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Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Wiersbe comments that "A faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted. Too often, what people think is faith is really only a “warm fuzzy feeling” about faith or perhaps just “faith in faith.” J. G. Stipe said that faith is like a toothbrush: Everybody should have one and use it regularly, but it isn’t safe to use somebody else’s. We can sing loudly about the “Faith of Our Fathers,” but we can’t exercise the faith of our fathers. We can follow men and women of faith and share in their exploits, but we can’t succeed in our own personal lives by depending on somebody else’s faith. God tests our faith for at least two reasons: first, to show us whether our faith is real or counterfeit, and second, to strengthen our faith for the tasks He’s set before us. Spurgeon was right when he said that the promises of God shine brightest in the furnace of affliction, and it is in claiming those promises that we gain the victory. Victories won because of faith bring glory to God because nobody can explain how they happened. “If you can explain what’s going on in your ministry,” Dr. Bob Cook used to remind us, “then God didn’t do it.” Too often, we’re like King Uzziah who was “marvelously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction” (2Ch 26:15–16). People who live by faith know their own weakness more and more as they depend on God’s strength. “For when I am weak, then am I strong” (2Co 12:10) (See The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: Old Testament) G. Campbell
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Wiersbe adds that "Pride after the battle robs God of glory, and fear during the battle robs God’s soldiers of courage and power. Fear has a way of spreading, and one timid soldier can do more damage than a whole company of enemy soldiers. Fear and faith can’t live together very long in the same heart. Either fear will conquer faith and we’ll quit, or faith will conquer fear and we’ll triumph. John Wesley may have been thinking of Gideon’s army when he said, “Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin and love nothing but God, and I will shake the gates of hell!” (See The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: Old Testament) If Gideon’s faith had been in the size of his army, then his faith would have been very weak by the time God was through with them! Less than 1 percent of the original 32,000 ended up following Gideon to the battlefield. The words of Winston Churchill concerning the RAF in World War II certainly applies to Gideon’s 300: “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed to so many by so few.” Judges 7:5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, "You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink." THE FINAL TEST DRINKING WATER So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, "You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink: No explanation for this choice is given, but it possibly was related to alertness, just as the first was based on courage. One explanation is that the 300 men, who satisfied their thirst in the most expeditious manner indicated their spirit, and alacrity to follow Gideon in his dangerous enterprise. This proved them to be watchful and alert in contrast to those who knelt The rest may have revealed their love of ease, self-indulgence, and want of courage. On the other hand there is no indication in the text that God commended those who "lapped"; He only used this device to reduce Gideon's army (cf. v2). Adam
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Wiersbe - How grateful we should be that God understands us and doesn’t condemn us because we have doubts and fears! He keeps giving us wisdom and doesn’t scold us when we keep asking (James 1:5). Our great High Priest in heaven sympathizes with our weaknesses (Heb. 4:14–16) and keeps giving us more grace (James 4:6). God remembers that we’re only dust (Ps. 103:14) and flesh (78:39). (See The Wiersbe Bible Study Series) Judges 7:11 and you will hear what they say; and afterward your hands will be strengthened that you may go down against the camp." So he went with Purah his servant down to the outposts of the army that was in the camp. you will hear what they say: Jdg 7:13-15 Ge 24:14 1Sa 14:8,12 your hands will be strengthened: 1Sa 23:16 Ezr 6:22 Ne 6:9 Isa 35:3,4 2Co 12:9,10 Eph 3:16 Eph 6:10 Php 4:13 to the outposts of the army that was in the camp., Ex 13:18 GIDEON HEARS AND HEEDS GOD'S WORD And you will hear what they say - Notice the details are very clear. God wanted Gideon to be certain that He would give him the victory with only 300 men. God is not guessing they will hear but knows they will hear because he is the God of providence. And afterward your hands will be strengthened (chazaq; Lxx = ischuo) that you may go down against the camp - The prophetic promise is in the passive voice indicating the strength would be divine, not human. Undoubtedly this would reflect the empowering work of the Holy Spirit Who had come on him (Jdg 6:34+). So - This is a small word marking a term of conclusion, but in this case it has huge implications. He went with Purah his servant down to the outposts of the army that was in the camp - For Gideon to go into the enemy camp in obedience to the LORD reflects a trust in His word. Notice