‍Judges // For His Glory

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‍Judges 7:1-2

[1] Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. [2] The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

‍Judges 7:16-18

[16] And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars. [17] And he said to them, “Look at me, and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. [18] When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”

Judges 7:19-22

[19] So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. [20] Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” [21] Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. [22] When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man's sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.

‍Judges 8:22-25

[22] Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” [23] Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” [24] And Gideon said to them, “Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) [25] And they answered, “We will willingly give them.” And they spread a cloak, and every man threw in it the earrings of his spoil.

Judges 8:27

[27] And Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.

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1. The danger of self-glory

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Look back at Judges 7:18. What is the warning sign here that Gideon is seeking his own glory?

Living for our own self-glory is a problem all humans have because we inherited it from the first humans in Genesis 3. What was the real temptation Satan presented to Eve?

Why could getting the successes we desire in life be bad for us? (discuss)

Whether we are successful in the world’s eyes or not, what are some things we should value more than worldly success as Christians?

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2. The strength of weakness

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“If dependence upon God is the objective, then weakness is an advantage.”

- Pastor Alistair Begg

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2 Corinthians 12:7-10

[7] So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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What are some ways the cross of Jesus shows us strength as weakness?

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Luke 9:23-24

[23] And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

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Let’s discuss this verse from two angles. First, what does Jesus not mean when he tells us to deny ourselves?

What does he mean?

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3. God’s grace for struggling faith

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Do you feel this struggle? This tension? (Of wanting to love and obey God, but also wanting to seek my own self-glory?) How so?

How have you seen God’s grace and patience toward you when your faith was weak?

What can you do this week to better rely on God’s strength and not your own? What can you do to put his glory first in your life and not your own?