Title: God Who Is Wrathful
Contents Hymn of the Week: 367 December 20, 199
Text: Judges 3: 1 - 30 Youngjin Church Dawn
Title: The Wrathful God 03.
Believers should know both sides of God's love. One side is to make things go well, and the other side is to give up wrongdoing and go on the right path when going on the wrong path. Discipline is the scourge of love for the children you love. Therefore, without it, it is an illegitimate child (Hebrews 12:6-13). Therefore, we must not despise God's reproach (Job 5:17).
1. The reason for his wrath (7).
God was angry because the people of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord (7). The people of Israel are a people who have received God's favor, but it is wrong to do evil to God.
They also forgot the LORD their God (7). Just as children must not forget their parents, so Israel must not forget God. Such a person deserves wrath.
Also, Israel was disciplined because they forsook God and served idols (7). They did what God hated the most (Exodus 20:3-6).
2. The way of wrath,
God disciplined Israel by subjecting it to invasion by neighboring nations (8). This was the most common way to discipline the chosen people in the Bible.
3. The purpose of wrath (9).
God was angry with them so that they would repent (9). In the end, seeing Israel's repentance, God appointed judges to save Israel from the invaded nations (9-11).
Human beings are weak and forget the grace they have received and leave God. In such a case, God's wrath becomes a medicine to heal them, a weapon to guide them, and a bond that holds them together. Let us remember that God's wrath is judgment for unbelievers, but it is the scourge of love for believers.
God's Servant (Judges 3:23-31)
God uses people as tools to carry out His work. The main text is the story of the incident where Ehud, a left-handed judge, defeated Eglon, the king of Mohab, and saved Israel so that he could enjoy peace for 80 years. Here, I would like to learn some important truths about the workers God uses.
1. Ehud who killed Israel's enemies (23-25).
2. The qualifications of a worker when God uses it;
God does not care about external conditions (1 Samuel 16:7). Ehud was left-handed, but looking at the original language, left-handed means a person whose right hand is disabled. God lifts up the weak and puts the strong to shame. In addition, God values a person of courage and faith.
See the courage of Ehud who killed Eglon and saved Israel (15-25) This courage is God-given.
3. God's workers must do only God's work (23-30).
A true servant of God must not reveal himself and must never take away the glory of God.