THE SAD TRAGEDY OF ZEAL WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE No King - Sermon Series Judges 10-12 Bible Project Judges Overview: https://youtu.be/kOYy8iCfIJ4 No King—“Everyone does what is right in their own eyes.” - The cycle of Judges is sinking lower and lower. God sold them because their repentance was not real. Judges 10:6-14 - God is “giving them over” because of their sin and unrepentant hearts. - Romans 1:23-25 - God tells them to go to the gods they are serving and let them save you. - True repentance focuses on our sin and not just release from the consequences. (v. 15) Keller—“two signs of real repentance are: a sorrow for sin, rather than just for its consequences; a sorrow over idolatrous motives, not just behavioral change.” God raises up an unlikely judge to bring deliverance. Judges 11:1-3 Jephthah: - was a mighty warrior. - came from a dysfunctional family as an outcast. - lived a “pirates” life as an outlaw. - seems to be chosen by the people, yet God sends His Spirit to him. (v. 29) God teaches us about living like the world and not according to His Word. Judges 11:29-31 - Jephthah makes a sad, tragic vow that is worldly and unbiblical. - God hates human sacrifice Deuteronomy 12:31 - Jephthah had more of the world in him than the Word. - The pagan cultures around him had influence over him. Romans 12:2 Ephesians 4:22-24 - The pagan’s “works-righteousness” was what he understood more than God’s true character. - God only desires a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 - Jephthah’s zeal and lack of Biblical knowledge kept him from breaking his vow. - Leviticus 27:1-8 tells us a person can ransom a person that had been given to the Lord. - Jephthah is the first judge mentioned that brought no peace. - Jephthah led God’s people to fight with each other. (see 12:1-6) - 42,000 from Ephraim were killed. Two important lessons from Jephthah’s life for us: - We can be influenced more by our culture than our Bible. - We can doubt God’s true character and follow a made up version of god. Next Steps: - Ask Father to show you any area in your life where the world holds more influence than the Word. - Ask Father to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18