WEBVTT

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 If you're a visitor, you're a little bit disadvantaged because we're going to cover a lot of territory this morning.

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 Our own people have had a chance to read this through during the week.

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 But anyway, we'll see how you go.

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 I want to begin this morning in Hebrews chapter 11.

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 We talk about Gideon.

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 I want to ask the question, is it a portrait hung in the wrong gallery?

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 So Hebrews 11 is known as God's portrait gallery.

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 Of the faithful ones.

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 The great ones of the faith.

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 Now the problem is that as I walk around that gallery in Hebrews chapter 11, I see and hear different names.

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 And I think, yep, yep, clearly they deserve to be there.

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 Clearly they deserve to be there.

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 But then I get to Gideon's portrait.

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 And I find myself wondering, as I say, has this portrait been hung in the wrong place, in the wrong gallery?

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 Preachers and Sunday school teachers have made Gideon into a hero.

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 A great hero who, with a tiny force, they say, of 300 crack troops, completely destroyed an army.

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 An enemy invasion force of 135,000.

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 So Gideon's a hero.

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 My problem is that as I read the story of Gideon, in Judges 6, 7, and 8, the Gideon I have to engage with presents as a very different person.

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 To be honest, he doesn't immediately inspire me as a great person of faith.

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 He's a very flawed human being.

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 And at points, I think, you'd have to say, he's a very ugly human being in terms of his character.

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 Has somebody got it wrong and hung the portrait in their own gallery?

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 Well, clearly not.

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 The problem is not that the portrait's hung in their own gallery.

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 The problem is that we look at the portrait from their own perspective.

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 We tend to think that when somebody's in that gallery, then every single aspect of their life has been one of faith.

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 Well, I don't think that's true at all.

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 I think Gideon, like everybody else in that gallery, is there because at critical points,

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 they manage to show a good response to the Lord.

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 In what was otherwise pretty ordinary lives.

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 Clearly, Gideon is used by the Lord to effect great rescue.

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 But I think when we're looking at that portrait in the gallery of faith,

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 we don't actually just look at the portrait.

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 We look at the maestro who compiled that portrait.

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 The maestro behind the portrait.

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 The artist.

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 The Lord who persevered with Gideon.

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 The Lord who crafted Gideon into that critical moment of faith

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 where the rest of his life was, as I say, very ordinary, very ugly at points.

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 That critical moment where Gideon does, with the Lord's enabling,

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 step out in faith and show the leadership that the Lord commands.

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 But the Lord still goes before him, even at that point.

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 But at that point, that critical moment, Gideon knows he's going out in the strength of the Lord

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 and he's content to reveal God's character and grace and power in that situation.

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 So it's not Gideon who's the hero of this story we're looking at this morning.

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 Of course, it's the Lord who's the hero.

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 And what the Lord's doing in this story is showcasing through Gideon and the external circumstances,

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 the Lord is showcasing his faithfulness.

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 Not Gideon's.

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 His mercy.

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 His patience to people who clearly don't deserve any of his patience or his mercy or his faithfulness.

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 Showing himself as a savior to those who would not be able to save themselves through their own resources.

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 So jump into the story with me this morning.

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 And I want to show you something really sad at the beginning and the end of the story that frames the whole story.

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 So chapter 6, verses 1 to 11 is the first bookend or the first frame of the story.

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 And that begins with what seems to be an identical cycle of outright rejection.

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 Loss of distinctiveness as God's people.

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 So we've been through this cycle a few times.

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 We've got God's people responding to suffering.

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 God sends suffering upon his people for this outright rebellion.

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 But there's a couple of key indicators here that we need to take up as we move forward.

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 This is only one generation later.

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 And I think the 40 years is probably a stylistic way of talking about a generation rather than literal 40 years.

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 So just one generation later and we're doing it all again.

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 And as we start to think about that then,

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 I think we begin to realize or suspect that what we've called a cycle,

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 that is something that goes round and round endlessly,

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 is actually something a bit worse than a cycle.

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 It's a downward spiral.

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 That is, it's going round and round,

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 but each time we go around, things are getting worse.

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 God's people are finding new depths of rebellion.

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 New ways to be offensive to their Lord.

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 This time, the cycle includes suffering at the hands of the Midianites.

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 And that is a coalition again of semi-nomadic tribes from the east.

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 And what marks these guys out is that they pioneered camels,

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 yes, camels, as strategic military weapons.

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 So this armed force that we find out later on of 135,000 came on camels.

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 Now that meant that for the first time,

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 they had a long-range, fast-moving, mobile strike force.

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 And we're told in here that they struck absolute terror

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 into the hearts of the Israelites.

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 They invaded every year at harvest time, and like locusts,

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 they just came and they stripped the whole land bare.

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 And God's people were so terrified

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 that they were forced to hide in caves in the hills,

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 trying to save enough food to get themselves through the wintertime.

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 God's people were starving, literally, and terrified.

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 And in desperation, and again, as a last resort,

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 after enduring seven years of this invasion,

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 God's people appealed to the Lord for help.

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 And once again, the Lord responds.

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 But look at verse 7 of chapter 6,

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 because the response of the Lord this time is quite different.

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 This time, he sends us a prophet for some unknown time

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 before he actually sends Gideon, the saviour.

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 Now, why would the Lord send a prophet this time around?

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 Why is the cycle different?

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 Well, we're not actually told,

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 but I think this might be a reasonable solution.

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 I think it's this,

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 that God's people had been around this cycle enough times now

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 and knew of it from their history

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 that it had just become a formula for them.

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 They had just learned,

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 well, okay, when suffering happens,

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 if we cry out to the Lord,

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 then he will deliver us.

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 So it was almost like

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 as if their crying out to the Lord

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 was just a key to unlock God's blessings.

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 And each cycle goes around.

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 There's less and less heartfelt ownership of sin

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 behind the plea.

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 No, they just want the formula to work.

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 If we do this, then God will do that.

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 And that sounds so familiar to us, doesn't it?

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 Because that's just what we're like, too.

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 And so God, instead of sending them to deliver straight up,

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 sends them a prophet.

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 Now, what's the prophet to do?

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 Well, the prophet explains to them

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 and helps them understand

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 why they're in the predicament they're in.

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 And the predicament they're in

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 is a direct response

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 of their dealing with God's character.

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 He presents himself in these verses here

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 as the covenant God.

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 Their covenant God.

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 Your covenant God.

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 And he said,

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 I brought you to myself

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 so that you might be my people

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 and you might reflect my character.

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 I covenanted myself to you.

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 And what have you done?

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 You've thrown my generosity,

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 my graciousness,

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 my kindness

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 back in my face.

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 All I wanted you guys to do

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 was, verse in there,

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 was fear me.

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 But

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 rather than fear me,

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 rather than respect me,

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 rather than desire me,

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 and that's what the word means,

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 rather than show honor to me,

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 you've actually given all of that

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 to the gods of the Canaanites.

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 So if you want to know

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 why you're in this mess,

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 there it is.

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 I'm your covenant-keeping God

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 and you've rejected me

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 for

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 the local gods.

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 Now turn to chapter 8,

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 verse 33,

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 and I'll read these verses to you

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 to see the other end of the story

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 and the other part of the frame.

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 And man,

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 this is just sad.

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 This is just worse than sad.

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 It's awful.

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 So we're going to the far end

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 of the story now

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 and it says this,

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 chapter 8,

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 verse 33,

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 As soon as Gideon died,

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 the people of Israel

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 turned again

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 and whored,

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 that's prostituted,

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 prostituted

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 after the Baals,

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 that's the false gods again,

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 and made Baal Berith

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 their God.

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 And the people of Israel

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 did not remember

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 the Lord their God

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 who delivered them

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 from the hand

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 of all their enemies

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 on every side.

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 And they did not show

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 steadfast love

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 to the family of Jeroboam.

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 The cycle of Judges

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 is a vicious downward spiral.

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 This wonderful story

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 of deliverance

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 and rescue by the Lord

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 ends as it began

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 with the complete rejection

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 of the covenant God.

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 But it's worse than that.

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 It's the complete rejection

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 of God

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 by those who received

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 the most incredible blessings

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 from Him.

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 And it happened when?

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 As soon as Gideon died.

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 It really is

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 easier to trust

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 the Lord

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 in adversity

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 than it is

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 to be faithful

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 to the Lord

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 in prosperity,

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 isn't it?

