The Downward Cycle of Sin

The book of Judges begins with God blessing Israel with wonderful victories over her enemies. The picture changes as Israel falls into spiritual decline and her enemies begin to make life miserable. The book of Judges graphically details the downward cycle of sin as it reveals what happens when God’s people become half-hearted about their relationship with the Lord and begin to compromise with sin. Someone has wisely said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go; it will keep you longer than you want to stay; and it will cost you far more than you want to pay.” That is an excellent summary of the book of Judges.

The cycle of Israel’s decline is detailed in Judges 2:10-19, which begins with God’s blessings on Israel. Rather than responding with thanksgiving, Israel pursued her own pleasure and false gods which drew discipline from the Heavenly Father as He sold them into the hands of their enemies (Judges 2:14). God allowed the pressures of the enemy to build until Israel cried out for His help. When they called upon the Lord, He graciously raised a judge to deliver them, for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning (Judges 2:18).

Judges 2:19 is a key verse for interpreting this book: And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted & behaved more corruptly than their fathers by following other gods, to serve them & bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way. This pattern put Israel on a downward spiral with their spiritual decline hitting rock bottom by the end of the book. Judges 17-21 emphasize just how backslidden God’s people had become. Judges 21:25, In those days there was no king in Israel… God should have been their King, but since He was not, …everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Their insistence upon practicing the “Burger King philosophy” resulted in all the chaos and confusion reported in Judges.

The shocking story of Judges 19 is about a Levite [a man set aside as a priest to lead Israel in worship]. When conflict arises in his marriage, his wife goes home to her parents. After four months of separation the Levite travels to her parents’ home and persuades her to return with him. On their way home they come to Gibeah, a town in the territory of Benjamin. They are taken in to spend the night in an old man’s house, which was the custom of that day when there were no Motel 6s! During the night an incident occurs very similar to the one recorded in Genesis 19. The townspeople ask the old man to allow the Levite to come out and engage in homosexual activity. The Levite instead sent his wife out to the men who raped her all night long. At dawn, they let her go. The woman fell at the old man’s front door and lay there until daylight. When the Levite opened the door, he discovered her body which he loaded onto his donkey. He took his dead wife home, carved her body into 12 pieces and sent each of the pieces to the 12 tribes.

Why such a horror story in the Bible? It tells us where sin will take us if we compromise with it. The book begins with a little apathy in not doing God’s will, but look where it finally takes Israel. Remember this was not pagan Sodom of Genesis 19, it was God’s covenant people. Sin is a slippery slope that gets steeper the further you slide down it.

Nowhere in Scripture is homosexuality presented the way our media presents it today. There is nothing “gay” or funny about it. It is abnormal behavior that is more debased than heterosexual sin because it departs even further from God’s intended purpose for human sexuality.

By the end of the book of Judges, evil had taken over the minds of the reprobate Israelites. What kind of man (especially a religious leader) would hand his wife over to a crowd of lustful men just to protect his own skin? How could he have slept during the night with all that was going on with his wife, and how could he leave without at least checking on her? What kind of cold-blooded man would dismember her corpse?

The graphic, shocking lesson of this story is that sin is never pretty but only becomes uglier if pursued. One horror of hell is that it is the final dwelling place of those whom Satan has molded into eternally sinful beings. We are all being shaped—either by God into saints fit for heaven or by Satan into demons fit for hell. The horror we have toward this terrible story is the attitude God wants us to have toward the slightest suggestion of sin and iniquity. Let us be like Joseph and run for our spiritual lives whenever sin beckons us with its pleasures!

Ralph Weinhold

The Bible

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.

It's doctrine is holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and it's decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter.

Here heaven is opened, and the gates of Hell disclosed. Christ Jesus is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God it's end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth, health to the soul, and a river of pleasure.

It is given to you here in this life, will be opened at the judgment, and is established forever.

It involves the highest responsibility, promises reward for faithful labor, and condemns all who trifle with its sacred contents.

