The Second Sifting (Judges 7:4-8)

1/8/2010 8:35 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                              Focus:  The second sifting

Bible Reading & Meditation               Reference:  Judges 7:4-8

            Message of the verses:  “4  Then the LORD said to Gideon, "The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go." 5  So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, "You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink." 6  Now the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men; but all the rest of the people kneeled to drink water. 7  The LORD said to Gideon, "I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home." 8  So the 300 men took the people’s provisions and their trumpets into their hands. And Gideon sent all the other men of Israel, each to his tent, but retained the 300 men; and the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.”

            One must be very careful not to read anything into how it was that God chose who would go and who would stay.  Those who did not stoup down but put the water in their hand would stay with Gideon and the rest would go, but they did leave their trumpets with them.  God was the one who would deliver Israel in this victory as it says in verse seven. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Dr. Wiersbe quotes a man named Marsden in his commentary from “Be Available” in this section that I want to quote too:  “Make every occasion a great occasion, for you can never tell when somebody may be taking your measure for a larger place.” 

            It may be a bit strange for me to think about what I am thinking about here, but here goes anyway.  I want people to see Jesus when they see me and not see me, and that is going to be something that the Spirit of God will have to accomplish in my life if it is to happen at all, for there are far too many times when I am around people that I want them to see me.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. Through the Spirit of God and His power that people will see Jesus in me.

1/8/2010 8:56 AM