how trust and obey always seem to go together. “Trust and Obey because there is no other way to be happy in Jesus” Be strengthened (02388) chazaq conveys the basic meaning of to be or become strong, to make strong or strengthen, in the Hiphil to take hold of or seize ("retain His anger" - Mic 7:18+), in the Hithpael to strengthen oneself (to take courage 1 Sa 30:6). To be courageous. To overpower. Chazaq describes strength - severity of a famine (a "strong" famine) (2 Ki 25:3, Jer 52:6), strength of humans to overpower (David and Goliath 1 Sa 17:50, cf 1 Sa 17:35 = seized;, Amnon and Tamar = 2 Sa 13:14), in a battle, to capture (2 Chr 8:3), Samson's last demonstration of supernatural strength he prays "please strengthen me" (Jdg 16:28). Used in the charge "Be strong and courageous" (Josh 1:6, 7, 9,18, Josh 10:25, "be firm" = Josh 23:6; "Be strong and courageous" = Dt 31:6-7, 23). Chazaq used 12 times in Ex 4-14 of hardening Pharaoh's heart (cf similar use in Josh 11:20). In a great passage in Da 11:32+ we read "“By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength (chazaq) and take action."" Judges 7:12 Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east: Jdg 6:3,5,33 1Ki 4:30 as numerous as locusts: Jdg 8:10 2Ch 14:9-12 Ps 3:1 33:16 118:10-12 Isa 8:9,10 MEN LIKE LOCUSTS CAMELS LIKE SAND Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts - This was a coalition of forces from at least three regions numbering about 135,000 men. The odds were stacked against Gideon's 300 men, some 450 to 1. No one would have given Gideon even a slight chance of victory. Of course, 300 men plus one omnipotent God is a majority which erases all human odds. Gary Inrig on the odds 450 to 1 - That is the first part of God’s preparation. Gideon’s army had been reduced to such proportions that they had no alternative. They could either depend totally upon God, or they could perish. Their only hope lay in God. Now comes the second stage of preparation. With their self-confidence destroyed, they were not prepared to learn the lesson of confidence in God. (Borrow Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay) Brensinger: Acts of reduction and self-denial repeatedly prepare people for spiritual service. The Bible makes plain that power, pride, and possessions often obstruct divine activity. Yet genuine human weakness provides God with fertile soil in which to perform his mighty works. In all divine-human partnerships, God alone brings victory. (Judges Believers Church Bible Commentary) And their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore - One has to wonder if there were also 135,000 camels in the camp? In any event, they were beyond number. Judges 7:13 When Gideon came, behold, a man was relating a dream to his friend. And he said, "Behold, I had a dream; a loaf of barley bread was tumbling into the camp of Midian, and it came to the tent and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat." a loaf of barley bread: Jdg 3:15,31 4:9,21 6:15 Isa 41:14,15 1Co 1:27 GIDEON HEARS WHAT THEY SAY When Gideon came, behold, a man was relating a dream to his friend. And he said, "Behold, I had a dream: God had given one of the soldiers a dream, and that dream told Gideon that God would deliver the Midianites into his hand. The Lord had already told Gideon this fact, but now Gideon heard it from the lips of the enemy! Wiersbe reminds us that "In the biblical record, you often find God communicating His truth through dreams. Among the believers He spoke to through dreams are Jacob (Gen. 28, 31), Joseph (Gen. 37), Solomon (1 Kings 3), Daniel (Dan. 7), and Joseph, the husband of Mary (Matt. 1:20–21; 2:13–22). But He also spoke to unbelievers this way, including Abimelech (Gen. 20), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2, 4), Joseph’s fellow prisoners (Gen. 40), Pharaoh (Gen. 41), and Pilate’s wife (Matt. 27:19). However, we must not conclude from these examples that this is the Lord’s normal method of communicating with people or that we should seek His guidance in our dreams today. Dreams can be deceptive (Jer. 23:32; Zech. 10:2), and apart from divine instruction we can’t know the correct interpretation. The best way to get God’s guidance is through the Word of God, prayer, and sensitivity to the Spirit as we watch circumstances. (See The Bible Exposition Commentary) A loaf of barley bread was tumbling into the camp of Midian, and it came to the tent and struck it: This bread metaphorically pictures the 300 soldiers of Israel, routing the tents (the soldiers in those tents) of the nomadic Midianites. The interpretation by a Midianite gave Gideon final assurance. Ponder this for a moment. A non-believing Midianite soldier has given a prophecy that will soon prove to be true! If God can speak through Balaam's donkey, He can speak truth through a pagan Midianite! The interpretation by the Midianite gave Gideon the final assurance he needed to complete his God ordained task. Note the minute detail that it is barley bread and not wheat bread. You may be asking so what? The specific fact that this is barley rather than wheat represents the poor farmers of Israel, as barley was considered of lesser value than wheat. Undoubtedly there is a play on the fact that the Midianites road in, ravaging the harvests and riding out with the grains Israel needed to make bread. So that it fell, and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat: A tent flattened by a barley loaf! The following passage interprets what otherwise literally would have been nonsensical and an impossibility (one loaf will not flatten a tent). Lay flat (napal) means to fall, to lie, to overthrow and can be used literally of something falling down. This same verb describing the tent's collapse was used to depict the fallen pagan Moabite king Eglon who had "fallen (naphal) to the floor (Jdg 3:25) and Sisera who "was lying (naphal) dead with the tent peg in his temple" (Jdg 4:22; "he fell [naphal]" - 3 times in Jdg 5:27). Lay flat (naphal) uses in Judges - Jdg. 2:19; Jdg. 3:25; Jdg. 4:16; Jdg. 4:22; Jdg. 5:27; Jdg. 7:12; Jdg. 7:13; Jdg. 8:10; Jdg. 9:40; Jdg. 12:6; Jdg. 13:20; Jdg. 15:18; Jdg. 16:30; Jdg. 18:1; Jdg. 19:26; Jdg. 19:27; Jdg. 20:44; Jdg. 20:46; Related Resource: See Spurgeon's sermon below - The Dream of the Bakery Cake .Judges 7:13 F B Meyer Our Daily Homily A cake of barley bread. Like most dreams, incoherent and grotesque! Who ever heard of a cake of barley bread upsetting a tent! To the dreamer and his comrade, there was no sense in it. But how much it meant to the two Hebrews, who had crept up to the other side of the curtain, in the thick darkness, and were drinking in each word! The dream was very humbling — It brought Gideon back to the simplicity and helplessness of his own resources. In the gathering of these crowds of warriors, in the notoriety he had achieved, in the loyalty of the three hundred, there was much to inflate his pride. Therefore God brought him face to face with himself. He was only a cake of barley bread at the best. Before God can uplift, use, and anoint us, He must show us what we are, humbling and emptying us, bringing us into the dust of death. Before God can use thee to work a great deliverance, He must convince thee of being only a cake of barley bread. “Five barley loaves, and two small fishes.” It was full of hope — A cake of barley bread might be a worthless thing; but if God were behind it, it would upset a tent! So when the weakest life is placed at the disposal of the Almighty, and taken in hand by Him, it becomes mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. It is full of teaching — How much has to be learned by us on these lines! We are too strong for God. We vaunt our might, we count our warriors, we magnify our generalship. This may not be! So God brings us down to the brook and tests us there; and reduces our force to three hundred men, and ourselves to barley-cakes, and there gets the victory with his right hand, and his holy arm. QUESTION: How did God use dreams and visions in the Bible? ANSWER: God used dreams and visions (visions are “waking dreams”; see Numbers 24:4) several times in the Bible to communicate with people. Visions seem to have been common enough that their lack was sorely noted. An absence of visions was due at times to a dearth of prophets (1 Samuel 3:1) and other times due to the disobedience of God’s people (1 Samuel 28:6). Old Testament Dreams and Visions God used visions in the Old Testament to reveal His plan, to further His plan, and to put His people in places of influence. Abraham (Genesis 15:1): God used a vision to restate the Abrahamic Covenant, reminding Abram that he would have a son and be the father of many nations. Abimelech (Genesis 20:1-7): Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was beautiful—so beautiful that when Abraham came into a new area he occasionally feared that the local ruler would kill him and take Sarah for himself. Abraham told Abimelech king of Gerar that Sarah was his sister (she was his half-sister). Abimelech took Sarah into his harem, but God sent him a dream telling him not to touch Sarah because she was Abraham’s wife. The king returned Sarah to her husband the next morning; the dream had protected Sarah and safeguarded God’s plan for Sarah to be the mother of His chosen people. Jacob (Genesis 28:10-17): Jacob, with his mother’s help, stole Esau’s firstborn inheritance. Jacob then fled Esau’s anger, and on his journey he had his famous dream of a ladder reaching to heaven on which angels ascended and descended. In this dream Jacob received God’s promise that Abraham’s blessing would be carried on through him. Joseph (Genesis 37:1-11): Joseph is one of the most famous dreamers, and one of the most famous dream-interpreters, in the Bible. His first recorded dreams are found in Genesis 37. They showed through easily deciphered symbols that Joseph’s family would one day bow to him in respect. His brothers didn’t appreciate the dream and in their hatred sold Joseph into slavery. Eventually, Joseph ended up in prison in Egypt. Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker (Genesis 40): While in prison Joseph interpreted some dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. With God’s guidance, he explained that the cupbearer would return to Pharaoh’s service, but the baker would be killed. Pharaoh (Genesis 41): Two years later, Pharaoh himself had a dream which Joseph interpreted. God’s purpose was to raise Joseph to second-in-command over Egypt and to save the Egyptians and the Israelites from a horrible famine. Samuel (1 Samuel 3): Samuel had his first vision as a young boy. God told him that judgment was coming upon the sons of Samuel’s mentor, Eli. The young Samuel was faithful to relay the information, and God continued to speak to Samuel through the rest of his life. The Midianite and Amalekite armies (Judges 7:12-15): The pagan enemies of Israel had a divinely inspired dream. God told Gideon to sneak into the enemy camp at night, and there in the outposts of the camp, Gideon overheard an enemy soldier relate a dream he had just had. The interpretation, from another enemy soldier, mentioned Gideon by name and predicted that Israel would win the battle. Gideon was greatly encouraged by this revelation. Solomon (1 Kings 3:5): It was in a dream that God gave Solomon the famous offer: "Ask what you wish Me to give you." Solomon chose wisdom. Daniel (Daniel 2; 4): As He had done for Joseph, God placed Daniel in a position of power and influence by allowing him to interpret a foreign ruler’s dream. This is consistent with God’s propensity to use miracles to identify His messengers. Daniel himself had many dreams and visions, mostly related to future kingdoms of the world and the nation of Israel. New Testament Dreams and Visions Visions in the New Testament also served to provide information that was unavailable elsewhere. Specifically, God used visions and dreams to identify Jesus and to establish His church. Zacharias (Luke 1:5-23): God used a vision to tell Zacharias, an old priest, that he would soon have an important son. Not long after, Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, had John the Baptist. Joseph (Matthew 1:20; 2:13): Joseph would have divorced Mary when he found out she was pregnant, but God sent an angel to him in a dream, convincing him that the pregnancy was of God. Joseph went ahead with the marriage. After Jesus was born, God sent two more dreams, one to tell Joseph to take his family to Egypt so Herod could not kill Jesus and another to tell him Herod was dead and that he could return home. Pilate’s wife (Matthew 27:19): During Jesus’ trial, Pilate’s wife sent an urgent message to the governor encouraging him to free Jesus. Her message was prompted by a dream she had—a nightmare, really—that convinced her that Jesus was innocent and that Pilate should have nothing to do with His case. Ananias (Acts 9:10): It would have taken nothing less than a vision from God to convince Ananias, a Christian in Damascus, to visit Paul, the persecutor of Christians. But because Ananias was obedient to God’s leading, Paul regained his sight and found the truth about those he was trying to kill. Cornelius (Acts 10:1-6): God spoke to an Italian centurion named Cornelius who feared the God of the Jews. In his vision, Cornelius saw an angel who told him where to find Simon Peter and to send for him and listen to his message. Cornelius obeyed the vision, Peter came and preached, and Cornelius and his household full of Gentiles were saved by the grace of God. Peter (Acts 10:9-15): While Peter was praying on the rooftop of a house in Joppa, God gave him a vision of animals lowered in something like a sheet. A voice from heaven told Peter to kill the animals (some of which were unclean) and eat them. The vision served to show that Christians are not bound by kosher law and that God had pronounced Gentiles “clean”; that is, heaven is open to all who follow Jesus. Paul: Paul had several visions in his missionary career. One sent him to preach in Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10). Another encouraged him to keep preaching in Corinth (Acts 18:9-11). God also gave him a vision of heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-6). John (Revelation): Nearly the entire book of Revelation is a vision John had while exiled on the island of Patmos. John’s vision explains in more detail some of the events that God had shown Daniel. Today’s Dreams and Visions With the completion of the Bible, God does not have to use dreams and visions as much as He did before. That is not to say that He cannot or does not; God can communicate with us however He chooses. But when we have a decision to make, our first stop should always be the Bible, not a dream.GotQuestions.org Related Resource: What are some biblical examples of dream interpretation? | GotQuestions.org Judges 7:14 And his friend answered and said, "This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given Midian and all the camp into his hand." his friend answered : Nu 22:38 23:5,20 24:10-13 Job 1:10 into his hand: Ex 15:14,15 Jos 2:9,24 5:1 2Ki 7:6,7 A SECOND MIDIANITE INTERPRETS THE PROPHECY And his friend answered and said, "This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given Midian and all the camp into his hand: Although we cannot know with certainty, it is possible them made have heard about the Israelite named Gideon who contended with Baal and won. I think more likely is that God simply placed this truth in their minds for them to speak it to encourage Gideon's faith and resolve. We will have to wait until heaven to find out the answer. The interpretation of the prophecy is however not difficult. He acknowledges Gideon as a warrior (has a "sword") and that this warrior would give him victory over the 135,000 strong Midianite army! To give into his hand means to give into the power of another. It is notable that Judges 7:14 is actually the fifth time the LORD had prophesied that He would deliver Israel into the hand of Gideon, having initially promised in Judges 6:14. Yahweh alluded to this promise three more times in Judges 7:2, Judges 7:7 and Judges 7:9. Judges 7:15 