PROVE ALL THINGS

How to Answer When You Don’t Know the Answer

No one likes to be ‘put on the spot.’  We dread the possibility of being asked questions that we can’t answer.  This is especially true when the questions are about religion.

Perhaps one of the biggest hindrances to spreading the gospel is this fear of being asked questions. If you feel uneasy about your level of Bible knowledge, you may try to avoid potentially embarrassing situations — sidestepping any discussion that might turn to religious themes.  Unfortunately this keeps us from many ‘open doors’ for personal evangelism.

Since no one has ALL of the answers, it is important for us to know what to do when questions arise that ‘stump’ us.  Here are some suggestions:

1) Realize — and be ready to explain — that there are simply some pieces of information that we do not have because God has not supplied them. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God”  (Deut. 29:29).  But, we have “all truth” (John 16:12, 13), and “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3).  So, every piece of essential information has been supplied.

2) When you do not know the answer, it is best to simply admit it.  This is much better than trying to ‘bluff’ you way through.  Humbly say, “I don’t know.”  But do not fail to add: “I’ll find out and get back to you on that.”  Following this procedure will actually provide additional opportunities to teach.  It keeps the door open to further discussions.

3) Study, study, study!  You will feel less intimidated and more willing to engage in biblical discussions if you build your confidence level by increasing your Bible knowledge.  Pay special attention to areas where you presently feel ‘weak’ in knowledge and understanding.  Be well prepared to deal with popular denominational errors.  Be ready to explain ‘issues’ that divide brethren.

4) Never shy away from a chance to talk about God and His Word.  The more you do this, the easier it will become.  Every such conversation serves as an opportunity for you to ‘sharpen your sword.’

– by Greg Gwin

What can your God do?

Ancient peoples believed each god’s influence was limited to a particular sphere. Remember how the Syrians wanted to battle Israel in the plains because they thought Yahweh was a God of the hills (1 Kings 20:23)? The Egyptians were no exception. Their pantheon had over 2000 gods: a sun god, a Nile god and so forth.

Yahweh taught that he is different. By releasing a wide variety of plagues, the Creator revealed he commands the water ways, living creatures, disease, the weather, light and even life itself. Furthermore, God geographically focused where the plagues would strike, as well as demonstrated that he could cease the plagues on command, “So that you may know that there is no one like the LORD” (Exodus 8:10).

So how big is our understanding of God? We readily accept God can forgive, inspire his prophets to give us his word, know the numbers of hairs on our head, and prepare heaven for us.

However, do we think our God can handle the things we worry about? Can we obey commands like, “don’t worry” (Matthew 6:25), because we trust promises like, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all of these things (food & clothing) will be given unto you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Can we take Mark 10:29-30 at face value? Can God really give us peace? Or do we, like the ancients, limit what God can do?

God already has provided the evidence. We just need to obey and trust in the Creator.

Barry Newton

David McWhorter -

Ok, Joe. I need guidance. I believe that the Bible is the word of God and its meaning should not be adapted to fit the wants of society at the time. I always thought that part of the reason God destroyed Sodam was due to Homosexuality. 

1. Is that right?
2. Jesus came and changed many of the rules that the Old Testament established. What did he have to say about the subject?
3. If he said nothing in specific to change the rules, do they remain as they were established in the Old Testament?

I am not asking these to spark a debate. I truly do not know the answers. Any help you can give would be appreciated.

Hi David,

First of all, you listed a number of great convictions concerning the Word of God! I'll try and answer your question in a concise manner that I hope will prove help.

As to your questions:

#1 – You are correct in that homosexuality was part of the reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Apart from the account in Genesis, their other sins can be found in Ez. 16:49-50.

#2 – Jesus didn't address the sin of homosexuality directly, though He did mention fornication (Mt. 15:19 and Mk. 7:21 i.e.) which is the Greek word porneia, where we get our word pornography. Below is the definition of the word porneia:

Strong's #4202 pornei,a porneia {por-ni'-ah}

Meaning: 1) illicit sexual intercourse 1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc. 1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18 1c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11,12 2) metaph. the worship of idols 2a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols

#3 – The apostles did talk about fornication/porneia as well. Plus, homosexuality specifically in a couple of places:

Rom. 1:20-27

20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.

