Samson’s parents could not understand why he would want to marry a Philistine woman. But the Bible says he was not acting selfishly. He was “seeking an opportunity against the Philistines” (4). When things don’t happen as we have planned, perhaps we should wait and see what the LORD is doing. He may accomplish more through our apparent mistakes than we imagine he can do through our successes.
LORD, we trust you to work out your divine plan when our plans seem to fail.
Manoah wanted to know the mission that his son would have, but the angel of the LORD would not tell him. If Manoah and his wife had known the details of their son’s life, it would not have encouraged them to be faithful. Our tendency is to be curious about the wrong things. God wants us to be faithful in following what part of his will has been revealed to us. The LORD’s instructions to Samson’s parents were simple: he was to be kept from wine, grapes, and unclean things. God would do the rest.
LORD, keep us faithful to the task you have called us to, even when we do not know its outcome. Teach us to trust you.
The animosity that appeared to have been abated by Gideon in chapter 8 has reared its ugly head again. Now every time an Ephraimite seeks to cross over at the fords of the Jordon, he is met with a test. A guard either says “say Shibboleth” or holds up an ear of cord (which is what the word means in Hebrew). The Ephraimites cannot pronounce the “sh” sound, so give themselves away. This is a sad account, because the warfare that Jepthah wages is against another tribe of Israelite descent. This is further evidence of the degradation of the people, who care little about each other, and the God who rescued them all from Egypt. How quickly they forget!
LORD, help us to love one another, and remember your faithfulness to us all.
The temptation is great to ignore the first section of this text, and only address the tragic vow made by Jepthah and its consequences. However, Jepthah’s appeal to the king of the Ammonites deserves some consideration as well. He did what he could to prevent the conflict by appealing to history, and seeking a peaceful solution to the problem. Only when the Ammonite king refused to listen to reason and insisted on war did Jepthah resort to warfare.
LORD, forgive us for so quickly resorting to violence and conflict to solve our problems.
The difference between this narrative and the others in Judges is that Jepthah’s judgeship seems to be initiated by the people, and God endorses it with his favor. We should not be afraid of doing something that has a popular mandate as long as God approves of it. Often it is in finding a need and filling it that a believer finds his or her calling.
LORD, give us eyes to see a need, and a hear of compassion for the needy.
This passage illustrates the aftermath of Gideon’s failure to bring lasting peace. His son Abimelech deals treacherously and murders his brothers. Jotham escapes, and calls down a curse upon Abimelech and the town of Shechem. God honors the curse and brings violence to Shechem, and a violent and ignoble death to Abimelech.
The point of all this is that although God had used Gideon, he made some mistakes and proved not to be the great hero of his reputation. He was not the man with the white hat. God alone was the rescuer.
LORD, help us to honor those who are true heroes – those who serve you with integrity.
Gideon refused to be proclaimed king, telling the people that the LORD shall rule over them. But everything he did in later life smacked of apostasy and selfishness.
So although he served as deliverer of Israel, his personal life made it possible for Israel to snap back to idolatry and bondage immediately after his death.
LORD, help our leaders to be people of integrity – to stand for you consistently.
Gideon had amassed a considerable army with which he intended to come against the Midianites. But God told him to reduce the number. When the army was reduced to a mere 300 men, God was satisfied, by Gideon was not sure that it was enough. But after a short spying out of the Midianite camp, Gideon realized that God had instilled fear into the Midianite army, and that fear would do the work of thousands of soldiers.
Gideon must have realized that the tests God required were in some way a response to his own insistence on testing God in the past. His greatest weakness was not lack of numbers, but lack of faith. God gently reveals enough to overcome his fear, and so bolsters his faith. As a result, Gideon worshipped.
LORD, thank you for gently walking us through the task you have given us, and making up for our weaknesses with your strength.
If you want to use this passage as a proof-text for testing the LORD to see if he is in something you are planning, or to determine whether a certain option is his will or not – go ahead. But I do not think that is the point of the passage. The author of Judges was showing the weakness of Gideon to highlight the LORD’s strength. He was showing Gideon’s fear to highlight God’s patience and grace. Like all the stories of the Judges, Gideon’s story shows a God who is willing to act in spite of the unwillingness of his people to take a stand for him. The Israelites would have rather dig themselves holes and crawl in after them. They cried out to him for help. He sent the most unlikely hero to save them, so that the LORD might get the glory.
LORD, call us to do great things for you. We know we are not worthy, but if you are in it, your mission cannot fail.
Deborah and Barak’s song celebrates the victory over Sisera and his army. It was a victory that soldier and civilian cooperated to gain. Even the LORD cooperated by providing a rainstorm which produced a flooded wadi.
LORD, help us to work together to accomplish your purposes.
Judges 14
Judges 12
Judges 11:4-40
Judges 10:1-11:3
Judges 8
Judges 6
Judges 5
