Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

After Deborah died, the Israelites again turned away from the LORD.

This time they were given into the hands of the Midianites for 7 years.

The strength of Midianite oppression forced the Israelites to hide themselves and their produce in mountain clefts, caves, and strongholds.

However, this was not a continual occupation (like the preceding one of the Canaanites) but a seasonal invasion at harvesttime, whenever the Israelites planted their crops.

The Midianites’ major goal was the appropriation of the crops for themselves and their animals.

But the cumulative effect of these invasions on Israelite agriculture and food cycles was devastating.

Midianite allies included the Amalekites (from south of Judah; cf.

3:13) and other eastern peoples, a general term for the nomads of the Syrian desert, possibly including some Ammonites and Edomites.

On these annual predatory invasions, in typical nomadic style, the oppressors camped on the land in such numbers and with such devastation that they were compared to swarms of locusts (cf.

7:12).

The Midianites and their allies traveled on innumerable camels (cf.

7:12) whose range of distance and speed (as high as 100 miles per day) made them a formidable long-range military threat.

This is the first reference to an organized raid using camels (cf.

Gen. 24:10–11).

The impoverishment that came to Israel drove her to cry out to the LORD for help.

This cry does not seem to have been an indication of repentance for sin because they apparently were not aware of the moral cause behind the enemy’s oppression until the Lord sent a prophet to point this out (cf.

Jud.

6:7–10).

Chapter 6

The Midianites overpowered the Israelites to the point that they ran and hid from them.

The enemy wants you to run and hide (Judges 6:2

Other character figures ran away and hid in the Bible.

Elijah ran away when Jezebel threatened his life (1 Kings 19)

David ran away when Saul threatened his life (1 Samuel 21-23)

The enemy will steal your harvest (Judges 6:3-5).

The enemy’s only purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy

“This was a time when Israel was stricken with poverty.

But you don’t have to be bound in a poverty mindset.

The strength of poverty is not the manifestations, but what is actually happening behind the scenes.

Poverty does not just grip pockets; it grips the mind.”

(Kimberly Daniels, Give It Back!)

“Gideon’s family was the poorest in Israel, yet God chose him to lead his people out of bondage.

Gideon had to get past the circumstances that were before him.

To be delivered form poverty, he had to change his way of thinking.

This was his spiritual barrier.

The enemy can only bind you up as far as your mind will limit you.”

(Kimberly Daniels, Give It Back!)

“Gaza is located between Egypt and Israel and is currently on of the most poverty-stricken places in the world.

Scripture declares that God cursed the land of Gaza to be bald.

The Philistines were trading His people as slaves, and God pronounced eternal judgement upon them.

Today the curse is so prevalent that people cannot get jobs there.

And anyone born in Gaza is not allowed entrance to Israel.

They have to remain in Gaza or go to Egypt.

I believe there is a spiritual meaning to this.

Just as Gaza is between Egypt and Israel in the natural, spiritual Gaza is set up the same.

Egypt represents the world, Israel represents the Promised Land, and Gaza is a type of wilderness in the spirit.

All believers have an Egypt that they have come out of, but they must go through Gaza to get to their Jerusalem in the spirit.”

(Kimberly Daniels, Give It Back!)

Judges 6:6 “And Israel was brought very low (made weak) because of Midian.

And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord.”

We must remember that in our weakness, Christ is made strong.

This concept is demonstrated later on in the story of Gideon 2 Cor.

12:7-10

God (Angel of the LORD) came looking for Gideon when he was hiding from his enemy, the Midianites.

God then approached Gideon with the title of the man he was going to become Judges 6:11-12

We can’t be so stuck in the comfort zone of hiding from our problems that we don’t recognize that God can use that moment for you to elevate and grow you

From Gideon’s response to God, he didn’t see himself as someone who was mighty or had valor

Valor - Courage & boldness, as in battle; bravery.

Strength of mind in resisting fear and braving danger.

Value; worth.

God’s strength overcomes our weakness.

Judges 6:15-16

Gideon wanted to give God a gift.

God does not NEED gifts from us, but we should show our gratitude towards Him.

Judges 6:17-18

You can’t remove a stronghold in your life and NOT replace it with something holy.

Judges 6:25-26

God had Gideon place the altar ON TOP of the previous one

They changed Gideon’s name to Jerub-Baal with means “Let Baal fight him, for he tore down the altar of Baal.”

Judges 6:31-32

Gideon asked for 2 confirmations from the Lord.

Judges 6:36-40

While you can ask for confirmation, and sometimes it’s ok to make sure God is speaking to you, but CONSTANTLY asking for it can show a sign of spiritual immaturity and lack of trust in God.

The closer you are with God the better you should be able to recognize His voice.

You have to KNOW that He is God and that He will lead you on the right path.

Chapter 7

Gideon Defeats the Midianites

God can change what we think our plans are Judges 7:2

Fear can be used by the enemy Judges 7:3

They were eventually left with 300 men Judges 7:6

The significance of how they drank the water

Those who drink water in a kneeling position with their heads in the water to lap it up are (1) an easy target, (2) unaware of any enemy movement while they drink, and (3) susceptible to leeches.

The alternative is to lie down flat (where one presents less of a target) and to keep alert, bringing water to the mouth while continuing to look around.

God will help you in your fear

God can reveals things to people in dreams Judges 7:13

Dreams were commonly believed to have significance in the ancient world.

Not only did the Midianite soldiers take it as an omen, but so did the eavesdropping Gideon.

Although the interpretation of dreams was often something best left to an expert because of the obscurity of the symbolism, some dreams were fairly transparent.

It would not take an expert to discern that the barley loaf represented the farmer and the tent represented the nomad.

This is seen throughout scripture.

The main person most people think about is Joseph

The strategy

Gideon’s strategy.

Gideon’s three companies would have been positioned on the three sides of the camp, north, west and south (the hill of Moreh was on the east).

The torches that they each have are made of material such as reeds that would smolder until exposed to the air and waved.

The pitchers cover the glow of the smoldering torch until the proper moment.

When all three divisions were deployed in their proper positions, the ram’s horns were sounded.

Usually only a few of the soldiers carried trumpets for signaling because hands were needed for weapons and shields.

Likewise, for night battle, a certain number would be assigned to hold the torches that would illuminate the battle area and block retreat at the perimeter.

It would be expected, then, that the trumpet blowers and torch holders would represent only a small percentage of the army, with the rest charging in to fight.

Therefore, when the Midianites heard the blast of three hundred trumpets and saw the myriad of torches around the perimeter, they naturally assumed there was a massive army that would be charging into the camp, whereas Gideon had instructed his men to hold their positions around the perimeter.

Chapter 8