Derek

As we were crucified with Christ, as we died in Him, so we are also raised with Him and, so much more, we are seated with Him in the heavenly realms by God.This places us in the power house of God over and above the principallities and powers which oppose the work of God. It is our privilege and responsibility to join the battle on Christ's side. But we are overcomers in Christ's name in the armour of God.

Paul is recognising heavenly realms as the spiritual realm in which powers and principalities, demons and human beings and Christ Himself as well as God exist, quite separate from the material world which includes outer space! The religions of Paul' day and of ours believe in such realms and picture them as places of conflict. Paul is pointing out that Christ is victor in this realm, having conquered, and as a symbol of that conquest, have placed his foot upon the neck of the conquered foes. He is at God's right hand, the place of privilege and having direct access to His Heavenly Father on our behalf.

(Ephesians 1:23) What does it mean for us Christians that Christ is "head over everything for the church"? What does this say about the Church's power? Exposition This has its equivalent in John 15 where Jesus says

We are "in Christ". We have Ephesians 2:6) From the standpoint of power, what is the significance of Paul's statement been crucified with Him and raised with Him as we put our trust in Him. Therefore we enter into His victory over principlaities and powers in high places.

Christ seated at God's right hand is in the place of highest honour and is a place of authority in the spiritual realms - i.e. not a physical place as we understand it but a spiritual realm. The conquerors in Rome would place their feet on the necks of the conquered rulers as a symbol of their conquest. Christ has won the battle and is the Conqueror. We are in the place of conquerors with Him.,

(Paul prayed that God would open their eyes because they had been blinded by Satan (2Co. 4:4) insofar as their spiritual understanding was concerned and Paul wanted them to see and realise the mighty power of God on their (and our) behalf. This power operates IN CHRIST! The miraculous even used by Paul was the resurrection of Christ.

The Church, or Body of Christ is often referred to as the Bride and in many cases in the Old Testament Israel was accused of adultery. e.g. the book of Hosea. the meaning of the god Baal is husband also and turning away from God is like turning away from a wife or husband and being unfaithful. Anything which gets in the way of my walk with Christ is a temptation to spiritual adultery.

Q4. What is a snare? In what way does Gideon's ephod ensnare his family and the people of Israel? (8:24-27) How can something be a sin if we don't see it as a sin? What was the essence of the sin the Israelites committed? What is the essence of Gideon's sin? Exposition A snare is a trap for animals and is also used in a metaphorical sense here. Gideon's ephod ensnared his family and Israel by providing a focus away from God. We are corrupt and cannot always recognise sin. (Rom.14:23)

Learning from other replies it appears from the Jewish encyclopaedia that it could have been the High Priest's clothing or could have been an image. In the former case it would apparently looked like a sort of apron which was held in place over the shoulders by straps. Being gold it would certainly have been magnificent either as a garment or an image.

Q2. What does Gideon ask for his reward? (8:24-27) Was Gideon wrong to take a reward? Where did the sin begin? Exposition Gideon asked for the gold jewellery plundered from the enemy as his reward. In those times it was not wrong of Gideon. Yes, maybe it was a way of taking something to avoid being made king. It was what he made of the gold that was a snare to Israel and himself and his family. That led on to worship of the ephod, in violation of the commandment not only regarding worship of the one God but also of graven images.

Gideon recognised that God was the King over Israel. It was a theocracy and we have an example in how Samuel reacted when the people asked for a king - that they might be as other nations! Replacing the Lord God as king would be a treasonable act. Cleqrly the Israelites had forgotten their God and King. To them the position was vacant.

Q5. Why does Gideon slay Zebah and Zalmunna? Is he unjust or fulfilling his just obligation? (Numbers 35:16) Why does Romans 12:19 prohibit Christians from taking vengeance? (8:18-21) Gideon slew Zebah and Zalmunna according to his own statement because they had killed his brethren. There are many instances where God commands Israel to wipe out complete cities, men, women and children alike. There is no evidence of a specific command to Gideon on this matter, but within Israel allowing for the Cities of Refuge, family members were entitled to take vengeance on those who killed members of their families.. Numbers 35:16 surely is a command referring to those within Israel and not relevant to enemies from outside Israel. Romans 12:19 prohibits Christians from taking vengeance because we are not under the the Old Testament law but under the regime of Christ and of grace.

Q4. Why do the cities of Succoth and Peniel refuse aid to Gideon's army? (8:4-9) Why does Gideon punish these cities later? What is their sin? Is Gideon just? Can you think of a circumstance when a Christian might be guilty of the sin of Succoth and Peniel? (8:13-17) See exposition Succoth and Peniel had seen an enormous army pursued by a tiny group. They saw without faith and therefore could only try to stay on the fence until certainty. Gideon punished them for their treachery. They were failing their brethren and walking in the ways of the world. Christians and churches today often choose to go the world's way rather than the way of Christ.

