Jdg 8:1-21 – Gideon and the Three Hundred Men with Him Were Fainting but yet Pursuing

[Study Aired April 19, 2021]

Jdg 8:1  And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. 
Jdg 8:2  And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 
Jdg 8:3  God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. 
Jdg 8:4  And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. 
Jdg 8:5  And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. 
Jdg 8:6  And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? 
Jdg 8:7  And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. 
Jdg 8:8  And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. 
Jdg 8:9  And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. 
Jdg 8:10  Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. 
Jdg 8:11  And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. 
Jdg 8:12  And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. 
Jdg 8:13  And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, 
Jdg 8:14  And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 
Jdg 8:15  And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 
Jdg 8:16  And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 
Jdg 8:17  And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. 
Jdg 8:18  Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. 
Jdg 8:19  And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. 
Jdg 8:20  And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 
Jdg 8:21  Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks. 

In chapter 7 of Judges, we saw the victory of Gideon and his men over the Midianites. In this victory, Gideon and his men did not do any fighting. They just stood still at the outskirts of the camp of the Midianites and blew trumpets and broke the earthen jars with lamps in them. This is to let us know that our victory is dependent on what God does and not what we do. In spite of this victory, some of the enemies slipped away, and so there was the need to pursue them so that nothing that breathes survives. In our struggle to have our heavens cleansed, we have to depend on God to thoroughly dismantle everything that breathes.  Any inclination to resist the cleansing of all that offends in our heavens will come to haunt us later in our walk with Christ and may derail our goal of receiving the reward.

Deu 20:16  But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

The first part of chapter 8 under review is about how the slippery enemies were captured and put to death by Gideon and his three hundred men.

Jdg 8:1  And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. 

The men of Ephraim accused Gideon fiercely for not involving them at the very onset of the war with the Midianites. In other words, the men of Ephraim were accusing Gideon of thinking he could take on the Midianites alone. That is another way of saying that Gideon was lifting himself above the congregation of God just like the accusation levelled against Moses by Korah and the two hundred and fifty princes of the people of Israel.

Looking at this accusation from the surface, it makes sense that Gideon should have involved them earlier, but God sees the intent of the heart and therefore did not allow Gideon to bring them on board. In another similar situation, Aaron and Miriam also accused Moses of thinking that the Lord only speaks through him. Within us, the old man, powered by the devil without, sometimes accuses us as follows: “Do you think you are an overcomer? Do you think you are better than the other people of God and that God speaks through you? You fall far short of the apostle Paul and the others who served God, so stop wasting your time in thinking you can take on the beast.” Such accusations from within can be very depressing, and if not countered with the word of God, we find ourselves disillusioned, thinking we cannot achieve such high standards required by God. However, my brothers and sisters, all the overcomers ahead of us had weaknesses just like us.  They trod where we are treading.  Therefore let us not lose our confidence which has a great reward. Such accusations at least suggest that we are doing something right!!

Outwardly, such rebellion or accusations are common in our gatherings, but this is all of the Lord so that those who are approved may be manifested among us.

Num 16:1  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Num 16:2  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
Num 16:4  And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

Num 12:2  And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

Heb 10:35  Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 

1Co 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Jdg 8:2  And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
Jdg 8:3  God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. 

As God’s elect, we must always pursue the way of peace by considering others better than ourselves. In saying that what they (Gideon and his men) achieved was small in comparison with what the men of Ephraim did is another way of saying that we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to and that God has given us different gifts according to His own purpose.

Rom 12:3  For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Rom 12:4  For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
Rom 12:5  so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Rom 12:6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
Rom 12:7  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
Rom 12:8  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Jdg 8:4  And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. 

This verse is to make us aware that we should be relentless in our pursuit to get rid of the enemies within. We should not allow anything that has breath to remain in our heavens.

Deu 20:16  But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

What we need to notice here in this verse is that Gideon and his men were pursuing the enemies even though they were weary. One of the effects of the challenges we face in this live is that we get weary, and therefore we need the nourishment of the Lord to sustain us. Apart from battles we engage in which sap our energy, we also suffer wear and tear from the tribulations we go through in this life as Jesus plainly told us that in this world we will have tribulations. What nourishes us is the word of God.  That is why we are admonished to come together regularly to charge our batteries with the word of God.