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 And that's just

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 abominable

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 when you consider

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 that's how

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 the story's framed.

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 But there's even worse

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 in that story.

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 If you look at verse 33,

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 it says,

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 they whored after Baals

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 and made Baal Berith

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 their God.

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 Now that word

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 Baal Berith,

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 that's the name of a God.

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 And that word Berith

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 is the Hebrew word

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 for covenant.

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 So it's actually

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 even more outrageous

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 because God presents

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 at the start of the story

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 and says,

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 look,

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 I am your covenant God.

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 I'm the one

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 who's committed to you,

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 promised to be

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 faithful to you,

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 promised to make you

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 the people you are,

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 promised to bring you

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 blessing,

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 promised to give you

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 the good life.

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 And what do God's people

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 do after they've

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 experienced all of that

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 deliverance from God's hand?

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 They commit to

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 the covenant with

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 a false God,

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 Baal Berith.

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 They make a covenant

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 with this false God

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 to seek from him

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 the very thing

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 that they've actually

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 experienced

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 from the Lord.

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 That doesn't get

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 much more arrogant

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 than that,

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 does it?

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 That's a petulant child

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 coming up close

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 to a father's face

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 and saying,

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 stuff you.

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 Yahweh,

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 for these people,

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 may well have been

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 a God

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 for a time

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 of crisis,

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 but at every

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 other point

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 of life,

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 the other gods

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 were far more

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 desirable.

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 It's starting to have

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 a very familiar ring

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 to us,

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 isn't it?

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 Simon's already

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 helped us think

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 about that

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 in his introduction.

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 So,

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 once we come into

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 the detail of the story

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 with that framework,

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 we have to say

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 yet,

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 because it's

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 absolutely amazing

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:04.460
 as far as I can see

00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:06.039
 that the Lord

00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:07.300
 acts to deliver

00:14:07.300 --> 00:14:07.840
 his people

00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.840
 using Gideon,

00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:10.980
 who himself

00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:12.180
 is part of the problem,

00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:13.379
 a very ordinary leader.

00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:15.580
 So,

00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.700
 given the framing

00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:17.879
 of this story,

00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.000
 we have to say,

00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:19.779
 yet,

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:21.279
 in spite of all that,

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.519
 the Lord

00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.279
 acts to deliver

00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:24.639
 his people.

00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:33.879
 From his first

00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:34.879
 appearance in the story,

00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.360
 Gideon is anything

00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.700
 but the heroic figure

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.799
 or mighty man

00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:39.399
 of valor,

00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:41.059
 as his name suggests.

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:41.299
 Now,

00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:42.299
 I've pondered this

00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.220
 a fair bit this week,

00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.679
 and I'm still not sure

00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:45.259
 whether the Lord

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:45.820
 was actually having

00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:46.720
 a lend of Gideon.

00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.899
 I'm very open

00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:50.379
 to the idea

00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.059
 of sarcasm

00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:51.580
 in the Bible.

00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:53.700
 And I think

00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:54.279
 this might be

00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:54.639
 one of those,

00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.399
 oh,

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.220
 you mighty man

00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:56.600
 of valor.

00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:59.000
 Something like that.

00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:00.299
 I don't know.

00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:01.259
 I don't know what it is.

00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.439
 But he certainly

00:15:02.439 --> 00:15:03.720
 doesn't really

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:05.480
 immediately impress you

00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:06.840
 as a heroic figure

00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:07.799
 because when he's

00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.879
 first come across

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.580
 by this angel,

00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.379
 he's actually

00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.220
 thrashing out

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:11.780
 a few heads

00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:12.200
 of wheat

00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.980
 in a wine press.

00:15:14.060 --> 00:15:14.139
 Now,

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:14.700
 a wine press

00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:15.080
 is actually

00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:15.680
 a depression

00:15:15.680 --> 00:15:16.320
 in the rock.

00:15:16.660 --> 00:15:16.920
 Normally,

00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.460
 you would thrash

00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:17.940
 out in the open

00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:18.259
 when you get

00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:18.940
 the breeze on it.

00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:19.660
 And normally,

00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.220
 you would thrash

00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:20.820
 with a machine.

00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:22.860
 But Gideon

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.480
 is hiding

00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.460
 from the marauding

00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:25.060
 hordes,

00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:26.960
 stamping out

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.620
 with his feet,

00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:28.800
 beating out

00:15:28.800 --> 00:15:29.220
 with a stick

00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:29.580
 or whatever,

00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:31.259
 a few heads

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:31.680
 of wheat,

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:33.120
 enough possibly

00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.600
 to protect his family

00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:35.180
 and keep them

00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:35.740
 from starving

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.379
 over the wintertime.

00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:36.980
 So it's not

00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:37.860
 a heroic picture.

00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:40.659
 And the angel's

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.240
 just sitting there

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:41.639
 having a look

00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.679
 at Gideon.

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:43.679
 G'day,

00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:44.720
 mighty man of fowler.

00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:47.519
 I think it's sarcasm.

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:48.439
 But whatever.

00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:52.240
 Verse 12,

00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.240
 what really matters

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.240
 is that

00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:55.559
 the Lord is with you.

00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:56.899
 That's what the angel

00:15:56.899 --> 00:15:57.419
 who turns out

00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:59.039
 to be the Lord himself

00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:00.460
 in the form

00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.019
 of a person,

00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:01.980
 as you see

00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:02.679
 the story develop,

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.759
 the Lord is with you.

00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:07.340
 That's the key

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.779
 to understanding

00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:09.980
 everything else

00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:10.600
 that happens

00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:11.620
 in the story

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.100
 of Gideon.

00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:16.120
 And the first thing

00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:16.840
 the Lord does

00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:17.439
 with Gideon

00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:18.600
 is to make him

00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.120
 see

00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.419
 that he is part

00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:20.960
 of the problem.

00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:25.679
 And he does that

00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.740
 in this series

00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:27.980
 of exchanges

00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:29.240
 between verse 11

00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:30.340
 through to verse 24.

00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:31.860
 So there's

00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.919
 a tussle going on.

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:34.299
 So the angel

00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:34.659
 of the Lord

00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:35.199
 which is the Lord

00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:35.659
 himself

00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:37.740
 says certain things

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.339
 to Gideon.

00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:40.299
 And Gideon

00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:41.000
 responds with

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:42.299
 anger and arrogance.

00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.839
 And remember

00:16:47.839 --> 00:16:48.339
 this is all

00:16:48.339 --> 00:16:49.139
 on top of

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.879
 this prophet

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.379
 who's come

00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.099
 to help

00:16:51.099 --> 00:16:51.679
 God's people

00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:52.419
 understand

00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.519
 the whole problem.

00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.059
 So Gideon

00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:54.979
 still hasn't learned

00:16:54.979 --> 00:16:55.799
 very much at all.

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.879
 Verse 12 and 13

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.759
 the angel said

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.039
 the Lord is with you.

00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:00.579
 And Gideon

00:17:00.579 --> 00:17:01.379
 responds angrily

00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:01.939
 well that's all

00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:02.759
 very fine saying that

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.919
 but I want to tell you

00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.680
 that we feel

00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.720
 totally abandoned

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.420
 by the Lord.

00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:12.079
 Verse 14 and 15

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:14.059
 even more directly

00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:14.700
 the Lord says

00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:16.319
 I am sending you

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.720
 to deliver my people.

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.440
 As if that's

00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.019
 going to work.

00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.519
 I'm a nobody.

00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.299
 Yeah right.

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:26.740
 Good.

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:29.339
 verses 16, 17 and 18

00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:29.960
 the Lord says

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.420
 once more

00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:32.140
 I will be with you

00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:33.259
 and I will defeat

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.079
 that army for you

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.559
 as if there was

00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.539
 only just one man

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.240
 in front of you.

00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.240
 Gideon says

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:41.620
 don't give me words

00:17:41.620 --> 00:17:42.480
 prove it.

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.680
 And it goes in

00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.740
 in verse 19

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.319
 through 24

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.160
 there's a story there

00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.079
 read it more carefully

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.660
 if you haven't already

00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.000
 read it.

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.799
 The Lord really

00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:54.880
 does give Gideon

00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:55.880
 a proof

00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:57.060
 that crashes

00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:57.820
 through

00:17:57.820 --> 00:17:59.120
 his anger

00:17:59.120 --> 00:18:00.100
 and faithless

00:18:00.100 --> 00:18:00.820
 unbelief

00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:01.900
 and makes him

00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:02.780
 realize two very

00:18:02.780 --> 00:18:03.460
 important things.

