Judges 8 "A Soft Answer"

“Now the men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?” And they reprimanded him sharply. So he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that. (vv.1-3)

The men of Ephraim joined in the fight against Midian when Gideon called out to them (Judges 7:24-25). Yet they were upset that Gideon did not call them before the battle started. Gideon’s initial call for help went out to the tribes of Manasseh (his own tribe), Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali (Judges 6:35). 

These men of Ephraim seem to have cared more about recognition than the overall good of Israel. Instead of being jealous about the recognition that others received, they should have been happy that God’s people were rescued and that they had some part in the victory. Jealousy often hinders the work of God. Yet they were bugged because they missed out on the main part of the battle. 

Yet Gideon did not fire back a rough response. Instead, he reminded them that they had captured and killed the Midianite princes. He also honored the men by asking, “What was I able to do in comparison with you?” Finally, “their anger toward him subsided when he said that” (v.3). 

Scripture tells us that “a soft answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1), and Gideon did just that. He did not challenge their pride; instead he soothed their pride by complimenting them and giving them the recognition they seemed to crave. Most importantly, he challenged them to get involved in the work of God that was at hand. His reply was a wise way to deal with contention when there is work for the LORD to be done.

With the Lord’s help, we too can defuse heated situations by reining in our prideful words. Responding gently and carefully to angry people can promote unity, for God’s glory. Therefore, bite your tongue before it bites others.

The Truth: A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. (Proverbs 15:1-2)

Judges 7 "Gideon's Army Reduced"

The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’ (v.2) 

This was a great test of Gideon’s faith. His army of 32,000 men was already overmatched by 135,000 Midianites. Yet God thought his army was too big, and He commanded Gideon to invite all who were afraid to go home. Gideon was probably surprised at the number of men who were afraid to fight and hoped that only a few hundred would leave. But we are told that they assembled in a place where they could see the 135,000 Midianite troops (Judges 7:8). The sight of a huge opposing army made many Israelite soldiers afraid. So, when the fearful were allowed to leave, 22,000 men went home (v.3). 

Military commanders always want to have enough troops to accomplish their mission. Most would prefer having too many not too few, but not everyone agrees on just how many troops will be enough. When Gideon recruited an army of 32,000 men I'm sure he felt somewhat secure in that number. But to now have that number reduced by 22,000 men. Wow!

However, God wanted the odds even more unbalanced. He wanted it clear to Israel that the victory would be His alone so they could not boast in their own strength. Therefore a second reduction cut the force from the remaining 10,000 to 300 troops, of whom the Lord said, “By the three hundred … I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand” (v.7). And so He did (v.19-23).

Likewise, in our life of faith, if we really believe in the principle, "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6), then our lack of resources does not matter. If we truly believe the principle, "some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7), then the odds stacked against us should not matter.

When the Lord reduces our resources from “32,000 to 300,” it is not punishment. It is preparation for Him to be glorified through our lives as we acknowledge and trust His power. 

The Truth: But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27)

Judges 6 "God Calls Gideon"

The angel of the Lord appeared to him (Gideon) and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” (v.12)

This was a strange greeting to Gideon. It didn’t seem like the LORD was with him and it didn’t seem that he was a mighty man of valor. For he was threshing wheat at the time, which was both difficult and humiliating. Gideon may have turned around to see if there was another person to whom the angel was speaking too.

Yet, here we see God Himself came down to call Gideon into His service. The visit by "the angel of the LORD," was another Old Testament appearance of Christ. Gideon realized who his Guest was when the Lord burned up his meal in answer to his request for a sign (v.21). As soon as the meal went up in flames, the angel of the Lord disappeared.

Gideon's first reaction was fear because the common belief at the time was, to see God was to die. But God spoke an all-important word of peace, or shalom, to Gideon (v.23). So like Moses before him, Gideon built an altar to the Lord and gave it a name: "The LORD is peace" (v.24). God's message of peace to Gideon was a guarantee that His plans for Israel's deliverer would be carried out. 

However Gideon needed assurance, because as far as he was concerned the nation's enemies were too powerful to be conquered. God had already given Gideon a sign (Judges 6:17-21), but now Gideon asked God to do a second miracle to confirm His word – and then a third miracle to confirm it again - the sign of the fleece (vv.36-40).

We too may doubt our own abilities and potential. But let us never doubt what God can do with us when we trust and obey Him. Gideon’s God is the same God who will help us accomplish all that He asks us to do.

The Truth: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Judges 5 “ The Song Of Deborah”

“Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you mighty rulers! For I will sing to the Lord. I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.” (v.3) 

The Song of Deborah poetically describes Sisera’s defeat in battle, Jael’s bold killing of the cruel general Sisera, and the tears of his mother as she waits for him at home. This Song is designed to immortalize the events of this great victory in the minds of the people, and what the LORD did for them that day. 

The power of music is amazing, it can comfort us, heal us, and in this case teach. The power of music to heal and help is a gift from God that comforts many. Perhaps that is why the Psalms speak so deeply to us. There we find lyrics that connect with our hearts, allowing us to speak to God from the depth of our spirits. 

The following is a lyric from a song written by David as he was being hunted down by men seeking to kill him: “But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Psalm 59:16). Despite his circumstances, David remembered God’s power and mercy, and singing of them encouraged him to go on.

May God give each of us a song that will remind us of His goodness and mercy no matter what we may face. 

The Truth: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 92:1)

Judges 4 "Deborah And Barak"

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, "Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?” And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; he went up with ten thousand men under his command, and Deborah went up with him (vv.4-10).

