the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
Judges 8:18-35
After the victory, a whole series of subtle dangers still threaten the servant of God. Yesterday we saw the jealousy of Ephraim to which Gideon replied with meekness. Now we have the flattery of the world. But Zebah and Zalmunna’s compliments about his face – like that of a child of the king – do not stop Gideon putting them to death. Another trap is laid for him now, this time by the Israelites: "Rule thou over us," they say, "both thou, and thy son . . . for thou hast delivered us." He gives a beautiful reply, "The LORD shall rule over you," (vv. 22, 23). A servant of the Lord must take care that he does not take the place in men’s souls that belongs to the Lord; and on the other hand, believers must guard against flattering the servants of God (Matthew 23:8; Matthew 23:10).
After Gideon’s victories there is one last trap (v. 27) into which this time he is to fall. In memory of his victory he sets up in the town an ephod (a golden object which was a reminder of the priesthood). All Israel comes to worship it forgetting that the only centre for the priesthood was at Shiloh where the ark was (Joshua 18:1). Then Gideon dies . . . and the people go back to their idols!
