Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
6:23-24 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
In the midst of conflict Gideon built an altar called, the Lord is Peace. At this point Gideon had not defeated the enemy. Yet he had an encounter with God that taught him regardless of his circumstances the Lord is Peace.
6:23-24 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
In the midst of conflict Gideon built an altar called, the Lord is Peace. At this point Gideon had not defeated the enemy. Yet he had an encounter with God that taught him regardless of his circumstances the Lord is Peace.
7:2 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.’
As far as God was concerned the deliverance was a foregone conclusion but the process was the important thing. The process was designed to teach the Israelites and Gideon to trust.
7:2 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.’
As far as God was concerned the deliverance was a foregone conclusion but the process was the important thing. The process was designed to teach the Israelites and Gideon to trust.
8:23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”
However when we look at Gideon's actions we see him acting like a king. He became very prosperous and married many wives etc. He even created an idol (v.27).
His words did not align with his actions and in the end his actions spoke louder than his words.
8:23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”
However when we look at Gideon's actions we see him acting like a king. He became very prosperous and married many wives etc. He even created an idol (v.27).
His words did not align with his actions and in the end his actions spoke louder than his words.
9:2 “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
Gideon had said, "nor will my son rule over you" (8:23) but such was the bad example Gideon left Abimelek that he took it upon himself to be a self-appointed king who killed all his rivals.
Our actions, more than our words, will influence future generations.
9:2 “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
Gideon had said, "nor will my son rule over you" (8:23) but such was the bad example Gideon left Abimelek that he took it upon himself to be a self-appointed king who killed all his rivals.
Our actions, more than our words, will influence future generations.
10:6-7 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.
The Israelites reach a new low. Not only do they worship other gods but they stop worshipping the one true God who gave them a land of their own.
They wanted gods who would serve them – fertility gods and weather gods who would give them abundant crops etc. Some gods who would make their lives comfortable.
But these gods cannot produce. The Lord is our true Source. He is all we need.
10:6-7 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.
The Israelites reach a new low. Not only do they worship other gods but they stop worshipping the one true God who gave them a land of their own.
They wanted gods who would serve them – fertility gods and weather gods who would give them abundant crops etc. Some gods who would make their lives comfortable.
But these gods cannot produce. The Lord is our true Source. He is all we need.