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SEEKING THE LORD AFTER THE DEATH OF JOSHUA

Text: Judges 1:1-20
17 January 2011

SEEKING THE LORD AFTER THE DEATH OF JOSHUA

Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them? Judges 1:1

1. Historical context

a) After the death of Joshua

b) There were still Canaanites to fight with

i) Probably mopping up operations (resistant guerrillas)

ii) Main tribal kingdoms had already been defeated

2. Prayer

a) Asking the Lord for Divine guidance

b) In the absence of a clear leader (like Moses and Joshua) the search for Divine Guidance would be through the Priests

c) Possibility of using the Urim and Thummim

RESPONSE OF THE LORD

And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand. Judges 1:2

1. There was response from the Lord

a) There was a clear answer: Judah would lead Israel into battle

b) The system of communication was sound and good

c) God continued to show that He was still involved

2. Reiteration of God’s promise

a) The land has already been delivered

b) Judah will lead and there will be victory

ACTION PLAN

1. Judah and Simeon Judges 1:3

a) Involvement of only two tribes

b) This made sense because the scale of battle was not as extensive

2. Geographical location

a) Judah and Simeon were in close proximity

b) Simeon was just south of Judah

3. Success of Judah and Simeon in battle
The LORD was with Judah… Judges 1:19

a) Conquest of the Canaanites and Perizzites Judges 1:4

b) King Adoni-Bezek defeated: thumbs and big toes cut off Judges 1:5-7

c) Other cities of the Canaanites conquered Judges 1:8-15

i) Jerusalem Judges 1:8

ii) In the mountains Judges 1:9

iii) In the South (Negev) Judges 1:9

iv) In the lowland Judges 1:9

v) Hebron (Kirjath Arba) Judges 1:10, 20

vi) Debir (Kirjath Sepher) Judges 1:11

vii) Zephath (Hormah) Judges 1:17

viii) Gaza Judges 1:18

ix) Ashkelon Judges 1:18

x) Ekron Judges 1:18

d) One failure
They could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron Judges 1:19b