And it came about when Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, that he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, "Arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian into your hands." its interpretation Ge 40:8 41:11 he bowed in worship: Ge 24:26,27,48 Ex 4:30,31 2Ch 20:18,19 Arise: Jdg 4:14 2Co 10:4-6 Related Passages: Joshua 5:13-15+ Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” 15 The captain of the LORD’S host (A CHRISTOPHANY) said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” (cf Ex 3:1-4,5+) And Joshua did so. GIDEON'S FIRST REACTION WORSHIP YAHWEH And it came about when Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation: As Gideon listened to their words, he realized as he had never before, that it was not a battle between 300 Israelites and 135,000 Midianites. It was God Who was fighting Midian and the 300 of Gideon's band were just His channels. Right there, beside a Midianite campsite, Gideon learned one of the greatest lessons of his life and so he bowed in worship before God. For the first time, Gideon had come to realize the absolute greatness of Jehovah God. In a real sense we are never really prepared for battle until we have bowed before God in worship. That he bowed in worship (shachah): Worship is a proper response to revelation from God. Gideon was so overwhelmed by the Lord’s goodness and mercy that he fell on his face in submission and gratitude. Joshua did the same thing before taking the city of Jericho (Joshua 5:13-15+), and it’s a good practice for us to follow today. Before we can be successful warriors, we must first become sincere worshipers. Finally we see the fruit of a transformed life in Gideon… Doubt sees the obstacles, Faith sees the way. Doubt sees the darksome night, Faith sees the day. Doubt dreads to take the step, Faith soars on high. Doubt whispers, "Who believes?" Faith answers - "I." He returned to the camp of Israel and said, "Arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian into your hands - Having heard God's promise repeatedly, now he believes and quotes God’s promise of certain victory his "army". This victory would be won by the power of God, for their weapons were useless in the battle and such overwhelming odds. Notice that once again the verb has given is past tense (as in Jdg 7:9) emphasizing the certainty of the event, in essence speaking of it as if it had already taken place. This reminds one of the certainty of God's Word and His promises for as He states clearly in Isaiah… Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it. (Isaiah 46:11) How did God reward Gideon’s faith? God gave him wisdom to prepare the army (Judges 7:15-18) In a sense Gideon was a new man when he and his servant returned to the Israelite camp. He had already been clothed with the Spirit and now he had (in effect) the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." (Eph 6:17). He had God's sure promise. His fears and doubts were gone as he issued the command "Arise" to his small army assuring them that “The Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand." As Vance Havner said, faith sees the invisible (victory in a battle not yet fought) and does the impossible (wins the battle with few men and peculiar weapons). Bow in worship (prostrate, worship) (07812) shachah means to bow down, to prostrate oneself, to crouch, to fall down, to humbly beseech, to do reverence, to worship. The idea is to assume a prostrate position as would in paying homage to royalty (Ge 43:28) or to God (Ge 24:26, Ps 95:6). In the first use in Genesis (which has most of the uses - 21v), when Abraham saw "three men (one of Whom was most likely the pre-incarnate Christ)… standing opposite him… he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed (shachah) himself to the earth (Ge 18:2, cp Lot bowing to the two angels - Ge 19:1) It is used to describe Joseph's brother's sheaves which "bowed down to my sheaf.” (Ge 37:7) When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, he told his men to remain for they would go to "worship and return to you." (Ge 22:5) Joshua bowed down to the "Captain of the host of the LORD," (Joshua 5:14) almost assuredly a preincarnate appearance of Messiah. In Josh 23:7, 16 Joshua warned Israel NOT to bow down to the idols of the land, but in Jdg 2:12, 17, 19 that is exactly what they did! The Septuagint translates this with proskuneo Judges 7:16 And he divided the 300 men into three companies, and he put trumpets and empty pitchers into the hands of all of them, with torches inside the pitchers. he put trumpets and empty pitchers: 2Co 4:7 THREE'S COMPANY And he divided the 300 men into three companies: This tactic was often seen in the ancient world. This is interesting because it means that he needed two other leaders for the other 2 companies. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - This small number of men, thus divided, would be able to encompass the whole camp of the Midianites. Concealing the lamps in the pitchers, they would pass unobserved to their appointed stations; then, in the dead of the night, when most of the enemy were fast asleep, all at once breaking their pitchers one against another, with as much noise as they could, and blowing the trumpets and shouting; they would occasion an exceedingly great alarm. The obedience of faith alone could have induced such an expedient, which no doubt God directed Gideon to employ.