This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
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HERE
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books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
JUDGES
CHAPTER 8
1 And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?
3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
The spirit in man is egotistical and proud. These leaders of the tribe of Ephraim seemed to be upset about Gideon's accomplishment. They felt "left out" because they were not a part of the army. Most people would rather be RUINED with praise thatn SAVED with criticism!
4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
Gideon presses on in the battle seeking to capture 2 more Midianite kings (Zebah & Zalmunna). And he only takes with him the 300 faithful men (verse 4).
8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
Still pressing onward, Gideon and the men move on to Penuel (some 5 mi. East). And these people treated him the same way as the ones in Succoth. These took pride in their "tower" which they thought a sufficient defense from any enemy. And they probably even told Gideon and his army that they should JOIN them in the safety of the tower.
10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.
12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,
(KJV)
Gideon and his small army chased after the two kings of Midian even though they had 15,000 men. The two kings and their army thought they were safe and secure in their location (verse 11).
14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?
16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
He found the elders of the city (77 of them) and took thorn bushes and whipped them. Notice he did not destroy them. Instead he instructed them through discipline.
17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
Now when Gideon came to Penuel, he destroyed their "tower" and their city and their people! God has NO ROOM for those who would refuse to labor in the fight for public awareness of truth and morality.
18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
Gideon now must determine what to do with the two kings. He has paraded them before the two towns to show that God delivered them into his hand. But now, what is to be their fate?
Judg 8:22-27
22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
The very next verses tell a sordid story. Gideon refused (righteously) to rule over the people, reminding them that they should have no other ruler but GOD Himself.
28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
The Midianites were defeated and Gideon retired to his home. It seems he "had many wives," and 70 sons were born to him and them.
32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.
33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.
34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
Almost immediately after Gideon's death the Israelites resorted to superstitions and false-god worship.
Please continue to follow along with us in Bible Study.
God's spirit in man brings humility, and a willingness to see God get the glory no matter who gets the credit for accomplishment. Gideon answered them kindly and reminded them that it was they who captured Oreb & Zeeb. He also quietly and humbly reminded them that it was GOD Who had delivered these kings into their hands.
Man's spirit of proud egotism would be easily quieted if we would remind ourselves as Christians, "...for without Me you can do nothing"(John 15:5).
When he came to the town of Succoth, he and his men were tired and hungry. They had worked hard in the battle, and yet were still working hard demonstrating their diligence. Gideon asked for the townspeople to feed the men. Amazingly, these people were Israelites of the tribe of Gad; yet they didn't want to commit themselves to Gideon until the two Midianite kings were already "in hand."
What a disgrace that the people of God will not commit themselves to a worthy cause due to fear!! Gideon prophecies and promises them chastisment when he is finished.
I remember when we first began the fight against abortion that many people said we should stay within the confines of evangelism and education in the church, and not be involved in the public battle. The same story was circulated when we began the fight against gambling.
Again, Gideon prophecies and promises them chastisement when he is finished.
But Gideon went around and came in behind them. The small number of 300 defeated the 15,000 and the two kings were captured.
And Gideon and his army (still tired and hungry) returned to Succoth BEFORE SUNRISE!!
This is what is needed for those Christians who fear the public battle against such atrocities as homosexualism, pornography, abortion and gambling -- INSTRUCTION. If they truly are saved, God will not allow their fearful trembling long.
Those who believe they are "saved to sit" will find that the forces of evil will soon overrun the church which will not stand up and speak out!
"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and it it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"
He questions them as to the emn whom they had ruthlessly slain in Tabor. These must have been Gideon's near relatives. For upon the answer of the two kings, Gideon assumes the role of the "avenger of blood," as though they had been his own brothers.
Gideon's son was too young, and had no heart for killing these men who were bound. Do we see a flaw in his character? Was leniency his desire? Would he impose life imprisonment at the expense of the tax-payer instead of death? Is this why Gideon later says, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my so..."(verse 23)?
Gideon carried out the just execution of these two ruthless murderers. And for a show of conquest took the "ornaments" from their camels: which probably were insignia of their high rank and made of gold. Was this where Gideon first got his "taste" for gold?
Was this the beginning of the downfall for a man given to godliness?
But then he did ask for "pay." Gideon would not willingly receive a crown, for that would take away glory due unto God. But he would indeed receive gold enough to make himself a memorial or trophy which he could look upon and remember.
They willgingly gave him the earrings of those whom they had slain in the battle.
With the earrings (about 350 oz. of gold), Gideon fashoned an ephod. Now the Hebrew word here intimates a vest-type covering which could be worn, but more probably was put on public display in Gideon's house in Ophra (verse 27).
Gideon was a righteous man who feared God. But this thing he did became a snare (or trap) to all the people of Israel. That's because they desired it - or wanted one LIKE it.
Now the man who contended with Ball (or false gods) had allowed a false god to arise.
We, as Christians, must be very careful that we do not pass on allegiance to the wrong thing!
Another son, Abimelech, was born of a "concubine" in the town of Shechem. A concubine was either purchased or won in battle. She was about the same as a wife, but was totally the property of her husband.
It is interesting that the word "Baal-berith" in verse 33 means lord of covenant. But the people quit worshipping the REAL God of their covenant - Jehovah (verse 34).
It seems their bent toward idolatry also caused a hardness toward the family which had once led them in holiness (verse 35).
When Christians begin to dwell in sin, they become hardened toward those who would lead them in the right way.