Day 46 Reading Schedule: Judges 5-9

Judges 5: The Song of Deborah 

[Summary]

This chapter records the victory song of Deborah and Barak, the female judges who defeated Jabin, the king of Canaan, praising God for their victory. First, Deborah and Barak began their victory song by recalling God’s grace that protected Israel since the Exodus (verses 1-5). They then sang about Israel being oppressed by Jabin and God’s grace that declared war on foreign nations to save His people (verses 6-13). They also described the brave fighting of each tribe of Israel that participated in the battle (verses 14-23), and finally, they sang about the death of Sisera and the joy of Israel’s victory, and they prayed for God’s help to be eternal (verses 24-31).

This is a scene where the female judges Deborah and Barak, who defeated Jabin’s army with God’s absolute support, praise God with overwhelming joy for their victory. Indeed, such praise is a beautiful and humble act of faith that returns all the glory of victory to God, and it is a wise gesture that understands grace as grace. In that context, the lips of believers should always overflow with praise and gratitude.

Judges 6: Midianites and Judge Gideon 

[Summary]

This chapter records the story of Gideon, who occupies a very important position among the judges of Israel. Among them, it deals in detail with the process by which Gideon, an ordinary farmer, was called to be a great judge. Israel, which had enjoyed forty years of peace under Deborah, once again sinned against the Lord and as a result was oppressed by the Midianites as God’s judgment. Only then did the Israelites repent and ask God for salvation (verses 1-10). Then God appeared to Gideon, the son of Joash, and commanded him to save the nation. Then Gideon, whose faith was weak, asked for a sign and only after seeing the miracle did he stand up to fulfill his mission as a judge (verses 11-24). As his first mission, Gideon destroyed the idols in the city (verses 25-32). And Gideon, who received the spirit of God, gathered the people to attack Midian and asked for a sign to prove God's help again, and God gave him a sign (vv. 33-40).

Following the introduction of the praise of the judges Deborah and Barak, who defeated the army of King Jabin of Canaan and gave all the glory to God, this chapter introduces the fact that Israel, who had regained stability, rebelled against God again and committed a crime, was invaded by the Midianites. At this time, God heard the painful pleas of Israel and once again made a plan to save them. As part of that work, this chapter introduces the scene where Gideon receives God's calling. In this way, God's workers are established according to God's plan and needs.

Judges 7: Gideon's Three Hundred Warriors 

[Summary]

This chapter records a full-scale battle with Midian. When Gideon recruited soldiers for the battle against Midian, many people gathered. Gideon then selected three hundred soldiers through a test (verses 1-8). Finally, when Gideon faced the innumerable Midianite army, God gave him the assurance of victory through the Midianite army's dream (verses 9-14). Emboldened by this, Gideon armed himself with trumpets, jars, and torches and launched a surprise night attack, achieving a great victory (verses 15-25).

God, who had suffered greatly because of the Midianites, heard the prayers of Israel and prepared a new worker named Gideon for them. This chapter introduces the scene where the Israelite army led by Gideon, a faithful worker who absolutely obeyed God's commands, achieved a great victory over the Midianites. Through this, we can once again confirm that the victory or defeat of war is under the control of God, the true master of history.

Judges 8: Conquest of Midian and the Deeds of Gideon 

[Summary]

This chapter records the pursuit of the Midianite army by Gideon and his men, who were defeated in battle, and their complete destruction. Gideon and his 300 men, exhausted and hungry, pursued the Midianites to the end, annihilated them, and captured their two kings, Zebah and Zalmunna (verses 1-12). In the process of pursuing the Midianites, they annihilated the people of Succoth and Penuel who had treated them harshly, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna (verses 13-21). After that, Gideon refused the people’s request to make him their ruler, but instead made an ephod with the gold he received, which later led to the people’s corruption (verses 22-28). However, after Gideon’s death, the Israelites became corrupt again (verses 29-35).

In this chapter, the Israelite army led by Gideon pursues the Midian army and completely destroys it, followed by the story of Gideon's humble attitude in refusing to be king, Gideon's mistake due to the ephod, and Gideon's death. In fact, a person should always be careful not to fall when he stands on his own.

Judges 9: Abimelech and Shechem's Rebellion 

[Summary]

This chapter records the tragic end of Abimelech, the son of Gideon, who attempted to seize power through cruel means after Gideon's death. After Gideon's death, his illegitimate son Abimelech gathered a band of scoundrels, killed seventy of his brothers, and made himself king (vv. 1-6). However, Jotham, the only survivor, warned the Israelites that they would be oppressed by Abimelech in the future (vv. 7-21). Three years later, the Shechemites, who had followed Abimelech, betrayed him and plotted a rebellion (vv. 22-33), and Abimelech, enraged by this, led his army and destroyed the Shechemites (vv. 34-49). However, in the end, Abimelech also met a tragic end when a woman was killed by a millstone (vv. 50-57).

The era of Gideon, who was appointed as a worker to save Israel according to God's will, has ended, and now Gideon's son Abimelech succeeds him as the new leader of Israel. However, Abimelech cannot escape God's discipline because he became a leader through unjust and evil methods. God has Jotham, who was dramatically saved from Abimelech's massacre, prophesy the tragic fate of Abimelech and those who followed him, and leads history so that the prophecy is fulfilled.