WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.839 Welcome to another recording from Epicaloo Free Church as we continue to look together 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:17.080 at the life of Gideon. We'll shortly read from Judges 7 but by way of preparing us for that 00:00:17.080 --> 00:00:25.859 let's read together from 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and at verse 18 and we'll return to this theme 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:31.699 towards the end of our time looking at Judges 7. So 1 Corinthians 1 at verse 18, for the message of 00:00:31.699 --> 00:00:38.159 the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved is the power of God 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:45.539 for it is written I will destroy the wisdom of the wise the intelligence of the intelligent I will 00:00:45.539 --> 00:00:51.859 frustrate where is the wise person where is the teacher of the law where is the philosopher of 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:58.399 this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:04.560 through its wisdom did not know him God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:11.599 save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom but we preach Christ crucified 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:16.980 a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles but to those whom God has called 00:01:16.980 --> 00:01:25.320 both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God for the foolishness of God is 00:01:25.320 --> 00:01:33.879 wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Let's pray together 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:36.760 briefly as we begin our time together. Let's pray. 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:49.340 Lord our God we give you praise for the message of the cross recognizing that it is the power of God 00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:57.700 that the Lord Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Now we thank you that in your 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:06.740 eternal plan the cross is your way to save sinners by grace so that you receive 00:02:06.739 --> 00:02:16.840 all the praise and the glory. Lord we recognize that unless you open our eyes we will only see 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:26.159 foolishness at the cross. It would be a stumbling block to us so impossible to understand 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:36.560 without your spirit giving us eyes of faith to see that in the death of the Lord Jesus there is for 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:48.259 us forgiveness of sin. There is a way to enjoy peace with God, a way to be adopted into the family of God, 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:59.800 to be brought into your kingdom, your church, to have eternal hope and an eternal future, to enjoy every 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:16.800 spiritual blessing. So Lord we pray that you would open all of our eyes and that we would see wonderful glorious 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:24.560 things in your word, that you would open our eyes so that we would see and believe the gospel, that we would 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:31.340 delight in and worship Jesus as Lord. Help us then we pray in Jesus name. Amen. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:39.740 So let's look together at Judges chapter 7 and we'll think about it for a few minutes after that. 00:03:39.740 --> 00:03:52.560 Early in the morning Jerob Baal, that is Gideon, and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. 00:03:53.340 --> 00:04:00.620 The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moray. The Lord said to Gideon, 00:04:00.700 --> 00:04:05.860 you have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands or Israel would boast against me. 00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:13.000 My own strength has saved me. Now announce to the army, anyone who trembles with fear may turn back 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:22.319 and leave Mount Gilead. So 22,000 men left while 10,000 men remained. But the Lord said to Gideon, 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:26.460 there are still too many men. Take them down to the water and I will thin them out for you there. 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:31.319 If I say this one shall go with you, he shall go. But if I say this one shall not go with you, 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:36.779 he shall not go. So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, separate those 00:04:36.779 --> 00:04:41.500 who lapped the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneeled down to drink. 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:48.139 300 of them drank from cupped hands lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. 00:04:48.719 --> 00:04:53.180 The Lord said to Gideon with the 300 men that lapped, I will save you and give the Midianites 00:04:53.180 --> 00:04:58.319 into your hands. Let all the others go home. So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home, 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:03.599 but kept the 300 who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian 00:05:03.599 --> 00:05:08.560 lay below him in the valley. During that night, the Lord said to Gideon, get up, go down against 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:13.779 the camp because I'm going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the 00:05:13.779 --> 00:05:19.459 camp with your servant Pura and listen to what they are saying afterwards. You'll be encouraged to attack 00:05:19.459 --> 00:05:24.779 the camp. So he and Pura, his servant, went down to the outposts of the camp. The Midianites, 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:29.779 the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. 00:05:30.659 --> 00:05:35.939 Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. Gideon arrived just as a man was 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:41.859 telling a friend his dream. I had a dream, he was saying. A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling 00:05:41.859 --> 00:05:46.659 into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed. 00:05:47.379 --> 00:05:51.059 His friend responded, this could be nothing other than the sword of Gideon, son of Joash, 00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:57.519 the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands. When Gideon heard 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:03.319 the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshipped. He returned to the camp of Israel 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:10.319 and called out, get up. The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands. Dividing the 300 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:15.139 men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them with torches 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:21.139 inside. Watch me, he told them, follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 00:06:21.479 --> 00:06:26.399 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all round the camp blow yours and shout 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:31.659 for the Lord and for Gideon. Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the 00:06:31.659 --> 00:06:35.839 beginning of the middle watch, just after they changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:40.759 broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars, 00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:45.300 grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they 00:06:45.300 --> 00:06:51.980 were to blow. They shouted, a sword for the Lord and for Gideon. While each man held his position 00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:59.139 round the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the 300 trumpets sounded, 00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:03.860 the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to 00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:10.279 Bethsheta towards Zerara, as far as the border of Abel-Mehalah near Tamath. Israelites from 00:07:10.279 --> 00:07:15.539 Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out and they pursued the Midianites. Gideon sent messengers 00:07:15.539 --> 00:07:19.799 throughout the whole country of Ephraim saying, come down against the Midianites and seize the 00:07:19.799 --> 00:07:25.679 waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth-barah. So all the men of Ephraim were called out and 00:07:25.679 --> 00:07:31.559 they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah. They also captured two of the Midianite 00:07:31.559 --> 00:07:37.000 leaders, Oreb and Zeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeb at the winepress of Zeb. They pursued 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:42.759 the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:51.220 It's the end of our story. We thank God for his words. Today we're going to think about strength 00:07:51.220 --> 00:07:57.759 made perfect in weakness. Paul's phrase, Paul's testimony, something he'd come to understand 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:11.800 from 2 Corinthians chapter 12. In 2016, Zack Snyder produced the movie 300, which told as a retelling 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:20.879 of the story of the Battle of Thermopylae, that might be how you say it, in 480 BC, in which 300 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:32.879 Spartans fought against Xerxes and a Persian army of some 300,000 troops. And the story of the 300 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:42.340 Spartans is one of legendary bravery, of fighting skill and courage, though ultimately one of glorious 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:52.440 defeat. Here we have our author's account of Gideon's 300. But don't we notice how it's so totally 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:59.560 different to that of the Spartans? Because the emphasis doesn't lie on fighting skill, the emphasis 00:08:59.560 --> 00:09:05.420 lies on weakness. Even as they come to the battle, they're waving a torch, they're waving a sword, but 00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:16.019 they stay on the spot. And God wins a glorious victory, though his people are weak, with just 300 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:25.500 against a vast army. So the question then is, why draw attention? Why celebrate weakness? Why is Judges 7 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:32.919 deliberately drawing attention to this tiny, weak army and the victory that they win? 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:43.979 Well, it serves to teach us the vital lesson that God is a God who has always and will always save his 00:09:43.979 --> 00:09:55.679 people by grace. This battle scene reflects a deeper spiritual reality. That reality anticipated when Jesus 00:09:55.679 --> 00:10:07.819 came. And if we use the battle scene imagery, Jesus comes as our champion. He goes out to fight for us, 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:17.019 for his people, for the church, for those he came to save, against the forces of evil, against Satan and sin 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:25.259 and death. And Jesus enters that battle and he wins the victory that we receive as a gift of God's love. 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:38.639 By trusting in him, by faith in him. And all the way along, our weakness as people, as the church, 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:47.079 becomes a way through which we are enabled to see God's glory and God's grace, God's strength being 00:10:47.079 --> 00:10:53.919 revealed. So that the whole of the Christian life, from beginning to end, from A to Z, is about God's 00:10:53.919 --> 00:11:03.299 grace. We'll come back to that phrase in 2 Corinthians 12 a number of times where Paul says, 00:11:03.459 --> 00:11:12.719 my grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness. 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:20.480 So that hopefully we'll come to see how we need to believe that truth. And then as Christians and 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:29.379 as God's church, we need to live out that truth. To recognise in our weakness that grace and that 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:36.160 strength from God that's available to us. So that we draw comfort and help from him. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:47.659 Let's get to our story then. The first eight verses, it stand to show us that weakness is needed. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:57.019 Look with me at verse 1. Early in the morning, Jeroboam, that's Gideon, and all his men camped at the 00:11:57.019 --> 00:12:04.860 spring. And then you've got the camp of Midian in the valley near to them. And bear in mind the context. 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:11.580 So we've been reminded in Judges 6, for the last seven years, raiders from Midian have been coming 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:16.620 year upon year upon year. They've been taking all the produce, they've been oppressing the people, 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:22.779 they've been spreading fear among God's people. So we would assume naturally 00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:31.820 that Gideon is going to need more men if he is to defeat this powerful enemy, not less. 00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:41.120 But then the twist comes in verse 2, doesn't it? The Lord said to Gideon, you have too many men. 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:49.020 And this is really interesting. Last week we saw God's spirit comes on Gideon. God appoints Gideon 00:12:49.020 --> 00:12:56.600 to be a deliverer. He rallies the troops. The troops are ready to go into battle. But then God says there's 00:12:56.600 --> 00:13:03.159 too many men. And why is that? We're told in verse 2, look there with me, 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:09.019 I cannot deliver Midian into their hands or Israel would boast against me, my own strength has saved me. 00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:16.100 Turns out there's a greater danger even than the might of Midian. And it's the danger of spiritual pride. 