Not a King. Judges 8

 

Judges 8.  Not a King

 

God told the Israelites in the beginning that He did not want them to have a king like the nations round about them. But because Gideon had delivered them from bondage, they wanted him to accept the position of king. He was the first one to be offered this position and he turned it down. God wanted to rule over His people. It was God who used Gideon so remarkably, but it is Gideon who Israel wants to rule over them. They not only wanted Gideon but his son and his son’s son also to rule. This meant they wanted a king like the nations around them. This young man who threshed grain down by the winepress, recognized that he was a coward. He knew that it was God who had given them the victory. He realized God had raised him up for this purpose.

As long as we are willing to let God have His way, it is remarkable what God will do.

Gideon had many wives and a concubine besides. He had a total of seventy-one sons. Gideon took these wives and had all these children after the battle. God did not approve of what he did. His actions brought tragedy to the nation of Israel.  God had forbidden intermarriage outside the nation.  He had forbidden the Israelites to have more than one wife. God did not create several eves for Adam. He created only one. God did not remove all of Adam’s ribs. God took only one rib.

That was the sin of Abraham, and God never blessed that. God did not bless Solomon’s actions. He did not bless Gideon either. In fact, Gideon’s actions split the kingdom and caused real tragedy.

At first they were a nation that served God, then they forsook God, turned to Baal, and God sold them into slavery. Then they cry out to God. They repent, and God raises up a judge to deliver them. As soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned from God and worshipped Baalim.

This up and down business is the story of nations, churches, and individuals. God never intended our spiritual lives to be that way.

 

 

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J. Vernon McGee Commentary and New King James Bible. Nelsons Quick Reference Commentary.