Judges 3:12-30
Ehud
Sermon for 2/3/2002
Introduction:
A. Don’t read this story while eating breakfast.
B. This is the first of 5 major accounts of national deliverers, all of which are meant to sicken the reader as well as celebrate Israel’s deliverance.
C. Sin is sickening. When we deal with it radically through the Lord’s power, then we can celebrate the Lord’s deliverance. Same way in our lives.
D. This story reminds me of a righteous James Bond. Who ever said that the Bible was boring?
E. Don’t need to go to movies, or watch TV. Judges is full of sexual immorality, violence, and war. However, it will display it for what it is and that is gross and horrible.
F. In recent months because of 9-11, the government has been criticized because they have relied too much on electronic surveillance instead of espionage. Spies and assassins.
G. Many people will say, "Well, our civilization will not permit something like this." No one can honestly say this because we dropped an atomic bomb that killed men, women and children. Most people have called this a good thing because in the end it saved many people. Well-placed spies will help to save many lives.
H. How civilized is the world?
I. In our world we need some Ehud’s, not just politically or militarily, but spiritually.
WBTU:
A. Background to Judges:
1. Joshua and the Israelites conquered the Promised Land through God. However, many pockets of resistance left after the major strongholds were defeated.
2. Joshua and the elders who lived after him died and the people forsook God.
3. In the days of Judges, there was no government except God.
4. Theme of Judges is (Judg 21:25 NIV) In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.
5. Anarchy prevailed. Religious, social, political, and moral principles disappeared. Civil war even broke out.
6. The Israelites worshipped God along with Baal and Asherah. They broke the first and second commandments. (Exo 20:3 NIV) "You shall have no other gods before me.(Exo 20:4 NIV) "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.(Exo 20:5 NIV) You shall not bow down to them or worship them.
7. When the people rejected God, they also rejected loving their neighbors- and ultimately abused them.
8. God gave Israel a long time (about 350 years) to live as a covenant nation without a national representative to keep the unity.
9. The worship of God was to keep them unified but it did not work.
10. God chose men from various tribes to correct the problems and to give Israel a fresh start. The Judges
11. We see the sin cycle that is prevalent in Judges from vs. 11-15a.
a. The first Judge Othniel delivers Israel and leads the people in a revival. Before vs. 11
b. Othniel dies. Vs. 11
c. Then the Israelites fall away into evil and idol worship. Vs. 12
d. The Lord delivers them into the hands of a nation who reduces them to servitude (vs. 12-13)
e. It goes on for a while until the Israelites wake up and return to God. (vs. 14)
f. They cry out to God for a while (vs. 15)
g. The Lord raises up a deliverer this time a man named Ehud. (vs. 15)
h. Goes back to set a. Chapter 4:1
12. Our cycle is pretty much the same.
Thesis: Today we are going to focus on Ehud. Let’s us take note of things that apply to us. (Obviously cannot go around assassinate people)
For instances:
J. He exhibited great courage and faith in God at a time when other Hebrew men of his day were not.
A. Ehud had to forsake the idolatrous practices that his neighbors were engaged in.
B. John Hanneman- A few weeks ago, a man called me on the phone to inquire about getting married. I asked him if he and his fiancée were both Christians, and he said he was, but she was not. We talked about that for a little bit, and we were even able to talk about some of the patterns that had developed in his life and in his relationship with this woman. Evidently they were doing things that an unmarried couple should not be doing. Finally, I said, "I have to be honest with you. I cannot be involved in your marriage because of what the scriptures say about Christian marrying non-believers." I could tell that it was a real blow to him. A couple of weeks ago we had lunch together, and he told me that he had called off the marriage and was in the process of severing the relationship completely. He had begun to see the patterns that had developed in his life over the last few years, and how he had become dependent on women. In this relationship he was dependent upon her, not God. She controlled his life. So for the first time he said no to the flesh, no to what he thought he wanted to do, and yes to God. He was learning about God again. He was back in church; he was growing, and becoming dependent upon God. He’s in the process of being delivered and being made whole. His face was radiant, as he kept saying over and over again, "This is a very difficult thing for me to do, but it feels good." In other words, there was rest; rest had entered the land once again. He had said no to the flesh; he had said yes to God. After years of enslavement he was experiencing rest.
