DCLM Daily Manna SATURDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER, 2021– GOD’S ORDERED ARMY
TOPIC: God’s Ordered Army (DCLM Daily Manna 16 September 2021)
📜 TEXT:JUDGES 7:16-25📜
16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.
25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
🔑📖KEY VERSE: “And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath” (JUDGES 7:22).
Strategy is very important for victory in a military warfare. A commander must be able to choose his tactics intelligently and tactfully if he must lead his men to victory. Choosing and using a wrong strategy will not only bring defeat and casualties but also loss of confidence in the commander.
In our text, it is obvious Gideon had a winning strategy which was given to him by the Lord. The previous revelation of the palpitations and panic in the enemy’s camp renewed his courage and confidence as he confronted the enemy headlong. He had come to realise and believe that God was with him and was providing him with necessary strategies for the warfare. Truly God had played significant role so far in this warfare in helping him to choose the right men for the battle and was still guiding him on the tactics to use against the enemy. As he followed His guidance, his army simply watched as the enemy fell into panic, confusion and disordered retreat.
Also Read: Open Heaven 17 September 2021 – Holy Spirit: The Engine Room For Missions
Victory is easy and sweet when God orders the army. The victory cannot be attributed to Gideon’s small army. God showed Israel that victory in warfare depends not on the strength or size of the army but on obedience and commitment to Him.
The believer must learn to commit his battles to God. He must remove his confidence from human training, strength, experience or resources. God alone gives complete and satisfactory victory in life’s battles.
✍🏽THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God’s ordered army is certain of victory.
📜THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PROVERBS 7-8📜
MEDITATION
SPIRITUAL WARFARE PRECEEDING VICTORY
1. The enemies that must be fought
a. The midianites were avowed and wicked enemy of Israel and so negotiating or seeking a compromise with them will lead to peril. The only option was to fight them.
b. The believers’ enemies, the flesh, demons and the world are similarly dangerous, wicked and destructive.
c. There is no alternative to spiritual warfare. No negotiation or seeking a compromise with them. It must be fight to conquer totally or else we loose our God ordained destiny, Ephesians 6:11,12.Therefore don’t be feeble minded; fight the fight of faith👌
2. The unfailing strategy
a. How could 300 soldiers of Israel fight a multitude of the Midianites? The main secret was to receive a definite instruction from God, v16. God specifically told him what to do, Psalm 32:8,9.
Question
Does God speak to you through His word and through other means?
Specific battles will need specific instructions from God
b. The main battle was fought in the night, vv19,20. The powers of darkness usually use the cover of the night to fight.
c. The attack was done when the target were least prepared, resting time.
What can you learn from this as a Christian soldier?
d. It was not left to God alone, they did their own part. The trumpets frightened them from sleep and the 300 torch lights blinded their eyes so that they were running helter-skelter and killing each other, v22. Use wisdom and strategically plan your battles. You have a part which nobody can play for you in fighting your battles🤷♂️
e. Even though the Midianites were in the dark, the Israelites made sure that they fought with light. All your strategies must be in accordance with the light of the scriptures, Psalm 119:105. “Thy word is a lamp to my feet”.
f. When it was needed, Gideon sought the assistance of some other tribes in addition to his 300 soldiers, vv24,25. Don’t hesitate to seek the help of others of like minds when the battle is getting tougher.
What other lessons can you learn from the battle
PRAYER POINTS
1. Ask God to speak to you clearly on how to fight against the battle confronting you🙏
2. Ask for the spirit of power to be valiant in fighting the battles of faith🙏
3. Pray for anointing that is greater than all your battles🙏
4. Ask God to release His power and subdue all the adversaries confronting all His children🙏
HYMN
ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
1. Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
see his banner go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
2. At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise! Refrain
3. Like a mighty army
moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity.
Refrain
4. Onward, then, ye people,
join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices
in the triumph song;
Glory, laud, and honor,
unto Christ the King;
This thro’ countless ages
men and angels sing. Refrain
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
