C.A.C Sunday School Manual For March 15, 2020 Unit Two: THROUGH THE JUDGES / LESSON FIVE : TOPIC – GOD BRINGS JUDGES ON BOARD
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God in the Administration of Man.
Unit Two: THROUGH THE JUDGES / LESSON FIVE.
March 15th, 2020.
TOPIC: GOD BRINGS JUDGES ON BOARD
MEMORY SCRIPTURE
Nevertheless, the Lord raised up Judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them
(Judges 2:16).
Othniel was privileged by God to be the first Judge to deliver and administer His people. Leadership is a privilege from God. Don’t abuse it.
BRIEF COMMENT
The Hebrew word for ‘judge’ means, “one who sets right what has been put wrong”. Israel had gone out of God’s way and He did not hesitate to leave them to slavery, shame and reproach from their enemies. The people of Judah though, physically alive in their numbers, were no more than corpses, as they were impoverished and deformed as a result of idolatry and disobedience. They made themselves mean and miserable, and were plundered by those whom they found pleasure. If they unequally yoked with sinners (2 Cor. 6:14), they were bound to face the wrath of their holy God. Nevertheless, God will not abandon His people forever. So, He raised up judges for them.
Leaders are raised by special appointment. Of God to deliver His people from their enemies and even punish them. The judges who governed Israel were strictly vicegerents (administrative deputies) in the government of the people; He being the Supreme Ruler. We must note here that it was out of God’s magnanimity and benevolence that He listened to, and rose to save them. Even the judges, were extra ordinary set of people brought among the ‘sons of Anak’? No! Some of them were feeble, weak and frightened. God was their strength as He gave them His Spirit with which they became powerful and hard on the enemies of God’s people. Believers ought to appreciate the graciousness of God and follow Him in the righteousness, through His Son, Jesus Christ, all the way. May God arise and scatter all His enemies in our lives today in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Devotional Bible Readings For Week One
Mon. 9: God Covenanta With Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3)
Tue. 10: God Delivers Through His Ministers (Exod. 3:1; Jos. 1:1-8)
Wed. 11: God Will Supply Fulfil His Covenant (Jer. 31:35-37)
Thur. 12: God’s Graciousness is For All (Jn. 1:12; Gal. 3:6)
Fri. 13: God Rules in Human Kingdom (Dan. 2:21; 4:15-17)
Sat. 14: God is King over All the Earth (Zech. 14:8,9)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. With God in charge, though weeping may endure for the night, joy definitely comes in the morning.
2. God is so good that He cannot delight in either the depression or ruin of His people, no matter the circumstances that brought them to it.
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Exodus 3:7,8; Psalm 106:43-45
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: To educate God’s people about His holiness by which He will spear no sinner, even when His mercy is waiting to deliver him afterwards.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, readers should be able to:
i. defend the holiness of God which detests idolatry in all forms, and why no sinners will go unpunished;
ii. discuss the idea of the waiting Arms of God for mercy for the repentant sinners;
iii. have seen the need to constantly remain on the side of God to avoid the looming judgment; and
iv. discuss the emergence of Othniel and how he represented God in the administration of His people.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: JUDGES 2:1-15; 3:1-11
Thank God for lessons derived from lesson four, PRIESTS CONTINUE REPRESENTING GOD, Where we saw how God used His ministers, designated priests, to order things around in His favour and that of His people. They came on board and were used in turbulent times to restore peace and order in God’s house and among His people. Hope we have not forgotten the lessons we learnt therein. Who are you in your family, church and community?
This is the first lesson in unit II, titled, GOD BRINGS JUDGES ON BOARD. In it, we would see how God’s people disobeyed His commands of love and went after other gods and foreigners after the leadership and death of Joshua. God frowned vehemently at this, particularly having warned them before and consequently refused to help them, when their enemies came hard on them to their shame and ruin. God must fulfil His covenant on Israel, in spite of their errors. So, as soon as they realised they had stayed long under slavery, they cried to God for deliverance. Othniel, a many of valour and courage, became God’s answer and choice to lead His people our of bondage and oppression. To Israel and us today, God is good, all the time.
May we be quick to realise how far we have strayed away from Him and return to embrace His offer of love after this lesson in Jesus’ name. Amen.
INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION
This lesson is divided into two sections, I and II. Each section is further divided into A and B respectively.
