Listen to the new sermon series Champions of Deliverance from the book of Judges. Othniel Judges 3:7-11

The Book of Judges—a sometimes overlooked, action-packed book of the Bible brimming with lessons for today’s readers and believers. Far from being a collection of “judgmental” stories, Judges is a record of ordinary men and women, flawed yet chosen, whom God used as “superheroes” to deliver His people. This series will encourage you to see yourself as a potential champion of deliverance in your world.

Why Study Judges?

When many first encounter Judges, the title itself may seem daunting. The assumption might be that it’s about people judging others. In truth, Judges is more like the “original Avengers”—full of miraculous feats, courageous leaders, and dramatic rescues. But unlike comic book heroes, these champions were civil leaders—farmers, warriors, and even outcasts—ordinary individuals God empowered to do the impossible.

As Greg Laurie once noted,

Moses was a murderer, David was an adulterer, Rahab was a prostitute, and yet God used them all. God’s grace is bigger than our past.

If God could use them, He can use you—no matter your background.

Raising Champions of Deliverance

The heart of God, as revealed through Judges and echoed by Jesus (Luke 4:18), is to set people free:
-From evil and sin
-From addictions and bondages
-From the empty promises of this world
-From oppression, injustice, hopelessness, and spiritual blindness
-From unhealthy relationships and the lies of the enemy
God is looking for people who are simply available—willing to let Him shape them into champions of deliverance.

Historical Context of Judges

Judges is set between the conquest of Canaan (Joshua) and the rise of Israel’s monarchy (Saul and David). After Joshua and the elders who followed him died, the people of Israel were left leaderless and vulnerable. Each tribe cared for its own, lacking unity and strong leadership. Surrounded by hostile nations, Israel faced constant threats.

Judges 21:25 sums up this era:

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

This lack of leadership led to cycles of chaos and spiritual drift—a pattern that’s not so different from challenges many face today.

Why Did God Allow Struggles?

God permitted adversaries to remain in the Promised Land for two main reasons:

To Train the Next Generation

The children of Israel hadn’t fought the battles their parents had; they’d grown up in peace. God allowed trials so they’d learn spiritual warfare—how to pray, fast, and trust Him in adversity.

Sometimes, God’s best training comes through the battles we face, not the comforts we enjoy.

To Test Their Faithfulness

God wanted to see whether Israel would remain true to Him or adopt the practices of their pagan neighbors. Sadly, Israel often failed, drifting into idolatry and compromise.

God uses our “Canaanites”  to strengthen and test our faith.

The Judges Cycle

Throughout Judges, a repeating six-part cycle emerges:

Sin:
Israel turns away from God, adopting idol worship and the ways of surrounding nations.

Oppression:
God allows foreign oppressors to conquer and subdue Israel.

Repentance:
In desperation, the people cry out to God for mercy and deliverance.

Deliverance:
God raises up a judge—a champion—to deliver His people from bondage.

Peace:
Under the judge’s leadership, the land enjoys rest and stability.

Relapse:
When the judge dies, the people fall back into sin, and the cycle begins anew.

Sin always promises freedom but delivers chains.

The First Judge: Othniel

Judges 3:7-11 introduces Othniel, the first judge. Israel forgets God, falls into idolatry, and suffers under harsh oppression. But when they cry out, God raises up Othniel—a man from the tribe of Judah, Caleb’s younger brother. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Othniel leads Israel to victory and ushers in forty years of peace.

Three Key Lessons from Othniel’s Story:

1. When We Forget God, We Forfeit Freedom

Israel’s evil wasn’t measured by culture, but by God’s standards.
Forgetting God means neglecting His commands, ignoring His presence, and replacing Him with idols or worldly pursuits.
True freedom is found only in God; rejecting Him leads to oppression and loss.

2. Desperation Before the Lord Opens the Door to Deliverance

God’s discipline is a sign of His love.
When we cry out in desperation, God is moved with compassion and raises up deliverers.
Othniel’s name—“Lion of God”—reminds us that when we pray, God unleashes His strength on our behalf.
God chooses ordinary people who are available, not necessarily the most talented.
“The greatest ability is availability.”
“God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.”

3. True Deliverance Comes by God’s Spirit, Not by Our Strength

Othniel’s victories came because “the Spirit of the Lord was upon him.”
Our battles, whether spiritual or practical, are won not by might or skill, but by God’s power.

Charles Spurgeon said,

Without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless.

Seek the Holy Spirit—He brings true deliverance and lasting victory.

Listen to this sermon here: