Judges 7

Judges 7 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

The foreshadowing of Christ and the church.

As Gideon gathered his 300 river-lapping men, he prepared to go to battle. It’s a strange way to choose soldiers, isn’t it? Was there a reason behind this? I don’t believe so. It didn’t matter who the soldiers were because God would use anyone who was obedient to Him. The strength, size, and skill of Gideon’s 300 men didn’t matter much.

The same is true today. God isn’t seeking the most skilled for His Kingdom. He’s looking for the most obedient. God had the battle won already, but He asked for willing men to go and carry out His will. The victory would not be won by human strength or might but by God’s Spirit. (Zec 4:6)

300 is an odd number. Interestingly, in my study of this, I came across some fascinating correlations to The Gospel. 300 men meant there were 300 torches, 300 clay pots to cover those torches, and 300 trumpets. In the Greek alphabet, the number 300 is Tau, and it’s written as a T. Essentially, it’s a cross.

Now, when the 300 men revealed the torches, they had to crush their clay pots in order to do so. When the torches went up, evil fled from their presence. When the trumpets sounded, victory was found.

Our lives as believers are ordinary clay pots that have been filled with the torch of Christ (The Holy Spirit). In order to unleash that into the world, it takes obedience on our part. We must crush everything about our former selves. When we do this, the light of Jesus bursts through.

But here’s another great point… it wasn’t done individually! It was a corporate act of functioning as God intended, together with purpose and power. The soldiers crushed their clay pots together. They rose up their torches together. They sounded their trumpets together. People, this is the church!!!

Let’s review.

1. It doesn’t matter if you are a river-lapper or a kneeling-drinker. God uses obedient people.
2. We must crush our clay pots for Christ to be seen in our life.
3. We must raise our torches high for all to see, and proclaim the great victory of our God.
4. We must sound the trumpet in His name, the rally cry that drives the enemy back into the darkness.
5. We must do it all together, as one cohesive body.

One last note. Gideon’s army didn’t fight a single person that day. The battle they worried about and prepared for never took place, because God had already gone before them. God was not concerned with the battle. He wanted their hearts. He wanted their trust and their faith.

So, with all that being said, what does this mean for you personally?