APPLY YOUR HEART TO LEARN WISDOM

Proverbs 22:17-29 / Keywords 22:17

Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Saying 1

22:17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;

    apply your heart to what I teach,

18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart

    and have all of them ready on your lips.

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,

    I teach you today, even you.

20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,

    sayings of counsel and knowledge,

21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,

    so that you bring back truthful reports

    to those you serve?

Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor

    and do not crush the needy in court,

23 for the Lord will take up their case

    and will exact life for life.

Saying 3

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,

    do not associate with one easily angered,

25 or you may learn their ways

    and get yourself ensnared.

Saying 4

26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge

    or puts up security for debts;

27 if you lack the means to pay,

    your very bed will be snatched from under you.

Saying 5

28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone

    set up by your ancestors.

Saying 6

29 Do you see someone skilled in their work?

    They will serve before kings;

    they will not serve before officials of low rank.

1. Solomon invites us to receive God’s wisdom through 30 wise sayings. We should apply our hearts to learn wisdom and be teachable. These sayings are reflected in Christ’s teachings and life. We should fix our eyes upon Jesus and put our trust in him as we struggle to live wisely (19). 

2. We should always treat the poor fairly. We must not look down on them or rob them, but instead befriend them and show them God’s love. God is the defender of us all, whether rich or poor. 

3. We should not learn from an angry man, as his habits will influence ours. We should also not bear responsibility for the debt of others. 

4. We should respect property boundaries and not take advantage of others. We should excel in what we do, and it will be noticed all the way to the top. 

Prayer Father, please open our hearts to receive your wisdom. Help us to trust in the Lord as we struggle to apply your wisdom. 

One Word Open our hearts to the Lord

A GOOD NAME

Proverbs 22:1-16 / Keywords 22:1

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. 

22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches;

    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

2 Rich and poor have this in common:

    The Lord is the Maker of them all.

3 The prudent see danger and take refuge,

    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

4 Humility is the fear of the Lord;

    its wages are riches and honor and life.

5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,

    but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

6 Start children off on the way they should go,

    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

7 The rich rule over the poor,

    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,

    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.

9 The generous will themselves be blessed,

    for they share their food with the poor.

10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;

    quarrels and insults are ended.

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace

    will have the king for a friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,

    but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!

    I’ll be killed in the public square!”

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;

    a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,

    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth

    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

1. Having a good name is worth far more than riches. But the temptation for money makes people lose sight of their reputation. No matter how much money you have or how many things you own, God is the creator of all things. Thus, true wisdom comes from fearing the Lord God (4). If we put Him first in our lives over everything else, He will bless us abundantly and fill our lives with His glory and honor. 

2. We should watch our actions carefully to embody those of Christ. We should be generous, loving, pure, and gracious. Then, the Lord will watch over us and give us his wisdom. 

3. Foolishness is not a fruit of the Spirit, nor is greed, corruption, immorality, and immaturity. Without God, we are vulnerable against these temptations. We must seek God’s wisdom and have His Words in our mouths to guard ourselves against sins’ temptations. 

Prayer Father, give us your wisdom and protect us from all evil. Help me to have a good name by doing what is right. 

One Word A good name is worth more than riches

PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOVE

Proverbs 21:20-31 / Keywords 21:21

He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. 

21:20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,

    but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love

    finds life, prosperity[c] and honor.

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty

    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues

    keep themselves from calamity.

24 The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—

    behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,

    because his hands refuse to work.

26 All day long he craves for more,

    but the righteous give without sparing.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—

    how much more so when brought with evil intent!

28 A false witness will perish,

    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,

    but the upright give thought to their ways.

30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan

    that can succeed against the Lord.

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

    but victory rests with the Lord.

Footnotes

c. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness

1. What are your pursuits in life? People pursue education, honor, money, wealth, family, popularity, and fame. These things have some merit. But they cannot be the true purpose of our lives. Those who pursue righteousness and love can find true life, prosperity, and honor (21). 

2. The best pursuit is to seek God’s wisdom for our lives. Wisdom enables one to pull down the strongholds of wickedness (22). Wisdom helps us to choose our words carefully (23). There is no human wisdom or way that can succeed against God (20). The wise trust in God and experience victory in the Lord (21). 

