‏ Judges 8

* Gideon pacifies the Ephraimites. (1-3) Succoth and Penuel

refuse to relieve Gideon. (4-12) Succoth and Penuel punished.

(13-17) Gideon avenges his brethren. (18-21) Gideon declines the

government, but given occasion for idolatry. (22-28) Gideon's

death, Israel's ingratitude. (29-35)

1-3 Those who will not attempt or venture any thing in the

cause of God, will be the most ready to censure and quarrel with

such as are of a more zealous and enterprising spirit. And those

who are the most backward to difficult services, will be the

most angry not to have the credit of them. Gideon stands here as

a great example of self-denial; and shows us that envy is best

removed by humility. The Ephraimites had given vent to their

passion in very wrong freedom of speech, a certain sign of a

weak cause: reason runs low when chiding flies high. 4-12 Gideon's men were faint, yet pursuing; fatigued with what

they had done, yet eager to do more against their enemies. It is

many a time the true Christian's case, fainting, and yet

pursuing. The world knows but little of the persevering and

successful struggle the real believer maintains with his sinful

heart. But he betakes himself to that Divine strength, in the

faith of which he began his conflict, and by the supply of which

alone he can finish it in triumph. 13-17 The active servants of the Lord meet with more dangerous

opposition from false professors than from open enemies; but

they must not care for the behaviour of those who are Israelites

in name, but Midianites in heart. They must pursue the enemies

of their souls, and of the cause of God, though they are ready

to faint through inward conflicts and outward hardships. And

they shall be enabled to persevere. The less men help, and the

more they seek to hinder, the more will the Lord assist.

Gideon's warning being slighted, the punishment was just. Many

are taught with the briers and thorns of affliction, who would

not learn otherwise. 18-21 The kings of Midian must be reckoned with. As they

confessed themselves guilty of murder, Gideon acted as the

avenger of blood, being the next of kin to the persons slain.

Little did they think to have heard of this so long after; but

murder seldom goes unpunished in this life. Sins long forgotten

by man, must be accounted for to God. What poor consolation in

death from the hope of suffering less pain, and of dying with

less disgrace than some others! yet many are more anxious on

these accounts, than concerning the future judgment, and what

will follow. 22-28 Gideon refused the government the people offered him. No

good man can be pleased with any honour done to himself, which

belongs only to God. Gideon thought to keep up the remembrance

of this victory by an ephod, made of the choicest of the spoils.

But probably this ephod had, as usual, a teraphim annexed to it,

and Gideon intended this for an oracle to be consulted. Many are

led into false ways by one false step of a good man. It became a

snare to Gideon himself, and it proved the ruin of the family.

How soon will ornaments which feed the lust of the eye, and form

the pride of life, as well as tend to the indulgences of the

flesh, bring shame on those who are fond of them! 29-35 As soon as Gideon was dead, who kept the people to the

worship of the God of Israel, they found themselves under no

restraint; then they went after Baalim, and showed no kindness

to the family of Gideon. No wonder if those who forget their

God, forget their friends. Yet conscious of our own ingratitude

to the Lord, and observing that of mankind in general, we should

learn to be patient under any unkind returns we meet with for

our poor services, and resolve, after the Divine example, not to

be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good.