“ The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” 5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.” Judges 7:2-8 NIV
Lord our Saviour,
Twenty two thousand men were honest and not up for a fight. I cannot judge them, to be truthful I think I would have been in their number. Honesty is best. You, God know anyway.
Seven hundred were head down slurpers and three hundred kept alert and looking about as they drank. Who knows which I would have done as I would have gone home already. The three hundred must have had a few concerns, for one they had to carry all the provisions themselves and were outnumbered. And we read later in the story they needed to take everything, lights, jars, trumpets and all!
You showed young Gideon from the smallest tribe of Benjamin that even in war You only need the few with faith to follow and obey Your leading God and the war is won. This must encourage us in prayer warfare, battling the tide of world opinion against Christian faith and standing for holy clean living. Whatever we consider we might have done if part of Gideon’s Army, help us remember You are our God. Help us to be brave, stay true and trust You to see us through trouble, trauma even war. And we are on the winning side – death has been vanquished. Not by us but by You through Your Son. Hallelujah.
Worship Tuesday 8th April 2025
In His strength . . . not our own
I’ll go in the strength of the Lord,
in paths he has marked for my feet:
I’ll follow the light of his word,
nor shrink from the dangers I meet.
His presence my steps shall attend,
his fullness my wants shall supply;
on him, till my journey shall end,
my unwavering faith will rely.
I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go in the strength,
I’ll go in the strength of the Lord.
I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go in the strength,
I’ll go in the strength of the Lord.
I’ll go in the strength of the Lord,
to work he appoints me to do;
in joy which his smile doth afford
my soul shall its vigor renew.
His wisdom shall guard me from harm,
his power my sufficiency prove;
I’ll trust his omnipotent arm,
and prove his unchangeable love.
I’ll go in the strength of the Lord,
to conflicts which faith will require;
his grace, as my shield and reward,
my courage and zeal shall inspire.
Since he gives the word of command
to meet and encounter the foe,
with his sword of truth in my hand
to suffer and triumph I’ll go.
Lyrics: Edward Turney