3. On the other hand, those who reject wisdom follow wickedness. And, whatever they do, the wicked are foiled. Also, the wicked are full of folly and fury (24). The wicked are lazy and bear its bad fruits (25-26). The wicked are detestable in all their ways and their sacrifices are detestable. They are deceitful and full of pretense. But the wise listen carefully, give thought to their ways, and the Lord helps them (31). Let’s repent our wicked ways and seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory. 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving me victory when I seek your wisdom. Protect me from following wicked and foolish ways. 

One Word Seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory

GOD SEES THE RIGHTEOUS

Proverbs 21:1-19 / Keywords 21:3

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

21:1 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water

    that he channels toward all who please him.

2 A person may think their own ways are right,

    but the Lord weighs the heart.

3 To do what is right and just

    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—

    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit

    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

6 A fortune made by a lying tongue

    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a]

7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,

    for they refuse to do what is right.

8 The way of the guilty is devious,

    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9 Better to live on a corner of the roof

    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

10 The wicked crave evil;

    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

12 The Righteous One[b] takes note of the house of the wicked

    and brings the wicked to ruin.

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor

    will also cry out and not be answered.

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,

    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous

    but terror to evildoers.

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence

    comes to rest in the company of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;

    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,

    and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert

    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death

b. Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person

1. God is sovereign even over mighty kings and rulers (1). He sees everyone’s plans (2). He blesses the righteous and he thwarts the wicked (3). We are so often overcome by the evil in this world. Or we are tempted to rely on our own plans to win. We need to come back to God in our thinking and believe that he sees the righteous and he will bless and honor them. We need to come to him on our knees and humbly rely on him to guide, protect, and help us. And he will. Are you trusting in him today? 

2. The ways of the wicked are obvious. They proudly lie, cheat, deceive, bribe, and abuse (4, 5, 6, 8, 10). We must not follow their ways or get caught up in their thinking. We must acknowledge that these ways are wrong. The outcome is sin and wrath (4, 12). We always have a choice in life. The conduct of the innocent is upright (8b). In a world where wrong seems right, it takes courage to live innocently. When we do what is right, we are like Noah, who walked with God in a wicked generation. Let’s not stray from the truth and live in regret (16). 

3. This passage contains sad warnings about home life turning sour (9, 12, 19). The family that worships together grows in righteousness. Those who chase after pleasure fall into misery (16, 17). 

Prayer Father, thank you for blessing those who choose to live uprightly. Give us the courage to do so and experience your peace, joy, and protection. 

One Word God’s eyes are on the righteous

MY LIFE IS DIRECTED BY THE LORD

Proverbs 20:18-30 / Keywords 20:24

A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?

20:18 Plans are established by seeking advice;

    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

19 A gossip betrays a confidence;

    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

20 If someone curses their father or mother,

    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

21 An inheritance claimed too soon

    will not be blessed at the end.

22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”

    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.

23 The Lord detests differing weights,

    and dishonest scales do not please him.

24 A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.

    How then can anyone understand their own way?

25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly

    and only later to consider one’s vows.

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;

    he drives the threshing wheel over them.

27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord

    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;

    through love his throne is made secure.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

    gray hair the splendor of the old.

30 Blows and wounds scrub away evil,

    and beatings purge the inmost being.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are

1. The end of Proverbs 20 leans towards having wisdom to live your life, knowing that God has directed your future (24). No one knows for certain what their future is. Five, ten, fifteen, and twenty years from now, the world and my life will be very different. Then what should I do? 

2. First, a wise ruler. A wise leader is key to a stable community. A ruler should have discernment and be firm (26, 28, 30). There can be no tolerance for wickedness, and there must be consequences for wrongdoing. When leadership is wise, clear, and accountable, those underneath can flourish. When a battle arises, a leader needs to seek out good advice to plan a strategy (18). Relying on power and numbers is not enough. A ruler needs allies and loyalists who provide love and support (28). 

3. Second, responsible members. We must avoid gossip, rebellion, greed, revenge, dishonesty, and rash promises, which break down a community. We need to guard our inner spirit to be strong and full of God’s light (27). Then, together, all members build a community that is healthy and secure no matter what changes arise in the future. 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving us wise rulers and community members. Help me to be personally responsible to do what is right and support leaders. Help us all to trust in God, who directs the future. 

