Ehud & Eglon - A Greater Salvation | Judges 3:12-30 | Christian Swanson

I saw a clip online recently and it was of a reporter interviewing a pastor. And this reporter was from a prominent news network. And this reporter see but you could tell that he was trying to get this pastor to squirm. He was trying to get this pastor to blush, to be ashamed regarding what God's word says. And this pastor told the reporter, I refuse to be embarrassed by anything that I would find in God's word.

To that I say amen. May we all have this same resolve. Let me remind you tonight that you do not have to be embarrassed by anything that you might come across in your bible. May we never be ashamed to testify that we hold fast to every single word found within these pages. And may we never blush when we confess that we are followers of Jesus Christ.

Reputation. And if you really dig and look into this passage, it. I do not share their limit. Paul tells us in second Timothy, do not be ashamed at the testimony of our Lord. Christ is the word made flesh.

And by God's grace, to be hold Christ tonight. Made manifest before us in this meeting. Oh Lord, we want to see your son. We want to be made more like him. We pray that you would get rid of any distraction.

Focus us on your word, that you would quicken us to hear from you. We pray, oh Lord, that you would help us behold wondrous things out of your law. Be with us tonight. It is vanity if you are not. Oh, be with us and help us and help me to declare your word.

In Jesus name. Amen. Turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Judges. Fascinating story of E hoot and 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.

He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of Palms. Our story begins with that tragic word, again. Look back at verse 12, and the people of Israel, again, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. This first verse should break your heart.

Israel, again, has done what is evil in the sight of God. And if you were to go on from here and read the rest of the book of Judges, you would read of repeated apostasy from the people of Israel. That time and time again, Israel, like a dog, returns to her vomit. This cycle of apostasy that we see throughout judges reveals to us an important truth. That the human heart is inherently rebellious to the Lord.

The human heart is depraved. Your heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick. Each of our hearts runs to sin because we are fallen creatures verse 12 that the Lord strengthened Eglon, the king of Moab, against Israel. It was God who raised up this adversary against his own people. And God, in giving Israel over to the hand of an oppressor, he's being faithful to his word.

I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you. Israel has not been careful to obey the voice of the Lord. Thus, God is carrying out his divine discipline that he has promised. God is fulfilling his promise to punish Israel's disobedience.

And while this is And while this is and courageous. Let's consider two more final thoughts from these first first verses before we move on. In verse 13, we read that King Eglon formed a military alliance Yeah. That this would serve as a reminder to us you are in a war, Christian. You're in a war, and numerous are your enemies.

And know this, it is only through your union and communion with Christ that you will ever overcome them. So, that you will ever overcome them. Lastly, we read in verse 13 that Eglon took over the city of Of Palms is Jericho. And Jericho, as I'm sure you know, was the very first city that Joshua and all of Israel conquered when they entered the promised land. And what a testimony that was.

By their faith, God brought down the walls of Jericho. But now, we come to the book of judges and we see Israel defeated and Jericho is serving as the enemy's headquarters. What can we learn from this? It can easily return and rule over you. And the people of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.

The people of Israel cried out to the Lord and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjamin Knight, Lord. Yeah. The people of Israel finally started to pray. But I think what follows should stun us even more. Deliver.

This should make you rejoice at the great compassion of our or further chastisement. And I want to stress here that the scripture tells us that it was the Lord who raised up. And what does the Lord call? And what does the Lord call? And what does the Lord call?

And what does the Lord call? And what does the Lord call? And what does the Lord call? And And what does the Lord call him? A deliverer.

The Holy Spirit does not say the Lord raised up a murderer or the Lord raised up a deceiver, or a liar. No. Ehud is a deliverer. He's a savior, and God raised him up. And what we are studying tonight, it's a story of deliverance and salvation.

Keep all this in mind as we continue. Now we are also told that Ehud was from the tribe of Benjamin and that he was left That's a fascinating detail. Right. That he was a And when you look into this, you'll see that there are really two you'll see that there are really two camps. The first camp believes that Ehud was actually disabled, that he couldn't use his right hand.

Translates to restricted in his right hand. So based on this verbiage, many have come to believe that Ehud was actually handicapped. That he could only use his right hand Or I'm sorry, only use, his left hand and he couldn't use his right hand. Now, I personally don't hold to this view. I am among those in the second kam, Ehud was a Benjaminite.

And when you consider the rest of scripture, you'll see that the tribe of Benjamin, they were left handed. To important references to consider are judges twenty, sixteen, all you need to know to understand this narrative is that Ehud was skilled in using his left hand and this was abnormal. It was uncommon to be left handed just as it is today. Most people are right handed. Lastly, let's not miss this final detail from verse 15.

