By James Riley Strange, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of New Testament, Samford University
Our Peace
Judges 6:11–16, 22–24
If you have time, read the whole story of Gideon in Judges 6:1–8:32. Gideon’s story is presented in two parts. In the first (6:1–7:32, in which today’s passages fall), he is frightened and frequently asks for divine help, which he gets. In the second (7:24–8:28), he is a mighty warrior and able leader. Some scholars say that these two pictures of Gideon present a frequent question in the book of Judges: shall Israel have divine or human leadership (see 7:1–8)?
The setting for today’s passage is the problem of the nomadic Midianites. Their territory was east of the Gulf of Aqaba (consult your Bible maps). They have come far to harass the Israelite tribes by destroying their crops. The biblical text likens them to locusts (6:5).
In 6:1–6, we find the typical pattern of Judges: “The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of the Midianites. … Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord.” Usually at this point the Lord sends Israel a deliverer in the form of a charismatic military leader (a “judge”), but this time the Lord first sends a prophet who reprimands them (6:7–10). That brings us to our passages for today.
Peace eludes us when we look at our circumstances. (11–13)
As is common in the Bible, at first Gideon doesn’t recognize that his visitor is an angel of the Lord (see 19–22). He also doesn’t know what to make of this fellow calling him “mighty warrior.” Is he being ironic? Gideon after all is hiding his grain threshing in a wine press. The angel says, “the Lord is with you,” meaning that he is about to commission Gideon (see v. 14), but Gideon apparently misunderstands what he is talking about. He fires back the perennial question, “If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?” Have we not asked it ourselves?
Peace eludes us when we look at our shortcomings. (14–16)
When the angel speaks, it is as if the Lord is speaking. Note that Gideon’s sarcasm has not put him off. Gideon uses a second tack: not sarcasm but realism. How can he defeat the Midianites if he is “the least” in his family and if his family “is the weakest in Manasseh”? We would expect any potential military leader to ask these questions. Nevertheless, Gideon will receive his commission and will defeat the Midianites for the Lord indeed will be with him.
Peace comes to us as we look to God. (22–24)
The promise that Gideon will not die is circumstantial. Gideon did die (8:32), just not that day and not for the reason that terrified him. He had, after all, “seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” Surely Gideon understood that. By naming the place “The Lord is peace” (Yahweh shalom), he shows the comfort he received from God’s word.
The Book of Judges portrays God’s presence with Gideon (6:12, 16) as an assurance that no harm will come to him before he fulfills his commission. That promise is borne out in the story. We know that God’s presence does not protect us from suffering or death. Our best example is Jesus in Gethsemane. We do know, however, that whether we suffer or prosper, whether we live on or die, God is with us too. And because God is with us, the Lord is our peace as well.
Perhaps with hindsight, or perhaps through your eyes of faith, you can view an occasion of suffering as a time when you felt God’s presence and when you experienced peace. Surely this is “the peace that surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). Yahweh shalom. Amen.
Share with others: