Good day. Let's turn to Judges, Chapter 10. What is the theme of this chapter? The theme we have identified is God Raises Judges to Deliver Israel.

I. Tola Arises to Deliver Israel

The deeds of Tola are not recorded in detail in the Bible, so we need not fabricate stories. But one thing is certain: with this judge leading Israel, the Israelites did not worship foreign gods. This tells us that when God raises a leader to deliver Israel, the result is evident.

Tola arose and delivered Israel. We do not know exactly how Tola governed Israel, but the Bible tells us that Tola arose and delivered Israel. Tola's rise came after Abimelech, Gideon's son, ruled Israel for three years. Abimelech did no good during these three years and died, leaving a mess. Without leadership, the Israelites did as they pleased, faced calamities, and were oppressed by foreigners.

In the days of Tola, the Israelites once again cried out to God, and God raised up Tola to deliver them. Although Tola's actions are not recorded in the Bible, under his rule, the Israelites dared not worship foreign gods. The reason is simple: these judges had strict methods of governance. If anyone worshiped foreign gods, the judge would send people to arrest and punish them. So leadership is important, but it cannot solve the problem of the human heart.

The Israelites may have still wanted to worship foreign gods in their hearts, but they dared not. We see some people who live well after leaving the church, which is puzzling. The other day when we were eating, we met a brother and sister who used to be among us, now with two children, living very well. I often say: if you feel that serving God is not good, you are free to choose. But at that time, God raised up Tola to deliver Israel. I think to myself, people do not know who the true God is until they encounter calamity.

II. Jair Arises to Deliver Israel

After him, Jair of Gilead arose and judged Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode on thirty donkeys. They had thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. (Judges 10:3-5)

Jair died and was buried in Kamon. I don't know why it is written this way, but anyway, he was buried there, and we are not very concerned. So where is the problem? The person writing the Book of Judges recorded a very short story: Jair judged Israel for twenty-two years. Jair arose, he came to govern Israel. Did the Israelites do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord? No. Why not? Because Jair was also very powerful. Remember, if you are not powerful, you cannot be a leader.

Jair and Tola, they all governed Israel with an iron rod. This Jair is similar to the story of Gideon. If the Bible were to write all the stories of these judges, you would find that the stories are roughly the same. The Bible does not mention how Jair arose, so why did the Israelites listen to Jair? In fact, the Israelites had no reason to have to listen to Jair. Something must have happened, and then Jair was raised up by God to be the judge of Israel. Jair judged Israel for twenty-two years. Thank God, they did not worship foreign gods, nor did they do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Jair judged Israel for twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode on thirty donkeys, and owned thirty towns. You say, why record this? If not this, then what? Did he have no other stories to write? He had other stories. But it doesn't say how the other stories governed Israel, but the result of the governance was that the Israelites wanted to do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord in their hearts, but they dared not.

So how did Jair govern? It was similar to Gideon's method. Jair had thirty sons, so how did he have thirty sons? Perhaps it was like this: if one wife gave birth to three or four, then with thirty sons, he must have had many wives. Was there a beauty pageant? I don't know. How did Jair get so many wives, so many concubines, and have so many sons? Everyone driving a car, riding thirty donkeys, and each person owning a town. Was there corruption? I don't know.

Anyway, Jair had thirty sons, who rode on thirty donkeys, probably like a car worth two hundred thousand today. And they had thirty towns, each one belonging to his son, called Havvoth Jair, until this day. Later, Jair died.

This gives us a very interesting idea. At this time, the Israelites already wanted to worship idols in their hearts, wanted to do what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, they wanted it so badly. Later, Jair finally died, and the Israelites again did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. This story keeps repeating.

We must know that if God raises a Jair, God does not care about his thirty sons. God raises a Gideon, and does not care about his seventy sons. In the end, God does not care, but the Israelites care. The Israelites think: you can have so many wives, can't I? You can make so much money, have seventy sons, can't I? I also want to be a judge. In fact, God really does not care much. If you ask me, I have the Bible as my basis. As for how these bases are, opinions may vary.

