Objects of Compassion

"Nevertheless He looked upon their distress when He heard their cry;
And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.
He also made them objects of compassion
In the presence of all their captors."  - Psalm 106:23

The story of Gideon is fascinating.  His people were being oppressed and their land plundered by the neighboring Midianites.  Gideon was an Israelite.  The Israelites' land was being burned by neighboring nations who would war against them together.  Israelites were driven into the caves.  Gideon was the youngest son of the smallest family in an insignificant tribe - Manasseh was referred to as the "half-tribe" because of their failure to complete God's commands to them previously.

The angel of the LORD appears to Gideon and tells him "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior."  God then proceeds to tell Gideon to tear down his father's altar, which had been set up to a foreign god who was being worshipped by all the men in his town, and replace it with an altar to Yahweh.

God looks with compassion on His people despite their sin.  The story of Psalm 106 refers repeatedly to their rebellion and lack of trust in Him.  The story of Gideon is a part of that.  While the people were worshipping other gods they were being oppressed by their enemies, on the brink of disappearing amongst the tide of the nations.  But God showed up with compassion, and with Him anything is possible.