Jephthah—A Man of Faith From “the Other Side of the Tracks”
Judges 11:1–2,Was the son of a harlot. YHVH can raise up anyone to accomplish his purposes—even men of low degree. YHVH does not judge a man by his outward appearances, but by the condition of his heart (1 Sam 16:7). In YHVH’s eyes, what was Jephthah? (See verse 1.) Are there specters from your past that still haunt you and hold you back, or have you overcome them by the blood of the Lamb and assumed your new identity as more than a conqueror who is seated in heavenly places with Yeshua? (Read Phil 4:13; Rom 8:37; Rev 12:11; Col 2:12; Eph 2:6; for your inspiration and edification; also read Zec 4:6 and 1 Cor 1:27.) YHVH can take any vessel, no matter how average it may be, and elevate it for his purposes providing the vessel has faith and willingness to be used. In this way, YHVH and not man gets the glory. Will you be such a vessel in YHVH’s hands?
Judges 11:12,Jephthah sent messengers unto the king. Before going to war with the people of Ammon, Jephthah made every effort to diplomatically resolve Israel’s differences with that hostile nation. Armed conflict was still the result, and YHVH gave Israel the victory.
What can we learn from this? Yeshua instructs us to make every attempt to create peace with our enemies before resorting to legal (or in Jephtha’s case, lethal) means (Matt 5:25–26). When all else fails, if one is walking in the paths of righteousness, know that YHVH will back you when, as a last resort, you come to blows with your enemies.
In Scripture, there exists no prohibition against self defense. Some will use Yeshua’s admonition to turn the other cheek (Matt 5:39) as justification not to defend oneself against an aggressor, and that somehow doing so will be a witness to one’s enemy of the love of Yeshua. Not defending oneself may accomplish this noble goal, but more likely the aggressor will view it as a sign of weakness to justify increased aggression against you and your loved ones.
When Yeshua said to turn the other cheek what did he really mean? Was Yeshua justifying pacifism in place of self defense? According to Hebrew scholars, David Biven and Roy Blizzard, pacifism has never been part of Hebrew thought or culture. It is permissible to kill in order to defend oneself. The authors point out that some of Yeshua’s disciples were armed (Luke 22:38, 50), and that once Yeshua even suggested that his disciples purchase swords (Luke 22:35–37). When instructing his disciples to turn the other cheek, Yeshua was not talking about how to deal with violent aggressors such as rapists, robbers, or murderers, or when facing an enemy in battle. Rather he was talking about the fundamentals of brotherly relationship—how to relate to our neighbors. In other words, if a friend embarrasses us by slapping us in the face, we are not to slap him back, but instead to offer him the other cheek. This has nothing to do with a battlefield situation or when dealing with a violent aggressor. (Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus, pp. 68–71). In other words, when it comes to offensive words or actions from brother in the faith, we need to let offences simply roll off our back, for love covers a multitude of sin (1 Pet 4:8).
Judges 11:29,Then the Spirit of YHVH came upon Jephthah. There are those who claim that the power and gifts of YHVH’s Spirit were unknown in biblical times prior to the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two. This is not altogether true when one considers this passage concerning Jephthah. What are some other examples of YHVH’s Spirit coming upon Israelites in the prior to the Pentecost? (See Num 11:26–27; 24:2; Judg 3:10; 6:34; 13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14; 1 Sam 10:11; 11:6; 19:20–24; 1 Chron 12:18; 2 Chron 24:20.)
Judges 11:30–31,For a burnt offering (KJV); or as a burnt offering (NAS, NIV, NKJV); or as an elevation offering (ASET). This doesn’t mean that Jephthah literally made a human sacrifice of his daughter, for this would not only have violated the Torah, but would have been subscribing to the most heinous and vile of heathen practices, that of human sacrifice to their gods. Not only that, the Torah made provisions for one who made a rash and illegal vow. It was considered a sin to so, and atonement could be made for it by making the required sin offering (Lev 5:4–6).
More realistically, Jephthah consecrated his daughter to YHVH for the rest of her life (like a Nazarite) to remain in a virginal state (which is why she bewailed her virginity and Jephthah had no descendants — a terrible price to pay for a rash vow, yet to Jephthah’s credit for keeping his vow to Elohim even to his own hurt —a mark of a righteous man (Ps 15:4; Heb 11:32). Perhaps Yeshua had this incident in mind when he instructed his disciples to not swear an oath at all, but to give one’s word only by saying “yes” and “no” (Matt 5:34–37).
Judges11:30,Jephthah vowed a vow. Rash words (or vows) spoken may come back to haunt a person. Be careful with the mouth. Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of words there lacks not sin, but he that refrains his lips is wise.” Not only that, was Jephthah attempting to negotiate with YHVH? If so, was this a wise move? Does YHVH really need or want anything that we could possible give him in order to curry his favor? There is only one thing that he wants from us. What is that? (Read Hos 6:6; 1 Sam 15:22; Mic 6:8; Isa 66:2.) The heart of man is always the issue with YHVH! (See 1 Sam 16:7; 1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22.)
Judges 13
The Birth of Samson—A Mighty Man on the Outside, But Weak on the Inside
Ever since the death of Joshua and during the time of the judges the spiritual and moral state of Israel slowly declined until the time of Samson. As The ArtScroll Rubin Edition Joshua/Judges Commentary points out, Samson was a new kind of judge. “Up to this point, Israel’s sins would lead to foreign domination, followed by repentance and the emergence of a judge who would lead the people to defeat and expel the enemy. In this new period, the people’s descent was so serious that they did not merit a complete salvation of the sort that had been achieved by such judges as Deborah and Gideon.” Nevertheless, it was not in YHVH’s overall plan to let Israel’s enemies go completely unchecked so that the sublimation and eventual destruction of Israel would be complete. He used Samson to check the Philistines’ quest to totally subjugate the nation of Israel and to punish the former, while at the same time YHVH extended grace to Israel by relieving them of some pressure from their enemies (p. 195).
