1. Total Collapse Total Grace Judges 10:6-16

7. Judges 3:12 (ESV) 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.

8. Judges 4:1 (ESV) And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died.And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died.

9. Judges 6:1 (ESV) The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.

10. Judges 10:6 (ESV) The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him. The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him.

11. This is a description of over the top disastrous abandonment of God!

14. Consequences follow unfaithfulness So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites, and they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year.

15. Consequences follow unfaithfulness For eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. (Judges 10:7-8) For eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. (Judges 10:7-8)

17. Dagon – god of the Philistines The “corn” god and the father of baalThe “corn” god and the father of baal

18. Molech or Milcom – the god of the Ammonites

19. The consequences produce ripple effects And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed. (Judges 10:9)

20. The consequences produce ripple effects

21. A broken covenant leads to a covenant lawsuit

23. God hears the misery of His people And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.”

24. God reminded them of His faithfulness And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines?

25. God reminded them of His faithfulness The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. (Judges 10:11-12)

26. God refused to save them Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. (Judges 10:13)

27. God refused to be used again Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” (Judges 10:14)

28. They responded with more insincere words of repentance. And the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.” (Judges 10:15)

29. They responded with more insincere words of repentance. A conversion of convenience does not impress God – instead it stirs up God’s anger.A conversion of convenience does not impress God – instead it stirs up God’s anger.

30. Misery, not insincere repentance moved the heart of God So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. (Judges 10:16)

31. Bottom Line: God is both mercy and justice so He must respond to our unfaithfulness with both mercy and justice.

32. For those not yet living a Jesus-centered life Give yourself over to God’s grace – quit trusting your “works of repentance” for your salvation!Give yourself over to God’s grace – quit trusting your “works of repentance” for your salvation!

34. For those living a Jesus- centered life Never let sin go unchecked. Never let sin go unchecked.

35. For those living a Jesus- centered life Attempting to manipulate God through insincere repentance will only lead to disaster.Attempting to manipulate God through insincere repentance will only lead to disaster.

37. For those living a Jesus- centered life Live in genuine accountability for the sake of your Jesus-centered authenticity.Live in genuine accountability for the sake of your Jesus-centered authenticity.