In Judges 7 Gideon is facing a Midian army and armies from the east that was as many as a swarm of locust, their camels were too many to count. This was huge army of the enemy camped against them. Now the natural tendency would be to increase your own army, to gather every able body for war, but God did the opposite. God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 300 men. Through a process of elimination He kept reducing until the army was only 300 men. Now Gideon is supposed to lead 300 men against an army of thousands and thousands. Now with just a small force Gideon is told by God to go to battle. God reduced the force size so that there would be no question as to who provided them victory.
So this process has taken place and then God says to Gideon if you are afraid then go to the enemies camp with your servant and you will hear something that will greatly encourage you. So they go down and what they hear is a dream one of the enemy is sharing with another and the other man tells him the meaning of the dream is that God will give Gideon victory over them. Gideon hears this and do you know what he did? He bowed in worship to the Lord. He was greatly encouraged for sure. He worshipped God and then went to his camp. When he got there he shouted to his men that God has given them victory over their enemy. Gideon is excited… it says he shouts to the men. They no doubt can hear the confidence in his voice and it in return gives them confidence! He then gives them what they need and tells them the plan. And they go to the camp in three groups of 100 with torches in clay jars and Ram horn in their hand. At the leading of Gideon the 300 men break open their jars, they blow their horns and they let out a shout! The enemy panic and start killing each other and those who didn’t die ran. Now remember there are thousands of these men and a great miracle is taking place as they are killing one another.
This is an awesome story of having faith in God for the victory even when there looks to be no way of winning. And not of celebrating after you win but before you even begin the battle.
It is time to no longer be afraid of how many enemies you seem to have camped about you. It is time to shout! It is time to dance! It is time to be joyful! It is time to live life as though you honestly believe that God has an awesome plan for your life and that it is for your good and not your harm. It is time to live like you are a winner…. Because you are!
Let those around you wonder what is going on with you! Let them take notice…. Give God the glory! Allow others to know that their hope for their life as well! Begin to act like the winner that you are. Begin to expect to be victorious in each day that you live. Begin to confess that you are winner.
16 But as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt for him. 17 They brought the Ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. 18 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 19 Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes. 20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” 21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD, so I celebrate before the LORD. 22 Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” 23 So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life. 2 Samuel 6:16-23
In this story you will notice something. As David is returning with the Ark of the Covenant he has not seen the blessings of God yet, but he understands that with the presence of God in their midst victory is theirs! He is thrilled with what God is going to do. He is celebrating and dancing in the streets just for the sheer fact that the presence of God is with them. Now notice here… he does not care who sees him and there is no way for him to stop because he is fully convinced that life has just taken a turn for the better!
In fact when he is criticized by his wife he tells her…I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! Wow! How about you? Are you convinced that with God in your life that things cannot help but be better… that you can believe it to the point of dancing before the Lord and even being willing to humiliate yourself in order to praise Him?
11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever! Psalm 30:11-12
You see there is a way to praise God and that is to it with all that you have. To praise Him with dancing! To not be silent.
3 Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. Psalm 149:3
Again, we are to praise Him with reckless abandonment… with dancing!
Be just as persistent and fervent in your praise to God as you are with your desperation before God for an answer!
Anyone in a dire situation can call out passionately to God… it is time be loud, to be bold and to be visible in your belief in the victory that God has promised you!
Let the enemy hear you shouting. Let him know you are coming!
