Following Joshua’s Death (1:1-3:7)

Israel’s Cycle Of Disobedience: The Judges (3:8-21:25).

OTHNIEL: AN EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

JUDGES 3:1-31

Reading: Col 2:6-10

Song: I’ll Be A Friend to Jesus

Theme:

INTRODUCTION

A. I didn’t think most people think about were things they do in life are going to lead them. A good example is the leadership of God’s church. The things done as a youth can end up disqualifying amn from servig as an elder in a congregation. Israel of old went down the path which led them from the Lord. Let’s examine Israel’s disobedience, lessons taught to Israel about obedience and God’s willingness to forgive when his people repent.

Discussion

I. ISRAEL’S CONTINUED DISOBEDIENCE (3:1-7).

A. ... these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove) Israel ... whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD ... (3:1-4).

1 ¶ Now these are the nations <01471> which the LORD <03068> left <03240> (8689), to prove <05254> (8763) Israel <03478> by them, even as many of Israel as had not known <03045> (8804) all the wars <04421> of Canaan <03667>;

2 Only that <07535> the generations <01755> of the children <01121> of Israel <03478> might know <03045> (8800), to teach <03925> (8763) them war <04421>, at the least such as before <06440> knew <03045> (8804) nothing thereof;

3 Namely, five <02568> lords <05633> of the Philistines <06430>, and all the Canaanites <03669>, and the Sidonians <06722>, and the Hivites <02340> that dwelt <03427> (8802) in mount <02022> Lebanon <03844>, from mount <02022> Baalhermon <01179> unto the entering in <0935> (8800) of Hamath <02574>.

4 And they were to prove <05254> (8763) Israel <03478> by them, to know <03045> (8800) whether they would hearken <08085> (8799) unto the commandments <04687> of the LORD <03068>, which he commanded <06680> (8765) their fathers <01> by the hand <03027> of Moses <04872>.

1. God had commanded Israel to drive out the enemy from the land (Deu 7:2).

a. Israel failed to drive out the enemy and in chapter two of the Book of Judges “the angel of the LORD” declared he would not do all of the work for them (2:3).

b. Therefore, God told them he was going to use their disobedience, that is, those nations Israel did not drive out of Canaan, to teach Israel some lessons in obedience.

(1) God was going to teach that generation which knew no war, what it was to war.

(2) It was to test them to see if they would turn to their physical strength for their victory, or on the Lord through obedience to him.

Israel’s Apostasy

B. ... And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God ... (3:5-7).

5 And the children <01121> of Israel <03478> dwelt <03427> (8804) among <07130> the Canaanites <03669>, Hittites <02850>, and Amorites <0567>, and Perizzites <06522>, and Hivites <02340>, and Jebusites <02983>:

6 And they took <03947> (8799) their daughters <01323> to be their wives <0802>, and gave <05414> (8804) their daughters <01323> to their sons <01121>, and served <05647> (8799) their gods <0430>.

7 And the children <01121> of Israel <03478> did <06213> (8799) evil <07451> in the sight <05869> of the LORD <03068>, and forgat <07911> (8799) the LORD <03068> their God <0430>, and served <05647> (8799) Baalim <01168> and the groves <0842>.

1. Rather then heeding the Lord’s command to put the enemy out from the land, the people of Israel intermarried with the enemy.

a. Those close relationships to the enemy influenced Israel and resulted in their practicing the false worship of the enemy.

b. Year later King Solomon did the same thing in marrying wives of people foreign to the covenant of God ( 1Kg 11:3-4).

c. We frequently witness the same thing among Christians when they marry people outside of Christ or form other close relationships with non-Christians (1Co 15:33).

Transition: Such improper spiritual attitudes led Israel into a vicious cycle.

II. ISRAEL’S CYCLE OF DELIVERANCE (3:8-31)

A. Every group needs a leader. Without one a group will have only those who stand around wondering what to do or those who compete with others; leading who will follow, in different directions. In Israel’s cycle of disobedience, God raised up people to lead Israel back from their direction disobedience to obedience.

