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Gideon

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

Passage: Judges 6-8

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JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE (42)

The Period of the Judges (3)

Tonight, we continue our “journey through the Bible”, a study of the 17 time periods of Bible history.  Currently we are in the 8^th time period – the judges.  This was a dark period where Israel would turn to various idols, God would punish them with oppressors, and when they repented he would appoint a judge (deliverer, savior) who would deliver them and then they would enjoy a period of peace and favor.  But the cycle would repeat again and again.  In our last lesson we focused on the first 4 judges – Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar and Deborah (with Barak).  Today, we notice Gideon, a more detailed account.

1. The Text
   1. 6:1-6 – Israel again did evil in the sight of YHWH. For 7 years, Israel was oppressed by the Midianites.  With the help of the Amalekites and “the people of the east” (likely smaller bands and tribes), they frequently raided and devastated the land so that the Israelites became impoverished.  They would wait until the harvest and then come and raid the crops and steal their livestock as well.  The oppression was so severe, people would hide in caves and dens in the mountains to protect themselves.  After 7 years, they cry out to the Lord
   2. 6:7-10 – YHWH sends a prophet who rebukes them. AFTER reminding of various examples of deliverance He notes, “But you have not obeyed My voice.” NOTE: As we progress through this book we are going to see the responses of God intensify trying to get them to return.
   3. 6:11-16- While Gideon is threshing wheat while hiding from the Midianites, the angel of the LORD appears to him and calls him to deliver Israel. NOTE vs. 12, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor.”  Gideon does inquire based upon what is happening (IF you are with us, why are we being oppressed?)
   4. 6:17-24 – Gideon asks for a sign (not unreasonable considering the circumstances). He prepares a meal for the angel of God (not yet sure who He was).  The meal is miraculously consumed and Gideon is fearful, but the LORD assures him he will not die.  Gideon responds by building an altar and worships YHWH calling it, The LORD is Peace (YHWH Shalom).
   5. 6:25-35 – He is then instructed to tear down the altar of Baal that was in his father’s house. At night (he is fearful), Gideon takes 10 men and destroys the altar and builds an altar to YHWH and sacrifices the bull on it.  In the morning when the men of the city find their altar to Baal destroyed (NOTE: They are crying to God for deliverance but STILL worshipping idols), they determine it was Gideon and demand that his father deliver him to them.  31-32, But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!” Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, “Let Baal plead against him, because he has torn down his altar.”  His name is changed to Jerubbaal (Baal will contend).
   6. 6:33-35 – again the Midianites gather to attack Israel, but the Spirit of the LORD cam upon Gideon and he summons men from Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun & Napthali. They come and meet him.
   7. 6:36-40 – Gideon asks for a sign to prove that God was with him. We have the sign of the fleece.  First he request that only the fleece be wet (and it was), then he asks that the ground be wet and the fleece dry (and it was).  NOTE: We find Gideon asking for 3 signs.  Did this show a lack of faith? Or was it verification? God realizes that men are weak and at times they need assurance.  He has given man enough evidence to believe Him if he is willing to look.  NOTE: After God gave Gideon signs, He expected him to totally trust Him.
   8. 7:1-25 – Gideon has amassed an army of 32,000. But YHWH tells him they are too many because when they win they would take credit for themselves.  First, Gideon said anyone who was fearful (22,000) could go home.  Of the 10,000 left they were still too many.  So YHWH had them all drink water from a river.  Those who got on their knees to drink the water were sent home.  But those who lapped their water like a dog (scooping it up and drinking it out of their hand – WHILE ALERT) were kept – 300.  The 9,700 were sent home.  To further assure Gideon that God was with him, he was instructed to go to the edge of the Midianite camp and listen. He hears fear in the camp because of a dream and its interpretation.  He worships God and returns to him men to prepare for battle.   Gideon then divided them into 3 companies and gave each man a trumpet, an empty clay pitcher and a torch.   On his signal, they would all blow the trumpets and break the pitchers and shout, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon”.  When they did, there was confusion in the camp and everyone attacked each other.  Because of the victory, the men of Israel gathered against them and finished defeating the army.
   9. 8:1-21 records finishing the subduing of the Midianites and their allies.
