Judges 7Judges 7

Old Testament Bible StudiesOld Testament Bible StudiesTrue Love Church of RefugeTrue Love Church of RefugeProphetess Delisa LindseyProphetess Delisa Lindsey

May 20, 2009May 20, 2009

Gideon Defeats the Gideon Defeats the MidianitesMidianites

Judges 7Judges 7

Judges 7:1Judges 7:1 After God proves Himself to After God proves Himself to

be an ally to Gideon (Jerub-be an ally to Gideon (Jerub-Baal) by demonstrating signs Baal) by demonstrating signs using fleece and dew, Gideon using fleece and dew, Gideon arises early the next morning arises early the next morning along with his men at the along with his men at the spring of Harod while the spring of Harod while the camp of Midian lay northcamp of Midian lay north

Harod is interpreted, Harod is interpreted, Trembling, so in other words, Trembling, so in other words, Gideon and his thousands of Gideon and his thousands of soldiers gathered at a place of soldiers gathered at a place of Trembling.Trembling.

Fear is a common enemy to Fear is a common enemy to any saint preparing for battle. any saint preparing for battle. God does not dispatch spirits God does not dispatch spirits of fear to His soldiers, but of fear to His soldiers, but spirits of power, love and spirits of power, love and sound mind.sound mind.

Whenever you find yourself Whenever you find yourself arrested by a spirit of fear, arrested by a spirit of fear, rebuke him, arrest him, and rebuke him, arrest him, and cast him out in Jesus name.cast him out in Jesus name.

Judges 7:2Judges 7:2 The Lord tells Gideon that The Lord tells Gideon that

he has too many men with he has too many men with him to engage in battle. him to engage in battle.

Sometimes we look for Sometimes we look for safety in numbers, but God safety in numbers, but God works the best with the works the best with the least.least.

God knew that if Gideon God knew that if Gideon took masses of men into took masses of men into battle, they would glory in battle, they would glory in themselves. themselves.

This must have come as a This must have come as a shock to Gideon who shock to Gideon who already warred against already warred against spirits of fear and spirits of fear and uncertainty.uncertainty.

Judges 7:3Judges 7:3 The Lord tells Gideon to make an The Lord tells Gideon to make an

announcement for all the fearful announcement for all the fearful to return home.to return home.

Ordinarily, men won’t admit to Ordinarily, men won’t admit to being fearful, but in this case they being fearful, but in this case they were brutally honest with were brutally honest with themselves. Their spirits of fear themselves. Their spirits of fear could have easily transferred to could have easily transferred to the stronger men. the stronger men.

Get rid of the Get rid of the Chicken AnointingChicken Anointing!!!!!! 22,000 fearful men returned 22,000 fearful men returned

home! 10,000 men remained!home! 10,000 men remained! What does this say about the What does this say about the

masses? You may have thousands masses? You may have thousands of soldiers gathered, but what of soldiers gathered, but what percentage of them are actually percentage of them are actually men of valor? Never look at men of valor? Never look at numbers alone as a source of numbers alone as a source of strength. You and God are a strength. You and God are a majority.majority.

Chicken!!!

Judges 7:4Judges 7:4 With only 10,000 men left, With only 10,000 men left,

God said there were still too God said there were still too many!many!

God designs a strategy for God designs a strategy for Gideon to separate the ‘men Gideon to separate the ‘men from the boys’. He tells him to from the boys’. He tells him to bring them down to the water. bring them down to the water.

Water represents trouble. Water represents trouble. Your reaction in times of Your reaction in times of

trouble has a way of exposing trouble has a way of exposing how strong you really are. how strong you really are.

God separated the wheat God separated the wheat from the tares in the Trouble. from the tares in the Trouble.

Examine relationships in Examine relationships in times of trouble. Who stays times of trouble. Who stays with you and who abandons with you and who abandons you? Despite the pain and you? Despite the pain and heartache you may feel, heartache you may feel, consider that God is purging consider that God is purging your relationships that you your relationships that you may see who REALLY is may see who REALLY is standing for you.standing for you.

Judges 7:5Judges 7:5

At the water, the At the water, the Lord tells Gideon to Lord tells Gideon to separate those who separate those who lap water like a dog lap water like a dog from those who from those who kneel to drink.kneel to drink.

What is the What is the significance significance between the between the lapping and the lapping and the kneeling?kneeling?

Why did the Lord prefer the Why did the Lord prefer the lappers over the kneelers?lappers over the kneelers?

The lappers were those who drank water while The lappers were those who drank water while crouching or standing, lapping it in cupped hands crouching or standing, lapping it in cupped hands and readily watching the enemy.and readily watching the enemy.

The lappers were the ones who were afraid The lappers were the ones who were afraid because they were looking around them as they because they were looking around them as they drank.drank.