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:26.320 Here God is reminding us that someone is always going to get praise. It will either be God or it will be us. 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:32.480 Someone will always receive honour. It will either be God or it will be us. And the temptation 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:40.960 that's being addressed here is the temptation to rob from God, to take the credit from him that he deserves, 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:48.420 to deny God his place as king over all and the one who gives every good gift and the one who gives salvation. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:59.900 The temptation is towards self-reliance and then boasting and not humility and being so thankful for God's grace. 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:08.659 And so God is identifying a problem area in Gideon's day. 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:14.459 And actually if we think just a bit broader, chapters 6 and 7 have been identifying for us sins and temptations 00:14:14.459 --> 00:14:18.179 for God's people in every age, not just for Gideon in his day, but for us today. 00:14:18.959 --> 00:14:22.959 Last week we saw the danger of God's people being forgetful. 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:26.179 We can forget the promises of God. 00:14:26.179 --> 00:14:29.500 We can lose sight of his power to save. 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:32.759 And then we can be guilty of the sin of unbelief. 00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:36.779 There's also the danger of idolatry. 00:14:37.959 --> 00:14:40.179 The people then were, as it were, hedging their bets. 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:43.319 Yes, we'll worship God, but we'll also worship idols. 00:14:44.219 --> 00:14:50.599 We too can think, well, I'll trust God, but I'll also trust something else for my sense of identity. 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:59.379 I'm going to look sometimes to God, but sometimes to someone or something else for my sense of security and for salvation when I'm in trouble. 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:01.560 It's a problem of divided loyalty. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:08.120 And here the sin and temptation being addressed by God is that of pride. 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:14.540 It's robbing God of glory, taking honour to oneself, the idol of self. 00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:23.019 And so to deal with that, God orders some cutbacks, some necessary cutbacks in his army. 00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:28.679 With the intention that he would cut back and cut away pride. 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:35.199 So as to emphasise grace and so that he might get the glory he deserves. 00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:38.980 So verse three, we find the first cutback. 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:44.300 Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave. 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:51.860 Now, boys and girls, let's do a little bit of maths together to notice just how Gideon's army changes. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.779 So he begins with 32,000. 00:15:55.800 --> 00:16:00.259 Then we're told in verse three, 22,000 left. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.379 So started with 32,000. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:04.220 22,000 went home. 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.659 How many are left? 00:16:05.659 --> 00:16:09.579 We've got 10,000. 00:16:09.839 --> 00:16:11.620 It's a considerably smaller army. 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:13.299 But that's not enough. 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:17.539 God says in verse four, there are still too many men. 00:16:18.339 --> 00:16:19.759 So there's another cutback. 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:23.879 And in verses four to six, we discover it's all about drinking style. 00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:25.939 So they're taken down to a river. 00:16:27.079 --> 00:16:29.259 And there's some that cup their hands. 00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:31.319 And they're lapping the water like dogs. 00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:33.679 Others are kneeling and they're drinking straight from the river. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:36.299 And there's a selection process. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.399 Now, it's really important. 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:39.879 And sometimes people go to town on these details. 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:41.379 It's not. 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:45.719 The point isn't, well, the guys that stood up and lapped out of their hands. 00:16:45.819 --> 00:16:47.599 Well, they're clearly good soldiers. 00:16:47.819 --> 00:16:48.979 Whereas kneeling is bad. 00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:52.500 This isn't about one group being really watchful and alert. 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:54.559 This isn't some kind of super troops. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:17:02.879 Because remember, the whole point is to emphasise the weakness of Gideon and his army to make much of God's strength. 00:17:02.979 --> 00:17:05.159 The point is just there's too many. 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:06.599 And so there needed to be separation. 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:15.059 And so, verse seven, with the 300 men that lapped, I will save you. 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:17.299 Give the Midianites into your hands. 00:17:17.379 --> 00:17:18.359 Let all the others go home. 00:17:18.439 --> 00:17:19.419 So again, boys and girls. 00:17:20.439 --> 00:17:22.279 The army was down to 10,000. 00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:25.740 Then it gets cut to 300. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:30.119 So how many were sent home? 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:32.179 It's a bit trickier, that one, isn't it? 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:35.779 The answer is 9,700. 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:43.779 And when we put that together, we're talking of a troop reduction of more than 99%. 00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:47.480 God considers that a necessary cutback. 00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:47.860 Why? 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.620 Remember verse two? 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:54.820 I cannot deliver Midian into their hands or Israel would boast against me. 00:17:54.860 --> 00:17:56.460 My own strength has saved me. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:01.480 All glory must belong to God. 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:05.960 And so weakness is needed among the army. 