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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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GIDEON: THE
DOUBTING JUDGE - 2 Judges 6:25-40,
9/4/13 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert
I. CALL OF GIDEON A. Israel’s Land Devastated by the Midianites
(Jdg 6:1-6) B. Israel’s Disobedience is Reproved by a
Prophet (Jdg 6:7-10) C. The Angel of the Lord Calls Gideon (Jdg
6:11-16) D. Gideon Asked for a Sign (Jdg 6:17-24) II. LEADERSHIP OF GIDEON A. Gideon Tears Down Altar of Baal (Jdg
6:25-32) 1. [25] In the evening of the same day that
the Angel of the Lord visited Gideon, the Lord spoke to Gideon. He was
instructed to take a bull from his father’s stock (probably reserved for
sacrifice to Baal; a “second” can be translated “full grown”) and tear down
his father’s altar of Baal (Canaanite deity of rain and agriculture) and
Asherah pole (wooden pole erected to female fertility goddess Ashtaroth). This was an initial step for Gideon’s
leadership of Israel and obedience to God’s Law (Ex 34:12-13; Dt 7:5; cf. Jdg
2:2). 2. [26] Gideon was then to build an altar to
Lord, using the bull for a sacrifice and the Asherah pole for wood for a
burnt sacrifice. The act was an insult to the false god, Baal and those who
worshipped it, especially because the bull was a symbol for Baal. The altar
to the Lord was to be built on top of the “stronghold” (mizbeak
- high place for idolatrous sacrifices) signifying that God was the Most
High God and He was Israel’s stronghold. 3. [27] Since this went against the grain of
the people as well as his father, Gideon’s fear persuaded them to go at
night. 4. [28] The next morning, the men of the
city discovered the altar to Baal torn down and an altar to the Lord erected. 5. [29] Immediately, they sought the culprit
and discovered that Gideon had done this. 6. [30] So they went to the house of Joash,
Gideon’s father and demanded to have Gideon brought out. The punishment for
such an act was death. 7. [31] In an interesting turn of events,
Joash, a Baal worshipper himself, did not necessarily defend Gideon but
neither did he hand him over. Rather he posed an alternative to allow Baal
himself to take action against Gideon’s actions. 8. [32] After that, “Gideon” (“hew down” or
“hacker”) was given the name “Jerubbaal”
which means, “let Baal contend”). Gideon’s presence
to Israel was a proof that Baal did not exist. If
Baal was an actual god, then he himself could bring vengeance on Gideon. But
since he did not take vengeance on Gideon, the inference was that he did not
exist. B. Gideon Assembled Israel (Jdg 6:33-35) 1. [33] Even though Baal did not exist, the
Midianites and the Amalekites did. In accordance with their annual invasions
(Jdg 6:3-6), and perhaps having been provoked by Gideon, they gathered
themselves and camped in the valley of Jezreel. However, this annual invasion
would be their last, for Israel had another deliverer in Gideon. 2. [34] The Spirit of the Lord came upon
Gideon as He did with other judges (Jdg 3:10; 11:29; 14:6). This signifies
Gideon’s divine call and enablement (cf. Lk 24:49). The significance of
Gideon blowing the trumpet designated him as Israel’s next judge and called
Israel together to fight. As a result, the clan of Joash, the Abiezrite (Abiezer, oldest
son of Gilead, descendant of Manasseh), came to
follow Gideon. 3. [35] A call was sent out throughout
Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali
and they gathered to follow Gideon. C. Gideon Asks for Another sign, Twice (Jdg 6:36-40) 1. [36] At the recognition of the
inevitability of battle, Gideon once again sought for a sign of God’s
deliverance of Israel. However, no sign would have been necessary because the
Lord had already “spoken.” God’s Word is as good as a divine guarantee
because God cannot lie and is faithful (cf. Nu 23:19; Ro 4:21; Ti 1:2; He
10:23; 11:11). 2. [37] Gideon requested of God that if he
put out a wool fleece, in the morning, the fleece would be wet from dew and
the ground be dry. Then Gideon would know that God would deliver Israel as He
had spoken. 3. [38] The next morning Gideon had his
sign. The fleece was wet from dew and squeezed out a bowl full of water. In
addition, the ground was dry. 4. [39] As is the case with placing fleeces
before the Lord, the real issue is faith in the Lord. Otherwise, a hundred
fleeces would not convince a doubter. Perhaps Gideon doubted and speculated
that it would be naturally possible for the ground to be dry but the fleece
absorb and hold the dew. So Gideon fearfully asks for another sign but in
reverse. This time he asked that the wool fleece would be dry but all the
ground be wet with dew. 5. [40] This time Gideon found that the
fleece was dry but the ground was wet with dew, an
impossibility, even according to Gideon’s standard. Now Gideon was
convinced that the Lord had spoken and he was ready to lead Israel into
battle. III. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Offering fleeces - Is it wrong or
unbiblical to offer fleeces to God? Not necessarily. There are several
instances in Scripture where God’s people have requested a sign to know God’s
will. Besides Gideon, we have Abraham’s servant who asked God to identify
Isaac’s bride by giving water to him and his camels (Ge 24:14). Several
others in the Bible have asked God for a sign to know His will (Abraham Ge
15:8-17; Moses - Ex 4:1-5; Jonathon 1Sa 14:8-10; Hezekiah - 2Ki 20:8-10).
However, believers must realize that God is not obligated to answer in such a
manner. Also, believers must not repeatedly ask for a sign out of a lack of
faith. In addition, believers must not substitute fleeces for clear promises
in the Word of God. B. Determining God’s will - God is a
God who makes known His will to His people. God did not normally give signs,
but because of the absence of the full canon of Scripture, He made His people
aware of His will through signs (OT & Acts). God’s normal way of making
known His will is through His Word. Even in the OT, it was faith in His Word
that pleased Him (He 11:6). The believer today has the completed canon and
God’s will has been revealed in His Word, both in the Old and New Testament.
The majority of God’s will revealed in Scripture, centers around his moral
will, that is, how the believer should act and make moral choices for his
life (Dt 4:6; Ep 5:17; 1Th 4:3; 5:18). If the believer follows God’s revealed
moral will, the majority of life’s decisions will be answered. As for the
small percentage of decisions not explicitly covered by the principles in
God’s Word, there are implicit scriptural principles that can be applied in
order to discern God’s will. 1. Have an attitude of submission to
whichever direction the Lord directs (Ro 12:1-2). 2. Delight yourself in the Lord and walk in
a right relationship (Ps 37:4; Ep 5:17-18). 3. Choose the direction that will most
glorify God (1Co 10:31). 4. Choose the direction that is consistent
with spiritual gifts and ministry (Ep 2:10) 5. Obtain wise biblical counsel from other
believers (Pr 12:15; 15:22). 6. Avoid subjective and mystical methods in
seeking God’s will (Ep 5:17). |
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