GIDEON:  A JUDGE AND A MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR

 

The Pulling Down of the Altar of Baal

Judges 6:25-32

Lesson #7

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     God is willing to do all that is necessary to convince good men and women to be employed in His service.

1.       An angel was sent to call Gideon to be judge.

2.       A sign was given to him as proof of that call.

3.       God also comforted Gideon when he thought he would die because he had seen the angel of the Lord.

 

B.      Once a person has been enlisted by God, the work begins.  Many times the tasks that God gives His servants are not easy.

1.       They take courage.

2.       They take stamina.

3.       They take endurance.

4.       They take great faith.

 

C.     The first task that Gideon was given would create quite a stir among the inhabitants of the town of Ophrah.  The task is found in the title of our lesson:  “The Pulling Down of the Altar of Baal” (Jgs. 6:25-32).

 

I.                    THE RESPONSIBILITY LAID UPON GIDEON (Judges 6:25-26)

 

A.     The Shattering of Baal’s Altar (Jgs. 6:25)

 

And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it.

 

1.       The immediacy of action (Jud. 6:25a):  “And it came to pass the same night…”

a.       There are things that God often needs done immediately.

b.      LESSON:  Following God should be done immediately and does not need to be put off for other things (Matt. 8:21-22).

 

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury the dead.

 

2.       The imperatives given (Jud. 6:25b)

a.       Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old

1)      Some commentators believe two bullocks were to be taken by Gideon, the young bullock, and the second bullock.

2)      Only one would be offered upon the altar of Jehovah.

3)      Some believe the other would have assisted in carrying supplies to the place of the altar and in helping to cast it down.

b.      Throw down the altar of Baal

1)      The name “Baal” means “lord.”

2)      This was the supreme male god of the Phoenicians.

3)      He was known as the god of fertility.

 

                      

   

4)      This altar is said to belong to his father, Joash.  However, we will see that it most likely was for public use.  It was his father’s, in that, it was erected on his property.

c.       Cut down the grove that is by it.

1)      Grove:  Asherah

2)      This was the female goddess of the Canaanites who was the consort of Baal.

3)      She was the goddess of fortune and happiness.

4)      Idols or poles were set up for her around the altar of Baal.

5)      Judges 2:13 and Judges 3:7

 

And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth…And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.

 

3.       LESSONS:

a.       Before a person can worship the true God, he must rid himself of all false gods.  Question:  Are there any altars you need to remove from your life?

b.      If it were not for the imaginations of man, false gods would not exist.  Man contrives them and makes images of them that are made up in his feeble mind (Rom. 1:22-23).

 

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

 

B.      The Setting Up of the Altar of the Lord (Jud. 6:26)

 

And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

 

1.       Note first that there was no altar built for God on Joash’s property. 

LESSON:  When man seeks other gods, he soon forgets the worship of Jehovah.

2.       The altar of Baal had been built on a prominent place, the top of a rock.  When it was removed, God wanted His altar placed in its stead. 

3.       The words “in the ordered place” means in an orderly or organized manner, or, in an orderly arrangement.

4.       The wood that was to be used for the burning of the sacrifice was the wood of the grove, that is, the wooden idols of Asherah. 

5.       The bullock of seven years was to be offered unto God.  Some see the seven years representing the seven years of the oppression of the Midianites.

6.       God has total victory over Baal and Asherah. 

a.       Baal’s altar is removed and God’s is erected. 

b.      The wooden images of Asherah are burned in order to burn a sacrifice unto God.

 

II.                 THE REALIZATION OF THE COMMAND (Judges 6:27)

 

A.     The Service Rendered by Gideon (Jud. 6:27a)

 

Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him…

 

1.       Gideon was prompt in his obedience to the Lord’s command.

2.       This verse makes one want to know more about the person named Gideon.

a.       He had ten servants.

b.      What was his occupation?  What was his position in the community?

3.       When he was doing the Lord’s bidding, what was going through his mind?  He knew this would cause a stir in the community.

 

B.      The Stealth of Night (Jud. 6:27b)

 

…and it was so, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

 

1.       Sometimes the things God’s people are called upon to do are not popular.  Gideon feared two groups of people.

a.       His father’s household

b.      The men of the city

2.       His fear did not paralyze him.  He still obeyed.  NOTE:  The Lord had not told him precisely “when” the altar had to be torn down.  He was free to do it at night.

3.       It would be more difficult to do at night in some ways.

a.       They would need a fire or torches.

b.      The noise level at night is much greater than during the day.

c.       All of these men would be absent from their normal routines that night.

