Furnishings of the Tabernacle

June 11

Lesson 2 (KJV)

Gideon

Devotional Reading: Psalm 83:1–12, 18

Background Scripture: Judges 6–8

Judges 6:11–18

11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

Photo: tzahiV / iStock / Thinkstock

Key Verse

The angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

—Judges 6:12

God’s Urgent Call

Unit 1: Called to Be Strong

Lessons 1–4

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Describe the encounter between Gideon and the angel of the Lord.

2. Explain Gideon’s three questions as they relate to their historical context.

3. Identify one struggle of life in which he or she views self as “the least” in being able to overcome it, and write a prayer for the Lord’s strength to do so.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. Against All Odds

B. Lesson Background

I. Big Trouble (Judges 6:11–13)

A. Cowering Warrior (vv. 11, 12)

B. Missing Miracles (v. 13)

II. Weak Tribe (Judges 6:14–16)

A. Promised Presence (v. 14)

B. Puny Pedigree (v. 15)

“I’m Not OK?”

C. Sure Success (v. 16)

III. Security Sought (Judges 6:17, 18)

A. Asking for a Sign (v. 17)

Seeing Angels and Seeking Signs

B. Receiving Assurance (v. 18)

Conclusion

A. What’s Your Excuse?

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Abiezer	Ay-buy-ee-zur.
Abiezrite	Ay-buy-ez-rite.
Amalek	Am-uh-lek.
Amalekites	Am-uh-leh-kites or Uh-mal-ih-kites.
Barak	Bair-uk.
Canaanites	Kay-nun-ites.
Esau	Ee-saw.
Keturah	Keh-too-ruh.
Manasseh	Muh-nass-uh.
Midian	Mid-ee-un.
Midianites	Mid-ee-un-ites.
Ophrah	Ahf-ruh.
Sinai	Sigh-nye or Sigh-nay-eye.
Sisera	Sis-er-uh.
Yahwen (Hebrew)	Yah-weh.

What Do You Think? What are some ways Christians send contradictory, mixed messages to the culture at large? How do we fix this problem? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Concerning mixed messages about Christianity in general ■ Concerning mixed messages about individual Christians What Do You Think? How can we resist thinking that God has abandoned us? What will happen if we don’t? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ In cases that affect you alone ■ When feelings of abandonment swirl around your group (family, Sunday school class, etc.) ■ When feelings of abandonment sweep across the nation What Do You Think? What have you found to be the most reliable indicators of God’s will? Why? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Regarding bigger “callings” ■ Regarding smaller, daily activities ■ Considering the cautions of Job 42:7; Proverbs 15:22; James 4:13–17; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 22:18, 19 What Do You Think? What are some ways to overcome feelings of inadequacy when sensing God’s call to a task? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ Regarding the content of prayer ■ Regarding the counsel sought of others ■ Regarding examples from Scripture ■ Other What Do You Think? In addition to studying Scripture together, how would you counsel a fellow Christian who claims to receive signs from God? Talking Points for Your Discussion ■ When the claim involves receiving miraculous signs ■ When the claim involves receiving non-miraculous signs Pelfrey, Lloyd M. et al. “Gideon.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2016–2017. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson, Jim Eichenberger, and Margaret K. Williams. Vol. 64. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2017. 358. Print.