Verse 15 ends by informing us that Ehud was among those selected by Israel to present tribute to King Eglon. Nations of antiquity were notoriously brutal in their treatment of defeated foe. It was common for domineering kings during this time to impose a tribute upon their conquered subjects. Meaning, these oppressive overlords would leverage high economic sanctions against their overthrown enemies. A or silver or oils, spices, crops, and we can be sure of this that this forced reoccurring gift would have kept the people of Israel in a state of helplessness.

The people of Israel were likely living just above the poverty line with no hope of escape and no hope for prosperity. This is just a peek into the state of Israel at this time. And what we will see now is that this man Ehud is not satisfied with this pathetic arrangement and he devises a plan to kill the king. Verse 16. And Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his clothes.

And he presented the tribute to king or to Eglon, king of Moab. Physical description But here, we get a physical description of King Eglon. And he's not just fat. He's very fat. Clearly fattening himself off the backs of the people of Israel.

Verse 18. Idols near Gilgal and said, I have a secret message for you, oh king. And he I have a secret message for you. Oh, and he commanded silence. And all his attendants went out from his presence.

And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, I have a message from God for you. And he arose from his seat and Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly. And the hilt also went in after the blade. And the blade closed or and the fat closed over the blade for he did not pull the sword out of his belly, and the dung came out.

Look back at verse 18 with me now. This detail is very easy to glance over. Read your Bible slowly. We see here that Ehud, along with some other Israelites, present the tribute to King Eglon. And then, Eglon sends them away.

Everyone leaves. Verse 18. And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he, being Eglon, sent away the people who carried the tribute. So understand this, Ehud and this small band of Israelites left. Eglon dismissed them.

They're headed home. So here's my question. Ehud had his two edged sword strapped to his leg and he got past security. It's likely here that Eglon's guards searched Ehud's left thigh for the weapon assuming that he was right handed. But we know that our deliverer was a lefty and that his weapon was actually on his right thigh.

Before the king. He's in Eglon's presence with his weapon. So again, here's my question. Why didn't he carry out his plan? Why didn't he kill the Why did he why did he why did he why did he why didn't he Now it's possible that Ehud was a very calculated man.

And leaving, after presenting the tribute, could all have been a part of his master plan. That's a possibility. But I'm not inclined to believe that and that's because of what we read in verse 19. But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal. Now this isn't dogmatic but I believe that Ehud was dealing with doubt and fear.

I think that there was intense spiritual warfare happening in Ehud's mind. He had to have known, if I do this, if I kill the king, I'm public enemy number one. I'm a dead man. And not only that, everyone else here with me, they may die. And our oppressors, in their rage, they may wipe out the rest of Israel as retribution.

So I think that Ehud was doubting the Lord's call on his life. That you, Ehud, you are to be a deliverer. But he doubts and so, as we read, he doesn't go through with it. He decides that now is not the time. And he leaves.

That is, until he reached the idols near Gilgal. Worship. The land was filled with idolatry and this false worship, it was heinous. It was disgusting. Just like other Canaanite gods, Moabite worship involved child sacrifice and ritual prostitution.

These worshippers, they would actually engage in religious orgies And the babies that would be conceived as a result of this, the congregation would come together again and sacrifice them. Burn them in the fire as sacrifices to their demonic gods. Swirling around in his mind. And so he decided not to go through with his plot because he had the chance. Right?

He had a clear shot at the king. He was before him but he chose not to execute until, that is, he came to the idols near Gilgal. And it was there, staring at all these gross idols, contemplating all that had become of the promised land, that I believe Ehud was provoked to act. Just like the Apostle Paul, whose spirit was provoked when he was in Athens. Acts seventeen sixteen.

Listen. Acts seventeen sixteen. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. Paul was provoked. Now that's a word you don't really hear anymore.

Duty. Ask you tonight, as you look around our land, as you stand in the gate and watch, all that comes and goes, as you behold the filth, the sin, the idols that are everywhere and each seems to be multiplying by the day, Are you provoked in your spirit? Are you stirred? Can you relate to Paul here? Do you relate to Ehud?

Do you resonate or is your heart cold? Are you among the many who claim Christ but are full of apathy and do nothing? Maybe you're in here tonight and you're completely numb. You're comfortable living in Sodom. If you've never felt this, this jealous burning for Christ, as you look around our land, if you've never been provoked in your spirit, then something's wrong.

Something is off and you need to get before God tonight and ask him to revive you. And I want to exhort you, Christian, that just like Ehud, you too have a two edged sword that you can wield to usher in salvation. And your sword, your sword is actually much sharper than Ehud's. It's more lethal, one could say. You have a deadlier weapon.

