The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-10-10

against me, saying, mine own hand hath
saved me-"
Permission was, therefore, given for all
that were fearful to depart from Mount
Gilead; and twenty-five thousand retired.
The ten thousand remaining were reduced
to three hundred by n unique test OF
water drinking.
"Everyone that lappeth with his tongue
as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by
| himself"
And so Gideon was insured by the Lord
that with the three hundred picked men
the Midianites should DO delivered nto
his hands. To give him still greater
confidence he was directed to go with his
servant Phurah at night within the lines
Of the Midianites and the A~malekites,
who lay along the valley like grass
hopperh for multitude.
While there he overheard n man telling
his dream to his fellow contradict; and the
Interpretation given to the dream about a
cake OF barley, was conclusive evidence
to Gideon that the host OF indian was to
be Immediately delivered into his hands.
So he worshipped there on the spot, and
w MS Pithtu uuuu " tuItt
hundred and issued his orders for an
immediate attack.
"He divided the three hundred into
three c. mpanies, and he put a trumpet
into every mans hand, with empty
pitchers and lamps within the pitchers"
lie then directed them that they should
watch him and every man DO Just as he
did.
THE OUTSET.
And with this strange and unheard OF
equipment for soldiers these brave men,
as brave as the siX hundred at Balaklava
or the three hundred at T~hermopylae,
dashed into the ranks and scattered
themselves throughout the host of the
enemy shouting:
"The sword Of the Lord and OF Gideon"
And as they shouted they blew their
-trumpets and brake the pitchers, whirl-
ing the lamps in their left hands.
Sand all the hosts ran, and cried, and
fled; and the Lord set every mans sword
against his fellow, even throughout all
the host"
The strategem OF Gideon was simple,
but well calculated to carry confusion
and terror to the enemy. The panic was
general, each man taking his neighbor
for an enemy in the darkness Of the
night, they slew each other, and before
they reached the lords OF the Jordan were
so utterly aunihilated that they do not
again reappear on the pages OF history.
The memory of this splendid deliver
ance took deep root in the national ira
ditions. l SAM. 1911, Ps. s-3:11, Is. ga,
Heb. IL 80.
After this there was a pence OF forty
years, and we see Gideon in peaceful
possession OF HIS well-earned honors, and
surrounded by the dignity of a numerous
household, albeit, according to the GUS
tom Of his times. he was a ~polygamist
with three score and ten sons. In per-
sonal appearance he was of princely
bearing. Gap. S:lS) and like Saul,
doubtless, owed much OF his popularity
to this fact. He was the fifth OF the
judges, and perhaps the greatest OF them
all. He died in good old age and was
buried in the sepulchre OF his father at
Ophrah.
PRACTICAL LESSONS.
1. Like Cincinnatus at his farm, and
David among his sheep, and Cromwell in
the fats OF L-untiugdonshjre and Wash
ington on his farm ia Virginia, Gideon
was quietly doing his humble task, not
wishing or dreaming Of a more conspic-
uous work, when the came
to him, the divine voice that dragged
him from peaceful privacy and thrust
him to the front. So God ever chooses
fitting instruments ior his work. MA
%claren.l
2. Distrustiul OF his own ability
Gideon wanted to be sure that he was
called to his work. True faith wants a
sure foundation on which to stand.
3. Though the implements that Gideon
and his men carried were perfectly harm
less, yet they were well adapted for the
purpose intended to produce a panic. So
reliance on God is not inconsistent with
a care for the best possible means OF
doing our work for him.
4. In the Christian warfare the trum.
pets express power OF speaking for
God. The lamps are our character and
examples, lighted by Gods grace, and
shining for men; and the pitchers repre-
sent our capacity OF receiving the truth
and the spirit OF God. Thus armed, the
Christian can enter upon the warfare
against evil with the certainty Of victory.