Psalm 35:1–28, An imprecatory psalm. Although this psalm contains several imprecatory passages where David curses his enemies (see vv. 1–5, 8, 26), he does so while pleading for justice by appealing to Elohim—his righteous Heavenly Judge. Vengeance belongs only to Elohim, not to man, for man’s vengeance is too often tainted by one’s own carnality, whereas YHVH’s justice is perfect and just. In the mean time, David humbles himself before Elohim (vv. 13–14), and, at the same time, gives himself over to worshipping his Creator (vv. 18, 27–28). This is a far cry from taking matters into one’s own hands and “going after” one’s enemies oneself. Simultaneously, David expresses hope in the fact that YHVH is his salvation (Heb. yeshua) (v. 3). This is a prophetic picture of Yeshua, the coming Messiah, who will ultimately deliver his people from all of their enemies including sin, death and the grave.
Psalm 35:3, 5–6, Salvation [Heb. Yeshua]…the Angel [Heb. Messenger] of YHVH. This notable passage connects the idea of the Angel [or Messenger] of YHVH, who makes appearances from time to time in the annals of the Tanakh, with Yeshua the Messiah who is “our salvation. From this passage, what could be clearer than the fact that the Messenger of YHVH was the pre-incarnate Yeshua? In verse 9, David again refers to Yeshua, YHVH’s Savior of mankind.
Psalm 35:9, His salvation [Heb. Yeshua]. This is another prophetic passage pointing to Yeshua as YHVH’s salvation for mankind. (See notes on Ps. 35:3, 5–6.)
Psalm 35:13, Humbled…fasting. The Hebrew word for humbled means “to afflict the soul.” This verse connects the concept of humbling, afflicting or suppressing the soul (i.e. one’s carnal mind, will and emotions) through fasting. This is so that one’s personal spirit can be energized, while simultaneously suppressing the carnal appetites and desires, thus enabling one to better to connect with and be directed by the Spirit of Elohim. (See notes on Isa 58.)
Psalm 35:27–28, Shout for joy…YHVH be magnified. Although this is an imprecatory psalm where David ostensibly curses his enemies, he is doing so through the aegis of Elohim and the courts of heaven. In the mean time, David is rejoicing in and worshipping the Almighty knowing that his fate is secure because YHVH is his Savior from his enemies. This is a far cry from taking matters into one’s own hands and through one’s own power and effort and avenging oneself of one’s enemies oneself. Instead, David fights his enemies through humility, fasting, prayer, praise and worship. This is not your typical method of battling against one’s enemies, to be sure! This is another example of how man’s ways are not the ways of Elohim.
Psalm 36
Psalm 36:1, An oracle [Heb. nah-oom] within my heart. Nahoom is from the verb meaning “to say or to whisper or, by implication, to utter an oracle.” The Spirit of YHVH will speak to a person from within their inner or personal spirit and give them divine revelation (see also Ps 13:2–3). This calls to mind Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am Elohim,” or the still small voice of YHVH that Elijah heard in the entrance of the cave (1 Kgs 19:12; cp. Ps 4:4; Isa 8:6).
Psalm 36:7, Shadow of your wings. This is an example of poetic imagery or simile in the Bible. Obviously, YHVH Elohim is not a winged, bird-like creature. The Scriptures contain many such examples where metaphor and simile are employed as poetic devices to describe supernatural things such as the characteristics of Deity where human language lacks the verbiage and where-with-all to do so. Often, Bible students come up with novel interpretations and sometimes even silly of Scripture when they take biblical poetic imagery and attach a literal meaning to it. When one does this, they can almost make the Bible say anything they want.
Psalm 36:8–8, River…fountain of life…in Your light. When we are in Elohim’s river of life, it is a fountain of life to us, and when we are bathed in the light of YHHV’s divinely revealed Truth, we will see light or Truth (cp. Pss 18:28; 44:3).
The Testimony of Yeshua’s (also known as the New Testament) summation of Gideon’s life (as well as other notable biblical characters like him) in the Bible’s famous “Hall of Faith” passage in Hebrews 11 speaks volumes about how YHVH viewed this might many of valor, despite all of his humans flaws and foibles:
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets… who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises…turned to flight the armies of the aliens….They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, Elohim having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. (Heb 11:32–34, 37–40; 12:1–4)
All of the saints listed in Hebrews 11 had their flaws, yet in the final analysis, the grace of Elohim covered them because they had a heart disposition that was inclined on serving and obeying him against the overwhelming odds of the societal pressure around them. They were willing to follow heaven’s mandates rather than those of men, even if it cost them their lives. Indeed, they loved not their lives unto death (Rev 12:11) doing the will of Elohim, and many perished in the process preferring the praise of Elohim over those of men (John 12:43).
The heros of Hebrews chapter eleven were activist who resisted tyrannical the civil governments that attempted to impose their unrighteous edicts upon the saints of the Most High, who followed the higher laws of Elohim. None of them passively accepted the mandates of men that required them to go against the Truth of Elohim. Instead, they refused to just sit there and acquiescently let illegal government mandates steam roll over them. No! Under the direction and empowerment of the Spirit of Elohim as directed by his Word, these Elohim-fearing saints rose up mightily in defense of righteousness and Truth.
One of these notable human weapons in the hand of Elohim was Gideon in the time of the judges of Israel. Let’s now take a closer look at the life of Gideon—a mighty man of valor—verse-by verse.
Judges 6
Judges 6:1–10,The spiritual and physical state of the nation of Israel before Gideon.After the death of Deborah the prophetess and judge, Israel fell into apostasy. The Bible simply sums up their turning away from Elohim and his ways as, “Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of YHVH” (Judg. 6:1). As a result of their turning away from Elohim, they lost his divine protection and blessing, and were overrun by their enemies who conquered them. It seems that history repeats itself over and over again in the land where YHVH’s people live even to this day.