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.840
 So Gideon brings out

00:18:04.840 --> 00:18:05.420
 this meal

00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.040
 and remember

00:18:06.040 --> 00:18:06.960
 this is a meal

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.800
 prepared for this

00:18:07.800 --> 00:18:08.320
 stranger

00:18:08.320 --> 00:18:09.580
 and it was quite a

00:18:09.580 --> 00:18:10.240
 large amount

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.560
 of food

00:18:11.560 --> 00:18:13.140
 from a family

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:13.720
 that was already

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.860
 starving potentially.

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.380
 And what does he do?

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.560
 He puts it in a rock

00:18:17.560 --> 00:18:18.320
 and zaps it

00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:18.980
 fries it.

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:22.220
 And suddenly

00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:23.180
 Gideon

00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:24.319
 realizes

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:26.200
 that he's in a bit

00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:26.960
 of a pickle here.

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.519
 Alex isn't here

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.360
 I shouldn't have said

00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:30.099
 that but I've wasted

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.920
 it on Alex.

00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:32.360
 That's an end joke

00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:33.000
 for us here.

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.839
 So Gideon

00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.420
 realizes

00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:36.779
 there's something

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.339
 going on here

00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:38.480
 that's well beyond him.

00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:41.039
 And he's brought

00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.779
 to realize

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.500
 two things.

00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:46.480
 He describes it here

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.640
 verse 24

00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:49.000
 Gideon built an altar

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.820
 there to the Lord

00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:50.560
 and called it

00:18:50.560 --> 00:18:52.759
 the Lord is peace.

00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:53.660
 Jehovah

00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.460
 Shalom.

00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:01.820
 Gideon has been

00:19:01.820 --> 00:19:02.440
 at war

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.180
 with God.

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.420
 He's angry.

00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:07.040
 He's unbelieving.

00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:09.600
 He's distant.

00:19:11.060 --> 00:19:11.900
 It's Gideon

00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:12.640
 that's been at war

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.340
 with God

00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:14.180
 and he suddenly

00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:14.900
 realizes

00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:15.940
 that God

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.680
 wants to come

00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.259
 to him

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.720
 in peace.

00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.539
 Gideon realizes

00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:23.400
 that he's

00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:24.720
 the problem

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:26.759
 not the Lord.

00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.599
 And the second thing

00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.960
 that flows from that

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:33.059
 overflows

00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:33.759
 from the heart

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.279
 of Gideon

00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.779
 suddenly

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:36.440
 is that the

00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:37.500
 proper response

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.039
 to God

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:39.059
 is not doubt

00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:40.539
 anger

00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:42.259
 unbelief

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.680
 arrogance

00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:45.000
 demandingness

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.240
 or fear.

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.839
 The proper

00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.440
 response

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.019
 to the Lord

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.460
 is worship.

00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:54.519
 Gideon

00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.259
 built an altar

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.940
 there to the Lord

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.579
 and called it

00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:58.039
 the Lord is peace.

00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:00.740
 Gideon's

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.319
 recognized

00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:02.700
 his part

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.579
 in the problem

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.839
 that is facing

00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:05.740
 his whole nation

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:07.480
 and he's

00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.579
 brought to a point

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:10.440
 of genuine

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.180
 humility

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.720
 and worship

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.319
 of the Lord.

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.579
 God had to

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:18.980
 break

00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.620
 Gideon

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:21.860
 before Gideon

00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:22.700
 could break

00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.460
 the Midianites.

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:28.019
 then the Lord

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.559
 makes him clean

00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:28.940
 up his own

00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.420
 backyard

00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.640
 verses 25

00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:31.400
 through 33.

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.740
 So before

00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.160
 the enemies

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.920
 around them

00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:35.680
 could be destroyed

00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:36.720
 the enemy

00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.160
 within

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:37.860
 had to be

00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:38.279
 destroyed

00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:41.319
 and Gideon's

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.180
 first battle

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.519
 was in his

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.600
 own backyard

00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:48.880
 to destroy

00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:49.519
 the pagan

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.319
 shrine

00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:52.120
 built there

00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:52.839
 by his father

00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.559
 Joash.

00:20:56.199 --> 00:20:56.839
 And the Lord

00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:57.679
 gives Gideon

00:20:57.679 --> 00:20:58.399
 very careful

00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.000
 instructions

00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:01.099
 and so Gideon

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.779
 actually

00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.879
 steps out

00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:03.779
 in faith

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:05.699
 having been

00:21:05.699 --> 00:21:06.279
 brought to

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:06.799
 heal as it were

00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.459
 he steps now

00:21:07.459 --> 00:21:08.199
 out in faith

00:21:08.199 --> 00:21:09.699
 carefully

00:21:09.699 --> 00:21:10.699
 following God's

00:21:10.699 --> 00:21:11.119
 instructions

00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:11.739
 and thereby

00:21:11.739 --> 00:21:12.639
 destroys

00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:14.099
 all these

00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:14.899
 religious icons

00:21:14.899 --> 00:21:15.379
 but it's not

00:21:15.379 --> 00:21:16.019
 just destroying

00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.159
 them

00:21:16.159 --> 00:21:16.899
 the way in

00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:17.179
 which he

00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:17.639
 destroys them

00:21:17.639 --> 00:21:18.139
 actually makes

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.839
 a mockery

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.199
 of them.

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.079
 The bull

00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:21.980
 was the

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:23.319
 sign of

00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.099
 strength

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:25.460
 of Baal.

00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:26.639
 The Lord

00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:26.799
 says

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.079
 actually

00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:27.859
 those two

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.199
 bulls

00:21:28.199 --> 00:21:28.859
 you know

00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:29.319
 the religious

00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.539
 thing

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.579
 you rip

00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:30.919
 down the

00:21:30.919 --> 00:21:31.099
 altars

00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:31.500
 first of all

00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:32.220
 then butcher

00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.619
 the bulls

00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:32.980
 then burn

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.159
 them.

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.559
 It's making

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:34.919
 them whole

00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.559
 mockery

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.179
 of the

00:21:36.179 --> 00:21:36.439
 thing.

00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:39.159
 And use

00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.539
 by the way

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:39.859
 use the

00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.279
 Asherah

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.439
 pole

00:21:40.439 --> 00:21:42.339
 the very

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.099
 cultic

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:43.559
 symbol

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.779
 of religion

00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.980
 and fertility

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.179
 and preciousness

00:21:47.179 --> 00:21:48.039
 just use that

00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.539
 for the fire

00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:48.899
 while you're

00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:49.359
 burning those

00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:49.799
 bulls.

00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:50.960
 It's just

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.440
 slapstick

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:52.879
 comedy.

00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.019
 And then we

00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.559
 see something

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.119
 of the hearts

00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:00.680
 of the people

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:02.460
 and Gideon

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.240
 saw also

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:03.879
 something of

00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.180
 the hearts

00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:04.519
 of the people

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:04.879
 because he

00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.480
 knew jolly

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:07.379
 well that

00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:08.200
 they were so

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.319
 committed to

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:09.759
 Baal there

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.019
 were going to

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.539
 be problems

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.700
 and he wasn't

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.079
 disappointed.

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.460
 The next

00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.559
 morning the

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.240
 workout that

00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.000
 Gideon did

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.099
 overnight and

00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.359
 so they

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.319
 demand his

00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:17.940
 death.

00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.399
 Get that.

00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:21.819
 God's

00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.659
 own special

00:22:22.659 --> 00:22:23.819
 people while

00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:24.079
 they were

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.220
 busy treating

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:25.639
 God with

00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:26.779
 absolute

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.659
 contempt

00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:29.700
 now want to

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.379
 drag Gideon

00:22:30.379 --> 00:22:31.099
 out and

00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:31.599
 kill him

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.779
 because he

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.339
 dishonored

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:33.799
 their God

00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:35.599
 their Baal.

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.980
 But Gideon's

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.779
 father Joash

00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.599
 comes to his

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:43.980
 rescue.

00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:44.899
 And it's

00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:45.379
 interesting there's

00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:46.079
 a lot going on

00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:46.220
 here.

00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:46.599
 I just don't

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.039
 have time to

00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.339
 stop.