The kneelers were confident in knowing they were The kneelers were confident in knowing they were not in danger because the Midianites were 4 MILES not in danger because the Midianites were 4 MILES AWAY FROM THEM!!AWAY FROM THEM!!

God strategically chose the 300 lappers, men who God strategically chose the 300 lappers, men who HID THEIR FEAR FROM GIDEON!HID THEIR FEAR FROM GIDEON!

9,700 men who knelt in the water were sent home.9,700 men who knelt in the water were sent home. The kneelers’ faith caused the Lord to fight their The kneelers’ faith caused the Lord to fight their

battles. They did not have to fight, their faith battles. They did not have to fight, their faith released them from the battle.released them from the battle.

Judges 7:6-8Judges 7:6-8 Three hundred men Three hundred men

lapped with their lapped with their hands to drink, all hands to drink, all others knelt down to others knelt down to drink.drink.

God chose the 300 God chose the 300 men who lapped to men who lapped to accompany Gideon to accompany Gideon to war against Midian.war against Midian.

He sends all the He sends all the others to their own others to their own homes. Those who left homes. Those who left gave their provisions gave their provisions and their trumpets to and their trumpets to those who stayed.those who stayed.

Judges 7:9-11Judges 7:9-11 The Midianites were The Midianites were

camped below Gideon’s camped below Gideon’s army. The Lord tells Gideon army. The Lord tells Gideon to prepare to go down into to prepare to go down into battle. battle.

Fear was a constant issue Fear was a constant issue for Gideon, so the Lord for Gideon, so the Lord made a concession for him made a concession for him by telling him he can take by telling him he can take his servant, Phurah, with his servant, Phurah, with him to spy on Midian.him to spy on Midian.

Phurah is interpreted Phurah is interpreted foliage. Foliage is a foliage. Foliage is a covering or a hiding place. covering or a hiding place. Gideon was hiding behind Gideon was hiding behind his armor bearer!his armor bearer!

By overhearing the enemy’s By overhearing the enemy’s conversation, Gideon would conversation, Gideon would be surely strengthened for be surely strengthened for the battle.the battle.

Apparently Gideon was Apparently Gideon was afraid, for He took God at afraid, for He took God at His Word and along with His Word and along with Phurah, made a visit to the Phurah, made a visit to the Midianite camp.Midianite camp.

Judges 7:12-14Judges 7:12-14 The enemy’s camp was The enemy’s camp was

littered with Midianites, littered with Midianites, Amalekites, and their eastern Amalekites, and their eastern allies numbered as allies numbered as grasshoppers in the valley. grasshoppers in the valley. Their camels were also Their camels were also innumerable.innumerable.

Gideon arrived just in time to Gideon arrived just in time to over hear a dream being told. over hear a dream being told.

Read verses 13-14.Read verses 13-14. The significance of this The significance of this

dream was to encourage dream was to encourage Gideon that his enemy was Gideon that his enemy was more afraid of him than he more afraid of him than he was of them!was of them!

Ironically, the Lord would use Ironically, the Lord would use a coward to deliver His a coward to deliver His people, Israel. Talking about people, Israel. Talking about the foolish things?!the foolish things?!

Why was Gideon compared to Why was Gideon compared to Barley?Barley?

Barley is an inferior to grain and is considered half of the Barley is an inferior to grain and is considered half of the value of wheat. It represented the inferiority of Israel in value of wheat. It represented the inferiority of Israel in numbers- This was how Gideon viewed himself.numbers- This was how Gideon viewed himself.

Barley water was used as a medicine – Gideon was to be Barley water was used as a medicine – Gideon was to be used as a balm to restore Israel’s sickness through the sin used as a balm to restore Israel’s sickness through the sin of idolatry.of idolatry.

Barley was also used as a food to train athletes – Gideon Barley was also used as a food to train athletes – Gideon would train the cowardly men of Israel in the art of warfare.would train the cowardly men of Israel in the art of warfare.

In China, barley represents male virility because the heads In China, barley represents male virility because the heads are heavy and contain numerous seeds – Gideon’s faith in are heavy and contain numerous seeds – Gideon’s faith in God produced an army of cowards turned valiant who God produced an army of cowards turned valiant who would in turn raise up their sons in warfare tactics.would in turn raise up their sons in warfare tactics.

Barley also has a short growing time – Gideon’s spiritual Barley also has a short growing time – Gideon’s spiritual growth took place over a very short period of time.growth took place over a very short period of time.

Barley is also used to make intoxicating beverages – Barley is also used to make intoxicating beverages – indicating the effect Gideon would have on his enemies. indicating the effect Gideon would have on his enemies.

Judges 7:15Judges 7:15 Overhearing the Overhearing the

interpretation of this interpretation of this dream renewed dream renewed Gideon’s strength and Gideon’s strength and determination to carry determination to carry out the purposed will out the purposed will of God. He of God. He immediately begins to immediately begins to worship the God of all worship the God of all Courage (Chazak). He Courage (Chazak). He runs back to the camp runs back to the camp invigorated and stirs invigorated and stirs up the camp with up the camp with these words of these words of encouragement to encouragement to rally them for war rally them for war against their enemies.against their enemies.

