In the second study of Gideon, Pastor Jim leads us through what is perhaps the most well-known story about Gideon. Many of us have heard about Gideon’s famous fleece. What was Gideon really doing with that fleece and does it serve in any way as a model for divine guidance? Can we receive guidance from God and if so, how?
Sermon Notes
1. We cannot fully worship the true God until we turn away from our false gods.
“The gods have not changed, for human nature has not changed, and these are the gods that humanity regularly re-creates for itself. What does it want? If it is modest — security and comfort and reasonable enjoyment; if ambitious — power and wealth and unbridled self-indulgence. In every age there are forces at work which promise to meet our desires — whether political programs, economic theories, career options, philosophies, lifestyle options, entertainment programs — all having one feature in common. They promise that they can make our lives better than we can make them ourselves, yet at the same time they appear amenable to our manipulating them so we can get what we want without losing our independence… Here is the enemy among us. We say we worship the Lord… but the world has crept in and controls our heart…”
Michael Wilcock, The Message of Judges
2. The townspeople remind us that idolatry ultimately leads to an inversion of God’s standards.
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!”
Isaiah 5:18-23
“Spiritual formation in Christ moves toward a total interchange of our ideas and images for his.”
Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart
3. Joash reminds us that sometimes a courageous faith can become a contagious faith.
4. YHWH reminds us here just how gracious He is with reassurance.
“God is not so strict as to be harsh when we tremble; He does not ridicule us for our fears; He never mocks us when we are fragile.”
Dale Ralph Davis