Love Hurts

 

The problem with love is it makes us vulnerable.  Only people we love can truly hurt us.  Since we are created in the image of God, then why would it be any different for Him?  Turns out, it’s not.

 

Judges 10:13-14 - But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”

Things to think about:

·       Judges 10 is just another verse in the same song that goes something like this:

o   God rescues His people

o   They become complacent and replace Him with false gods

o   Judgement ensues and they pay for their sins through hardship

o   A crisis brings the situation to a head

o   The people admit they are in the wrong a cry out for help

o   Initially, God said No 

§  But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”

§  God is hurt and because He is righteous, it is His prerogative to tell them No

o   Persistence with their plea

§  But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.”

o   Repentance

§  They turned from their sin - then they got rid of the foreign gods among them

§  Turned to God through obedience - and served the Lord. 

·       Mercy

o   And He could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

o   One of God’s most distinguishing qualities is His mercy (us not getting what we deserve)

o   He loved them too much to take a hardline, even though He was fully in His rights to

o   The relationship is more important than being right.

·       What applications can you see in your own life?

o   When you have been shown mercy by someone

§  If you are a believer this is an easy question

o   When you have shown mercy to someone (or could show mercy in a current situation)

o   Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Bonus Content

·       Deliverance

o   Judges 11:32-33 -  Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

o   Uses those who are available to be used, not the most distinguished

§  Son of a prostitute

§  His brothers drove him away

§  Psalm 118:23 - The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;

o   God regularly uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise

§  Maybe He could even use you and me!