1. INCOMPLETE CONQUEST (Judges 1:1 - 2:5)

Judah and Simeon decide to fight together to take their allotted territory (Judges 1:2 ). God fulfilled His promise and delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand (Judges 1:4 ). They settled for less, just as the rest of the tribes did. This incomplete victory set the stage for dreary years of defeat, godless influence, and domination by enemies.

Judges 1:8 "Now the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem and took it; they struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire." (NKJV)

The victory over the Jebusites was only partial and temporary.

Judges 1:21 "And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day." (KJV)

Without complete commitment to God and His Word there is no complete Victory. Failure to stand in faith in the commands and promises of God breeds trouble for later.

Specific commands:

Deuteronomy 7:2 "And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly." (KJV)

We are called to victory over the world, and separation from its wickedness (2 Corinthians 6:17 ). Don't be unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14 ). Don't love worldliness (1 John 2:15-17 ). Overcome the world with your faith.

1 John 5:4"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (KJV)

By obedience to Christ, and faith in His Word, we do defeat sin and overcome. Don't let your fights of faith be inconclusive through lack of committed faith. Othniel was a man with fighting faith who won a bride who knew the value of springs of water (Judges 1:12-15 ). Those who do exploits today need partners who appreciate Holy Spirit rivers of living water (John 7:37-39 ).

The victories that these verses record were again not full but partial. They failed to drive out the inhabitants (Judges 1:27, 30-32, 33 ). Instead of completing the mission as instructed by God, they compromised by putting the inhabitants under tribute to them (Judges 1:28-30, 33 ). This meant forced labor and taxation.

Sound teaching must never be compromised for gain, or to force others into subjection (1 Peter 5:2-3 ). It is possible to be shipwrecked and to cause others to be so by compromising the faith. Timothy was charged to war a good warfare.

1 Timothy 1:19 "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck" (KJV)

Faith in the integrity of the Word of God, and a good conscience that we are proclaiming it in its truth, and practicing it in conduct, will keep us from compromise that ends in shipwreck.

The "angel of the LORD" (KJV) was the Lord Himself - an appearance of God in a form perceptible by the human senses (called a theophany). Israel was confronted with the fact that God had warned of disobedience to the mission of total conquest.

Judges 2:2 "'And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?'" (NKJV)

God had been faithful to His covenant, Israel failed to fulfill their pledge of obedience. God told them that consequently their compromise would prove a snare to them. The remaining population of Canaan proved a fatal influence in leading Israel into idolatry - and retribution from God: "their gods shall be a snare unto you" (Judges 2:3 KJV). Israel wept because of the message of judgment. "Bochim" means "weepers". Later idolatrous practices show their weeping to have been superficial, and not the tears of repentance.

God is faithful to keep His part of any agreement He makes with His people - the good news is that we serve a dependable God. The consequence of man's unfaithfulness is always defeat, captivity and dispersion. Joining other religious groups who deny the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, will put us on the side that is opposed to God and is alienated from God, and can only bring personal disaster.

1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (KJV)

We cannot associate with any other form of false mediation, whether humanistic, pagan, or religious.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Can you expect the victory God promises when faced up to foes of your spiritual life? (Judges 1:4 ).
2. Do you think that not doing all God asks of you will mean trouble in the future? (Judges 1:21; Deuteronomy 7:2-4 ).
3. What do you have that makes you an overcomer of the world? (1 John 5:4 ).
4. What New testament truth is suggested by the value Othniel's bride put on springs of water? (Judges 1:12-15; John 7:37-39 ).
5. Do you think it permissible to join other religious groups who deny the truth as it is in Christ Jesus? (Judges 2:2-3 ).