King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, April 02, 2024
Chapters: Judges Chapters 8-9
Message: Grace to The Humble
Hello My Friend,
I literally starred at the computer screen for thirty minutes trying to write one paragraph this morning, I knew what God wanted me to say, but the words were not coming out. Of course, it did not help that I was thinking about work, my husband, family, and several other things all at the same time. Well, here it goes, next to pride, envy is perhaps the biggest downfall of a Christian, yes, even among brothers and sisters in Christ there is much envy. And as I read the chapters for today, this passage came to mind.
[James 4:1-3,5-6 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.]
Think about it, how may things do we personally ask God for that what we desire as opposed to what we have need of. Jesus, said it like this, [Mark 11:23-24 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.]
Yesterday, we read about Gideon and the three hundred men who had defeated thousands of Midianites under the hand of God. The battle was not over as many of the Midianites scattered, including the two kings and princes. As Gideon and his army were in hot pursuit of them, he sent messages to the other nine thousand and seven hundred to join in the battle, which they did gladly.
[Judges 7:23-25 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.]
[Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together,] As we continue in the reading of Judges, it turns our that these men were quite offended that they were not a part of the battle to begin with and nearly started a civil war, [Judges 8:1-3 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. 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? 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.]
[the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?] In other words, Gideon, was asking them why they were so angry that he and three hundred had defeated a few soldiers when God had delivered the princes to them. When you stop to think about it, God, had the perfect plan, by His sending these men away first they would be able to continue where the others left off, just like a relay race when the torch is passed to the next runner. This is a perfect example of the body of Christ, we are all in this together, no one is better than anyone else, we all serve a purpose and God will use us as He sees fit, He will also give us the rest we need so that we do not become weary, [Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.]
The men were not really angry with him because they were not a part of the battle, they were actually envious of them and that was the reason for their complaint. Gideon, could have fought with them, but he humbles himself, reminding them that they had done far more than his people did. Well, Gideon, continued on in search of the kings, but the men were worn out, they needed food and water. Needless to say, the people of the land did not take too kindly to their pursuing after the kings and refused to help them.
[Judges 8:5-9 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. 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? 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. 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. 9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.]
[Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand,] This was like saying, “Art you so foolish to think with three hundred faint and weary soldiers, that you would be able to conquer and destroy the kings and their army?” Gideon, knew that God would be the one to deliver these kings into their hands, and when he did, he was coming back with a vengeance. And Gideon did too, he not only captured the kings, he brought them back with him to both of these towns, proving to them that it was God who gave them the victory. He actually tried to get one of his sons to execute them, but he was too scared to do it.
[Judges 8:18-21 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. 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. 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. 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.]
[Rise thou, and fall upon us:] These men knew that they were going to die, but rather have some armature kid tarnish their image, they rather be executed by the man who was able to lead an army of three hundred men to kill a hundred and twenty thousand of their men. Pride and honor can go both ways, while we do need to take some pride in what we do it is all done to honor God and when we do, then God will honor and respect us, []
If we let pride overtake us to the point that we are giving ourselves the glory for our success, that is when we would become haughty in our spirit and risk losing everything. Now, Israel desperately wanted a king to rule over them, so, when Gideon led his army of three hundred men to victory, they urged him to become their king.
[Judges 8:22-25,27 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. 24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. 27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.]
[the LORD shall rule over you.]
[And Gideon made an ephod thereof,]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Judges 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.]
Today’s Prayer:
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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