Introduction

When we began this series in the Book of Judges, we did so with a clear purpose: which is to reflect on what happens when a generation fails to raise the next in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. The tragic pattern of Judges shows us that when God’s people neglect this responsibility, the next generation quickly forgets who God is and turns away from His ways.

Today, as we come to Judges 13 and begin the story of Samson, we are brought back to that central theme. Because before we ever meet Samson the man, we are introduced to the world he was born into—a spiritually numb and directionless generation. And at the heart of that world are his parents, Manoah and his wife. At first glance, Judges 13 might seem like a typical birth narrative, but it’s actually much more. It’s a mirror that reflects the spiritual blindness and complacency of the people at that time—including the very ones chosen to raise a deliverer. So before we look at Samson’s strength or his downfall, we need to pause and consider the spiritual condition of his parents—and what that reveals about the state of Israel. Because the story of Samson doesn’t begin with his actions, but with a generation that had already lost its way.

Introduction

Today’s message comes from two sections of the book of Judges which records the life of 5 judges that we call the Minor Judges. The total number of the minor Judges is 6 including Shamgar on whom Pastor John talked about weeks ago. Much like Shamgar, there is not much written about the other 5 minor judges. The minor judges are referred to as minor judges simply because of the length of what is recorded about them. Some scholars believe that their accounts are shorter because they’re not of any significance, but if they understand the power of God’s word they would know that nothing in the Bible is insignificant. Everything is there for a purpose.

The stories of the minor judges are nestled in between the stories of the major judges, especially the more graphic stories as if God is giving us a short breather to catch our breath.

The single verse of Shamgar (3:31) comes after a bloody battle led by Ehud.

Tola and Jair come after the chaos of Gideon and his sons.

Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon come after the story of Jephthah where we see another bloody war, the killing of his own daughter by his own hand, and the slaughter of their own people 42000 Ephraimites.

Introduction

Today is a day of celebration—one that stands at the very heart of the Christian life. We are not gathered for tradition or routine, but because something history-altering and eternally significant has happened: the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, everything changed.

• The stone was rolled away—not just from a tomb, but from despair.

• The curse of sin was broken.

• Death lost its sting.

• A new creation began—for all who are in Him.

Without the resurrection, the Christian faith would be empty, our preaching meaningless, and our hope in vain. But Jesus rose—bodily, historically, victoriously—and now we have a living Savior, a reigning King, and a secure future. Today, we not only remember this moment in history—we celebrate what it means for us now.

The resurrection is not just good news for Jesus; it is good news for us. It declares that sin and death no longer have the final word. Because Christ is alive, we too can live—with a new identity, new power, and unshakable hope.

This truth is beautifully revealed in baptism. Baptism is not just a ritual or symbolic gesture—it is a declaration that the resurrection life of Jesus now lives in us. Just as Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, so too do believers proclaim through baptism that they have died with Christ and now walk in newness of life.

Baptism, then, is an Easter act. It embodies the miracle of dying with Christ and rising into resurrection life.

This brings us to Romans 6:3–11, where the Apostle Paul reveals the deep connection between baptism and the resurrection. Through it, we see the transforming power of Easter at work in the lives of all who belong to Jesus.

Introduction

In our passage today from Ezra, we see a moment where God’s people fasted before a long journey—much like how we’re about to journey through this sacred week. And from this short yet rich text, we can learn three essential truths about biblical fasting that can guide us in this season. So for today, we’re going to focus on:

1. The Practice of Fasting – What is fasting? How was it practiced in Scripture, and how can we engage in it meaningfully today?

2. The Posture of Fasting – What kind of heart posture should we have when we fast?

3. The Object of Fasting – What is our fasting for? What are we seeking in our fasting?

4. And lastly we’ll look into some practical guidelines to keep in mind as we engage in fasting

Introduction

Have you ever found yourself doing something for God that felt urgent, passionate, even sacrificial—only to later realize it may not have been what God actually wanted? Sometimes our greatest mistakes don’t come from outright rebellion, but from misplaced zeal. It’s not that we don’t care about God—it’s that we speak and act out of emotion or desperation without first pausing to consider who He is and what He truly desires of us. This kind of misguided passion can be dangerous. It can lead us to make decisions that, though well-intended, are not rooted in trust, obedience, or right understanding. It can make us think God is impressed by dramatic gestures when what He really seeks is humble obedience and a heart that knows Him.

Today’s passage brings us to the story of Jephthah—a man moved by passion, desperation, and a desire for victory, yet tragically unaware of the heart of the God he claimed to serve. His story is a sobering reminder that spiritual passion not grounded in the knowledge of God can cause devastating consequences. So let’s take a look at what this story has in store for us—and what it reveals about how we are to approach God, not just with passion, but with understanding.

