In Judges, chapter six, verse thirty-four, the verb “came upon” Gideon, which means “to put on, clothe.” God’s Spirit filled Gideon so that Gideon was the clothes, and the Spirit within him moved to equip him to serve God’s people. Therefore, Gideon went forth in the power of the Spirit. A remarkable thing happened when God first called Gideon: he was hiding from the enemy in Judges six, eleven through twelve. His first response to the Lord’s call was a request for a miraculous confirmation, as in Judges six verse seventeen.
Gideon describes himself as the least of his father’s household and from the weakest of the clans of his tribe in verse fifteen of the same chapter. Implied in this analysis was an assumption that no one would ever want to follow him into battle. However, the Lord responded that He would be with Gideon in Judge’s verse sixteen of chapter six.
Now the Lord comes to Gideon in an undeniably powerful way. The Holy Spirit surrounds and empowers Gideon: the text symbolically depicts this as being like clothing. The power of God comes to rest in and on Gideon in the form of God’s own Spirit. The evidence of this, to Gideon and everyone else, is that when lowly, timid, controversial Gideon in Judges six, verse twenty-nine, sound the trumpet to battle invading Midianites. Everyone follows.
First, this begins with the people of his clan, the Abiezrites. These people called for the killing of Gideon in the previous verses. Now the Abiezrites come to fight by his side. It’s possible he gained their respect when he boldly tore down the Baal altar, but it’s also likely the Lord’s Spirit is at work through Gideon. This sudden enthusiasm is contagious. Other tribes will follow suit in Judges six thirty-five. The experience of having the Spirit come upon and live in a person is the promise to all who believe in Jesus Christ.