      1. First, the men of Ephraim were upset that they did not have a bigger role in battle. Gideon diplomatically points out the importance of what they did.  Using the analogy of a vineyard, he noted that gleaning the grapes was better than the vintage.  The gleaning would be the few grapes left after the initial harvest.  Gideon notes they finished the job and dealt with the leaders of their enemies.  The Ephraimites were appeased.
      2. As Gideon continued to pursue other Midianites he asks brethren in the cities of Succoth and then Penuel for bread to give them strength to finish the job. They refused by saying, “What if you lose?” Gideon promises to deal with them harshly when he is done.  Gideon wins and fulfills his promise to these 2 cities.  NOTE: These were Israelite cities that should have HELPED their brethren.  Especially considering the victories they were witnessing.
      3. Finally he executes Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of the Midianites.
   10. 8:22-28 – After the great victory, the men of Israel approach Gideon and ask him to be ruler over them. 23, But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”  But he requests the earrings of the men from their spoil which they gladly give him.  He makes an ephod out of the gold and sets it up in the city Ophrah (why he did this we are not told – possibly a memorial).  But  we read, “And all Israel played the harlot with it there.  It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.”
   11. 8:28 – The country enjoyed rest for 40 years
   12. 8:29-35 – there is peace and Gideon has 70 sons, including one named Abimelech. He dies at a good old age and is buried in Ophrah.   So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god. Thus the children of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.
2. Lessons to consider
3. 1. First, Gideon is mentioned once in the New Testament – Hebrews 11:32 where he is included as an example of faith. (In fact, we do not find him mentioned by name after Judges 8 until this text).
   2. God sees who we are and what we can become – we sometimes struggle to understand what God sees in us or what we are capable of. God sees who we are and what we have the potential to become.  Are we willing to honestly and courageously examine ourselves?
   3. God does not need the greatest to accomplish His purpose. Gideon’s clan was the least and he knew it.  Early on, he lacks confidence.  Several sources described him “an unfinished product”.  But God knows what he is capable of and builds on that.  The faithful have always been a minority or “remnant”.   Romans 9:27, Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. (Isaiah 10:22-23)  Also Matthew 22:14 – many are called, but few are chosen.  Matthew 7:13-14 – the narrow gate – few find it.
   4. Sometimes things are not always as they seem – Gideon thought he was not able to do what God asked of him. But know that God’s perspective, which we do NOT always know (Isaiah 55:8-9), is greater than ours.  Romans 11:33-34 – we do not know His mind.  Also 1 Corinthians 2:16 (Cf. Isaiah 40:13) – we know what He reveals to us, but not always everything involved.
   5. God uses the one who fears Him and will obey His voice – we see that in Gideon. And it is these qualities why he is mentioned in Hebrews 11:32.  He was not perfect, but he did obey God.
   6. Flee from idolatry – Tear down the altar – BEFORE God could deliver Israel, they needed to remove their idols to the Baals. Before we can ask God to be with us, we must first tear down our idols. Cf. James 4:1-3 – you ask and receive that you spend it on your own pleasures.
   7. How will you defend God against idolaters? While the altar and idol to Baal was in the house of Joash (Gideon’s father), when Gideon destroyed it, at least he responded wisely – “if Baal is a real God let him deal with Gideon”.    Are we willing to stand up for God against false religions and ungodliness in our society?
   8. God can accomplish His will with a few – 300 hundred men against an innumerable army. Why did it work? Romans 8:31, “IF God is for us, who can be against us?”
   9. The job is not done until the stragglers are dealt with – if we are struggling with sin, until we deal with the stragglers, we will continue to struggle. Like weeds in a garden, if we don’t get them as soon as they come up, they will take root and spread.
   10. Another generation – recall Judges 2:10. After the death of Gideon they immediately returned to idolatry. The Bible is filled with examples and passages about the need to take drastic measures to remove sin from our lives.  We need to be transformed (Romans 12:1-2) not only in body, but in heart and mind (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

And thus we continue our study through the Judges.  It was a dark time, but darker days were ahead in our studies continue. But we also find in these lessons hope and that God is still there – He is where He has always been.   Thus, we can learn from these examples – both what to do and what NOT to do.   So where do you stand with the Lord? Can He use you? Think about it!