A Poetic Narration of some Hebrew History
Hunger seemed unending
Harsh Midianite thrashings
Poor Israelites threshing
Sparse harvests in hiding
Messenger encounters
Joash's son flounders
His nation cowers
Under enemy powers
This angelic visitation
'neath terebinth vegetation
Transformed this fearful man
From Manasseh's weakest clan
Mighty valor declared
Purpose made known
Called to fight if he dared
Confirming fire on a stone
This needy child of an Abiezrite
Galvanized the army-less Israelites
Surprising foes in the dark of night
Including many Amalekites
First he made his own people vexed
Their altar and grove defiled
Exposing Baal as powerless
Destroying their worship of idols
Bold and renamed Jerubbaal
Heartened he sends out the call
Assured they would and could prevail
To neighbors near calling all
Moist one day and dry the other
Sheep's wool proved what the Lord wanted
Though foes surrounded in countless number
Confirmed promise made him undaunted
Though foes surrounded in countless number
Confirmed promise made him undaunted
Thousands flocked to his muster
Many may have been boys
"Too many men!" said the Father
Thinning their ranks by His choice
With fifteen score
They settled the score
Triumphing over their trials
Conventional weapons needed no more
Just pitchers with trumpets and fires
"The sword of The Lord and of Gideon!"
Trembled the armies of Midian
Three hundred men - routed all them
Running from few like from millions
Little they knew
Who in fighting they slew
Fearing losing they started to lose
Receiving their due
Not having a clue
Defeating themselves for the Hebrews
Those who survived
Were taken alive
Killed by neighboring tribes
The rest who escaped
Got picked off like grapes
Tasting justice on Bethbarah's banks
Israel finally got ahead
Two losing princes lost their's
Oreb's head he could not keep
Neither could his friend named Zeeb
How can we learn from this story?
What can we glean from this tale?
God on our side makes majority.
Life without Him surely fails.
By S. Alan Latta
Based on JUDGES 6 & 7
