WHAT IS GOING ON WHAT IS GOING ON

IN AMERICA?IN AMERICA?Judges 2Judges 2

AMERICAAMERICA• What is going on?What is going on?

• Like the period of the Judges, Like the period of the Judges, 1350 to 1050 B.C. 1350 to 1050 B.C.

• In those days there was no king in Israel; In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own every man did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6, 21:25)eyes. (Judges 17:6, 21:25)

• Judges: The Dark Ages of Israel Judges: The Dark Ages of Israel

THE PREVIOUS GENERATIONTHE PREVIOUS GENERATION2:1 2:1 Now the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal Now the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, covenant with you, 2 2 and as for you, you shall make and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done? obeyed Me; what is this you have done? 3 3 Therefore Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.’”gods will be a snare to you.’”

THE PREVIOUS GENERATIONTHE PREVIOUS GENERATION4 4 When the angel [messenger] of the LORD spoke When the angel [messenger] of the LORD spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people these words to all the sons of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. lifted up their voices and wept. 5 5 So they named that So they named that place Bochim [the weepers]; and there they place Bochim [the weepers]; and there they sacrificed to the LORD. sacrificed to the LORD. 6 6 When Joshua had dismissed When Joshua had dismissed the people, the sons of Israel went each to his the people, the sons of Israel went each to his inheritance to possess the land. inheritance to possess the land. 7 7 The people served The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel. Israel.

THE PREVIOUS GENERATIONTHE PREVIOUS GENERATION8 8 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of one hundred and ten. LORD, died at the age of one hundred and ten. 9 9 And And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. (Judges 2:1-8)of Mount Gaash. (Judges 2:1-8)

• The next generation...The next generation...

THE PEOPLE IN JUDGESTHE PEOPLE IN JUDGES• All that generation also were gathered to their All that generation also were gathered to their

fathers; and there arose another generation after fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10)which He had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10)

• 1 1 Then God spoke all these words, saying, Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 2 “I am the “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 3 You shall have You shall have no other gods before Me. no other gods before Me. 4 4 You shall not make for You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.” (Exodus 20:1-4) under the earth.” (Exodus 20:1-4)

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE• Israel would worship false godsIsrael would worship false gods• The Lord would discipline them through their The Lord would discipline them through their

enemies (chapters 3-16) or internal strife (17-21)enemies (chapters 3-16) or internal strife (17-21)• The people would cry out for helpThe people would cry out for help• God would graciously raise up judges to deliver God would graciously raise up judges to deliver

them from their oppressorsthem from their oppressors• They would disregard the judges and go back to They would disregard the judges and go back to

their idolatrytheir idolatry• Cycle repeats – apostasy, oppression, deliveranceCycle repeats – apostasy, oppression, deliverance

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE• The people respond to God’s blessings with The people respond to God’s blessings with

sinsin

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE10 10 All that generation also were gathered to their All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. which He had done for Israel. 11 11 Then the sons of Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, the Baals, 12 12 and they forsook the LORD, the God of and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger. provoked the LORD to anger. 13 13 So they forsook the So they forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. LORD and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE14 14 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. longer stand before their enemies. 15 15 Wherever they Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. distressed. 16 16 Then the LORD raised up judges who Then the LORD raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. plundered them.

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE17 17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD; walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do as their fathers. they did not do as their fathers. 18 18 When the LORD When the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them. who oppressed and afflicted them.

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE19 19 But it came about when the judge died, that they But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways. practices or their stubborn ways. 20 20 So the anger of So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He said, the LORD burned against Israel, and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice, listened to My voice,

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE21 21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, the nations which Joshua left when he died, 22 22 in in order to test Israel by them, whether they will keep order to test Israel by them, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it as their fathers the way of the LORD to walk in it as their fathers did, or not.” (Judges 2:10-22)did, or not.” (Judges 2:10-22)

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE• Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight

of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hands of Midian for seven years. (Judges 6:1)hands of Midian for seven years. (Judges 6:1)

• Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god.the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god. Thus the Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the LORD their sons of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. (Judges 8:33-34) their enemies on every side. (Judges 8:33-34)

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE5 5 And Jair died and was buried in Kamon. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon. 6 6 Then the sons Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, served of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; thus they Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. 7 7 The anger of The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the sons of Ammon. sons of Ammon. 8 8 They afflicted and crushed the sons of They afflicted and crushed the sons of Israel that year; for eighteen years they afflicted all the Israel that year; for eighteen years they afflicted all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in Gilead in sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in Gilead in the land of the Amorites. (Judges 10:5-8)the land of the Amorites. (Judges 10:5-8)

THE CYCLETHE CYCLE• Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the

sight of the LORD, so that the LORD gave sight of the LORD, so that the LORD gave them into the hands of the Philistines for them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. (Judges 13:1)forty years. (Judges 13:1)

• Sin, servitude, “salvation”Sin, servitude, “salvation”• Not just a cycle but a DOWNWARD SPIRALNot just a cycle but a DOWNWARD SPIRAL

THE CYCLE STOPSTHE CYCLE STOPS• Then the cycle stops Then the cycle stops • Judges 17-21 – the people are unrestrainedJudges 17-21 – the people are unrestrained• God gave them over to their wickednessGod gave them over to their wickedness

