Hi, and welcome to
HIS WORDS ARE LIFE.
00:00:15.67\00:00:17.58
I'm Kelly Mowrer, and
thank you for coming apart
00:00:17.61\00:00:20.28
with me to read the
word of God together.
00:00:20.32\00:00:22.47
When we were last reading
we were or are in the story
00:00:22.50\00:00:26.03
of Gideon. It's one of my
favorite stories in the Bible
00:00:26.06\00:00:28.84
for several reasons. One of
them is God's absolute patience
00:00:28.87\00:00:32.68
and love to reassure Gideon
in his weak faith, over and over
00:00:32.71\00:00:37.14
again, God answers him
and assures him of His peace
00:00:37.17\00:00:41.05
and His love, He says, I
am with you. And when we last
00:00:41.08\00:00:44.79
left off, God is providing
yet another assurance to Gideon.
00:00:44.82\00:00:49.25
He has met the test of the
fleece that Gideon had asked
00:00:49.28\00:00:52.84
him to meet. And he
has- God has directed Gideon
00:00:52.87\00:00:56.77
through a series of tests
that have winnowed the men
00:00:56.80\00:00:59.17
in his army down to only
300. And God says to Gideon
00:00:59.20\00:01:03.88
I am going to deliver the
Midianites into your hand.
00:01:03.91\00:01:06.60
And if you would like some
reassurance, take your servant
00:01:06.63\00:01:09.83
and sneak into their camp
tonight. And so this is where
00:01:09.86\00:01:12.83
we're going to pick up the
story; but before we start,
00:01:12.86\00:01:14.57
let's pray. Dear Lord, thank
you for your love for us and for
00:01:14.60\00:01:20.23
your patience with us, and
for all the signs of reassurance
00:01:20.26\00:01:24.23
that you send to each
one of us. Open our hearts
00:01:24.26\00:01:27.91
and open our ears to hear your
word and to find the peace that
00:01:27.94\00:01:32.91
it brings. We love you so much.
And thank you for loving us.
00:01:32.94\00:01:35.95
Amen. We're reading in Judges,
chapter 7 picking up in verse 12
00:01:35.98\00:01:42.15
as Gideon and his servant
has sneaked into the camp
00:01:42.18\00:01:45.44
of the enemy. - And the
Midianites and the Amalekites
00:01:45.47\00:01:50.28
and all the children of the
east lay along in the valley
00:01:50.31\00:01:53.48
like grasshoppers for multitude;
and their camels were without
00:01:53.51\00:01:57.72
number, as the sand by
the sea side for multitude.
00:01:57.75\00:02:01.86
And when Gideon was
come, behold, there was a man
00:02:01.89\00:02:05.49
that told a dream
unto his fellow, and said,
00:02:05.52\00:02:08.03
Behold, I dreamed a dream,
and lo, a cake of barley bread
00:02:08.06\00:02:13.29
tumbled into the host of
Midian, and came unto a tent,
00:02:13.32\00:02:17.27
and smote it that it
fell, and overturned it,
00:02:17.30\00:02:20.46
that the tent lay along. And
his fellow answered and said,
00:02:20.49\00:02:24.58
This is nothing else save
the hand hath God delivered
00:02:24.61\00:02:30.22
hand hath God delivered: for
into his hand hath God delivered
00:02:30.25\00:02:34.94
Midian, and all the host.
And it was so, when Gideon
00:02:34.97\00:02:41.06
heard the telling of the dream,
and the interpretation thereof,
00:02:41.09\00:02:43.95
that he worshipped, and
returned into the host of Israel
00:02:43.98\00:02:48.34
and said, Arise; for the Lord
hath delivered into your hand
00:02:48.37\00:02:51.75
the host of Midian.
And he divided the 300 men
00:02:51.78\00:02:56.09
into three companies, and
he put a trumpet in every man's
00:02:56.12\00:02:59.86
hand, with empty pitchers,
and lamps within the pitchers.