Did God care that David took many wives? He didn't care. Did God care that he killed Uriah the Hittite and took Uriah's wife? It seems he didn't care too much. Gideon took so many wives and had so many sons, and God didn't care. Jair had thirty sons, had so many wives, and had so many towns, and God didn't care. But what God cares about is whether people do what is evil in the eyes of the Lord, to serve Baal and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites. Do you understand?

So I think: maybe at this time, when the Israelites saw that Jair was dead, you can imagine how happy they were in their hearts. We see the leaders of many countries in exile. Iraq was overthrown, Saddam was sentenced to death, and the people were very happy. It was probably like that situation. As soon as Jair died, the Israelites again did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. Strange? That is to say, in their hearts, do they not know the stories that the Israelites experienced? They know.

But the Israelites always feel full of all kinds of confusion in their hearts, that is to say, this kind of confusion only says after experiencing disaster: Ah, it turns out that Jehovah is the true God. It is all like this, so brothers and sisters, when you come before God, you must remove the root of loving the world in your hearts. If you do not remove the root of loving the world, other things are difficult to do. I think to myself: after I die, everyone will be extremely happy, finally able to do as they please. May God have mercy!

III. No Judge, Everyone Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes

The Book of Judges records how God raised up judges to accomplish the work He wanted them to do. So, we need to know what happens when the Israelites have no leader. And if they were to raise up a leader at this time, and the people did not recognise him, who could control these Israelites? No one could. If someone tried to control them, the Israelites would pull a long face and say, What's it to you? I want to do things my way. I want to do what is evil in the eyes of Jehovah. I like to serve Baal and I like to serve Ashtaroth.

Does everyone know what Ashtaroth and Baal are? The things behind these idols are very licentious. If you look at some countries where homosexuality is legalised, such licentious things are very normal. The people there seem to be doing fine. Have you been to the Netherlands? In the Netherlands, drug use is legalised, homosexuality is legalised, everything is legal. You can do whatever you want there. The country is doing well, it's quite wealthy. You can walk on the streets and it's all good. Is there a problem? No problem, but it is doing what is evil in the eyes of Jehovah.

The Israelites were thinking about worldly things. When they looked at these things, did they feel dizzy or not? They did. The Israelites thought, Isn't this great? Why is it not allowed? Such entertainment is so rich! With your rules, we can't do what we want. What is it? Do you judges have to make us wear black cloth, cover our heads, and only show two small eyes? Is that how you want to control us? I like it this way. The beaches are so nice, everyone can legally show off their perfect bodies there, without any covering. Isn't that great?

This group of Israelites, without a leader, without management, abandoning God, everyone did what was right in their own eyes. People followed the desires of their flesh. The Book of Judges expresses a very important theme: Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

IV. The Israelites Encountered Distress

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon. And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years; all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. (Judges 10:7-8)

We must know that God’s people cannot do this. If you do this, God will raise up Israel’s enemies, using these Ammonites, Amorites, and Philistines to harass them. The Israelites began to become poor, become destitute. Alas, it was terrible. They worked hard to till the land, and then others came to steal their money. You till the land, and others reap the harvest. You work for nothing. You raise sheep, and others eat the mutton.

Brothers and sisters, we must know that the Book of Judges is written for us. If we worship idols as the Israelites did, we just don't know when God's anger will break out against us. If God's anger breaks out against us, what will happen? Then the Ammonites and Philistines will come to harass and oppress you. You slowly and carefully ponder, some people are very strange, inexplicably very busy, very tired, very hard, and still can't earn money. Whoever wants to bully you bullies you, whoever wants to kick you kicks you. Alas, how can it be so strange? The Israelites encountered distress, and they pleaded with God. This time, what God said was very interesting.

