|
|
|
- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
|
|
GIDEON: THE
DOUBTING JUDGE - 3 Judges 7:1-25,
9/11/13 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) B. Gideon Assembled Israel (Jdg 6:33-35) C. Gideon Asks for Another sign, Twice (Jdg 6:36-40) III. BATTLE OF GIDEON A. Lord Reduces the Number of Israel (Jdg
7:1-8) 1. [1] Gideon, still being called
“Jerubbaal” (“Let Baal contend against him”), took his army and camped beside
the spring of Harod (charad
- tremble or terrify). They were camped about four miles south of the
Midianite army, which was by Mt Moreh in the
Jezreel Valley. 2. [2] Again the Lord spoke to Gideon and
revealed that His plan involved less soldiers and
not more. This is an interesting statement given to an already fearful and
doubtful leader. The Lord’s reason was that with a large number of soldiers,
Israel would boast that they were delivered from the Midianites by their own
power (cf. Ps 33:16). 3. [3] The first phase of reduction was
based on the removal of all men who were afraid (cf. rules of warfare, Dt
20:8). A total of 22,000 men were relieved of duty and departed from Mt
Gilead. Many take Mt Gilead to mean Mt Gilboa
either by scribal error or a second nickname given by the tribe of Manasseh
(Gilead was Manasseh’s grandson, Jos 17:3). 4. [4-7] 10,000 were still too many for the
Lord and a second phase of reduction was enacted. The Lord gave a “test” (tsaraph - testing of metal) by which He
would decide who would go with Gideon and who would not. The test would take
place at the spring of Harod. Those who drank by
lapping water like a dog would be separated from those who knelt to drink.
Those who drank by lapping water came to 300 men while 9,700 knelt to drink.
The Lord chose and instructed Gideon that He would defeat the Midianites with
the 300 men chosen. The 9,700 were sent home. Some have speculated why God
chose those who drank by lapping like a dog. They maintain that perhaps those
who lapped like a dog were more rugged, less afraid, or more wary than those
who knelt. However, no explanation was given and the Lord’s purpose was
simply to reduce the numbers and show that victory was by the Lord. 5. [8] These 300 men took the provisions
along with the trumpets while the rest of the army was relieved. The camp of
the Midianites lay below the camp of the 300. B. Gideon Visits the Midian Camp at Night
(Jdg 7:9-18) 1. [9] That same night the Lord instructed
Gideon to go down against the camp of the Midianites because He had delivered
them into their hands. 2. [10] Knowing Gideon’s remaining fears and
doubts, because he only had 1% of his original army, the Lord told Gideon to
go down to the Midian camp with his servant Purah. Gideon’s servant, Purah,
appears to be his young armor-bearer. 3. [11] Gideon was told that he would hear
what the Midianites were saying among themselves on the outposts of the camp.
This additional sign would strengthen Gideon to go against the Midianites. 4. [12] The Midianite camp along with the
Amalekites and sons of the east was in the Jezreel Valley. They were so large
that the number of their camels were said to have been “without number” and
“as the “sand on the seashore” (cf. Jdg 6:5). 5. [13] Down at the Midianite camp, Gideon
heard one man relay a dream to another. The dream consisted of a large “loaf
of barley” (sometimes representative of cultivators and poorer classes, i.e.
Israel people) tumbling into the Midianite camp. The loaf struck, overturned,
and flattened the tent. 6. [14] The other Midianite interpreted the
dream to mean that the Lord would overturn the Midianites by the “sword of
Gideon.” 7. [15] Upon hearing this interpretation,
Gideon bowed and worshipped the Lord because God had indeed promised him victory.
With renewed strength, Gideon returned to his camp and commanded the troops
to go against the Midianites with the Lord’s promise of victory. 8. [16] The 300 were divided into three
companies. Gideon gave trumpets and empty pitchers to each man in the
company. Lighted torches were kept hidden inside of the pitchers. 9. [17-18] Gideon instructed all the
companies to follow his lead when they made it to the outskirts of the Midian
camp. When Gideon blew his trumpet, they were all to do likewise and cry out
in unison, “For the LORD and for
Gideon.” C. Gideon Defeats the Midianites through the
Lord (Jdg 7:19-25) 1. [19] The Lord’s timing is perfect, for
when Gideon and the companies arrived at the outskirts of the camp, the
Midianites were changing posts (“middle watch” - 10pm). One could surmise, the sleep-deprived posts were making their way to their
tents with only rest on their mind. Though the new posts may have been
fresher, they were still getting situated. This was a strategic time to catch
them momentarily off guard. It was at this time they blew the trumpets and
broke their pitchers exposing their burning torches. 2. [20] In addition to the trumpets and the
torches, the 300 men shouted in unison, “A
sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” These 300 not only followed the right
instructions, but their hearts were right in loyalty to the Lord and His
cause. 3. [21-22] As each man stood in his place
around the camp, the Midianites fled and shouted in disarray. At the trumpet
blasts, the Lord “set” (sum - put or place) the Midianites to wield
their own swords against themselves. As a result, the army fled as far as Beth-shittah
toward Zererah (several miles) and as far as the
edge of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath
(hometown of Elisha, 1Ki 19:16, aprox. 15 miles) 4. [23] Gideon called for reinforcements
from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh to pursue the Midianites. Some of these
were probably the reinforcements that had been relieved earlier. 5. [24] A call was sent out to the hill
country of Ephraim to go against the southward fleeing Midianites. No doubt,
the Midianites were attempting to cross the Jordan into the safety of the
desert beyond. The instructions were to control the
Jordan as far as Beth-barah preventing the
Midianites from crossing. All the men of Ephraim came to call. 6. [25] The men of Ephraim apprehended two
of the leaders of Midian, Oreb (“raven”) and Zeeb (“wolf). Ancient leaders often took names of birds
and beasts. The Midianites, represented by these two leaders, acted like
scavengers and predators against Israel. Often, the names of places were
given according to major events such as slain leaders. Hence, we read of the
“rock of Oreb” and the “winepress of Zeeb.” The men of Ephraim beheaded both leaders and
brought them to Gideon. This victory is recorded in the Scriptures several
times as a reference to the Lord’s great deliverance (Ps 83:11; Is 9:4;
10:26). IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. The great lessons of Gideon’s victory show
that the Lord can use weak and fearful servants. 1. God calms our fears with the promises of
His Word (Jn 14:1-3; 2Co 1:20; 2Pe 1:4). 2. God’s strength is not limited by the
number of men (Pr 21:31; Ps 20:7; 1Sa 17:47). 3. God often chooses the weak to confound
the strong (1Co 1:27; 2Co 12:9). 4. God’s causes and purposes are our pathway
to victory (Mt 6:33; Mt 16:18; 1Jn 2:17). 5. It is
not our responsibility to understand how God is going to keep His word and
accomplish His work. It is our responsibility to trust Him, obey Him, and let
His power and His Word be a torch for our lives. |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
