The Israelite Search for a Savior
Judges 8:12-22
Synopsis Judges 8:12-22 6/21/2018
In the midst of battle with Midian, the Midianite kings fled from Gideon. But Gideon pursued the kings and captured them. Then he then returned to the cities that had denied him support during the battle in favor of the Midianites. Here, Gideon exacted revenge for their faithlessness in front of the two captured kings.
Afterward, Gideon questioned the kings. His questioning implied that he would have shown mercy to them if they had shown mercy in the past. But they admitted that they had shown no mercy. He ordered his young son to kill them with a sword. But the boy was afraid. Then Gideon executed the two kings of Midian; Zebah and Zalmunna.
After this, the Israelites asked Gideon to be king.
The Israelite Search for a Savior
The Israelite’s were not satisfied with the arrangement they had inherited from Moses. And the cycles of war and lawlessness had increased their dissatisfaction.
In a moment of exaltation at Gideon’s victory, they seemed to recognize what they really wanted. They wanted to become a kingdom with a dynastic family to lead them. Israel desired not to have to feel worry about protection and rulership again. They wanted a savior. And, they wanted a savior whose reign would never end. This was their vision for national and personal salvation.
Fully expressed as a desire, the want for a permanent savior was perhaps first articulated in pressing Gideon to become king.
Salvation and Eternal Life
I’m like an ancient Israelite. When I say I want eternal life, what I really want is for the good of my life to go on as long as possible. I want those things to persist.
So, this anticipation of future good is what we call hope. We can do nothing without hope. And if I want for others what I would want for myself – well that’s called love and that’s the foundation of community.
And the belief in the person who can deliver these extraordinary goods into our lives is faith. Faith in a savior. For us as Christians, faith in the savior.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13