And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will save you no more. (Judges 10:11-13)

God was really angry. Time and time again He saved the Israelites, and time and time again they forsook God. Did they have a reason to forsake God? Absolutely they had reasons. If they thought Tola had problems, they could find a whole bunch of them. If they thought Gideon had problems, they could find a whole bunch of them. If they thought Jair had problems, they could also find them. But God didn't care. God saved the Israelites through these judges. And then, this time they encountered distress again, and called on God again. God said this:

Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. (Judges 10:14)

V. Only in Distress Do You Know Who Is the God Who Saves You

You don't know until you encounter trouble. The Israelites just started worshipping these Baals and Ashtaroths, worshipping these gods of Aram, gods of Sidon, gods of Moab, gods of the Ammonites, gods of the Philistines, forsaking Jehovah and not serving Him. It looks pretty good, but who knows how long it will last. If you give me the guts, I wouldn't dare, because I know that in distress, only God is the God who saves me. Some of our brothers and sisters are half-hearted, seemingly yes, seemingly no, that is very troublesome. So in this generation, you know, God really wants to raise us up, because we will not compromise in this matter of serving God.

Like those judges back then, they didn't compromise much. Serving other gods is not allowed, treating your work as God is not allowed, treating your studies as God is not allowed, treating your business as God is not allowed, treating your family as God is not allowed. If you want to serve other gods, then you can go to another church. If you are a person who gratifies the flesh, you can find a pastor who gratifies the flesh. If you love the world, you can find a pastor who loves the world. If you like to discern good and evil, then it is best to find a church that discerns good and evil, that has a pastor who is extremely discerning of good and evil, then the shepherding will definitely be good.

We already know that in distress, only God is the God who saves us. Because of this, so coming among us, our requirements are still a bit high. If you want to do what is right in your own eyes, then you can't stay. Alas, I am especially grateful to our small group leaders and these pastoral leaders, sometimes their requirements are quite high, I have to thank God that they dare to require this. When they finish requiring, the person being required bares their teeth, and then this won't do, that won't do, the words they say are simply words of doing what is right in their own eyes. What to do? That's simple, what we can't handle, we give it to God.

But as long as you are among us, we still have requirements. You are still able to stay among us today, you really have some skills. So those brothers and sisters among us who encounter disasters and distress outside, they come among us, and they know that God is the God who saves you. Thank God, although God said: I will save you no more. It's almost like we can't shepherd you anymore, but actually people don't expect us to shepherd them. We say: We can't control you anymore. People say: Who asked you to control me? So people are like this.

So we must know that God is really angry at this time: When you encounter distress, go find those idols you worship. Find those pastors who gratify the flesh to pray for you, find those pastors who love the world, who have built a church that loves the world, go find them. As a result, it doesn't work. At this time, God prepares a judge again. At this time, the hearts of the Israelites, I don't know how they become so united.

VI. The Israelites Removed the Foreign Gods From Among Them

And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. (Judges 10:15)

Alas, how did the Israelites become so united? How did they start to become so obedient? They removed the foreign gods from among them, and then served Jehovah. They suddenly discovered that actually God has abundant grace and mercy. Although God said: I will not save you, go find your idols. But if people really forsake idols and start to truly worship God. I tell you, God still has abundant grace and mercy! But is it necessary for people to have to experience so much back and forth? There is no need.

Why did the Israelites bring in these foreign gods back then? Why did they want to serve them? Strange, right? Very strange. Can serving them get any benefits? I tell you, as long as you treat your business as God, as long as you treat your work as God, as long as you treat your family as God, as long as you treat these things as God, then it is only a matter of time.

If you are truly the people chosen by God, something will definitely happen after you finish serving. I hope everyone knows that if you are chosen by God, if you slightly mess with an idol, something will definitely happen, because you belong to God. God had already chosen you before the creation of the world, and He doesn't allow you to mess with these idols. Other people mess with them and they are fine, other people leave the church and they are fine, other people worship idols and they are fine. But we mess with idols, that won't do, God doesn't even give us a choice.