• Civil war, family breakdown, morality is Civil war, family breakdown, morality is ignored, economic chaosignored, economic chaos

• In those days there was no king in Israel; In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25) (Judges 21:25)

THE CYCLE STOPSTHE CYCLE STOPS• Sin leads to servitude and forfeited blessingsSin leads to servitude and forfeited blessings

• We are being plundered as God’s disciplineWe are being plundered as God’s discipline

• God disciplined through Nebuchadnezzar God disciplined through Nebuchadnezzar (a political leader), or through locusts (a political leader), or through locusts (nature), or through the Philistine army (nature), or through the Philistine army

GOD’S DISCIPLINE - GOD’S DISCIPLINE - ECONOMICECONOMIC

55 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Think This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Think about what you have done. about what you have done. 66 You have You have planted much, but you harvest little. You eat, planted much, but you harvest little. You eat, but you do not become full. You drink, but but you do not become full. You drink, but you are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but you are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but you are not warm enough. You earn money, you are not warm enough. You earn money, but then you lose it all as if you had put it but then you lose it all as if you had put it into a purse full of holes…into a purse full of holes…

GOD’S DISCIPLINE - GOD’S DISCIPLINE - ECONOMICECONOMIC

99 “You expected a large harvest, but instead, you “You expected a large harvest, but instead, you find little. When you bring it home, I destroy it. find little. When you bring it home, I destroy it. Why?” asks the Sovereign Lord. “Because you all Why?” asks the Sovereign Lord. “Because you all work hard for your own houses while my house is work hard for your own houses while my house is still in ruins! still in ruins! 1010 Because of what you have done, the Because of what you have done, the sky holds back its rain and the ground holds back its sky holds back its rain and the ground holds back its crops. crops. 1111 I have called for a time without rain on the I have called for a time without rain on the land, and on the mountains, and on the grain, the land, and on the mountains, and on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, the plants which the earth new wine, the olive oil, the plants which the earth produces, the people, the farm animals, and all the produces, the people, the farm animals, and all the work of your hands.” (Haggai 1:5-6, 9-11)work of your hands.” (Haggai 1:5-6, 9-11)

GOD’S DISCIPLINE - GOD’S DISCIPLINE - ECONOMICECONOMIC

38 38 “You shall bring out much seed to the field “You shall bring out much seed to the field but you will gather in little, for the locust will but you will gather in little, for the locust will consume it. consume it. 39 39 You shall plant and cultivate You shall plant and cultivate vineyards, but you will neither drink of the vineyards, but you will neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm will wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm will devour them. devour them. 40 40 You shall have olive trees You shall have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not throughout your territory but you will not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives will drop off.” (Deuteronomy 28:38-40)will drop off.” (Deuteronomy 28:38-40)

GOD’S DISCIPLINE - GOD’S DISCIPLINE - ECONOMICECONOMIC

““Many times I struck your gardens and Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, I struck them with disease and vineyards, I struck them with disease and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord. (Amos 4:9)declares the Lord. (Amos 4:9)

• God is using our leaders to hit us in the God is using our leaders to hit us in the wallet as a form of disciplining our nationwallet as a form of disciplining our nation

APOSTASYAPOSTASY• Apostasy – falling away from the faithApostasy – falling away from the faith

• Abandoning God for idolsAbandoning God for idols

NO REAL REPENTANCENO REAL REPENTANCE1717 They turned aside quickly from the way in They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do as commandments of the LORD; they did not do as their fathers. their fathers. 18 18 When the LORD raised up judges When the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their moved to pity by their groaninggroaning because of because of those who oppressed and afflicted them. those who oppressed and afflicted them. (Judges 2:17-18)(Judges 2:17-18)

BUT, WE’RE NOT ISRAELBUT, WE’RE NOT ISRAEL18 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 19

because that which is known about God is evident because that which is known about God is evident within them; within them; for God made it evident to themfor God made it evident to them. . 20 20 For For since the creation of the world His invisible since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, what has been made, so that they are without so that they are without excuseexcuse. (Romans 1:18-20). (Romans 1:18-20)

BUT, WE’RE NOT ISRAELBUT, WE’RE NOT ISRAEL• We are accountable to God and have no We are accountable to God and have no

guarantee of His covenant-faithfulness since guarantee of His covenant-faithfulness since only Israel received those promisesonly Israel received those promises

SECULARISMSECULARISM• The more secular America becomes, the The more secular America becomes, the

more idols the nation will worshipmore idols the nation will worship

• More idols leads to more bondageMore idols leads to more bondage

A NATIONAL PROBLEMA NATIONAL PROBLEM• The nation as a whole is accountable – one The nation as a whole is accountable – one

man alone can’t be blamedman alone can’t be blamed

• Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)

IS THERE ANY HOPE?IS THERE ANY HOPE?• Ruth and BoazRuth and Boaz

• In those days there was no king in Israel; In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)(Judges 21:25)

• THE KING, THE Deliverer has comeTHE KING, THE Deliverer has come

WHAT IS GOING ON WHAT IS GOING ON

IN AMERICA?IN AMERICA?Judges 2Judges 2