MISJUDGED by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC
Introduction: When Nicole and I were in Oxford, England, back in July, one of the places I really wanted to visit was the site of the martyrdom of Hugh Latimer, bishop of Worcester, Nicholas Ridley, bishop of London, in 1555, and, a year later, Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury. The place is on Broad Street outside of Balliol College in the heart of Oxford. They were burned at the stake for their alleged Protestant heresies. The real reason was that Mary Tudor hated them, especially Cranmer for helping annul the marriage of her parents, King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, and allowing her father to marry Anne Boleyn. Cranmer even recanted as he saw his fate drawing near, but finally he stood firm. Unfortunately, many of God’s people have been falsely accused throughout history, and we will learn from the book of Judges how to stand strong in the face of false accusations. Our message is titled MISJUDGED. Main Point: If you serve God, be prepared to be misjudged. Be prepared to have your motives called into question. It comes with the territory. Choose to obey God, and he will accept the consequences. Look to Jesus as your model and your strength.
Judges 8 24 Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. 25 So they answered, “We will gladly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. 26 Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks. 27 Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.”
Context: This final act of Gideon is often preached or taught as a disappointing and tragic end to an otherwise heroic and faith-inspiring life of Gideon. Afterall, by making this ephod, Gideon himself lead Israel into the sin of idolatry, the very sin that he got them out of! It is even claimed that, in reality, his decline began right from the start when he showed evidence of the sins of pride and revenge. Interpreters then conclude – Well, he was just a reflection of the moral degradation and spiritual decay of the people of Israel at the time. As they say, “You get the leaders you deserve. Why be surprised, he was no different than the other judges – flawed, inadequate, unsteady, immoral, ungodly, and overall poor leaders.”
In our series through the book of Judges, we have taken a different view of the judges.We believe that they have been misjudged. We choose to believe about them what the book of Hebrews says about them in 11:39 “…all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith.” If the word of God gives these judges such high marks, so should we.
Before we adjudicate and acquit Gideon of the accusations of Pride, Revenge, and Idolatry, here’s a question: Why do we judge others? Could it be that its revealing what is going on in our own heart? People even tried to judge Jesus! Listen to what he said in Matthew 7 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Could it be that we are so concerned about the speck in our brother’s eye is because there’s a plank sitting in our own eye? We’re not talking about exercising discernment in accepting the doctrines of teachers. We’re talking about judging motives. By the way, have you ever taken the time to read the words prior – Matthew 7 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” In other words, when we judge others, we are telling God – “Judge me with the same standards that I’m judging!”
With that said, let’s look at the 3 misjudgments of Gideon:
1. Pride
Some have argued that the pretentiousness of Gideon can be found in Judges 7 17And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: 18 When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!’ ” It is claimed that right from the start Gideon was trying to get a little credit for himself. He was trying to be on the same level as God.
Is that really what was going on? For starters, don’t forget – Gideon is the New Moses:Along with the other parallels, he is also being called prideful like Moses. Moses’s own brother and sister accused him of being prideful and God was angry with them for that. In fact, listen toExodus 14 30 “So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Thus Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant Moses.”
Far from being prideful, Gideon was teaching us something very important – Even though God does not need us, he chooses to include us in his divine plans. He didn’t need David to turn on the light this morning, after all, when God said, “Let there be light,” there was light! He didn’t need John to lead music today, after all he leads the “music of the spheres” = the movement of the sun, the moon, and the stars in orbit. He has a multitude of angels at his command ready to sing the most beautiful songs. Nonetheless, God makes room for us to join him in his work in this world. The fact that he uses us is a miracle in itself! Listen to Paul in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Again, 1 Corinthians 15 9“For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” That should be our attitude and mindset. Yes, we do things, but it is because he is with us.
