JUDGES LESSON 7

     We will begin this lesson in Judges 6:22 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.

     In the last lesson, Gideon asked for a sign from God that the
message was from Him. God miraculously burned the offering on the
rock. Now, Gideon no longer is in doubt. He knows this message is from
God. It was, indeed, a message from God sent to Gideon by the angel of
the LORD. Alas, here is a statement of fear and disbelief that he, a
common man, had seen the angel of the LORD face to face. He is afraid
that the LORD will kill him for this.

     Judges 6:23 "And the LORD said unto him, Peace [be] unto thee;
fear not: thou shalt not die."

     It is a natural thing to fear the LORD. The LORD tells Gideon not
to fear, but be at peace. He will not die for seeing the angel of the
LORD.

     Judges 6:24 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.

     "Jehovah-shalom" means Jehovah sends peace, or the LORD of peace.
Most true followers of God make some sort of altar to commemorate
their encounter with the LORD. This is no exception.

     Judges 6:25  "And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD
said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, 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:"

     It is not clear whether there are two bullocks here, or one. That
really does not matter. The important thing is that Gideon's father
worshipped Baal. For a son to destroy a father's altar, would be a
serious offence. Grove worship was associated with the worship of Baal
and Asteroth. God wants this altar destroyed, and asks Gideon to do
this the very night they are talking. It is interesting, also, that it
is the father's bullock to be thrown down the altar of Baal.

     Judges 6:26 "And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the
top of this rock, 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."

     This is, perhaps, the second bullock mentioned before. At least,
a bullock is to be sacrificed on the rock altar where God had given a
sign to Gideon. The wood for the altar on the rock was to come from
the grove that Gideon tore down near the altar of Baal.

     Judges 6:27 "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."

     The Scripture above, said do it that very night, and we would
assume that is just what he did. The other reason he did it by night
was because the LORD told him to. It would be safer to do at night.

     Judges 6:28  "And when the men of the city arose 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."

     Since they were Baal worshippers, it would have been natural that
this would have been found quickly.

     Judges 6:29 "And they said one to another, Who hath done this
thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of
Joash hath done this thing."

     Someone, probably, was afraid they would be accused of doing
this, and told on Gideon. It had to be one of his ten servants, since
Gideon had done this secretly, and they had gone with him.

     Judges 6:30 "Then the men of the city said unto Joash, 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."

     Gideon had not only declared Baal a false god by throwing the
bullock in the altar, but had actually proclaimed the LORD as God with
the offering on the altar of rock. The men of the city wanted to kill
Gideon for the defamation of Baal.

     Judges 6:31 "And Joash 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 [one] hath cast down his altar."

     It appears that, Gideon's father had decided that Baal was not
God at all. If Baal was the true God, he would be able to kill Gideon
himself. He would not need Joash, or these men, to do it for him. God
does not need anyone to save Him. God saves people, not the other way
around. Joash goes so far as to say, that those who plead for this
false god should be put to death. Gideon's bold act has caused his
father to find the true God.

     Judges 6:32 "Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal,
saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his
altar."

     Gideon's name was changed to "Jerubbaal". The name means with
whom Baal contends.

     Judges 6:33  "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."

     The valley of Jezreel is the valley where the battle of
Armageddon will someday be fought. There have already been 20 major
battles fought in that area. These oppressors of Israel have gathered
their armies there.

     Judges 6:34 "But the spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he
blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him."

     The spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon is just saying that he
was empowered with the Spirit of the LORD. The whole family of Abi-
ezer, which numbered into the thousands, immediately answered the
blowing of the trumpet and came to Gideon.

     Judges 6:35 "And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who
also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and
unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them."

     These were the adjacent tribes. Gideon sent them word, and they
came, too. They wanted to come against their enemies, but they needed
a leader. Now, they have the leader, in Gideon.

     Judges 6:36  "And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel
by mine hand, as thou hast said,"

     Gideon has now a large force to go against the Midianites. He
wants to be absolutely sure this is what God wants him to do, before
he leads them into battle. Gideon wants to do the will of God, but
just wants to be sure what he is about to do, is God's will.

     Judges 6:37 "Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor;
[and] if the dew be on the fleece only, and [it be] dry upon all the
earth [beside], then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine
hand, as thou hast said."

     This is the famous fleece that Gideon lay before the LORD. This
is a way of proving to himself, he is in the will of God.

     Judges 6:38 "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."

     God did exactly as he had asked.

     Judges 6:39 "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; let it now be dry only upon the fleece,
and upon all the ground let there be dew."  Judges 6:"40 And God did
so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew
on all the ground."

     Just in case that was an accident, Gideon asks him for the
reverse to happen. God does just as he asks.
                         Judges 7 Questions


1.  When did Gideon perceive that he was the angel of the LORD?
2.  Why was Gideon fearful?
3.  What did the LORD say to him?
4.  What did Gideon do, to show his recognition of the LORD?
5.  What did he name the altar?
6.  What does the name mean?
7.  What unusual thing did God tell Gideon to do to his father's altar
    to Baal?
8.  What was he to do to the grove by the altar?
9.  What was grove worship associated with?
10. Who's bullock was thrown down the altar?
11. Where was he to build an altar to the true God?
12. What was the burnt sacrifice for this altar?
13. What would the sacrifice be burned with?
14. Who did Gideon take with him?
15. Why did he do this by night?
16. What did the men of the city find, when they woke up the next
    morning?
17. How did they find out that Gideon did this?
18. Who was Gideon's father?
19. What was his answer to the men, who wanted to kill Gideon?
20. What good thing came of this?
21. What did he name Gideon on that day?
22. What does the new name mean?
23. Where did the Midianites, Amalekites, and the children of the east
    gather?
24. The _________ of the LORD came on Gideon, and he blew the trumpet.
25. Who immediately came to Gideon, when he blew the trumpet?
26. Who were the adjacent tribes Gideon sent for?
27. Did they come?
28. What did Gideon ask God to do, to prove he had been called to lead
    the Israelites in battle?
29. What was the second thing he asked Him to do?
30. Did God do these things?