One Word Wisdom to live my life, while trusting in God, who holds the future

BLESSED ARE THE RIGHTEOUS

Proverbs 20:1-17 / Keywords 20:7

The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.

20:1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;

    whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;

    those who anger him forfeit their lives.

3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,

    but every fool is quick to quarrel.

4 Sluggards do not plow in season;

    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,

    but one who has insight draws them out.

6 Many claim to have unfailing love,

    but a faithful person who can find?

7 The righteous lead blameless lives;

    blessed are their children after them.

8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,

    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;

    I am clean and without sin”?

10 Differing weights and differing measures—

    the Lord detests them both.

11 Even small children are known by their actions,

    so is their conduct really pure and upright?

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—

    the Lord has made them both.

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;

    stay awake and you will have food to spare.

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—

    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,

    but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,

    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

1. This passage reveals the limitations of things that many people desire: pleasure, wealth, power, love, and rest. The truly blessed life is to follow God in a right relationship with him. 

2. Alcohol is highly desired, but it turns people into fools (1). Kings are very mighty, but their wrath is unbearable (2). People are fickle and quickly quarrel (3). Sleep and vacations are good, but too much can make people unproductive and poor (4,13). It is hard to decipher what is people’s true agenda behind their good sounding plans (5). A faithful person is impossible to find (6). 

3. On the other hand, those who pursue a righteous life and fellowship with God live blamelessly (7). They enjoy protection and security from living a pure life. Their lives wield spiritual influence, and their children follow their example. Though no one is without sin, when people repent and turn to Jesus, they can be forgiven and have power to live righteously. They can have the knowledge of salvation, which is far greater than any amount of gold or rubies (15). They are rich for all eternity. 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving us a right relationship with you through the knowledge of salvation in Jesus. Help me to hunger and thirst for righteousness and be truly blessed. 

One Word Blessed are the righteous

THE LORD’S WILL PREVAILS

Proverbs 19:16-29 / Keywords 19:21

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.

19:16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,

    but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,

    and he will reward them for what they have done.

18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;

    do not be a willing party to their death.

19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;

    rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,

    and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

22 What a person desires is unfailing love[b];

    better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;

    then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

    he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;

    rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother

    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,

    and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,

    and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,

    and beatings for the backs of fools.

Footnotes

b. Proverbs 19:22 Or Greed is a person’s shame

1. What are practical ways that we can make good choices? Verse 16 says we revere and keep God’s commands. Next, we are kind to the poor. God sees and rewards those who do so (17). Fearing God and giving to the needy seem so simple, yet they are truly the marks of a great person. 

2. Next, when we listen to advice and accept discipline, we can be free of the sins and bad choices that hinder our lives. Though we started out poorly, at the end, we will be counted among the wise (20). Real wisdom involves humbly repenting and accepting the Lord’s will. We can devise many plans, but only that which is in accordance with God’s will prospers (21). However, when we proudly go outside of God’s will, we forfeit grace. 

3. People really desire to have unfailing love (22), which can only be found in a right relationship with Christ. The fear of God leads us to repent and to turn to Jesus, who loves us unconditionally. He blesses us to receive light and life when we trust in him. Then, we can see God’s will and we can do what is right. When we repent our pride and accept God’s plan, he does far more than we dream or imagine. We are captivated by the riches of his love! We have life to the full and are satisfied. 

Prayer Father, thank you for Jesus’ unfailing love when I trust him and live for his will. Help me to repent my own proud plans and follow his way. 

One Word Those who do the Lord’s will prevail

THE ONE WHO GETS WISDOM

Proverbs 19:1-15 / Keywords 19:8

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.

19:1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless

    than a fool whose lips are perverse.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good—

    how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,

    yet their heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth attracts many friends,

    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

    and whoever pours out lies will not go free.

6 Many curry favor with a ruler,

    and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.

7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—

    how much more do their friends avoid them!

Though the poor pursue them with pleading,

    they are nowhere to be found.[a]

8 The one who gets wisdom loves life;

    the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

    and whoever pours out lies will perish.

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—

    how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;

    it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,

    but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,

    and a quarrelsome wife is like

    the constant dripping of a leaky roof.