00:02:59.89\00:03:03.34
And he said unto them,
Look on me, and do likewise:
00:03:03.37\00:03:07.36
and behold, when I come to the
outside of the camp, it shall be
00:03:07.39\00:03:11.84
that, as I do, so shall ye
do. When I blow with a trumpet,
00:03:11.87\00:03:16.84
I and all that are with me,
then blow ye the trumpets also
00:03:16.87\00:03:21.19
on every side of all the camp,
and say, The sword of the Lord,
00:03:21.22\00:03:25.38
and of Gideon. So Gideon,
and the hundred men that were
00:03:25.41\00:03:29.71
with him, came unto the outside
of the camp in the beginning
00:03:29.74\00:03:32.89
of the middle watch: and they
had but newly set the watch:
00:03:32.92\00:03:36.61
they blew the trumpets, and
brake the pitchers that were in
00:03:36.64\00:03:40.30
their hands. And the 3 companies
blew the trumpets, and brake
00:03:40.33\00:03:43.99
the pitchers, and held
the lamps in their left hands,
00:03:44.02\00:03:46.36
and the trumpets in their
right hands to blow withal:
00:03:46.39\00:03:49.74
and they cried, The sword
of the Lord, and of Gideon.
00:03:49.77\00:03:53.02
And they stood every man in
his place round about the camp:
00:03:53.05\00:03:57.73
and all the host ran, and cried,
and fled. And the 300 blew
00:03:57.76\00:04:04.74
the trumpets, and the Lord
set every man's sword against
00:04:04.77\00:04:08.83
his fellow, even throughout
all the host: and the host fled
00:04:08.86\00:04:14.27
to Bethshittah in
Zererath, and to the border of
00:04:14.30\00:04:17.94
Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
And the men of Israel gathered
00:04:17.97\00:04:22.51
themselves together out of
Naphtali, and out of Asher,
00:04:22.54\00:04:25.59
and out of all Manasseh, and
pursued after the Midinaites.
00:04:25.62\00:04:28.70
And Gideon sent messengers
throughout all mount Ephraim,
00:04:28.73\00:04:33.71
saying, Come down against the
Midianites, and take before them
00:04:33.74\00:04:36.71
the waters unto Beth-barah
and Jordan. Then all the men of
00:04:36.74\00:04:40.99
Ephraim gathered themselves
together, and took the waters
00:04:41.02\00:04:44.32
unto Beth-barah and Jordan.
And they took two princes
00:04:44.35\00:04:48.48
of the Midianites, Oreb
and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb
00:04:48.51\00:04:52.92
upon the rock Oreb, and
Zeeb they slew at the winepress
00:04:52.95\00:04:55.99
of Zeeb, and pursued
Midian, and brought the heads
00:04:56.02\00:05:00.01
of Oreb and Zeeb to
Gideon on the other side Jordan.
00:05:00.04\00:05:04.00
We're continuing in the
book of Judges, chapter 8,
00:05:04.03\00:05:07.86
and this is the
King James Version.
00:05:07.89\00:05:09.49
And the men of Ephraim said
unto him, Why hast thou served
00:05:09.52\00:05:14.94
us thus, that thou calledst
us not, when thou wentest
00:05:14.97\00:05:18.05
to fight with the Midianites?
And they did chide with him
00:05:18.08\00:05:21.39
sharply. And he said unto
them, What have I done now
00:05:21.42\00:05:25.69
in comparison of you? Is
not the gleaning of the grapes
00:05:25.72\00:05:29.37
of Ephraim better than
the vintage of Abiezer?
00:05:29.40\00:05:32.76
God hath delivered into your
hands the princes of Midian,
00:05:32.79\00:05:37.02
Oreb and Zeeb: and what
was I able to do in comparison
00:05:37.05\00:05:41.01
of you? Then their
anger was abated toward him,
00:05:41.04\00:05:45.32
when he had said that.
And Gideon came to Jordan,
00:05:45.35\00:05:48.90
and passed over, he, and
the 300 men that were with him,
00:05:48.93\00:05:53.04
faint, yet pursuing them. And
he said unto the men of Succoth,
00:05:53.07\00:05:58.46
Give, I pray you,
loaves of bread unto the people
00:05:58.49\00:06:01.60
that follow me; for they be
faint, and I am pursuing after
00:06:01.63\00:06:05.43
Zebah and Zalmunna,
the kings of Midian.
