own understanding.

In God's name while leaning on one's own understanding. The South they don't do that it speaks against rash oats may get emotional like Peter unitless billed three tabernacles. The emotions begin in all the tail wags the dog problem with good ideas is that they have to be filtered through God's approval. Selective righteousness is another problem.

I'll obey God in the areas that are convenient for me with those other areas I'm going to ignore as though I'm not ignoring them is one thing this to struggle.

It's another thing to just completely dismiss semantics will get that you know, playing with words and when you play with words or play with the meetings and that is dangerous business because words are supposed to mean something and Satan knows it and that's what propaganda is all about.

That's why we're having such a problem, unlike ever before in the time we live in. Because of this global Tower of Babel, known as the Internet, which is good for weather reports strong as they are often right.

Verse 21.

Let's get rolling now. Now verse 21 verse one security.

Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath administered by saying none of us shall give our daughter to Benjamin as a wife.

This is of course when they first got word that they were going to war with Benjamin because Benjamin would not surrender to the justice of the law of tribal law, God's law in this vow does not show up in chapter 20 shows a blade that no matter, and the elders. Of course when they receive the body parts of the concubine of the Levite. They were shocked over that moment and in that moment in the behavior of Benjamin that precipitated these things and when they got to the battlefield and they saw that Benjamin was not going to submit they were.

They got they were hot. It was indignation and righteous indignation. Nothing was wrong with that part of it. The part that went south on them was when they swore an oath that once we conquer these Benjamite's were not going to give any of our daughters to them to to be married we going to cut them off and it was. Not well thought out this kind of an oath cheated them out of the divine solution where God could've done this or that he now cannot because they've taken the silly oath. They've painted themselves into a corner and so to this day. We are very careful with what we say Jesus sitting on to say yes or no because anything more than that is of the evil one you would get in a problem to get emotionally charged up in the spirit shuts down but the emotions keep running and it also wasn't up to them to think that the tribe would be lost that that I get that out of the way right away.

As we saw the Levite that moved around from from Judah and Ephraim to Benjamin's territory. Whatever other tribal people that were moving around the different terrorism and other Benjamite's in the land. They were all living under the umbrella of the tribe so that was a bit of a overreaction. They could've just said well it's going take a little slower to rebuild the tribe, but we still have Benjamite's among us and this foolish vow most thousand. The Bible are foolish in the Bible holds them up to us and says look, don't do this chapter whatever comes out of the house. I will over the burnt offering and of course Saul's foolish vow. Anybody that eats before the sun goes before the battle is one in his son Jonathan… Beer and 90. This righteous indignation without guidance is a problem for everybody else and the Bible says a lot about keeping our mouths shut.

Ecclesiastes 5 have read this one in a while. Just try to read it all the time work prudently when you go to the house of God and drawing near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools. They do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth and let not your heart, daughter anything hastily before God for God is in heaven. And Your Honor, therefore let your words be few and a fool's voice is known by many words. When you make a vow to God. Do not delay to pay it for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have filed better not to vowel than to vowel and not pay do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin nor say before the messenger of God that it was an era. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands is pretty thorough. Ecclesiastes 5 first six verses of that chapter course, Solomon writes his long after the events that were considering this evening but that's their eternal words.

Verse two now then the people came to the house of God and remain there before God till evening they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. So there really really disturbed by this.

The thought that Benjamin is going to be no more, which again was not accurate. The Hebrew word here for house of God is a single word in the in the Hebrew language Bethel and I pointed out because the study Bibles you you have made me talk about it but some believe it is the village of the city of Bethel. I don't share that because of verse 12 in silos where the tabernacle was the and the altar of Moses, incidentally, will come up to a little trouble troublesome spot not big but anyway that's a key key point. He says in verse two, and remained there before God till evening while they were sincere. No one's questioning what is not enough to be sincere. Sincerity is like flour to a K.

It's vital, but you need more to make the cake flour bread so that's a good lesson for us. Sincerity is not enough people can be sincerely wrong the prophets about how they were sincerely wrong amount Carmel when it was slashing themselves would knives and blood was gushing out. They were sincere. Still wrong, they lifted up their voices and web bitterly.

It says here at Benjamin's plight verse three and said oh, Yahweh, God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel that today there should be one tribe missing in Israel, cough cough, you, you took the oath. You're the ones that created this situation, the 600 of them still held out and of course they concerned at how the wives for them to continue the tribe and it's just not the whole story that's another problem with going to come across so they made a spiritual effort and what they ended up with because he didn't wait for God was a bizarre plan that cause more suffering, more bloodshed, more tears it it it it is you know we've covered spiritual derangement has been going through judges. This distant damaged people and remember this is early in the book of Judges. This is the appendix. The writer goes back to the days right after Joshua and that's about the time that these events are taking place actually sets the stage for the judges to come along and that was, not as smooth as we would've liked it. So they go to the house of God. They call out to him, but they don't appear to wait for him and the reason why we can say that because is no recorded answer from God is no thus says the Lord. They just go to him. They cry they pray in a building alternative. The sacrifice and then they come up with these goofy plans and they are goofy and culture standard vertical well maybe not any cultism pretty groovy ones out there. Verse four. So it was on the next morning the people rose early and built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. What here's why some of the commentators was able rent Bethel and that's why they built the altar there probably before the ark of the covenant, but the Scripture of this forbade random altars, it had to be at God's place, which is Shiloh over the tabernacle was and as I mentioned when we get verse 12 will find them · Shiloh.

