Judges 9:1 says, And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,  Abimelech, the son of Gideon's concubine, went to Shechem, and talked with his uncles.  Verse two states, Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.  Abimelech had a proposition for them to propose to the men of Shechem.  He asked his uncles to ask the men if it were better for them to serve the seventy sons of Gideon, or to serve one man, Abimelech, who was related to them by blood.  The question is somewhat the opposite today, and that is whether it is better for a person to serve one God, or to serve all the things, or many gods, of this world.  The powers of the world will always make themselves seem the better option, just as Abimelech did.  Verse three says, And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.  After Abimelech's uncles asked the men who they had rather serve, they decided on Abimelech, since he was a blood relative.  Sometimes, we might be inclined to follow our blood relatives, but if they are not following the leadership of God, then we need to follow those who are truly God's people instead.  Through our faith in Christ, we become a part of a new, spiritual family, and we must never turn our backs on them.  Verse four declares, And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.  The men of Shechem gave Abimelech seventy pieces of silver, which was the same as the number of the rest of Gideon's sons.  Abimelech then hired some disrespectful men to follow him.  The people of the world are always going to be ready to spend money to defeat God's people, and it will have to be accomplished by disrespectful people.  Verse five declares, And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.  Abimelech and those with him went to Gideon's house and killed all of his sons, except the youngest, Jotham, who managed to hide himself.  It is not unusual in parts of the world today for leaders to kill all their relatives that they think might be a threat to their power.  Gideon had been a mighty man of God, and he left behind many sons, but somewhere along the line we quit hearing about Him asking God for guidance, and now all that was left was two sons, one of which had killed all the others except one.  All we can leave behind in this world that is of everlasting value is our spiritual legacy.  Verse six says, And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.  The men of Shechem gathered together and made Abimelech king.  There is no reference to anyone asking God if this was His plan, which should be our first step in anything that we as Christians do today.

Judges 8:22 says, 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.  The men of Israel asked Gideon to be their ruler, and for his sons and grandsons to follow him in ruling them.  They said that he had delivered them form the Midianites, but really God had.  Verse twenty-three states, And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.  Gideon said neither he nor his sons would reign over them, but that the LORD would.  No matter who the earthly leader may be today, as followers of Christ we can never forget that God is in charge.  Verse twenty-four adds, 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.)  Gideon then requested that the men give him the earrings that they had gotten from their enemies.  This would have been seen as some of the fruits of war.  We really shouldn't look to profit materially from defeating our spiritual enemies,  Verse twenty-five says,  And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.  The men said they would willingly give the earrings to Gideon, and they did.  Gideon did not demand that they do this, but they willingly granted his request.  When we are asked to give up the things of this world that may come between God and us, we need to do so willingly.  God will never demand that we do this, but He will ask it of us.  Verse twenty-six states, 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.  There was a lot of gold.  No matter how much we are asked to give up of the things of this world in order yo remain true to God, we must never feel that it is too much.  Verse twenty-seven declares, 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.  Gideon made an ephod of the gold and put it in his city, and the people of Israel began to worship it.  This became a snare to Gideon and his house.  If we allow anything to stand between God and us, it will become a snare to us.  Verse twenty-eight states, 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.  Israel once again had a period of peace during Gideon's lifetime, for forty years.  Verse twenty-nine declares, And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.  Then verse thirty adds, And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.  Gideon lived in his house, not in a palace as a ruler, and he had seventy sons, since he had many wives.  I don't believe that he would have been following God's will in this, but would have been living by his own desires.  Just because God uses us to accomplish great things in the world does not give us the right to then live by our own desires.  Verse thirty-one says, And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.  Gideon also had a son named Abimelech with his concubine at Shechem.  He not only had many wives, but he had at least one concubine, with whom he had a son.  Verse thirty-two states, 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 Abiezrites.  After a long life, Gideon died and was buried.  No matter what we do for God, there will come a day when we die, unless Christ returns first.  Verse thirty-three declares, 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.  Once Gideon was dead, the people of Israel once again turned away from God and started worshipping Baal.  We cannot allow our faith to be based on any earthly leader, but it must be based on our relationship with Christ.  Verse thirty-four adds, 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:  The people of Israel, God's chosen people, once again forgot God and all that He had done for them.  We as followers of Christ cannot afford to be the same way, but must always remember what God has done for us and remain true to Him.  Verse thirty-five concludes, Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.  The people of Israel may have wanted Gideon and his descendants to be their rulers, but now that he was dead, they no longer felt any reason to honor his descendants.  If people forget God, we should not be surprised that they do not show any respect for those who serve Him and have been used by Him to do great things.

