Today I should be sharing a message about “a few good men and women” based on the book of Judges. But the problem with Sunday morning messages is that I spend a bunch of time crafting the message only for half the people to not come, and the half that does come will only hear the message once. Very rarely… if it is an amazing message, will a couple of people listen to the message more than once. But a song.. a song people will listen to over and over again. If only I could take this message about “a few good men and women” and put it in the form of a song… this week, let’s not talk about it… let’s sing about it.

Judges 3:7-15

7 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died. 12 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 13 He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms. 14 And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. 15 Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.

Judges 3:27b-30

27 When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader. 28 And he said to them, “Follow after me, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites and did not allow anyone to pass over. 29 And they killed at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; not a man escaped. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

For Adult Homes and Groups 

1. Read Judges 3:7-30, noticing how the “sin cycle” below is repeated: • The people do what is evil in the sight of the Lord • The people feel the consequences of their sins and cry out to God • The Lord raises up a deliverer who saves them • The people finally have rest 

2. As we talk about the “few good men and women” God uses to lead and deliver His people... who are the few good men and women that God has used to lead you? In what ways did they “deliver” you from a self-destructive cycle? 

3. Who are the people in your community for whom you are one of their “few good men and women?” Or said differently, who are the people God is using you to lead and “deliver?” 

4. Pray for the people in your life… a prayer of thanks for the men and women who have faithfully influenced you (and continue to do so)… and a prayer asking for God’s wisdom as you faithfully lead others.

For Families with Kids 

Memory Verse: 1 Peter 4:10 - Read it, talk about it, and learn it! 

1. Samson made choices outside of God’s will, and there were consequences. We each have gifts to serve God and can make choices to follow God or ignore His commandments. What is a gift God has given you? How can you serve God with that gift? How can we get closer to God as a family? Think of some ways you can serve God as a family. 

2. Pray, “Thank You for the gifts and talents You give to each of us in our family. Forgive us for the times we get far away from You. Bring us closer to You and to each other as we discover ways to serve You and follow Your commandments. Amen .”