Scripture Union Daily Guide 25 May 2025 (Sunday) Devotional Message
Today’s Daily Guide 25 May 2025 Reading By Scripture Union
TOPIC: Trim Down Your Army!
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OPENING PRAYER: Plant my steps in the sure promises of your word today, dear Lord.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Judges 7:1-14 (NIV)
1 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.
4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”
14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”
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
Recall the scope of men who gathered to meet Gideon as soldiers (Judges 6:35). They were drawn from Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. All victory for this battle must be ascribed to God alone! Hence, He ordered the trimming down of the large armies of Israel from an initial 32,000 men to 10,000. There was the choice for whoever was timid and afraid to fight in that battle to leave and go home. In fact, God used a unique selection process to get a much smaller number of soldiers who would go to battle with Gideon.
The final list of battle-ready men was only 300, an insignificant number compared with the enemy army (Judges 7:12). God recognises human frailty hence His instruction in Judges 7:10. He does not always work with the majority. His breath alone is powerful enough to bring an army tumbling down. Obedience is a recipe for victory.
Read Judges 7:13-14 and note the part this played in strengthening Gideon, while weakening the Midianites.
With such a scanty army, Israel has no reason to consider they saved themselves by their own strength (Judges 7:2). May it be that in every situation and circumstance, for all and any successes we attain, or the challenges we overcome, that glory and honour is given to God and Him only.
Adoration:
For I proclaim the name of the Lord. Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock. His work is perfect, For all His ways are justice. A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:3,4, NKJV).
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
SONG – Forward!
1. Christ, our mighty captain,
Leads against the foe,
We will never falter
When He bids us go;
Tho’ His righteous purpose
We may never know,
Yet we’ll follow all the way.
Refrain: Forward! forward!
’Tis the Lord’s command;
Forward! forward!
To the promised land;
Forward! forward!
Let the chorus ring:
We are sure to win with
Christ, our king!
2. Satan’s fearful onslaughts
Cannot make us yield;
While we trust in Christ,
Our buckler and our shield;
Pressing ever on—the
Spirit’s sword we wield,
And we follow all the way.
3. Let our glorious banner
Ever be unfurled;
From its mighty stronghold
Evil shall be hurled;
Christ, our mighty captain,
Overcomes the world,
And we follow all the way.
4. Fierce the battle rages—
But ’twill not be long,
Then triumphant, shall we
Join the blessèd throng,
Joyfully uniting
In the victor’s song—
If we follow all the way.
One Year Bible Reading Guide:
2 Samuel 17-18 Matthew 21.
One Year Bible Reading Guide, Hard Copy Version:
1 Chronicles 23-25
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Sunday May 25, 2025
PRAYER FOCUS
SELF EXAMINATION.
Examine yourself to see whether you are in faith…2 Cor. 13:5
THANK GOD FOR:
* Making His word available for us through which we can examine ourselves.
PRAY FOR:
* Spiritual checkup of our Christian faith to avoid being caught unprepared at our master’s return. • Watchfulness against all the vices of the enemies of our faith. • The grace to turn to God in repentance whenever we fall short of his glory.
PRAY AGAINST:
* The forces that promote sinful lifestyle.
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 25 May 2025)
