Judges 8-9

Gideon's life is an interesting one, it begins with a fearful man to whom God appears, faithful destruction of the altar of Baal, valiant routing of the Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb, retaliation against the men of Succoth and slaughter of the men of Penuel, and finally the crafting of a 42 lb. gold ephod which he set up in his city of Ophrah and became the downfall of Gideon's family and the false worship of Israel. Gideon did not finish well, his story began with God himself appearing and giving him strength and the Midianites into Gideon's hand, after subduing them there was quiet in the land for 40 years. Though there was no oppressive hand of slavery or bondage by the hand of other nations or people, the Israelites were held captive to idolatry and the worship of Gideon's golden ephod and after he dies the Israelites turn from YAHWEH to serve and worship Baal-Berith. 

Gideon before he died had many wives and concubines resulting in 70 sons, one of his concubines resided in Shechem which has a fascinating history back in the days of Abraham, Jacob and his sons, most notably the incident with the rape of Jacobs daughter Dinah and the Shechem the son of Hamor. In short Gideon's son Abimelech murders all of his brothers except one who escapes and pronounces a curse which eventually after the downfall and death of Abimelech returns to the men of Shechem. There seems to be a stronghold or a spiritual principality over the city and men of Shechem, it is most notably understood in the following passages:

Judges 9:22-23,57 (NKJV) "After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of [Gideon]."

The simplest takeaway from this tragic story is to remain faithful in devotion to the LORD, don't become distracted with things on the left and right which pull my eyes to worthless things like fear, pride, selfishness and violence. Worship YAHWEH alone. I must believe that YAHWEH is the God of all gods and refuse to worship/serve all other gods, this is the foundation of salvation and is consistent in both the old and new testaments. O LORD I choose to humble my heart before you and keep my eyes only on you, strengthen me in my faithfulness and zeal for you and you alone. 

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