Q2. What does Gideon ask the Ephraimites to do? Why are they so angry? Who do you learn from Gideon's approach to the Ephraimites' arrogance? (7:24-8:3) See exposition Gideon asks the Ephraimites to secure the Jordan crossing against the Mideonites. They are angry because their pride has been hurt in that they were not called out to take part in the battle from the beginning, but God only wanted the small party. There is a proverb "A soft answer turneth away wrath" and Gideon evidently had this wisdom. It is very easy to retaliate when others are unpleasant in some way. However, we are in Christ and therefore we should have the fruit of the Spirit which includes self-control.

Divided into three companies they were able to come at the enemy from three different directions and give the impression that they were an overwhelming force. Attacking at night the sudden blast of the trumpets, combined with the shattering of the jars and the torches in every direction were meant to cause confusion. All succeeded. The architect of the strategy was God who gave them the victory. However Gideon's [art was to obey God and follow His guidance by faith.

I believe we should ask for a sign if we are sincere and we are called upon to take a dangerous step which we are unable to confirm through Scriptural teaching. God may say Yes, No or Wait. Asking for a sign can be evidence that we are not really listening to God, but are looking for an experience outside God's will

I don't think Gideon doubted God, but himself. What if he was deceiving himself? What if his own imagination had taken over? When the Pharisees etc. asked for a sign it was in unbelief. Gideon came more into the category: "Lord I believe, help my unbelief."

The Spiriti of the Lord came upon Gideon and he blew a trumpet to summon the army. God had equipped him for the task, as He always does for the tasks He gives us today. In common with other judges and leaders, Gideon was empowered by the Spirit of God

Up to this point Joash had led his son astray by worshipping a false god and as a leader he seems to have encouraged Baal worship amongst all those under his leadership. Presumably Gideon knew something of the true God - but was it from his family? Perhaps his mother had nurtured her child in accordance with the law of God. Yes, Gideon should have hoped that his action would have resulted in his father turning back to God. It sounds as if Joash was sceptical regarding Baal, but was he also a sceptic concerning the true God? Maybe!

disciple relates to discipline. A disciple follows obediently but just as we can have an unjust judge, so, for a time we can have a disobedient disciple. Continuing disobedience would mean failure to follow and in that case he would no longer be a disciple, but like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress we may all take a short cut through bypass meadow from time to time. Yes, in theory I believe Gideon did have a choice, but, in practice .. ? Irresisitible grace?

The first commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart mind and strength. This command is not only the first in order but also the first in precedence and all other commandments are subject to it. Whilst we are told to honour our earthly parents, Jesus reminds us that whoever loves their father or mother more than God is not worthy of Him. Luke 14:26 goes even further but only as a comparison to our love for God.

Gideon was commanded to tear down the altar and pole because they were symbols of idol worship of false gods. In their place he was to raise an altar to the true God. In doing this he was standing up against the community who worshipped the false gods and antagonising them could mean death. He did it at night for fear of his family and the men of the town. The fact that he obeyed God was a sign of the strength of his faith. The fact that he did it at night showed his personal weakness and immaturity of his faith.

God responds to Gideon's self image by showing him that as God is with him, he would have power to strike down all the Mideanites,but also, in verse 14 God reminded Gideon that he was on the Lord's business. Yes, this same principle applies to us in our lives and service. A good example is in Matthew 8 where the centurion understand what it means to be "under authority" as Jesus was, and as we are when we are doing the Lord's work and serving Him with our lives. Also Paul was conscious of this as in 2 Cor.12:9 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ

God szw Gidon as a mighty warrior whilst Gideon saw himself as the least in the weakest clan of Manasseh. Gidon was right in seeing himself as he was without God but God was right in seeing Gideon as he was with God. Without God I can do nothing but I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Php 4:13. A.V.) Peter walked on the sea when he kept his eyes on Jesus, but when he took his eyes away from Jesus and looked at the waves he began to sink.

The primary reason for Israel's oppressed state was stated by the prophet as they had not listened to God. God had given them His commandments (Exodus 20) the first of which was that they were to have no gods before Him. They had not listened because God's voice was drowned out by the voices of the Canaanites around them, worshipping other "gods" Often God's voice is drowned out by the noise of the world around us and we need to listen to the apostle Paul's advice/command to us not to let the world squeeze us into its own mould. (Ro. 12:2 - Phillips)