Hebrews chapter four verse 12. Living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. So Christian, take your sword out of its sheath. Practice with it. Learn how to rightly wield the sword of the spirit and put to death all the deeds of the flesh.

Kill everything that is contrary to Christ and let God use you to usher in salvation into the lives of those around you. The lives God has placed in your life. Verse 19. But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, I have a secret message for you, Oh King. And he commanded silence.

And all his attendants went out from his presence. And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, I have a message from God for you. And he arose from his seat. Just look how arrogant and foolish Eglon and his men are.

They don't perceive any sort of threat at all from Ehud. Ultimately though, this is what I want you to behold. Behold God's sovereignty here. This is the lords doing. God has sent everyone else away.

Ehud is once again before the king, left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. And the hilt also went in after the blade. And the flat the fat closed over the blade for he did not pull the sword out of his belly and the dung came out. Doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them. Now, my next point, it may shock you a little at first, but please bear with me.

I want you to know that these verses, they have an element of humor to them. They're comical, in a sense. What I mean by that, namely, is that these verses would have been very amusing to the Jew. I want us all to use our sanctified imaginations, as Pastor Daniel says. And let's put on our Israelite sandals.

You have been living under this wicked regime for eighteen years. That's a long time. MBC hasn't even been around for four yet. For eighteen years, you have been in a state of perpetual inescapable desperation. And after all these years have passed, you begin to realize my reality, my estate is a self inflicted wound.

This is my fault because I have forsaken God. And so, you cry out to him. Shortly after this, shortly after this, word comes to you. King Eglon's dead, lying in his own dawg with a sword lost in his fat belly. And not only that, let's read the rest of this account now.

Verse 24. Verse 24. When he had gone, the servants came. And when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them and there lay their lord dead on the floor.

Ehud escaped while they delayed and he passed beyond the idols and escaped to Syria. 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. And he said to them, follow after me for the Lord has given your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand. Did not allow anyone to pass over.

And they killed, at that time, about 10,000 of the Moabites, All strong, able-bodied men. Not a man escaped. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel and the land had rest for eighty years. For eighty years. Upon hearing this report, you would be overjoyed.

Your projection would be turned to laughter. By means of a left handed man. We're free. Ehud brought salvation to his people Israel. Salvation, it resulted in laughter and rejoicing.

It prompted joy and freedom. Now, if Ehud's salvation contained contained such glory, how much more our salvation that we have through Christ. Our salvation is far greater. Ehud's, it only lasted eighty years. Ours is eternal.

And Ehud could by no means give the people of Israel such manifold blessings and benefits that we daily partake in as blood bought Christians. Do not neglect so great a salvation that has been freely gifted to us. Glory. So laugh with me tonight. Won't you?

Let's laugh and let's rejoice in our great salvation. He's the fat king who died lying in his own dung. What a legacy. And as I dwelt on this, firstly, I once again couldn't help but think of Christ. And authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him.

Christ publicly humiliated his enemies. He has put principalities, rulers, and authorities to open shame. They're forever disgraced and Jesus Christ, he is ever triumphant. All the spiritual forces of evil, they were all laughing like hyenas when Christ was being nailed to the cross. But who's laughing now?

Not them. Christ rose. Christ lives. Christ ascended and he is seated at the right hand of the father. And through his death, burial and resurrection, you and I, we have been reconciled back to God through our repentance and faith.

So how humiliating is that for all those devils? They were all put to open shame and they know that their time is short because our king, he is coming again and he's coming soon. And when he comes, every knee will bow. Listen. You can bow now or you can bow later.

The decision is yours. On that great day, there will be many forced to bow to their own damnation because they refused to bow when they had the chance. So what are you waiting for? Let's bow tonight. Finally, I think Eglon's humiliation, it serves as a grave warning to all the kings of the earth.

Kings of the earth, be warned. Set yourself against the Lord and be so brazen as to even lay your hand upon his bride. You very well may become the butt of God's joke. You might end up with a legacy that is like eglons. So take heed, it is a perilous matter to oppress and crush God's people.

Let's end our time together now by looking at Psalm two. I think this is an appropriate way to end. You can turn there with me. Psalm two, and we'll start in verse one. Verse one.

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying, let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury saying, as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.

The Lord God Almighty laughing. God's laughter rumbling throughout the heavens. What does that sound like? And if you're in Christ, you'll hear it one day. With us and bless us this evening, Laura.

In Be with us and bless us this evening, Lord. In your name we pray. Amen.