Living Without A Leader

A. Look at Judges chapter one. Begin with the background to help us better understand the context. This book covers 300 years of Jewish history. Not many people know much about that period of time. We know a little about Gideon, Samson. Men who were historical legends who are part of this book. You will remember Moses. He was chosen to lead Israel out of Egypt. 40 years in the wilderness with them but was not allowed to enter the promised land. He was a great leader. Deut. 34:10-12, says, "Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses." Moses was a mighty leader who gave Israel God’s Holy Law. I want to remind you of one aw Moses gave in Ex. 23:32-33, "When you go into the land, do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. Do not let them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you."
1. Over and over Moses gave that warning. Do not make a covenant with unbelievers, they will compromise you. Now Moses is gone and Joshua is given the responsibility of leading God's People. Josh. 1:5-7. You are to obey every command. Do Not make a covenant with the people of that Land. Israel enters and begins to conquer the land and they begin to live and prosper in the land. Joshua grows old before he dies he leaves the people with this important message, Josh. 24:15, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you.....” What's he saying? Serve God and do not make a covenant with the heathens and their gods. Joshua dies at 110, that is where the book of Judges begins.
a. Jud. 1:1, says, "After the death of Joshua..." — That is the introduction to what happens over the next 300 years. For the next 300 years things never be the same in Israel. They do one thing right in the 1st verse. They ask God what to do, in Jud. 1:1, it says, "the Israelites asked the LORD,
"Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?" That's
where you always start. You ask God what He wants, tell us how you want it done. God answered
them in Jud. 1:2, and said, "Judah is to go; for I have already given the land into their hands." “Go
take the land that I have already given you.” Any time you go for God and with God the victory is
already guaranteed. There is no question about the outcome. The only question is, “Will you go and
fight? Vs. 4, says, "When Judah attacked, the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their
ands and they struck down ten thousand." And they celebrated a great victory.
(A) But then we see a little trouble. Vs. 5-7. God said, “Kill all the inhabitants, take no prisoners.”
God said, “No covenants, destroy them, drive them out.” God never said, “Mutilate them
and keep them for prizes.” They leave Adoni-Bezek alive and he dies later on. They
have set a terrible precedent. It happens again, Vs. 19, says, "The LORD was with the men
of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people
from the plains, because they had iron chariots." Why not drive out? Afraid. The problem is
not God. It’s their Lack of Faith.
(1) Begin to live in peace. Treaties and covenants. Influence of Idols begins to creep in.
Vs. 21. God had already forbid that, God said, “No!” Vs. 27, 29-34. Domino effect.
One Compromise ends in disobedience. Yes, they took control. Partially conquered.
Lived with them and made covenants with them. Guess what? God calls them on the
carpet, Jud. 2:1-3. What do we learn? Men who lead in God's way are to be treasured.
Why? They will have the courage to keep you from sin and they will never lead you into
sin, not even by compromise.
(2) If Joshua been there. Stood up and put a screeching halt to the compromise. No
congregation can long exist without strong, God loving, God fearing leaders.
(B) Partial obedience is compromise, partial obedience and compromise is no obedience at all.
It is rebellion. Partial obedience is detested by God, It is an abomination and will bring nothing
but damnation. Israel conquered but did not destroy. They compromised. And then they
fellow-shipped and made covenants and lived in peace with heathen. We’re not talking about
compromise of an opinion. There is a big difference between opinion and the Word of
God—those are commandments. It takes a big person to compromise an opinion.
We are commanded to do just. Phip. 2:21. It is a great sign of spiritual maturity to

compromise your personal opinions. But, you never, ever compromise a command of God.
When God speaks, no man has right to an opinion.
(1) 1 Pet. 1:15-16, "Just as he who called you is holy, so you must be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." That means you are not like the Non-Christian people in this world, you are different. Holy living is not an option. You
compromise and you are no longer Holy. Israel partly obeyed God and partly
Ignored what God said. They compromised, and their compromise did what it always
does. It damns your soul. It will make you a joke, a laughing stock in the eyes of the
world. Whether you are a pauper or a president, compromise your integrity and you have absolutely no credibility.
(2) Living without leaders or living with leaders who compromise will always lead you away from God. Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of England was hated
because she would not compromise what was right. Her motto was, “Compromise is the
negation of Leadership.” Leaders who compromise will lead you in the wrong
way. That applies to all leadership, whether it be in a nation, community, congregation,
husband or a father. Compromise your integrity, honesty before God and you loose not
only your own soul. But, you will answer to God for those you encouraged to follow you.
When you compromise in one thing, it will not be long until you are compromising in
several things.
(C) We are fortunate. We don't have to live like those people in the book of Judges. We have
the greatest leader of all. Jesus the Son of God who came to lead us to heaven. He never
compromised one time and He asks you to follow in His footsteps. Hear, again, His call to
you and me, "Remember that just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for
it is written: for He commands "I am holy therefore you shall be holy also."
(D) ACTS 20:32.

Spur - 10/05/03 am