Judges 6:2–6,YHVH delivered them…Israel was greatly impoverished. The curses and penalties for going against YHVH’s Torah-word as predicted in Leviticus 20 Deuteronomy 28 had fallen on Israel. This sad scenario repeated itself numerous times in Israel for hundreds of years. This is because the people of Elohim failed to study their past history and learn the bitter lessons therefrom.
Judges 6:2,Dens…caves. The Israelites were driven from their own agricultural land in the valleys and were forced to take refuge in the mountains where they had to live in dens and caves for protection. There they were starving because their enemy oppressors were stealing their crops.
Judges 6:3,People of the East. These people of the East were bands of marauders who would continually menace the Israelites by stealing their crops or flocks. The Israelites had to be constantly on guard against these raiders—especially at harvest time. Other biblical writers make reference to these people as well (Job 12:6; Obad 5).
Judges 6:7,The children of Israel cried out. To Israel’s credit, they recognized that their plight was due to their sinning or breaking the laws of Elohim. This cannot be said for the people of formerly Christians nations. These nations have become so ungodly and reprobate that they are now clueless as to why their nations are a mess spiritually, economically, politically and socially. Too many people are now looking to big government to answer their problems, instead of looking inward at the sin in their own lives, and then turning to Elohim for the answers.
Judges 6:8–9,YHVH sent a prophet. YHVH is constantly sending out prophetic voices urging his backslid and apostate people to return to him and warning them of the consequences for their failure to do so. Even in our day YHVH has raised up watchman on the walls and voices crying in the wilderness warning his people to come out of Babylon (Rev 18:4), to separate themselves from the world and to not touch the unclean thing (2 Cor 6:17). Are you listening and taking action in your life to heed the warnings?
Judges 6:10,You have not obeyed my voice. It always comes down to the same lowest common denominator issue from the time of Adam and Eve in the garden until now: Will YHVH’s people obey his voice or not? To Israel’s credit, they heard the voice of Elohim through his prophet, and recognized that they had sinned, and YHVH answered them and mercifully sent them a deliverer.
Judges 6:11,Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress. Was Gideon a coward, surreptitiously threshing his wheat in the wine press for fear of the Midianites? Or was he a valiant man who was braving the murderous and thieving marauders to provide for his family off of his own farm? I prefer the latter assessment of Gideon, for that is exactly what the Messenger of YHVH called him in the next verse—“a might man of valor.” Though his human instruments may be weak, YHVH does not call cowards to do his bidding. Rather, he commissions individuals who already have the heart disposition to fulfill his purposes, and then he further empowers them to do even greater things for him.
Judges 6:12,The Angel/Messenger of YHVH appeared. This Messenger was not an angel in the typical sense of the word, but rather YHVH himself (v. 14). If no man has seen the YHVH the Father, then Gideon saw the YHVH the Son—the one who became Yeshua the Messiah. There are no other possibilities.
Mighty man of valor.Mighty is the Hebrew word gibbor referring to one who is “a warrior, champion, giant, man, mighty and valiant man.” Valor is the Hebrew word chayil meaning “might or a force” and comes from the verb meaning “to be firm or strong.” What these words teaching us is that YHVH does not choose wishy-washy pansies to be warriors in his army. Rather he chooses individuals of high character, who are steadfast and resolute and full of virtuous qualities.
Judges 6:14,Have I not sent you? When YHVH sends someone, weak and unlikely individuals are empowered to do the impossible. In this way, YHVH gets the glory, and otherwise naturally powerful and capable individuals cannot boast that they accomplished great feats by their own abilities and prowess.
YHVH does the commissioning and gives the battle plans for his human instruments to fight HIS battles. Unless YHVH build the house (or shows us how and when to fight our battles), the builders toil (or the warriors battle) in vain (Ps 127:1).
Judges 6:17, Show me a sign. YHVH did not criticize Gideon for asking for a miracle. His heart was already predisposed toward valor, but he simply needed confirmation that he had heard Elohim correctly. After all, Gideon was putting his life on the line in opposing the superior military might of the Midianites. This is different than the evil and adulterous generation to which Yeshua made reference, who seek a miraculous sign simply for its own sake (Matt 12:39). Such people have no intent of serving and obeying YHVH. This was hardly the case with Gideon.
Judges 6:18–22, My offering and set it before you. Offering is the Hebrew word minchah meaning “gift or tribute.” In the religious sense, it refers to the grain offering that the Levites offered daily on the alter of sacrifice in the Tabernacle of Moses. Whichever meaning one chooses to apply in this case, Gideon was demonstrating more than the typical Near Eastern protocols of hospitality to wandering travellers. He was honoring the Messenger of Elohim as his superior by offering him a gift or tribute. What followed was not only the Messenger’s acceptance of the Gideon’s gift, but a miraculous confirmation of his divinity, thus further confirming the validity of his message and commission of Gideon.
Judges 6:23–24,Peace by with you…YHVH Is Peace. Needless to say, this divine encounter likely rattled Gideon’s mental, emotional and spiritual “cage” just a bit. Wouldn’t you be shaken to your core if you experienced such an encounter? Furthermore, if you told others what the Divine Messenger had told you, they would likely think you were crazy. However, after the first, second and third miracle, Gideon’s passion for his mission, his believability and his ability to convince others to follow him in this mission would have taken a quantum leap. Again, Gideon was no doubt shaken, and the inner peace of his soul (i.e., his mind, will and emotions) would have been upset. In response, the Heavenly Messenger placed his peace on Gideon. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom meaning “complete inner well-being in a person in the fullest sense of the word.” It is interesting to note that the word shalom in this text is in its complete spelling form with the Hebrew letter vav or ו appearing in the word מולש, as opposed to its defective spelling (i.e. minus the vav),which also occurs in the Hebrew Scriptures. Shalom in its complete form means “a supernatural peace that can only come from Elohim” as opposed to a natural human state-of-mind peace. Gideon’s experienced of heaven’s supernatural peace was so moving that he constructed a memorial altar on that spot and called it “YHVH Shalom” or מולש הוהי.
