Judges 6:33

Judges 6:33 says, Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.  The Midianites and the Amalekites were uniting for battle against Israel.  We should not be surprised when people of the world unite against Christians today.  Verse thirty-four adds, But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.  Moved by the Holy Spirit, Gideon blew his trumpet and Abiezer came to him.  We need to be directed by the Holy Spirit today and unite together as Christians.  Verse thirty-five continues, And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.  Gideon began to send messengers to the people of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, and they gathered with Gideon.  We need to rally as followers of Christ today when any fellow Christian calls on us for help.  Verse thirty-six states, And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,  Gideon began to question if God had called him to be used to deliver Israel.  If we live by faith, we should never be guilty of questioning God's call to action as Christians.  Verse thirty-seven adds, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.  Gideon proposed putting out fleece to test his calling.  He said if only the fleece was wet with dew and the ground was dry, he would know that God had indeed called him.  We should never be guilty of demanding proof from God when He calls us to do anything.  Verse thirty-eight continues, And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.  The next morning, the fleece was so wet that Gideon was able to wring a bowl full of water out of it.  This should have been ample proof, but it wasn't.  Verse thirty-nine says, And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.  Gideon then asked that God leave the fleece dry and the ground around it be wet.  We don't need to spend time questioning God, especially if He has already given us proof of His calling.  Verse forty adds, And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.  God again gave Gideon the proof he asked for.  If we live by faith, God will never leave us in doubt as to what He wants us to do.

Judges 6:25

Judges 6:25 says, And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:  That same night, the LORD came to Gideon telling nim to take a a young bullock and a second one seven years old to be used as sacrifices.  Matthew Henry says the first was likely to be used as a sacrifice for Gideon and the second for the other people of Israel.  Before he could sacrifice them though, Gideon was to tear down his father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the grove around it.  Before we can truly worship God, we must tear down any other altars in our life.  Verse twenty-six adds, And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.  Gideon was told that after he tore down the altar to Baal that he was to build an altar to God on the rock that was specified.  We today need to build our altar to God on the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-seven continues, Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.  Gideon took ten men of his own servants by night and did as God had told him to do, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city.  We may have fear when we are called by God to do something, but we cannot allow that fear to keep us from doing it.  Faith must always override fear.  Verse twenty-eight states, And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.  When the people of the city arose, they found what Gideon under God's guidance and empowerment had done.  When we are doing what God tells us to do, the people of the world should be able to see the results.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.  They asked who had done this, and got the answer that it was Gideon.  Gideon may have feared the people of the city, and probably even his father as well, but he still did as God commanded, and now it would be up to God to protect him.  When we are doing what God calls us to do, even in the face of great opposition, we need to simply rely on God to protect us.  Verse thirty continues, Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.  The men of the city came to Joash, Gideon's father and demanded that he send Gideon out to die because he had destroyed the altar of Baal and cut down the grove around it.  As we stand with God today, we as followers of Christ will face opposition from the world, and some may even die for their faith, but we must remain faithful to God.  Verse thirty-one declares, And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.  Gideon's father actually defended him, telling the men of the city that if Baal were offended, then let him take Gideon's life.  These were Israelites who were ready to kill one of their own to be faithful to Baal, a false god.  Verse thirty-two adds, Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.  Joash said that Gideon should be called Jerubbaal, or let Baal plead his case.  If Baal was a real and powerful god, he could certainly destroy one who had defied and dishonored him.

