Gideon's Request
W. W. Duncan, M. A. Judges 6:36-40 And Gideon said to God, If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said,… 1. Impossible though it may be to acquit Gideon of unreasonableness, in demanding farther proofs of the certainty wherewith he might rely on the presence and blessing of the Lord on his perilous undertaking, we cannot deny that he displayed at the same time a becoming and praiseworthy concern lest he should be deserted of Him. 2. Again, in the kind and condescending manner in which it pleased the Lord to accommodate Himself to Gideon's infirmity, and to allow him to put Him to the proof, may we not recognise a pleasing evidence that such concern as that to which we have referred — such solicitude and nervous apprehension lest there be some mistake on his part — is far from being displeasing to Him. Oh, what a tender, sympathising, long-suffering, easy-to-be-entreated High Priest is He with whom we have to do! Instead of upbraiding Gideon with his unbelief in spite of all that had passed, He bears with him (oh, with what marvellous condescension, and slowness of wrath!) and at once yields His assent to the proposal. Well says good Bishop Hall, in his meditations on this passage: "What tasks is God content to be set by our infirmity!" 3. From this incident in the life of Gideon we may also learn this lesson: that every believer needs fresh supplies of grace and strength for every new turn in the affairs of his soul, and for every new phase in the spiritual conflict. Whoever thinks of finding fault with a man, on the ground of a defect in faith, because he goes so often to the throne of grace, or because he comes "boldly to obtain mercy to pardon, and grace to help"? Nay, rather would he not justly expose himself to the charge of ignorance and presumption, if, on the pretext or plea that he has already received the promise, "as thy days, so shall thy strength be," he should go forth to do battle with his spiritual adversaries without repairing afresh to the fountain of all spiritual blessing, and asking as Gideon asked? (W. W. Duncan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, WEB: Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,