The Pulpit Commentary — Judges — Section 90

Vers. 22, 23.-Gide,on and the theocracy. This incident may be regarded in rela- tion to the conduct of the men of Israel, to that of Gideon, and to the historical fact of the theocracy. !. THE INCIDENT REGARDED IN RELATION TO THE CONDUCT OF THE MEN OF ISRAEL. I. These men assumed a power which they did not rightfully possess. They had no authority to revise the constitution, no right to elect a king. The election of Gideon was an act of rebellion against "the Eternal." 2. These men were so dazzled by the splendour of human achievements that they ignored the Divine influence which was the source of them. Gideon's campaign was especially designed to avoid the danger of the people attributing to men what was really the work of God (eh. vii. 4). Yet they regarded Gideon as the sole hero, and forgot to glorify God. We are all too ready to recognise the human instrument ouly, and ignore the Divine power which is the source of all that is good and great. The very richness with which God has endowed a man of genius may tempt us to make this mistake. Yet the more gifted a man is, the more reason have we to attribute his greatness to the Giver of every good and perfect gift. 3. These men were drawn aside from trust in the Unseen to a desire for earthly greatness. The glory of Israel was its government by the unseen King. This implied faith. But the temptation often was to lose this faith and the holy life and simple state it required, and desire a human kingship and the pomp of an earthly court, such as that of the heathen nations. There is always great difficulty in living in the power of the spiritual. Tangible force and visible display tend to allure us from the serene spirituality of life in the unseen. II. Tm: INCIDENT REGARDED IN RELATION TO THE CONDUCT OF GIDEON. 1. Gideon proved himself to be an unse/fisli patriot. True patriotism is incompatible with personal ambition. A nation has no greater enemies than its amhitious men of genius. The worthy statesman is he who aims at his country's goori to the neglect of his own aggrandiseme.ut. 2. Gideon showed himself strong in resisting tlie J?Opu- !ar wish when he knew this was unwise. V-le must not mould our character simply in obedience to the dictates of public opinion. The wish of the people is no excusa for doing wrong. There is no more difficult feat than to resist successfully the mis- taken kindness of those who nre seeking to promote n man's own honour and great- ntiss, though in a wny which he believes to be wrong. 3. Gideon proved himself nrrn in fidelity to God. Here lay the secret of his resistance. He bnd been called from the threshing-floor by God. He held himself throughout to be the serrnnt of /}od. It is better to be a servant nnd faithful to God than n king nnd iu rebellion ugainst liim. 4. Gi<lcon showed his discernment at once (1) of the existenee 1111d  96 THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [ell. Vlll. 22-35.