00:06:05.46\00:06:08.01
And the princes of Succoth
said, Are the hands of Zebah
00:06:08.04\00:06:13.27
and Zalmunna now in thine
hand, that we should give bread
00:06:13.30\00:06:15.85
unto thine army? And Gideon
said, Therefore when the Lord
00:06:15.88\00:06:19.77
hath delivered Zebah
and Zalmunna into mine hand,
00:06:19.80\00:06:22.58
then I will tear your flesh with
the thorns of the wilderness
00:06:22.61\00:06:25.75
and with briers. And he went
up thence to Penuel, and spake
00:06:25.78\00:06:30.54
unto them likewise: and the men
of Penuel answered him as the
00:06:30.57\00:06:33.88
men of Succoth had answered him.
And he spake also unto the men
00:06:33.91\00:06:37.32
of Penuel, saying, When I come
again in peace, I will break
00:06:37.35\00:06:41.01
down this tower. Now Zebah
and Zalmunna were in Karkor,
00:06:41.04\00:06:45.58
and their hosts with
them, about 15,000 men,
00:06:45.61\00:06:48.30
all that were left of all
the hosts of the children of the
00:06:48.33\00:06:51.45
east: for there fell
120,000 men that drew sword.
00:06:51.48\00:06:55.92
And Gideon went up by the
way of them that dwelt in tents
00:06:55.95\00:06:59.58
on the east of Nobah and
Jogbehah, and smote the host:
00:06:59.61\00:07:03.39
for the host was secure. And
when Zebah and Zalmunna fled,
00:07:03.42\00:07:07.81
he pursued after them, and
took the two kings of Midian,
00:07:07.84\00:07:10.91
Zebah and Zalmunna, and
discomfited all the host.
00:07:10.94\00:07:14.68
And Gideon the son of Joash
returned from battle before
00:07:14.71\00:07:19.67
the sun was up, and caught a
young man of the men of Succoth,
00:07:19.70\00:07:23.64
and inquired of him:
and he described unto him
00:07:23.67\00:07:26.55
the princes of
Succoth, and the elders thereof,
00:07:26.58\00:07:28.43
even threescore
and seventeen men.
00:07:28.46\00:07:30.24
And he came unto the
men of Succoth, and said,
00:07:30.27\00:07:33.18
Behold Zebah and Zalmunna with
whom ye did upbraid me, saying,
00:07:33.21\00:07:37.39
Are the hands of Zebah and
Zalmunna now in thine hand,
00:07:37.42\00:07:40.42
that we should give bread
unto thy men that are weary?
00:07:40.45\00:07:43.71
And he took the elders of
the city, and thorns of the
00:07:43.74\00:07:47.52
wilderness and briers, and
with them he taught the men
00:07:47.55\00:07:51.25
of Succoth. And he beat down
the tower of Penuel, and slew
00:07:51.28\00:07:54.65
the men of the city. Then
said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna,
00:07:54.68\00:07:58.56
What manner of men were
they whom ye slew at Tabor?
00:07:58.59\00:08:02.04
And they answered, As thou
art, so were they; each one
00:08:02.07\00:08:06.18
resembled the children of a
king. And he said, they were
00:08:06.21\00:08:10.09
my brethren, even the sons
of my mother: as the Lord liveth
00:08:10.12\00:08:14.73
if ye had saved them
alive, I would not slay you.
00:08:14.76\00:08:17.88
And he said unto Jether his
firstborn, Up, and slay them.
00:08:17.91\00:08:23.45
But the youth drew not
his sword, for he feared,
00:08:23.48\00:08:26.77
because he was yet a youth.
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said,
00:08:26.80\00:08:31.36
Rise thou, and fall
upon us: for as the man is,
00:08:31.39\00:08:34.81
so is his strength. And
Gideon arose, and slew Zebah
00:08:34.84\00:08:39.33
and Zalmunna, and took
away the ornaments that were on
00:08:39.36\00:08:42.44
their camel's necks. Then the
men of Israel said unto Gideon,
00:08:42.47\00:08:45.81
Rule thou over us, both thou
and thy son, and thy son's son
00:08:45.84\00:08:50.05
also: for thou hast delivered
us from the hand of Midian.
