READ: Judges 7 (Focus vs. 1–9)
MEMORY VERSE
The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men.” Judges 7:2
BACKGROUND
When my son was nearly three, I needed an operation that would require a month or more of recovery. Prior to the procedure, I imagined myself in bed while stacks of dirty dishes accumulated in the sink.
I wasn’t sure how I’d take care of an active toddler and couldn’t picture myself standing in front of the stove to cook our meals. I dreaded the impact my weakness would have on the rhythm of our lives.
God intentionally weakened Gideon’s forces before his troops confronted the Midianites. First, those who were afraid were allowed to leave—twenty-two thousand men went home (Judges 7:3).
Then, of the ten thousand who remained, only those who scooped water into their hands to drink could stay. Just three hundred men were left, but this disadvantage prevented the Israelites from relying on themselves (vv. 5–6). They couldn’t say, “My own strength has saved me” (v. 2).
Many of us experience times when we feel drained and powerless. When this happened to me, I realized how much I needed God.
He encouraged me inwardly through His Spirit and outwardly through the helpfulness of friends and family.
I had to let go of my independence for a while, but this taught me how to lean more fully on God. Because “[His] power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9), we can have hope when we can’t meet our needs on our own.
By: Jennifer Benson Schuldt
INSIGHT
Some scholars suggest that the reason God chose the three hundred soldiers who lapped water from their hands like dogs to defeat the Midianites (Judges 7) is because they were the ones who kept their eyes up.
Those who knelt to drink had to put their faces directly into the water and thus couldn’t see around them.
However, it was God who gave the victory. The way they drank water wasn’t necessarily important; it was the number of men that was significant (v. 2).
If it had been the smaller number who had stuck their faces in the water to drink rather than lapping, God would likely have used them instead.
APPLICATION
How have you experienced God’s power made perfect in your weakness? How could you help someone who’s experiencing weakness?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“I need Thee every Hour”…Minute, Second. pr
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“I had to let go of my independence for a while, but this taught me how to lean more fully on God.”
PRAYER
“God, I want my life to display Your power, even in weakness. Help me to depend more on You each day, and to feel Your strength when I struggle.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE” MISSISSIPPI MASS CHOIR
Listen, Some Days are weary
Some Days you’re weary
And you can’t see your way
And you can’t see your way
Some nights are lonely
Some nights are lonely
With no one to say
With no one to say:
YOU CAN MAKE IT
YOU CAN MAKE IT
It’s Only a Test
It’s Only a Test
You can take it
And don’t you think nothing less
And Don’t you think nothing less
So wipe the tears from your eyes
Eyes
Eyes
God on your side
Hold On Don’t quit,
Gods on your side
He can handle it,
Gods on your side
Some Days you’re weary
And you can’t see your way
Some nights are lonely
With no one to say
YOU CAN MAKE IT
It only a test
You can take it
Don’t you think nothing less
Hold On Don’t quit,
Hold on don’t quit
Gods on your side
Gods on your side…
Hold on to Gods unchanging hand
He’ll never leave or forsake you
He will be there in the midnight hour
Look to the hills,
From whence comes your help
Your help comes from the Lord
Don’t you get weary
He will
Can I tell you how to hold on
I’m a living witness that God will
Anybody know god will
I can do all things through Christ
Anyone (can) do all things through Christ
Look at your neighbor and say
God will
God will
God’s On your side…
READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
