Judges: GIDEON (6:1-8:35)

JUDGES 7:1-8:21

Reading: 1Pe 5:1-7

Songs:

Theme: God’s strength to use us is not found in numbers but faithfulness

INTRODUCTION

A. Some people because of their experiences, find it hard to trust other people. Spiritually, some people find it hard to trust a God when what he expects more than they think they can do or give. You may be one of those people.

B. In chapter six of The Book Of Judges, we read that life was difficult for the of people Israel. They had ceased from obedience to God (Jud 6:1) so he judged them using the Midianites who oppressed Israel. However, in chapter seven we read that after a time, God raised up a deliverer for them named Gideon.

C. From Gideon’s experience we learn that though it ma seem that God expects more of us that we are able to do, we can fully trust God to help us succeed.

Discussion

I. GIDEON’S ARMY EXCUSED (7:1-8).

A. Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up ... And the LORD said ... The people that are with thee are too many ... (7:1-3).

1 ¶ Then Jerubbaal <03378>, who is Gideon <01439>, and all the people <05971> that were with him, rose up early <07925> (8686), and pitched <02583> (8799) beside the well of Harod <05878>: so that the host <04264> of the Midianites <04080> were on the north side <06828> of them, by the hill <01389> of Moreh <04176>, in the valley <06010>.

2 And the LORD <03068> said <0559> (8799) unto Gideon <01439>, The people <05971> that are with thee are too many <07227> for me to give <05414> (8800) the Midianites <04080> into their hands <03027>, lest Israel <03478> vaunt <06286> (8691) themselves against me, saying <0559> (8800), Mine own hand <03027> hath saved <03467> (8689) me.

3 Now therefore go to <04994>, proclaim <07121> (8798) in the ears <0241> of the people <05971>, saying <0559> (8800), Whosoever is fearful <03373> and afraid <02730>, let him return <07725> (8799) and depart early <06852> (8799) from mount <02022> Gilead <01568>. And there returned <07725> (8799) of the people <05971> twenty <06242> and two <08147> thousand <0505>; and there remained <07604> (8738) ten <06235> thousand <0505>.

1. Contrasting two view points, God’s and Gideon’s, which we can allow to represents man’s view point, the Lord’s words must have been a bit of a surprise to Gideon and his army.

a. Gideon’s army of 32,000 (Jud 7:3) men was already overmatched in number by 135,000 (Jud 8:10) Midianites (“all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together” - 6:33).

(1) The sight of so vast an army as the enemy had must have brought fear to the soldiers of Israel.

(2) Yet, God viewed Gideon’s army as too big

(3) Gideon was commanded to allow all who were fearful of the battle to go home.

(a) In one of the episodes from the Andy Griffith show in which an ex-con who had been sent to prison by Andy, had returned to town, Barney rounded up Gomer, Floyd, and Otis, the town drunk, as extra deputies to help protect Andy. When Barney explained their mission, the extra deputies became frightened of the possible danger. Barney told them, "Listen! This is no job for cowards. If any of you are afraid, then you can just walk out that door right now." Each of the extra deputies headed for the door.

(b) Not everyone who volunteers is suitable for service and spiritually, not everyone who volunteers in the Lord’s service is suitable due to lacking faith or trust in him.

(d) Without out faith will not trust in God (Heb 11:6).

(4) When the fearful had left Gideon he was left with only 10,000 men!

(a) God had reduced Gideon’s army for a reason.

(b) It had to do with helping all realize their real strength and success was in the Lord, not themselves.

(5) God wanted set the physical odds against Israel’s receiving victory of themselves so that when they received it they would give the glory to God (Zec 4:6; Psa 20:7) and trust in him.

2. There are many situations which might bring fear to us because there are seemingly overwhelming odds are against our receiving victory.

a. Peer pressures, a difficult marriage, financial commitments, leadership responsibilities in the church are a few of the fears of the situations.

B. ... the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many ... (7:4-8).

4 And the LORD <03068> said <0559> (8799) unto Gideon <01439>, The people <05971> are yet too many <07227>; bring them down <03381> (8685) unto the water <04325>, and I will try <06884> (8799) them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say <0559> (8799) unto thee, This shall go <03212> (8799) with thee, the same shall go <03212> (8799) with thee; and of whomsoever I say <0559> (8799) unto thee, This shall not go <03212> (8799) with thee, the same shall not go <03212> (8799).