Judges 6:25, Tear down the altar of Baal. To be an instrument in the hand of Elohim, one must first clean the sin out of one’s own life (and family). If we do not go to war fighting YHVH’s battles in a ceremonially pure state, then we will have chinks in our spiritual armor which the enemy can exploit to our disadvantage (Eph 6:16). “A curse causeless cannot land” (Prov. 26:2). Causes for curses (i.e., sin) from the enemy must be removed from one’s life. If we have sin in our lives, then the enemy, the Accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10), will have legal grounds and a justification for attacking us. One must become spiritual fortified before going into battle, and this includes removing sin from one’s life. Gideon’s zeal and alacrity to obey YHVH was evident, for in the very night that YHVH instructed him to demolish the symbols of idolatry from his town, he did so.
Judges 6:26,Build an altar to YHVH. After the false idols are torn down in one’s life or in a nation, then the re-establishment of the true worship of YHVH in place of idolatry must occur. Then and only is YHVH ready to help us fight our battles and give us the victory over our enemies.
Judges 6:28, 30,Grove/wooden image. Heb. an asherah, which was a wooden image, pole or tree set up next to an altar in honor of Baal. Asherah, who to the Babylonians was Astarte, was the female consort of Baal who was the Canaanite god. Steeples on churches, obelisks and Christmas trees all originated from this pagan symbols which represent the male sex organ.
Judges 6:24,The Spirit of YHVH came upon Gideon. In the days before the outpouring of the Spirit of Elohim on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two in fulfillment of Yeshua’s promise to send the Comforter, YHVH’s Spirit would come on people, but not necessarily fill them permanently. Until that time, the Set-Apart Spirit had not yet come in the fullest sense (John 7:39).
In the days before the outpouring of the Spirit of Elohim upon his saints and before we had the Bible, we see Elohim directing his people in a more face-to-ace way via angelic visitations, appearances of the pre-incarnate Yeshua, dreams, visions and the like. This is because YHVH’s people in those days lacked both the Spirit within and the written Word of Elohim from without to guide them. Now that is not to say that YHVH does not still use these previous means to instruct and direct his children, but the necessity of it is not as great now as it was then because we have the Spirit and the Word to guide us. I’m reminded of a passage in Isaiah that seems to allude to this:
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. (Isa 30:21 cp. Isa 42:16; 48:17; Prov 3:5–6; John 10:3, 27; 1 John 2:20, 27)
Judges 6:36–40,Show me a sign…a fleece of wool. Fleeces of wool take several days, if not a week, to dry out depending on how thick the fleece is and on the ambient temperatures. To find it wet and then dry in 24 hours was indeed a miracle.
Judges 7
Judges 7:1, Jerubbaal (that is Gideon). Jerubbaal meaning “Baal will contend” of “let Baal plead against him” was the nickname that Joash, Gideon’s father, gave him when he tore down the altar of Baal (Judg 6:32). By contrast, the name Gideon means “feller or warrior” and is from the root Hebrew word meaning “to fell a tree, to destroy anything or to hew down.” Gideon, by the hand of YHVH, lived up to the meaning of his given name.
Judges 7:2, Lest Israel claim glory. It is only human nature for even righteous people to take for themselves at least a little of the glory that belongs to YHVH Elohim when accomplishing great things for him. YHVH eliminated the possibility of Gideon or his men from doing this by whittling the army down to almost nothing.
Thus says YHVH: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, that I am YHVH, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says YHVH. (Jer 9:23–24)
Judges 7:9–10, I will save you…But if you are afraid. Although Gideon was a mighty man of valor, it is only natural even for such a man to experience anxiety and fear when going into an unknown situation where one’s life is at stake. YHVH showed Gideon gracious mercy by encouraging him in his moment of apprehension. He will do the same for us in similar situations.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but Elohim is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Cor 10:13)
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Messiah may rest upon me. (2 Cor 12:9, emphasis added)
Judges 7:13, Loaf of barely bread. Barley bread was used by the poorer classes as opposed to wheat. The barley bread that the Midianites saw in the vision was an indication that they despised Israel who were poorer and who had to eat barley instead of wheat.
Judges 7:14, The his companion answered. Some Bible readers have the notion that in ancient times the people were backwards and that, in the days before instant mass communications, cross cultural communication and travel was slow or non-existent. This verse shows otherwise. These Midianites who lived in the area of modern Saudi Arabia knew all about Gideon, who by his own confession, was from a non-notable tribe and family. This passage shows that in Bible times, word—including the smallest details—travelled quickly far and wide between countries.
Moreover, YHVH had gone ahead of Gideon insuring that his reputation preceded him, thus helping to demoralize the enemy even before the battle had begun. When YHVH is in your battle and is fighting for you, he goes before you to prepare the ground for victory. This is the unseen evidence of our faith.
Elohim has delivered Midian. The fear of YHVH Elohim had gone before Gideon to bring disquietude in the enemy’s camp.
Judges 7:15, Arise for YHVH has delivered. Gideon’s overhearing the Midianite’s conversation strengthened him and brought his faith to a higher level, so that now he was now ready to actually engage the enemy. That faith carried over and inspired his soldiers onward into battle.
Judges 7:16, Trumpet [Heb. shofar]. This is a reference to the ram’s horn shofar, which was, among other things, an instrument of war. The Israelites blew shofars in their famous march around Jericho. In ancient Israel, the shofar was used not only to strike fear into the enemy’s hearts, but to summon the soldiers of Elohim to battle. Watchmen on the city walls also used the shofar to warn the people of an approaching enemy attack. The shofar symbolically points to Yeshua the Messiah, the Lamb of Elohim, who defeated sin, the devil and all of his forces of darkness. The shofar will also announce the second coming of the Messiah. That is why the shofar is a lethal instrument of war in the hands of the righteous warriors of Elohim, and why the spiritual enemies of Elohim cower at its sound.
