Deeper Reflection
Verses 3 to 5 speak of a great military victory that will come. God Himself will act to bring it about. He will bless and restore His people. His mighty hand will deliver them. There will be population growth; there will be great joy like famers celebrating their harvest season and gladness like that of triumphant warriors dividing the spoils of war (v.3). The yoke of oppression upon God’s people and the instruments of abuse used against them will all be broken (v.4). Every last vestige of war will go up in smoke; every painful memory will fade away completely (v.5). Peace will reign in the land!In verse 4, “the day of Midian” alludes to Gideon’s incredible victory over Midian (Judg 7), when the Lord delivered Israel from an oppressive foreign invader. God did so against all odds according to conventional warfare. Imagine, 300 men of Israel (Judg 7:8) were victorious over the vast army of the Midianites, the Amalekites and the people of the East – with men like “locusts in abundance” and camels “without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance” (Judg 7:12)! Indeed, God’s ways are beyond all human wisdom!Brothers and sisters, let us seek to discern the hand of the Sovereign Lord in our lives. In our successes, may we not be prideful to think that it was our own actions alone that wrought us victory or delivered us out of trouble. Instead, let us acknowledge God’s hand in our lives, for indeed He is our Deliverer in our past, present and future battles!