5 So he brought down <03381> (8686) the people <05971> unto the water <04325>: and the LORD <03068> said <0559> (8799) unto Gideon <01439>, Every one that lappeth <03952> (8799) of the water <04325> with his tongue <03956>, as a dog <03611> lappeth <03952> (8799), him shalt thou set <03322> (8686) by himself; likewise every one that boweth down <03766> (8799) upon his knees <01290> to drink <08354> (8800).

6 And the number <04557> of them that lapped <03952> (8764), putting their hand <03027> to their mouth <06310>, were three <07969> hundred <03967> men <0376>: but all the rest <03499> of the people <05971> bowed down <03766> (8804) upon their knees <01290> to drink <08354> (8800) water <04325>.

7 And the LORD <03068> said <0559> (8799) unto Gideon <01439>, By the three <07969> hundred <03967> men <0376> that lapped <03952> (8764) will I save <03467> (8686) you, and deliver <05414> (8804) the Midianites <04080> into thine hand <03027>: and let all the other people <05971> go <03212> (8799) every man <0376> unto his place <04725>.

8 So the people <05971> took <03947> (8799) victuals <06720> in their hand <03027>, and their trumpets <07782>: and he sent <07971> (8765) all <0376> the rest of Israel <03478> every man <0376> unto his tent <0168>, and retained <02388> (8689) those three <07969> hundred <03967> men <0376>: and the host <04264> of Midian <04080> was beneath him in the valley <06010>.

1. With so few men in relation to the Midianites, Gideon was told again to reduce his army by separating them according to how they take drank their water.

a. lappeth, Strong’s -

AV-lap 4, lick 3; 7 1) to lap, lick, lap up 1a) (Qal) to lap, lap up 1b) (Piel) to lap up

08799 Stem - QalSee 08851

Mood - ImperfectSee 08811

Count-19885

(1) The idea may have been those who lapped as dogs, that is who lapped their water out of their hands with their tongues, were able to keep watch for the enemy where as those who were on their knees were more involved in indulging themselves.

(2) Many self-indulgent people are rendered useless to the Lord in kingdom because their concerned for themselves overrides their concern for other people.

(3) It is the reason so many do not give themselves to the work of the church.

b. Gideon’s army was reduced to 300 men, less than 1% of its original size.

(1) That left 450 Midianites soldiers to each soldier with Gideon.

(2) Gideon was moved into a position to where his full trust had to be in God and only God (2Co 12:9a).

(3) Not many people would want to be placed into such a position.

(4) However, walking by faith, Gideon was not deterred by the seeming lack of physical resources available to him (2Co 10:3-4).

(5) We too must realizing that the weapons of our spiritual warfare are our own might or that of other people.

(6) Our weapons of warfare are righteousness, peace, faith, and the word of God, need to rely upon God for our strength (1Co 1:24; Eph 6:10-18;Php 4:13).

Transition: Realizing where his true strength for the battle was Gideon was able to continue.

II. GIDEON’S FAITH ENCOURAGED (Jud 7:9-15).

A. ... the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand ... (7:9-11).

9 ¶ And it came to pass the same night <03915>, that the LORD <03068> said <0559> (8799) unto him, Arise <06965> (8798), get thee down <03381> (8798) unto the host <04264>; for I have delivered <05414> (8804) it into thine hand <03027>.

10 But if thou fear <03373> to go down <03381> (8800), go <03381> <00> thou with Phurah <06513> thy servant <05288> down <03381> (8798) to the host <04264>:

11 And thou shalt hear <08085> (8804) what they say <01696> (8762); and afterward <0310> shall thine hands <03027> be strengthened <02388> (8799) to go down <03381> (8804) unto the host <04264>. Then went he down <03381> (8799) with Phurah <06513> his servant <05288> unto the outside <07097> of the armed men <02571> that were in the host <04264>. {armed men: or, ranks by five}

1. God commanded Gideon to spy on the camp of the Midianites.

a. When God asks us to do what seems difficult to us, he always first provides us encourage for our success in obeying him.

b. He told Gideon to take along Phurah for encouragement.

