Judges 6

Judges 6:1-6

Here is, 1. Israel harrassed by the inroads of the Midianites, ver. 1—6. 2. The message God sent them by a prophet, ver. 7—10. 3. A examples sent from God to God: a by an angel, and confirmed by a sign, ver. 11—24. 4. Gideon’s referring his father’s body, ver. 25—32. 5. The preparation for some yet a man with the Midianites, and the encouragement given him by a sign, ver. 33—40.

1. AND the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of a Midian seven years. 2. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and the cause of the Midianites, the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains and caves, and strong-holds. 3. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites; and the children of the eats, even they came up against them: 4. And they encamped against them, and they stroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza; and left no fullmenace for Israel, neither I sleep, nor ox, nor ais. 5. For they came up with their cattle, and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude, for both they and their camels; were without number: and they entered into the land to dethron the 6. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

Nothing but almighty grace can effect an abelian change on the heart. The severest providence, like the thunder-clap, only shackle us for a moment, and are forgotten. The rest they had enjoyed, opened a door for sin to enter among them, and for from improving by past experience, they should aside again from God. The consequence of this was, a new courage from a despicable and vanquished enemy. The eastern Midianites bordering on Minsk, whom they had smitten, Now, xxxi. recovered themselves, so as to make inroads on the country. They came me as a regular army to fight, but as troops of Banditsi, to rob and plunder; yet in such multitude with their camels, and oxen, and sheep, that they eat up all the land. For fear of them, the Israelites, who had laid their courage when they left their God, fled to the dens in the mountains for shelter, suffering all the millions of famine in a land of plenty, and seeing others eat the harvest they had sown. At last, after seven years affliction, they began to remember themselves, returned with deep humiliation to God, and cried to him in their distress. Nate, (1.) They who abude God’s gifts in prodigality and luxury, often live as a just punishment to feel the want of them in hunger and nakedness. (2.) A guilty and accusing conscience makes men cowards. (3.) In the day of judgment, it will be vain to call to the mountains to cover us, or the rocks to hide us from the face of him that fifties on the throne. (4.) The only hope that remains for the sinner, is to make now supplication to God.

7. ¶ And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, because of the Midianites; 8. That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which laid unto them, Thus faith the LORD and God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage, 9. And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and draw them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10. And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God, fear not

the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

10. 7—10. God heard the prayer of the poor desirute, and pitied them; though it was not their sins but their sufferings that raided their cries. Heropon,

11. He sends a prophet to awaken them to a feuds of their sins, and bring them to repentance. Nate, (1.) It is a precious symptom of mercy in store for a sinful people, when God raises them up faithful ministers, to reprove their backfishing.

12. The message he brought. God expeditates with them on their ingratiate and folly in leaving him, who had delivered them so wonderfully from Egypt, so often subdued their energies before them, refused them from their oppressors, and given them their land for an inheritance. The returns he asked for such mercies were highly reasonable, to cleave to him alone, and never fear or worship the idol gods of the Amorites, who had neither power to help or hurt them. Yet they obeyed not his voice; though so plain the duty, and so vile the sin, they wilfully as wickedly refused to hearken, and left the living God to follow flocks and stones. Nate, (1.) Ingestion to the God of grace and mercy, is one of the greatest aggravations of our sin. (2.) God’s service is the most reasonable. The folly of disobedience is as great as its evil. (3.) Ministers must speak plainly and closely to the sinner’s conscience, and charge home the acceptance of God’s violated laws.

13. ¶ And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which swar in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joath the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine-prefs, to hide it from the Midianites. 12. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, ‘The LORD it with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13. And Gideon said unto him, ‘Oh my lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where he all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14. And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt have Israel from the hand of the Midianites: ‘have not I sent thee? 15. And he said unto him, Oh my lord, wherewith shall I have Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manaffah, and I am the least in my father’s house. 16. And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt fester the Midianites, as one man. 17. And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. 18. Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my pretext, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. 19. And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid and unleavened cakes of an ephus of flour: the flesh he put in a beafen, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. 20. And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21. Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh, and the unleavened cakes: and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes: then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. 22. And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, ‘Alas, O Lord God: for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. 23. And the LORD said unto him, ‘Peace be unto thee, fear not, thou shalt not die. 24. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-Shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

14. 11—12. Whilst God is leaving the people to ruminate upon the message he had sent them, he begins to interpose for their deliverance by the hand of Gideon, the son of Joath, of the half-mile of Manaffah on this side Jordan. To him the angel of the everlasting covenant, the Lord John Chrift, appeared in a human form, as he was threshing wheat by the wine-prefs, to hide it from the Midianites; for such was the distress to which they were reduced, that the very bread they did eat, must be secreted. Nate, When our cafe appears must desperate, then is the time God chutes to glorify his power in saving us. We have here that which passed between the angel of the Lord and Gideon.

VOL. I.

1. The angel accooks him with a very comfortable salutation, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. Probably in mournful meditation over Israel’s griefs, and fervent excitations for speedy help, Gideon was lifting up his heart to God, and now he is answered: this unexpected valiant affirms him of God’s pretence with him. Nate, However bleth we may be with natural gifts, unless God be with us, we possess them in vain. Without him the valiant are weak, and the mighty soon brought low.

