Help For A Nation Under Siege | Rev Dr. S.O. James

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JUDGES 6:11-16

INTRODUCTION
The world is in trouble and everyone and everything is affected. Social life has shut down; economic activities have completely shut down.
Schools have shut down. The rich and the poor, the young and the old are all affected; never in recent history has the world witnessed such a global crisis like this. Nations have not only shut down their borders but locked down their towns and cities.

We look at the future with uncertainties. We surely need God’s intervention.
The Bible presents us an example of times when nations were under siege and how God intervened. We are people of faith and our God will surely see us through. In the midst of confusion, God will step in.

I. HELP FOR A NATION AND A PEOPLE IN CONFUSION- Jud. 6:1-2
• Midianite destructive invasion: Today there is an invasion not of men but of the destructive virus, Covid 19.
• Economic destruction – vs. 4
• Social destruction –vs. 2; they prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. Everyone was on his or her own looking for protection.

II. HELP FROM TOTAL DESTRUCTION –vs. 5
“… They invaded the land to ravage it.”
Why is everyone running for safety?
• Coronavirus is ravaging the whole world. It is a pandemic like no other before in recent history.
• Pestilence can be very destructive. In 2 Samuel 24, we saw how just a three days’ pestilence killed 70,000 before God stopped the destruction.

III. HELP UNDER SIEGE COMES WHEN WE CALL UPON HIM
• Vs 6 “… they cried out to the LORD for help.”
• We are Men of Faith. We can look up to God and call upon him in time of trouble.
• Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

• Crises may force us to stay at home but must not force us out of God’s presence. We may not be able to get to go to Church but this must not prevent us from corporately calling upon our God.
• No other help can solve the problem not even the total lockdown or any form of medical precautions. We need the help of God.
• 2 Chronicles 7: 13-14 – God has made provision for us to call on him in time of pestilence.

IV. HELP UNDER SIEGE DEMANDS FAITH AND COURAGE
Our response at such a time like this is crucial for God’s intervention. Let us see how Gideon responded in a time of crisis – vs. 11-21
• Gideon was threshing wheat to keep it from the Midianites –vs. 11
• There was divine and angelic visitation; God will visit you wherever you are in a time like this!

• Declaration of God’s Presence –vs. 12 “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”
NOTE: In times like this:
a. God assures of his divine presence.
• Isaiah 43 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with You; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

b. God declared Gideon capable and competent to overcome the challenge. Though in fear, discouraged and hiding, God called him a mighty warrior.
• No matter how you feel and the situation around you, God is saying you are able and will surely overcome the present challenge.

V. HELP UNDER SEIGE ANSWERS OUR QUESTIONS
• Vs. 13
• The Israelites asked two serious questions. Many of us are also asking the same question and even providing our own answers!
a. “If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?

b. Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about…?
c. But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian”.
• Many of us are making the same submission and conclusion. Sure, God has not abandoned us. He is there even in the storm of life.

VI. HELP THROUGH WORSHIP IN TIME OF SIEGE – vs. 19-24
• Gideon offered a sacrifice to the LORD –vs. 21
• The offering was acceptable to God

• He built an altar for the Lord and called it Jehovah Shalom! We can offer and build an altar of peace in times of crisis –vs 24
David also built an altar to stop the pestilence in 2 Samuel 24: 18,19, 21.
• Gideon was also instructed and did build a family altar for the Lord – vs. 25-27

VII. HELP UNDER SEIGE BRINGS ASSURANCE AND GOODNEWS OF DIVINE SOLUTION
• Assurance through signs- vs 36- 40
• Assurance through a dream in the camp of the enemy- Judg. 7:9-14

• Help from the LORD; God allowed only 300 out of the 32,000 army be part of the battle. They did not win the battle with swords or arrow but by just blowing the trumpet and breaking the pitches and holding the lamp!

CONCLUSION
No matter how bad things are; no matter how great the pestilence is, be assured that God will take care of you. He will speak and put an end to the pandemic. This season will also pass away and at the end of the pandemic you will have reason to sing a new song.