“And all of Midian and the Amalekites and the Sons of the East gathered together. And they passed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. But the Spirit of Yahweh covered Gideon and he blew the shophar and the Fathers of the Ezrites were called out to him. And messengers were sent to all of Manasseh and they were also called out to him. And messengers were sent through Asher and through Zebulon and through Naphtali and they went up to meet him.”

(Judges 6:33-35)

Prior to the call of Gideon, prior to the tearing down of the pagan altar and image, prior to the sacrifice offered by Gideon on the altar to God, prior to the establishment of right worship, when the Midianites rushed into the land, they met no resistance and everyone fled. Now we see a different picture emerging. And it emerges not because of the boldness of Gideon, but because the Holy Spirit has rushed upon Gideon and God is about to do a wonderful thing. Yet, it is a thing that God does not do so long as the people are committed to their idols. He does not do this lest the idol be given credit for the deliverance.

How we so often wonder, why God is not moving in our land. The answer is that it all stems back to worship. In America, it seems like most anything is considered acceptable as a form of worship to God. How often do we see chaos and unrestrained foolishness masquerading as worship in the assemblies of God’s people. How often even in more sober-minded forums, we see humanism sung from the songbooks and preached from the pulpits. And how often do we see ritualism replacing a commitment of the heart to Christ. And then we wonder, why do we not see God’s hand delivering us from our enemies.

Loved ones, there is an answer to our problem. But that answer begins with repentance — repenting of the humanistic foolishness that we have embraced and getting back to right worship — worship as is described in the scriptures. Worship that is governed by the Word of God not the inventions of men. Then, when we repent of our idolatry, then we may indeed see the hand of God bringing deliverance and revival once again.