Introduction

The story we find in Judges chapter 9 is about a man named Abimelek. And to understand who he was, we need to look at the end of chapter 8, which gives us some context: It says in Judges 8:29-31 - Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house. Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.

If you remember from last week’s sermon, after Gideon saved the Israelites from the oppression of the Midianites, the people came and asked him to be their ruler. But Gideon refused, acknowledging that God was the true ruler of Israel. However, despite rejecting the title of ruler, Gideon lived like one. He chose not to become a king, but he lived like a king. And so, just like the kings of those days, he married many wives, and from these wives, Gideon had 70 sons. But apparently, even these many wives were not enough for him. So what did he do? He took a concubine for himself.

• A concubine is similar to a mistress—someone who is not legally married to a man but has a relationship with him.

• So, in addition to all the wives who bore him 70 sons, Gideon had a concubine from Shechem who bore him another son named Abimelek.

• Now, The fact that she was from Shechem is significant because Shechem was a Canaanite city with a history of idolatry and rebellion against God. And so, by taking a concubine from Shechem, Gideon aligned himself with a people who had often been in conflict with Israel and its covenant with God.

Introduction

In our series on Gideon, we saw that the Israelites, drifting from God and living in disobedience, were overpowered by the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites, along with other tribes, destroyed crops, stole livestock, and left Israel helpless. In desperation, the Israelites cried out to God. God responded by calling Gideon, a man filled with doubt and fear. When the angel of the Lord appeared to him, Gideon was hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat. The angel greeted him as a "mighty warrior" and told him that God would send him to rescue Israel. Gideon questioned God, saying, "Why has all this happened, and am I really the right person?"

Even after God assured him of His presence, Gideon hesitated, asking the angel to wait while he prepared an offering. Instead of rebuking him, God patiently waited. When Gideon returned, the angel touched the offering, and fire consumed it, leaving Gideon amazed and afraid. Still fearful, Gideon obeyed God's command to tear down his father’s altar to Baal, but he did it secretly at night. Despite Gideon’s doubts, God reassured him, promising victory. We learn that, like with Gideon, God is patient with our doubts and fears and gives us the courage to follow Him.

Now, as we continue to reach the climax of the story, we see several important incidents that take place before Gideon finally defeats the Midianite army, and then a few more incidents that lead to his downfall. So today, we’ll look at:

1.     Fleece incident – in which Gideon tests God again

2.     Gideon and his 300 warriors – in which 32,000 men are reduced to just 300.

3.     Gideon’s defeat of the enemy.

4.     Gideon’s downfall after his victory and what lesson we can learn from it.

Introduction

So Gideon has an encounter with the angel of the Lord.

V.12 - ¹² And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him...

But what’s interesting is that his conversation was with the Lord himself.

-        v.14 - And the Lord turned to him and said…

-        v.16 - ¹⁶ And the Lord said to him

So by this time, Gideon knew in his heart who he was dealing with. He may have questioned God and doubted his calling at first, but now, he knows deep in his heart that it is indeed God who is calling him to step up.

How do we know that Gideon knew deep in his heart? Because in our text today, we see him bringing an offering. And just look at what he offers in Judges 6:19 - ¹⁹ So Gideon went into his house and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the terebinth and presented them. 

I mentioned last week that Gideon, along with the rest of the nation, was living in extreme poverty because the Midianites had been pillaging their crops and livestock. Whatever they could harvest, the enemy would take. And so food was scarce. And yet, here we see Gideon bringing an extravagant offering.

Now, just to put it into perspective:

• An ephah of flour is about 90 cups—which is a massive amount.

• For those familiar with baking, that’s enough to make 25 ten-inch cakes or 90 loaves of bread!

• On top of that, he sacrifices a young goat, which is a precious resource in those times.

• And he prepares a pot of broth from the meat, which required time and effort.

So what is this telling us? It’s telling us that Gideon wouldn’t have made such an enormous sacrifice unless he was convinced in his heart that he was standing before God Himself.

Introduction

As we’ve just read, Gideon was called to be a judge during a time of great turmoil in Israel. The nation was suffering under the oppressive grip of the Midianites. But who were the Midianites? Well, they were actually descendants of Abraham, just like the Israelites.

In Genesis 25:1-6, we learn that after Sarah died, Abraham married a woman named Keturah, and together they had many children. One of their sons was Midian, and thus, the Midianites were born. But while the Israelites lived in covenant with God, the Midianites lived apart from Him, serving idols like Baal and Asherah. So, when the Israelites turned away from God, He allowed the Midianites to oppress them severely.

