This is to be a workshop for interested 4th and 5th grade Sunday schoolers
Oral Interpretation or Declamation can show effectively another author's perspective.
Oral Interpretation and Declamation are based on studying and speaking effectively what has already been written.
All this below showcases a study and delivery of Biblical passages. But these tools of study and performance can just as easily be used with any literature. First, however, before the voice and specific texts are even considered, it is important to focus on one of the most important features, especially in story, that is overlooked: THE EYES:
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Focal points are a great technique for storytelling before a small or a large audience. While a staged play uses the "fourth wall" idea where an actor imagines a wall in front of the audience so that there is no direct eye contact, oral interp or readers' theatre uses the focal point which is just above or way above the heads of audience members. It is there the speaker sees either characters or a scene. The perceptive audience member will recognize a convention is being used and can better "see" the scene and the characters.
Simply looking down at the script puts the eyes downward, and this does not engage the audience and lessens facial expressiveness. Always looking up at the audience does not help an audience determine who is speaking and how. The choice to look at the audience for certain lines, like for times of narration, can be effective.
Take an example like a short story by Stephen Crane. In one passage of "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky," there are three speakers: the narrator, a Texas marshall, and a drunken, gun-toting adversary named "Scratchy." There is also the marshall's bride who is not named and stays, at times fearfully, at his side. This could be presented by one person where focal points would be very helpful to distinguish between speakers. It could also be presented by up to three additional people who could still use focal points.
1- Potter was about to raise a finger to point the first appearance of the new home to his bride
2- when, as they circled the corner, they came face to face with
3- a man who like lightning whipped a revolver from his holster. "Tried to sneak up on me," he said. "Tried to sneak up on me!"
1- As Potter made a slight movement,
3- the man thrust his revolver venomously forward. "No, don't you do it, Jack Potter. Don't you move a finger toward a gun just yet. The time has come for me to settle with you, and
I 'm goin' to do it my own way.
2- Potter looked at his enemy.
1-"I ain't got a gun on me, Scratchy," he said. You'll have to do all the shootin' yourself."
2- His enemy's face went livid.
3- He stepped forward and lashed his weapon to and fro before Potter's chest. "If you ain't got a gun, why ain't you got a gun?" he sneered. "Been to Sunday-school?"
1- "I ain't got a gun because I've just come from San Anton' with my wife. I 'm married," said Potter.
3-"Married!" said Scratchy,
2- not at all comprehending.
1- "Yes, married. I'm married," said Potter distinctly.
3- "Married?" said Scratchy.
2- Seemingly for the first time he saw the drooping, drowning woman at the other man's side.
3- "No!" he said.
2- He was like a creature allowed a glimpse of another world.
3- He moved a pace backward, and his arm with the revolver dropped to his side.
3- "Is this the lady?" he asked.
1- "Yes, this is the lady," answered Potter.
2- There was another period of silence.
3- "Well," said Scatchy at last, slowly, "I s'pose it's all off now."
1- "It's all off if you say so, Scratchy. You know I didn't make the trouble."
3- "Well, I 'low it's off, " said Scratchy. "Married!" He placed his revolver in its holster and walked away.
Scripture: Hollywood Hype or Spiritual Power?
Exodus 4:10 (Moses): “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
(The Lord): “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
( Moses): “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
(The Lord, His anger burning): “What about your
brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him."
If one person were to do all three speakers, #1 to the right could be Potter just above the audience's heads, #2 as the eye witness narrator could look straight ahead with eye contact, and #3 to the left could be Scratchy.
There are alternatives, but the aim would be making the characters real.
Now, let's leave the Wild West behind, and go to some Biblical times.
Actor Charleston Heston as Moses, with jutting jaw, manly physique, and, especially, that booming voice, always seemed eloquent and confident. Not the fearful speaker portrayed in this scripture!
Moses was a work in progress and progressed, with God's help, to became "powerful in speech and action," as Stephen said in addressing the Sanhedrin boldly in Acts 7:22.
Oral Interp can be used on any literature. If applied to the Bible, it can be used with boldness and not boredom. The Bible in content has these three main categories: stories, 43%; poetry, 33%, and prose that includes sermons and letters, 24%.
Oral Interp starts with the who, what, when, where, why and how for a text and applies techniques for expressiveness. This can be for reader's theatre, reading from the pulpit, or just solo reading aloud.
Here below are samples of texts that could be read aloud in assigned parts. Some Bible passages are powerful when read with multiple speakers. There is also great poetry based on the Bible, like "God's Trombones." "I Won't Shut Up!" is a sermon ripe for a declamation.
