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: Wednesday, April 02, 2025
Chapters: Judges 8-9
Message: Judges: Gideon’s Wicked Son
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of Judges we learn that when one of God’s people suffer they all suffer, God is the authority over them, and the wicked will never get away with the evil they have done to His people, [Matthew 18:4-6 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.]
Yesterday, we learned about Gideon and the three hundred men who had watched thousands of Midianites who got spooked so bad that they began killing themselves under the hand of God. Today we learn that the battle was not over, many of the Midianites scattered, including the two kings and now they were in hot pursuit of them. Gideon sent messages to the other nine thousand and seven hundred that did not get chosen to join in the battle, which they did gladly. However, the hot headed men of Ephraim began fighting with them because they were not called to the battle.
[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.]
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. 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, [Romans 12:5-8 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.]
Now after all that Gideon and the three hundred men continued on in search of the kings, but they were worn out and needed food and water. However, 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.]
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.
[Judges 8:12,15-17,21 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. 15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. 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.]
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 honor God He will in turn honor and respect us, [1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:]
If we let pride over to the point that we are giving ourselves the glory for our success that is when we would 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 8:22-24,27 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.) 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.]
Gideon reminded them that God was their ruler. We may have governors, congressmen, and presidents ruling over our land, but it is God who ought to be ruling over us. one may think that it is the governments duty to provide for and protect its people, but it is not. While we are to obey the law of the land we are not to compromise our faith over a law that interferes with God’s rule, [Hebrews 13:16-17 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.]
We are surrounded by evil, not only by what the devil and his minions attempt upon us but by our enemies as well. What we may think are hardships God sees as opportunities because He wants us to put our trust in Him, and not our government, He is going to prove us a little bit. Except for the golden ephod that he had made, which caused a heap of problems, Gideon was humble and his faith and actions actually led Israel to be in peace for forty years. That was all about to change when he died.
[Judges 8:28-31,33-34 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. 29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:]
Why are people so quick to turn on God the second the Godly influence passed away? The truth is, they never had a sure foundation to stand on. Jesus, calls them out for who they are, faithless souls that only come to be fed. They have no faith in God, but they see the blessings that come from those who do have faith in Him, [Mark 7:6-8 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.]
This is where it was really becoming apparent that the people of Israel did not care to have God rule over them, they wanted a king but only one that would benefit them. The world does not want what God has to feed them because what they want is a leader who feeds their lust, and they will forsake God in a heartbeat to have their lusts fed. And now we come to the sad event in which Abimelech killed all his half-brothers.
[Judges 9:1-2,4-5 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, 2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. 4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. 5 And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.]
The wicked may think that they have everything under control but God is always one step ahead of them. This sounds a lot like these crooked politicians in office today, they may not be physically killing their opponents but they are killing their good name. And they do get away with it for a little while until someone stands up to them, which is is what Jotham did.
[Judges 9:16-17,19-20 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; 17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.]
Jotham wanted to let them know that if they were sincere in the reason behind killing his brothers, then they would be justified, but if they were not, then they would answer to God. This is kind of like being innocent until proven guilty, even if the person was guilty, they were still presumed innocent until proven guilty by the law. Well, regardless of whether or not we accept it the law is God and it might have taken three years but God was about to get vengeance on Abimelech and the men of Shechem for the death of Gideon’s sons, and God was going to use the devil on this one to do it.
[Judges 9:23-24,52-53,56 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull. 56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:]
It is instances like this that God keeps Satan alive, He will use him to send judgment on the wicked. The word rendered means returned or to paid back, God has not forgotten what Satan did and when the time is right God will render to Satan and all his minions along with all who reject Him hell and the lake of fire for what he did to mankind, [Revelation 20:10-11,13-15 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.]
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, It truly is amazing that You have not sent Your Son already as the world is becoming so dark and wicked. However, You are patient in that not one soul who believes in Your Son should perish, and until that time You have Your faithful witnesses here to keep spreading the Gospel. Lord, You know that there is evil all around us, and that Your people are being persecuted more than ever, we are tired, faint, and worn out, but we keep going, pursuing the enemy so that we can lead as many as we can to Your Son. Lead us and guide us, put Your hedge of protection around us, give us Your strength to stand by our faith, and let us boldly proclaim Christ, and not be intimidated by the evil out to stop us. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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