In fact, the oppression was so bad that the Israelites were forced to flee to the mountains, building caves in the cliffs to survive. (Imagine what that must have been like. You can see images of the caves at Nahal Zin.) The Bible explains in verses 3-6 how the Midianites harassed the Israelites:

“Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. They would encamp against them and devour the produce of the land, as far as Gaza, leaving no sustenance in Israel—neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey. For they would come up with their livestock and tents, coming in like locusts in number—both they and their camels could not be counted. And they laid waste the land as they came in. And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord.”

The Midianites destroyed everything the Israelites worked for: their crops and livestock. By verse 6, the Bible says, “Israel was brought very low.” In the NIV, it says “Midian so impoverished the Israelites,” and this word “impoverished” is key. The root of the word describes a bucket hanging at the end of a rope. The Israelites were literally “hanging by a thread,” barely surviving under Midianite oppression.

So, in response to this, what did the Israelites do? As we’ve seen time and again, they cried out to God for help. But unlike the other stories we’ve looked at, God didn’t immediately raise up a judge to deliver them. Instead, He sent a prophet. This prophet reminded the Israelites who God is, what He had done for them, and called them to repentance. In verses 8-10, we read:

“The Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.’”

The reason God sent this prophet was to show the Israelites that He doesn’t just deliver them automatically when they cry out. God can’t be manipulated like a cosmic vending machine. He wants our repentance—true, sincere turning back to Him. I know that in my own life, I’ve found times where I tried to manipulate God without realizing it. I’d sin, telling myself I’d just repent later and be forgiven. But that’s exactly what the Israelites were doing—they were sinning knowingly, but expecting God to deliver them whenever they cried out. This time, before raising up a judge, God first sent a prophet to remind them of their need for real repentance. We’re not told exactly how the Israelites responded to the prophet, but we can assume they repented. After this, God called Gideon to be their deliverer.

Now, let’s look at Gideon and the circumstances he was in when God called him.

Introduction
Today, as we dive into Judges 4, we encounter another battle narrative, this time between the Canaanites and the tribes of Israel. But unlike the straightforward stories of the previous judges, this narrative is far more dynamic and involves several people rather than just one judge. It’s not a simple story where God raises a judge, and that judge delivers the people. Instead, multiple characters are involved, making the story more complex.

As we go through the text verse by verse, we’ll look at what actually happened in this story and what the Lord is revealing to us through it. I won’t focus on the symbolism but will stick to the events as they unfold, beginning with the setting of the narrative.

Introduction

Today, we are given a very short passage, yet this short passage gives us a powerful message of hope and encouragement. So as we unpack this passage we want to focus on three important questions:

1. What kind of man was Shamgar?

2. What kind of weapon did Shamgar use to defeat the Philistines?

3. How does Shamgar’s story give us hope and encouragement in our lives today?

Introduction

Have I ever read a passage in the Bible and wondered why it's included? Some stories are inspiring, others comforting, but some, like today's story, are shocking. Judges 3:12-30 presents a vivid, graphic account, and at first glance, the details seem unnecessary. However, when I look deeper, I realize they serve a greater purpose. This story isn't just about the past; it has a direct message for me today.

Introduction

Today's verse is a repeated theme that sums up the entire book of Judges. It’s mentioned several times throughout the book. If you’ve been following Pastor John’s sermons over the past few weeks, then you know that the Israelites weren’t doing too well. P. John spoke about the trouble that found the Israelites when they compromised God’s word—when they disobeyed His commandments. Everything God warned them about came true.'

The problem with the Israelites during the time of the judges wasn’t just that they encountered the Canaanites; it was that they became like the Canaanites. Though they were supposed to be a nation set apart by God, they became no different from the surrounding nations. And while ancient Canaan is no longer physically present, it is very much spiritually alive today. In fact, it has expanded far beyond the Middle East. We are living in a spiritual Canaan. We are surrounded by a Canaanite culture. For those of us who call Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, this is a warning. Just as the Israelites were in danger in the book of Judges, we—the spiritual next generation—and our children—the physical next generation—are also in danger today.

Introduction

As we begin our new series on the Book of Judges, we enter one of the darkest periods of Israel's history—the days of the Judges. This was a time marked by spiritual decline, rebellion, and the consequences of disobedience.

In these dark ages, the Israelites, without consistent leadership, drifted from God, who had delivered them from Egyptian bondage, guided them through the wilderness, and brought them into the Promised Land. But as we saw last week, they made crucial compromises that led to deeper trouble:

• They failed to fully drive out the Canaanites, allowing them to live among them.

• They intermarried with the Canaanites, blending their lives and cultures.

• They began to worship the gods of the Canaanites, forsaking their own God.

• Finally, they completely assimilated into Canaanite ways, abandoning their faith.

Because of their rebellion, the Lord handed them over to their enemies, as we see in today’s passage.

