Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 7:24-8:21.
The LORD has delivered the initial victory to Gideon; now, the runaway princes and kings of Midian must be fully defeated. As Gideon calls upon the men of Ephraim for their help, sinful man’s desire for his own glory wells up in jealousy and pride. Gideon skillfully pacifies the situation, although the LORD’s role in the victory seems to be neglected. Even as Gideon seeks to fulfill the LORD’s mandate to defeat the Midianite army, he begins to go past what he had been given, exacting vengeance upon even his fellow Israelites. As Gideon deals with the Midianite kings, he is faithful in acknowledging the foolishness of idolatry, even as his personal anger seems to lead him toward sin. As we see Gideon in both faithfulness and foolishness, we rejoice all the more in the completely faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
“Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Judges. This book is characterized by a familiar. As the generations after Joshua forget the LORD and what He has done for Israel, they fall into idolatry. The LORD gives them over into the hands of their enemies in order to bring them to their senses. When they cry out to Him in repentance, He sends a judge to rescue them and give them rest for a time, until they relapse into idolatry once more. In this cycle, we see a picture of our own Christian life. Daily, the old Adam in us is drowned in contrition and repentance, and the new man emerges in Baptismal forgiveness to live in righteousness and purity before God forever.