One more thing – the people who are shouting “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon” are not just any ordinary people. Do you remember the first task that God had given to Gideon? It was to tear down the statue of Baal in his father’s house and cut down the wooden image next to it. What was the response of the people of the city, the Abiezrites? Judges 6:30Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the wooden image that was beside it.” Who are the people who join him first? Judges 6:34 “But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; then he blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him.” What a miracle of God to bring his enemies to his side! Furthermore, Gideon doesn’t even have a sword! Torch in one hand and trumpet in the other. How is he going to wield a sword?
Application: Are you quick to call someone prideful who happens to be on stage? You don’t know the heart of that person. Be hesitant to make such accusations.
2. Revenge
Some have argued that Gideon changed in the middle of this battle. The old, meek and mild, Gideon was gone, and the new, cruel and vengeful, Gideon emerged. Judges 8 4 When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit. 5 Then he said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.” 6 And the leaders of Succoth said, “Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” 7 So Gideon said, “For this cause, when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!” 8 Then he went up from there to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered. 9 So he also spoke to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come back in peace, I will tear down this tower!” Was Gideon now some kind of a self-appointed dictator?
Is that really what’s going on? For starters, Gideon was asking for bread for his men, not for himself. 1 John 3:17 “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” Something else – In the midst of a battle for freedom, the fighters were famished. It was the duty of the others to meet their basic needs. Instead, they were accusing Gideon of trying to take advantage of them. This is similar to Moses when the Korah and his people rebelled against Moses and accused him of trying to be their prince. God opened the earth and swallowed the entire clan and their things. Also, fire consumed the 250 who were wrongfully offering incense. When they continued to complain 14,700 more died in the plague. This is the justice of God, not revenge. Jesus said in Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” This is also true with the killing of Zebah and Zalmunna? Judges 8 18 And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” So they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.” 19 Then he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.” Where is grace, mercy, and forgiveness? James 2:13 “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Ultimately, Gideon is a type of Christ, the Ultimate Judge. John 5 22 “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son…24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life…26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” 1 Corinthians 15 25 “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”
Application: Do you understand God’s justice? Will you be able to stand before Jesus the judge? Receive him now as your merciful Savior.
3. Idolatry
Judges 8 22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.” 24 Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. 25 So they answered, “We will gladly give them.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder. 26 Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks. 27 Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah. And all Israel played the harlot with it there. It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.
Keep in mind that Gideon is doing exactly what Moses did. When the people of Israel had left Egypt, they took the gold and silver from the Egyptians. Moses, as commanded by the Lord, among other things, made an ephod to be worn by the High Priest Aaron. There was the regular attire of the ordinary priests made of white linen. But the High Priest had a special ephod. It was the inside out Tabernacle. Just like the 3 layers of the Tabernacle, this also had 3 layers of the Holy of Holies. Even the color scheme was the same, drab on the outside of tabernacle is the drab on the inside (underwear), blue represents the heavens (starry host), crimson red, deep blue, and gold, square breastplate with gold silver and precious stones. Square like the holy of holies, pillar of fire and pillar of cloud, urim and thumim (darks and lights) miniature replicas, reminder of continued leading of God.
We know why Moses made the ephod but why Gideon? Remember Judges 6:34 “But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon…” The Hebrew use of “labas” reads “The Spirit of Yahweh put on Gideon.” It is not that Gideon put on the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit put on Gideon. On the surface, it was Gideon, but underneath was the Holy Spirit. Making an ephod was to stand as a reminder to the people of Israel of who really did the battle for them. This was to separate the true presence of God from himself. He wanted them to see that the true glory belongs to God. As parents would take their kids to see the ephod, they would probably say, “One day, you will be wear the ephod for God. The Spirit of God will wear you and do great and mighty things.”
In time, they forgot the message and worshipped the object. Unfortunately, truth is often forgotten in time. They took what was a beautiful representation of God’s faithfulness and pattern in saving us and made an idol out of it. This became a source of pain to Gideon (misrepresented him and his family), just like they worshipped the Bronze Serpent with Moses (2 Kings 18). We do the same with a cross.
Application: Have you made an idol of something or someone in your heart? Do you do everything you can to give God glory? Do you know Christ? Are you saved?