--Scott. And he put trumpets and empty pitchers into the hands of all of them, with torches inside the pitchers: These are hardly respectable "weapons" against 135,000 armed Midianites! But these men were hand picked by God and were apparently inspired by the confidence that their leader Gideon had in God's promises (Jdg 6:14, Jdg 7:7,14,15, 22) . Gideon now gives no indication of doubt, fear or questioning. And so they willingly trusted Gideon's strange plan, even though they had no idea how victory would be realized. The brave 300 walked into battle by faith, not by sight (2Cor 5:7)! Imagine what must have been going through their minds! Gary Inrig: Years later, in Judah’s history, King Asa was confronted with an army of over a million Ethiopians, led by 300 chariots. He could fight them with 580,000 foot soldiers, but the odds were obviously overwhelming. In response to that problem, Asa prayed one of the great prayers of Scripture. “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we support ourselves on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You” (2Chr 14:11). God answered that prayer with a resounding victory over the Ethiopians. (Borrow Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay) Herbert Wolf: The “trumpets” were the same ram’s horn type used by Ehud and Gideon to summon the troops. Their value was not as musical instruments but as noise-making devices. Only the leaders would give signals on the trumpets; so three hundred trumpets normally represented a sizable army. When Joshua captured Jericho, only seven priests had trumpets (Josh. 6:6). Judges 7:17 And he said to them, "Look at me, and do likewise. And behold, when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. Jdg 9:48 Mt 16:24 1Co 11:1 Heb 13:7 1Pe 5:3 FOLLOW THE LEADER! And he said to them, "Look at me, and do likewise. And behold, when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do: Gideon was the example for them to follow. “Watch me… Follow my lead… Do exactly as I do”. Gideon had come a long way since the day God had found him hiding in the winepress! No longer do we hear him questioning God's orders or seeking a sign. Instead, he confidently gave orders to his men, knowing that the Lord would give them the victory. It has been well said that the Good News of the Gospel is we don’t have to stay the way we are. Through faith in Jesus Christ, anybody can be changed. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17, NKJV). Jesus said to Andrew’s brother, “You are Simon [“a hearer”]… You shall be called Cephas [“a stone”]” (John 1:42NKJV). “You are—you shall be!” That’s good news for anybody who wants a new start in life. God can take a weak piece of clay like Simon and make a rock out of him! God can take a doubter like Gideon and make a general out of him! Judges 7:18 "When I and all who are with me blow the trumpet, then you also blow the trumpets all around the camp, and say, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.'" blow the trumpet: Jdg 7:20 the sword: The word {cherev,} "sword," necessarily implied, and rightly supplied by our venerable translators from ver. 20, is found in this place, in the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, and in eight MSS.; and evidently appears to be genuine. 1Sa 17:47 2Ch 20:15-17 BLOW THE TRUMPET ALL AROUND THE CAMP When I and all who are with me blow the trumpet, then you also blow the trumpets all around the camp, and say, 'For the LORD and for Gideon: Why would they say this particular phrase? Given the superstitious nature of pagans, it is quite likely that the strange dream of a tumbling loaf of barley flattening a tent and it's even more unbelievable interpretation had spread through the 135,000 Midianites like wildfire… they didn't know who this Gideon was but they knew his name was to be feared. And their fears were flamed to riot when they heard the war chant from the 300 men around their camp. Some writers see the addition of Gideon's name to the war cry as a premonition of the future problems Gideon experienced, but that is conjecture. More likely is that the Midianites had heard about the name Gideon. Judges 7:19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the pitchers that were in their hands. at the beginning: Ex 14:24 Mt 25:6 1Th 5:2 Rev 16:15 they blew: Jdg 7:8 smashed the pitchers: Jdg 7:16 Ps 2:9 Jer 13:13,14 19:1-11 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just posted the watch; (About 10 P.M.) Why this detail of just as they changed watch? It could be those returning to their tents in the dark were mistaken as enemy invaders by the suddenly awakened and confused soldiers who began to attack their own men… ultimately it was God Who set their swords one against another. Deffinbaugh on the watch just posted - the author’s main interest seems to be that it is the beginning of the watch. That must have been an important detail. My friend and fellow-elder, Stan Schultz, informs me that the change of watch is the time when there is the greatest confusion. If an emergency occurs, who is now in charge? Is it the one going off his watch or the one coming on? What is clear in all this is that the “attack” (if you dare call a 300-man light and sound show an attack) took place at just the perfect time, God’s time. Gideon’s descent to the Midianite camp perfectly synchronized with God’s schedule. Brensinger: In ancient Israel, the night was divided into three watches, each four hours in duration . . . By the beginning of the middle watch, around ten o’clock, a sizeable portion of the Midianite army no doubt lies fast asleep. Furthermore, insofar as new guards are posted between watches, the recently positioned replacements need to adjust to nighttime duty. As a result, such transition periods are marked by increased vulnerability, regardless of the precision with which such changes are made. (Judges Believers Church Bible Commentary) And they blew the trumpets and smashed the pitchers that were in their hands - These activities require no skill in warfare at all! Ponder the chaos produced in this scene: Gideon and 300 men w/ earthen pitchers, jars of clay, that contained lights. First 100 shophars echoing all around your camp and then the cumulative crashing noise of 100 jars of clay followed by the encircling light that suddenly surrounded the Midianites. The Midianites must have quickly as those who are trained for war, reasoned they were under surprise attack and that they were surrounded by a vast army. Three hundred people turned the Midianites to flight because the greatness of the power wasn’t Gideon’s but God’s. It was all God’s grace at work. And He loves to use earthen vessels (2Cor 4:7) to show the light most clearly when they are broken. He loves to use them as His means of grace. But what had happened if Gideon had not obeyed. Grace flows thru obedient hearts. Judges 7:20 When the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers, they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing, and cried, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" blew the trumpets: Nu 10:1-10 Jos 6:4,16,20 Isa 27:13 1Co 15:52 1Th 4:16 brake (KJV): 2Co 4:7 Heb 11:4 2Pe 1:15 GIDEON'S BAND BLASTS AND BREAKS When the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers, they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing, How astonishing and overwhelming must the effect have been, in a dark night, of the sudden glare of 300 torches, darting their splendour in the same instant on the half-awakened eyes of the terrified Midianites; accompanied with the ominous tones of 300 trumpets, alternately mingled with the thundering shouts of "The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon!" and cried, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" This passage is widely known as a key motto of the Christian laymen's organization known as the Gideons, with their local chapters known as camps and with their strong emphasis on the Scriptures as the sword of the Spirit, able to conquer the enemy and win victories for the Lord. The victory was a great testimony both to the remarkably effective stratagem devised by Gideon and the providential working of God. Treasury of Scripture - How astonishing and overwhelming must the effect be, in a dark night, of the sudden glare of 300 torches, darting their splendour in the same instant on the half-awakened eyes of the terrified Midianites; accompanied with the clangor of 300 trumpets, alternately mingled with the thundering shout of "The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon!" Morning and evening - C H Spurgeon Gideon ordered his men to do two things: covering up a torch in an earthen pitcher, he bade them, at an appointed signal, break the pitcher and let the light shine, and then sound with the trumpet, crying, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon! the sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” This is precisely what all Christians must do. First, you must shine; break the pitcher which conceals your light; throw aside the bushel which has been hiding your candle, and shine. Let your light shine before men; let your good works be such, that when men look upon you, they shall know that you have been with Jesus. Then there must be the sound, the blowing of the trumpet. There must be active exertions for the ingathering of sinners by proclaiming Christ crucified. Take the gospel to them; carry it to their door; put it in their way; do not suffer them to escape it; blow the trumpet right against their ears. Remember that the true war-cry of the Church is Gideon’s watchword, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” God must do it, it is his own work. But we are not to be idle; instrumentality is to be used—“The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” If we only cry, “The sword of the Lord!” we shall be guilty of an idle presumption; and if we shout, “The sword of Gideon!” alone, we shall manifest idolatrous reliance on an arm of flesh: we must blend the two in practical harmony, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” We can do nothing of ourselves, but we can do everything by the help of our God; let us, therefore, in his name determine to go out personally and serve with our flaming torch of holy example, and with our trumpet tones of earnest declaration and testimony, and God shall be with us, and Midian shall be put to confusion, and the Lord of hosts shall reign for ever and ever. Judges 7:21 And each stood in his place around the camp; and all the army ran, crying out as they fled. And each stood in his place around the camp: Ex 14:13,14 2Ch 20:17 Isa 30:7,15 and all the army ran: Ex 14:25 2Ki 7:6,7 Job 15:21,22 Pr 28:1 MIDIANITES RUNNING, CRYING AND FLEEING And each stood in his place