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Gideon’s first thought in the presence of God was fear. It is indeed a solemn awakening for a sinner when he sees himself as God sees him in all his sins, but oh what peace follows when faith looks to Christ as the One who bore the full judgment of sin for us, and who is now seated at God’s right hand. This we see typified in Gideon’s offering. And it is also a serious thing for a true child of God, when called to some service for the Lord, to see himself in all his weakness. But this is most necessary if we are to “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:2828Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28). Then what peace fills the heart when we hear His words, “Peace be unto thee; fear not.” So it was with John when he saw the Lord as a Judge in the isle of Patmos. He fell at His feet as dead, but then he heard those wondrous words, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore.” Revelation 1:17, 1817And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17‑18). We may shrink from such an experience, as Gideon did, and John, and many others, but the excellency of the power must be of God and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:77But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7).) God must be all in all.
Gideon then built an altar—he became a worshiper—and called the altar “Jehovah-shalom” which means, “the Lord send peace.” Worship ought to come before service. We must never allow our service to the Lord to take all our time so that we do not have time to spend in His presence and sitting at His feet.
That very night the Lord told Gideon to take his father’s young bullock and throw down his father’s altar to Baal and cut down the grove by it. Then he was to build a new altar to the Lord and offer this second bullock upon it.
Perhaps the first bullock had been offered to Baal, we are not told, but at least the second bullock was there and Gideon could offer it to the Lord. It had been there for seven years too, just the number of years of their bondage to Midian! Perhaps there have been some wasted years in our lives too, as there were in Israel’s history. Perhaps up to this moment some “idol” has been taking the place that belongs to Christ in our hearts. Thank God it is not too late to “throw down the altar” and present our bodies “a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:11I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)) to the Lord today. Gideon was not told to do this the next night, but the same night. Oh, may we realize that it is our privilege to give our young lives to the Lord now.
We notice here that there was a complete break at this time with everything connected with the worship of Baal. The altar was to be thrown down and the groves cut down (these groves are where the idea of the Christmas tree originated!) and the wood taken and burned upon the new altar which was to be built to the Lord in the ordered place.
All this was very difficult to do. It was not easy to take a stand in his father’s house against the idolatry there. But it was the command of God and obedience to God must come first. Gideon was, however, afraid to do these things in the day time, so he chose ten men of the city and did what the Lord had commanded at night. Surely it was far better to do it by night than not to do it at all, and God honored his faithfulness. His Word says, “Them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” 1 Samuel 2:3030Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. (1 Samuel 2:30).
ML 09/13/1953