DIVISION I: HE DISDAINS ISRAEL’S APOSTASY
This division describes Israel’s apostasy, especially as Joshua left the stage. The first part is Joshua’s Leadership Ended and the other part is Just Like That, Israel Apostatized. They finally left their Creator to serve the creature. But they wouldn’t go scot-free. We have a lot to learn from their misdemeanor. Judges 2:1-15 is our point of reference
DIVISION II: HE STARTS WITH OTHNIEL:
This section says THE PEOPLE SUFFER FOR THEIR SINS AND THE LORD RAISES OTHNIEL, A JUDGE. Though God cannot play with His holiness regardless of who is concerned, He is never blind to the cry of His people for mercy. In this case, Othniel was the man He used to deliver His erring but repentant children, from their captivity. Judges 3:1-11 is our reference point.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. HE DISDAINS ISRAEL’S APOSTASY
A. JOSHUA’S LEADERSHIP ENDED
B. JUST LIKE THAT, ISRAEL APOSTATISED
II. HE STARTS WITH OTHNIEL
A. THE PEOPLE SUFFER FOR THEIR SINS
B. THE LORD RAISED OTHNIEL, A JUDGE
LESSON EXPOSITION
1. HE DISDAINS ISRAEL’S APOSTASY (Judges 2:1-15)
Apostasy means a standing away from; i.e a falling away, withdrawal or defection from God. It also means abandonment of the faith. Israel was consistently found to relapse in idolatry, especially at the demise of godly leaders, like Joshua. The repercussions is that they were not also spared as they retrogressed and diminished in prospect and growth.
A. JOSHUA’S LEADERSHIP ENDED (vv. 1:9)
Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old (v. 8).
i. vv. 1,2: God led our the nation, Israel, from Egypt, under Moses’ leadership (Exod. 3:1ff), and through Joshua, settled them (Jos. 1:1ff; Judg. 1:1, 2; cf. Gen. 12:7; Psa. 105:9, 11). Thus, He forewarned them against idolatry (v. ; cf. Exod. 23:32; 34:12,13; Deut. 7:8; 1 Cor. 10:1-10; 2 Cor. 6:14). God is our owner, we must serve Him alone.
ii. v. 2b: but… Sad contrast! In spite of God’s graciousness to them, they regularly disobeyed Him. Why would any right thinking person do such? Hence, God announced their punishment (v. 3). God is our Chief Executive whose justice must bring offenders to book (Prov. 11:21; 16:5).
iii. vv. 4-6: Bochim. Thank God they were touched at the message. Had they kept close to God, joy would have been their lot. But… (Psa. 16:4; cf. Jos. 23:7, 16). This was done under the supervision of Joshua.
iv. vv. 7-9: God gave Joshua great leadership influence that positively impacted on the Israelites, all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua (cf. Jos. 24:14ff). Are you cooperating with God to help people around you know Him genuinely?
v. Both the good and bad that men do live after them. Joshua’s heart was closely knitted to God, and the endeared the people the people to follow him in close relationship with their God. Who you are in, and with God, will reflect on the people under you. Be a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22)!
B. JUST LIKE THAT, ISRAEL APOSTATISED (vv. 11-15)
When all that Joshua had been gathered to their fathers another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel (v. 10).
i. v. 10: Was it that Joshua and his generation didn’t catch God’s vision of succession to develop future leaders, like Moses did? In any case, the people apostatised after Joshua’s demise, despite warnings (vv. 1-3) and the great works God did among them (Exod. 13:21; 14:22; 16:15,35; Num. 20:11).
ii. “Baalim” means ‘lords’. They exchanged Yahweh’s lordship for lifeless idols. Idolatry is the height of sin before God (cf. Exod. 20:3-5). Theirs is described in vv. 12,13.
iii. Even if their godly fathers were dead, did they not know history (Num. 25:1-9; Deut. 4:3; 1 Cor. 10:4,5)? Why would they opt for divorce with the loving God? It is a pity how people leave the real for the imagined!
iv. vv. 14,15: The eye of God does not behold sin (Psa. 5:5; Hab. 1:13). Though loving, He punishes them to see if they would return to Him (cf. Judg. 6:1ff; 1 Cor. 5:5). When you refuse to stand with God, you stop standing before your enemy.
v. vv. 16-19: Yet, God still remembered and remained true to His covenant with them. He regularly came to their rescue in the persons of the judges, though they didn’t stop apostatising in times of respite. What a loving God!
vi. God’s patience with His people must not be counted as slackness, or His mercy taken as indulgence. He wishes that none perish but to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).
LESSON DERIVED
1. Though leadership is crucial, believers must learn to find God and know Him, else, backsliding is imminent. If there was no Joshua, there would always be God to follow.
2. A stitch in time saves nine. Don’t wait till you are soaked in tears before doing what is just and right.
WORK TO DO
Mention some acts of God’s graciousness to the people of Israel, as mentioned in our text for today.
SUGGESTED ANSWER TO WORK TO DO
i. Provision of good leadership in Joshua.
ii. God held on to His covenant with them.
iii. He sent to them an Angel to remind and warn them.
iv. He made them dwell in peace.
v. He led them out of Egypt.
* Through the red sea
* The wilderness experiences.
* The cloud and the pillar of fire (Ex. 13:21-22)
* Water at Marah (Ex. 15:23, 24)
* Provision of manna, the flesh (Ex. 16:11-15)
* Water at Rephidim (Ex. 17:4-6)
* The defeat of Amalekites (Ex. 17:9-13), etc.