INTRODUCTION: Chapter two of Judges sets the pattern for the time of the judges. It is a time of disobedience, destruction and deliverance. Israel will continue to spiral downward away from their God, but He will continue to hear their pleas for help and send them deliverers.

1. DELIVERANCE FROM MESOPOTAMIA (Judges 3:5-11 [5] And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: [6] And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. [7] And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. [8] Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. [9] And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. [10] And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. [11] And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
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1. God’s Anger against Israel (Judges 3:5-8 [5] And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: [6] And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. [7] And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. [8] Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
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1. Israel intermarried with the Canaanites (Judges 3:5-6 [5] And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: [6] And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
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2. Israel rebelled against the Lord (Judges 3:7And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
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1. They did evil in God’s sight.
2. They forgot the Lord their God.
3. They served Baal and the groves.
3. The Lord was angry with Israel (Judges 3:8Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
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2. The Oppression of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:8Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
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1. Israel was conquered by the king of Mesopotamia.
2. They served Chushan-rishathaim for eight years.
3. Mesopotamia refers to the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. This oppression came from outside their God-given boundaries.
3. The Deliverance of Israel through Othniel (Judges 3:9-10 [9] And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. [10] And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
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1. The Israelites cried unto the Lord (Judges 3:9And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
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2. The Lord raised up Othniel as a deliverer (Judges 3:9And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
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1. Othniel was the son of Kenaz; the nephew of Caleb.
2. Othniel was the one who married Achsah, the daughter of Caleb (Joshua 15:17And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
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3. The Spirit of the Lord came on Othniel (Judges 3:10And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
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1. NOTE:  All believers were not indwelled by the Spirit of God in the Old Testament. However, the Spirit of the Lord came upon men for special tasks at special times (Judges 6:34But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
   See All...; Judges 11:29Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
   See All...; Judges 13:25And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
   See All...; Judges 14:6And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
   See All..., 19; 1 Samuel 11:6And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
   See All...; 1 Samuel 16:13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
   See All...). The Spirit of the Lord left Saul (1 Samuel 16:14But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
   See All...), and David was fearful that the same thing would happen to him when he sinned (Psalm 51:11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
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4. Othniel defeated the king of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:10And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
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4. The Time of Rest under Othniel (Judges 3:11And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
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1. The land had rest for forty years – this can mean that the land was not harvested or that the land saw no war. In this case, it most certainly means the latter.
2. Othniel died.
2. DELIVERANCE FROM MOAB (Judges 3:12-31 [12] And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. [13] And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. [14] So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. [15] But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. [16] But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. [17] And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. [18] And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. [19] But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. [20] And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. [21] And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: [22] And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. [23] Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. [24] When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. [25] And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. [26] And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath. [27] And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. [28] And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. [29] And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man. [30] So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. [31] And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
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1. Oppression under the King of Moab (Judges 3:12-14 [12] And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. [13] And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. [14] So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
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1. The disobedience of Israel after Othniel’s death (Judges 3:12And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
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2. The strengthening of Eglon, king of Moab (Judges 3:12And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
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1. The Lord strengthened Eglon.
2. He strengthened Eglon specifically against Israel.
3. This was God’s chastening for sin.
3. The defeat of the Israelites by Eglon (Judges 3:13And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
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1. Eglon united with Ammon and Amalek.
2. They smote Israel.
3. They possessed the city of palm trees.
4. Israel served Moab for 18 years (Judges 3:14So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
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1. Note the connections to the second coming.
2. Three main enemies united against Israel as will the satanic trinity.
3. The number 18 is connected to the king of Moab as it will be connected to the beast (Revelation 13:18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
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1. The Israelites served 18 years.
2. The phrase “Eglon the king of Moab” has 18 letters.
4. The deliverer destroyed Eglon with a sword as will Christ destroy His enemies at His coming (Revelation 19:15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
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2. The Assassination of Eglon by Ehud (Judges 3:15-26 [15] But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. [16] But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. [17] And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. [18] And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. [19] But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. [20] And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. [21] And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: [22] And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. [23] Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. [24] When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. [25] And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. [26] And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
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1. God raised up Ehud to deliver Israel (Judges 3:15But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
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1. He was a Benjamite.
2. He was left-handed.
2. Ehud brought a present to Eglon (Judges 3:16-18 [16] But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. [17] And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. [18] And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
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1. He made the dagger (Judges 3:16But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
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2. He hid a cubit-long dagger in his raiment (Judges 3:16But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
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3. He brought the present to Eglon (Judges 3:17-18 [17] And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. [18] And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
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1. Eglon was a very fat man (Judges 3:17And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
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2. Ehud presented the present to Eglon (Judges 3:18And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
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3. Ehud told Eglon of a special message (Judges 3:19-20 [19] But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. [20] And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
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1. He spoke to Eglon of a secret errand (Judges 3:19But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
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2. Eglon sent all his servants out (Judges 3:19But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
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3. Ehud approached unto Eglon (Judges 3:20And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
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1. Eglon was seated in his summer parlour, a place of relaxation.
2. Ehud declared that he had a message from God for Eglon.
3. Eglon arose to receive the message.
4. Ehud killed Eglon with his dagger (Judges 3:21-22 [21] And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: [22] And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
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1. Ehud thrust his dagger in Eglon’s belly (Judges 3:21And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
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1. He took the dagger from his right thigh with his left hand.
2. He thrust the dagger into Eglon’s belly.
2. Ehud could not draw his dagger out (Judges 3:22And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
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1. The haft also went in after the blade.
2. Eglon’s fat closed upon the blade.
3. Ehud could not draw out the dagger.
4. Dirt came out of Eglon’s wound.
5. Ehud escaped and returned to Israel (Judges 3:23-26 [23] Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. [24] When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. [25] And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. [26] And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
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1. Ehud escaped by way of the porch (Judges 3:23Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
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2. Eglon’s servants assumed he was sleeping (Judges 3:24When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.
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1. This confirms the earlier thoughts about this being a place designed for relaxation.
2. This reminds us of verses like Amos 6:1Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
   See All..., where the Bible says, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.”
3. Ehud escaped while they tarried (Judges 3:25-26 [25] And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. [26] And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
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1. The servants waited to the point they were ashamed (Judges 3:25And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
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2. While they waited, Ehud escaped unto Seirath (Judges 3:26And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
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3. The Defeat of the Moabites (Judges 3:27-29 [27] And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. [28] And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. [29] And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
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1. Ehud gathered the Israelites to battle (Judges 3:27And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
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2. Ehud took the fords over the Jordan (Judges 3:28And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
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3. They slayed about ten thousand men (Judges 3:29And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
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1. All who were lusty men
2. All who were men of valour
4. The Time of Rest for Israel (Judges 3:30-31 [30] So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. [31] And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
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1. The land had rest for 80 years (Judges 3:30So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
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2. Shamgar delivered Israel from the Philistines (Judges 3:31And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
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1. Apparently this was after another time of rebellion.
2. Shamgar slew six hundred men with an ox goad.
3. He delivered Israel from the hand of the Philistines.
4. Deborah and Barak sang of this time (Judges 5:6In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
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CONCLUSION: The Israelites were caught in an awful cycle of defeat and degradation. God kept helping them but they continued to get further and further away from Him. How about you? Is your life caught in any self-defeating cycles? What can you do to break the cycle and get your life right with the Lord?