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:11.519 God isn't looking for 300 men like those 300 Spartans. 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:17.319 Those who are renowned warriors who fight with courage and bravery. 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:19.160 He's looking for a weak 300. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:25.339 To give no room for human boasting so that God gets all the glory. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:28.700 Now let's think about this principle for ourselves. 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:31.019 About weakness being needed. 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:39.019 Weakness is needed for your salvation and for my salvation. 00:18:39.879 --> 00:18:45.359 We need to get to that point where we admit our need, our weakness before God. 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:48.279 That we have sinned against him. 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:52.400 That we fail to match his perfect standards. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:58.840 That what we deserve from God is not to be commended but to be condemned. 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:08.899 And so we need that weakness that is humility that recognises that if we are to be saved, 00:19:08.959 --> 00:19:13.419 if we are to be right with God, we must be entirely dependent on God. 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:18.059 So we talk about being saved by grace alone. 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:21.460 It is entirely of God's free kindness. 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:23.259 It's not something we deserve or earn. 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:27.859 It comes entirely from Jesus Christ alone. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.480 We contribute nothing to our salvation. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:33.179 We bring our sin that deserves death. 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:37.860 And Jesus gives us salvation and the gift of eternal life. 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:40.480 And that comes by faith alone. 00:19:40.580 --> 00:19:44.200 Simply by looking away from ourselves and looking to Jesus. 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:50.560 Have you known that weakness in yourself and have you come to Jesus for salvation? 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:57.179 But then we understand too that weakness is needed if we are to grow in our faith. 00:19:58.539 --> 00:20:01.720 We are not saved by grace and then left to go in our own steam. 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:10.839 God doesn't say to us, you must fight temptation and grow in obedience and serve others and speak for Jesus in your own strength. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.179 No. 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:16.759 We are encouraged to always depend on his sufficient grace. 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:21.559 Always to depend on that strength from him in our weakness. 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:27.400 Our life always from beginning to end is to be marked by dependence, humility, trust. 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:33.799 It's also worth saying that weakness is how the world sees God's church. 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.539 Regarded as irrelevant, aren't we? 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:37.059 Often outdated on the margins. 00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:38.759 But here's the truth. 00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:41.619 God is with us and God is within us. 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:43.119 God has called us. 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:46.259 God has built us together in the Lord Jesus. 00:20:46.259 --> 00:20:48.799 There is grace that's sufficient for us. 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:52.660 There is power to give us strength in our weakness. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:55.359 He is our source of strength and comfort. 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:58.240 Jesus is building his church, his kingdom. 00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.700 And that's unstoppable. 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:05.460 Weak as we might seem and weak as we often look. 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:08.259 So weakness is needed. 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:16.940 Then if we look at verse 9 to 16, we see that there is assurance in weakness. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.440 Verse 9. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:41.480 I've just finished reading a novel by a Scottish author by the name of Josephine Tay, one of the great detective novelists of the 20th century. 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:50.700 She wrote a book called The Daughter of Time, in which her principal character, Inspector Alan Grant, he's in hospital recovering from an injury. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:55.180 And he's trying to solve a mystery related to King Richard III. 00:21:55.339 --> 00:22:00.620 Trying to unravel a mystery from history. 00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:01.339 Nice right. 00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:09.259 And what's interesting is that as Alan Grant begins to read history books, he becomes really critical of historians. 00:22:09.419 --> 00:22:15.319 And time and again, he finds himself bemoaning the fact that these historians don't seem to understand real people. 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:22.859 Now I tell you that because the same can sometimes be said of Bible commentators. 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:27.139 Here you will find some people really critical of Gideon. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.679 Look at him, he's still not trusting. 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.819 He's still afraid. 00:22:32.439 --> 00:22:35.039 Why should he take that reassurance that God offers? 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:36.359 Shouldn't he just go and fight? 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:49.179 In a sense, it's really easy to be an armchair critic, to sit back and to criticise and to forget that we're all needing reassurance of faith. 00:22:49.479 --> 00:22:52.619 We all value it and God is willing to provide it. 00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:58.019 Let me suggest that this section is not criticising Gideon. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:23:05.660 Rather, it's encouraging the people of God that God would reassure you and me when our faith is weak. 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:10.480 That we have a God who is patient and gentle with us. 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:17.220 Remember the only time that Jesus ever spoke of his heart, he said, I am gentle and I am lowly. 