Scripture Union Daily Guide 23 May 2025 (Friday) Devotional Message
Today’s Daily Guide 23 May 2025 Reading By Scripture Union
TOPIC: Is God Really With Us?
OPENING PRAYER: Help me to understand the exceeding greatness of your power as I read through this passage, dear Lord.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Judges 6:1-24
1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.
7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,
8 That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.
22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.
23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION:
► Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
► Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 23 May 2025 – OUTLINE
Compare and contrast the closing verse of yesterday’s passage and the opening remarks of today’s passage. God’s people forgot all He had done for them. God was angry with them. Notice the sufferings that followed (Judges 6:3-6). The effects of sin are ultimately regrettable. In their pain, they cried out to God and He responded by sending them a prophet (Judges 6:7-10). The angel located Gideon who would rescue Israel and gave him assurance of God’s presence and hope. Notice the phases of Gideon’s call and the fact that God was patient with him:
* Judges 6:13: a situational analysis – the dilemma of witnessing the oppression by the Midianites (and Amalekites) even though they are God’s people. However, his dilemma comes from failing to take Israel’s sinfulness into account. God is just and will punish sin whoever is involved.
* Judges 6:15: a personal analysis with emphasis on his shortcomings and limitations.
* Judges 6:17-18: a search for certainty – he seeks a sign to reassure him and requests the angel to wait as he prepares an offering.
God can use any of us despite our personal circumstances, or faith limitations. Nevertheless, a genuine heart that seeks to know with certainty that God is calling us to His work is a healthy attitude for a Christian. When opportunities of service and leadership are presented to you, do you embrace them in haste or with due consideration?
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer:
I need you every hour, most gracious Lord.
One Year Bible Reading Guide:
2 Samuel 13-14, Matthew 19.
One Year Bible Reading Guide, Hard Copy Version:
2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalms 30
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Friday May 23, 2025
PRAYER FOCUS
FINANCE AND BUSINESS OF BRETHREN.
But thou shall remember the Lord, for it is He that giveth the power to make wealth. Deut. 8:18.
THANK GOD FOR:
* His blessing upon the businesses and works of our brethren. • His readiness to make his people wealthy.
PRAY FOR:
* Divine insight and direction upon our brethren on how make wealth. • Restoration of any ailing business of our brethren. • Our brethren will embrace godly principle in their businesses.
PRAY AGAINST:
* The spirit of mammon that leads to compromise of faith in pursuit of wealth.
Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God. (Scripture Union Daily Guide 23 May 2025)