Scripture: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Daniel 3:1-29 Narrator, Herald, Astrologers, King, SMA, King’s Men: these are the six roles
Narrator: King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, set it up in the province of Babylon, and then summoned all the provincial officials to come to its dedication. Then the herald loudly proclaimed,
(Herald): “Nations and peoples of every language, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”
Narrator: As soon as they heard the sound of the horn they all fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 At this time some astrologers[b] came forward and denounced the Jews.
(Astrologers): “Some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego— pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Narrator: Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and said to them,
(King): “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
Narrator: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied,
(SMA): “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Narrator: Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious . . . (and) ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers,
(King): “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
(King’s men): “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
(King): “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Narrator: Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted,
(King): “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
Narrator: So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and all the governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said,
(King): “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
For the text below, Who wrote it and Where and When is not entirely clear. One source attributes it to papers left behind by an African pastor in Zimbabwe. One source is Erwin Lutzer. Where Do We Go From Here? Chicago: Moody Press, 2013. Another cites this as a contribution of Dr. Nina Gunter who got it from veteran missionary Louise Robinson Chapman.
One source says it was copied from one of Chuck Swindoll’s books. Another source says it was from a young man in Rwanda.
The How and Why is more clear. It seems this author was martyred. He, apparently, was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face certain death, and, for refusing to renounce Christ, he was killed.
What is very clear is that this story made the rounds on the internet and in sermons shared the world over.
I Won't Shut Up!
I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made.
I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure.
I'm done and finished with low-living, sight-walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity.
I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded.
I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.
My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.
I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!
Just What Is the "Humbly" Part of Humbly Bold?
When reading verses, focus on specific parts with the Four P's to emphasize the meaning:
Micah 6:8 He has shown you what is good. What does God require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Proverbs 29:23 Pride ends in a fall, while humility brings honor.
1 Peter 5:10 After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you.
Phillipians 2:5-11 Think as Christ Jesus thought. 6 Jesus has always been as God is. But He did not hold to His rights as God. 7 He put aside everything that belonged to Him and made Himself the same as a servant who is owned by someone.
8 After He became a man, He gave up His important place and obeyed by dying on a cross. 9 Because of this, God lifted Jesus high above everything else. He gave Him a name that is greater than any other name.
10 So when the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow down before Him. 11 And every tongue will say Jesus Christ is Lord. Everyone will give honor to God the Father.
Here's a sermon/declamation on the same theme as the scripture:
“ 'Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.' Numbers 12:3, Despite being humble, when God sent him to the pharaoh to deliver His message, he was as bold as a lion and refused to back down.
"Young David, the shepherd, humbly obeyed his father and quietly tended the sheep every day, yet he boldly went up against Goliath.
"Jesus, the picture of humility, showed boldness when He did things that weren’t accepted or politically correct for the times, like eating with sinners, healing lepers, and speaking directly with women.
"After Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit made His once-cowardly apostles so bold that not even the threat of death could stop them from speaking out.
"Humility and boldness seem like they’re at the opposite ends of the personality spectrum, yet the Bible deliberately juxtaposes these words. Going by the world’s standards, it’s impossible to be humble and bold at the same time. Yet, we see how Christ teaches us to do this. When we follow His example, this powerful and godly combination can change the world
"The world will probably mistake godly humility for pride and arrogance because most people aren’t familiar with the promises God makes to His people. When we believe what He says about us, a godly boldness will shine through. Apart from Christ, we’re no different than any other imperfect person, but His Word transforms us by faith.
"This may generate resentment from some people who don’t have the understanding or wisdom to discern the Scriptures. They may think humility means being a doormat for others, and boldness means being rude and ill-mannered. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus, the very One Who humbled Himself to the point of washing others’ feet and dying on a cross, makes us bold."
https://www.worldchangers.org/Bible-Study/ Articles/Humble-Boldness-is-Powerful-and-Godly
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given to us the Spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Acts 4:13 - Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Hebrews 13:6 - So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
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Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Proverbs 28:1 - The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
John 5:14 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.
Old Spiritual Sermons Recorded in Verse
by James Weldon Johnson
James Weldon Johnson was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920's. In God's Trombones, inspirational sermons of African American preachers are re-imagined as poetry. His collection includes "The Creation, " "The Prodigal son," "Noah Built the Ark," "The Judgment Day," "Let My People Go," and what is given on the left below, "The Crucifixion."
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Jesus, my gentle Jesus,
Walking in the dark of the Garden --
The Garden of Gethsemane,
Saying to the three disciples:
Sorrow is in my soul --
Even unto death;
Tarry ye here a little while,
And watch with me.
Jesus, my burdened Jesus,
Praying in the dark of the Garden --
The Garden of Gethsemane.
Saying:
Father,
Oh, Father,
This bitter cup,
Let it pass from me.
Jesus, my sorrowing Jesus,
The sweat like drops of blood upon his
brow,
Talking with his Father,
While the three disciples slept,
Saying:
Father,
Oh, Father,
Not as I will,
Not as I will,
But let thy will be done.
