Mortal Judges: Judges 3:7-31

First off I would like to apologize for not having the passage posted here, but it would make these things very long so hopefully you are reading the passage on your own, otherwise what I say might not make that much sense.

Last week we looked at how Jesus is our eternal judge; judge in the sense of our leader who saves us from sin.  This week I want to look at the judges differently and focus on their humanity.  While the judges were a pointer to things to come, they also were humans who God chose to lead the people of Israel.

In these verses in chapter 3 of Judges we are introduced to the first three judges of Israel: Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar.  We are given each of their stories, Othniel's is fairly short, Ehud's goes into a little more depth and Shamgar's is but one sentence.  Nonetheless I think we can look at these men and see two things.  First, we see that they are humans who God used to help bring his people back to him.  As Christians we are God's people in this present age and we too have this same task (Acts 1:8).  Secondly, each of these men has a unique ability.  Othniel we read, has the Spirit of God fall on him and lead him in battle, Ehud was left handed.  The writer of Judges includes a seemingly useless fact about Ehud's blade; "...which he strapped to his right thigh...".  Eglon's guards didn't check Ehud for left-handed weapons so he was able to sneak the blade into the King's presence.  This simple ability of being left-handed was used by Ehud to accomplish his task of helping Israel be freed from the oppression of the Moabites.  Shamgar, in his one sentence, we learn was quite the warrior as he killed 600 Philistines with only an oxgoad, a spear-like cattle prod.  Just as these men were each equipped with a different ability, today we all have been given spiritual giftings (1 Corinthians 12).  I encourage each of you to use those gifts to help further God's kingdom and to preach the gospel.  Some of you might be gifted monetarily, so give.  Some of you may be great prayers, pray for people while alone or with them.  Some of you may be gifted in music, lead God's people in worship through song or teach a young man or women in the church an instrument.  Whatever your gifts may be use them sacrificially for God.

Lastly, since we are God's chosen people, we are called to bring others the gospel just like the judges brought Israel back to God.  I encourage you to share the gospel through your words, your actions and your love.