Jephthah – Faith is Costly

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Sermon Outline

Introduction

Jephthah’s family background (Judg 11:1, 6:12, 1Sam 16:18)

1. 1. 1. 1. Jephthah was born to a prostitute or at the very least to a woman of sexual impropriety
         2. His childhood made him a fighter
         3. He as rejected (Judg 11:2-3)
         4. Lessons here
            1. Dangers in sexual immorality
            2. Consider the kind of people we are surrounded by (1Cor 15:33, Prov 22:24-25)

Jephthah’s bartering for the chief position (Judg 11:6-11)

1. 1. 1. 1. Their desperation
         2. Jephthah’s skeptical
         3. The bargain
         4.  Lesson:
            1. Desperation drives people into funny predicaments
            2. Don’t judge people based on their background there may be more faith in there than you realize (Lk 19:18, Judg 11:13, Josh 13:25).

Jephthah’s faith in diplomacy (Judg 11:23-24)

1. 1. 1. 1. Retelling the story of God’s Promised Land
            1. Jephthah recounts the situation differently.
            2. But Jephthah’s retelling moves from narrative to theological
            3. Finally, he makes a bold theological statement: The Lord is Judge (Judg 11:27)
         2. The Lord, The Judge…(11:27)

The Vow (Judg 11:29-30, WCF 22)

1. 1. 1. 1. Vows were normal and part of worship in the OT (Gen 28:20, 1Sam 1:11, Acts 18:18, 21:23-24
            1. The Law of God had many provisions for vows made to God as worship promises (Lev 27:2, Num 6:2-21, 30:2, Dt 23:21)
            2. David calls on people to fulfill their vows reminding them that God hears our promises (Ps 50:14, 61:5)
            3. But Leviticus also warns about unlawful vows (Lev 5:4-6)
         2. So the Question becomes this:
            1. Was Jephthah’s vow rash?
            2. Was it legal, i.e. good, or was it illegal, i.e. evil?
            3. Did he have to fulfill it?
         3. 2 perspectives on what happened to his daughter
            1. Burnt offering perspective (Lev 18:21)
               1. At least that is how the early church and the Jewish world understood the text
            2. Consecrated worshipper for life (Ex 21:25, Jud 11:37, 39)

Why is Jephthah included in Hebrews 11:32?

1. 1. 1. 1. Depends on which interpretation you take
         2. Faith is costly