Tuesday in Epiphany

12Verse 12. Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13Verse 13. And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.” 14Verse 14. His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.” 15Verse 15. When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Get up, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” 16Verse 16. And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each man a ram’s horn in one hand and a large jar in the other, containing a torch. 17Verse 17. “Watch me and do as I do,” Gideon said. “When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18Verse 18. When I and all who are with me blow our horns, then you are also to blow your horns from all around the camp and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’” 19Verse 19. Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20Verse 20. The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” 21Verse 21. Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran. 22Verse 22. And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

12Verse 12. Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13Verse 13. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose. 14Verse 14. Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15Verse 15. so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world 16Verse 16. as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17Verse 17. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18Verse 18. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.