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:26.799 So let Gideon's story and what God does for Gideon be a reassurance and an encouragement to us as a church and as God's people. 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:33.500 Now, three elements in this story of God reassuring Gideon I want to draw your attention to. 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:36.279 Maybe to help us, we can look at verse 13 and 14. 00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:42.259 So remember, God has said, if you want to get reassurance, go down into the camp. 00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:45.919 So Gideon arrived in the camp just as a man was telling a friend his dream. 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:46.980 I had a dream. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:50.379 A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:53.579 It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed. 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:57.740 His friend responded, this could be nothing other than the sword of Gideon. 00:23:58.039 --> 00:24:00.359 God has given the Midianites into his hands. 00:24:00.439 --> 00:24:01.899 So three elements. 00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:05.819 One, there's the reassurance of the power of God. 00:24:06.639 --> 00:24:14.279 You know, it just so happens that Gideon walks into this army camp where the soldiers are as thick as locusts. 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:19.379 He just happens to be by the guy who has the dream. 00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:21.539 You know, Gideon just happens to be there. 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.399 No, that's not it. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:28.759 This is reminding us God is totally in control. 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:32.799 The Bible is so full of that truth. 00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:36.180 And it's always intended to be a comfort for the people of God. 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:42.000 And it certainly proved to be an encouragement to Gideon that God is in control. 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:45.060 So we see the power of God and that reassures him. 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:50.340 We also get reassurance in the promise of God. 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:52.560 So think about the content of the dream. 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:59.160 What's going on there is one of those bizarre dreams that's outside the realms of what we would expect. 00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:03.259 So that there's a loaf that's capable of smashing a tent. 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:09.900 Think about the biggest loaf you've ever seen, the biggest jumbo sandwich you could ever buy. 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:12.279 That's not going to smash a tent. 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:16.000 And the point is, and the enemies get it, 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:24.799 God is going to fight for Gideon, for the people, to give them victory over the much greater Midianites. 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:29.579 So there's the power of God, there's the promise of God, and that brings Gideon peace. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.859 Verse 15, 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:33.399 When Gideon heard the dream, he bowed down and worshipped. 00:25:33.459 --> 00:25:36.939 In the middle of his enemies, in the middle of the enemy camp, where he could have been most afraid, 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.659 he bows down and he worships. 00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:40.219 His faith is reassured. 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:43.199 He knows victory is certain. 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.299 God has been kind to him. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:49.699 God has given him reassurance in his own weakness. 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:53.000 It's wonderful to know that God knows our weakness. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:56.420 But he doesn't crush us in that. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:59.920 Rather, he comes to us in comfort and assurance. 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:02.579 Now, how does he do that for us? 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:06.140 Not likely through dreams of barley, loaves and tents. 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:11.359 But he will reassure us from God's word. 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:15.740 When we read God's word, what are we reading about? 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:18.819 We are reading all about God's character. 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:19.879 God can be trusted. 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:20.979 God is faithful. 00:26:21.219 --> 00:26:22.199 God cannot shame. 00:26:23.679 --> 00:26:27.859 We are discovering God's unbreakable promises to his people. 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:31.819 We are reading of God's eternal plan of salvation. 00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:33.919 That's all of grace. 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:36.899 So there is security when our faith is in Jesus. 00:26:37.719 --> 00:26:44.659 And we also read of the promise of the spirit that God comes to take up residence in the lives of his people in his church. 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.859 So God reassures us by his word. 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:51.240 But then he also reassures us by God's church. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:27:02.380 As we gather together in God's presence, and here again, in our absence, there's a reminder of the special privilege of gathering together for worship. 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:07.160 We have the gift of hearing God's word read and preached together. 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:11.279 We have the gift from God of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:16.880 Last week, we shared the Lord's Supper and we remembered the death of the Lord Jesus. 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:22.020 And what that means for our salvation. 00:27:23.300 --> 00:27:25.660 So we're encouraged and reassured through God's church. 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:29.580 We're also reassured through God's people. 00:27:31.040 --> 00:27:35.580 We are brothers and sisters walking the road of faith together. 00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:39.140 We are speaking the truth in love to one another. 00:27:39.320 --> 00:27:43.100 We're sharing how God has been speaking to us from his word. 00:27:43.260 --> 00:27:46.020 We're sharing how God has been at work in our lives. 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:49.619 We're looking to pass on wisdom to the next generation. 