Oh, look at black-hearted Judas --
Sneaking through the dark of the
Garden --
Leading his crucifying mob.
Oh, God!
Strike him down!
Why don't you strike him down,
Before he plants his traitor's kiss
Upon my Jesus' cheek?
And they take my blameless Jesus,
And they drag him to the Governor,
To the mighty Roman Governor.
Great Pilate seated in his hall,--
Great Pilate on his judgment seat,
Said: In this man I find no fault.
I find no fault in him.
And Pilate washed his hands.
But they cried out, saying:
Crucify him!--
Crucify him!--
Crucify him!--
His blood be on our heads.
And they beat my loving Jesus,
They spit on my precious Jesus;
They dressed him up in a purple robe,
They put a crown of thorns upon his
head,
And they pressed it down --
Oh, they pressed it down --
And they mocked my sweet King
Jesus.
Up Golgotha's rugged road
I see my Jesus go.
I see him sink beneath the load,
I see my drooping Jesus sink.
And then they laid hold on Simon,
Black Simon, yes, black Simon;
They put the cross on Simon,
And Simon bore the cross.
On Calvary, on Calvary,
They crucified my Jesus.
They nailed him to the cruel tree,
And the hammer!
The hammer!
The hammer!
Rang through Jerusalem's streets.
The hammer!
The hammer!
Rang through Jerusalem's streets.
Jesus, my lamb-like Jesus,
Shivering as the nails go through his hands;
Jesus, my lamb-like Jesus,
Shivering as the nails go through his feet.
Jesus, my darling Jesus,
Groaning as the Roman spear plunged
in his side;
Jesus, my darling Jesus,
Groaning as the blood came spurting
from his wound.
Oh, look how they done my Jesus.
Mary,
Weeping Mary,
Sees her poor little Jesus on the cross.
Mary,
Weeping Mary,
Sees her sweet, baby Jesus on the cruel
cross,
Hanging between two thieves.
Then Jesus said,
“Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.” ***
And they divided His garments and
cast lots.
And Jesus, my lonesome Jesus,
Called out once more to his Father,
Saying:
"My God,
My God,
Why hast thou forsaken me?"
And he drooped his head and died.
And the veil of the temple was split in two,
The midday sun refused to shine,
The thunder rumbled and the lightning wrote
An unknown language in the sky.
What a day! Lord, what a day!
When my blessed Jesus died.
Oh, I tremble, yes, I tremble,
It causes me to tremble, tremble,
When I think how Jesus died;
Died on the steeps of Calvary,
How Jesus died for sinners,
Sinners like you and me.
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James Weldon Johnson said, “ I remember hearing in my boyhood sermons that were current, sermons that passed with only slight modifications from preacher to preacher and from locality to locality.”
On one occasion he remembers a black preacher that “stepped out from behind the pulpit and began to preach. He started intoning the old folk-sermon that begins with the creation of the world and ends with Judgment Day. He was at once a changed man, free, at ease and masterful. The change in the congregation was instantaneous. An electric current ran through the crowd. It was in a moment alive and quivering; and all the while the preacher held it in the palm of his hand.
"He was wonderful in the way he employed his conscious and unconscious art. He strode the pulpit up and down in what was actually a very rhythmic dance, and he brought into play the full gamut of his wonderful voice, a voice -- what shall I say? -- not of an organ or a trumpet, but rather of a trombone, the instrument possessing above all others the power to express the wide and varied range of emotions encompassed by the human voice -- and with greater amplitude."
These lyrics below are inspired by Ezekiel 37:1–14 and James Weldon Johnson’s version of them, where the prophet Ezekiel visits the "Valley of Dry Bones" and prophesizes that they will one day be resurrected at God's command. This is a prophecy of the Jews' return from captivity in Babylon to their own land.
The Spirit of the Lord sent Ezekiel
into the Valley of Dry Bones.
“Prophesy to these bones,” the Lord said.
Just as the Lord commanded, Ezekiel prophesized.
Then, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.
Well, your toe bone connected to your foot bone
Your foot bone connected to your heel bone
Your heel bone connected to your ankle bone
Your ankle bone connected to your leg bone.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Your leg bone connected to your knee bone
Your knee bone connected to your thigh bone
Your thigh bone connected to your hip bone
Your hip bone connected to your back bone.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Your back bone connected to your shoulder bone
Your shoulder bone connected to your neck bone
Your neck bone connected to your head bone.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
And I feel Old Earth a-shuddering --
And I see the graves a-bursting --
And I hear a sound,
A blood-chilling sound.
What sound is that I hear?
It's the clicking together of the dry bones,
Bone to bone -- the dry bones.
And I see coming out of the bursting graves,
And marching up from the valley of death,
The army of the dead.