B. One such person was Othniel.

Othniel

C. ... when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer ... (3:8-11).

8 ¶ Therefore the anger <0639> of the LORD <03068> was hot <02734> (8799) against Israel <03478>, and he sold <04376> (8799) them into the hand <03027> of Chushanrishathaim <03573> king <04428> of Mesopotamia <0763>: and the children <01121> of Israel <03478> served <05647> (8799) Chushanrishathaim <03573> eight <08083> years <08141>.

1. Because of Israel’s sin, God allowed the king of Mesopotamia (the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) to oppress Israel and bring them into servitude.

9 And when the children <01121> of Israel <03478> cried <02199> (8799) unto the LORD <03068>, ...

2. That resulted in Israel’s crying out to the Lord who raised up a deliverer to deliver Israel from the oppressor.

9 ... the LORD <03068> raised up <06965> (8686) a deliverer <03467> (8688) to the children <01121> of Israel <03478>, who delivered <03467> (8686) them, even Othniel <06274> the son <01121> of Kenaz <07073>, Caleb’s <03612> younger <06996> brother <0251>.

10 And the Spirit <07307> of the LORD <03068> came upon him, and he judged <08199> (8799) Israel <03478>, and went out <03318> (8799) to war <04421>: and the LORD <03068> delivered <05414> (8799) Chushanrishathaim <03573> king <04428> of Mesopotamia <0763> into his hand <03027>; and his hand <03027> prevailed <05810> (8799) against Chushanrishathaim <03573>.

3. The first deliverer was Othniel (v 9).

a. Othniel, Strong’s - 06274. laynte æOthniyÆel oth-nee-ale’; from the same as 06273 and 0410; force of God; Othniel, an Israelite:— Othniel

AV-Othniel 7; 7 Othniel =" lion of God" 1) son of Kenaz, younger brother of Caleb, and husband of Achsah the daughter of Caleb and his own niece; first judge of Israel, who after the death of Joshua, delivered the Israelites from the oppression of Chushanrishathaim

b. Othniel displayed with his example many essential qualities of leadership.

(1) In seeking to rase up leaders in the church we would do well to develop such qualities in those people.

(2) He was mentioned in scriptures previously as the man who rose to the occasion to defeat Israel’s enemy and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to Othniel as a wife for a reward.

(3) In our text we’re told he once again rose successfully to the occasion.

4. It may be tempting to claim, "Sure, since God raised up Othniel, he could not help having success and exemplifying the qualities of a good leader."

a. However, even he was only an ordinary person capable of fear, failure and sin.

b. God can use ordinary people to lead his people.

(1) Just because he raised up Othniel did not mean Othniel would have succeeded as a leader.

(2) The decision of success is up to the person.

(a) God had raised up the country of Assyria as a judge but had to later destroy it because of its cruelty.

(b) God raised up Saul as the first king over Israel but took away approval of Saul because he was a wicked leader.

c. Othniel chose to do what he was called to do, "and he judged Israel” (v 10).

(1) "he went out to war" (v 10c).

(a) Othniel went out ahead of his men, leading them into battle (cp. Josephus, Ant. V, iii:3).

(b) Real leaders step forward to lead, they don't watch or delegate everything.

(d) Effective leadership is demonstrated.

i) If anyone had a right to just command or delegate it was Jesus but instead he demonstrated his leadership (cp. Act 1:1).

ii) Paul was able to call all to imitate him as a leader because he was careful to imitate the example God has given to be followed (Php 3:17a; Gal 2:20).

iii) As Caleb probably was to Othniel, so Othniel probably was to his descendants, in training them for leadership (cp. 1Ch 27:1, 15).

a) the great soldier of Israel, Heldai, was a descendant of Othniel.

b) Leadership begins at home.

c) We must teach leadership to our children (cp. 1Ti 3:4, 12; Ti 1:5-6).

5. Othniel also had success because he chose a woman of good reputation as a wife (Jos 15:16-17; Jud 1:12-13).

a. A leader's effectiveness can be broken depending upon the spouse he chooses.

(1) Othniel's greatest feat was accomplished after he married Achsah whom the scriptures describe as a wife who would have been an obvious support and help.

(2) We must be sure to choose friends who will support us in our desire to live godly.

11 And the land <0776> had rest <08252> (8799) forty <0705> years <08141>. And Othniel <06274> the son <01121> of Kenaz <07073> died <04191> (8799).