00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:47.759
 There's a

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.240
 sermon just

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:50.199
 in the imagery

00:22:50.199 --> 00:22:50.619
 here by

00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:50.959
 itself.

00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:54.039
 So the

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:54.879
 name of

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:56.459
 Baal is

00:22:56.459 --> 00:22:57.199
 in Hebrew

00:22:57.199 --> 00:22:57.599
 El.

00:22:58.939 --> 00:22:59.500
 And that's

00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.079
 in contrast

00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.359
 with the

00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:00.639
 name of

00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:01.099
 Jehovah

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:01.879
 Elohim.

00:23:03.139 --> 00:23:03.799
 There's a

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.439
 clash going

00:23:04.439 --> 00:23:04.879
 on here.

00:23:07.679 --> 00:23:08.240
 Joash

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.799
 means Yahweh

00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:10.439
 delivers or

00:23:10.439 --> 00:23:10.839
 the Lord

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.299
 delivers.

00:23:11.419 --> 00:23:11.759
 That's what

00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.179
 his name

00:23:12.179 --> 00:23:12.579
 means.

00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:14.339
 So the

00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:15.119
 Lord delivers

00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:16.059
 comes to

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.439
 Gideon's

00:23:16.439 --> 00:23:17.979
 defense and

00:23:17.979 --> 00:23:18.419
 the incident

00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:19.539
 ends awkwardly

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.659
 with Gideon

00:23:21.659 --> 00:23:23.019
 being renamed

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.079
 Jerabbaal.

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.399
 Meaning

00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:27.439
 may Baal

00:23:27.439 --> 00:23:27.899
 deliver.

00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:29.979
 It's a

00:23:29.979 --> 00:23:30.739
 contest to

00:23:30.739 --> 00:23:31.759
 see who

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.539
 is real.

00:23:37.479 --> 00:23:38.259
 And we're

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.579
 not given

00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.039
 the answer.

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.019
 It just

00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.959
 ends awkwardly.

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.959
 Perhaps because

00:23:42.959 --> 00:23:43.779
 we're supposed

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.339
 to know the

00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.480
 answer already.

00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:50.559
 And how

00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.279
 awful is it

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.819
 my friends.

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.740
 How awful

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:54.639
 that God's

00:23:54.639 --> 00:23:55.259
 people would

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:56.119
 rise as

00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:57.359
 one to

00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:58.180
 protect the

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.920
 honor of

00:23:58.920 --> 00:24:00.619
 this trashy

00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.700
 false god

00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.299
 Baal.

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:04.859
 When all

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.460
 his shrines

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:05.859
 lie in

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:06.359
 ruins.

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.839
 While at the

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.480
 very same

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.619
 moment rejecting

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:12.039
 and treating

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.759
 with utter

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.359
 contempt

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.779
 the only

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.379
 true God

00:24:15.379 --> 00:24:15.619
 who'd

00:24:15.619 --> 00:24:16.399
 proved his

00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:17.000
 love for

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.619
 them over

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.279
 and over

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.599
 and over

00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:18.939
 again and

00:24:18.939 --> 00:24:19.139
 who'd

00:24:19.139 --> 00:24:20.119
 shown his

00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:20.739
 power to

00:24:20.739 --> 00:24:20.899
 them.

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.779
 So Gideon

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.199
 cleans up

00:24:25.199 --> 00:24:25.500
 his own

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.119
 backyard and

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:26.899
 then the

00:24:26.899 --> 00:24:27.500
 Lord is

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:27.939
 ready to

00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:28.699
 turbocharge

00:24:28.699 --> 00:24:29.099
 him for

00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:29.659
 his role

00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.519
 as saviour.

00:24:30.939 --> 00:24:31.919
 633

00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:32.799
 through to

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.839
 chapter 7

00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.639
 verse 25.

00:24:35.919 --> 00:24:36.500
 So verse

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.099
 33 of

00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:38.979
 chapter 6

00:24:38.979 --> 00:24:39.479
 this is the

00:24:39.479 --> 00:24:40.039
 stuff we

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.480
 haven't read

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:40.839
 so I'm

00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.420
 not going

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:41.720
 to be able

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.000
 to read

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.259
 it all.

00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:42.519
 I'll just

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:42.899
 touch down

00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:43.039
 on a

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.299
 couple of

00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:43.559
 things.

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.759
 Verse 33

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.200
 Now all

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.899
 the Midianites

00:24:46.899 --> 00:24:47.139
 and the

00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:47.779
 Amalekites

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.019
 and the

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.339
 people of

00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:48.619
 the east

00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.259
 came together

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.579
 and they

00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.000
 crossed the

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.399
 Jordan and

00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:50.720
 camped in

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.000
 the valley

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.519
 of Jezreel.

00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:51.839
 It's on

00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.259
 again for

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:52.639
 the eighth

00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:52.960
 year in

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.200
 a row.

00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:53.720
 The big

00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.279
 invasion's

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.440
 on.

00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.879
 135,000

00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:57.539
 mobile

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.099
 troops

00:24:58.099 --> 00:25:00.859
 coming to

00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:01.399
 just

00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:04.240
 strip the

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:04.879
 land again.

00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.000
 And at

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.399
 that point

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:09.940
 the Lord

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.440
 the next

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.780
 verse gave

00:25:11.780 --> 00:25:13.460
 Gideon a

00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.080
 special

00:25:14.080 --> 00:25:14.620
 enabling.

00:25:16.280 --> 00:25:17.420
 The spirit

00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:17.920
 of the

00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:19.400
 Lord clothed

00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:19.740
 Gideon.

00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:20.720
 Actually in

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.000
 the Hebrew

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.259
 it's the

00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:21.460
 other way

00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:21.820
 around.

00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:23.500
 It's the

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.720
 spirit clothed

00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:25.200
 himself with

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:25.580
 Gideon.

00:25:27.060 --> 00:25:27.759
 There's a

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.600
 different emphasis

00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:28.960
 there.

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.660
 Because the

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.259
 focus is on

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:32.680
 the spirit.

00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:34.960
 But either

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.820
 way Gideon

00:25:35.820 --> 00:25:36.180
 gets a

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:36.660
 special

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.220
 enabling.

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:39.180
 And with

00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.039
 that Gideon

00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:41.279
 steps out in

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.839
 faith again.

00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.440
 And rallies

00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:43.640
 God's people

00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:45.779
 to destroy

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.420
 their enemies

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:47.440
 so they might

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.039
 enjoy God's

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.140
 place, the

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.740
 promised land

00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.339
 once again.

00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:54.000
 But remember

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.059
 who Gideon has

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.640
 to work with.

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:56.960
 This is only

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.980
 at best a

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:59.319
 militia that

00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.680
 he's going to

00:25:59.680 --> 00:25:59.920
 rally.

00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:00.460
 These are only

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:00.940
 farmers.

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.100
 farmers.

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.160
 They're not

00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:04.120
 trained troops.

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.840
 But they're

00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.820
 facing a

00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:07.220
 massive,

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.720
 heavily armed,

00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:10.120
 organized army.

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.299
 And so perhaps

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.100
 it's not surprising

00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:14.000
 that poor old

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.600
 Gideon is still

00:26:14.600 --> 00:26:15.440
 saying if,

00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:17.039
 if you look at

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.120
 verse 36

00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:18.539
 onwards,

00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:20.120
 if you will

00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:20.759
 save Israel.

00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.180
 And with that

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.759
 then he launches

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.720
 into this very

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:25.279
 familiar passage

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:26.140
 of the fleece,

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:26.640
 putting out the

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.320
 fleeces before

00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:27.759
 the Lord.

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:32.220
 And it's his

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.940
 sinking into

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.940
 fear and

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.799
 distrust once

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:37.019
 again that

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:39.599
 leads Gideon

00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.420
 to put

00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.200
 outrageous

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:41.940
 demands on

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.319
 the Lord.

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.259
 He's already

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.740
 had assurance

00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.980
 after assurance

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.099
 after assurance

00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:47.819
 and proof

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.539
 after proof

00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.240
 after proof.

00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:49.960
 And what do we

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.519
 find Gideon

00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:50.980
 doing again?

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.420
 Well, show me

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.059
 Lord, prove it

00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:53.359
 to me.

00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.640
 Gideon's fleece

00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.700
 is actually

00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.620
 evidence of

00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.480
 faithlessness.

00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:03.160
 He already

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:03.960
 had God's

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.240
 word.