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,

    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,

    and the shiftless go hungry.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.

1. This passage focuses on choices people make. When we make wise choices, our lives prosper (8, 11, 14). When we make poor choices, our lives disintegrate (2, 3, 5, 9, 13). 

2. What are bad choices? When we are caught in desire and hurry too fast, we regret the folly we have fallen into and become angry (2-3). When we focus on getting wealth, we attract fake friends who will abandon us when we lose everything (4, 7). Dishonesty and bribery entangle us into a web that traps us in the end (5, 6, 9). Fighting at home ruins our families (13). Laziness impoverishes us (15). 

3. But when we strive to get wisdom, we make good choices (8, 11, 14). We come to love life because we experience the blessings of wisdom. We begin to cherish understanding, seeing how it helps us to prosper. Wisdom and understanding are keys to improve our lives spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. How blessed we are to be able to love life, instead of feeling helpless, anxious, angry, or ashamed. With wisdom and understanding, we are patient, forgiving, prudent, and righteous. We are blessed people who prosper in the Lord. We can be loving and compassionate. 

Prayer Father, thank you for blessing us with wisdom and understanding when we seek you. Please help us not to make foolish choices. 

One Word Get wisdom and understanding 

A FRIEND WHO IS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER

Proverbs 18:1-24 / Keywords 18:24

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

18:1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends

    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding

    but delight in airing their own opinions.

3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,

    and with shame comes reproach.

4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,

    but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked

    and so deprive the innocent of justice.

6 The lips of fools bring them strife,

    and their mouths invite a beating.

7 The mouths of fools are their undoing,

    and their lips are a snare to their very lives.

8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

    they go down to the inmost parts.

9 One who is slack in his work

    is brother to one who destroys.

10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;

    the righteous run to it and are safe.

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;

    they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,

    but humility comes before honor.

13 To answer before listening—

    that is folly and shame.

14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,

    but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,

    for the ears of the wise seek it out.

16 A gift opens the way

    and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.

17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,

    until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

18 Casting the lot settles disputes

    and keeps strong opponents apart.

19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;

    disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;

    with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,

    and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good

    and receives favor from the Lord.

23 The poor plead for mercy,

    but the rich answer harshly.

24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

1. In this chapter, there are many wise warnings about watching what you say. Do your words get you into trouble again and again? (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, 21) We need to rely on the Lord’s Name and ask the Holy Spirit to help us have discernment (10, 15). For example, instead of talking, a gift is more powerful (16, 23). 

2. What do you do when you confront wickedness and injustice (5)? We should not be passive, nor join in. We need to run to the Lord Jesus, and he becomes a strong tower to protect us (10). Proud people rely on money or themselves. But those who humbly rely on Jesus will be honored over others (12). 

3. An angry brother can be unyielding not wanting to lose to his brother (19). But there is a friend who is closer than a brother (24). He is Jesus. He knows us and understands us and is ready to forgive. People can be good, like a prudent wife (22), and people can be harsh, like a stingy, rich person (23). Sometimes friends can be unreliable (24), and sometimes our family can’t be there to help us in our deep despair (14). But Jesus is our Faithful Friend. He is always there and speaks to us the words of life. Thank you, Jesus, for always being close to me. 

Prayer Father, thank you for Jesus who is my closest Friend. Help me to trust in Him. 

One Word What a Friend we have in Jesus!

A FRIEND LOVES AT ALL TIMES  

Proverbs 17:1-28 / Keywords 17:17

7 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

17:1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

    than a house full of feasting, with strife.

2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son

    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

    but the Lord tests the heart.

4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;

    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;

    whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged,

    and parents are the pride of their children.

7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—

    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;

    they think success will come at every turn.

9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,

    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person

    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;

    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

    than a fool bent on folly.

13 Evil will never leave the house

    of one who pays back evil for good.

14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;

    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—

    the Lord detests them both.

16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,

    when they are not able to understand it?

17 A friend loves at all times,

    and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge

    and puts up security for a neighbor.

19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;

    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;

    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;

    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,

    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accept bribes in secret

    to pervert the course of justice.

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,

    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father

    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,

    surely to flog honest officials is not right.

27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,

    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,

    and discerning if they hold their tongues.