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

This search for nourishment is what led Gideon and his men to encounter the men of Succoth as follows:

Jdg 8:5  And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. 
Jdg 8:6  And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? 

As we can see, what we need to nourish us in this life is the word of God as represented by loaves of bread requested by Gideon. According to Strong, Succoth means booths. The word booth means a small temporary tent. Our bodies of flesh represent this temporary tent or booth. So the men of Succoth stands for people of this world who are not called or chosen. The people of this world do not see us as saviors of the world now as we have not been perfected yet.  As this story suggests, there are still pockets of resistance by the enemies within us (signified by Zebah and Zalmunna) that we need to overcome before we are perfected.

According to verse 6, the people of Succoth refused to assist Gideon and his men simply because they do not see them as overcomers as long as Zebah and Zalmunna have not been captured.

As you are aware, creation (the whole world) is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God who will be the instruments God will use to deliver them from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  However, the people of the world do not even know that what they are looking for are the sons of God, the elect. The fact that creation is still longing for the sons of God to be revealed means that our brothers and sisters in Babylon (the church system of this world), who parade themselves now as sons of God, are NOT!!  Since the world, represented by men of Succoth, does not see us as overcomers, it is beyond their imagination to even consider us as those they are waiting for to be manifested as sons of God.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Jdg 8:7  And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. 

Gideon’s response to the men of Succoth is very insightful. In other words, what Gideon is basically saying is that the dying of the old man, represented by Zebah and Zalmunna, is a prerequisite to being manifested as sons of God in the first resurrection. That is when we will sit in judgment to judge the people of the world (tear their flesh) to correct them using their sins and their false doctrines (thorns and briars).  We know from scriptures that what will be is what has been. When the Lord glorified Joseph, a type of the elect, Joseph used his brothers’ false doctrine of “hell” to torment and correct them until the death of their father, Jacob. What happened to Joseph’s brothers is what will happen to the people of the world.

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 

Gen 42:21  And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
Gen 42:22  And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

Jdg 8:8  And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. 
Jdg 8:9  And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. 

After Gideon and his men were refused any assistance from the men of Succoth, they went to Penuel. According to Strong, Penuel means ‘face of God’. So what this means is that Gideon and his men, after being rejected by the world, went to those who seek the face of God, that is Babylon (the church system of this world), to request assistance, and they were also refused. This is also to make us aware that the church system of this world does not also recognize us as overcomers. However, in the fullness of time, when our obedience becomes complete, that is when they will see the true sons of God manifested for their salvation.

In verse 9, Gideon said that when he comes in peace, he will break down their tower. Coming in peace here means being manifested as sons of God. Breaking down their tower is destroying their false doctrines or the idols of their hearts which block out the light of the glorious gospel of Christ. So verse 9 means that we will be used by the Lord to destroy the idols of the heart of Babylon.

2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

Jdg 8:10  Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. 

According to Strong, Zebah means ‘sacrifice’ and Zalmunna means ‘shade has been denied’. The place these enemies were stationed was called Karkor which means ‘foundation’. Now, there were fifteen thousand men who were with Zebah and Zalmunna. The number fifteen thousand is 15x10x10x10. The first time the number fifteen was used in the word of God was during the flood that swept away the people living on the earth with the exception of Noah and his family. The depth of the water was 15 cubits upwards. This water is the water of death, and therefore the number fifteen represents the false doctrines in the heavens of our flesh. So putting verse 10 together with verse 9, what is being said here is that the foundation or the basis (Karkor) of being an overcomer is to sacrifice or burn out (Zebah) these false doctrines (fifteen thousand men) or the shade that has been denied (Zalmunna) from our heavens.

Gen 7:20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

The latter part of verse 10 says that a hundred and twenty thousand men of the Midianites that drew sword were already dead. In this case, the drawing of sword by these men represents a negative application of the use of the word ‘sword’. In other words, the swords of these men symbolize false doctrines which mitigates against the true word of God. This confirms the fact that the fifteen thousand men left also represent false doctrines. This verse is to affirm that our victory over the old man is achieved little by little and not all at once less we become prone to deception again.