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:04.980
 He already

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.680
 had multiple

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.220
 practical

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:06.700
 assurances.

00:27:07.280 --> 00:27:07.960
 But Gideon

00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:08.900
 can't trust

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.460
 the Lord.

00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.259
 He can't

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.620
 take his

00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:10.960
 word at

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.480
 face value.

00:27:11.580 --> 00:27:11.920
 He still

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.480
 wants more

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:12.900
 proof.

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.020
 And the

00:27:15.020 --> 00:27:15.620
 amazing thing

00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.520
 is that God

00:27:16.520 --> 00:27:17.020
 just doesn't

00:27:17.020 --> 00:27:17.580
 zap him.

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.320
 But God

00:27:18.320 --> 00:27:18.600
 actually

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:19.360
 obliges

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:22.520
 and patiently

00:27:22.520 --> 00:27:24.100
 nurtures and

00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:25.600
 nudges Gideon

00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:26.040
 through his

00:27:26.040 --> 00:27:26.540
 unbelief.

00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.099
 And to

00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.519
 again to

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.200
 chapter 7,

00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.539
 the well-known

00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.639
 detail of how

00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:31.559
 the Lord

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:33.519
 reduced Gideon's

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.599
 forces to

00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:34.940
 300.

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.119
 Now, it's

00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:36.480
 always been

00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.279
 said when

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.980
 preachers

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.319
 preach in

00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:39.059
 this, it's a

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.960
 300-strong

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.460
 force of

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.480
 crack troops.

00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.399
 Well, I think

00:27:43.399 --> 00:27:43.920
 that's rubbish.

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:44.859
 The point is

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:46.039
 here that 300

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.099
 is laughable

00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:48.279
 going up against

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.920
 an organized

00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.319
 army.

00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:50.240
 Now, when you

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.879
 do the statistics

00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:51.220
 on this

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.839
 organized army,

00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.980
 135,000,

00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:53.899
 it would have

00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:54.319
 taken about

00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:55.599
 100 football

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.740
 fields to

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.199
 camp them.

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.959
 If there

00:28:00.959 --> 00:28:01.599
 was 50

00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:02.279
 soldiers to

00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.119
 every campfire,

00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:04.039
 then there

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.259
 would have

00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.619
 been something

00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:05.579
 like 270

00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.339
 campfires.

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.019
 Now, this

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.339
 was a

00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:09.299
 sizable force

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.779
 over about

00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:12.039
 200 hectares,

00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.559
 not to mention

00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.199
 all the camels

00:28:14.199 --> 00:28:14.579
 and all the

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.159
 support people

00:28:15.159 --> 00:28:15.379
 that would

00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:15.539
 have been

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.079
 around about

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.279
 them.

00:28:17.439 --> 00:28:17.839
 So the

00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.519
 point here

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.319
 is that a

00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:19.699
 force of

00:28:19.699 --> 00:28:20.299
 300 is

00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.539
 just absolutely,

00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.359
 humanly speaking,

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.000
 laughable,

00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.599
 ridiculous.

00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:25.359
 wouldn't

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:25.719
 matter how

00:28:25.719 --> 00:28:26.240
 cracked the

00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.799
 troops were.

00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:27.559
 You know,

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:27.980
 it's just a

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:31.079
 joke in

00:28:31.079 --> 00:28:32.039
 military terms.

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.219
 It's not

00:28:37.219 --> 00:28:37.899
 Gideon's

00:28:37.899 --> 00:28:39.019
 strategy or

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.459
 brilliant

00:28:39.459 --> 00:28:40.619
 leadership which

00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.019
 won the

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.939
 battle, but

00:28:41.939 --> 00:28:42.319
 the Lord.

00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:42.699
 Look at

00:28:42.699 --> 00:28:43.419
 verse 2.

00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:43.759
 The Lord

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.139
 said to

00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:44.459
 Gideon,

00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:45.339
 the people

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:45.799
 with you

00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.339
 are too

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:47.019
 many for

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.339
 me to

00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:47.719
 give the

00:28:47.719 --> 00:28:48.259
 Midianites

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:48.679
 into their

00:28:48.679 --> 00:28:48.899
 hand,

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.659
 lest Israel

00:28:49.659 --> 00:28:50.539
 boast over

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:50.899
 me,

00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.000
 saying,

00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:52.579
 my own

00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.119
 hand to

00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:53.599
 save me.

00:28:55.659 --> 00:28:56.059
 There's

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.319
 what the

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:56.579
 Lord's

00:28:56.579 --> 00:28:56.879
 about.

00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:57.979
 He's not

00:28:57.979 --> 00:28:58.559
 filtering them

00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:58.879
 out just

00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.239
 to get the

00:28:59.239 --> 00:29:00.019
 best troops.

00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:00.879
 He's

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.279
 filtering them

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.599
 out so

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:01.819
 it's a

00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.439
 ridiculously

00:29:02.439 --> 00:29:03.839
 small group

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:05.479
 that has

00:29:05.479 --> 00:29:06.839
 to be a

00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.339
 victory from

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.719
 the Lord.

00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:11.839
 And here's

00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:12.219
 the point,

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:12.679
 you see.

00:29:13.479 --> 00:29:13.979
 As their

00:29:13.979 --> 00:29:14.539
 covenant

00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.879
 keeping God,

00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.139
 the one who's

00:29:17.139 --> 00:29:17.979
 promised to

00:29:17.979 --> 00:29:18.399
 care for

00:29:18.399 --> 00:29:18.599
 them,

00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:20.059
 then he

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.899
 will be

00:29:20.899 --> 00:29:21.099
 their

00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:21.799
 deliverer.

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:23.399
 those two

00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:24.000
 things go

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.419
 hand in

00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:24.799
 hand.

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:26.759
 And God's

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.279
 people need

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:27.680
 to learn

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.019
 that.

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:33.159
 So he's

00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:33.759
 turbocharged

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.019
 for the

00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.480
 task.

00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:35.200
 The task

00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.480
 is accomplished

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.339
 but the

00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.559
 final stage

00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.419
 in Gideon's

00:29:39.419 --> 00:29:39.839
 life,

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.240
 Gideon

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.019
 becomes part

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.240
 of the

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:43.559
 problem

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.059
 again.

00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.500
 Chapter

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:45.740
 8,

00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.279
 verses 1

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.659
 through to

00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:47.039
 32.

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.159
 Now this

00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:48.480
 is a

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:48.879
 really,

00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:49.460
 really sort

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.019
 of depressing

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.539
 chapter.

00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.099
 The story

00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:52.900
 of Gideon

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.619
 ends

00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:54.480
 tragically

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:56.099
 because

00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:56.720
 Gideon

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.960
 goes rogue.

00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.940
 Once again,

00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:02.639
 Gideon's

00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:03.779
 enemy within

00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:05.900
 rises up

00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:06.720
 to cause

00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.279
 the same

00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:07.940
 sort of

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.420
 utter

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.099
 destruction

00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:10.099
 in Gideon

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:11.000
 as he

00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:11.539
 is just

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.180
 with God's

00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:12.440
 hand

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.079
 inflicted

00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:13.400
 on the

00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:13.960
 Midianites.

00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.180
 And again,

00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.639
 we get this

00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:17.059
 wonderful

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:18.519
 contrast,

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:20.519
 strong

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.180
 contrast.

00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.660
 So there's

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:24.920
 two or

00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:25.379
 three episodes

00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:25.839
 in chapter

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.039
 8,

00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:26.220
 and I'll

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:26.440
 have to

00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:26.740
 leave you

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.079
 to read

00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:27.519
 the details

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:27.920
 for yourself,

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.339
 but two

00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:28.619
 or three

00:30:28.619 --> 00:30:29.019
 episodes

00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.480
 in chapter

00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:29.799
 8 that

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.440
 show how

00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.480
 far Gideon

00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:32.339
 falls again

00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:33.859
 as he

00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:34.539
 gives way

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:34.779
 to his

00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:34.920
 own

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.440
 unbelief

00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.019
 and

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.599
 faithlessness.

00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:37.500
 First

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:37.680
 up,

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:37.980
 he goes

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.759
 well beyond

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.200
 God's

00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:39.680
 mission

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.379
 of

00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:40.960
 delivering

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.759
 God's

00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.059
 people.

00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.200
 So

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.319
 18 to

00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:44.819
 21,

00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:45.879
 Gideon

00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:47.019
 first appears

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.740
 really heroic

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.539
 in that not

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.200
 only does

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:50.079
 he pursue

00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:50.799
 the Midianites

00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.140
 to the

00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:51.880
 borders of

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.240
 the promised

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.440
 land,

00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:53.220
 he pursues

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.519
 them for

00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:55.099
 days east

00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:56.259
 along the

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.039
 caravan routes.

00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:58.440
 And he

00:30:58.440 --> 00:30:59.099
 finally falls

00:30:59.099 --> 00:30:59.500
 upon the

00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.940
 last sort

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.460
 of sizable

00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:01.960
 detachment

00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.440
 of forces,

00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.380
 about 15,000,

00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:04.620
 another surprise

00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.000
 attack,

00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:05.400
 and he

00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:05.799
 completely

00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.440
 destroys

00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:06.579
 them,

00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.200
 takes their

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.779
 remaining

00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.299
 commanders,

00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:08.680
 their remaining

00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:10.339
 kings captive

00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:10.819
 and kills

00:31:10.819 --> 00:31:11.000
 them.

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.180
 And then we

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.920
 discover something

00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.539
 that hits us

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:15.680
 like a ton of

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.339
 bricks left

00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:16.700
 field.

00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.860
 what we

00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:18.900
 discover is

00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:20.299
 that Gideon's

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:20.880
 motives in

00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:21.440
 doing that

00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.140
 were very,

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:22.740
 very mixed.

00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.059
 He had

00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.799
 gone well

00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.740
 beyond God's

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.240
 brief and

00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.160
 it turns out

00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:29.019
 that he is

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.880
 pursuing these

00:31:29.880 --> 00:31:30.539
 kings because

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.160
 at some other

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:31.920
 point in time

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.460
 they had taken

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.259
 captive his

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.200
 sons and

00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:34.700
 killed them.

00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:36.759
 Gideon was

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.220
 on a

00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.400
 revenge trip

00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:42.740
 and we're

00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.380
 not told

00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:44.620
 how,

00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:46.160
 where his

00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:46.720
 motives were,

00:31:47.360 --> 00:31:48.180
 but at

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:50.280
 least his

00:31:50.280 --> 00:31:50.740
 motives were

00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:51.100
 mixed.

00:31:54.060 --> 00:31:54.980
 He was

00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:55.900
 using his

00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:57.560
 position and

00:31:57.560 --> 00:31:58.540
 his commission

00:31:58.540 --> 00:32:00.100
 to exact

00:32:00.100 --> 00:32:01.700
 revenge on

00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.820
 those who

00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:03.180
 had killed

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:04.019
 his sons.

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:06.599
 along the

00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:06.920
 way,

00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:07.799
 there's two

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.240
 cities,

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.019
 two villages

00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:10.039
 who refused

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:10.579
 to give

00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:12.680
 Gideon help.

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.660
 His troops

00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:14.160
 had sort of

00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:14.700
 taken off,

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.139
 they hadn't

00:32:15.139 --> 00:32:15.740
 been properly

00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:17.819
 supplied,

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.099
 they needed

00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:19.639
 some food.

00:32:20.099 --> 00:32:20.379
 And they

00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:20.779
 asked these

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.819
 two villages

00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.279
 to help,

00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.139
 feed my

00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:23.440
 troops.

00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.319
 And they

00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:25.819
 refused.

00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:27.759
 Now the

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.299
 interesting point

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:28.639
 is that they

00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.379
 refused because

00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:29.720
 they were

00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:30.720
 fearful,

00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:33.360
 fearful of

00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:34.380
 reprisals from

00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.420
 the Midianites,

00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:36.100
 fearful that

00:32:36.100 --> 00:32:36.860
 Gideon wouldn't

00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:37.220
 be able to

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.860
 catch these

00:32:37.860 --> 00:32:38.360
 kings and

00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:39.220
 finally dispatch

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:39.779
 them and

00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:40.000
 that there

00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.759
 might be a

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.660
 counterattack.

00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:42.980
 But the

00:32:42.980 --> 00:32:43.539
 point is here

00:32:43.539 --> 00:32:43.799
 they were

00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.380
 fearful.

00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:49.480
 But Gideon,

00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:51.279
 who had

00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.279
 received such

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:53.380
 gracious and

00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:54.220
 gentle treatment

00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:54.779
 from the

00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.660
 Lord through

00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.539
 his fears,

00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:59.240
 wasn't able to

00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.400
 extend grace

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:01.160
 to those who

00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:01.620
 were fearful.

00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:03.060
 And he had

00:33:03.060 --> 00:33:03.480
 them killed,

00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.000
 every one of

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.080
 them,

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.660
 tortured them

00:33:04.660 --> 00:33:05.100
 and killed

00:33:05.100 --> 00:33:05.320
 them.

00:33:08.580 --> 00:33:09.259
 And so we

00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:09.900
 see something

00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.720
 really wrong

00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:11.080
 about this

00:33:11.080 --> 00:33:11.440
 man,

00:33:12.800 --> 00:33:13.460
 the man who

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.040
 had received

00:33:14.040 --> 00:33:15.019
 such grace,

00:33:16.280 --> 00:33:16.720
 been able to,

00:33:17.540 --> 00:33:18.240
 unable to

00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.040
 extend grace

00:33:19.040 --> 00:33:19.880
 in an

00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:20.200
 identical

00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:20.840
 situation.

00:33:23.400 --> 00:33:23.980
 And the

00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:24.640
 third episode,

00:33:26.360 --> 00:33:27.780
 verses 22

00:33:27.780 --> 00:33:28.840
 to 33,

00:33:29.280 --> 00:33:30.220
 let me try

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:30.500
 out again,

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:33.500
 22 to 32,

00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:39.120
 Gideon really

00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:39.600
 goes rogue.

00:33:39.660 --> 00:33:40.100
 This is worst

00:33:40.100 --> 00:33:40.380
 of all,

00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:40.940
 because Gideon

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.600
 appears,

00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.120
 started to

00:33:43.120 --> 00:33:44.420
 believe that he

00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:44.799
 was somebody

00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.240
 special.

00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.579
 Initially the

00:33:46.579 --> 00:33:47.079
 people come and

00:33:47.079 --> 00:33:47.640
 say, look, we

00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:48.079
 want you to be

00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:48.620
 our king, you're

00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.059
 such a great

00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:49.480
 deliverer.

00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:49.860
 And Gideon

00:33:49.860 --> 00:33:50.279
 says, no,

00:33:50.339 --> 00:33:50.759
 no, no, no,

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.200
 no, no, no,

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.440
 no, no,

00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:51.900
 that's not

00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:52.079
 right.

00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:52.960
 God is your

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.180
 king.

00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:54.240
 But from that

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.860
 point on,

00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.720
 Gideon starts to

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.500
 live like an

00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.259
 oriental king.

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:59.059
 he's got a

00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.379
 massive

00:33:59.379 --> 00:33:59.920
 harem.

00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.480
 That's lots

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.119
 of girls,

00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:02.759
 for those who

00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:02.980
 don't know

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:03.140
 what the

00:34:03.140 --> 00:34:03.480
 word is.

00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:07.539
 And he

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:08.380
 rejects the

00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:08.940
 Lord once

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.380
 again.

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:11.159
 And he

00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:12.059
 leads his

00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:13.860
 people into

00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.719
 idolatry.

00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:21.619
 what a

00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.839
 position to

00:34:22.839 --> 00:34:23.299
 be in.

00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:24.779
 To say,

00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:25.399
 and this

00:34:25.399 --> 00:34:25.859
 particularly

00:34:25.859 --> 00:34:26.500
 resonated with

00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.339
 me, to

00:34:27.339 --> 00:34:28.019
 be a leader

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.559
 of God's

00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:30.819
 people and

00:34:30.819 --> 00:34:31.559
 actually lead

00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:32.000
 them into

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.719
 idolatry, lead

00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:33.419
 them away from

00:34:33.419 --> 00:34:33.819
 the Lord.

00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:35.559
 And that's

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.019
 what Gideon

00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:36.279
 did.

00:34:41.919 --> 00:34:42.519
 It's a

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.219
 very pathetic

00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:44.099
 story.

00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.359
 in lots

00:34:45.359 --> 00:34:45.819
 of ways.

