Judges

Judges 11: The LORD judges and delivers

Begin in prayer

Before we study how the LORD judges justly and gives deliverance that no vow can buy, let us come to Him together. Ask Him to teach us our need of mercy and to help us see Christ, whose one offering secures peace with God.

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Please teach us to trust Your righteous judgment. Help us see Christ's finished sacrifice and receive Your mercy with faith. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Gilead's elders call back the Jephthah they had driven away and make him leader against Ammon. He explains that the LORD gave Israel the disputed land by defeating Sihon, but Ammon's king refuses his appeal. The LORD's Spirit comes on Jephthah. He vows that if the LORD delivers Ammon into his hand, whatever comes out of his house will be a burnt offering. God gives him victory, yet his only daughter comes out to meet him with tambourines and dancing. After two months mourning her virginity with her companions, she returns, and he does with her according to his vow. Israel's daughters remember her for four days each year.

As you read Judges 11, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD judges justly and gives deliverance, which no human vow can purchase.

Jephthah's brothers drive him from his father's house, because his mother was a prostitute, and he lives among outlaws in Tob. When Ammon attacks, Gilead's elders ask the man they had driven out to be their head (verses 7 and 8). Jephthah reminds Ammon's king that the LORD gave Israel this land by defeating Sihon, and Israel had lived there three hundred years. Then he leaves the quarrel with “Yahweh the Judge,” because the LORD Himself decides who is in the right (verse 27). The LORD's Spirit comes on Jephthah before he makes any vow, so the power to rescue is already God's gift (verse 29). A vow is a promise to God, and Jephthah's is a bargain, “If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand”. He promises that whatever comes out of his house to meet him will be the LORD's, offered up as a burnt offering. The LORD had not asked for this, and His law forbids burning sons or daughters in the fire (Deuteronomy 12 verse 31). God gives the victory, yet his only daughter comes to meet him, and after two months he does with her according to his vow.

How does Judges 11 show us that the LORD judges justly and gives deliverance, which no human vow can purchase?

The LORD gives Israel its land and judges its cause.

Ammon claims that Israel took its land, and Jephthah answers with the history of Israel's journey. The LORD had defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and given Israel his territory (verses 19 to 23). Jephthah appeals to the LORD as Judge when Ammon demands it back.

God's Spirit equips Jephthah before the vow.

The Spirit comes on Jephthah as he moves toward Ammon (verse 29). His vow follows, and the LORD then delivers the enemy into his hand. God's gift of power is already present before Jephthah offers a bargain for the victory.

A rash vow brings grief into the rescuer's home.

Jephthah vows a burnt offering from whatever comes out to meet him. His only child comes with tambourines and dancing, and he tears his clothes in grief (verses 34 and 35). She mourns her virginity with companions for two months, then returns, and he carries out his vow.

Memorise

May Yahweh the Judge be judge today between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

Judges 11:27

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, how am I trying to earn the mercy Jesus freely gives?

Jephthah appeals to “Yahweh the Judge” and receives victory from Him. Yet the rescuer's vow brings sorrow to his own house. God's help cannot be purchased by making a reckless promise or offering Him something He forbids.

Jesus Christ came to save His people through perfect obedience to the Father's will. At the cross He bore the punishment their sins deserved and offered Himself willingly in their place. Through that one offering He has fully secured peace with God for all who believe. God raised Him into life that death can never end. No further sacrifice is needed to complete His saving work.

Please turn from your sin and trust Jesus. You do not have to bargain for His mercy or promise something costly enough to deserve it. No sinner who relies on Him will be turned away without forgiveness. Rest your hope in the Savior God has given.

Parent's note

Tell your children that a Christian home cannot save them. Explain Jephthah's vowed burnt offering and his daughter's return carefully, keeping the chapter's grief. If a child asks what happened, read verse 39 as it stands and say God never asked for this vow. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His righteous judgment and the finished sacrifice of Christ, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear:

1 Peter 1:17

Lord God, thank You that You judge justly and give deliverance that no vow can buy. Please forgive our foolish words and our attempts to earn Your favor. Teach us to trust Christ and obey Your Word. Help us receive Your mercy with humble and thankful hearts. Amen.