00:08:50.08\00:08:52.62
And Gideon said unto
them, I will not rule over you,
00:08:52.65\00:08:57.60
neither shall my son rule
over you. The Lord shall rule
00:08:57.63\00:09:02.43
over you. And Gideon said unto
them, I would desire a request
00:09:02.46\00:09:08.04
of you, that ye would
give me every man the earrings
00:09:08.07\00:09:11.22
of his prey. For they had golden
earrings, because they were
00:09:11.25\00:09:14.78
Ishmaelites. And they answered,
we will willingly give them.
00:09:14.81\00:09:18.43
And they spread a garment,
and did cast therein every man
00:09:18.46\00:09:22.37
the earrings of his prey.
And the weight of the golden
00:09:22.40\00:09:26.64
earrings that he requested
was a thousand and seven hundred
00:09:26.67\00:09:30.05
shekels of gold;
beside ornaments, and collars,
00:09:30.08\00:09:32.75
and purple raiment that
was on the kings of Midian,
00:09:32.78\00:09:35.11
and beside the chains that
were about their camel's necks.
00:09:35.14\00:09:38.04
And Gideon made an ephod thereof
and put it in his city, even in
00:09:38.07\00:09:43.24
Ophrah: and all Israel
went thither a-whoring after it:
00:09:43.27\00:09:48.36
which thing became a snare
unto Gideon, and to his house.
00:09:48.39\00:09:54.01
Thus was Midian subdued before
the children of Israel, so that
00:09:54.04\00:09:58.42
they lifted up their heads
no more. And the country was in
00:09:58.45\00:10:02.07
quietness 40 years
in the days of Gideon.
00:10:02.10\00:10:05.44
And Jerubbaal, the son of Joash
went and dwelt in his own house.
00:10:05.47\00:10:10.54
And Gideon had threescore and
ten sons of his body begotten:
00:10:10.57\00:10:15.75
for he had many wives. And his
concubine that was in Shechem,
00:10:15.78\00:10:20.35
she also bare him a son,
whose name he called Abimelech.
00:10:20.38\00:10:23.26
And Gideon the son of
Joash died in a good old age,
00:10:23.29\00:10:28.22
and was buried in the sepulchre
of Joash his father, in Ophrah
00:10:28.25\00:10:32.33
of the Abiezrites. And it
came to pass, as soon as Gideon
00:10:32.36\00:10:37.36
was dead, that the
children of Israel turned again,
00:10:37.39\00:10:40.50
and went a-whoring after
Baalim and made Baal-berith
00:10:40.53\00:10:44.53
their god. And the children of
Israel remembered not the Lord
00:10:44.56\00:10:49.01
their God, who had
delivered them out of the hands
00:10:49.04\00:10:51.35
of all their enemies on
every side: Neither shewed they
00:10:51.38\00:10:54.55
kindness to the house of
Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon,
00:10:54.58\00:10:57.63
according to all the goodness
which he had shewed unto Israel.
00:10:57.66\00:11:01.53
We're continuing in the
book of Judges, chapter 9,
00:11:01.56\00:11:05.43
this is the King James Version.
00:11:05.46\00:11:07.06
And Abimelech the son of
Jerub-baal went to Shechem
00:11:07.09\00:11:12.37
unto his mother's brethren,
and communed with them,
00:11:12.40\00:11:15.67
and with all the family of the
house of his mother's father,
00:11:15.70\00:11:18.95
saying, Speak, I pray you,
in the ears of all the men of
00:11:18.98\00:11:22.44
Shechem, Whether is
better for you, either that all
00:11:22.47\00:11:26.75
the sons of Jerub-baal, which
are threescore and ten persons,
00:11:26.78\00:11:30.26
reign over you, or
that one reign over you?
00:11:30.29\00:11:33.67
remember also that I am
your bone and your flesh.
00:11:33.70\00:11:36.73
And his mother's brethren
spake of him in the ears of all
00:11:36.76\00:11:40.81
the men of Shechem all these
words: and their hearts inclined
00:11:40.84\00:11:44.60
to follow Abimelech; for
they said, He is our brother.