We will pause our study of the book of Judges this morning to think about Easter Sunday, the day that the world really changed.  This year, with all the change brought about by the coronavirus, we are not having a normal Easter, but neither did the world all those years ago.  Those who opposed Jesus thought He was dead and sealed securely in the tomb.  The disciples were hidden away in discouragement and felt defeated.  The women closest to Jesus were on the way to prepare His body for a regular burial.  But then, everything changed.  When the women got to the tomb, the stone was rolled away and instead of a dead Jesus, they found an angel.  Then, they got the good news that Jesus was not there, but He was risen.  He was alive, and the world has been a different place ever since.  Today, when the world seems to be a nearly hopeless mess because of the coronavirus, we as followers of Christ have good news, and that is that Jesus is alive.  Peter and John ran to the tomb when the women told them what had happened, but Jesus wasn't there.  We may feel the need to congregate at a church building today, but we do not have to be at a particular place to worship God, just as the disciples didn't have to be at the tomb to find Jesus.  Jesus is with us wherever we are as followers of Christ through the Holy Spirit, and the good news is that we can worship Him wherever we are.  So today, let's just declare, "He is risen," and because He is risen, He will be with us forevermore if we simply accept Him as our Savior and Lord by faith.  The coronavirus will pass, but Jesus lives forever and calls us to salvation through Him.      

Judges 8:10 says, 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.  Zebah and Zalmunna and about fifteen thousand men were all that were left as over one hundred and twenty thousand had already been killed.  The size of the opposition does not really matter as long as we are faithful to God.  Verse eleven states, 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.  Gideon went up and killed the last of the host, or soldiers.  Verse twelve says, 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.  The two kings once again fled and Gideon pursued them.  They seemed to have abandoned their men and were concerned only for a few leaders and themselves.  Those who do not follow God often look out only for themselves, and some times it seems that at times some of those who are followers of Christ are the same way unfortunately.  Verse thirteen declares, And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,  Gideon returned to the battle before the sun was up.  Nearly all the enemy may have been killed, but a few remained.  We today do not need to become less vigilant when it seems that our enemies are almost all slain, but need to realize that in this lifetime they never will be.  We need to start every day prepared to face the enemy through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse fourteen says, 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.  Gideon asked a young man that he met about the men he was pursuing, and he told Gideon about them.  Verse fifteen states, 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?  When Gideon returned to Succoth, he reminded them of his earlier request for bread for his men and their denial of it because Zebah and Zalmunna were not yet defeated.  We should not be surprised if the people of the world today look around and see the forces of the world as more powerful than Christians and ask why they should help us  Like the people of Succoth though, one day they will know, as God has already secured the victory.  Verse sixteen declares, And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.  Gideon took the leaders of Succoth into the wilderness and the  briars and taught them a lesson,  Verse seventeen adds, And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.  Gideon then tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.  This would be speculation, but the tower probably represented some god.  I do know without speculation that we must tear down everything in our lives that becomes more important than God.  Verse eighteen states, 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.  Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna who the people they killed at Tabor were, and they said that they looked like Gideon.  Verse nineteen declares, 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.  Gideon said that these men that were slain bt Zebah and Zalmunna were his brothers, and if they had saved them, then Gideon would not kill them.  Their actions had consequences, just as ours do today..  The only way to be forgiven and not bear the responsibility of those consequences is through faith in Christ.  Verse twenty adds, 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.  Gideon told his oldest son, Jether, to slay Zebah and Zalmunna, but he couldn't do it. because he was still a youth.  We as followers of Christ should not allow our age to keep us from following God's commands, whether we are very young or very old.  Verse twenty-one concludes, 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.   Zebah and Zalmunna basically told Gideon to go ahead and kill them, and he did.  We need to spiritually slay all the enemies of God today, whether they invite us to or not.

