Justin Houtz

Judges 7, James 1

DateVersionReading Plan
August 6, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Judges 7

Observation & Interpretation

Judges 7:5-7 – Everyone who lapped the water as a dog laps was to be set aside. Likewise everyone who kneeled to drink.

  • Those who took time to get down on their knees for a drink of water were eliminated. Those, on the other hand, who lapped water like a dog and quickly moved on were kept in the army. These numbered three hundred men. (BBC)

Judges 7:10 – The LORD gave Gideon the options of going down tot he camp of Midianites with his servant, Purah, if he was afraid.

  • The army was sufficiently small, so the Lord commanded Gideon to get up and begin the action against the camp of the Midianites. Yet instead of immediate action, there was further delay while Gideons continuing fears were addressed. The Lord told Gideon that if he was afraied to go against the Midianite camp, he should secretly visit it and listen to what the Midianites were saying. (CSB Notes)

Judges 7:15 – Gideon’s response to hearing the interpretation of the Midianite’s dream was worship.

  • In respons [to the interpretation of the dream, Gideon] bowed in worship, acknowledging the truth of the Lord’s words, now that he had heard them repeated by pagans. (CSB Notes)

Judges 7:20 – In the left hands of the three companies were torches and in their right hand were trumpets.

  • The three companies of men were not holding any weapons.
  • The element of surprise, combined by a divinely induced fear, sent the Midianites fleeing for their lives and fighting one another in the confusion. The victory was not just the result of successful psychological tactics. It was the LORD who caused the Midianites to turn on each other. (CSB Notes)

James 1

Observation & Interpretation

James 1:1 – James addresses his letter to the twelve tribes in the dispersion.

  • The twelve tribes dispersed abroad refers to Jewish Christians scattered outside of Israel. (CSB Notes)
  • [The] diaspora language recalls the exile of Israel by Assyria in 722 BC and the exile of Judah in 586 BC. These scatterings of God’s covenant people out of the Promised Land came as divine judgment for their rebellion. (ESVEC – Comment)

Application

James 1:12-18 – Acknowledging our fallen nature and the power of deceptive sin should lead us to renewed humble dependence upon God for resisting sin, and, when we have failed in resisting, reliance upon his grace to repent and be restored to fellowship with out loving heavenly Father. (ESVEC – Response)

Resources