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Weekly Guide：2024-2025 Week 22
June 02, 2024
Week 22 Day 1: Few against Many ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the fifth judge battle the huge army of Midianites and won with only three hundred men?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Israelites again behaved sinfully after a time of peace and were put in the hands of Midianites.
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The angel of God came to Gideon and burned all offerings as proof that he was called upon by God. Gideon built an altar and called it “The Lord is Peace.”
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Gideon, obeyed God regardless of the danger, demolished the altar his father had built to Baal then built an altar to God. Baal was not able to defend for himself.
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Before fighting the Midianite army, God showed Gideon twice that He was in control with dry/wet wool fleece.
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God cut down the number of Gideon’s already small army to just three hundred men. God enabled them to defeat the Midianite army and killed one hundred twenty thousand. (Judges 8:10)
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - Gideon disregarded the danger of being stoned to death to destroy Baal’s altar. We may also face misunderstanding, disrespect, insults, and even personal danger when testifying for our Lord. Pray and ask God to strengthen my faith and help me to live out a holy life.
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Fidelity - Gideon obeyed God’s command to cut his already small army to just a mere three hundred while the Midianite army was one hundred thirty five thousand in number. God did this to show that it was He made possible the impossible. If we rely on ourselves, we’d move forward only when we have an apparent advantage but retract otherwise. Let God help me to focus on Him, the rock that never fails.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 22 Day 2: Commemorate the Victory ⇧ ⇩
Question
How was the late generations influenced by the ephod Gideon built for the victory over the Midianites?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Ephraimites complained because they weren’t called to fight the Midianites. Gideon comforted them by being humble.
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Gideon and the three hundred men kept pursuing the remaining fifteen thousand Midianites. The two Midianite kings were killed and their entire army fled.
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Gideon punished the men of Sukkoth and Peniel for their refusal to help Gideon’s men.
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Gideon refused to rule over the Israelites but with the Midianite gold he built an ephod which became a snare.
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After Gideon’s death, Israelites turned away from God to worship Baals and failed to show any loyalty to Gideon’s family.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - After winning the war over Midianites, Gideon did not build an altar to God but an ephod to commemorate his victory. Have I remembered to glorify God for the victories I experienced or did I steal the glory for myself?
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Fidelity - The Sukkoth and Peniel may not have believed that three hundred men could defeat fifteen thousand and thus refused to help Gideon. When choosing between the seemingly weak side of God and the seemingly strong side of the world, is my choice based on my fear in going against the popular culture? Pray and ask God to help me and strengthen my heart so that I can live out a life that pleases God.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 22 Day 3: Abimelek Crowned King ⇧ ⇩
Question
What happened after Abimelek, a son of Gideon, was crowned king?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Gideon’s son Abimelek crowned himself as king. He murdered his seventy brothers and only the youngest, Jotham, escaped. Jotham shouted to citizen of Shechem to warn them that they would be consumed by fire.
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Animosity came between Abimelek and citizen of Shechem. Three years later, Abimelek was killed by a millstone dropped by a woman on a tower while attacking Thebez.
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After Abimelek, God raised up Tola and Jair as judges.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - We all wish God to punish as soon as possible the evil doers such as Abimelek. However, God gave him three years. We are all sinners, under God’s patience. Let me be grateful to God’s patience and face my own weakness and sins in earnest.
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Fidelity - Gideon appeared to be very successful with his victory over the Midianites. But, he was a complete failure in raising his son Abimelek. What have I been lacking in raising my children to walk God’s path?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 22 Day 4: Repay for Vow ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Jephthah of lowly birth do when the Ammonites attacked?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Eighteen years after they turned away from God and were repressed by the Philistines and Ammonites, the Israelites repented and gotten rid of foreign gods. The Israelites needed someone to lead them when the Ammonites attacked.
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Jephthah the mighty warrior was driven out of the family because of his lowly birth. The elders asked him to come back to lead them in their fight against the Ammonites.
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Jephthah told Ammonites the three hundred years of history that God had given Israelites the land and that God will judge the dispute. King of Ammon paid no attention.
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Jephthah vowed to God that whoever came out to meet him first when he returned in triumph would be devoted to the Lord. Unexpectedly, his daughter, the only child came out first. However difficult, Jephthah kept his vow.
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The Ephraimites were going to burn down Jephthah’s house because they weren’t called to fight the Ammonites. Jephthah called together the men of Gilead to fight Ephraimites. Forty two thousand Ephraimites were killed.
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Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon became judges after Jephthah.
Meditation: My Story
- Community - Despite of his lowly birth, God had an important mission for Jephthah. Are there people around me whom I look down upon? Let me respect them to give them the opportunity to see how God values them.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 22 Day 5: Bold and Unbridled ⇧ ⇩
Question
What did Samson do with his great strength given by God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Israelites were in the hands of Philistines for forty years for they again did evil acts.
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God commanded the once infertile parents of Samson to dedicate him to God for life as Nazirite.
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The Spirit of the Lord came to Samson and gave him great strength that he teared the lion into pieces. Samson acted absurdly ignoring the law and his status as Nazirite.
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Samson ignored the law and married a Philistine woman.
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Samson planned to take advantage of his companions with a riddle but leaked the answer to his wife. He had to give away his wife and give them cloths from thirty Philistines he then killed.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - Samson could have done great things for God with the great power God had given him. But he chose to follow his own will. Although he powered over the Philistines and displayed much personal glory, he paled in comparison to Gideon. Let me learn from Samson’s example to put God’s will first, obey His commands, and live to glorify God.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 22 Day 6: To Perish Together ⇧ ⇮
Question
What situation was Samson in when he killed the most enemies?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Samson left his father-in-law’s in anger. When he came back, his wife was already given away. Samson avenged against the Philistines and caused the death of his wife and father-in-law.
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The people of Judah gave Samson up to the Philistines under pressure. God’s spirit came upon Samson and he killed a thousand Philistine with a donkey’s jawbone. God opened up a spring to save Samson from thirst.
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With lies and God given strength, Samson was able to escape from Philistines’ attacks number of times. His lust for women caused him to give away his secret and cost him strength. Philistine captured Samson and gouged out his eyes. After regaining his strength, Samson pulled down the temple’s pillars. Samson perished together with all Philistines under the temple roof. Samson killed many more when he died then when he lived. He led Israel for twenty years.
Meditation: My Story
- Integrity - God had given Samson great strength but he relied on himself. He prayed to the Lord only twice in duress and ultimately could not realize his God given talent. Am I often blinded by my talent or advantage and unable to see my weakness? Let me come in front of God to pray and ask Him to help me see myself.