around the camp; and all the army ran, crying out as they fled. God's army stood firm while the enemy fled in fear. So when they did their part, the Lord did His part (v22). Again we see Man's Responsibility, God's Sovereignty. Daniel Block - The bedlam in the enemy camp is described in three verbs: “and they [all the camp] ran”; “and they cried out [wildly]”; “and they fled.” This is the natural response of those who have been awakened from the deepest of sleep (at midnight) to the sound of horns blowing, jars smashing, people shouting, and the sight of three hundred blazing torches around the camp. This is psychological warfare at its best. (Borrow Judges, Ruth. Vol. 6: New American Commentary) Judges 7:22 And when they blew 300 trumpets, the LORD set the sword of one against another even throughout the whole army; and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the edge of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. they blew 300 trumpets: Jos 6:4,16,20 2Co 4:7 the LORD set the sword of one against another: 1Sa 14:16-20 2Ch 20:23 Ps 83:9 Isa 9:4 19:2 the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah: 1Ki 4:12 as far as the edge of Abel-meholah: Situated, according to Eusebius 16 miles south from Scythopolis, or Bethshan. 1Ki 4:12 19:16 The Lord Defeats the Midianites (Source: ESV Global Study Bible) THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S And when they blew 300 trumpets, the LORD set the sword of one against another even throughout the whole army - Once again God made His sovereign power very clear. Only the power of God's hand could bring such a miraculous victory. God's power often takes the seemingly insignificant resources at hand to perform His mighty works. Thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ (2 Cor 2:14). His TRIUMPH not Gideon's! Not mine! Gideon had learned through his matriculation as Israel's deliverer that his power came from total dependence upon God and that led to complete confidence in God's promise to deliver against all odds. and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the edge of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. Judges 7:23 And the men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian. Jdg 6:35 1Sa 14:21,22 And the men of Israel were summoned from Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian - It is interesting that "Asher set at the seashore" and did not aid Deborah and Barak but now join Gideon in the chase after the fleeing Midianites. Judges 7:24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against Midian and take the waters before them, as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan." So all the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they took the waters as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan. And Gideon sent messengers: Jdg 3:27 Ro 15:30 Php 1:27 take the waters before them: Jdg 3:28 12:5 as far as Beth-barah: Jn 1:28 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against Midian and take (lakad) the waters before them, as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan." So all the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they took (lakad) the waters as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan. Gideon called upon the tribe of Ephraim to race to the Jordan, control access to it as far as Beth–barah, and thus prevent the Midianites’ eastward escape. Take...took (captured) (03920) lakad means to capture, seize, catch, as in a net, trap or pit (Ps 9:15). Most of the 121 uses of lākad deal with men capturing or seizing towns, men, spoils, and even a kingdom (1Sa 14:47). It is used figuratively of the entrapment of men who are caught in snares of all sorts laid by their enemies (Jer 5:26; 18:22; Ps 35:8). A poignant figuratively use is illustrated in Pr 5:22 where Solomon notes that the wicked is captured with the cords of his own sins (Josh 6:20, cf 1Sa 14:41-42). Captured (defeated) cities (Dt 2:34, 35; 3:4, Jericho = Josh 6:20; Jdg 1:8, 12-13, 18). Speaks of tribes providentially "taken" to discern who committed the sin that caused Israel to lose the battle at Ai (Josh 7:14-16) To be "immoveable, frozen, i.e., make a collection or mass hard and immoveable, as an extension of capturing or binding up and object (Job 38:30)." (Swanson) Lakad in Judges - Jdg. 1:8; Jdg. 1:12; Jdg. 1:13; Jdg. 1:18; Jdg. 3:28; Jdg. 7:24; Jdg. 7:25; Jdg. 8:12; Jdg. 8:14; Jdg. 9:45; Jdg. 9:50; Jdg. 12:5; Jdg. 15:4 Judges 7:25 And they captured the two leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb, while they pursued Midian; and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from across the Jordan. the two leaders of Midian: Jdg 8:3 Ps 83:11,12 they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb: Jos 7:26 Isa 10:26 Oreb: Eusebius and Jerome speak of a small place called Araba, three miles west from Scythopolis, which is supposed by some to have had its name from Oreb. across the Jordan. Jdg 8:4 Related Passages: Isaiah 10:26 “The Lord of hosts will arouse a scourge against him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb They also captured (lakad) the two leaders of Midian and and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb, while they pursued Midian - "The story of Gideon began with a man hiding in a winepress (Judges 6:11), but it ended with the enemy prince being slain at a winepress." (Wiersbe)