Judges 7:16-18Judges 7:16-18 Gideon divided the army Gideon divided the army

into three companies of 100 into three companies of 100 hundred each. This strategy hundred each. This strategy was used at least three was used at least three more times, 9:43, I Sam. more times, 9:43, I Sam. 11:11, and 2 Sam. 18:2.11:11, and 2 Sam. 18:2.

They surrounded the enemy They surrounded the enemy with trumpets and torches. with trumpets and torches. Spiritually, they surrounded Spiritually, they surrounded the enemy with praises and the enemy with praises and the fervent prayers.the fervent prayers.

They were to conceal the They were to conceal the torches within open –topped torches within open –topped pitchers until they were pitchers until they were signaled to break the signaled to break the pitchers, wave the torches pitchers, wave the torches and blow the trumpets. This and blow the trumpets. This gave the impression that the gave the impression that the Israelites were massive in Israelites were massive in number.number.

““The Sword of the Lord and The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon!”of Gideon!”

Judges 7:19-21Judges 7:19-21 Gideon and one company of Gideon and one company of

one hundred men one hundred men approached the edge of the approached the edge of the enemy’s camp at the enemy’s camp at the beginning of the middle beginning of the middle watch - midnight.watch - midnight.

There would be a guard There would be a guard change as camp goes to change as camp goes to sleep.sleep.

Synonymously, the three Synonymously, the three Israelite armies blew their Israelite armies blew their trumpets and smashed their trumpets and smashed their jars. They held the torches in jars. They held the torches in their left hands and the their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands trumpets in their right hands as they blew. “A sword for as they blew. “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”the Lord and for Gideon!”

Each company held their Each company held their position as the Midianite position as the Midianite camp ran and cried for help.camp ran and cried for help.

Notes on Near Eastern Warfare Notes on Near Eastern Warfare TacticsTactics

Armies rarely fought at night. (Joshua- the sun remained all Armies rarely fought at night. (Joshua- the sun remained all day and night to aid Joshua in battle.)day and night to aid Joshua in battle.)

1 Sam. 17:17, the two armies re-engaged each other during 1 Sam. 17:17, the two armies re-engaged each other during the day, but ceased fighting at dusk. the day, but ceased fighting at dusk.

When an army did engage in battle at night, only a minority When an army did engage in battle at night, only a minority of men carried torches in order to light up the battlefield.of men carried torches in order to light up the battlefield.

Only a certain number of men could carry and blow the Only a certain number of men could carry and blow the trumpets during the conflict.trumpets during the conflict.

When the Midianites awoke to the sight of three hundred When the Midianites awoke to the sight of three hundred torches and the sound of three hundred trumpets blaring at torches and the sound of three hundred trumpets blaring at them from every possible direction, they assumed them from every possible direction, they assumed thousands upon thousands were attacking them.thousands upon thousands were attacking them.

The Art of Warfare in Biblical Lands, The Art of Warfare in Biblical Lands, Y. YadinY. Yadin

Judges 7:22-23Judges 7:22-23 When the trumpets When the trumpets

sounded, the Lord caused sounded, the Lord caused the enemies to turn on each the enemies to turn on each other. other.

This is why we are This is why we are admonished to “make a admonished to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord”- joyful noise unto the Lord”- this dispatches hundreds of this dispatches hundreds of spirits of confusion, spirits of confusion, frustration, lunacy, and frustration, lunacy, and derision into the enemy’s derision into the enemy’s camp.camp.

The sound of the trumpets The sound of the trumpets signaled the call to battle signaled the call to battle and the breaking of pitchers and the breaking of pitchers simulated the clashing of simulated the clashing of swords. Because of this swords. Because of this hysterical noise, the hysterical noise, the Midianites assumed they Midianites assumed they were outnumbered.were outnumbered.

Israel’s enemies literally Israel’s enemies literally confused and dazed, confused and dazed, attacked each other.attacked each other.

Judges 7:24-25Judges 7:24-25 The Midianites rushed The Midianites rushed

eastward toward the Jordan eastward toward the Jordan River trying to cross back River trying to cross back over.over.

Gideon summoned the Gideon summoned the Ephraimites to help him Ephraimites to help him capture those who had capture those who had escaped. All the men of escaped. All the men of Ephraim gathered together Ephraim gathered together to block the Midianites from to block the Midianites from escaping.escaping.

The captured the two The captured the two strongmen of Midian, Oreb strongmen of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They slaughtered and Zeeb. They slaughtered them and brought back them and brought back their heads to Gideon as their heads to Gideon as trophies.trophies.

Judges 8Judges 8Gideon’s saga continuesGideon’s saga continues

May 27, 2009May 27, 2009