Judges 8:1 says, 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.  The men of Ephraim came to Gideon and asked why he hadn't called them to fight the Midianites.  Then, they chastised him sharply.  Gideon was God's chosen leader acting under God's authority and being very successful in leading them to defeat the Midianites through God's power and direction, but the men of Ephraim were angry with him.  We do not need to get upset when God is being victorious in some areas without us, and we certainly do not need to be angry with those that God is working through to bring success without us.  Verse two states,  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 Abiezer?  Gideon basically asked them what had he done that would compare to what they had already done.  He did not get angry and tell them that they had no right to question him because he was he was God's chosen representative.  We should never get angry with our fellow believers if they question us when we are doing something for God today, but should let them know that we realize that they are also working to advance God's kingdom.  Verse three adds, 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.  Gideon gave the credit to God and said that God had delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, into the hands of the men of Ephraim, and what could Gideon do that was greater than that, and the men of Ephraim were appeased.  We really shouldn't have to appease other Christians when we are doing what God calls us to do, but if we have to, it should never be done out of anger toward them.  Verse four declares, And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.  Gideon and the three hundred men with him passed over the Jordan.  They were still pursuing the enemy, though they were faint, or physically weak.  Verse five adds, 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.  Gideon asked the people of Succoth to feed the men of Israel who were following him, because they were physically weak from lack of food.  We today at times may find ourselves weak from doing what God calls us to do, and at times we may need the people of this world to offer us sustenance, but we should never stop doing what God has called us to do because we have grown tired.  Verse six says, 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?  The people of Succoth wanted to know if Gideon and his army had already defeated Zebah and Zalmunna so that they should feed  Gideon's army.  They were evidently still concerned about being seen as being disloyal to these two kings in case Gideon failed.  Even though Gideon's victory was assured, the people of Succoth had not seen it yet and were reluctant to trust in it happening.  Even though God's victory is assured today, many people cannot see physical evidence of it and are reluctant to put their faith in Him.  Verse seven states, 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 said that when God had delivered these two kings that he would tear the flesh of the men of Succoth with thorns of the wilderness and briars.  He didn't say that he would kill them, but he did say that they would be held accountable if they didn't help.  Verse eight adds, 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.  Gideon also asked the people of Penuel to do the same as he had asked the people of Succoth to do, and they answered him the same way.  Verse nine concludes, And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.  Gideon told the people of Penuel that when he came again in peace, which would be after he defeated Zebah and Zalmunna, he would tear down the tower of their city.  When we come to others through victory in Christ, we must tear down all their defenses if we are going to reach them with His word.  Just as Gideon was sure of victory in that day, so can we be today if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Judges 7:12 says, And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.  There was a vast army opposing the Israelites, who now numbered three-hundred.  Verse thirteen states, And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.  A man told of a dream he had where a cake of barley tumbled the host of Midian.  Verse fourteen adds, And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.  Another man said this represented the sword of Gideon having the host of Midian delivered into his hand by God.  Even those that do not know God can see His work in the world.  Verse fifteen states,  And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.  Gideon heard the dream and the interpretation and returned to his people and told them to arise, because the LORD had delivered the Midianites.  We know that God has delivered us from all the power of evil in the world today, so it is time to arise and claim that victory.  Verse sixteen adds, And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.  Gideon divided the three hundred into three groups, and armed them with pitchers and lamps.  This does not sound like a good armament for war against a vast army.  Verse seventeen says, And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.  Gideon told the three hundred to follow his example.  We today as Christians are called on to follow the example of Christ.  Verse eighteen adds, When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.  