Judges 6:11

Judges 6:11 says, And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.  An angel of the LORD came and sat under an oak tree in Ophrah.  Matthew Henry says this was not an ordinary angel, but Jesus Christ Himself.  He observed Gideon, the son Joash, of the half tribe of Manasseh at work attempting to keep some of the wheat from the Midianites.  Verse twelve adds, And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.  The Angel appeared to Gideon, told him the LORD was with him,and called him a mighty man of valor, though all Gideon was doing at that time as thrashing wheat.  God sees us today as what we can be by faith in Him, and not as what we are as the world may see us.  Verse thirteen continues, And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.  Gideon questioned the angel, calling Him my Lord, as to why God had allowed this oppression to come on them since He was the One to deliver them out of Egypt.  We may sometimes question why God allows bad things to happen to us, but in this case it was because of the disobedience of the people of Israel.  Verse fourteen declares, And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? Here, the angel is referred to as the LORD, the unspeakable name of God.  Gideon was to go in his might and then he would save the people of Israel from the Midianites.  Of course, Gideon's might really came from faith in the LORD, and not his own might.  As followers of Christ, we go out into the world empowered by the Holy Spirit, and not by our power alone, and God has already given us everlasting victory.   Verse fifteen adds, And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. Gideon questioned how he could deliver Israel, since his family was poor in Manasseh, and he was the least of his fathers house.  Gideon saw himself as the world saw him, and not as God saw him, and we as Christians often do the same thing today.  We need to acknowledge that if God calls on us to do anything that He will empower us to do it.  Verse sixteen continues, And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.  The LORD, not just an angel, told Gideon that He would surely be with him.  We do not need to worship or put our faith in angels, but only in Jesus Christ Himself, and when we do, the Holy Spirit will always be with us.  Verse seventeen states, And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.  Gideon then asked that if it was the LORD that he was speaking to and if he had found grace in His sight, to give him a sign.  Too often today, we demand signs from God when He calls us to do something, instead of simply acting out of faith.  Verse eighteen adds, Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.  Gideon asked that the angel, or the LORD really, not depart until he could bring Him a gift, and He agreed.  The only gift we can give to Jesus Christ that matters is the gift of ourself by accepting Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse nineteen continues, And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.  Gideon prepared a meal of kid goat meat and broth and brought it to the LORD.  Verse twenty states, And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.  Instead of eating the meal, the angel of the LORD told Gideon to place it on a rock and pour the broth on it.  This was not a sign of contempt for the offering, as Matthew Henry says, but the preparation of showing Gideon a sign.  God does not demand that we give to Him because we have anything He needs, but as a sign of our obedience to Him.  Verse twenty-one adds, Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. The angel of the LORD then touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes with the end of His staff, and they were consumed by fire, then the angel of the LORD departed.  God may not always give us a definitive answer to our questions by some sign, but He will always give us an answer if we are willing to acknowledge it.  Gideon had asked for a sign, and God gave him one, and he recognized the fact.  Verse twenty-two continues, And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.  Gideon thought because he had seen an angel of the LORD face, that he was going to die, but people did not die from seeing angels, but from seeing the face of God Himself, which implies this was more than just an angel.  Verse twenty-three says, And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.  We then read that the LORD told Gideon not to fear, because he wasn't going to die from seeing Him.  We today have never seen God face to face, but we will not die from doing so if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  One day, we will indeed see Him face to face forever.  Verse twenty-four adds, Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.  Gideon built an altar to God there and called it Jehovahshalom, or God's peace.  We are not to worship anyone but God, and building an altar was a sign of worship, so it could not have been built to just an angel and have been accepted.  When we meet God through putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we should be at peace with Him.

Judges 6:1

Judges 6:1 says, And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.  Once again, after God delivered them, the people of Israel did evil in His sight, and He allowed them to be taken captive.  This time it was by the Midinites, and lasted for seven years.  Matthew Henry said this was Midianites near Moab, who had no real ruler, but lived by a mob attitude and were known for their feroushiness.  We don't need to get caught up in a similar cycle today as followers of Christ.  Verse two adds, And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.  Since the Midianites had defeated them, the Israelites lived in caves in the mountains that they made their strongholds. They chose flight over fight, because they knew God was not with them.  Sometimes we run away from evil in this world instead of confronting it head on because we do not have enough faith in God.  Verse three continues, And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;  After the Israelites sowed their crops, the Midianites and Amalekites and others came up against them.  Verse four states, And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.  The Midianites and Amalekites destroyed all of Israel’s crops and livestock, leaving them with nothing.  God had given them a land flowing with milk and honey, and all they had to do was remain faithful to Him to keep it, but they wouldn't.  We as Christians today have God's promise that He will meet all our needs and keep us safe in the presence of our enemies if we only remain faithful, but we often allow doubt to keep us from receiving His blessings.  Verse five adds, For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.  The Midianites and the Amalekites came up like a swarm of grasshoppers in number, destroying everything before them and taking it for their own.  Still, had they remained faithful to God, the number of enemies would not have mattered.  This is still true today.  Verse six continues, And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.  The people of Israel became greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and once again called out to God.  Sometimes, we tend to forget about God until we find ourselves in need, then we once again call out to Him.  Verse seven declares, And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites.  Verse eight adds, That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;  After the people of God called out to Him, He raised up a prophet who began to declare His word to them.  We today as followers of Christ have One much better than a prophet, the Holy Spirit, to strengthen us and declare God's word of guidance to us.  Verse nine continues, And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;  God reminded them that He had given them their land, just as we need to remember that He has given us everlasting life today.  We need never be in despair as long as we remain faithful to God.  Verse ten concludes, And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.  God then reminded them that He was their God and that they had no reason to fear any other false god, and neither do we today as Christians.  Yet, they had again chosen not to obey His voice. We must never forget God's word today as Christians. 

