Judges
Week 18 — Gideon— Tested in weakness
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The temptation of pride.
12 Zebah and Zalmunna … the two kings of Midian. (Jdg 8:12)
16Then Gideon took the elders of the town, and he taught the men of Succoth a lesson with thorns from the wilderness and with briars. 17He also tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city. (Jdg 8:16-17)
The People’s Bible Commentary: It is impossible to know for sure what kind of torture the men of Succoth suffered. One particularly gruesome interpretation is that the men were made to lie on thorns and then were run over by threshing sleds until dead. Peniel’s elders fared no better. The destruction of their tower of refuge, probably by fire with the elders holed up inside, … Israelites had learned to kill fellow Israelites.
18Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What about the men you killed at Tabor?” They said, “They were just like you. Each one looked like a king’s son.” 19“They were my brothers,” Gideon answered, “the sons of my mother. As surely as the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” 20Then he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up and kill them right now.” But the young man did not draw his sword because he was afraid, because he was still just a youth. 21Zebah and Zalmunna said, “You get up and strike us down yourself, for a man’s strength shows what kind of man he is.” Gideon stepped up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he collected the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels. (Judges 8:18–21)
Tim Keller: Verses 18-19 add a new detail to the narrative: that the Midianite kings had killed Gideon's own brothers, and that their deaths are what have made him so determined to catch them. Gideon's ruthless, remarkable pursuit has been motivated less by a desire to complete the deliverance of God's people than by a drive for personal vengeance—for the honor of his own family.
[Jacob/Israel said] Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my vigor, excelling in dignity and excelling in power. (Genesis 49:3)
In the eastern culture of the Old Testament a man’s _________________ was in his ___________________ son.
Gideon has become _________________ to and ___________________ on his _______________.
People often believe:
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Success = I’m good enough.
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Money and status = my identity.
… See, I did this all myself. Hard work + hustle = total control and happiness.
But here is the truth:
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He’s not free.
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He’s a slave to the next level of power, the next raise.
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The thing he chased owns him worse than any failure ever could.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Yes, he has also put eternity in their hearts, yet it is not possible for man to understand the work that God has done from beginning to end. (Ec 3:11)
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose (Ro 8:28)
On a good day, enjoy the good, but on a bad day, consider carefully. God has made the one as well as the other, so no man can find out about anything that will come later. (Ec 7:14)
Don’t the bad things and the good both come from the mouth of the Most High? (La 3:38)
Ecclesiastes 1:2 opens with this statement, “Nothing but vapor,” describing everything as “vapor that vanishes.” This theme recurs throughout the book as Solomon reflects on human ______________ to accomplish a goal and _______________________. Later, the writer observes that “all the actions done under the sun” (life on earth as an unbeliever) amount to “nothing but vapor,” (Eccles 1:14) and describes the work accomplished under the sun as “________________________” because “everything is vapor and chasing the wind.” (Eccles 2:17–23)
The repeated refrain extends beyond mere effort/work—even accomplishments and pleasures pursued with great effort ultimately prove to be “vapor” and “chasing the wind,” with “no benefit under the sun.” (Eccles 2:1–11) The book concludes with the same declaration: “Nothing but vapor,” emphasizing that “it is all vapor.” (Eccles 12:8) This pervasive sense of futility under the sun—the idea that human endeavors _________ lasting _______________ or permanent ___________.
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Bollhagen in his CPH commentary: They [every human being] sense intuitively, perhaps in their conscience, that all of time fits together and works together in one great plan that has a purposeful beginning, middle, and end. The creation itself testifies to that (Rom 1:19–20). Indeed, everything in time must make sense somehow, like a pile of puzzle pieces that form one large picture. But the problem is this: just how does it all fit together?
Tim Keller: There is a terrible spiritual danger involved in the receiving of any blessing. Success can easily cause us to forget God's grace, because our hearts are desperate to believe that we can save ourselves. God-given victory can easily be used to confirm the belief that, in fact, we have earned blessing for ourselves and should receive the praise and glory for that success.
37 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. … 38 Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22:37–38)
In fact, it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure. (Php 2:13)
Points to Ponder
- What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
- What does Gideon’s treatment of Succoth and Penuel reveal about his heart?
- Why is success spiritually dangerous?
- How do we see Gideon beginning to think like a king? Why is that a problem?
- What modern examples mirror Gideon’s struggle?
- According to Ecclesiastes, why will success never satisfy us?
- What is our true identity according to the Gospel?
- How can we guard against pride in daily life?
Read: Judges 8