6. The fact that Othniel judged consistent with the will of God is evident from Israel having had peace for forty years not captivity for their sins (v 11).

a. Inconsistency can also destroy a leaders effectiveness

b. As a result of not practicing what they preached, many leaders of Israel were unable to properly lead Israel to God (Mat 23:1-10, 15).

c. God has raised up each of us in Christ and calls us to live a life of example consistent with our calling (Pro 13:16-17; Mat 5:14-17).

Ehud

D. ... Israel did evil again ... and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel ... (3:12-30).

12 ¶ And the children <01121> of Israel <03478> did <06213> (8800) evil <07451> again <03254> (8686) in the sight <05869> of the LORD <03068>: and the LORD <03068> strengthened <02388> (8762) Eglon <05700> the king <04428> of Moab <04124> against Israel <03478>, because they had done <06213> (8804) evil <07451> in the sight <05869> of the LORD <03068>.

13 And he gathered <0622> (8799) unto him the children <01121> of Ammon <05983> and Amalek <06002>, and went <03212> (8799) and smote <05221> (8686) Israel <03478>, and possessed <03423> (8799) the city <05892> of palm trees <08558> (8677) <05899>.

14 So the children <01121> of Israel <03478> served <05647> (8799) Eglon <05700> the king <04428> of Moab <04124> eighteen <08083> <06240> years <08141>.

1. Again Israel spiraled downward in sin and the Lord punished them by allowing Moab to oppress Israel.

15 But when the children <01121> of Israel <03478> cried <02199> (8799) unto the LORD <03068>, the LORD <03068> raised them up <06965> (8686) a deliverer <03467> (8688), Ehud <0164> the son <01121> of Gera <01617>, a Benjamite <01145>, a man <0376> lefthanded <0334> <03225>: and by him <03027> the children <01121> of Israel <03478> sent <07971> (8799) a present <04503> unto Eglon <05700> the king <04428> of Moab <04124>.

16 But Ehud <0164> made <06213> (8799) him a dagger <02719> which had two <08147> edges <06366>, of a cubit <01574> length <0753>; and he did gird <02296> (8799) it under his raiment <04055> upon his right <03225> thigh <03409>.

2. The oppress resulted in Israel crying out to the Lord who raised up Ehud as a deliverer to deliver Israel from the oppressor.

17 And he brought <07126> (8686) the present <04503> unto Eglon <05700> king <04428> of Moab <04124>: and Eglon <05700> was a very <03966> fat <01277> man <0376>.

18 And when he had made an end <03615> (8765) to offer <07126> (8687) the present <04503>, he sent away <07971> (8762) the people <05971> that bare <05375> (8802) the present <04503>.

3. Under the guise of bring a present to the king of Moab, probably tribute, Ehud went to deliver Israel from that king’s oppression.

19 But he himself turned again <07725> (8804) from the quarries <06456> that were by Gilgal <01537>, and said <0559> (8799), I have a secret <05643> errand <01697> unto thee, O king <04428>: who said <0559> (8799), Keep silence <02013> (8761). And all that stood <05975> (8802) by him went out <03318> (8799) from him.

4. As he was leaving Ehud turned back, by himself, and mentioned that he had a message from God for the king.

a. The king told Ehud to remain silent and had all others leave the room.

20 And Ehud <0164> came <0935> (8804) unto him; and he was sitting <03427> (8802) in a summer <04747> parlour <05944>, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud <0164> said <0559> (8799), I have a message <01697> from God <0430> unto thee. And he arose <06965> (8799) out of his seat <03678>.

21 And Ehud <0164> put forth <07971> (8799) his left <08040> hand <03027>, and took <03947> (8799) the dagger <02719> from his right <03225> thigh <03409>, and thrust <08628> (8799) it into his belly <0990>:

22 And the haft <05325> also went in <0935> (8799) after <0310> the blade <03851>; and the fat <02459> closed <05462> (8799) upon <01157> the blade <03851>, so that he could not draw <08025> (8804) the dagger <02719> out of his belly <0990>; and the dirt <06574> came out <03318> (8799).

b. As the king of Moab rose out of his seat to receive the message, Ehud took his dagger and thrust it into the king of Moab.

23 Then Ehud <0164> went forth