2. Gideon, indulging his melancholy views of the hard oppression his people now suffered, doubts the truth of the message, and seems to call in question the former miracles which were recorded, because for a time, as the just punishment of their sins, God had left them under the power of Midian. Nate, (1.) It is sometimes difficult to reconcile our afflictive experiences with the great and precious promises, and not so far, if this he true, why am I thus? (2.) The greatest saints have given many a sad takers of the power of unbelief in their hearts. (3.) We are not so question the truth of past miracles, because they continue not to be still wrought. (4.) We are not hastily to conclude that God hath forsaken us, because for our sins he hath for a season had his face from us.

3. The Lord answers his doubts, by giving him orders to work the people’s deliverance from the hand of Midian. With a look of complacency, and with a solemnity that added weight to his word, He who can enable him for the service, bids him go, and affirms him of success. Jehovah speaks; let Gideon hear and believe. Nate, (1.) It is the Lord’s work alone to enable us for that which he doth command. (2.) Nothing inspires the heart with such earnestness to control against our spiritual enemies, as the assurance that we shall at last be more than conquerors.

4. Gideon is unprovided either with men or money to support a war against Midian; his family reduced, and himself inconsiderable, he hesitates at the command, and through distress of God, or rather modest diffidence of himself, expresses his apprehension of his inability for such an undertaking. Nate, (1.) Those who are little in their own eyes, God delights to exalt. (2.) When we find our own weakness, and spread it in prayer before God, then shall we, like Gideon, out of weakness be made strong.

5. God can give us no greater confirmation than his word of promise. Therefore he repeats it for Gideon’s satisfaction, with a solemn asseveration, Surely I will be with thee; and then his poverty, or his want of human help, should be no bar to his compleat victory over the hosts of Midian. Nate, If God be for us, no matter who are against us, the day is ours.

6. As the commotion was extraordinary, for his own and others satisfaction, he asks a sign, as an assurance of the truth of what was said to him; and begs him to stay whilst he fetched him some refreshments, and treated him as a messenger from God. The angel confesses to stay, the plain repast is quickly provided, and Gideon returns from his father’s house with part of a boiled kid, some broth, and unleavened cakes in a beaker. Nate, (1.) They who know the comfort of communion with God, or fellowship with his saints, will contrive to prolong the visit. (2.) Christians must use hospitality, and break their bread with cheerfulness to the hungry. (3.) They who give but a cup of cold water with regard to God, shall in no wise lose their reward.

7. Instead of spreading the table for repast, this divine stranger enjoins him to lay the meat on a rock near them, and pour the broth upon it. Gideon without hesitation obeys: when, lo! the sign he asked, appears: the angel, who seemed like a traveller, with his staff gently touched the provision as it lay, when instantly fire bursts forth, and consumes the offering; and thereupon the Lord disappears, leaving Gideon the strongest evidence of the truth of what he had told him.

8. Gideon, though a man of valour, and from every circumstance he might conclude the gracious design of all he had then and heard, trembles at the thought of having seen an angel; and as Jacob before, and Manoah after, fears he shall die.

9. The Lord silences his fears, by an audible voice probably, though he could not see the angel, he could hear him say, Thou shalt not die, fear not. Nate, Though every message from the world of spirits justly makes man, a sinner, to tremble; yet when by faith our hearts have rested on God’s promises, then have we nothing to fear from thence, but every thing to hope for.

Lastly, Gideon sets up an altar on this rock for a memorial, and calls it very properly, Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord is peace; for he had spoken peace to him when he was troubled, had brought him a message of peace for his afflicted brethren, and would give them peace from all their enemies round about. Nate, They who have God at peace with them, are happy indeed, and bound to erect the grateful altar, and offer him the sacrifices of never-ending praise.

This altar continued till the time of Samuel, when this book is supposed to be compiled.

U u u 25. ¶ And Before Christ 1687.

25. ¶ And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take ’thy fathers young bullock, ‘y even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26. And build an altar unto the LORD thy God, upon the top of this work, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove, which thou shalt cut down. 27. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and ‘did as the LORD had said unto him: And so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. 28. ¶ And when the men of the city rose early in the morning, behold the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. 29. And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joath hath done this thing. 30. Then the men of the city said unto Joath, Bring out thy son, ’that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. 31. And Joath said unto all that stood against him, Will ‘ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because our hath cast down his altar. 32. Therefore on that day he called him a Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

¶ 25-32. Before God will advance him as judge in Israel, he will prove his piety as well as courage. Therefore,

1. The same night after he had appeared to him at the wine-pelts, he speaks to him in a vision on his bed, and commands him to overthrow the altar of Baal, which his father had encircled, and at which the men of the city paid their devotions, to cut down the grove around it, or perhaps the image upon it, then build an altar on the rock, where the Lord had caused the fire to break forth, and offer there his father’s young bullock, designed for Baal, the second in the stall; or, and the second, another of seven years old, the two best of his herd, and this with the wood of the grove, or image, which he had cut down. Note, (1.) God often chases unlikely instruments, as now calling up an eminent reformer, out of a house devoted to idolatry. (2.) When the blood of atonement is shed, there is comfortable hopes that the sin being pardoned, the affliction will end. (3.) Christ is both our rock and altar; those will be acceptable sacrifices that are offered through him. (4.) It is a wise improvement of the unrighteous mormons, when like their monuments of idolatry, we can make it false-reverent to the work and service of God.