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:56.119 We're looking to pass on the comfort that we ourselves have received to enable one another to persevere. 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:59.799 To use the army image, we are a band of brothers. 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:04.200 Bound together by our shared faith in Jesus. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.579 Living to serve him, living for his glory. 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:12.160 And we also find assurance from God's gospel. 00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:15.500 The good news in the Lord Jesus. 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:24.720 So as we look from Gideon and his story to Golgotha and the story of Jesus' death on the cross, 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:28.539 we can also see there the power of God. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:33.980 Peter in Acts chapter 2 testified to the crowd that gathered to listen to him preach. 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:39.579 Wicked men put Jesus to death. 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:44.579 But his death was God's plan by God's foreknowledge. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:48.079 And God raised him from the dead. 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:52.220 Jesus came and he won that victory over sin and death. 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:54.259 And there's good news for us. 00:28:54.299 --> 00:29:00.079 When our faith is in him, we die to sin and we live with him. 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:02.220 New life in Christ. 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:07.259 There is at the cross the promise of God. 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:13.559 Jesus' death is for us the new covenant in his body, in his blood. 00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:19.159 Here is God's unbreakable commitment to save and to keep all who look to Jesus in faith. 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:23.820 He will not lose any who come to him. 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:29.340 And when we think about the cross, how do we see the peace from God? 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:38.240 Again, in Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he can speak of Jesus' death being our means of reconciliation. 00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:48.039 Bringing peace between sinful people like us and a holy God as Jesus takes the penalty, the punishment that sin deserves. 00:29:49.639 --> 00:29:50.379 Our sin. 00:29:51.699 --> 00:29:57.939 He bears it and gives us, credits to us, his perfect record of righteousness. 00:29:57.940 --> 00:30:02.279 And because of that great change that takes place, we can have peace in our conscience. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:05.100 We don't need to live with fear of death and being condemned. 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:13.039 We can live with peace in the present and peace for our future as we know God is with us and God is with us always. 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:17.400 So there is assurance in weakness. 00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:25.340 And then we go to verse 17 to 25 and we see God's triumph in weakness. 00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:32.620 So remember, Judges 7, not the story of 300 Spartans, you know, glorious in battle, ultimately different. 00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:36.940 Nor is it the story of glory to Gideon in his 300. 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:42.960 This isn't, wow, Gideon had this remarkable battle strategy, the surprise attack, etc. 00:30:43.320 --> 00:30:51.660 No, the point is God's strength made perfect in human weakness so that God gets the glory in salvation. 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.140 Always. 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.200 Salvation by grace. 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:56.779 So, the plan. 00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.640 Verse 16. 00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.120 What does Gideon do? 00:30:59.220 --> 00:31:04.620 He divides 300 men into three companies, gives them trumpets, empty jars and torches. 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.900 And they've got swords. 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:08.380 Three groups of 100. 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:10.980 One sword, one torch, one jar, one trumpet each. 00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:12.620 Now, remember verse 12. 00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:19.739 The Midianites, the Malachites and all the eastern peoples had settled in the valley thick as locusts. 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:22.719 Their camels could no more be counted than the sand of the seashore. 00:31:22.899 --> 00:31:31.419 300 men, torches, trumpets, swords, jars versus a locust-like army. 00:31:32.199 --> 00:31:33.339 Camels like sand and sea. 00:31:33.479 --> 00:31:36.719 Without God, this is not going to go well. 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.219 Verse 18. 00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:46.259 The battle cry, which is an important part of this fight. 00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:48.900 And it matters. 00:31:50.380 --> 00:31:53.420 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all round the camp blow yours and shit. 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:57.519 For the Lord, and forget it, the Lord comes first. 00:31:57.600 --> 00:31:58.700 He is commander in chief. 00:31:58.779 --> 00:32:00.160 He leads, he fights, he will win. 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:02.400 That's the point of the story. 00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:04.420 And so they get that with their battle cry. 00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:07.420 So the middle of the night, verse 20. 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:08.460 What happens? 00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:09.640 The noise begins. 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:11.819 They blow their trumpets. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.799 They smash the jars. 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:13.759 The torches are up. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.900 They've got the trumpets. 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.980 They're shouting. 00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:18.240 But don't miss this detail. 00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.100 Verse 21. 00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.920 Gideon's 300. 00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:24.480 Are they super warrior types? 00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:30.980 While each man held his position round the camp. 00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:32.720 They're not super fighters. 