Gideon Built an Altar - Judges 6:26

In the book of Judges we learned how, “Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take your father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the grove that is by it”, and in chapter six and verse twenty-six of Judges, we learn how, “Gideon built an altar” where we read,

And build an altar unto the LORD your God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, 

and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which you shall cut down.

The verse reads, “And build an altar unto the LORD your God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, …” The writer began with the words, “and build an alter” which means “and erect and construct a place for sacrificial slaughter and worship” “unto the LORD your God” or “to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God your, Gideon’s, Supreme Deity” “upon the top of this rock” which means “on the upper part and height belonging to this cliff, crag or stone”, “in the ordered place” or “within the location of rank and row”. The writer shared how “Gideon” was told to construct a sacrificial slaughter place to worship Jehovah God his Supreme Deity on the upper part of the stone within ranks and rows.

The verse continues, “… and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which you shall cut down.” The writer added the words, “and take the second bullock” which means “and fetch, lay hold of, seize and acquire the second bull, cattle or steer”, “and offer a burnt sacrifice” or “and ascend with the slaughter and burn it” “with the wood of the grove”  which means “alongside and accompanying the timber, planks, stalks and sticks belonging to the ‘Ashera’ which were used for idol worship” “which you shall cut down” or “that you, Gideon, will hew, cut off and eliminate”. The writer shared how Gideon was instructed to lay hold of the “second” bull, slaughter it and burn the meat with the trees that were in the place of idol worship.  

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how “Gideon” was instructed to erect a place for a sacrifice of worship to Jehovah God on the stone in their presence. He was to lay the parts in rows and fetch the “second” bull and burn it with the “wood” from the trees that were in the place where idol worship was carried out. God desires a “sacrifice” of our lives to Him because He gave His Son Jesus who was the living sacrifice for the sins of all mankind when He died on the cross. He rose from the dead after three days, and when we surrender our live to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and teach us the value of the “sacrifice of worship” as we serve Him in this world. (See John 3:16; Hebrews 13:15)

Next time we learn how, “Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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