Matthew Henry Commentary Judges 7:1-8

"Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Harod: and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. So he brought down the people unto the water: and Jehovah said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. And Jehovah said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand; and let all the people go every man unto his place. So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the men of Israel every man unto his tent, but retained the three hundred men: and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley." — Judges 7:1-8 (ASV)

God provides that the praise of victory may be entirely His, by appointing only three hundred men to be employed. Activity and prudence accompany dependence upon God for help in our lawful undertakings. When the Lord sees that people would overlook Him, and through unbelief, would shrink from perilous tasks, or that through pride they would boast against Him, He will set them aside and do His work through other instruments.

Many will find pretenses for deserting the cause and escaping the cross. But though a religious community may thus be reduced in numbers, it will gain in purity and can expect an increased blessing from the Lord. God chooses to employ those who are not only well-disposed, but zealous in a good thing.

They did not begrudge the freedom of the others who were dismissed. In performing the duties God requires, we must not pay attention to the eagerness or reluctance of others, nor what they do, but what God expects from us. It is a rare person who can endure others excelling him in gifts, blessings, or freedom; so we may say, it is by God's special grace that we pay attention to what God says to us, and not to what people do.