Jephthah’s appointment and victory

• Like Jair (10:3), Jephthah was a Gileadite.
• Although an outcast because of the sins of his parents, Jephthah is chosen to lead the people (6-7).
• Jephthah argues that Israel must take the Ammonite land because their God has given them the land (Judges 11:23).
• The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah (Judges 11:29).
• Before battle, Jephthah made a vow (Judges 11:30-31). Little did he know the high cost of keeping that vow (Judges 11:34-35).
• The daughter acknowledges the legitimacy of her father’s vow. Would you?

Meditation Points:

1. Are you prejudiced against anyone with questionable ancestry?
2. Can you pray to your god and expect him to answer favorably on your behalf?
3. Open-ended, blind, vows should not be made.

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More Judges…

Tola of Issachar, 23 years (1-2)

Jair, a Gileadite, 22 years  (3-5)

Events leading to the call of Jephthah (6-18)

• Worshiping Baalim, Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, Zidon, Moab, Ammon and Philistia (6)
• The angered Jehovah allows the Philistines and Ammonites to oppress Israel for 18 years (7-9)
• “We have sinned,” the people cried; but Jehovah replied “Go and cry unto the gods you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.” (14)
• Nevertheless, the people attempted to rid themselves of idolatry and to wait upon the Lord for deliverance (16-18)

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English language Bible study guide used by Trinity International Baptist Church of Athens, Greece. Comments and questions from an evangelical perspective.

Meditation Points:

A matter of politics (1-6)

• Would you want a leader who would kill all of his brothers so that he might not have any opposition to his leadership?
• Would you help to finance a leader who would kill all of his brothers so that he might not have any opposition to his leadership?

When good men will not lead, then the bad are welcomed (7-21)

• According to Jotham, Abimelech was, at best, the fourth choice.
• Gideon refused to be king; and he refused the honor for his sons. Abimelech did not agree with his father’s decision.

Trouble between Shechem and Abimelech, as Jotham had predicted (22-49)

Who brought the division between these two sinful parties (Judges 9:23)?

Although Gaal became a common enemy, Shechem and Abimelech never resolved their differences.

Don’t stand too close, or you may get hurt (50-57)

• Divine retribution. Without question. Judges 9:56-57.

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Gideon’s Success and Failure

In today’s reading from the English Bible we learn about Gideon’s great victory with a small army, and about Gideon’s great sin and a large family.

• Many are called, but few are chosen (7:1-8)
• Encouraged by someone else’s dream (7:9-15)
• This little light of mine (7:16-22)
• Asking others to (re)join the fight (7:23-25)
• Offended by not being invited earlier (8:1-3)
• Faint, yet pursuing; and none would help (8:4-17)
• An eye for an eye (8:18-21)
• The dangers of early retirement (8:22-28)
• Gideon-gone and forgotten; and Gideon’s God forgotten, too (8:29-35)

Meditation Points:

1. “lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.” (Judges 7:2). We do (sometimes) take credit for what God has done; and we shouldn’t.
2. 22,000 to 10,000 to 300. Imagine what they said back at denominational headquarters when this report came in.
3. “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon” (Judges 7:18-20). Let your light so shine that others may see and be confounded in the midst of the darkness.
4. The smaller force gave way to a much larger Israelite attack on the Midianites.
5. Have you ever been upset because you weren’t invited to fight for the Lord (Judges 8:1)?
6. In the battle between good and evil there is no neutrality; if you are not for God, then you are against Him.
7. The people wanted to establish Gideon and his posterity as king (Judges 8:22). Gideon refused the honor and authority, commending the people to the divine King.
8. But Gideon did accept an honorarium which he misused in establishing public idolatry (Judges 8:27). Can you believe it?
9. Is it any wonder that his influence died with him, and Israel quickly fell again into Baal worship (Judges 8:33). Will your testimony for good outlive you?

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