Thursday, January 15, 2004
The Venerable John the Hut-Dweller
Kellia: Judges 6:36-40 Epistle: James 1:19-27 Gospel: St. Mark 10:17-27
Judges 6:36-40, especially vs. 37, ".... if there is dew
on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that Thou wilt deliver Israel
by my hand, as Thou hast said." Christians depend upon God to remove their delusions and to
fill them with "faith, hope, and love" so they may walk "in all of God's commandments."
Today's reading identifies six attitudes that, with God's help, we must cultivate in order to avoid
delusion, know God's will, and live as He commands. Further, these attitudes will be best
understood when taken within the context of the whole of chapter six of the Book of Judges.
The first six verses of the chapter illustrate how God allows His People to be "brought very low"
(Ps. 141:8 LXX), whenever we do that which is "evil in the sight of the Lord" (Jdgs 6:1). The
Prophet of God solemnly warns us that it is we ourselves who create the wasting of our lives
when we "have not given heed to [God's] voice" (vss. 10). In the verses that follow, Gideon is
revealed as a man who has cultivated the six essential attitudes that transformed him into one
fully dependent upon God and ready to obey however the Lord should command him.
1) Gideon lived humbly before God under the conditions imposed by the larger society's idolatry
(vs. 10): he accepted the need to thresh the family's wheat not openly but covertly inside a
winepress. As Christians let us humbly accept the afflictions that God allows to come upon us.
2) Observe Gideon's first thought when "the angel of the Lord" approached and spoke to him.
The angel addressed him personally, as an individual: "The Lord is with you" (vs. 12), but in
Gideon's reply and question, we detect an attitude which placed the state of God's people ahead
of one's self as a primary consideration: "why then has all this befallen us?"(vs. 13). His
example prompts us to consider first and foremost "the good estate of the churches of God."
3) When the angel of the Lord encouraged Gideon to "Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel
from the hand of Midian" (vs. 14), this godly man disclosed a full awareness of his personal
limitations: "my clan is the weakest...and I am the least in my family." He teaches us to accept
our own dependency for strength and resources from beyond us - as coming from God.
4) As the angel declared, "But I will be with you" (vs. 16), Gideon understands it is God
confronting him, and his immediate was reverence (vs.18). Let us also hunger for worship.
5) Gideon discerned through worship his own unworthiness before God: "Alas, O Lord God! For
now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face" (vs. 22). Let none of us consider ourselves
anything more than sinners in need of God's rich mercies and compassions.
6) When God revealed these five essential attitudes in Gideon, He proceeded to direct His servant
upon a course of action that would confront the general idolatry - even within Gideon's own
family. As the Septuagint text shows, Gideon obeyed. He did not hesitate to challenge his
fellow countrymen, "Do ye now plead for Baal...if he be a god let him plead for himself" (vs. 31
LXX). Then, as the Scriptures show, "the Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon" (vs. 34),
and he mustered a host of supporters from other of the tribes of God's People to act with him.
May God make our hearts obedient for the indwelling of Life-giving Spirit, for when we obey,
we may expect the Spirit's fiery strength and direction, God can use us for impossible tasks.
Finally, notice in the verses that comprise today's reading that even when Gideon believed the
Spirit was leading him, he was careful to guard against delusion. He sought a sign from God to
"know that Thou wilt deliver Israel by my hand" (vs. 37). Let us always approach God's work
guarding against delusion, testing our ideas to depend upon His will only.
Direct us, O Lord, by Thy wisdom that we may accomplish only what is pleasing to Thee.
