“And he divided the three hundred men into three companies and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. And the three companies blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal; and they cried, ‘The sword of the Lord and Gideon.'” (Judges 7:16, 20)
This wonderful and familiar portion of God’s word is always a blessing. To see God work to bring victory in such a miraculous manner is really heartwarming. This experience of Gideon and his chosen men is full of applications to every believer. Of course, God is not going to actually and literally repeat this miracle to people today, however, there are still battles to be fought and victories to be won in our every day life.
There were certain simple instructions and requirements that God required of Gideon and his men. The ones we have considered for us to ponder is that the vessels were to be empty, except for the lamp or light on the inside. Also, later on they were to be broken and the lights to be held in their left hands.
Oftentimes a vessel must be emptied before it can be used for God’s purpose. What is it that fills a life to keep it from being used for the Lord? In Romans, chapter one, the natural man is described as:
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.” (Romans 1:29-31)
In general, we must be emptied of self and all that pertains to the old selfish, sinful nature, and that which precludes our being used by the Lord. Man must also be willing to empty himself of all “religious” philosophies and ceremonies that get in the way of service for the Lord. The apostle Paul said that he once had plenty of religion and described his position in the “Jews religion.” Then he exclaimed, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:4-7). When we are emptied of ourselves then the light of God can take its rightful place in the center of our lives.
Gideon was instructed to have the men “break” the pitchers. Why? There is a beautiful and appropriate verse of Scripture in Psalms 51:17 which reads:
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
We must be “broken” or gotten out of the way, so the Lord’s light can shine unhindered. Oftentimes we view every heartache, every reverse, every hard time, as necessary evils. However, as long as we put self first, pamper the flesh, and try to be entirely self-sufficient, God will have to break our habits, worldly wills, and general stubbornness before He can shine brightly into a dark world. In concise terms we have to become
Empty to serve — Broken to shine.