Torches inside the pitchers. It is interesting to note that some Bible teachers have seen metaphorical symbols in the torches and pitchers. Elsewhere in Scripture, humans are likened to clay or earthen vessels (2 Cor 4:7). Inside each child of Elohim is his or her personal spirit, which Scripture refers to as “the lamp of YHVH” (Prov 20:27 cp. Ps 18:28). What the story of Gideon may teach us is that when our carnal or flesh nature is broken, then the Spirit of Elohim can shine through us and help to defeat our enemies.
Judges 7:22, YHVH set every man’s sword against his companion. When YHVH is on your side and you are fighting his battles, he will fight for you, and, despite overwhelming odds, you will be victorious.
Judges 7:24, Gideon sent messengers. Through the faith of Gideon and his three hundred men, YHVH gave them the victory over their enemies. This victory inspired the other Israelites, who for one reason or another, either out of fear or reluctance to aid Gideon in this struggle against the Midianites, refused to help Gideon initially. Gideon’s testimony of YHVH’s intervention inspired others to join the fight. This is power of a good testimony to inspire others to rise up and to do great things in the power of YHVH.
Judges 8
Judges 8:1–21, The men of Ephraim said to him. Petty squabbles and jealousies among YHVH’s people is the bane of all great political and spiritual leaders. Instead of looking at the big picture and cherishing the victory, all that these small-minded brethren of Gideon could do was to focus on their own selfish interests. In this case, it was the spoils of war and their own personal material and financial gain. Gideon, however, kept his eye on the mission that YHVH had given him, and blew past these petty-minded malcontents and continued on in his divine mission to destroy Israel’s enemies.
Judges 8:21, Crescent ornaments. These symbols represented the gods these peoples of the east wore. These people were Ishmaelites (v. 24), who were the forefathers of the modern Muslim Arabs, and who worship a moon deity called Allah to this day. The crescent moon is still the universal symbol of Islam.
Judges 8:23, I will not rule over you. True leaders of Elohim do not aspire to be leaders of men, but rather are content to point people to Elohim as their true and ultimate ruler.
Judges 8:28, The country was quiet. Freedom from the oppression of merciless tyrants is not easily obtained. But when it occurs, and righteous people are in positions of leadership, a nation has rest. However, when the children of the veterans who risked and even sacrificed their lives to win the peace forget the price their forefathers paid, this is when a nation goes downhill. The younger generation of Israelites failed to learn this lesson numerous times during that nation’s long, sad history.
Psalm 28:1, The pit. The Hebrew word for pit is bor meaning “a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or prison), cistern, dungeon, fountain, pit or well.” This word obviously refers to a deep hole in the ground. Bor is also a poetic Hebraism that can refer to a place of deep human despair and hopelessness as well as to the grave or, in Hebrew, sheol. The grave is where the wicked will eventually end up as the next few verses of this psalm indicate. But as this psalm goes on to tell us in verses six through nine, YHVH delivers his people from the wicked and their ultimate fate, which is to end up in the proverbial the pit or the grave. In fact, this is the fate of all those who do not place their trust in YHVH’s Redeemer, Yeshua the Messiah, who he is the saving refuge of his people (v. 8) forever (v. 9)!
Psalm 28:8, He [i.e. YHVH] is the saving [Heb. Yeshua] refuge/strength of his anointed. The context in which this verse sets like a jewel in a bezel reads,
YHVH is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. YHVH is their strength, and He is the saving [Yeshua] refuge of His anointed. Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever. (Ps 28:7–9)
This verse is loaded with prophetic implications that obviously point to Yeshua the Messiah; it even contains the name personal of the Messiah. Apart from these allusions to Yeshua that scream to us from a mountain top pointing to pointing to his role as our Redeemer or Savior, Shepherd, as well as our strength and joy, it is interesting to note that this verse refers to YHVH’s people as “His anointed.” The Hebrew word here, no surprise, is mashiycah from which the word messiah derives. This word means “consecrated” or “sanctified, blessed, made holy, made sacred, hallowed, set apart or dedicated to Elohim.”
If you have been redeemed by Yeshua the Messiah, then this describes who you are. Ponder over the implications of this reality and then ask yourself the following questions: Have I embraced and incorporated in myself a consecrated mindset,that is, do I view myself in these terms? Does my life reflect the reality of how YHVH views me and what he calls me? Now consider how this may change your whole outlook about yourself, how you live and act, and how you view other redeemed believers around you.
Psalm 29
Psalm 29:3–9, The voice of YHVH. These verses list the seven attributes of the voice of YHVH.
YHVH voice is over the waters. That is to say, it is over the peoples of the earth.
YHVH’s voice is powerful.
YHVH’s voice is majestic, splendorous, glorious or full of honor.
YHVH’s voice breaks the cedars and makes them skip like a calf. That is to say, it makes humble the proud and it brings joy.
YHVH’s voice divides the flames of fire. This brings to mind the divine empowerment that came upon the saints in the book of Acts chapter two on the day of Pentecost—the wind and fire or the voice and Spirit of Elohim, which shows us that he is both Spirit and truth, and that we must worship him through both these aspects of who he is (John 4:23–24).
YHVH’s voice shakes the wilderness. That is to say, in the wilderness of one’s life, it upsets the status quo of our carnal existence and challenges us to grow spiritually.
YHVH’s voice makes the deer give birth and strips the forest bare. That is to say, it brings forth life and it reveals his hidden truth and that is often hidden inside of our personal spirit or conscience, which YHVH wants to bring forth like a river of life to bless us and those around us (John 7:38).
Psalm 31
Psalm 31:20, Secret place…presence…pavillion. Secret place means “shelter or hiding place” and presence is panyim meaning “faces or presence” of Elohim. Pavillion is “sukkah.” In this set-apart and private place, one not only finds communion with Elohim, but a refuge from “the strife of tongues [Heb. lashon] or the evil tongue of our accusers and persecutors. The secret presence of YHVH is our personal “God bubble” in which to escape the strife caused by evil-does around us, and to find the peace of YHVH in his presence.
