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TETZEL ‘REBORN’

As soon as the Spirit, in the heart, makes Christ king
From the lost man blindness flings

As soon as the sinner to God’s mercy clings
To his home a justified verdict brings

As soon as the confession of Christ he sings
The believer from his unpaid debt springs

(referencing 1 Corinthians 12:3, Luke 18:14 & Romans 10:9-11 respectively)

THE BOOK OF JUDGES: Sermon Series Preparation

The book of Judges covers a period of approximately three hundred years(1), which begins at the death of Joshua (1:1) and ends somewhere during the service of Samuel the prophet(2) or, more specifically, at the commencement of the age of the monarchy.

This time was one of chaos and disruption in the life of Israel. God’s covenant people have been safely led to the promised land but they had no king. The promises of God to their forefathers seemed distant and unfulfilled for they had not yet taken full possession of Canaan since numerous of their enemies still lived there. As a result the false gods of those nations seduced many Israelites into blatant idolatry. Indeed we are told that the enemy nations were left in the land to “test” God’s people (3:1-4).

If you read this book carefully you will note that there is a repeated cycle(3) in each period of the different judges:

1. Sin (on the part of God’s people; cf. 2:11-13)
2. Judgment (against God’s people as they are plundered and persecuted by foreigners; cf. 2:14-15)
3. Deliverance (at the hand of various judges & usually prompted by the cries of the people for salvation; cf. 2:16-18) and then the cycle starts again (cf. 2:19).

This is why the refrain that “every man did what was right in his own eyes” is frequently cited throughout the book. We see the disastrous results of a lack of godly leadership and a lackluster pursuit of pure devotion to the LORD. Indeed the depth of sin revealed in this book has prompted one author to write that “perhaps no book in the Bible witnesses so clearly to our human frailty”.

The only reason Israel is not totally wiped off the face of the earth (as those nations around them were) was because God remembered his promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He had sworn that there would always be a people and a land in which to serve Him. So God delivers the Israelites time and time again though they only deserve a final and full judgment. The judges that God sends, therefore, should not be viewed so much as arbitrators or those who apply the divine law to the situation at hand, but saviors and of God’s people.

So the failure of Israel to obey God’s laws highlights man’s inability to serve Him as He desires and the absolute need for divine grace. We must then look for someone who always obeyed his Father’s will and thus saves us from our iniquities. (Matthew 3:15 & Matthew 1:21) Jesus is truly the Deliverer that Israel needed; one who does not fail to rescue and save us from the condemnation, bondage and corruption of sin.

Finally, we should point out that our position in this world is not much different than Israel at this time. We too are surrounded by those who don’t serve God. Thus we are challenged to live holy lives in an unholy culture as strangers and pilgrims, being witnesses to God’s holiness and righteousness in this present evil age. (cf. 1 Peter 1:1, 2:9-12; 4:1-4)

2. Jewish tradition teaches that Samuel was the author of the book.

3. In their “Introduction to the Old Testament” Raymond Dillard and Tremper Longman call this a “downward spiral” indicating that the cycle demonstrates a greater apostasy over time for the sin’full’ nation. This is not only expressed in her sins as a people but in the gradual degeneracy of her judges, culminating in (the stories of) Samson.

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Of the three encounters  in this text it is, perhaps, the second that is the most unsettling. For Jesus’ reply, at first glance, is terribly insensitive. He calls someone to “Follow Me” and the man requests that he be allowed to go and bury his father. Jesus responds: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

Now of this dialogue we may mention a qualifying factor that mitigates the supposed offense. Jesus knew the hearts of men (see Luke 5:22, 6:8). It is apparent that since the answer or statement to each man was different our Lord was aware of the challenge each one needed to hear in order to procure the right response. This also indicates that these commands or instructions are not necessarily to be heeded in every situation (though we would maintain that by way of personal application it is the principle is what matters).

In this case we see that the man has his priorities backwards: First let me bury my father, he says. But Jesus commands loyalty and devotion to God first. (Matthew 22:37-38) Let this man understand that his desire itself is not wrong as it  reflects the heart and goal of the fifth commandment, namely that one honour their father and mother, but rather it is in the wrong order.

Rather he must see his sin in failing to keep God’s law and thus see his need for a Saviour, namely Christ Himself. Following Jesus means recognizing the need for our Lord to go to Jerusalem to suffer and die, which has been noted five times now in the ninth chapter (vs. 21-22, 31, 44, 51 & 53). Christ obeyed and died so that those who trust in Him might be saved. This is the wonderful and encouraging good news to our disobedience to the first and greatest commandment.

But there is more. We should also see the foolishness of the gospel as indicated by Jesus words: “let the dead bury their own dead”. If someone has passed on, what can we do for them? According to the modern world we may remember them in our hearts, or if we remember them they are never really dead. But this is just wishful thinking. A funeral is not a celebration of a life but a reminder of death, a mortal enemy. (1 Corinthians 15:26)

R.C.H. Lenski in his commentary on this passage notes:

“the harshness [of Jesus’ words] fades except for the sentimentality of the worldly-minded who are great on odorous flowers and meaningless words for the dead while they blink at the harsh reality of death itself and of that which is worse, spiritual death and damnation.”

(emphasis mine)

So the foolishness of the gospel says that it is better to proclaim the truth of Christ (or in Jesus’ words “preach the kingdom of God”) than deal with or talk about the dead. This is not to say that we may not cherish our loved ones or think about them from time to time. But this is to boldly believe that what ultimately matters is Christ, what matters is His kingdom, and so let the whole earth be silent in their mourning and remembrance of the dead until they worship and glorify Him as the conqueror of death and the grave.

Let us then as believers remember His resurrection and what it has done in our lives: it made us alive! (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 3:1) And those who are alive will testify of the King and His kingdom in all that they say and do.

While man has universally and perpetually desired the visual in his relationship with God, God has given his people the Word and sacraments as manifestations of his presence until Christ comes again, visibly and corporeally in living color. This is the classic Reformed exegesis of Scripture as expressed in its confessions

If you click on the link it will take you to amazon.com from where you may order the book. It may also be ordered through Reformed Fellowship.

Here are the endorsements:

Danny Hyde has written an excellent piece on a very misunderstood subject. Through effective combination of biblical, theological, and confessional discussions, he has presented the Reformed view of the second commandment winsomely and attractively. He helpfully emphasizes not the negative prohibition of making images of God but the positive facts that God has revealed himself now so generously in Word and Sacrament and will one day reveal himself visibly in the most perfect and authentic way.
—David VanDrunen, Robert B. Strimple Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Westminster Seminary California

In these pages, Danny Hyde argues with great clarity against all images of Jesus as man-made media. He shows that all such images are abominated in Scripture and roundly rejected by the Reformed confessional heritage without exception. Hyde goes on to argue, however, that God does provide us with His “media”—the preaching of His Word and the administration of His sacraments.
—Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

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Also the site now ‘begins’ at the ‘Welcome’ page instead of at the blog posts.

And in case you are wondering where all those lovely posts I have written went to, the posts are still there (here) appearing under a new page called ‘Blog’. In fact you are probably looking at the new page right now so why are you fretting so?

If you have comments, suggestions, or apoplectic rants about the new look please share them with me through our contact page or my Facebook account.

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