If you are chosen by God, there is God's mark on your body, God sees you as very precious, and then you do a very lowly thing, bring an idol into your home, finished, something happens. What to do at this time? It's no use no matter how much you cry to heaven and earth. We must remove the foreign gods, we must never again do what is right in our own eyes like the Israelites, starting to know that this path doesn't work. Until now, there are still people who experience it again and again, but when it comes to the crucial moment, they still drop the ball.

We shouldn't force God to say: Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. These words sound, it's hard. Remove the foreign gods inside us, we can no longer be attracted to those foreign gods because of these things. Are you confused today or not? People who don't believe in God, they get into Tsinghua and Peking University, but people who believe in the Lord don't get in, don't you find it strange? You will think in your heart: It's so good to worship that one, look how good it is to go to Tsinghua and Peking University after worshipping that Buddha. We serve God so much, how come we still haven't gotten in? People's hearts are full of confusion.

If we want to pick some reasons, find the problems with these judges raised up by God, there are many things that cause these confusions. Someone testified that after praying, God let her give birth to a child. People who don't believe in God give birth to ten, five. Some time ago, someone said to me: Teacher, do you know, a certain brother has five children now, he didn't have any when he was in our church. I smiled. He said: What are you laughing at? I said: Alas, he lost his spiritual children, and raised many carnal children.

People did things that corrupted the church, and still gave birth to five children. You worked so hard or put in so much effort, and only managed to get one child. You worked so hard to do business, and after a long time, the business still didn't prosper much. And other people's businesses are booming. We say those who worship idols, actors are so popular, singers are so popular, we just can't be as popular as them. If you want to be as popular as them, you can also mess with an idol. They can mess with it, but when you finish messing with it, Jehovah God's anger will be against Israel. Wouldn't you say this is troublesome?

What exactly is our core interest in our hearts? If our core interest is the things of this world, then it's bad, we will go to worshipping idols sooner or later. Don't say that worshipping idols can really help you love the world, but God doesn't let us love the world, because loving it will lead to disaster sooner or later.

I wish that we don't experience this kind of thing, but we still have to remove the foreign gods in our hearts, remove our core interests inside us, that thing messes around and starts to sprout, then messes around and starts to grow, then messes around and starts to provoke God's anger. Why? Because people treat the illusory things of this world as real.

VII. Concerned in Heart Because of the Suffering of the Israelites

The person who wrote the Book of Judges is quite interesting, he said: Jehovah God was concerned in heart because of the suffering of the Israelites. The flavor in these words is quite strong, so what is God concerned about? Some people say: God, wouldn't it be over if you took action to save them? Hurry up, stop dawdling. God is concerned that the faith of the Israelites inside them cannot hold up at this time, concerned that they start to think that God really won't save them, concerned that their faith collapses at this crucial moment, and they fail completely. Thank God! When the Israelites encountered disaster, they really started to seek God, they really wanted to choose to serve God.

God's concern in heart is being concerned about this, why do I know? Alas, we who are pastors, I don't know about others, but for myself, after ministering to a brother, I speak very heavily, and I am concerned in my heart. When shepherding a sister, why is my heart concerned? Because I am afraid she can't bear it. If you speak lightly, she will walk along her path. If you speak heavily, can she bear it? I really don't want people to collapse. After measuring for a long time, I said: Sister, this is your foolishness. Do I like to say this? I don't like to say this, but if I don't say it this way, how should I say it? I can't say: May God be gracious to you, may God grant you peace. Her path is not a path of peace, she definitely can't.

Would you say it's difficult? God! It's too difficult. God's heart has been made full of holes by us, God speaks heavily, God is afraid that our faith will collapse, God speaks lightly, it's useless, so God is concerned in His heart. Thank God! This time, the Israelites are about to rise again, about to turn back to God, and God is about to raise up a judge again, to save the Israelites.

Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. (Judges 10:17-18)

No one dared to go up, and no one patted their chest and said: I'll do it. These leaders of the Israelites, when they removed the idols, everyone was of one heart and mind, gathered together, and said: Let's fight a battle with the Ammonites. As a result, these Ammonites encamped in Gilead, and the Israelites encamped in Mizpeh. That was real swords and real spears. Everyone, do you know what that feeling in their hearts was like?

You can put yourself in their shoes and think about it, you are one of them, can this battle be won? The Israelites thought in their hearts: Alas, God has said, when you encounter distress, let those idols save you. Alas, will God save us? This time it's troublesome, God doesn't want to save us, and we have removed these idols, alas, Ashtaroth, Baal, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, the gods of the Philistines, we have offended all of them. We have offended this side, and we have also offended that side, you say this is not in the village and not in the shop, what to do? Will God save us?

When we people have made a mess, turned back to God, and hope that God will save us, our mentality is probably like this. At this time, can we win this battle? The Israelites' hearts were up and down, and when they looked at the enemy army, the flags were waving, it was boundless, like locusts, and when they looked at their own side, you look at me, I look at you. Some people say: What are you looking at me for? Do you think I will rush up? I won't. Don't look at me, let's have a meeting and see who will go. Will you go? I won't go. Alas, my goodness, then what are we doing here for?

The Israelites said: If we don't come here, these Ammonites will come to rob our property, cattle, sheep, grain, chickens, geese, and eggs, goose eggs, all will belong to them. Alas, what to do? At this time, the Israelites, the Gileadites! Their hearts were in their throats, thinking: Is God the God who saves us? We have removed the idols, we have turned back to God, we are going to serve Jehovah God. Is that so? No, the Israelites are still serving their family's chickens, geese, grain.

Actually, would you say God is difficult? God is so difficult. Let you have a good life, and you worship idols, let you encounter a little distress, and you are just protecting your family's little property, it's still this kind of core interest, it's still moving your foundation, cutting off your financial path, in the end it's still for money.

Do the Israelites have a heart to serve God? I ask you, doesn't God know in His heart? God knows everything clearly in His heart: You stinky boys, it touched your cheese, it touched your family's chickens, geese, granaries, bank accounts. When you get to living a hard life, you start to turn back to Me, it's still for that little thing. God is concerned in His heart, but it doesn't matter, just this little bit of turning back. I tell you, God will raise up again to save the Israelites.

VIII. God Will Raise Up Again to Save the Israelites

God raised up the son of a prostitute, someone that everyone looks down on. But never mind, looking down on him is looking down on him, he is also someone who endures hardship. Everyone doesn't want to die, everyone wants to live. So God chose Jephthah. Alas, why does this generation have to enter this kind of death cycle?

I tell you, we are not born into famous families, we are unknown, and we can't even talk about being orthodox. But, if God raises us up, we can become vessels used by God, saving God's people from the devil and enemies. There are many people among us who have experienced God's grace, why? Because in this generation, God has chosen many pastors, to make them rise up, shepherd God's flock, and save people from the sin of worshipping idols.

Today we cry to heaven and earth, to let everyone escape these sins of loving the world and gratifying the flesh. It's not anything else, because this path is the path of destruction, so we must walk the path of life. Maybe your business is not as good as the business of those who worship idols; maybe you this internet celebrity is not as good as the internet celebrity of those who worship idols; maybe the work you do is not as good as the work done by those who worship idols. But it doesn't matter, our God is our provider, we don't belong to this world, we are to return to our God, start to become holy, and become holy in God's eyes. Amen!

I wish to bless everyone at the New Year, may God raise you up, may God choose you, raise you up, and become a blessing to many people. I wish everyone heart's desires come true, may God be with you in all things, and may all things go smoothly.

May God bless everyone!