Psalm 32
Psalm 32:6, In a time. There are times, from man’s perspective, it seems when YHVH can’t be found.
David, the author of this psalm, was a literal shepherd of sheep as we all know. This is something that both David and I had in common. This is because I lived on sheep farm from age six to 24, and like David, it was my duty to care for the sheep. We can learn a lot about ourselves and other people when we hang out with sheep. Being a shepherd makes the Bible come alive, since YHVH Yeshua likens his people to sheep, and he is our Good Shepherd who cares for us (John 10:11, 14).
During my time on the family farm, it was my responsibility to care for the sheep including feeding them twice daily, caring for the lambs, protecting the sheep from predators, keeping the gates and fences that surrounded them in good conditions, cleaning their barns, helping the ewes give birth as needed, tending to sick and wounded sheep, leading them from pasture to pasture, shearing them, and finally, butchering them. I have wrestled with sheep, chased them, led them, fed them, fondled them, sheared them and even butchered them. I loved the sheep that were under my care, and to this day, decades later, I still feel a deep, visceral love in my gut when the thought of sheep come to my mind. Whenever I have the opportunity to be around sheep, if they are tame,you will find me out with them fondling their heads and scratching them behind their ears.
Later, I married and became the father of four children and had the opportunity to shepherd my own flock of human sheep. After that, my wife and I started a congregation which I pastored or shepherded (as I like to say) for 18 years where I shepherded “sheeple.”
Here are a few of my reflections on literal sheep and caring for them and how they are like YHVH’s people (or “sheeple”).
Sheep are defenseless. About all they can do is run from a predator, and they are not fast runners. They will run until they tire out, and then will simply fall down exhausted becoming a hapless victim. When a ewe feels threatened, especially when she has lambs, she will look at you in the eye and stomp her hoof determinately in the ground as it to say, “Don’t come any closer, or I will…do something to you, but I don’t have a clue what….” It is all show, for there is nothing she can do, but hope to out run her attacker. In reality, it’s a pitiful and hopeless situation.
Sheep are not the most intelligent animal on the farm nor the dumbest, but are somewhere in the between goat and turkeys. Of the animals we had on our farm, our sheep dog was the most intelligent, then the goats, followed by cattle and lastly the sheep. After that came the fowl. In order of intelligence were geese, pigeons, chickens, ducks and the stupidest of all were the turkeys. Frankly, the ducks didn’t seem much smarter, at least to me. Chickens are not much better.
Sheep are skittish. If they don’t know you, they will not allow you to approach them, but will run off. If they know and trust you, they will allow you to come up to them, or they will come up to you when you call them—especially if they think you have food (e.g. grain). At night, when it was dark and they could not see you, I could walk among them and they would not run away. I would simply let them hear my voice, and they were immediately at ease. This reminds me of the Bible verses where Yeshua, the Good Shepherd said that his sheep here his voice and he calls them by name (John 10:3, 16, 27).
Sheep will happily and trustingly follow their shepherd whom they know and trust. I trained the sheep to following me from one pasture to another while shaking a bucket of grain. They would follow me single file wherever I led them. There was always a lead sheep—usually the oldest, tamest and smartest ewe. The other sheep knew and trusted this matriarch, and she knew and trusted me knowing that I would lead her to a good pasture. Similarly, Yeshua raises up trusted leaders (shepherds) among his people who have earned their trust, and they follow the leader as he or she follows Yeshua. This is what Paul asked of the saints in Corinth: “Follow [or imitate] me as I follow [or imitate] Messiah,” (1 Cor 11:1).
Sheep are smelly. Their wool gets all manner of pasture debris (e.g. sticks, dirt and whatever else) caught in it, and they are unable to clean themselves. A sheep pelt (minus the sheep) is not easily cleaned. With the help of much soap and rubbing by hand, it takes a long time to get all of the dirt out that has accumulated since the sheep was last shorn, which occurs once a year—usually in the spring. When the pelt gets wet, it takes days to dry out, since thick wool holds a lot of moisture. This is why Gideon used a wet then a dry sheep fleece as a miraculous test to prove the veracity of the Heavenly Messenger’s word to him (Judg 6:36–40).
Sheep lead well, but they drive badly. As already noted, sheep will follow a trusted shepherd wherever he leads them. However, if you try to drive a flock of sheep (without the aid of well-trained sheep dogs), each one will flee frantically in as many directions as there sheep. This reminds me of the Bible verses that says without a loving shepherd to lead them, YHVH’s people, like sheep, will scatter (Zech 13:7; Matt 26:7). Sheep need a shepherd, even as we need trusted human leaders, and ultimately Yeshua is the head or Chief Shepherd (1 Pet 5:4) of us all.
Without a shepherd, sheep will wander. Though I was the shepherd of our flock of sheep, we had fences to keep the sheep contained, so they would not wander. Fences also prevent predators from getting in with the sheep. Similarly, without Yeshua and his Torah-Word to lead, guide and protect us, we, as his sheep, will also go astray, for as we read, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way,” (Isa 53:6). Yeshua’s word is like a fence that protects us from the destructive forces of sin, as well as those who would prey on us and lead us astray (e.g. false teachers and shepherds, and Satan himself, who comes as an angel of light to lure us away from the safe pastures of YHVH’s ways of Truth and righteousness that lead to everlasting life).
In times Bible times, shepherds carried a rod and staff. The rod was a weapon to club predators who might attack the sheep. The staff was to guide and direct the sheep—to keep them in line while moving them from place to place. On our farm, our rod was a gun that we kept at the door, which we used on occasion to protect our sheep from attacking dogs. Our staff were our fences and barns that kept the sheep contained.
When brought into a new pasture, sheep will gorge themselves with so much fresh grass that sometimes their stomachs will bloat and they will become sick. Invariably, our sheep would get the runs from all the green grass and their rear ends were a greenish mess! As crass as this may sound, I saw the same thing happen many times while pastoring YHVH’s sheeple. People would leave the mainstream Christian church in malnourished, virtually starved condition because they had not been fed well from the whole Word of Elohim including his Torah. About all they knew was that Jesus loved them and that they were saved by his grace. Once the treasures of Torah and the Old Testament were opened up to them, they would gorge themselves on the wonderful knowledge contained there and, in turn, forget about Yeshua and his loving grace. As a result, they would start to eat and devour one another and become spiritually sick. Sheeple can become messed up pretty quickly when fed an unbalanced biblical diet. In some Hebraic circles, this proclivity has given rise to the pejorative term “Messyanics” or “Messy Antics” instead of Messianics.
Sheep love to be fondled and scratched on the head and behind the ears. Domesticated animals, like sheep, are YHVH’s gift to humans. One of YHVH’s first commands to Adam and Eve was to tend and keep the garden and then to care for and name the animals. Most of our animals (except the chickens) all had names. I grew up around animals, and even our farm animals (we always had a hundred or more of them at any one time) became my pets. I loved them as it was my job to care for them every morning and evening, from birth until the time we had to butcher them to feed our family. Many animals crave for and thrive on human affection and respond affectionately when loved and fondled. We can all relate to household pets like dogs and cats, but sheep, goats and cattle thrive on human affection as well. So do chickens. Have you ever picked up, cradled a hen in your arms while petting it? The sweetest and most mellifluous will flow forth from them as evidence of their happiness. There was much love and affection exchanged between myself and the animals I cared for on the family farm. They looked me as their protector and provider. Their dependence on me was evident, for if I slept in and failed to get up early enough to feed them in the morning, the farm would erupt with a chorus of mooing, baahing to inform me that I was derelict in my dutie.
Sheep trust their shepherd. I could move freely among the sheep day or night without them fearing me. This was not true of strangers.
Sheep know the voice of their shepherd even in the night darkness when they cannot see who the person is. As already noted, one word from me, and they were immediately at peace. Similarly, those of us who have a personal relationship with Yeshua, our Chief Shepherd (1 Pet 5:4) have learned to know, trust and long to hear his voice to guide and comfort us as we navigate the rough seas of this life.
Sheep require a fair amount of care to keep healthy. Their hooves have to be trimmed. They need shearing and deworming. Sometimes they need help giving birth to their young. From time to time and mother will reject its newborn lamb, and so the lamb has to be hand fed until it is able to feed on grass. I had to suckle motherless lambs many times. We would actually bring them into our warm house and keep them there until their wool had grown sufficiently, so that they could endure the cold weather outside without a mother to snuggle up against.
A shepherd always has to be alert to potential predators attacking his sheep. Even though we had fences and barns for the sheep’s protection, we still kept a watchful eye over them day and night. My bedroom was in the attic of the old farmhouse that my grandfather had built in the early 1920s. I always slept with the window open not only for fresh air, but so that I could hear any worrisome sounds coming from the sheep pasture below. We kept a goat a amongst the sheep who wore a bell. If I heard the goat’s neckbell ringing, this alerted me to the fact that the sheep were running—something that they normally wouldn’t be doing at night. Instantly, I was up, dressed, and downstairs where I would grab the gun, the flashlight and run out the door with our border collie dog right behind me to check on the sheep. A few time while giving birth to a lamb at night, a ewe would beginning bleating in pain. This was our clue that she needed our help. I would wake up my mom and we would run down to the sheep pasture to perform midwifery service to the ailing ewe. To this day, I tend to be a light sleeper, and often awake at the slightest sound as a result of years of sleeping with one ear open listening for worrisome sounds coming from the sheep pasture. Similarly, the ears of YHVH are open to the cries of his people who diligently seek him.
Lambs are like puppies—very sweet and lovable. What person doesn’t love a puppy? YHVH loves his spiritual lambs, as well, in ways that we are unable to fully fathom and appreciate. After all, let’s not forget that he gave his only begotten Son to be the Lamb of Elohim slain from the foundation of the world to redeem sinful humans. That’s you and me!
This is the old farmhouse Natan grew up in. The open window belongs to Natan’s bedroom. I kept it open at night, so I could hear if there was any problem among the sheep in the pasture that needed my immediate attention..
During the time of the judges, the nation Israel was languishing under oppressive foreign powers, yet on numerous occasions, YHVH mercifully sent them a savior to deliver them and through miracles and against overwhelming odds, Israel defeated its oppressors and the nation was brought to a new spiritual level. During this time, YHVH raised up powerful leaders, some of whom were prophets, to lead his people in national spiritual revival and to defeat their oppressive enemies. Most of these leaders were men, but when no man would step forward, he would use women to deliver his people. Deborah, a fiery woman of Elohim, was such a leader.
I have encountered no better description of Deborah the prophetess than this one found in a dusty old book in my library:
Deborah—what a strong solitary ray of light strikes from her story and song, upon the peaks of the past! A mother in Israel, the wise woman of her neighborhood, curing diseases, deciding differences, perhaps, at times, conducting the devotions of her people—how little was she, or were they, aware of the depth which lay in her heart and in her genius. It required but one action and one strain to cover her with glory. In her, as in all true women, lay a quiet fund of strength, virtue, and courage, totally unsuspected by herself.…The Great Spirit, seeking for a vent through which to pour a flood of ruin upon the invaders of Israel, found this woman sitting under her palm tree, on the mountain side, and she did his bidding.…The calm matron becomes the Nemesis of her race, and the mantle of Miriam falls on her shoulders, and the sword of Joshua flames her hand. [Her] prophetic fury sinks not, till the enemy of her country is crushed, and till she has told the tidings to the earth, to heaven, and to all after-time. And then like a sword dropped from a hero’s side, she quietly falls back into her peaceful solitude again.…How wonderful are the gust which surprise and uplift men, and women too, into greatness—greatness before unknown, and terrible even to themselves. (The Bards of the Bible, p. 98, by George Gilfillan, 1851)
The story of Deborah often brings up the question concerning the role of women among YHVH’s people. Proponents of women in leadership roles point to Deborah as a champion to their cause. Those who decry any sort of women leadership within the Christian church often blush when the example of Deborah is brought up, and are quick to add that she was a one-time exception to this rule. What does the Bible say about women leadership among believers?