Some consider it unexpected for God to raise up a woman as prophetess. But the New Testament makes it clear that God grants the gift of prophecy unto women also, and they are to practice it appropriately (1 Corinthians 11:5). Still more people consider it unexpected for God to raise up a woman to be a judge – a shaphat, a heroic leader for Israel. Deborah was a woman greatly used by God and she was also a woman who respected the people God put in authority over her – notably, Barak. While it is assumed that Deborah was allowed leadership because unspecified men failed to take the position, we have no indication that Barak failed to do something God told him to do in taking leadership.

Deborah never believed that God called her alone to deliver Israel. She realized that God would do much of the work through Barak. The use of the phrase, "Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded," suggests that Deborah simply confirmed something that the LORD had already spoken to Barak. God often brings confirmation when He speaks to us, especially if what we believe He wants us to do will affect other people.

We can see in our text that, Barak preferred the inspiration of Deborah’s presence to the invisible but certain help of Almighty God…He is mentioned in Hebrews 11 as one of the heroes of faith; but his faith lay rather in Deborah’s influence with God than in his own. Because of this, Barak would not be the one to personally defeat Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army – but a woman would be the one. Deborah had the courage and Godly confidence that Barak lacked. She also understood the history of God’s divine guidance and protection of His people and had faith to obey His command.

However, Barak and all who went with him showed real courage and trust in God to go out against Sisera and his army. They had essentially no weapons to fight with against a technologically advanced army (having 900 chariots of iron). In addition, God led them to fight on a plain, which gave great advantage to the forces with chariots.

Deborah played a big role in this victory. She was an encourager, building up the faith of Barak and his men. Her encouragement was that God, as a king, would go out before His people into battle. May we all have the faith of Deborah.

The Truth: “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5) 

Judges 3 "The Account of Othniel - The First Judge of Israel"

"When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim. So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died." (vv.9-11)

Reading the book of Judges, with its battles and mighty warriors, can sometimes feel like reading about the modern day Avengers. We have Deborah, Barak, Gideon, and Samson. However, in the line of judges (or deliverers), we also find Othniel. Who? Othniel!  

We don’t know very much about Othniel, but what we do know is; the LORD raised him up, and the Holy Spirit empowered him for the job God called him to do (vv.9-10). Our text also tell us that, “the Lord delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand (v.10), and “the land rested for forty years” under him (v.11).

The Othniel account helps us focus on what is most important—the activity of God. God often uses ordinary people for His extraordinary work. It is His light shining through our lives that glorifies God and draws others to Him. 

When others look at our life, may they see God—not us.

The Truth: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Judges 2 "Devine Anger"

“Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger. They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.” (vv.11-13)

Even in the days of Joshua Israel did not fully possess what they could have in the Promised Land. Yet in that time they remained faithful to God and they did not worship the idols of the Canaanites. After the death of Joshua, they fell into the worship of these grotesque idols, Baal and Ashtoreth.

The Canaanite idol Baal was an attractive rival to Yahweh because he was thought to be the god over the weather and nature for the Canaanites; he was essentially the god of agricultural success. In an agricultural society people served Baal because they wanted good weather for abundant crops and flocks. One might say that the bottom line with Baal was the bottom line; he was effectively the god of personal wealth.

The Canaanite idol Ashtoreth was an attractive rival to Yahweh because she was thought to be the goddess of love, sex, and fertility. She was usually honored with the practice of ritual sex with a priestess-prostitute. One might say that the bottom line with Ashtoreth was sex and love. 

It is strange that anyone would want to trade a personal, real, living God for a false god that is the figment of man’s imagination. Yet there is something within man that is afraid of the exact God we need; we would rather serve a god of our own creation than the real, living God whom we can’t control. Therefore, the gods man creates are the gods wanted by his sinful desires. 

God made it clear that Israel’s pursuit of these gods was nothing less than forsaking the LORD God of their fathers. Yet in all likelihood Israel did not see their idolatry as forsaking God; they probably just thought they were adding a few gods along side of the God of their fathers. Nevertheless, the God of Israel is a jealous God who demands exclusive worship.

Chapter 2 gives us a clear picture of God’s anger in action as He deals with the disobedience and sin of Israel (which was even more offensive to God because it was done right before His eyes). To give an extreme example, it is bad enough for a married person to commit adultery; but to commit adultery before the very eyes of one’s spouse would be especially offensive.

This response of God to the unfaithfulness of Israel was no surprise. He specifically promised that He would do this in the covenant He made with Israel, which was characterized by blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (as in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28). So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them: The purpose of all this was so that when Israel was greatly distressed, they would turn their hearts back to LORD. God’s goal wasn’t punishment in itself, but repentance (v.14).

While divine wrath is real, it is never petty or vengeful - traits which so often characterize human expressions of anger. Jesus displayed the righteous anger of God on several occasions, but not to avenge a personal wrong or to justify Himself. His discipline is designed to bring us to repentance and back into a right relationship with Him.

God will hand us over to the consequences of our own behavior. But such outcomes are never what God truly wants for us. Without true repentance, the Israelites fell back into destructive habits (v.19), and He did discipline them to bring them back into His fold.

The Truth: God is a righteous judge but He also hears us in our suffering—how much more will He hear our cry, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13) 

Judges 1 "Better To Obey"

“It came about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.” (v.28)

Chapter 1 is the story of the seven tribes of Israel that did not completely possess their “promised land”. God said to drive out these Canaanites, for their cup of sin was full. Instead of destroying them or driving them out as God had commanded, the Israelites (in many areas) allowed them to live in their midst, exposing themselves to their sinful practices.

Just like Israel, there are things that God has told us to get rid of in our lives as well. And there is no need for us to protest that we cannot, because Christ died and rose again to make it possible for us to do so.

Therefore, through the power of His Holy Spirit, we can overcome in the battle of spiritual warfare and be victors through Christ if we obey His Word. Better to obey, than to suffer the consequences of sin.

The Truth: “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)