The first thing that Gideon told them to do was that when he blew his trumpet, they were to blow their trumpets and shout the sword of the LORD and Gideon.  The Lord was put first, just as we must put Him first in the things that we do today.  Verse nineteen declares, So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.  At the beginning of a new watch, or changing of the guard, Gideon and those wit him blew their trumpets and smashed their pitchers.  This would have only been somewhat confusing it would seem, but it was the battle plan of God.  We need never question God's methods, but must simply carry out His plan.  Verse twenty says, And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.  All three hundred did as they had been instructed to do.  God's plan will be much more successful if all His people carry it out.  Verse twenty-one states, And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.  All the enemy fled.  Verse twenty-two adds, And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.  The LORD caused the Midianites to start killing one another as Gideon and the three hundred blew their trumpets.  God's enemies often work against themselves today, and in the coming judgment each person will only have himself or herself to blame if they are guilty of not accepting the salvation of Christ.  Verse twenty-three states, And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.  The men from many tribes of Israel pursued the Midianites.  Verse twenty-four declares, And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.  Gideon sent word to the people of Ephraim to come down and help.  All of God's people today need to be a part of the battle against evil in the world.  We are all needed in different ways, but when we know that a call comes from God, we need to answer that call.  Verse twenty-five adds, And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.  The people of Ephraim took two princes of Midian and beheaded them and pursued the Midianites.  God will always lead His people to victory spiritually, if they only put their faith in Him.

Judges 7:1 says, Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.  Gideon and his army rose up early and camped beside the well of Harod, with the Midianite army to their north.  They were getting ready to engage in battle.  Verse two states, And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.  God told Gideon that he had too many people with him.  God said that with that many people that the people of Israel might claim victory for themselves instead of giving God credit for the victory.  As we go into battle against the forces of evil today, we should not look for great numbers to go with us, but we should go under the power of God and for His glory.  Verse three adds, Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.  God told Gideon to tell the people that whoever was afraid should go home, and twenty-two thousand left, with ten thousand remaining.  I have to wonder how those remaining and Gideon felt, and even the Midianites who were likely watching.  We do not need to question God's methods, and the world should never underestimate the power of God.  Verse four declares, And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.  God said the army was still too big and that Gideon was to bring them down by the water and He would further reduce them.  Gideon was to keep those that God said and send the rest home.  If we are not going under the leadership of God, the size of the group does not matter.  Verse five says, So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.  The next reduction was to be based on how the people drank water, and not on some other physical trait like muscle size or athletic ability.  Verse six states, And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.  From thirty-two thousand, Gideon was now down to an army of three hundred.  By now, if Gideon was not questioning God, and I have to believe that he still had faith in Him, the Midianites must have been sensing an easy victory and questioning Gideon's leadership.  The people of the world often underestimate the power of the people of God, looking at physical facts and not the spiritual power of God.  Verse seven declares, And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.  God told Gideon that He was going to deliver Israel with the three hundred and the others could go home.  If God hasn't called us to a particular situation, then we need to just go home and see what He has for us to do elsewhere.  Verse eight states, So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.  Gideon had an army of three hundred armed with trumpets.  Verse nine adds, And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.  That night, God told Gideon to get down to the host, the army of the Midianites, because God had delivered them into Gideon's hand.  This was stated as an accomplished fact and not a possibility.  If we are following God's guidance, we can be certain of the ultimate victory.  Verse ten continues, But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:  Gideon was told to take Phurah his servant down to the host, or Midian army.  Verse eleven concludes, And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.  Gideon and Phurah went to spy on the Midianites.  We must simply follow God's instructions, no matter how overwhelming the task may seem.