Judges 5:20

Judges 5:20 says, They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.  Deborah sang that even the stars fought against Sisera.  Matthew Henry says this may be a reference to the hail that helped in defeating Sisera, which would have blocked out the stars, but it definitely refers to being at war with the One Who created the stars.  Verse twenty-one adds, The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.  Then she sang of the river Kishon sweeping away multitudes who hoped to escape through it, and once more this was something that God Himself controlled.  Whatever enemy we may be facing today, as followers of Christ, our God is immensely more powerful than the most powerful enemy we will ever face.  Verse twenty-two continues, Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.  The sound of the horsehoofs was broken by the flooding river.  Their chariots, of which they were so proud, were made useless by God, just as He can make the most powerful weapon of mankind useless today.  Verse twenty-three declares, Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.  Then, Deborah sang of a curse being placed on Meroz, which Matthew Henry says was probably a city of Israel near the fighting, for not coming to fight in the war against Sisera.  We who profess to be Christians cannot set safely on the sidelines, because we are still at war with sin and evil in the world today.  Verse twenty-four adds, Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.  Deborah then sang of a blessing on Jael for her part in the victory.  Those who serve God most faithfully will be blessed, if not in this world, then in the one to come.  Verse twenty-five continues, He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.  When Sisera asked Jael for water, she gave him milk instead.  He thought she was on his side in the war against Israel.  Verse twenty-six states, She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.  Then Deborah sang of Jael's action in killing Sisera when he thought he was safe enough to sleep.  Today, we are told to love our enemies, but we still cannot surrender our loyalty to God and our acknowledgement that we are at war with the forces of sin and evil.  Verse twenty-seven adds, At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.  Though Sisera might have been a powerful man at one time, he was brought down by a woman.  No matter how powerful our enemies may be today, as long as we remain faithful to God, they will be brought down one day.  Verse twenty-eight says, The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?  Deborah sang of the mother of Sisera looking and listening for the chariots return, and asking what could have happened to them.  She expected a quick victory, because of the number of chariots Sisera had to use in the war against Israel.  As Christians, many of our enemies today expect to have a quick victory over us, but if we remain faithful to God, they will be left sitting and asking what happened.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,  She looked to her wise ladies, who aren't really identified as to why they were referred to as wise ladies, for answers and they said yes, they should be back, then she attempted to answer the question herself.  We are never going to find the answers we are looking for today until we look to God.  All the wisdom of the world outside of the wisdom that comes from God when we put our faith in Jesus Christ will never provide us answers to any problem.  Verse thirty continues, Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?  Sisera's mother then  asked had he not quickly defeated the Israelites and divided the spoils of war.  She was expecting a quick and easy victory over God's people, but she was so wrong.  The people of the world may expect a quick and easy victory over Christians today, but if we remain faithful to God,  they will always be left sitting and asking what happened.  Verse thirty-one concludes, So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.  Deborah closed the song by asking for the death of God's enemies and for His blessings on His people, and then we are told that the people of Israel lived at peace for forty years.  As followers of Christ, spiritually all our enemies have already been defeated and we have God's everlasting blessing on us.  We are a part of God's everlasting kingdom as soon as we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and no enemy can truly defeat us as long a we remain true to Him. We have everlasting peace spiritually as long as we remain faithful to Him. 

