Lord of hosts,
You commanded Israel to take vengeance on Midian,
for they had seduced Your people to idolatry,
spreading death through deceit.
The battle was not theirs alone,
but Yours
a judgment against sin,
a warning against compromise,
a call to holiness.
O God, I tremble at this.
For sin still wages war in me.
It whispers like Midian’s daughters,
offering pleasure that poisons,
comfort that kills.
Deliver me, Lord,
from every secret alliance with sin.
Make me ruthless with compromise,
not sparing what corrupts my soul.
Teach me that holiness requires courage,
that purity demands surrender.
Israel returned victorious,
but not without loss,
not without blood.
They brought back spoil and captives,
and You gave commands
to purify what was taken.
Even gold and garments passed through fire and water
before they could be used.
Lord, refine me as well.
Pass me through the fire of trial,
the washing of Your Word,
until what remains is pure.
Burn away the dross,
cleanse what is stained,
so that all of me may be fit for Your service.
You divided the spoils
half for the warriors,
half for the congregation,
a portion for the priests,
a portion for the Levites.
Nothing was wasted,
nothing overlooked.
Even the smallest tribute
was set apart for You.
O God, teach me stewardship like this.
All I have comes from Your hand.
All belongs to You.
Help me to hold loosely what is mine,
to share freely,
to give gladly,
to remember that victory is Yours,
and so is the increase.
At the end, the officers brought an offering
gold from their hands,
a memorial before You,
because not one soldier was lost.
What mercy!
What grace!
So too, Lord, let gratitude rise from my heart.
How many battles have I fought,
yet You preserved me?
How many dangers unseen,
yet You spared my life?
Let me never forget to bring thanks,
to lay down gifts,
to honor the God
who delivers without loss.
So here I stand, Lord
a soldier in Your service,
a steward of Your gifts,
a sinner saved by grace.
Purify me,
provide for me,
preserve me.
And let my life be an offering of thanks
to the One who wins every battle.
In the name of Jesus,
the Captain of salvation,
Amen.