4.       LESSON:  When God has not specifically told us how and when a command is to be carried out, we are free to use wisdom and discretion in carrying out the command of God. 

 

III.              THE RESENTMENT OF THE MEN OF OPHRAH (Judges 6:28-30)

 

A.     The Site Discovered (Jud. 6:28)

 

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

 

1.       The deed was done.  Baal had been removed from the house of Joash.

2.       The only thing that remained was the reaction of the people. 

3.       LESSON:  Many of God’s commands once carried out will be witnessed by others.  We cannot allow the possible negative reactions of others keep us from doing the will of God.  We must be willing to face our opposition.

 

B.      The Search for the Person Responsible (Jud. 6:29)

1.       The Inquisitiveness (Jud. 6:29a)

 

And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? 

 

a.       When individuals have been violated, they want to know who the culprit is.

b.      Events like this did not happen by themselves.  Someone was responsible.

c.       The talk spread like wildfire through Joash’s family and through the town itself.

d.      One’s faithfulness to God is tested when the heat is turned up.

2.       The Identification (Jud. 6:29b)

 

And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

 

a.       Most likely one of the servants revealed the identify of Gideon.

b.      Those who are involved in an inquiry can put a lot of pressure on those who are questioned in order to get information out of them. 

c.       NOTE:  God knows that His servant’s name will surface.  God still expects His chosen one to obey His commands

 

C.     The Sentence of Death (Jud. 6:30)

 

Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die:  because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.

 

1.       We learn from the response of these men that Moses’ Law meant nothing to them.

a.       False gods were not to be worshipped (Exo. 20:4-5a).

 

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  thou shalt not bow down thyself to them:  for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God…

 

b.      False gods were to be overthrown and their images broken down (Exo. 23:24).

c.       In other words, Gideon had obeyed the Law of Moses by tearing down the altar of Baal and by erecting an altar unto Jehovah.

d.      Because of his “obedience,” the men of the city were ready to put him to death.

2.       It is interesting that the men of the city wanted to carry out a sentence upon Gideon that should have been carried out on each of them (See Deut. 17:2-5)

 

If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, and hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or the moon, or any host of heaven, which I have not commanded; and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:  then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.

 

3.       It was this reaction Gideon had feared and caused him to destroy the altar at night.

a.       Where was Gideon at this time?

b.      What feelings was he feeling?

 

IV.              THE RIPOSTE OF JOASH, GIDEON’S FATHER (Judges 6:30-31)

 

A.     The Scolding by Joash (Jud. 6:31)

 

And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal?  will ye save him?  he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning:  if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.

 

1.       Joash comes to the aid of his son.  Barnes says:  “Joash appears as the chief magistrate of Ophrah” (e-sword).

2.       Joash makes three points to the men of the city.

a.       He shames them.  “Will ye plead for Baal?  will ye save him?

1)      Were these men really going to plead for a false god?

2)      Were they really going to attempt to save an idol?

3)      Were they going to act as counsellors for an image made of wood and stone?

b.      He sentences them.  “…he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning.”  (NOTE:  We have already seen that this is the sentence against idol worship according to the Law).

c.       He silences them.  “…if he be a god, let him plead for himself…”

1)      If Baal is alive, he should be able to speak for himself.

2)      If there is action to be taken because Baal’s altar has been cast down, it should be Baal himself who acts to punish the individual who is responsible.

3)      Baal would never be able to punish Gideon.  Why?  Baal is not real.  He does not exist.  He is the figment of man’s imagination.

4)      1 Corinthians 8:4b

 

…we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

 

B.      The Surname Given to Gideon (Jud. 6:32)

 

Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

 

1.       Surname:  A descriptive epithet attached to a person’s name to denote a personal characteristic, profession, etc. nickname

2.       The name Jerubbaal means:  “let Baal contend.” 

a.       The name is satirical, intending to expose the folly of Baal worship.

b.      The name involves sarcasm, pointing out the deficiencies of Baal who is unable to contend his cause.

c.       The name is condemnatory, condemning all those who sought to plead for Baal.

d.      The name is victorious showing that Gideon prevailed over Baal.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     God through Gideon’s actions tells Israel that idol worship in Israel is over.

 

B.      If Israel expected to be released from the bondage of the Midianites, things had to change.  One of the major changes was the nation’s turning to God from idols to serve the living God.

 

C.     Gideon’s faith conquered his fear.  Thus, he was able to claim his first victory as a judge.