Exo 23:29  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.
Exo 23:30  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

Jdg 8:11  And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. 

Here Gideon went by the way of them that dwell in tents as he and his men were preparing to wage war against the Midanities. So what does it mean to go by the way of them that dwell in tents? The answer is in Hebrews 11:8-10 as follows:

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Heb 11:9  By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
Heb 11:10  For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. (ESV)

So from these verses we see that going by way of them that dwell in tents means walking by faith. The only way we can win this battle against the old man is if we walk by faith. When God called Abraham, he did not know how things will turn out, and it was faith which carried him through. ‘For without faith, it is impossible to please God for whoever comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of them that seek him diligently.’ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and became the father of many nations. In a similar pattern, against all the hopeless situations we are encountering, let us believe that our God will see us through to inherit the promise of the purchased possession.

Rom 4:18  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Rom 4:19  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
Rom 4:20  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Rom 4:21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

We need to know that it is not how we can conjure ourselves to believe. We used to do that in times past, but through the scriptures, we have come to know that even this faith is of the Lord and not us. We do not need to believe big things to demonstrate our faith. Jesus said that if our faith is like a mustard seed (one of the tiniest of seed) we can move mountains. That means we can achieve the impossible with the little faith God has given to us!! If we cannot believe God that He will take care of us on a daily basis (that means the things that we see), then we cannot have faith to believe in inheriting the promise (that means things not seen) of overcoming the old man or the flesh!! So let’s not look at ourselves and ask, “Where can we get the faith to believe like Abraham?” That is equivalent to asking, “Who shall ascend into heaven to bring down Christ?” That faith we need is right within each of us!!

Rom 10:6  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above🙂
Rom 10:7  Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Jdg 8:12  And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. 

As indicated earlier, we need to continually ask God to destroy everything within us that offends or breathes. That is what it means for Gideon and his men to continue the pursuit of the Midianites, represented here by their two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. The reason we are not to allow any pocket of sin in our lives is that it will be like leaven that will leaven us to go after another Jesus and so sin against our God.

Deu 20:16  But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: 
Deu 20:17  But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: 
Deu 20:18  That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

Jdg 8:13  And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,

Gideon returning from the battle victorious before the sun was up means that we must put to death the old man before the new man after the image of Christ (He is the sun) is birthed in our lives. Outwardly, this verse is assuring us that our victory over the flesh will be completed before our Lord Jesus (representing the sun) comes in His glory to make the kingdoms of this world to be the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, the elect. We will not be left as half-baked believers.

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Jdg 8:14  And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 

To understand who this young man represents, let’s look at two instances in the word of God where God used young men to send messages to His elect. Let’s start with David as follows:

2Sa 1:1  Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2Sa 1:2  It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

2Sa 1:4  And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

2Sa 1:13  And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

In this case, God used an enemy (an Amalekite) of David to let him know of the death of Saul. There is another witness where God used another young man to let Moses know that he is not alone but that He has other messengers in the camp.

Num 11:27  And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 
Num 11:28  And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 
Num 11:29  And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! 

So a young man represents those who might not necessarily be believers who convey God’s message to His elect. In our lives, we have encountered many people who did not know the Lord but spoke to us in a way that echoes the direction God wanted us to take at that time. From hindsight, we can clearly see the hand of God in what they said to us. In the case of Gideon, what is significant about what the young man told him? The young man gave Gideon the description, the list and the number of the princes in Succoth, which was 77. To understand what this number represents, let’s observe what Jesus told Peter about forgiveness.

Mat 18:21  Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Mat 18:22  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. (ESV)

From this dialogue we can see that the number 77 and multiples of it represent forgiveness. So what the young man was telling Gideon was that even though the princes of Succoth were mean to Gideon and his men, Gideon, representing the elect, must forgive them. In other words, the elect should be merciful to all men as a result of the mercy we have received from God. For our God desires mercy, not sacrifice, and mercy triumphs over judgment.

Hos 6:6  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Jas 2:12  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
Jas 2:13  For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Jdg 8:15  And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 
Jdg 8:16  And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 
Jdg 8:17  And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. 

Verse 16 indicates that when we are manifested as overcomers, we will judge the world as Gideon judged the princes of the city of Succoth. The thorns and briars symbolize the false doctrines in the mind of people of the world which prevents them from the glorious light of the gospel of Christ and as a result, they sin against God. So their own sins (their false doctrines) will be used to correct them. As indicated earlier, Joseph used the false doctrine in the mind of his brothers to judge them.

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

As shown earlier, the people of Penuel represent the Babylonian system. The tower of the Babylonian system is their false doctrines which will be destroyed from their heavens in the lake of fire age.

Jdg 8:18  Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.

Verse 18 is to show us that we, the elect, are no different from anybody else. It is just by the mercies of God that we were penciled to become overcomers before the foundation of the world. So we can say that Zebah and Zalmunna represent the beast within every human being born of a woman whose agenda is to render us spiritually dead, that is slay us. In the case of the elect, God ensures that in their lives here on earth, they come to see that they themselves are beasts, but for the others, they will see this beast later.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

The fact that Zebah and Zalmunna’s victims resemble children of a king means that unless we test the spirit to see if they are of God, we will end up being victims of Zebah and Zalmunna as many parade as children of a king when indeed they are false prophets.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Jdg 8:19  And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. 

In verse 19, we are given the reason why we should be relentless in defeating the Midianites of our lives, as their victims are all spiritually dead. Gideon told Zebah and Zalmunna that if their victims are alive, then there is no need for any war, but because all their victims are spiritually dead, we need to destroy them from our lives, otherwise we will end up becoming their victims.

Jdg 8:20  And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 

As explained in this verse, Jether’s inability to slay Zebah and Zalmunna, who represent higher principalities in our heavens, was because he was still young. Being young spiritually is not about age but depends on the level of maturity we exhibit in handling the word of God. As we start this journey out of Babylon, we are classified as youth in the handling of the word of God as shown by Jether’s inability to draw his sword. Being unable to draw a sword is the same as being incapable of testing the spirit to see if it is of the Lord.

Verse 20 also tells us about another characteristic of being youthful in the things of God – the fear factor. Jether was afraid of Zebah and Zalmunna. Nevertheless, the word of God says that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. As we look at the world today, everything looks gloomy. Economies are crumbling, social structure is disintegrating in the name of greed, racism, hate crimes, etc. Many of us are therefore fearful of what is going to happen to us, our children and grandchildren. But wait a minute!! Do we have to fear what is going to happen to planet earth? No!! As God’s elect, we need not fear because God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Psa 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 
Psa 46:2  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psa 46:3  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 
Psa 46:4  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

In Psalm 46, one of the reasons we are not to fear is that there is a river where the streams thereof make glad the city of God. This river is of course the word of God which makes people who belong to the city of God or the New Jerusalem (the elect) glad!! As long as our eyes are seeing and our ears are hearing, we are swimming in this river which will lead us to the New Jerusalem!!

Psa 27:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 
Psa 27:2  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 
Psa 27:3  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 
Psa 27:4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
Psa 27:5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

The Psalmist says that one thing he desired of the Lord is to dwell in the house of the Lord. To dwell in the house of the Lord is being in Him, and when we are in Him, He is also in us. So what we must desire above all else in these fearful times is for our Lord to make His habitation in us.  That is the antidote to our fears as the Psalmist suggests.

Jdg 8:21  Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks. 

Finally, Zebah and Zalmunna were put to death by the sword of Gideon. This is to assure us that what our Lord starts, He is able to finish!!  Again, our Lord will not leave us as half-baked elect. He will bring us to maturity in the fullness of time!

We need to take note of what Gideon did after slaying the kings.  He removed the ornaments on their camels’ necks. These ornaments are gold, as shown in verse 26.

Jdg 8:26  And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels’ necks.

On a positive note, the removing of the ornaments of gold from their camels’ necks is another way of saying that the little knowledge of the truth (gold ornaments) with which God has endowed the church shall be taken away from them and given to the elect.

Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

On a negative note, the removing of ornaments of gold from their camels’ necks signifies our covetousness of worldly mammon which makes us think that gain is godliness. We will delve into this aspect next week as we look at the second half of Judges 8.

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.