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APRIL 21
one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
just persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if
she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep 15:7 joy in heaven. A reference to the joy of
the house, and search carefully until she finds God Himself.There was complaining on earth,
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it? And when she has found it, she calls her among the Pharisees (v.2);but there was great
friends and neighbors together, saying, joy with God and among the angels (v. 10).
‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece persons who need no repentance. I.e., those
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which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is who think themselves righteous (see 5:32;
joy in the presence of the angels of God over 16:15; 18:9).
one sinner who repents.”
DAY 20:Was it right for Gideon to ask God for signs?
In Judges 6:11, Gideon received a visitation from the “Angel of the LORD.”This is identified as
“the LORD” Himself (vv. 14,16,23,25,27). See Genesis 16:7–14; 18:1; 32:24–30 for other appearances.
Conditions in the land were grim due to the Midianites,which led Gideon to express his frustration
that the Lord had forsaken them utterly.
Like Moses (Ex. 33), Gideon desired a sign when the Lord directed him to rise up and lead a
deliverance (v. 17). In both incidents, revelation was so rare and wickedness so prevalent that they
desired full assurance.God graciously gave it.In vv.18–23,the fire from God brought the realization
of the presence of God to Gideon,filling him with awe and even the fear of death.When he saw the
Lord, he knew the Lord had also seen him in his fallenness. Thus he feared the death that sinners
should die before Holy God. But God graciously promised life (v. 23).
In vv. 36–40, Gideon’s two requests for signs in the fleece should be viewed as weak faith.
Even Gideon recognized this when he said, “Do not be angry with me” (v. 39), since God had
already specifically promised His presence and victory (vv. 12,14,16). But they were also legitimate
requests for confirmation of victory against seemingly impossible odds (6:5; 7:2,12). God nowhere
reprimanded Gideon, but was very compassionate in giving what his inadequacy requested. In
7:10–15, God volunteered a sign to boost Gideon’s faith.

not go with you,’ the same shall not go.” So he
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April 21 brought the people down to the water. And the
LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps
from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps,
you shall set apart by himself; likewise every-
Judges 7:1–8:35
one who gets down on his knees to drink.”
Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting
7 people who were with him rose early and their hand to their mouth, was three hundred
encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the men; but all the rest of the people got down on
camp of the Midianites was on the north side of their knees to drink water. Then the LORD
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them by the hill of Moreh in the valley. said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men
2 And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who lapped I will save you, and deliver the
who are with you are too many for Me to give Midianites into your hand. Let all the other
the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel people go, every man to his place.” So the
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claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My people took provisions and their trumpets in
own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore, pro- their hands. And he sent away all the rest of Is-
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claim in the hearing of the people, saying, rael, every man to his tent, and retained those
‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian
and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And was below him in the valley.
twenty-two thousand of the people returned, 9 It happened on the same night that the
and ten thousand remained. LORD said to him, “Arise, go down against the
4 But the LORD said to Gideon, “The people camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.
are still too many; bring them down to the 10 But if you are afraid to go down, go down to
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water, and I will test them for you there. Then the camp with Purah your servant, and you
it will be, that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall hear what they say; and afterward your
shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; hands shall be strengthened to go down
and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall against the camp.” Then he went down with

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