00:34:46.439 --> 00:34:46.739
 Gideon

00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:47.579
 showed glimpses

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:47.939
 of great

00:34:47.939 --> 00:34:48.939
 faith, but

00:34:48.939 --> 00:34:49.359
 generally

00:34:49.359 --> 00:34:53.419
 speaking, he

00:34:53.419 --> 00:34:53.939
 finished his

00:34:53.939 --> 00:34:54.500
 life as he

00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.039
 started it.

00:34:55.879 --> 00:34:56.599
 Convinced that

00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:57.679
 security, that

00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:58.480
 satisfaction in

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.119
 the good life

00:34:59.119 --> 00:35:00.019
 was to be

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.519
 found in his

00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:01.939
 own efforts and

00:35:01.939 --> 00:35:02.579
 apart from the

00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:02.759
 Lord.

00:35:04.359 --> 00:35:05.759
 So, why are we

00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:06.639
 shown this very

00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:07.279
 ordinary leader?

00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:09.179
 Because it

00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:09.759
 highlights a

00:35:09.759 --> 00:35:10.699
 very extraordinary

00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:11.139
 God.

00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:13.139
 God's

00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:14.139
 grace.

00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:14.519
 I've just

00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:14.859
 about run

00:35:14.859 --> 00:35:15.299
 out of time,

00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:15.839
 so I'm

00:35:15.839 --> 00:35:16.500
 going to

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.199
 abbreviate what

00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:17.799
 I've got left

00:35:17.799 --> 00:35:18.000
 here.

00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:19.940
 The constant in

00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:21.940
 this story is

00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.719
 God's grace.

00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:24.699
 That's the

00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:25.920
 constant throughout

00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.420
 this story.

00:35:28.199 --> 00:35:28.719
 God's

00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:29.679
 patience, his

00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:30.699
 generosity, his

00:35:30.699 --> 00:35:31.659
 faithfulness, his

00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:33.460
 mercy, and most

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:33.940
 of all, his

00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:34.819
 deliverance to

00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:35.299
 people who

00:35:35.299 --> 00:35:35.980
 didn't deserve

00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.199
 it.

00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:38.199
 God's

00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:38.719
 God's

00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:38.739
 love.

00:35:39.819 --> 00:35:41.480
 Because that is

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:41.960
 what the

00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.859
 covenant-keeping

00:35:42.859 --> 00:35:43.919
 God does.

00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:47.139
 He delivers his

00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:48.500
 covenant people,

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.779
 even when they

00:35:50.779 --> 00:35:51.639
 don't deserve it,

00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:54.059
 and especially

00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:55.159
 when they don't

00:35:55.159 --> 00:35:55.659
 deserve it.

00:35:56.759 --> 00:35:58.299
 He delivers us

00:35:58.299 --> 00:35:59.980
 in spite of

00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:02.239
 ourselves, not

00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.779
 because of

00:36:02.779 --> 00:36:03.199
 ourselves.

00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:07.460
 God rescues

00:36:07.460 --> 00:36:08.159
 nobodies.

00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:09.859
 That is, his

00:36:09.859 --> 00:36:10.659
 undeserving,

00:36:10.819 --> 00:36:11.279
 needy people.

00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:13.839
 See, when we

00:36:13.839 --> 00:36:14.239
 look at this

00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:16.019
 story, as we

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.799
 see every time

00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:17.239
 we look at a

00:36:17.239 --> 00:36:17.599
 story in the

00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:17.980
 Old Testament,

00:36:18.259 --> 00:36:19.939
 it appears that

00:36:19.939 --> 00:36:20.639
 what God's

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.179
 people need

00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:22.219
 rescuing from is

00:36:22.219 --> 00:36:23.059
 this external

00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.500
 enemy.

00:36:24.419 --> 00:36:25.239
 But ultimately,

00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:26.299
 what God's

00:36:26.299 --> 00:36:26.779
 people need

00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:28.839
 rescuing from is

00:36:28.839 --> 00:36:30.199
 symbolized and

00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:31.000
 personified in

00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.319
 Gideon.

00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.259
 We need

00:36:32.259 --> 00:36:33.119
 rescuing from

00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:34.139
 their internal

00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.579
 enemy.

00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:35.440
 It's that

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.460
 internal enemy,

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.679
 that sinful,

00:36:37.880 --> 00:36:38.739
 rebellious heart.

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:39.900
 It's that

00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:43.139
 which robs us

00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:44.019
 of the blessings

00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:45.219
 of relationship

00:36:45.219 --> 00:36:45.819
 with God.

00:36:48.799 --> 00:36:49.739
 And it's that

00:36:49.739 --> 00:36:50.539
 very thing that

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:51.119
 the Lord actually

00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:52.539
 longs for us to

00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:52.980
 enjoy.

00:36:53.759 --> 00:36:54.859
 So, we've got

00:36:54.859 --> 00:36:55.639
 this picture of

00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:56.339
 God moving

00:36:56.339 --> 00:36:57.000
 towards us,

00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:57.519
 Jehovah

00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.139
 Shalom.

00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.299
 He's moving

00:36:59.299 --> 00:36:59.880
 towards us,

00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:00.819
 wanting us to

00:37:00.819 --> 00:37:01.619
 have peace and

00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:02.679
 rest and blessing

00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:03.119
 in the good

00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:04.199
 life, and

00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:04.799
 we're busy

00:37:04.799 --> 00:37:05.500
 running away

00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.159
 from him or

00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:06.799
 coming back

00:37:06.799 --> 00:37:08.079
 at war with

00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:08.259
 him.

00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:13.480
 God uses

00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:15.500
 suffering simply

00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:16.639
 as the means of

00:37:16.639 --> 00:37:18.119
 exposing the

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:18.819
 enemy within,

00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:20.699
 their unruly

00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:21.199
 hearts.

00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:22.899
 And so,

00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:23.399
 what God's

00:37:23.399 --> 00:37:24.119
 people really

00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:25.539
 need was a

00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.919
 king who

00:37:26.919 --> 00:37:27.919
 would rule

00:37:27.919 --> 00:37:28.719
 over them and

00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:30.619
 subdue them so

00:37:30.619 --> 00:37:30.819
 that they

00:37:30.819 --> 00:37:31.579
 live for God's

00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:32.199
 glory and

00:37:32.199 --> 00:37:33.579
 honor rather

00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:33.920
 than for

00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:34.279
 self.

00:37:35.799 --> 00:37:36.139
 And the

00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:36.579
 story of

00:37:36.579 --> 00:37:37.799
 Gideon models

00:37:37.799 --> 00:37:39.119
 God's salvation.

00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:41.639
 God honors

00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:43.819
 those who

00:37:43.819 --> 00:37:44.759
 dishonor him

00:37:44.759 --> 00:37:45.539
 so terribly.

00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:49.199
 God's people

00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.539
 constantly go to

00:37:50.539 --> 00:37:51.519
 war with God,

00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:53.559
 but God

00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:54.559
 keeps moving

00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.179
 towards them.

00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:59.940
 He moves

00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:00.519
 towards them

00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:00.899
 through his

00:38:00.899 --> 00:38:01.460
 prophet in

00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:01.980
 this story

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.440
 and through

00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:04.199
 his word to

00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:04.500
 help them

00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.259
 understand their

00:38:05.259 --> 00:38:05.839
 hopelessness,

00:38:06.339 --> 00:38:07.039
 and then he

00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:08.159
 establishes peace

00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:08.859
 as Jehovah

00:38:08.859 --> 00:38:09.399
 Shalom.

00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:12.159
 My friends,

00:38:12.279 --> 00:38:12.799
 the ultimate

00:38:12.799 --> 00:38:13.619
 display of that

00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:15.359
 model is the

00:38:15.359 --> 00:38:15.819
 Lord Jesus

00:38:15.819 --> 00:38:16.319
 Christ,

00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:19.059
 because he is

00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:20.019
 God's best

00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:20.440
 prophet,

00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:21.000
 we're told,

00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:22.099
 in Hebrews.

00:38:22.099 --> 00:38:24.380
 He has

00:38:24.380 --> 00:38:25.219
 spoken most

00:38:25.219 --> 00:38:27.440
 clearly to

00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:27.900
 us through

00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.239
 Jesus.

