Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹² Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the Qedemites had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore. ¹³ When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling his friend about a dream. He said, “Listen, I had a dream:^(A) a loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp, struck a tent, and it fell. The loaf turned the tent upside down so that it collapsed.”

¹⁴ His friend answered: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him.”

Gideon Attacks the Midianites

¹⁵ When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel’s camp and said, “Get up, for the Lord has handed the Midianite camp over to you.” ¹⁶ Then he divided the 300 men into three companies and gave each of the men a trumpet in one hand and an empty pitcher with a torch inside it in the other.

¹⁷ “Watch me,” he said,^[a] “and do the same. When I come to the outpost of the camp, do as I do. ¹⁸ When I and everyone with me blow our trumpets, you are also to blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then you will say, ‘For Yahweh and for Gideon!’”

¹⁹ Gideon and the 100 men who were with him went to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch after the sentries had been stationed. They blew their trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. ²⁰ The three companies blew their trumpets and shattered their pitchers. They held their torches in their left hands, their trumpets^[b] in their right hands, and shouted, “A sword for Yahweh and for Gideon!” ²¹ Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, and cried out as they ran. ²² When Gideon’s men blew their 300 trumpets, the Lord set the swords of each man in the army against each other. They fled to Beth-shittah in the direction of Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah^(B) near Tabbath.

Lights in the World

¹² So then, my dear friends,^(A) just as you have always obeyed,^(B) not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. ¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling^(C) and arguing,^{(D) 15} so that you may be blameless^(E) and pure,^(F) children of God who are faultless^(G) in a crooked^(H) and perverted^(I) generation,^(J) among whom you shine like stars in the world. ¹⁶ Hold firmly to^[a] the message^(K) of life. Then I can boast^(L) in the day of Christ^(M) that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. ¹⁷ But even if I am poured out^(N) as a drink offering^(O) on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.