Read Judges
8-9 & Luke
8:22-56
To discover:
As you read consider what we’re learning about the people of
Israel.
To ponder:
As in chapter 5, the different responses of Israel
to her enemies dominates. The Ephraimites criticize Gideon for not involving
them more, whereas when Gideon and his 300 men seek bread from the men of
Succoth and Peniel, they are refused. These Israelites don’t want to take sides
whilst the Midianite kings are still at large (8v6). Let us be those eager for
more service in the purposes of God’s kingdom rather than holding back in-case this
might result in trouble with the world.
Such
reluctance is foolish because the LORD will still prevail. So having been
reduced from 120,000 to 15,000 men, the remaining Midianites are routed by
Gideon’s small force, and the kings captured. Gideon then punishes the men of
Succoth and Peniel – tearing the flesh of the first with thorns and briers, and
demolishing the tower of the second and killing its men. He then executes vengeance
on the Midianite Kings for killing his brothers. Although this vengeance would
seem in-line with God’s law (Num 35v16-28), we are not told whether Gideon’s
other acts were commendable. Nevertheless, they are a judgement on the
unfaithful Israelites, looking to the final judgement of those within the
church who prove themselves faithless by their lack of willingness to serve
(Matt 25v24-30).
Israel’s
failure to honour God continues. The people want Gideon and his descendents to
rule them like a King because “you have saved us.” Gideon’s response shows this
stems from a lack of faith in God to be their Saviour: “the LORD will rule over
you.” Any desire for a king should be for one to mediate God’s rule not take
his place! And the context shows this is particularly necessary because men are
not fit to rule. This is probably why the failure of Gideon’s son to administer
justice against Israel’s
enemies is noted (8v20), and certainly why we’re told of Gideon making a gold
version of the High Priest’s ephod (outer garment) for where he lived. In being
crafted from Midianite plunder this would not only be defiled, but provide an
alternative focus for worship to Shiloh, whilst implying
that Gideon’s family were more important than others. Indeed, people then
“worshipped” it, and it became a “snare” to Gideon’s family, perhaps by leading
them into this idolatry or into pride. It’s a warning against celebrity culture
within the church. So easily gifted ministers can be looked to as if they not
God are building the church. This subtly undermines our faith and prayerfulness
in the Lord, and so easily leads these ministers into pride.
As soon as
Gideon dies Israel
again fall into idolatry, forgetting the LORD who “rescued them” and failing to
show kindness to the family of the one who contended with the god they now
worship (6v32). However, despite his own sins, Gideon was blessed with seventy
sons and long life. Nevertheless, although he affirmed God should be the ruler,
one son (Abimelech) draws the people of his mother’s clan in Shechem to himself,
gets money from them to hire mercenaries, murders all his brothers except
Jotham, and is crowned “king.”
Jotham’s story (9v7-21) highlights
that Shechem don’t really want Abimelech as king, and that this will lead to
“fire” from him to them (9v15) as a judgement for how they treated Gideon’s
family. So Sechem transfer their allegiance to Gaal, fight Gideon’s mercenaries
and end up taking refuge not in God but in a pagan temple (9v46), which
Abimelech then sets on fire, before being killed himself in a humiliating way
when laying siege to Thebez. The conclusion is key (9v56-57): “God” the true
King “repaid the wickedness” of Abimelech and Sechem in response to Jotham’s
curse.
Praying it home:
Thank God for ruling us so perfectly through Christ his King.
Pray that you would display the eagerness of the Ephraimites to serve his
purposes, and in no way side with whatever stands against him.
Thinking further: Evil spirits or demons
Judges 9v23 tells us God “sent and evil spirit” between
Abimelech and the men of Shechem. We see the same in 1 Samuel 16v14-23, 18v10,
19v9, 1 Kings 22v19-23. The Bible portrays God as sovereign even over the
powers of evil. Just as the demons had to plead with Jesus not to send them
into the abyss (Lk 8v31), evil spirits do nothing that God doesn’t permit or
even command. That’s how utterly in control he is. However, he cannot be
charged with evil, because his use of evil – whether evil spirits or evil
people, is to achieve good ends (Gen 50v15-21). In Judges 9, that is his
judgement on Abimelech and the men of Shechem. Elsewhere it may be to test,
prove, mature or display someone’s faith, as it was in allowing Satan to
inflict Job (Job 1v8-22). There is mystery here. However, it wonderfully
assures us that we cannot be tempted beyond what we can bear, nothing can
separate us from God’s love, that God is doing something even in evil that
befalls us, and his purposes can never be thwarted, and all because even the
powers of darkness are subject to his control now expressed through Christ (Eph
1v19-22). To read Jim Packer on “Demons” click here.
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