Proper 23 (OTA)

Judges 7:1-8, 19-24
1 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’ ” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.
4 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jdg 7:1-8). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
19 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. 20 Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. 22 When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian.
24 Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and capture the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jdg 7:19-24). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

"A Sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" The people were too many. So the Lord sent home the people who were afraid. Then the LORD sent home those people who drank a certain way. The Army that was left was given a torch and a trumpet. Where is the Sword?

When the Army shouts these simple words, "A Sword for the Lord and for Gideon," the swords appear. The Midianites turn on one another and strike each other with their swords. The Sword of the LORD comes directly out of your mouth. The Word of God is a Sword to cut people to the heart. This Sword gives glory to God when it is used. This Sword kills and also frees or makes alive.

All of this is done for the glory of God. God is given glory because the people did not free themselves by their strength. The Glory of the Battle is given to the Lord because it is his Sword that conquers. It is God who fights on our side. He is the one who comes to you to kill you for your sins.

The Sword is their to kill you. It is the instrument of your death. But it is also the instrument of Christ's Death. The Word of God himself died on the cross to free you from your sins. It is the Sword that now fights to protect you and proclaim your Victory in Christ Jesus. "A Sword for the Lord and for" You.