1. A common theme running through these passages is about avoiding quarrels. The temptation to argue is hard to overcome. The fall out lasts longer than we may think. Many of the verses here give us wisdom and will protect us if we just claim one of them and hold onto it by faith. 

2. Many couples suffer from fighting in their homes (1). Many children rebel without thinking about the consequences (2). There are divisions in society and corruption in politics that create dissension. What is the solution? We can foster love or rebellion. Verse 17 says that a friend loves at all times. Brothers have no choice but to be brothers. But you choose your friends. And you decide to love your friends at all times by faith. Then, even brothers can be friends and help each other instead of fighting with each other. 

3. Evil and corruption break bonds and destroy communities. But those who love cheerfully bring healing. Those who seek knowledge and understanding show restraint and have high emotional intelligence. They protect and preserve the unity that strengthens us all. 

Prayer Father, thank you for our Friend Jesus who loved us at all times. Help us to have knowledge and understanding to restrain ourselves and practice your love at all times. 

One Word A friend who loves at all times

JEPHTHAH, THE MIGHTY WARRIOR

Judges 11:1-28 / Keywords 11:21

Then the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his men into Israel’s hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country, 

11:1 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels gathered around him and followed him.

4 Some time later, when the Ammonites were fighting against Israel, 5 the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.”

7 Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?”

8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head over all of us who live in Gilead.”

9 Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me—will I really be your head?”

10 The elders of Gilead replied, “The Lord is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.

12 Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?”

13 The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took away my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, all the way to the Jordan. Now give it back peaceably.”

14 Jephthah sent back messengers to the Ammonite king, 15 saying:

“This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites. 16 But when they came up out of Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea[a] and on to Kadesh. 17 Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Give us permission to go through your country,’ but the king of Edom would not listen. They sent also to the king of Moab, and he refused. So Israel stayed at Kadesh.

18 “Next they traveled through the wilderness, skirted the lands of Edom and Moab, passed along the eastern side of the country of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon. They did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was its border.

19 “Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Let us pass through your country to our own place.’ 20 Sihon, however, did not trust Israel[b] to pass through his territory. He mustered all his troops and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.

21 “Then the Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and his whole army into Israel’s hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country, 22 capturing all of it from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.

23 “Now since the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over? 24 Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess. 25 Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them? 26 For three hundred years Israel occupied Heshbon, Aroer, the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why didn’t you retake them during that time? 27 I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the Lord, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”

28 The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.

Footnotes

a. Judges 11:16 Or the Sea of Reeds

b. Judges 11:20 Or however, would not make an agreement for Israel

1. Jephthah the Gileadite was the son of a prostitute. His brothers drove him out of Gilead. But when the Ammonites began to threaten Israel, the elders sought Jephthah, because he was a mighty warrior. Jephthah knew that they only came because they were in trouble, but they persuaded him to come back. In their desperation they needed Jephthah to lead them. They made him their head and commander. 

2. When the Ammonite king claimed the land of Gilead east of the Jordan, Jephthah gave him a lesson from history. The land in question, originally Ammonite territory, had been conquered by the Amorites. Israel had taken it from the Amorites (Dt 2:24-37) and had occupied it since. It was God who gave the land to the people of Israel. The Ammonites’ god was too weak to give it back to Ammon. But God is able. Jephthah served God who is the giver of all things. 

Prayer Lord, you are the giver of good things. Raise spiritual leaders with a sense of history to serve you today! 

One Word Take hold of God’s gifts

ISRAEL'S REPENTANCE; GOD'S COMPASSION

Judges 10:1-18 / Keywords 10:15-16

But the Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer. 

Tola

10:1 After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 He led[a] Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.

Jair

3 He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. 4 He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair.[b] 5 When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

Jephthah

6 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, 7 he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, 8 who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. 9 The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim; Israel was in great distress. 10 Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”

11 The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites[c] oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? 13 But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”

15 But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” 16 Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

17 When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in Gilead.”

Footnotes

a. Judges 10:2 Traditionally judged; also in verse 3

b. Judges 10:4 Or called the settlements of Jair

c. Judges 10:12 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts Midianites

1. The times were miserable. God raised up Tola, then Jair to save Israel. The real enemy, however, was within. Israel was influenced by the Canaanite culture and religion. They forsook the Lord and worshiped the false gods of the Canaanite nations. The Lord became very angry and allowed the Philistines and the Ammonites to shatter and crush Israel, especially on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead. He wanted to lead his people to repentance. 