(1) Sometimes that is all we need to strengthen us is someone faithful at our side.

(2) David and Jonathan

c. God never leaves his servants with doubts and fears.

d. He always gives them assurance.

e. In obedience to the Lord Gideon did receive assurance and encouragement.

Reassurance

B. ... And it was so, when Gideon heard ... he worshipped, and returned) into the host of Israel ... (7:12-15).

12 And the Midianites <04080> and the Amalekites <06002> and all the children <01121> of the east <06924> lay <05307> (8802) along in the valley <06010> like grasshoppers <0697> for multitude <07230>; and their camels <01581> were without number <04557>, as the sand <02344> by the sea <03220> side <08193> for multitude <07230>.

13 And when Gideon <01439> was come <0935> (8799), behold, there was a man <0376> that told <05608> (8764) a dream <02472> unto his fellow <07453>, and said <0559> (8799), Behold, I dreamed <02492> (8804) a dream <02472>, and, lo, a cake <06742> (8675) <06742> of barley <08184> bread <03899> tumbled <02015> (8693) into the host <04264> of Midian <04080>, and came <0935> (8799) unto a tent <0168>, and smote <05221> (8686) it that it fell <05307> (8799), and overturned <02015> (8799) <04605> it, that the tent <0168> lay along <05307> (8804).

14 And his fellow <07453> answered <06030> (8799) and said <0559> (8799), This is nothing else save the sword <02719> of Gideon <01439> the son <01121> of Joash <03101>, a man <0376> of Israel <03478>: for into his hand <03027> hath God <0430> delivered <05414> (8804) Midian <04080>, and all the host <04264>.

15 And it was so, when Gideon <01439> heard <08085> (8800) the telling <04557> of the dream <02472>, and the interpretation <07667> thereof, that he worshipped <07812> (8691), and returned <07725> (8799) into the host <04264> of Israel <03478>, and said <0559> (8799), Arise <06965> (8798); for the LORD <03068> hath delivered <05414> (8804) into your hand <03027> the host <04264> of Midian <04080>. {interpretation: Heb. breaking}

1. God allowed Gideon to understand what was going on in the minds of the enemy, the Midianites.

2. God used the situation to build Gideon’s faith and it worked so well Gideon was motivated to worship God.

3. It is our lack of faith in God which leads us to cower when tempted by our enemies.

a. It is with faith that God initially prepares us for action, and having so prepared us he moves us by it into action.

b. First God works in us, and than he is able to work through us.

c. In reality the devil is not more powerful than we are with the Lord on our side (cp. 1Jo 4:4).

Transition: We understand what might be the outcome of an energized leader in that Gideon's encouragement was contagious.

III. GIDEON’S DEFEATED ENEMY (Jud 7:16-8:21).

A Strange Battle Plan

A. ... he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise... (7:16-18).

16 ¶ And he divided <02673> (8799) the three <07969> hundred <03967> men <0376> into three <07969> companies <07218>, and he put <05414> (8799) a trumpet <07782> in every man’s hand <03027>, with empty <07386> pitchers <03537>, and lamps <03940> within <08432> the pitchers <03537>. {a trumpet…: Heb. trumpets in the hand of all of them} {lamps: or, firebrands, or, torches}

17 And he said <0559> (8799) unto them, Look <07200> (8799) on me, and do <06213> (8799) likewise: and, behold, when I come <0935> (8802) to the outside <07097> of the camp <04264>, it shall be that, as I do <06213> (8799), so shall ye do <06213> (8799).

18 When I blow <08628> (8804) with a trumpet <07782>, I and all that are with me, then blow <08628> (8804) ye the trumpets <07782> also on every side <05439> of all the camp <04264>, and say <0559> (8804), The sword of the LORD <03068>, and of Gideon <01439>.

1. Gideon explained the plan and called on his men to do as he did from around the outside the camp of the Midianites (1Co 11:1).

B. the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers ... (7:19-22).

19 So Gideon <01439>, and the hundred <03967> men <0376> that were with him, came <0935> (8799) unto the outside <07097> of the camp <04264> in the beginning <07218> of the middle <08484> watch <0821>; and they had but <0389> newly <06965>