How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.
Hebrews 11:32
What a fascinating verse! Made all the more fascinating because the list is virtually repeated in 1 Samuel.
“So GOD sent Jerub-Baal (Gideon), Bedan (Barak), Jephthah, and Samuel. He saved you from that hard life surrounded by enemies, and you lived in peace. [Message]
1 Samuel 12:11
Only Samson and David are not mentioned. The purpose of what the author had said was to save him time. If he were to tell the full story of the faith of these characters he would have run out of time. Notice the pattern of what we have in the list. The Judges are represented by Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah. The Kings are represented by David, the greatest of Israel’s kings. Samuel marks the transition to the Prophets since he was a prophet and a judge and the one who inaugurated the kings and represented the first of the prophets in that era.
The writer chose significant people to represent all the others he could have commented on. But he makes it clear to his readers that the story of these individuals would take too long to recount the stories of their faith. Their stories are long and include much detail. Not only that, but ‘you know them well’. In other words, “I don’t have to retell their stories, do I”? It is therefore interesting that four out of these six names are found in Samuel’s summary in the verse above. It is significant that these same men were used by Samuel as iconic people to sum up an era. They are of course highly significant. The two who were omitted from Samuel’s list are key Old Testament figures and well known. His readers were very familiar with these figures and knew their stories well.
Now you understand why the author has phrased this section as he has. I am sure you are already a step ahead of me and have realised that the following two verses are a brief overview of all these aforementioned six heroes accomplished by faith.
These people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.
Hebrews 11:33-34
All the others who are not mentioned exemplify the same kind of faith for they are all examples of the same God-given-faith. I am not going to take the same approach as the writer of Hebrews. “What more do I need to say then. . .” Firstly, I am not writing for Jewish Christians who have the stories memorised. Secondly, I am writing for people of the 21st Century who have grown up in Gentile cultures which don’t prioritise any of the above stories. So with all of the above in mind, I will work my way through each of these six people mentioned above one by one, beginning with Gideon in the following Gem. We will continue our investigation into what it means to live ‘by faith’ by continuing with this second set of people. Don’t worry I am not going to work my way through all the prophets as well; just those listed.
I trust that you have realised by now that the writer of Hebrews serves up his examples in batches. If you haven’t notice that yet pay careful attention. Take note of one more thing. The names of these judges, one king and a prophet are not in the biblical order. They are switched in pairs. Gideon is placed before Barak, Samson before Jephthah and David before Samuel. Now that too is curious. What more can I say? We need to keep our wits about us.
What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign LORD.
2 Samuel 7:20
All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honoured me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?
2 Samuel 19:28
What more can I say to you about the way you have honoured me? You know what your servant is really like.
1 Chronicles 17:18
I could go on and on, but I’ve run out of time. There are so many more—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets. . . .
Hebrews 11:32