We have seen a lot of stories thus far of well-known judges. Gideon’s story took chapters. But today, we see the story of three individual judges that takes about seven verses. We don’t know much about them. We don’t know their stories. We don’t know what they did right or what they did wrong. All we know is that they were faithful. That’s all we can be. We can’t compare ourselves to others, to their stories, to what they do. All we can do is be faithful. If we are faithful in who we are and who God has called us to be, that is all we can do. God will take care of the rest.

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Good morning, everyone. It’s wonderful to be back with you as we continue our study in the book of Judges. I trust your week is going well.

We’re still in Vacation Bible School mode, so my regular routine won’t resume until next week. I’ll be relatively free until mid-July, except for a camp meeting in Oxford. I cherish having a structured routine; it brings me great joy.

Today, we’ll read a brief passage from Judges chapter 12, verses 8 through 15. This section follows the account of Jephthah and the intertribal conflict involving the Shibboleth incident.

After Jephthah’s time, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had 30 sons and daughters, marrying them outside their clan and bringing in spouses from elsewhere. He led Israel for seven years before his death and burial in Bethlehem.

Next, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel for ten years, followed by his death and burial in Aijalon. Then, Abdon, son of Hillel the Pirathonite, judged Israel. He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons, who rode on 70 donkeys, and he led Israel for eight years. He was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

These are three judges with very brief accounts, similar to Tola and Jair in chapter 10. The writer of Judges dedicates significant time to figures like Gideon, who has almost two chapters, and with his son Abimelech, nearly three. Jephthah also has almost two chapters, and Samson will have four. Afterward, the narrative takes a more unusual turn.

Ibzan’s story is only two or three verses, as is Elon’s, and Abdon’s. While mentioned in scripture, we know little about their deeds, how they delivered the people, or whether their judgments were good or bad. We only know their names and some details about their families and possessions. This raises a point about faithfulness.

In our age of celebrities and podcasts, many pastors feel inadequate. You can easily access sermons from renowned preachers online, which can make your own pastor seem lacking. It’s tempting to compare, but few of us are like figures such as Frank Pollard or Adrian Rogers. I recall members of my church whose fathers were significant leaders, and I sometimes feel inadequate in comparison.

It’s easy for anyone—preachers, parents, or children—to look at others’ successes and feel inadequate. Social media often presents an unrealistic picture of perfect marriages and families. It’s crucial to remember that social media isn’t the real world, and we shouldn’t measure our lives against it.

We might wish we had the extensive stories of Gideon or Samson instead of just a few verses. But as someone once said, comparison is the thief of joy. Living in constant comparison leads to misery. We will always find someone who seems better.

Instead, we should strive for faithfulness. These judges, despite their short accounts, were faithful in their tasks. We don’t know if their accomplishments were even greater than those with longer narratives. They did what God called them to do with integrity.

There will always be those with more likes, friends, money, or possessions. Living by comparison leaves us empty. But if we pursue faithfulness, we find true joy. These judges were faithful, which is what truly mattered.

If you feel the pull of comparison, resist it. Focus on your Bible, your real life, and your family. Live fully and deeply where you are, being faithful in your own calling.

These judges were faithful, and that’s what counts. They weren’t Samson or Gideon, but they were who they were meant to be. By God’s grace, may we do the same.

Thank you for joining us. Tomorrow, we’ll delve into the story of Samson, which will be quite a journey. I look forward to seeing you in the morning.