As proof that on numerous occasions, YHVH raised up to prominent leadership roles among his people, please note the following examples as Batya Wootten points out in her book, Mama’s Torah—the Role of Women:
Miriam was a prophetess and coworker with her brothers Moses and Aaron in leading Israel (Mic 6:4).
YHVH used the daughters of Zelophehad to help instruct Moses, and on the basis of their wisdom, the Torah was amended (Num 27:1–11).
Huldah was a prophetess and an advisor to King Josiah (2 Kgs 22:11–20).
Queen Esther helped to write law (Est 9:29).
Phoebe was a deacon or minister within the spiritual body of early Messianic believers (Rom 16:1–2).
Junia along with Andronicus, her husband, are listed as apostles (Rom 16:7).
Priscilla and Aquila were a husband and wife ministry team and pastored a congregation that met in their home. There are times when the Scripture even records Priscilla’s name first. She was evidently a dynamic leader, along with her husband (Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19; 2 Tim 4:19).
The women in Corinth prayed and prophesied publicly (1 Cor 11:5–6).
Philip had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9).
A nucleus of women developed a congregation at Philippi (Acts 16:12–15,40).
Wootten then deduces from the biblical record that “believing communities should be aligned with biblical patterns of the Scripture. And while it clearly depicts a pattern of male leadership, is also clearly shows female participation” (ibid. p. 37).
In light of the example of Deborah we must ask the question: will YHVH’s plans and purposes be put on hold or thwarted simply because there is no person of the male gender to fulfill those plans? For example, can he who spoke through the mouth Balaam’s donkey, and who, Yeshua declared, could raise up rocks to declare his praises not also use women as he so chooses, when there lacks male leadership for the job? At the very least, could he not use women in powerful and instrumental ways to assist men in fulfilling the purposes of Elohim?
Judges4:4,Deborah the prophetess. Deborah is but one of a number of women prophets or, more correctly, prophetesses that are mentioned in the Bible. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron was the first prophetess mentioned (Exod 15:20). Huldah the prophetess ministered in the time of righteous King Josiah (2 Kgs 22:14; 2 Chron 34:22). The wife of Isaiah the prophet was also a prophetess making them a prophetic team (Isa 8:3). Noadiah the prophetess ministered in the time of Nehemiah (Neh 6:14). She must have been notable, since other prophets, presumably male, are listed along with her, but she is the only one whose name is mentioned. There was also Anna the prophetess who ministered near the temple and recognized the young Yeshua to be the Messiah (Luke 2:36). Philip the evangelist had four daughters who also prophesied (Acts 21:9). Beyond that, Joel the prophet predicted that a time would come when both men and women would prophecy (Joel 2:28). Peter recognized that this prophecy was, at least, in part fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17). Joel’s prophecy was also likely fulfilled in the church at Corinth where everyone was allowed to prophecy, presumably both men and women, for the purpose of edifying the brethren (1 Cor 14:29–33), and Paul refers to them all as “prophets” (1 Cor 14:29, 32).
The wife of Lapidoth (KJV).TheArtScrollTanach has translated this phrase as “a fiery woman” since the Hebrew word lapid means torch. This implies that Deborah was energetic and decisive. The Jewish sages teach that Lapidoth is but another name for Barak since both names connote flashes of lightning, and therefore are used interchangeably (The ArtScroll Rubin Edition Joshua/Judges Commentary, p. 137). If the sages are correct, then Deborah was assisting her husband, Barak. He was the military leader of Israel, while she was the spiritual leader. Does this shake your paradigm about the role of women in biblical societies? Many times fiery women are labeled and branded as persona non grata. Is this a fair thing to do if they are women who walk in and uphold biblical standards of righteousness, and who honor and defer to male headship, if there is righteous male headship worthy of honor?
Often Barak is viewed as a reluctant, even cowardly military leader. Is this a fair assessment? Didn’t he display great faith when he heeded the Word of Elohim through Deborah, and furthermore abandoned the strategic high ground when attacking the enemy on the plain where the enemy’s chariots would be most advantageous? If Barak and Deborah were husband and wife, what does this story teach us about husbands and wives not only respecting, but heeding each other’s counsel, and then working together as a team? Who knows, YHVH may be using your wife or husband to speak to you right now!
Judging Israel at that time. Not only was Deborah a prophetess, but she acted as a judge—a de facto head leadership position in Israel at that time when there was not central leadership or government.
Judges4:11, 17,The children of Hobab. This is another name for Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, the priest of Midian, who was a righteous man and a descendant of Abraham. Thus, the children of Hobab and the Israelites were blood related cousins and possibly fellow believers in the Elohim of Abraham. Perhaps this is why Jael was willing to kill Sisera, the heathen enemy of Israel. Because of family and, possibly, spiritual ties, despite her people being at peace with Israel’s enemies, who was will to kill Sisera out of family loyalty and devotion to Elohim.
Judges4:14,Deborah said to Barak. Deborah, on the instructions of Elohim, commissioned Barak to go up with his army to fight Sisera with his 900 chariots of iron. This required great faith and human boldness on Barak’s part, for this would be like lightly armed infantry soldiers in our day going up against tanks. Yet armed with a prophetic word from Elohim and faith, Barak obeyed. Had Barak been a sexist, he would have dismissed the prophetesses words and not secured the victory for Israel. If Barak was the wife of Deborah (see notes at verse 4), then the lesson here is that men should listen to their godly wives. If they were not married, then men still need to listen to the counsel of godly and Spirit-led women.
