Gideon: Discipleship Lessons from the Bronze Age
Table of Contents

Preface 2
Table of Contents 3
References 5
Reprint Guidelines 7
Introduction to Gideon and the Period of the Judges 8
  Cycles of Prosperity and Oppression 8
  Political Structure 9
  Judges 9
  Religious Situation 11
  The Purpose of Judges 11
  Author and Date of Judges 11
1. The Lord Is With You, Mighty Warrior (Judges 6:1-32) 13
  The Scourge of the Midianite Hordes (6:1-5) 13
  Prophet Explains the Oppression (6:6-10) 14
  An Angel Appears to Gideon (6:11) 15
  Mighty Warrior (6:12-13) 16
  Gideon's Call to Be a Deliverer (6:14-16) 16
  Gideon's Hospitality -- and Sacrifice (6:17-21) 17
  Building an Altar (6:22-24) 18
  Worship of Baal and Ashtoreth 18
  Gideon's First Assignment (6:25-27) 18
  Gideon's Father Defends Him (6:28-32) 20
  Lessons for Disciples 21
2. Gideon's Incredible Shrinking Army (Judges 6:33-7:15a) 23
  Gideon Summons the Tribes to War (6:33-35) 23
  Putting a Fleece before the Lord (6:36-39) 24
  Gideon's Army Encamps (7:1) 26
  Too Big an Army to Give God Glory (7:2-3) 26
  Still Too Many (7:4) 27
  Separate the Lappers for Battle (7:5-6) 29
  Nearly 10,000 Lappers Sent Home (7:7-8) 30
  With 300 I Will Deliver You (7:7) 30
  The Lord Encourages Gideon (7:8b-12) 30
  The Enemy's Barley Bread Dream (7:13-15a) 31
  Lessons for Disciples 32
3. The Sword of the Lord (Judges 7:15-8:21) 34
  300 Men, Trumpets, Jars and Torches (7:15-20) 34
  A Rout of the Midianite Army (7:21-23) 35
  Calling upon Ephraim for Assistance (7:24-25) 36
  Dispute with the Ephraimites (8:1-3) 37
  Allies Refuse Aid (8:4-9) 38
  Capturing Zebah and Zalmunna, Kings of Midian (8:10-12) 39
  Punishing the Uncooperative Allies (8:13-17) 40
  Slaying Zebah and Zalmunna (8:18-21) 40
  Lessons for Disciples 41
4. Gideon's Tragic Mistake (Judges 8:22-35) 43
  The Lord Will Rule over You (8:22-23) 43
  Gideon the Savior (8:22-23) 43
  Gideon Refuses the Kingship (8:22-23) 44
  Suzerain-Vassal Treaty 44
  The Tabernacle Throneroom 45
  Gideon's Share of the Spoils (8:24-26) 46
  Gideon's Ephod (8:27) 46
  Spiritual Unfaithfulness (8:27) 47
  Spiritual Snares that Divert our Focus 48
  40 Years of Peace (8:28-31) 49
  Return to Baal Worship (8:33-35) 50
  Lessons from Gideon's Later Years 50
Appendix 1. Canaanite Religions and Baal Worship 52
  Baal and Ashtoreth 53
  Cult Prostitution 53
  Monotheism 53
  Idolatry 54
  Detestable 55
  Summary 56
Appendix 2. Weapons in the Late Bronze Age 57
Appendix 3. Handouts for Group Participants 60

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