The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-11-29
o,peon.s ARMY.



LESSON TrxT-Judg. 7n-S
GOLDEN TExT-Not by might, nor by pow
er, but by Ny spirit, saith the Lord Of hosts.
---Zcch. 4:6.
CENTRAL TgUTn-God can give tlle vic
tory to the fewest numbers and the feeblest
instrumentalitics.
TrME-About B. C. 1920. Two hundred
years after our last lesson. Gideon was
judge from b. G. 1922-l1s2
PLAcE-Gideon's homo was in Ophrah, in
Manassch. Tho battle was fought IN the
valley ut tho foot of Mt. Gilboa. fifteen or
twenty miles southwest Of the sea Of Gal
ilee.
GIDEON feller of tree) wns son Of Joash
the Abiezrite u. c., descendant OF Abiezcr).
He was born at Ophrah. in the tribe of Man.
usseh, about 1900 years before Christ. He
judged Israel for forty years Judg. S:2s),
and the nation enjoyed peace and prosperity
under his rule, and worshipcd the true
God. He was one Of the greatest Of the
judges.
The MiDIAYITEs-Descend Of Abra-
ham through the fourth son of his wife
Koturah. They lived east Of the Jordan on
the Dead Sea.
INTERVENING EvESTs-l. The oppression
Of Chushan-R Rishathaim during the last days
Of Joshua, eight years. BIC. l435-1427.
q 1st Judge, Othnicl, forty years. BIC.
1421-13s7.
g. Oppression by Moabites, eighteen years.
d. c. 13ST-13G9.
Delivcrance by Ehud. I'd Judge, rest
for eighty years. BE- l360-i2s0.
8. 3d Judge, Shamgar.
g. Oppression by Jabin and Siscra, twenty
years. BIC. 12s0-l269.
T. Deliverance by Deborah and BaralS,
4th Judge, rest for forty years. BIC. 1903
1929.
s Oppression by Midianitcs, seven years.
BIC. 1229-1222.
0. Deliverance by Gideon, 5th Judge, and
rest for forty years. BIC. 1222-11S2.
INTRoDUcTIoN-Two hundred years have
passed since the death Of Joshua. Tho
Northern tribes have now been suffering for
seven years under the depredations Of the
Midianites, who have carried away their
cattle and destroyed their harvests. To
days lesson gives an account of the deliv-
erance God sent them when they repented.
HELPS OVER HARD PLAcEs--1. Jcrubbddl:
i.e., one who contends against Baal Gideon
was so named from his casting down Baals
altar. (See Judg. 6:4-32.) Herod =. Moreh'
| O fountain and hill in the valley of Jcz-
reel, at the base of Mt. Gilboa 3. Whose
eper :. afraid. at the sight of the multi
| tude OF the Midianites 8. Ldppc'h: brought
| the water to his mouth in his hand without
stopping in his march, showing earnestness
and activity and prudence, as not putting
himself in the power Of the enemy by lying
down. s. Tt1impets: each of the three hun
dred had torch, which he hid in pitcher
as dark lantern, and u trumpet which was
usually in the hands only of leaders, so
that thcro seemed to be three hundred
chieftains. The blaro of the trumpets and
the crash of pitchers confused the INDIAN.
ties. (Sec tho rest of tho chaptcr)
CoMMENTs-Two hundred years 10 long
time; yet from the death Of Joshua to the
events Of this lesson, two centuries had
stretched their length. During this time
| God had moro than once called t.ic nation
back to its allegiance to Him, and delivered
them from their enemies. But they had
again lapscd into idolatry, and in cousc-
quenco had been oppressed solely by tho
Midianites and Amalekites from the east OF
Jordan. Then (Judges G:6) they cried unto
the Lord, and He graciously raised up Gid
con to be their delivcrer. After his call by
God, Gideon gathered his army of only thir-
ty-two thousand men. At last Gideon had
only beggarly army Of three hundred men
left. God encouraged Gideon's faith by
sending him down by night stealthily into
the camp Of indian, where he overheard
ono of the Mdianitcs telling his comrade a
dream typical Of the overthrow Of the host
Of Midian by u very small force Of assail.
ants. Encouraged by tins experience, Gid
con returned to his small army and chcered
them for the fray He divided his army
into three companies, and, making mid
night assault, overthrow the hosts Of Midian
in spite Of their overwhelming numbers.
This proves to us, over and over again,
| - H-.A -. n~I n 4
mentary on the verse: "rhis is the victory
It was q lesson learned by Israel with
great difficulty and easily forgotten. The
church Of Jesus Christ has had tho same
experience from that day to this. She has
too often wanted to walk by sight. She
was not ready to march against tho foe
unless she had her full ranks of ut least
thirty-two thousand men to rely upon. So
too, with individual disciples. They arc
very brave when they are in q majority
But when they see their comrades melting
away, SO that they are IN danger Of stand
ing alone, their courage melts away also
AS soon as we have a Gideon in our spirit
ual army, we shall have Gideon's victo
ries. But while VIC depend spon an arm o.
flesh. and refuse to move forward without
it, VIC shall have nothing to record but spir
itual defeats.-Rer. A. r. Schdu1ler.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. God raises up great heroes and leaders
from the most obscure families.
O. BY doing the duties near at hand we
are prepared for our future work.
8. Gods army needs courage, quicl,nest
and prudence.
A. Our character is revealed in our mos,
trivial actions.
3. Never bo discouraged because your
numbers arc small and your means feeble
"One with God is o majority"
Q. God aids and strengthens the faith o.
His soldiers.