2. After eighteen years of suffering, the Israelites repented and cried to the Lord for help. At first, he told them to ask their idols for help. But when they confessed their sins, got rid of foreign gods and pled for his mercy, he relented. He couldn't bear his people's misery any longer. He looked for a man to send to deliver them. 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your compassion. When I cry out to you with a repentant heart, you always come to help. 

One Word God’s compassion for repentant sinners

GOD AVENGES GIDEON’S SONS

Judges 9:22-57 / Keywords 9:56

Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.

8:22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, 23 God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. 25 In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.

26 Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? 29 If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”[b]

30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. 31 Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. 32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields. 33 In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.”

34 So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. 35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.

36 When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!”

Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”

37 But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill,[c] and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”

38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!”

39 So Gaal led out[d] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. 40 Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. 41 Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.

42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. 43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44 Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down. 45 All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.

46 On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. 47 When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, 48 he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!” 49 So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.

50 Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it. 51 Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. 52 Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.

54 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.

56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

Footnotes

b. Judges 9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew him.” Then he said to Abimelek, “Call out your whole army!”

c. Judges 9:37 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth.

d. Judges 9:39 Or Gaal went out in the sight of

1. Three years into Abimelek’s reign God stirred up animosity among the people of Shechem. God did this to avenge the deaths of Gideon’s sons. The people began to resent Abimelek as their king. Led by Gaal, son of Ebed, they conspired against the king. Gaal son of Ebed boasted, “If only this people were under my command,” then he would get rid of Abimelek. 

2. When word reached Abimelek, he arranged an ambush against Gaal and chased him out of Shechem. He continued attacking the people as they worked in the fields, then he mercilessly set fire to the tower of Shechem, killing a thousand who had taken refuge there. Abimelek tried this in another town, but a woman dropped a large millstone on his head, and he died. God repaid the wickedness of Abimelek and the people of Shechem for the murder of Gideon’s sons. It happened as Jotham had said. 

Prayer Lord, you are a just God. Bless me to always wait on you and trust in your judgment and your salvation. 

One Word God will repay

ABIMELEK MAKES HIMSELF KING

Judges 9:1-21 / Keywords 9:16

Now if you have acted honorably and in good faith when you made Abimelech king, and if you have been fair to JerubBaal and his family, and if you have treated him as he deserves–

Abimelek

9:1 Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, 2 “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”

3 When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” 4 They gave him seventy shekels[a] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers. 5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. 6 Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

7 When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’

10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’

16 “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”

21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.

Footnotes

a. Judges 9:4 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams

1. Gideon did not want to be king. He wanted the Lord to rule. His son Abimelek thought differently. He convinced the people of Shechem to make him king. He slaughtered seventy of his brothers—the sons of Gideon—and the citizens of Shechem crowned him as their king. Only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, managed to escape. 

2. Jotham confronted Abimelek and the people of Shechem for their treachery. He shouted a parable to them from the top of Mount Gerizim. A truly great man, like an olive tree, wants to be fruitful. It is the useless thornbush of a man who wants to rule others. Abimelek and the Shechemites had not acted honorably. They forgot God who had saved them from Midian’s oppression. Instead of honoring God, they were inviting God’s judgment on themselves. 

Prayer Lord, bless me to be mindful of your great salvation work. Give me a heart that seeks to honor you. 

One Word Honour God

THE LORD WILL RULE OVER YOU

Judges 8:22-35 / Keywords 8:23

But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.”

Gideon’s Ephod

8:22 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”

23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.” 24 And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)

25 They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 26 The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels,[b] not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Gideon’s Death

28 Thus Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. During Gideon’s lifetime, the land had peace forty years.

29 Jerub-Baal son of Joash went back home to live. 30 He had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek. 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. 35 They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them.

Footnotes

b. Judges 8:26 That is, about 43 pounds or about 20 kilograms

1. After the Lord saved Israel through Gideon, the people of Israel wanted Gideon to be their king. Gideon did not comply. He would not rule them, because the Lord is their sole ruler. He is the one who saved them. 