And the living and the dead in the twinkling of an eye Are caught up in the middle of the air,
Before God's judgment bar.
Oh-o-oh, sinner,
Where will you stand,
In that great day when God's a-going to rain down fire?
What is the Purpose of
Oral Interpretation in a class?
It Is NOT to
Declare Theology
but to Practice Technique
James Weldon Johnson in "Judgment Day" takes the imagery of the dry bones as a prophecy not just to the Jews returning to their homeland but to all people in a resurrection at the last day. This use of dry bones is excerpted in that poem below. These "bones" below make for some powerful imagery that lends itself well to practicing delivery techniques, just as the more comical bones above. But pushing this specific dogma below falls outside the scope of the workshop.
That Christ was crucified and arose on the third day establishes for Christians the faith that they, too, will be resurrected, but just how that will happen is not a revelation this workshop will explore. There will be considerations with the literature that is used. For instance, "The Crucifixion" poem did not include the *** verse from Luke 23:34 on forgiveness, but it is an important addition for this workshop.
A Prime Part of Vocal Expressiveness
Comes from Variety in the 4 P's:
Pacing, Power, Pitch, and Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not simply articulation or enunciation. 'It is the choice of emphasis put on the syllables of a word, a choice made with variety of pacing, power, and pitch.
Pacing is the speed given a word or phrase. If you speak only rapidly, you lack emphasis. Also, don't forget the power of pause.
Power is volume changes. What is louder usually gives emphasis. And remember the use of the stage whisper, the muted sound that draws attention.
Pitch is the musical scale of tones. A monotone is easily recognized. But a sing-song is equally discouraged as a predictable pattern. As with all the P's, variety is encouraged.
Oral Interp Requires a Full Study of What a Text Is Saying
The below Pentad, or five=part study, considers the what (the action), the when and where (setting), the why (purpose) and the how (special expressiveness needing emphasis). Finally, the who is defined as the characteristics in four realms: physical , social, psychologica, and moral for the speakers.
Who- Little is known about the authors or compilers of this scripture below, Judges 6:1-22, but as all scripture, it is truth breathed into a human author by the Holy Spirit. Deborah, Samson, and Gideon are the best known of the 12 judges for this period from the end of Joshua’s leadership about 1400 BC to the beginning of Samuel’s in 1075 BC.
One commentary says this period had a pattern of peace when obeying God and then punishment of a neighboring nation ruling over them when they began idol worship and other disobedience, followed by a repentance of Israel, God’s forgiveness, and then the sending of a judge to conquer the occupying ruler. Judge Deborah is credited (by the New Living Translation Study Bible) with writing chapter five that precedes the chapters of Gideon, and Deborah’s poem is believed to be one of the most ancient of Hebrew poems, an account of the victorious battle that resulted in 40 years of peace.
Our passage, taken from Judges 6:1-21, has four speakers: an objective third-person narrator, a prophet of the Lord, an angel of the Lord, and Gideon. The narrator in performance could make eye contact with the audience. Separate focal points could be used by the other three speakers. The prophet and the angel would take an omniscient stance. Gideon here feels inadequate and is full of excuses.
Gideon doubts his calling, saying in 6:16 that tribe is the weakest of the 12 and he is the least in his family. As a farmer he's just had to show his fearfulness in threshing wheat in a winepress to avoid detection by the
swarming Midianites. He wants as an Israelite to avoid responsibility for not listening to God by worshipping idols, the charge the prophet empathetically made and to avoid the mantle of "mighty warrior" which the Lord's angel has said he is to become.
What- the action is having the angel announce the Lord's plan of using Gideon as a conquering judge and prove to Gideon, despite his great doubts and insistence on a sign, that the Lord will empower him
When and Where- all but the meal gathering happens under an oak tree.
Why- it is shown that Gideon needs much convincing as he asks for signs again after this passage. It is also shown that he is very cautious in following the first task given him after this passage. But it is shown that this caution is really a strength, as the Lord has him choose his warriors that are also cautious.
How- We've read ahead for verification, but let's now focus on the shorter passage and emphazize the fear and contrast that with the sense of righteousness and power, first in the prophet and then the angel. "Go in the strength you have," the angel encourages.
(Intro to passage and then divide the focal points for Judges 6:1-22.)
N: The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. . . . Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites invaded the country . . .and ruined the crops . . .and came up with their litents like swarms of locusts.
When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said,
P: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
N: The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash , where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said,
A: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
G: “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
N: The Lord turned to him and said,
A: “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of
Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
G: “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
N: The Lord answered,
A: “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
G: Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”
N: And the Lord said,
A: “I will wait until you return.”
N: Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah[a] of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.
The angel of God said to him,
A:“Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.”
N: Gideon did so. Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fir flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed,
G: “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”
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