April 2

Judges 7:1-9:21

Gideon is such an interesting figure. He is a courageous leader who obeys God even amid impossible circumstances and at the same time he is filled with doubt, fear, and sin. In many ways he is just like us. One of the things we see through his life is God is the one who ultimately brings about deliverance. God winnows down the size of Gideon's army from 32,000 to 100. We are told God’s explicit purpose was to prove he is the one who would bring victory to Israel and not the size or skill of the military. God wanted the credit to go to him and not to the military. His battle plan should have brought him praise since it involved lighting torches and shouting and, initially, not fighting.

Despite this clearly being God's victory, there is no acknowledgement of Him, no praise, and no worship from Israel. Absent is the creation of an altar, a song of praise like that of Deborah, or a worship service to honor the one who deserves the honor. Instead, the response is bickering and praise of Gideon. How quickly they fell into praising man's accomplishments rather than God's power. Let Gideon and Israel serve as a warning that we should be quick to praise God, as we see and remember what he has done.

Father God, help me to praise you quickly and praise you consistently. May I acknowledge it is your power and grace that will save me and deliver me from the hardships I face. Amen. 

What does it look like to praise yourself or others, rather than God?

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