Judges 5:9

Judges 5:9 says, My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.  Deborah sang of the other governors of Israel who had like herself under her leadership tried to call the them back to God and were willing to die in war for Israel.  Not every governor was bad during the bad times of Israel, and not every government official is bad today.  Verse ten adds, Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.  These were the nobility or rich people of Israel who had been blessed by Israel's redemption, and she called on them to judge fairly.  Verse eleven continues, They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.  Deborah continued by referring to those who had been delivered from the noise of war reminding them that God had delivered them and that they should follow the righteous acts of God before they sat in judgment.  We as Christians have been delivered from the power of sin and death, and we need to follow the righteous of God in all that we do.  Verse twelve states, Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.  Deborah called on Barak and herself to awake and be stirred up for following through on the victory and praising God for it.  We as followers of Christ already have the victory today, but we at times may be lax in praising God and need to awaken to praising Him.  Verse thirteen adds, Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.  Deborah then said God had appointed those who had dominion over the people of Israel, and she was appointed to have dominion over the mighty.  Since we still refer to ourselves as a Christian nation, it would be nice if our leaders were those appointed by God, but sadly this often isn't the case.  Verse fourteen says, Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.  Deborah then began to sing of those of different tribes of Israel who had served in different ways to bring about victory.  She started by referring to the tribe of Ephraim, who had cut off the Amalekites from helping Jabin, then of the tribe of Benjamin, Machir (half the tribe of Manasseh) and Zebulun.  Many kings allied themselves against the people of Israel, who had no king except God Himself.  We today as Christians have many forces allied against us, and we may be without an earthly leader, but God Himself is our leader.  Verse fifteen adds, And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.  Deborah sang that Issachar was with Barak as he fought in the valley.  Verse sixteen states, Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.  Deborah then sang of the people of Israel who refused to help out during the war.  Many people today, even those who call themselves Christians, want to simply sit out the war against evil in the world today because they are personally safe.  Verse seventeen adds, Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.  She asked why the tribes of Gilead, Dan and Asher had not helped.  Verse eighteen continues, Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.  Then she referred to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, who had been willing to die to free themselves from oppression.  Verse nineteen concludes, The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.  They were not fighting for material gain, but for freedom from bondage.  We today should likewise never serve God for material gains. 

Judges 5:1

Judges 5:1 says, Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,  Deborah and Barak sang praises to God that day.  We should always sing praises to God as Christians today.  Verse two adds, Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.  They sang praise to God for delivering Israel when they willingly offered themselves.  God today will deliver anyone from the power and penalty of sin if we only offer ourself to Him by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse three continues, Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.  They continued their song of praise by calling on other kings and princes to hear it.  We today need to praise God to all the world, even to those who may be in power and be attempting to destroy us, as many kings and princes were attempting to destroy Israel in that day.  Verse four states, LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. They sang of God's power over the earth itself, as He made the earth tremble and clouds to drop rain.  God struck terror in His enemies by simply controlling the forces of nature, and He can still do so today if He chooses to.  Verse five adds, The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.  Deborah and Barak sang of God melting the mountains, and we are told if we have the faith of a mustard seed that we can move mountains, and we should praise God for this.  Verse six continues, In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.  They then sang of the days from Shamgar to the days of Jael when the people of Israel were afraid to travel the roads.  We today have been set free forever by the power of God through the death of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ,the cross and His resurrection from the dead to defeat the power of sin and death forever.  We should boldly proclaim this to world today if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse seven says, The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.  Deborah then spoke of being raised up as a deliverer, of Judge of Israel herself.  We today have no other Savior and Deliverer but Jesus Christ Himself, and we need to give all the praise and glory to Him.  Verse eight adds, They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?  Deborah said that even though there were forty thousand Israelites there, they had either been unable or unwilling to go to war because they were putting their faith in other gods.  If we are going to win the war against sin and evil in the world today, it will be because of our faith in God and not because of our numbers or weapons.