00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:28.860
 It's through

00:38:28.860 --> 00:38:29.559
 the words of

00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:30.019
 Jesus that we

00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:31.000
 understand our

00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:31.739
 hopelessness and

00:38:31.739 --> 00:38:32.539
 our helplessness,

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.799
 and we were

00:38:33.799 --> 00:38:34.420
 helped to take

00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:35.179
 ownership of our

00:38:35.179 --> 00:38:36.019
 sins and call

00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:36.860
 out for mercy.

00:38:41.400 --> 00:38:42.339
 And Jesus is

00:38:42.339 --> 00:38:43.079
 also God's

00:38:43.079 --> 00:38:43.739
 perfect king,

00:38:44.739 --> 00:38:45.920
 who comes to

00:38:45.920 --> 00:38:46.679
 us and by his

00:38:46.679 --> 00:38:48.019
 spirit subdues

00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:49.239
 our unruly

00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:50.579
 hearts and

00:38:50.579 --> 00:38:51.480
 rules us with

00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.280
 such strength

00:38:52.280 --> 00:38:52.960
 and gentleness

00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:54.019
 that our

00:38:54.019 --> 00:38:55.179
 hearts overflow

00:38:55.179 --> 00:38:55.760
 with new

00:38:55.760 --> 00:38:56.559
 desires for the

00:38:56.559 --> 00:38:56.920
 Lord, new

00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.579
 attitudes of

00:38:57.579 --> 00:38:58.440
 worship, new

00:38:58.440 --> 00:38:59.420
 determination to

00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:00.880
 tear down the

00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:02.340
 internal idols.

00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:08.059
 And God

00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:10.139
 rescues with

00:39:10.139 --> 00:39:10.880
 those who are

00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:13.219
 nothing in the

00:39:13.219 --> 00:39:13.719
 eyes of the

00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:14.000
 world.

00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:16.980
 Gideon was

00:39:16.980 --> 00:39:17.519
 from an

00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:18.400
 obscure clan,

00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:18.940
 the smallest

00:39:18.940 --> 00:39:19.460
 tribe.

00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:22.400
 And at

00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:23.240
 first glance he

00:39:23.240 --> 00:39:24.260
 appeared hopelessly

00:39:24.260 --> 00:39:25.159
 inadequate as a

00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:25.440
 savior.

00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:27.139
 Yet the Lord

00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:27.920
 used him to

00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:29.699
 deliver his

00:39:29.699 --> 00:39:31.079
 people against

00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:32.719
 overwhelming odds.

00:39:34.500 --> 00:39:35.760
 He delivered his

00:39:35.760 --> 00:39:36.340
 people from an

00:39:36.340 --> 00:39:37.760
 enemy so powerful

00:39:37.760 --> 00:39:39.579
 that it kept

00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.679
 God's people in

00:39:40.679 --> 00:39:42.000
 fear at best,

00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:43.000
 and at worst

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:44.159
 actually led to

00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.880
 their destruction.

00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:47.940
 And again,

00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:48.179
 you see,

00:39:48.179 --> 00:39:48.940
 we've got a

00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.839
 wonderful picture

00:39:49.839 --> 00:39:50.779
 of Jesus,

00:39:52.779 --> 00:39:53.139
 who,

00:39:54.279 --> 00:39:54.719
 according to

00:39:54.719 --> 00:39:54.879
 Isaiah,

00:39:54.879 --> 00:39:56.099
 had nothing to

00:39:56.099 --> 00:39:56.960
 attract people to.

00:39:58.279 --> 00:39:59.119
 And yet,

00:40:00.399 --> 00:40:02.059
 takes on an

00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:02.879
 enemy far,

00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:04.980
 far more

00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:05.579
 awful and

00:40:05.579 --> 00:40:06.419
 superior than

00:40:06.419 --> 00:40:07.099
 anything Gideon

00:40:07.099 --> 00:40:07.559
 faced.

00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:09.139
 The power of

00:40:09.139 --> 00:40:09.879
 Satan himself,

00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:11.980
 and the fear of

00:40:11.980 --> 00:40:13.960
 death that we're

00:40:13.960 --> 00:40:14.480
 held in,

00:40:14.699 --> 00:40:15.460
 and the ultimate

00:40:15.460 --> 00:40:16.279
 destruction of

00:40:16.279 --> 00:40:17.480
 death that we're

00:40:17.480 --> 00:40:18.000
 headed to.

00:40:19.260 --> 00:40:20.119
 And Jesus

00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:21.980
 defeats that

00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:23.980
 enemy against,

00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:25.820
 delivers us

00:40:25.820 --> 00:40:26.980
 against overwhelming

00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:27.360
 odds.

00:40:29.039 --> 00:40:29.519
 Why?

00:40:31.940 --> 00:40:32.619
 For the very

00:40:32.619 --> 00:40:33.260
 same reason he's

00:40:33.260 --> 00:40:33.639
 delivered his

00:40:33.639 --> 00:40:34.059
 people in.

00:40:35.380 --> 00:40:36.059
 So that we

00:40:36.059 --> 00:40:37.480
 might honor him

00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:38.480
 as our God

00:40:38.480 --> 00:40:38.860
 and King.

00:40:39.960 --> 00:40:40.780
 That we might

00:40:40.780 --> 00:40:41.599
 fear him.

00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:44.599
 That we might

00:40:44.599 --> 00:40:45.320
 desire him.

00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:46.539
 That we might

00:40:46.539 --> 00:40:47.000
 honor him.

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:47.440
 That we might

00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:48.099
 obey him.

00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:49.059
 That we might

00:40:49.059 --> 00:40:50.019
 delight to live

00:40:50.019 --> 00:40:50.559
 under his

00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:51.320
 rule.

00:40:51.559 --> 00:40:52.019
 That we might

00:40:52.019 --> 00:40:52.719
 overflow in

00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:53.440
 thankfulness to

00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:53.579
 him.

00:40:55.219 --> 00:40:55.940
 That we might

00:40:55.940 --> 00:40:56.699
 just say,

00:40:57.300 --> 00:40:59.119
 you are my

00:40:59.119 --> 00:40:59.480
 God.

00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:01.760
 And I'm so

00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:02.860
 thankful that

00:41:02.860 --> 00:41:03.699
 you are Jehovah

00:41:03.699 --> 00:41:04.139
 Shalom.

00:41:05.460 --> 00:41:06.079
 Let me pray.

00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:10.440
 Lord, we

00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:11.319
 see ourselves so

00:41:11.319 --> 00:41:12.019
 easily in the

00:41:12.019 --> 00:41:12.779
 story of Gideon

00:41:12.779 --> 00:41:14.279
 at so many

00:41:14.279 --> 00:41:14.699
 points.

00:41:16.360 --> 00:41:16.940
 And we

00:41:16.940 --> 00:41:17.360
 thank you,

00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:17.719
 Lord, that

00:41:17.719 --> 00:41:18.420
 you've not

00:41:18.420 --> 00:41:19.299
 just left us

00:41:19.299 --> 00:41:19.940
 to ourselves.

00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:22.319
 In fact, you've

00:41:22.319 --> 00:41:23.179
 never left us to

00:41:23.179 --> 00:41:23.739
 ourselves, but you

00:41:23.739 --> 00:41:24.639
 constantly move

00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:26.440
 towards us because

00:41:26.440 --> 00:41:27.519
 you want to be to

00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:27.860
 us.

00:41:28.599 --> 00:41:29.639
 Jehovah Shalom.

00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:30.400
 Even though,

00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:31.199
 Lord, we are

00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:33.179
 constantly breaking

00:41:33.179 --> 00:41:33.940
 out in war

00:41:33.940 --> 00:41:34.559
 against you.

00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:38.699
 Lord, forgive us,

00:41:38.759 --> 00:41:39.119
 we pray.

00:41:40.940 --> 00:41:43.539
 And make the

00:41:43.539 --> 00:41:44.239
 desire of our

00:41:44.239 --> 00:41:45.440
 hearts simply to

00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:46.440
 live for you

00:41:46.440 --> 00:41:48.619
 with great

00:41:48.619 --> 00:41:50.419
 delight and

00:41:50.419 --> 00:41:50.859
 determination.

00:41:51.339 --> 00:41:52.119
 In Jesus' name I

00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.299
 pray.

00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:52.759
 Amen.

00:41:52.760 --> 00:41:54.800
 I do

00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:55.460
 apologise for

00:41:55.460 --> 00:41:56.140
 being long

00:41:56.140 --> 00:41:56.680
 winded again.

00:41:56.680 --> 00:41:56.860
 Thank you.