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GIDEON:  A JUDGE AND A MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR

 

The Procurement of Victory

Judges 8:10-12

Lesson #16

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Gideon’s army had been rejected by Succoth and Penuel.

 

B.      Gideon’s three hundred continued the pursuit of the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, even though they were weary and faint.

 

C.     Gideon moved his men forward under the promise of victory from God. 

1.       Regardless of how difficult the task became, Gideon would be victorious over the Midianites because God had spoken.

2.       LESSON:  The ability to endure is the key to success in many endeavors in life.

a.       Mark 13:13

 

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake; but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 

b.      James 1:12

 

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:  for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

 

I.                    THE RETREAT ZEBAH AND ZALMUNNA (Judges 8:10)

 

A.     The Station of the Kings (Jud. 8:10a)

 

Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them…

 

1.       The site of Karkor is unknown.

2.       It is near Nobah, in the half-tribe of Manasseh, and Jogbehah in the tribe of Gad.

 

B.      The Soldiers Who were Left (Jud. 8:10b)

 

…about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east.

 

1.       Midian still had a sizeable force of 15,000 men.

2.       Gideon only had three hundred in pursuit.  This would be one man to every 500 men of the Midianites.

3.       If Midian was still this large, why would they be fleeing? 

 

C.     The Sum of Those Who Had Fallen (Jud. 8:10c)

 

…for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew the sword.

 

1.       The Midianites had already lost 120,000 men in battle.

2.       Almost 90% of their army had been destroyed by Gideon. 

3.       Even though they were small, they were a powerful fighting force.

4.       LESSON:  When God is fighting for us, the size of the opposition does not matter.  Too, when God is fighting for us, our size does not matter

a.       Deuteronomy 32:30-31

 

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?  For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

 

b.      1 Samuel. 14:6

 

And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised:  it may be that the Lord will work for us:  for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.

 

II.                 THE RUIN OF THE MIDIANITES (Judges 8:11)

 

A.     The Steps Taken by Gideon (Jud. 8:11a)

 

And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobath and Jogbehah…

Lesson 12 Judges 8 & 9. Gideon Kills other Midianite Leaders Judg. 8:4-21  When Gideon and his men came to Jordan they were exhusted They came to  Succoth. - ppt download

 

1.       The Transjordan River region was a good land for herdsmen.

2.       These herdsmen who dwelled in tents made numerous roads throughout the land.

3.       Gideon took one of the herdmen’s roads as he pursued the Midianites.

 

B.      The Securing of the Host (Jud. 8:11b).

 

…and smote the host:  for the host was secure.

 

1.       The Midianites thought they were secure at Karkor. 

a.       Perhaps they thought that they had fled far enough from the Israelites to be safe. 

b.      They may have made camp and were resting from the battle that had been fought.

2.       It was then that Gideon “smote the host.”

a.       This appears to have been another surprise attack by Gideon.

b.      Smote:

1)      Strong (5221):  to strike

2)      BDB:  to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill

3.       God continued to fulfill His promise to Gideon. 

a.       “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites” (Jud. 6:14).

b.      “Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite Midian as one man” (Jgs. 6:16).

c.       “By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand…” (Jgs. 7:7).

 

III.              THE RETENTION OF THE TWO KINGS (Judges 8:12)

 

A.     The Seizing of Zeba and Zalmunna (Jud. 8:12a)

 

And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna..

 

1.       The two kings of Midian fled for their lives.

2.       It did not take long for Gideon’s army to seize these two men.

3.       Once the kings of an empire are taken captive, the battle is basically won.

 

B.      The Shuttering of the Host (Jud. 8:12b)

 

…and discomfited the host.

 

1.       Some of the host would have been with the kings as they sought to escape.

2.       All who were with them were discomfited

a.       Strong (2729):  to shake, tremble, quake, to hasten with anxiety, be afraid

b.      BDB:  To be terrified, to go with trembling, to drive in terror, to rout an army

3.       God’s promise was now completely fulfilled. 

a.       Gideon trusted God.

b.      Victory was given to him because of that trust

1)      Psalm 84:12

 

O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

 

2)      Proverbs 28:26

 

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool:  but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

 

3)      1 John 5:4

 

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     It would have been wonderful if Gideon could have immediately returned home for some much needed rest and family time after this victory.

 

B.      This did not happen immediately.  He has some unfinished business that he needs to take care of.