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:35.740 They stand still. 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:35.799 They stand still. 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:39.339 They stand still so that the Lord will triumph. 00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:40.279 The Lord will show his glory. 00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:40.880 Verse 22. 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:47.120 When the 300 trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:49.799 So the Lord causes chaos, confusion, ultimate defeat. 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:53.459 As he does so often when you read the Old Testament battle scenes. 00:32:53.539 --> 00:33:00.039 And there's no doubt from this author that this triumph in weakness is the triumph of God's grace. 00:33:00.379 --> 00:33:02.119 This is a gift to his people. 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:06.559 His people who have been forgetful, who have been guilty of idolatry, who are guilty of pride. 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:13.059 He is saving them for his own namesake and by his grace to showcase his glory. 00:33:13.179 --> 00:33:14.980 That's God's way. 00:33:15.819 --> 00:33:18.220 That's God's way with his church still today. 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:20.500 Now, got me thinking. 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:27.980 What would an onlooker have thought before this battle began and before this victory was won? 00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:31.720 I can imagine some thinking as they saw Gideon's 300 men fan out. 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.379 This is crazy. 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.440 This is a suicide mission. 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:35.000 The odds are impossible, Gideon. 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:35.740 Why are you bothering? 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:44.480 But maybe others with the eyes of faith would look on and think, yeah, but God promised that he would be with them. 00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:47.140 And he promised that he would give them victory. 00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:48.299 And God is powerful. 00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:55.059 And so we recognise faith is what you and I need to see God's powerful grace. 00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:58.980 Despite our weakness, despite our sin. 00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.980 That we would draw on God's powerful grace. 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:06.700 That we would draw on God's powerful grace in our own lives. 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.360 Think back. 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:11.860 You can turn back with me to that passage that we read at the beginning. 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:15.280 1 Corinthians 1.18 to 25. 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:18.300 What do you see when you look at the cross? 00:34:19.200 --> 00:34:23.560 Some people in Paul's day, some people in our day see the cross as a place of weakening. 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:24.559 A place of shame. 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:26.179 A place of sheer folly. 00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:32.299 How can someone dying in shame bring salvation to anybody? 00:34:32.460 --> 00:34:33.759 How can that benefit anybody? 00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:36.299 For some it's a stumbling block. 00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:38.119 Looking for glory. 00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:41.659 And that seems suffering. 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:43.739 I don't want to follow a saviour who brings suffering. 00:34:43.739 --> 00:34:45.819 I want life to be wonderful. 00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:46.939 Always. 00:34:49.779 --> 00:34:52.519 And so some people look at the cross and it's a place of weakness. 00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:53.799 A place to be rejected. 00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:57.319 But with the eyes of faith, what is it? 00:34:57.659 --> 00:34:59.799 To us who are being saved, it's the power of God. 00:35:00.759 --> 00:35:04.179 It's the way of salvation to all who believe. 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:07.379 What do you see when you look at the cross? 00:35:07.459 --> 00:35:11.139 As we close, if you're not a Christian. 00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:17.619 If you've not looked at the cross and seen your only hope of salvation. 00:35:17.859 --> 00:35:20.219 And if you've not seen your urgent need. 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:24.079 Your eternal need of being right with God through trusting in Jesus. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:29.539 Ask God today to show you your need of him. 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:33.139 To expose to you your sin and your guilt. 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:40.199 To help you to see salvation is this wonderful free gift from God. 00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:42.819 That you would receive it by faith. 00:35:42.919 --> 00:35:45.500 Not looking to yourself but trusting in Jesus. 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:46.539 And if you're a Christian. 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:50.039 Celebrate. 00:35:51.319 --> 00:35:53.359 Celebrate the victory of Jesus at the cross. 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:57.379 Just as Gideon's men would have celebrated the victory that he secured. 00:35:57.839 --> 00:36:01.399 Beyond the apparent weakness of Jesus' death. 00:36:01.939 --> 00:36:02.879 There was victory. 00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:04.039 There was triumph for us. 00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:04.839 That means forgiveness. 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:06.480 That means eternal life. 00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:08.780 So we celebrate. 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:09.659 We should pray. 00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:10.960 Shouldn't we pray? 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:16.019 Pray for God to open the eyes of other people. 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:18.599 To see what we have come to see by God's grace. 00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:21.179 To enjoy what we have come to enjoy. 00:36:21.659 --> 00:36:23.740 To pray that we'd be willing to share it with others. 00:36:23.739 --> 00:36:28.119 Let's encourage one another. 00:36:28.619 --> 00:36:31.319 Encourage other Christians to look to Jesus. 00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:35.719 To find strength from God's word. 00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:41.159 Let's seek to be those who encourage and bring reassurance towards perseverance. 