1Pastor Allan Kircher
September 14th, 2013
Judges 8:1-21
PRIDE, POLITICS, AND PERSISTENCE
**Please note that sermon is condensed. You need to add in between the /.
Intro: some time/looking at the lives/Judges of Israel.
• Background of/Ehud/Shamgar/Deborah/Barak
• Gideon/fearful young man when/Lord selected him
• reluctant to obey/Lord’s call on his life at first
• Eventually he did as the Lord commanded.
Gideon led a tiny force of just 300 men against/135,000.
• God intervened gave Gideon/men an astounding victory.
• Midianites put to flight and suffered terrible losses.
• Only 15,000 men were left from 135,000 men
Chapter records/events/occurred immediately after the conflict.
• not everyone Israel excited great victory God given Gideon
• Some in Israel more concerned their personal profit
• More concerned/pride than what God had done.
• They failed to grasp the big picture.
• They were too focused on their own interests.
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This passage allows us a glimpse both sides of human character.
One hand we see those who cared/nothing/personal pride/glory.
• Cared nothing but themselves.
Other hand we see those who/motivated/glory of God.
• we see some who persisted/face of opposition,
• Persisted through criticism and overwhelming odds.
• I want/examine this text/preach
• Pride, Politics, and Persistence.
• I want/point out/types/people/present themselves/this text.
• Let us also consider ourselves. Which side issue/you on?
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I. v. 1-3 SOME WERE PRIDEFUL
A. v. 1 The Criticism of Ephraim
• After/Midianites were defeated/were on the run
• Gideon sent messengers/men/Ephraim/pursue Midianites.
Ephraimites did this/they killed two/princes/Midianites and brought their heads to Gideon, Judges 7:24-25.
• When they met up/Gideon/began/criticize him.
• Want to know why they weren’t asked to join the battle.
• Bible says they “criticized him sharply”
• Attacked Gideon because he/not called them/battle.
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Helpful/take/minute/talk about/tribe of Ephraim.
• Largest/all/tribes
• Tabernacle/located/Shiloh/in Ephraim.
• Descended/Joseph/Egyptian wife. Asenath.
• Tribe that was proud/heritage/influence/power.
• They wanted/respect/rest/tribes.
Ephraim/often/wrong side/spiritual matters.
Later, during/reign/judge Jephthah, would again complain that they had been left out of a battle, Judges 12:1-4.
• Hosea 7:8, God says Ephraim “cake not turned over”.
• Overcooked/bottom/raw on the top.
• Hot toward/world---cold toward God.
Ephraim/tribe marked by trouble, pride/selfishness.
• Another powerful rebuke/pride/Ephraim/found/Psalm 78:9
“The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle.”
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• Well, here they/jealous/Gideon’s victory.
• Sorry that they missed out on the spoils of war.
• Angry because they not/object /glory, they turned/Gideon.
Ephraim truly concerned/oppression/Midianites, they could have gone to war by themselves.
• Could have volunteered for Gideon’s army.
• But that never would have worked! Remember!!!!
Gideon asked/fearful/leave/battlefield or bowed to drink!
• Pride kept them/submitting/will/Lord.
Here, they concerned/wealth/glory they think they missed out on.
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The Ephraimites are typical of those who are full of self.
Like prideful peacocks they:
• Strut around calling attention/themselves
When trouble comes, they are the first to flee.
• Won’t do anything
But quick lift their voice/squawk/criticize those who do.
Don’t hesitate to find fault/actions of those who are attempting to do something for God.
Plenty/people still around who think/act just like/Ephraimites
• That is an attitude the church could do without!
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B. v. 2-3 The Control Of Gideon
Instead/reacting/anger/their criticism/responds very graciously
• v. 2 Gideon reminds them/Lord has blessed them.
• They already possess more than those around them.
• Gideon says, “your tribe’s least is more than my tribe’s most” Listen….v.2
• Clan..Abiezer….tribe Manassah.
Reminds them God gave/Midianite princes.
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When you are doing something/Lord, you can expect to be criticized by those who do nothing.
When they attack you, your motives and your efforts
It’s easy to:
• Get sidetracked/allow anger/rule/your heart.
• Lash out and tell them off or put them in their place.
When the attacks come, and they will, we should do like Gideon and exercise control over our emotions, Pro. 15:1
Instead of getting sidetracked by our critics, we must keep our eyes on the task we have been assigned by God
Heb. 12:2…
When battles/over/we face/Judgment Seat of Christ
• Not give/account to those who challenge us.
• Give account to the Lord.
• Vital we do His work regardless of what the proud peacocks or the cruel critics do.
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II. v. 4-9 SOME WERE POLITICAL
A. v. 4-5 A Simple Request
Gideon/men continue/pursuit/Midianites, Gideon becomes concerned about the welfare of his men.
• They pass two towns, first Succoth,then Penuel.
• Made a simple/very reasonable request/fellow Israelites.
• He asked them for bread to feed his weary men.
• A request that should have been granted w/o hesitation.
B. v. 6, 8 A Shameful Refusal
Instead coming/aid/God’s chosen deliverer, elders/both towns refused to get involved in Gideon’s fight.
These men/playing politics/things of God.
