FAITH
Text: Hebrews 11
Lesson Twenty-five – V.32
Examples of the ancients who were commended for their faith: (Cont’d.)
JEPHTHAH [Part 1]: V.32 – And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
See Judges 10:6 – 12:7 for the story of Jephthah.
See (Judges 10:6-14) – From these verses, the Lord continues to urge us to avoid sin and its terrible consequences. See Lesson 21, Judges 13:1 and the accompanying passages.
Judges 10:15-16 – 15But the Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” 16Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.
Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD – Let us thank the Lord for the hope contained in: 1 Peter 3:10-12 – 10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer – Note: Exodus 34:6-7 – 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”
Psalm 103:13-14 – 13As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
Isaiah 63:9 – In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
2 Corinthians 1:3 (GNT) – Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes!
Hebrews 4:14-16 – 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
1 Peter 5:6-7 – 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
(AMP) 6 Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, 7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
Judges 11:1 – Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute.
Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior – Let us thank the Lord that He is again exhorting us to “fight the good fight of the faith.” (1Timothy 6:12a)
See Ephesians 6:10-18.
Judges 11:2 – Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.”
Let us thank the Lord for the wonderful privilege of 1 Peter 2:9-10 – 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Judges 11:3 – So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him.
A group of adventurers – (AMP) – Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men gathered around Jephthah and went on raids with him.
Let us thank the Lord that He is directing us to: Psalm 1:1 – Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
Proverbs 14:7 – Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
Proverbs 24:1 – Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company;
1 Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?