Introduction

In this passage, God chose to leave the Canaanites in the land of Canaan, not because of a random decision, but to serve specific purposes. The Israelites had failed to walk in obedience to God, so they were left to live alongside the people they were meant to destroy.

First, God left the Canaanites to test Israel's faithfulness. As stated in Judges 3:4, the Israelites were tested to see if they would obey God’s commandments: “They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.” This test revealed the condition of their hearts. Rather than remaining devoted to God, they allowed the temptations of the wicked nations to lead them astray.

Second, God intended for the Israelites to learn about physical and spiritual warfare. Judges 3:2 says, “that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before.” The younger generation needed to understand that victory came not through conventional warfare, but by trusting and obeying God, as their ancestors had learned in battles like those at Jericho and Ai. Sadly, the younger generation also failed this test, showing a preference for joining the enemy rather than standing against them.

In conclusion, God left the Canaanites to test Israel’s loyalty and teach them the importance of dependence on Him in times of spiritual and physical conflict. Unfortunately, Israel’s failure to meet this challenge weakened their commitment to God’s commands, leading them further astray. This serves as a reminder to us to remain faithful and resist the influences of a sinful world.

Introduction

The Book of Judges recounts one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history—a time marked by lawlessness, rebellion, and moral failure. The overarching attitude of the people is captured in Judges 17:6 and 21:25:
"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

This was a time when the Israelites had settled in the Promised Land. While the wilderness trials were behind them, they lacked a leader to guide them spiritually and morally. After Joshua's passing, the people began to drift from God's commands, seeking to satisfy their own desires instead of living in obedience.

However, when we examine Israel’s history, we see how God faithfully and graciously led them. In the Book of Exodus, God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, not only to free them but to establish a deep and abiding relationship with His people. His purpose wasn’t merely to bring them to the Promised Land but to shape their hearts to trust and love Him.

God used their 40-year wilderness journey to teach them dependence on Him, showing that His presence and provision were greater than any earthly blessing. Eventually, He brought them safely into the Promised Land—a land meant to reflect His promise and faithfulness.

10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.

Judges 2:10

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;

Acts 2:17

Introduction:
As 2024 comes to a close, it's hard to believe how quickly the year has passed. Time moves fast, but God’s faithfulness has been evident in every challenge, victory, and moment of growth. The Israelites faced similar moments of reflection in Joshua 4 after crossing the Jordan River—a miraculous act of God’s power. God instructed them to build a memorial with twelve stones from the riverbed to remember His faithfulness and pass this legacy to future generations. As we reflect on 2024, we’re invited to remember, share, and build upon God’s faithfulness, just as the Israelites did.

Introduction:
Introduction: A few months ago, London was captivated by the unexpected appearance of new Banksy artworks across the city. One striking piece at a zoo depicted animals breaking free, sparking wonder and conversation. People protected these artworks, cherishing them as rare gifts.

Reflecting on this, I realized how similar it is to Christmas. Just as Banksy surprised London, God did something even more astonishing: He came to dwell among us. God is not distant or uninvolved; He is Emmanuel, 'God with us.' The Creator of the universe, the One beyond time and space, chose to live with us. This reality transforms everything, making the ordinary extraordinary.

The question is: Are we ready to recognize Him, welcome Him, and allow His presence to transform us?

Body: Until Christmas, God's identity remained somewhat hidden. But John 1:14 declares, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." This verse captures the core of the Christmas message: God moved close.

When telling the Christmas story, Matthew begins with Jesus' human genealogy, and Luke starts with angels, Mary, Joseph, and shepherds. But John does something different. He doesn’t start with Jesus’ earthly family—he starts with the origin of humanity itself in Jesus.

John 1:1 declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." He speaks with majestic, eternal language to reveal Jesus as more than a teacher, healer, or rabbi. Jesus is God.

John 1:4-5 continues, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." But then, in verse 14, John shares the staggering truth: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

Introduction

"The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'"

I was recently invited to a lunch with several people and Elder Yong was there. I had many conversations with Elder Yong and throughout our conversation, I found myself sharing trivia, little bits of knowledge that might seem unimportant or insignificant to others. We laughed about how I always seem to have these random nuggets of "useless" knowledge to share. I must admit that given a random time and place, these trivia bits of knowledge have useless, but I believe that everything has a time and place. I believe that there is no such thing as trivial knowledge. This curiosity for knowledge has served me well when I apply that same curiosity to God’s Word. I discovered something profound: even the smallest details, the seemingly trivial ones, have a purpose and significance in Scripture. The Bible isn’t just words on a page; it’s life itself. It’s God’s grand story, and every word has weight and meaning. And I discover the sovereign hand of God working in this world throughout human history.