I think what is going on is the altar of Moses was in the state of disrepair was unable to handle the volume of sacrifices and so at Shiloh. They erected auxiliary altars, which is not of been a problem, but to go to the high places to offer make offerings that that would've been a problem either. Anyway, verse five, the children of Israel said who is there among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up with the assembly to Yahweh, for they had made a great oath concerning anyone who had not come to Yahweh at Ms. for saying he should surely be put to death with these guys just full of oats. So the first one were not giving our lives to the Benjamite that survive in the second oath was in any of the tribes don't answer the call to war where going to deal with them. Also they going to put them to death. Timestamps are good here because bar Eric and Deborah are going to be confronted with the various identical situation is so will Gideon and in a lesser way be confronted with this and and neither of the those judges will make a mess of things like these group of leaders here. The generation that came out of the wilderness with Joshua and often IL. The first judge, they're all gone now's a good time to take that Judges chapter 2 verse seven. So the people served Yahweh, all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of Yahweh which he had done for Israel. So they serve the Lord. The days of Joshua. But after Joshua things begin to in the generation that came out with Joshua but after that verse 11 then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Yahweh and serve the bowels and there begins the book of Judges up to this point in the book of Judges. It's sort of been you know the that the preface to the book with the goal what was taking place. Still in Joshua's leadership and those under his leadership and now beginning in mid range app.

Chapter 2 we have this in the period of the judges which ends with chapter 16 and Samson and then the writer then goes back to chapter 17 to 21 and say let me also tell you about something that happened and that's when we get these two ugly stories from so coming back now to Judges chapter 21 they make this next valve that they going to put to death. Those who don't come to war verse six now pause for a minute they felt that they did not put a death penalty on not showing up for the war that a lot of tribes would not have come and they would've been under understaffed I'm not saying they're wrong for doing that, but how they go about executing this is way out of bounds.

Verse six now and the children of Israel grieved for Benjamin there brother and said one tribe is cut off from Israel today. So here we have patriotism and compassion and regret and elbows are all under these circumstances, virtuous still not enough. This will be coming across in the book of Judges is not enough to be right. That was last week. You have to be close to God. Also in here in this chapter is not to be sincere. Then look to be compassionate yet to still be plugged into the Lord abiding in Christ for us Christians in the New Testament. They were to abide with Yahweh. Samuel told Saul, the king is better to obey the sacrifice. Keep your religion give me obedience and where you keep your ritual of religion is the idea and so because they were not listening to the Lord awaiting long enough for him.

Human logic prevailed. That's what were going to get human logic with religious attire. Verse seven. What shall we do for wives.

For those who remain seeing we have sworn to Yahweh that we will not give them daughters as wives. Now you think of this, you thought that we made the oath height is a big problem. Leniency shown to the criminal misplaced leniency often means cruelty to the victim having these guys created the perverted men of Gambia and how many other crimes that they commit and didn't get caught there, but this one they came out they created tens of thousands of deaths and sorrows and families are now at the end we got them with well you know these guys. All that's left the danger of becoming too mild is what they fell for an end and in so doing, again the innocent are indirectly punished.

How would you like to have lost you know your father or brother or a husband on the battlefield because of these Benjamite's just to find out that the survivors are going to be rewarded and still never repent of the terrible sins. This is not cruelty. Yes J bash this going to be the group that does not show up there guilty of not coming to the battlefield and they needed to be disciplined but not like what's going on in and not and then, like Benjamin get all get away with this on the 600 of them so they going to slaughter those that bet J bash Gilead because it's going to suit their purposes better and seems like that style the whole story goes, but continuing here in verse seven, the surviving members of Benjamin are held out and were told verse 47 or 27 chapter 20 in verse 47 were told it was a four month deal and the 600 soldiers stranded here at the rock of rim on were impenitent.

You cannot restore in a righteous environment.

A person who is not repenting, who is impenitent, you can't. You they've got to own their sin, and if they do not do that, this nothing you can really more you can do anything we say to a couple look if you know the wood trying to uphold the sanctity of marriage.

You can't just as Christians lived together and not be married, and then come into the fellowship that suggests blatant disobedience when not hating on you and how existing we don't like you, which is saying that the disfellowshipped you because that's you can fix this and I will do whatever we can help you go get the marriage license, you know, remarry right away or perform the service. Of course, that would be polygamy skin you warmed up a little bit for Sunday because I'm thinking that's what it takes.

Anyway, how again how many family suffered because of the 600 and the other 26,000 other Benjamite that an out dad because of their ways. So the elders they just overlooking this time to restore them now. Okay the spine you want to restore them to bring Shiloh have them confess their sin move.

Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Judges cross reference radio is the teaching ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. If you'd like more information about this ministry, we invite you to visit our website cross reference radio.com will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick available there, and we encourage you to subscribe to our podcast by doing so you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast Work. Just follow the links and cross reference radio.com that's all the time we have for today. Join us next time to continue learning more from the book of Judges right here cross reference rate