C. How many young men in our day would do this?
D. Was this easy for Ehud to do? Probably not. Evidently he was important because he was delivering the tribute.
E. William Wallace- Freedom.
II. He creatively used what God had given him.
A. Left-handed.
1. Basketball.
2. Baseball, softball.
3. People who are left-handed are in their right minds.
4. Left-handed people are crafty, artistic.
5. Unique, weird.
6. However, most of the world is not set up for left-handed people.
7. Scissors.
8. Learning to write in 2nd grade.
9. Lot too long ago, children were scolded for using their left hand. Left-handed people were too different, must be assimilated into right-handed world.
10. A small handicap.
11. However, Ehud used this for his advantage. He was left-handed and would have to reach over on his right side to pull out the dagger. In that day almost everybody was right-handed, and they were searched on the left side to see if they carried a weapon. The king’s Secret Service agents searched Ehud on the wrong side.
12. Use it to our advantage.
B. What do you have that might be considered a handicap?
1. Family heritage.
2. Too ordinary.
3. Not in a high paying job.
4. Health conditions. Actually handicapped. Etc.
C. Ehud was an important man. He brought the tribute to King Eglon. He was not a king but yet he was not the lowest man on the totem pole. A man who could be trusted. Respected. Sergeant or captain.
D. Don’t think that God cannot use you. He can use anyone who is willing.
E. Judy Squler was born without legs, and she has been walking on artificial limbs since she was 10 years old. When she was born, the doctor told her father, "Your daughter is going to live, I’m sorry to say." But at 10, Judy was able to ride a bicycle that her father had modified. AT 16, she was able to drive a car that had been equipped with hand controls. Social workers told her not to bother thinking about college, but that made her even more determined. She graduated from the University of Illinois with undergraduate and graduate degrees. Now she and her husband have three beautiful daughters. At a dinner in Washington, she said, "I am convinced that this Old World needs handicapped people. God designed it that way. Handicapped people make a unique contribution."
F. We should be ashamed. I am just ordinary. So was Ehud!
G. Miracle when God takes someone ordinary, someone just like you and me, and uses him or her to his glory. God takes a life that the world discards and uses it to his glory.
H. (1 Cor 1:27 NIV) But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.(1 Cor 1:28 NIV) He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are,(1 Cor 1:29 NIV) so that no one may boast before him.
I. How? I remember when my boys were born and not able to visit. During prayer time came up with postcards.
J. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
III. His example inspired others to rise up.
A. Sometimes it takes only one person to motivate many to righteousness.
B. Ehud was willing to go on the attack first, but then he blew the trumpet and all of Israel joined in the battle, routing the enemy.
C. Andrew Johnson was impeached. A senator from Kansas was the deciding vote and he voted not to remove Johnson from the Presidency.
D. One song can spark a moment. One flower can wake the dream. One tree can start a forest. One bird can herald spring. One smile begins a friendship. One handclasp lifts a soul. One star can guide a ship at sea. One word can frame the goat. One vote can change a nation. One sunbeam lights a room. One candle wipes out darkness. One laugh will conquer gloom. One step must start each journey. One word must start a prayer. One hope will raise our spirits. One touch can show you care. One voice can speak with wisdom. One heart can know what is true. One life can make a difference. You see its up to you!
E. Madame Murray O’Haire got prayer out of schools and no one stood up. Moment of silence in Virginia very good.
F. Cannot take Bibles to school. Now we can have Bible studies on public school grounds. Take a stand.
G. Ten Commandments taken off of school walls. Judge in Kentucky proudly displays them in his courtroom. ACLU is taking him to court over this.
H. Sexual education in schools. Abstinence.
I. Creation vs. Evolution.
J. Abortion.
K. Do you believe that God can do great things through you?
L. Do you believe that God can use you in these ways, that you’re valuable and important to him and that you can make a difference?
M. I remember several years ago I stood up on a particular issue at a church and I thought I would lose my job.
N. However, it turned out for the good and now that church is on the right path and they are growing. What would have happened if I had not stood up?
O. What would have happened if Ehud had not done what he did?
Conclusion:
A. Our world desperately needs deliverers.
B. Some Christians need delivers over temptation, over sin, over bad habits. Takes time and effort but the victory can be ours.
C. Non-Christians can be delivered. Plan of salvation.
D. My deliverer is coming; my deliverer is standing by.