They ask Gideon, “Do you have their kings in custody?”
In other words, they are saying….
• Don’t have kings, you haven’t really won the battle.
• we help you/you defeated, those kings will come after us
• We will pay a terrible price for our decision to help you.
• No, you are not getting any bread from us!”
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Both cities part tribe of Gad. Gad means “a troop”.
Specifically, the name refers to “a troop that crushes through the enemy.”
• They were not living up to their name or their heritage.
• Not even help man God chose to deliver them
Like Christians who see which way wind is blowing before they will make a decision.
• They were afraid to take a stand for God
• Succoth/Penuel refused to support God’s work
• Clearly demonstrating fact they were against God’s work.
When they refused to help Gideon/his army, they were actually guilty of giving aid/enemy.
• These people not thankful for what God had already done
• They failed/realize by giving Gideon bread
• They would be guaranteeing future blessings/their people.
• All they cared about was maintaining the status quo.
Still people around who do same things these cities did.
• No gray areas when it comes to the work/Lord.
• You cannot be neutral when it comes to serving Him.
Jesus put it this way, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters,” Matt. 12:30.
Those who don’t respect/work/God will not respect/workers/God.
When we refuse:
• to give to the work of the Lord
• to participate in the work/Lord
• respect the work of the Lord
• We are guilty of aiding the enemy in his work.
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C. v. 7, 9 A Solemn Response
Because/two cities refused/help him, Gideon tells them that they will face judgment when he returns the victor over Midianites.
Reminds them there/price/pay/standing against/Lord/His work.
• We would do well to remember that truth today.
• One day all stand before/Lord/give/account our service/Him.
• God saved us to work
• “You have faith, I have deeds. James 2:18.
• God has placed us in His work, Eph. 2:10.
• God expects us to be involved to the best of our ability!
• Are you a preacher? Get out there and preach!
• Are you a singer? Stand up and sing!
• Share it for the glory of God!
• Do you have a dollar?
• Give it to Jesus and watch Him bless it for His glory!
All I am saying is get up/get active in the work of the Lord
never, ever be found hindering, opposing or standing in the way of what God is doing in the world!
May we never, like these people, be guilty of refusing to serve the Lord out of fear
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III. v. 4, 10-21 SOME WERE PERSISTENT
• some people walked/pride
• Others allowed personal political agendas to determine their allegiance
Gideon/men simply persevered in their work for the Lord.
• In their persistence
• They set a good example for those of us who desire to be found faithful/Lord’s work.
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A. v. 4 How They Continued…
• Instead of being discouraged/defeated/criticism of Ephraim
• By the callousness of the two cities/he requested help
• Gideon/army pressed on in pursuit of the Midianites
• “Exhausted” in v. 4
• Tired and weary from the battle.
• Hungry/great need/rest, yet they carry on!
I love that attitude, don’t you?
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Where did we ever:
• Get/idea there was/place to sit down/Lord?
• Get/idea/OK/sit back while others did all the work?
• Get/idea we could back off, slow down/take it easy/our spiritual walk?
Where do some people get/idea that they can join a church and never do anything? Or vice versa?
• Wherever ideas come from/certainly did not come/Lord.
• Is it an idea planted/minds/enemy/
• Planted there try and get us to quit the Lord.
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• Let’s be like Gideon and his men!
• Even when we get weary
• We press on for the glory of God, 1 Cor. 15:58!
• We all grow weary from time to time in the battle.
• When we do, look to Jesus and learn from His example
We will only be in the world a short time, and then we will fly off to glory to be with Him.
While we are here, let us determine to do all we can for His glory!
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B. v. 10-12 How They Conquered
Gideon/men defeated their enemies/captured/Midianite kings.
• Persevered face/opposition/criticism/enjoyed great victory.
• Because they would not be stopped short of victory
• They saw God move in great power.
Those who refuse to quit and persist in following the Lord’s will for their lives will see Him use them in great ways.
• Those who persevere will enjoy/best of God’s blessings.
• Those who quit will see God do nothing!
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C. v. 13-21 How They Concluded
Gideon came back/Midianite kings.
• came to Succoth/took/75 elders/put them to death by dragging them through thorns and briars until they died
• came to Penuel, he tore down their tower and killed their elders
• Then, Gideon slew the Midianite kings
• because he/obedient/Lord/to His will for his life
• Gideon enjoyed absolute victory over all his enemies.
• In the end, Gideon had the last laugh!
Principle is this: Those who walk with the Lord and do His will enjoy victory in their lives.
• If you want the Lord’s blessings
• His power/victory to be manifested in your life
• Only path you should follow is His path.
• When you walk/Lord
• Obedience to Him always results in victory!
• When you walk against Him
• you can expect nothing but defeat!
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Conc: If you had to sum up your life today, how would you do it?
• Would you say that you are walking in pride?
Can you honestly say that you are doing your best to be persistent in your walk with Him?
• God is looking for people in this day that will take their stand for Him and say, “We will not back down.”
• He is looking for those who will get involved in His work and help those who are trying to serve Him.
• Are you one of those?
If the Lord has spoken to you about your heart, your life and your service, the place to talk to Him about it right here.
