Psalm 83:11-12

Psalm 83:11-12

Possessing the pasturelands of God

We’re back again with the story of the conquest of the Midianites. Gideon had led a tiny army of 300 men against them at night using torches and pitchers, causing the Midianite soldiers to turn on one another in the darkness, and then to flee from the mighty horde that was obviously attacking them! That was not the end of the matter. Gideon and his men pursued the fleeing invaders and called upon the men of the tribes of Naphtali, Asher and Manasseh to help them. Messengers were also despatched to the hill country of Ephraim who arranged control of the land around the River Jordan to the north of the Dead Sea. Remember the Midianites were fleeing south and the Ephraimites were able to capture two of their leaders, Oreb and Zeeb, both men were killed. Meanwhile, Gideon and his forces crossed the River Jordan and headed east through Succoth and then Peniel until they caught up with two more of the Midianite leaders who were heading up the residue of the defeated army. The leaders were Zebah and Zalmunna and Gideon took personal responsibility for their executions, he even removed their pagan jewellery attached to the necks of their camels. In all, 120,000 Midianite swordsmen died at the hand of Gideon and his men, and the victory was complete, for all time. (See Judges 7-8.)

The verses in Psalm 83 give us an insight into the intentions of the invading Midianite army and its leaders; they were not driven by greed or expansionist motives, “Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God,”they said. God was their enemy, and His people were therefore the obstacles that stood in their way as they confronted Him. He showed how He could defeat their massive forces with just 300 men and one Godly leader. There is no human force that is a match for Him and those who ignore or confront Him are completely deluded and will suffer the consequences. 

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