00:11:44.63\00:11:47.61
And they gave him threescore
and ten pieces of silver
00:11:47.64\00:11:51.55
out of the house of Baalberith,
wherewith Abimelech hired vain
00:11:51.58\00:11:56.53
and light persons,
which followed him.
00:11:56.56\00:11:59.05
And he went unto his father's
house at Ophrah, and slew
00:11:59.08\00:12:03.63
his brethren the
sons of Jerubbaal, being
00:12:03.66\00:12:07.24
threescore and ten
persons, upon one stone:
00:12:07.27\00:12:11.06
Notwithstanding yet Jotham
the youngest son of Jerubbaal
00:12:11.09\00:12:15.78
was left; for he hid himself.
And all the men of Shechem
00:12:15.81\00:12:20.35
gathered together, and all
the house of Millo, and went,
00:12:20.38\00:12:23.57
and made Abimelech king, by the
plain of the pillar that was in
00:12:23.60\00:12:27.88
Shechem. And when they told
it to Jotham, he went and stood
00:12:27.91\00:12:31.95
in the top of mount Gerizim,
and lifted up his voice,
00:12:31.98\00:12:35.71
and cried, and said
unto them, Hearken unto me,
00:12:35.74\00:12:38.36
ye men of Shechem, that
God may hearken unto you.
00:12:38.39\00:12:41.80
The trees went forth on a
time to anoint a king over them;
00:12:41.83\00:12:46.75
and they said unto the
olive tree, Reign thou over us.
00:12:46.78\00:12:50.17
But the olive tree said unto
them, Should I leave my fatness,
00:12:50.20\00:12:54.83
wherewith by me they honour God
and man, and go to be promoted
00:12:54.86\00:12:58.13
over the trees? And the
trees said unto the fig tree,
00:12:58.16\00:13:01.72
Come thou, and reign over us.
But the fig tree said unto them,
00:13:01.75\00:13:06.10
Should I forsake my
sweetness, and my good fruit,
00:13:06.13\00:13:09.30
and go to be
promoted over the trees?
00:13:09.33\00:13:11.44
Then said the trees
unto the vine, Come thou,
00:13:11.47\00:13:15.46
and reign over us. And
the vine said unto them,
00:13:15.49\00:13:18.51
Should I leave my wine,
which cheereth God and man,
00:13:18.54\00:13:21.96
and go to be
promoted over the trees?
00:13:21.99\00:13:24.40
Then said all the trees unto the
bramble, Come thou, and reign
00:13:24.43\00:13:29.61
over us. And the
Bramble said unto the trees,
00:13:29.64\00:13:32.62
If in truth ye anoint me
king over you, then come and put
00:13:32.65\00:13:36.56
your trust in my shadow:
and if not, let fire come out of
00:13:36.59\00:13:40.11
the bramble, and
devour the cedars of Lebanon.
00:13:40.14\00:13:43.05
Now therefore, if ye have done
truly and sincerely, in that
00:13:43.08\00:13:48.47
have made Abimelech king,
and if ye have dealt well with
00:13:48.50\00:13:53.50
Jerub-baal and his house,
and have done unto him according
00:13:53.53\00:13:56.45
to the deserving of his hands;
For My father fought for you,
00:13:56.48\00:13:59.73
and adventured his life far, and
delivered you out of the hand of
00:13:59.76\00:14:03.36
Midian: And ye are risen
up against my father's house
00:14:03.39\00:14:06.95
this day, and have slain his
sons, threescore and ten persons
00:14:06.98\00:14:10.72
upon one stone, and have
made Abimelech, the son of his
00:14:10.75\00:14:14.07
maidservant, king over
the men of Shechem, because he
00:14:14.10\00:14:16.53
is your brother; If ye then
have dealt truly and sincerely
00:14:16.56\00:14:20.41
with Jerub-baal and
with his house this day,
00:14:20.44\00:14:22.41
then rejoice ye in Abimelech,
and let him also rejoice in you:
00:14:22.44\00:14:28.09
Thank you for joining
me today. Until next time,
00:14:28.12\00:14:31.22
may God keep us
all in His hands.
00:14:31.26\00:14:33.07