2. Gideon no sooner hears than he obeys. The same hour probably he arose, and as the night best favoured his designs, and prevented interruptions, before the morning, by the help of his faithful servants, whom he summoned to attend him, Baal’s altar was laid in the dull, and God’s new-raisled altar tinnaking with the grateful sacrifice. Note, (1.) In an idolatrous house, some are often found who bow not the knee to Baal, but, though in secret, cleave unto the Lord their God. (2.) He feared not his father’s, or the people’s displeasure: where the fear of God is, it swallows up every other concern. (3.) When we are called to God’s work, it becomes us to make haste and delay not. What thou doest, do quickly.

3. The morning soon disclosed the scene. The men of Baal halting to their devotions, are surprised to find their grove and altar ruined. Gideon soon hears the suspicion, from his known disaffection to their god; enraged even to madness, nothing will satisfy them but his blood. To this end, they call on Joath, his father, to deliver him into their hands. Note, (1.) They who will be zealous for God against men’s sins, must still put their life in their hands. (2.) How early was Baal’s altar visited? Shall not their false worship rise up in judgment against those, who neither early nor late bow their knees before the true God?

4. Joath boldly refuses to comply with so cruel and unreasonable a request. Whether out of natural affection for his son, or many probably informed by Gideon of the motives for his conduct, and convinced of the evil of the abominable idolatry in which he had before lived. He therefore finally rebukes them or pleading for Baal, in opposition to the Divine command, and instead of giving up his son, justly threatens (for which he might plead the experts law of God) the perish that should dare speak a word for this idol with instant death. He also contemporaneously challenges Baal, if he were a God, to plead for himself in order to convince them, from his impotence, of their folly as well as sin, in trusting upon him. Note, (1.) If we have been zealous

in a bad cause, we should with greater zeal seek to amend what we have done amish, by our open appearance for the truth. (2.) Nothing must prevail on us to give up the innocent, whoever combine to destroy them. (3.) Though it may be highly dangerous to remove a wicked people, we must do our duty, and trust God with the event.

5. Gideon gets heretofore the name of Jerubbaal, let Baal plead: and this could not but be a great encouragement to himself and soldiers; for having proved victorious over their God, he need the less fear the Midianites, his worshippers.

6. ¶ Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites, and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel. 34. But the spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he ‘blew a trumpet, and Abiezer was gathered after him. 35. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, who also was gathered after him, and he sent messengers unto After, and unto Zebulim, and unto Naphtali, and they came up to meet them. 36. ¶ And Gideon said unto God, ‘If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 37. Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor: and if ’the dew be on ’the fleece only, and if he dry upon all the earth before, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. 38. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39. And Gideon said unto God, ‘Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: Let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece.’ 40. Let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

¶ 33-40. The harvest being ready for reaping, we have here, as during the preceding years,

1. An annual made by the considerate hosts of Midian, Amalek, and the Arabians, who, confident of success, were come to collect the spoil. Thus emboldened by success, the times, usually advances, till God, from the pinnacle of his liberty, hurls him down into the depths of misery.

2. God stirs up Gideon to oppose them; the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, or clothed him; a spirit of unusual courage roused him with zeal to befit himself. He blows the trumpet, invites all volunteers to his standard, and those who would have stoned him yesterday, are to-day the first to follow his orders. Of Maghfah chiefly he composed his army, though Asher, Zebulim and Naphtali also generously lent their assistance. Note, (1.) In a common cause, we should be ready to share the danger with our brethren. (2.) In the men of Abiezer, we see what changes God can work. Thus hath Divine Grace, often at a stroke, changed persecutors into preachers, and the most abandoned into converts to truth and holiness. (3.) When God gives us a spirit of grace and courage, however strong our corruptions within, or spiritual enemies without, he will subdue them under our feet.

3. Gideon heretofore, for the confirmation of his own faith, or rather perhaps for the encouragement of those who were with him, asks a sign of God, to allow him of victory over the numerous hosts of Midian. God confents to it: Gideon lays the fleece on the floor; and on the morrow, according to his own proposal, the fleece is filled with water, and the ground dry around it. Note, It is a blessed token for good in a minister’s labours, when his own soul, like Gideon’s fleece, is replenished with the dew of divine grace.—Once more he presumes to ask; ashamed of his own boldness, and begging pardon for his request: Let the sign be inserted; the fleece dry, the floor wet. God confents, and it is done; thus silencing every doubt of the certainty of his success. Note, There are seasons, every Christian known, when his own soul, like Gideon’s fleece, is dry amidst the most refreshing dews of divine influence that fall on others around him.