2. Gideon did ask them for some of the plunder. He took a gold earring from each of them and fashioned it into an ephod. Maybe Gideon thought he was doing something good, but the ephod became a snare to him and his family. The people of Israel came to worship the ephod. They rejected the Lord as their ruler and once again worshipped an idol. 

3. After Midian was subdued, the land had peace. Gideon lived to a good old age, but as soon as he died, the Israelites began their detestable practice of idol worship again. They didn’t remember their previous misery, nor did they remember God’s great salvation work through Gideon. 

Prayer Lord, you are my Savior and ruler. Protect me from worshipping anything else. Help me to be mindful of your great salvation work in me. 

One Word Worship the Lord only 

GIDEON’S PUSUIT

Judges 8:1-21 / Keywords 8:4

Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it.

Zebah and Zalmunna

8:1 Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they challenged him vigorously.

2 But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided.

4 Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. 5 He said to the men of Sukkoth, “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

6 But the officials of Sukkoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your troops?”

7 Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.”

8 From there he went up to Peniel[a] and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Sukkoth had. 9 So he said to the men of Peniel, “When I return in triumph, I will tear down this tower.”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with a force of about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of the armies of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had fallen. 11 Gideon went up by the route of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the unsuspecting army. 12 Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian, fled, but he pursued them and captured them, routing their entire army.

13 Gideon son of Joash then returned from the battle by the Pass of Heres. 14 He caught a young man of Sukkoth and questioned him, and the young man wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven officials of Sukkoth, the elders of the town. 15 Then Gideon came and said to the men of Sukkoth, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me by saying, ‘Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your exhausted men?’” 16 He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Sukkoth a lesson by punishing them with desert thorns and briers. 17 He also pulled down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of the town.

18 Then he asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?”

“Men like you,” they answered, “each one with the bearing of a prince.”

19 Gideon replied, “Those were my brothers, the sons of my own mother. As surely as the Lord lives, if you had spared their lives, I would not kill you.” 20 Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, “Kill them!” But Jether did not draw his sword, because he was only a boy and was afraid.

21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Come, do it yourself. ‘As is the man, so is his strength.’” So Gideon stepped forward and killed them, and took the ornaments off their camels’ necks.

Footnotes

a. Judges 8:8 Hebrew Penuel, a variant of Peniel; also in verses 9 and 17

1. The Ephraimites were not happy with Gideon. They challenged him for not including them in the battle. Gideon didn’t fight with them. He was humble, and he commended them for their accomplishments. 

2. Gideon and his men were exhausted, but they were pursuing the kings of Midian. When the officials of Sukkoth and the men of Peniel refused to give them food, Gideon promised retribution, but first he pursued the armies of Midian and captured their kings. Gideon was not dissuaded from obeying the Lord. 

3. When Gideon returned, he did not forget those who failed to provide provisions. He punished the men of Sukkoth and Peniel. After that he dealt with the kings of Midian. They had oppressed Israel, killing many of those close to Gideon. Gideon finished serving God’s salvation work by executing the kings of Midian. 

Prayer Lord, help me to pursue you in all things. Help me not to be distracted, but rather to serve you in all things. 

One Word Serve God to the end

THE LORD SAVES FROM MIDIAN

Judges 7:1-25 / Keywords 7:14

His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”

Gideon Defeats the Midianites

7:1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.

7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.

Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.

13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”

14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”

15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” 16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”

19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. 23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. 24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”

So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. 25 They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.

1. Gideon thought of himself as weak, but God called him to save Israel from their Midianite oppressors (6:14). He prepared to attack with over thirty thousand men, but the Lord told him to send those who were fearful home. Still there were too many, so he had Gideon select those who lapped water like a dog. This left three hundred men. God was concerned that Israel might boast against him, so he made it obvious that it is the Lord who saves. 

2. God knew that Gideon could still be fearful, so he told Gideon to eavesdrop at the Midianite outposts. There he discovered that the Midianite camp was gripped with fear. They knew that God had given their entire army into Gideon’s hand. This emboldened Gideon. He devised a plan where they would divide into three companies of one hundred each, shouting, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” They basically held their position as the Midianite camp devolved into chaos, turning on each other and fleeing. They overcame their fear when they trusted God with faith. 

Prayer Lord, I am weak and fearful. Help me to trust in you, for only you can save. 

One Word It is the Lord who saves