00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:48.199 And let's remember those precious words from God. 00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:50.960 My grace is sufficient for you. 00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:54.940 My strength is made perfect in weakness. 00:36:55.799 --> 00:36:57.159 Let's pray once again. 00:36:58.299 --> 00:37:03.940 Father God, we are so thankful that we are saved by grace alone. 00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:07.240 As we recognise our own sin. 00:37:07.480 --> 00:37:08.320 Our own weakness. 00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:09.900 Our own foolishness. 00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:17.139 As we honestly consider our inability to match up to your perfect standards. 00:37:17.720 --> 00:37:25.420 We are so thankful that you, in your love and in your kindness, 00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:30.079 sent your son Jesus to go to the cross. 00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:35.599 To secure our salvation by his finished work. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:39.820 Lord, may we live to give praise and glory to him. 00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:44.920 May we recognise his strength in our weakness. 00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:49.940 May we be those who would be honest about our weakness, about our struggles. 00:37:50.480 --> 00:37:52.180 Honest with you, honest with one another. 00:37:53.159 --> 00:37:55.360 May we look to bear one another's burdens. 00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:58.659 In the weakness that we experience in life. 00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:01.320 Lord, may you help each one of us. 00:38:01.619 --> 00:38:03.599 And be looking to you. 00:38:03.740 --> 00:38:04.360 To your power. 00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:05.320 To your presence. 00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:07.460 To the peace that you provide. 00:38:08.440 --> 00:38:09.980 To find our hope. 00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:11.480 In the Lord Jesus. 00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:13.039 To prove this to be true. 00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:15.400 That your strength is made perfect in our weakness. 00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:17.099 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:38:17.599 --> 00:38:18.019 Amen. 00:38:19.340 --> 00:38:22.460 Now, let's finish our time together. 00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:25.340 With a couple of songs. 00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:27.820 The first, he will hold me fast. 00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:32.420 And the second, a section from Psalm 139. 00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:36.260 When I fear my faith will fail. 00:38:36.260 --> 00:38:41.420 Christ will hold me fast. 00:38:41.420 --> 00:38:45.039 When the tempter would prevail. 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:50.039 When I fear my faith will fail. 00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:54.039 Christ will hold me fast. 00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:59.039 When the tempter would prevail. 00:38:59.039 --> 00:39:04.039 He will hold me fast. 00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:09.039 I could never keep my hope. 00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:14.219 Through life's fearful path. 00:39:15.039 --> 00:39:19.199 For my love is often cold. 00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:23.519 He must hold me fast. 00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:29.460 He will hold me fast. 00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:33.460 He will hold me fast. 00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:38.460 For my Savior loves me so. 00:39:38.460 --> 00:39:44.460 He will hold me fast. 00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:51.460 He will hold me fast. 00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:55.300 He will hold me fast. 00:39:55.300 --> 00:39:58.980 He saves are His delight 00:39:58.980 --> 00:40:03.700 Christ will hold me fast 00:40:03.700 --> 00:40:08.980 Precious in His holy sight 00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:13.500 He will hold me fast 00:40:13.500 --> 00:40:18.960 He'll not let my soul be lost 00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:23.360 His promises shall last 00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:28.780 Bought by Him at such a cost 00:40:28.780 --> 00:40:32.640 He will hold me fast 00:40:32.640 --> 00:40:38.500 He will hold me fast 00:40:38.500 --> 00:40:42.880 He will hold me fast 00:40:42.880 --> 00:40:47.500 For my Savior loves me so 00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:53.120 He will hold me fast 00:40:53.119 --> 00:41:07.819 For my life He bled at night 00:41:07.819 --> 00:41:11.960 Christ will hold me fast 00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:16.359 Justice has been satisfied 00:41:16.360 --> 00:41:21.640 He will hold me fast 00:41:21.640 --> 00:41:27.320 Raised with Him to endless life 00:41:27.320 --> 00:41:31.740 He will hold me fast 00:41:31.739 --> 00:41:37.019 Till our faith is turned to sight 00:41:37.019 --> 00:41:42.059 When He comes at last 00:41:42.059 --> 00:41:46.799 He will hold me fast 00:41:46.799 --> 00:41:50.939 He will hold me fast 00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:55.220 For my Savior loves me so 00:41:55.220 --> 00:42:00.220 He will hold me fast 00:42:00.220 --> 00:42:05.720 He will hold me fast 00:42:05.719 --> 00:42:11.000 He will hold me fast 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:15.000 For my Savior loves me so 00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:20.719 He will hold me fast 00:42:20.719 --> 00:42:39.639 For myvux 00:42:39.639 --> 00:42:41.559 Jesus has been Lord 00:42:41.559 --> 00:42:54.840 For you created me and gave me life. 00:42:54.840 --> 00:43:06.159 Within my mother's womb you fashioned me. 00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:18.199 I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. 00:43:18.199 --> 00:43:29.460 I praise you as your mighty works I see. 00:43:29.460 --> 00:43:41.639 My frame could not be hidden from your sight. 00:43:41.639 --> 00:43:53.719 When I was made within the secret place. 00:43:54.119 --> 00:44:05.059 When I was woven in the depths of earth. 00:44:05.059 --> 00:44:17.099 My unformed body was before your face. 00:44:17.099 --> 00:44:39.099 Your eyes beheld me in my unborn state. 00:44:39.099 --> 00:44:51.099 And all the days that you ordained for me. 00:44:51.099 --> 00:45:03.099 Were written in the book that you had made. 00:45:04.099 --> 00:45:14.099 Before a single day had come to be. 00:45:14.099 --> 00:45:26.099 How precious are your thoughts to me, O God. 00:45:26.099 --> 00:45:38.099 There some is vast and far beyond my view. 00:45:38.099 --> 00:45:50.099 To count them is like counting grains of sand. 00:45:50.099 --> 00:45:56.099 When I awake from sleep. 00:45:56.099 --> 00:46:03.099 I'm still with you. 00:46:03.099 --> 00:46:16.099 I'm still with you. 00:46:16.099 --> 00:46:22.099 I'm still with you.