Judges 7:18-8:3
Gideon’s men were not to run ahead of him, nor to lag behind. We are in danger of extremes in either one way or another, and extremes are always dangerous. There is no substitute for divine guidance, and we can only have this guidance as we walk in communion with the Lord.
When the appointed moment came, Gideon told his men they were to stand in their places around the camp of the Midianites, and when he blew his trumpet they were all to blow too. They were then to break their pitchers so that the lights in them would shine out, while they cried, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.” The blowing of the trumpets would, I believe, figure to us a clear and definite confession of Christ, and this is most important. Dear young reader, if you are starting a new school, or a new place of employment, be sure to start by “blowing your trumpet” and letting it be known that you belong to the Lord. There will never be any clear testimony for Christ, or effectual shining for Him in our lives, unless we confess His precious Name before men.
After this came the breaking of the pitchers, as we have noticed. This shows the necessity of self being kept in the place of death. “Our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6. It is most needful that the old nature, with its old sinful desires, be kept in the place where God has put it, crucified—dead with Christ. It is this “breaking of the pitchers” that is referred to in 2 Corinthians 4:9, 10. If we do not do it ourselves, then the Lord must do it for us in His goverent, for “the life of Jesus” will not be manifested in our lives, unless self is kept in the place of death. The “pitcher” must be broken.
Then the cry “the sword of the Lord, and of Gideon,” acknowledged that victory was of the Lord. He alone can grant it, and yet He uses us in our weakness, if our eyes are upon Him and we give the glory to Him.
And so here the victory was complete. The whole host ran, and cried, and fled, even before Gideon’s sword was lifted. The Lord caused every man’s sword to be against his fellow, and the Midianites were put to utter confusion. The men of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh pursued after the Midianites also, and the men of mount Ephraim came out and took the waters to Bethbarah and Jordan, cutting off their retreat. There they killed Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of the Midianites.
But, alas, jealousy came in, as it so often does! There is nothing that causes such weakness among the people of God as jealousy, and what “roots of bitterness” can spring up from these things. May the Lord help us to judge these feelings in their very beginnings, for they are straight from the enemy to hinder the work of God. Gideon realized this at once, and with what wisdom and grace he handled the situation. When the men of Ephraim chided sharply with Gideon for not having called them to fight at the first, he spoke of how God had delivered Oreb and Zeeb into their hands, adding so graciously, “What was I able to do in comparison of you?” This caused their anger to be abated. They had not been concerned at all about fighting with the Midianites until Gideon started, but now they sought that which they could do to be recognized.
ML 10/11/1953