Sunday School Lesson for July 17, 2011: Use God’s Strength (Judges 3:15-25, 29, 30)

1 Chronicles 12:2
they were armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows or to sling stones right-handed or left-handed; they were relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin):





Judges 20:12
The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you?





1 Samuel 9:21
“But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel,



Romans 2:11
For there is no respect of persons with God.



Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.







There are two distinct aspects to today’s lesson. Please allow me to briefly speak to both. Israel cried out to God and God sent them Ehud. Like many other biblical characters, Ehud may not have been a pillar of Israel’s society from a character stand point. He was from the tribe of Benjamin, the least regarded of the twelve. In addition to being least regarded, the Benjamites had an edge to them. I won’t take time in this venue to fully explain, but suffice it to say that the tribe of Benjamin was from the ‘other side of the tracks’. Additionally, Ehud was left handed. Left handedness in mentioned in relation to the tribe of Benjamin frequently. Amongst the Israelites, left handedness was akin to a birth defect, but, and this is important, left handed soldiers were particularly skilled fighters, greatly feared. Left handed soldiers in particular carried a rather sinister aura. Think of Ehud as ‘the neighborhood bully’ or ‘ the trouble maker who was also a gifted athlete’ or…..’a hit man’. Ehud was 'dangerous'.

Maybe you know some people like Ehud. I do. I’ve had friends and have friends who were ‘Ehud’. I have two separate groups of relatives who are ‘Ehud’. They’re OK as long as you stay on their ‘good side’. If they don’t show up at the reunion, every one breathes a little easier. You know the person I’m talking about. The guy who hasn’t had a good time until a fight has broken out. The guy who’s ‘packed’, and not particularly for the purpose of self defense. Ehud was that guy. With this in mind, consider the following:

Ehud was selected by his countrymen to perform this task, to rid Israel of the over lord King of Moab. A probable ‘suicide mission’. If Ehud didn’t make it back, who would miss him? However, God was with Ehud. In fact, God chose Ehud and God sent Ehud. God is not a respecter of persons. Beloved, If God…. If God would use a ‘bad actor’ like Ehud to deliver Israel, he can use anybody. As it turns out, Saul of Tarsus was from the tribe of Benjamin. He persecuted the early Church, killing many believers and was greatly feared. By his own words he was the ‘chief of sinners’. Surlines had not left the tribe of Benjamin. But God stopped Him on the road to Damascus. God opened His eyes and revealed Himself to Saul. He changed him so deeply, that after that day He was known as Paul, the greatest Apostle and author of the two thirds of the New Testament. Aside from Jesus, the single greatest influence on the Church as we know it. Paul: a descendant of Ehud.

With my second point, I’ll be brief. Ehud faced Israel’s great enemy head on. He set an example for how we should confront the greatest hindrances in our own lives: directly. His weapon of choice: a double edged sword, representative of the Word of God. Internalize the Word and the Word will deliver you and keep you. He brought a tribute large enough to have to be carried by the King’s servants, but after he killed the king, he left the tribute, left the dead king, locked the door behind him and left. No looking back, no hesitation. He was poorer and richer on that very day. He left a great deal behind, but he gained relationship and intimacy with God and deliverance and peace for Israel. What ever it is in your life you need to lock the door on…. Just do it!



Blessings,



.wb





Acts 8:3
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.





Acts 9:5
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.





Romans 11:1
[ The Remnant of Israel ] I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.







1 Timothy 1:15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.