What does Judges 6:17 Mean?

Context Summary

God is not content with sending a prophet to condemn our sins; He commissions an angel to bring help. Surely there is truth in the old belief that the Angel-Jehovah, designated here, was our Lord, whose delights were ever with the sons of men. Compare Isaiah 63:9 and Acts 7:30 with Exodus 3:2; Exodus 3:6. He still comes to us, not visibly to the eye, but sensibly to the heart. There is a peculiar burning at the heart, which those who love Him understand, when He manifests Himself to them as not to the world. See Luke 24:32 and John 14:21

Gideon was the youngest son of a poor family, which had suffered greatly at the hands of Midian. See Judges 8:18. He was compelled to thresh his wheat in the wine-press, below the surface of the ground, lest the Midianites should descend on it and carry it off. He seemed the least likely to be the chosen deliverer. But remember the Apostle's words, 1 Corinthians 1:26. There is a might that no human valor can impart; it is that which is communicated directly from Christ, as in Judges 6:14. And when Jesus looks and speaks, the young soul that stands in all humility before Him knows that it can do all things through Him who strengthens, Philippians 4:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 6

¹  The Israelites for their sin are oppressed by Midian
⁸  A prophet rebukes them
¹¹  An angel sends Gideon for their deliverance
¹⁷  Gideon's present is consumed with fire
²⁴  Gideon destroys Baal's altar; offers a sacrifice upon the altar Jehovah-shalom
²⁸  Joash defends his son, and calls him Jerubbaal
³³  Gideon's army
³⁶  Gideon's signs