GIDEON DEFEATS THE MIDIANITES

PROCLAMATION

“And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put a trumpet in every man’s hand … When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side … and say, ‘The sword of The Lord, and of Gideon.’ ”  Judges 7:16-20 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  After Gideon had gathered his men to fight the Midianites and the Amalekites who had joined forces against him, (Judges 6:34-35) The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men …” and he was told to send some of them back home.  He sent twenty-two thousand home and was left with ten thousand men. (Judges 7:2-3)  But The Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men …” and He devised a test to separate the men based upon how they drank water from a river.  Then He said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped water I will … give the Midianites into your hands.” (Judges 7:4-8)  That night The Lord told Gideon to get up and take his servant Phurah with him and go down to the enemy camp and listen to their conversations.  He did as God told him and found out that they were already afraid of him. (Judges 7:9-15)  Gideon returned to his camp, told his men to rise, and divided the three hundred men in to three companies.  He gave each man a trumpet, and empty pitcher, and a torch, and told them what to do.  Then he sent each company to a different side of the enemy camp.  When Gideon blew his trumpet, the men all blew their trumpets, broke the empty pitchers, held up their torch and shouted: “The sword of The Lord, and of Gideon.” (Judge 7:16-20)  The Midianites were frightened and confused, and some turned on each other while others fled.  The Israelites defeated the Midianites, slew their two princes, and brought their heads back to camp. (Judges 7:21-25)  

 

APPLICATION

The Lord God told Gideon that he had too many men to fight this battle because He did not want the Israelites to take credit for the victory which He was going to provide.  (Judges 7:2)  We need to recognize when The Lord God makes a way out of no way for us and give Him the credit for what He has done.  When the blessings that we prayed for are given to us, we should thank Him, praise Him, and tell others what The Lord has done for us.  We did not make it this far on our own, and we ought to acknowledge Him for making it possible. (Proverbs 3:6)  No one likes helping an ungrateful person.  Give God the credit and praise which He deserves.