27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. (NIV)

1 Cor. 6:9-11

9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders

10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NIV)

God's moral law never changed with the establishment of the New Covenant. That's a long and profitable study in itself, though.

If you have the resources to reference all the verses in the Bible on this subject it could prove to be quite valuable.

Joe

Hungering and Thirsting after Righteousness

INTRODUCTION: Matthew 5:6

1. People will do some strange things if they are hungry enough
2. It is not uncommon one to steal in order to eat
3. In a military survival course you are taught to eat bugs, worms, all kinds of plants, things that you would never eat if well fed
4. Stranded, starving survivors have even been known to eat each other in order to live
5. I once read of an elderly woman who choked to death trying to eat a piece of cardboard, since it was the only thing she had
6. 2 Kings 6:24-29
7. Revolting – but, people will do just about anything if they are hungry enough or thirsty enough
8. It is this thought that brings us to our next verse in the beatitudes
9. Matthew 5:6
10. Remember, the beatitudes teach us about faith
11. Faith begins — poor in spirit – mourn – meek
12. This verse tells us about how faith grows and develops

DISCUSSION:

1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HUNGER AND THIRST
2. Many have a backward approach to finding happiness
3. Most people look for happiness and blessedness through the desires of the flesh

1) Pleasure-mania – workaholics – wealth

2) These pursuits miss the target – they ultimately fail the test

1. Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness

1) It is an effort to seek what is right at the core of one’s life

2) Happiness and blessedness is a product of righteousness

2. This hungering and thirsting is an intense desire to know holiness and to be holy
3. Psalm 42:1
4. Psalm 63:1
5. Psalm 84:2
6. Psalm 107:9
7. John 6:27
8. Isaiah 55:1-3
9. The key to understanding the point here is to see that we’re talking about a kind of starvation, not just snack-hunger
10. Story of the Prodigal Son is an example of the kind of hunger I’m talking about (Lk. 15)
11. When things turned bad for this young man, he got hungry and took on a job he would not have had otherwise
12. However, there is a great difference between the hunger that drove him to feed pigs, and the starvation that sent him home to his father
13. Luke 15:14, 17
14. What does the man do who has had faith begin to stir in his heart
15. He has come to grips with the reality of God, and has recognized that the only response to make is to fall at His feet – “poor in spirit”
16. He has realized the problem of sin that separated him from God to start with and he has mourned and grieved over that problem – “they that mourn”
17. He has realized that he is powerless to overcome anything and so he has yielded to the power of God to become meek and gentle – “the meek”
18. And now — he yearns both for God and for that which is the character of God — righteousness
19. He hungers and thirsts to be like God, but not usurping God’s place, rather desiring the learn and adopt the very character of God
20. WHY RIGHTEOUSNESS?
21. Hungering and thirsting for righteousness gives direction, purpose and meaning to our lives as Christians
22. Matthew 6:33
23. Romans 1:16-17
24. Romans 6:13
25. Romans 14:17
26. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
27. 2 Corinthians 5:21
28. Ephesians 4:24
29. 1 Peter 2:24
30. It was once said, “Change the hunger, and you change the man; control the hunger and you control the man.”
31. Everyone is hungry and thirsty for something

1) Your appetites determine the direction and course of life

2) But there is only one thing that truly satisfies – righteousness

1. This beatitude then, determines the growth of faith

1) This growth desires God, the mind of God, the character of God, the things of God, and the life of God – it is the essence of faith

2) Hebrews 11:6

CONCLUSION:

1. How’s your faith tonight?
2. Whatever state you may find it, you can be sure that it’s health and strength is a product of your hunger and thirst for righteousness
3. If it’s weak, you need to feed on righteousness
4. Invitation

Tom Moore – http://preachersfiles.com/hungering-and-thirsting-after-righteousness/