Download Victory and Defeat: A Study of Judges 20

Victory and Defeat
Lessons from the Benjamite War
Judges 20
Background
• The period is one of situation ethics: “every man
doing that which is right in his own eyes” (17:6;
21:25)
– Idolatry was practiced (Judg. 17-18)
– Immorality was practiced (Judg. 19)
– Indifference was practiced (Judg. 20)
• What can we learn from the victory and defeat of the
Benjamites?
A Lesson in Pride
• The Benjamites were proud and stubborn (20:13)
• The Benjamites were over-confident (20:32)
• The Benjamites found that pride goes before a fall
(Prov. 16:18; 29:1)
A Lesson in Prayer
• The Israelites asked the Lord for guidance
(20:18,23,27): pray for guidance
• The Israelites were drawn closer to the Lord after
each defeat (20:18,23,27): pray without ceasing
(Lk. 11:5ff; 18:1ff; 1 Thess. 5:17
• The Israelites had to wait for the final outcome
(20:28): prayer is not always answered the manner
or time we want (Deut. 3:26; 2 Cor. 12:8-9)
A Lesson in Punishment
• The Israelites, the Benjamites in particular, were
punished for their relativistic morality (17:6; 21:25;
21:15): following what we think is right leads to
death (Prov. 14:12; 16:25)
• The Israelites brought confusion and civil war upon
themselves (Mt. 12:25; 2 Tim. 3:13).
Principles to Ponder
• The basis of moral behavior is of critical importance
(Heb. 5:14)
• Ethical relativism is degrading, dehumanizing and
destructive (2 Pet. 2:19)
• Theology and morality cannot be separated (Prov. 1)
• We must not only know God’s answers, we must
internalize his values (1 Cor. 15:33)