The Calling of an Iconoclastic Leader

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The Calling of an Iconoclastic Leader

• Judges 6.1-24

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An Iconoclast

• is "a breaker or destroyer of images, esp. those
  set up for religious veneration." Webster's
• is "a person who attacks cherished beliefs,
  traditional institutions . . . ." Webster's
• Mt 5.21-22, 27-28. 31-32, 33-37, 38-39, 48.

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Charles Grandison Finney
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The downward Spiral

• The book of Judges depicts a downward spiral.
• As Gooding indicates, the book as a whole has a
  chiastic structure in which the main turning
  point is found in the story of Gideon.

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Jdg 6.1-6 The hand of the Midianites

• Jdg 6.1-2 - Now the children of Israel did evil
  before Yahweh, so Yahweh gave them into the hand
  of the Midianites for seven years. The Midianite
  hand was strong over against the Israelites, the
  Israelites made caves . . . .

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Evil ways?

• 1. Worshiping other gods Jdg 2.11 3.7 10.6
• Jdg 6.10b "do not be afraid/have reverence for
  the gods of the Amorites. . . ."

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Evil ways?

• 2. Intermarriage with specific nations that
  Yahweh had prohibited.
• Othniel vs. Samson
• Gideon/Jerubbaal and his Shechemite concubine gt
  son is Abimelech!

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Evil ways?

• 3. No King
• Jdg 17.6, 21.25 "In those days Israel had no
  king everyone did as he/she saw fit."
• Gideon (Jdg 8.22-23ff. Abimelech? Jephthah)

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Jdg 6.6 The Oppressed Cry Out

• Jdg 6.3, 6 "Now whenever the Israelites planted
  seeds, the Midianites, Amalekites and the
  children of the East would rise up against them.
  . . . So Israel was 'reduced to utter misery' by
  the Midianites. Then the children of Israel cried
  out to Yahweh. (n.b. TNK)

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In the Material World

• Norman Gottwald, The Tribes of Yahweh "While
  continuing their pastoral-nomadic society, the
  Midianites were attempting to develop a trading
  empire along the "king's highway" which ran
  between Damascus and the Gulf of Aqabah through
  Ammon, Moab, and Edom."

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Jdg 6.7-10 A Prophet's Word

• Jdg 6.7-8a "When the children of Israel cried
  out to Yahweh because of the Midianites, Yahweh
  sent a man, a prophet to the children of Israel .
  . . ."

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Jdg 6.8b-10a The Word of God

• I caused you to ascend from Egypt.
• I brought you out from the house of slavery.
• I snatched you out from the hand of the
  Egyptians, from all your oppressors.
• I drove out them out from before you.
• I gave you their land.
• and I said to you, "I am Yahweh your God!"

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Jdg 6.10b The Word of God

• Do not be afraid/have reverence for the gods of
  the Amorites, in whose land you live.
• BUT you did not heed my voice!

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Jdg 6.11-24 The Call

• Jdg 6.11-12a The Angel of Yahweh came and sat
  underneath the terebinth . . . while Gideon was
  beating out wheat in a winepress, hiding it from
  the Midianites. And the angel of Yahweh appeared
  to him and said . . . .

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Jdg 6.12b-13 The Dialogue of Commission

• The Angel of Yahweh
• "Yahaweh is with you, O valiant warrior!"

• Gideon
• "If Yahweh is with us, why has all this found us?
  Where are all his wondrous deeds that our fathers
  told about us saying 'Did not Yahweh bring us up
  out of Egypt?' But now Yahweh has abandoned us
  and given us into the palm of the Midianites"

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Jdg 6.14-15 The Dialogue of Commission

• The Angel of Yahweh
• ". . . turned toward him and said . . . ."
• "Go in this your strength"
• "Deliver Israel from the palm of the Midianites"
• "Have I not sent you."

• Gideon
• "How can I deliver Israel?"
• hinneh "My family is the weakest in Manasseh"
• "and I am the youngest in my father's house."

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Jdg 6.16 The Dialogue of Commission

• The Angel of Yahweh
• Now Yahweh said to him . . . .
• I will indeed be with you.
• and you will strike down the Midianites like one
  man.

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Trouble is a Servant - Follette

• All of us know trouble - at least I hope we do
• Trouble is a servant, but known as such to few.
• We are taught to shun her and, if she comes too
  near,
• Seldom do we face her but run away in fear.
• Good and bad must meet her, the universe around -
• Sinners, saints, kings and knaves - she comes
  where man is found.
• Always make her serve you, for she can serve you
  well
• Just HOW you may use her your life will always
  tell.

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Trouble is a Servant - Follette

• Trouble is but passive - its by our power to
  will
• We make her either bless us or do the soul some
  ill.
• How do you translate her from phrases filled with
  pain
• To messages of strength - from loss to endless
  gain?
• By faith we see behind the outer frightful mask
• A servant in disguise, to do a gracious task.
• Hearts may feel her wounding and life may suffer
  loss
• Faith translates her working, as freeing gold
  from dross.

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Trouble is a Servant - Follette

• Trouble will discover to any yielded heart
• Hidden depths of power wit only knew in part
• Sympathizing power, and love that understands,
• Strength to help another with trouble-tested
  hands.
• Trouble will release you from self and make you
  kind,
• Adding new dimensions to heart and soul and mind.
• Do not shun this servant, but look beyond her
  task
• To beauty she will work -for which you daily ask.

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Trouble is a Servant - Follette

• Always see in trouble a chance to grow in grace,
• Not a stroke of evil to hinder in your race.
• Live the life triumphant above her fiery darts
• Rich fruitage will be yours to share with needy
  hearts.

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Jdg 6.17-18 A Sign

• Gideon
• "If I have found favor in your eyes, make a sign
  for me that it is you speaking to me"

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Jdg 6.22 The Recognition

• When Gideon saw that he was an angel of Yahweh .
  . . Gideon said, "OH NO! Lord Yahweh! For I have
  seen an angel of Yahweh face to face."

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Jdg 6.23-24a Confirmation

• Yahweh said to him, "Shalom to you, Do not be
  afraid, you will not die."
• So Gideon built there an altar to Yahweh and he
  called it "Yahweh Shalom."