The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-09
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 13.
Lesson Text: sThe Triumph Of Cid
CON-" Judges vii., 13-23-Gold-
en- Text: Psalm xvii,
documentary.

13. "And when Gideon was come, behold
there WAS man that told adream unto his
fellow" Gideon had been called and en-
couraged by the Lord to deliver Israel from
the Midianites, their oppressors. his princi-
pal strength being the Lords assurance:
"Have not sent thee? Surely will be with
thee" (chapter vi. IA. 49,. The Lord, how
ever, gave him three signs to strengthen him
vet further-the meat Offering, accepted by
fire, the fleece wet and the fleece dry. After
sitting the army of $4,000 down to 300 by
sending home all the fearful ones (22,O00).
and out Of the remainder all that loved their
own ease (9700). He still further strengthens
him by sending him down to the Midianite
host by night to hear what they talked about
In the camp. Just as Gideon came to the
camp one soldier was telling another thls
dream. The dream WAS evidently from the
Lord, and also the telling OF it at this time
"A. "This Is nothing else save the sword OF
Gideon, the son Of Joash, man of Israel,
for into his hand hath God delivered indian,
and all the host" The heinterpretation of this
dream by the soldier was also OF the Lord as
surely "a were the interpretations by Joseph
and Daniel. This does not prove, however, that
the Midiauite soldier was a man OF God, for
the Lord used the mouth of Balaam, and
also the mouth of the ass on which he rode,
to utter His messages.
IT, .'Arise, for the Lord hath delivered
into your hand the host of INDIAN" Gideon
was so strengthened by this dream and its
Interpretation that he fastened at once back
to the camp OF Israel with these words.
Whatever God commands us to do He is
ready to do also, and when He asks US to do
what seems impossible 1t Is that we may see
our weakness and trust Him to perfect His
strength in our weakness. for He giveth
power to the faint, and to them that have no
might He increaseth strength.
16. "He put trumpet In every mans
hand. with empty pitchers, and torches
(margin) within the pitchers" Thus He
did with the three companies Of 100 each.
Three Is mighty number and makes US
think Of the Holy Trinity and also of resur-
rection. The trumpet is suggestive of testi-
mony in connection with atonement, for
both rams horns and silver speak OF atone
ment, and we overcome by the blood Of the
Lamb and the word Of our testimony ready
to lay down our liyes for Him (Rev. xiii, 11).
Tho torch Is suggestive OF a constant life,
for "the life is the light" To be good
soldier Of Christ there must be good testi-
mony and consistent life.
II. .Look on to me and do likewise. As
do, 80 shall ye do" The secret of victory
is to see Jesus only (Msth: xviii, 8; Heb. xii.,
/, a. and follow Him fully, walking as he
walked I Pet. H., 21; John H., 81. 'Do as
have done unto you" was part Of His ad-
vice to His disciples (John Kill, 15, and
there is no .cct example but Himself We
MAXWELL say, "Who is sufficient for such a
liie?" But He answers. "My grace Is suf1-
cient for thee" sour suficiency Is Of God"
II Cor. H.. 16; ill.,, 5; xii, 81.
1s. "Blow ye the trumpet and say, The
sword OF the Lord and Of Gideon" The
sound from the mouth suggests the two
edged sword which proceeds from the mouth
(Rev. j.. 16), the word of God which Is
l2). the sword ofthe Spirit, which isthe word
OF God (Eph. vi, 17). This victory accom-
plished by the Lord through Gideon, Gideon's
part being simply that of visible and obe-
dent partner. 1t was 80 with all the
prophets, the word was the Lords, but the
mouth was the prophets, as In II Sam. xiii,
2; Jer. |. g. Even our Lord Jesus gives His
Father credit for all His words and works
(John xii, 40; XIV, 10Y.
19, 20. "And the three companies blew
the trumpets and brake the pitchers and
trumpets in their right hands to blow, and
they cried, The Sword OF the Lord and of
Gideon" I do not know just how they man
aged with two hands to accomplish these
three things all at once; but some day Gideon
will tell us how they did 1t IL we ask him.
The principal item in the story is their cry
and its results. The strength of my life and
its JOY and peace Is the partnership with Him
who does all the work. suggested by the
who worketh in us both to will and to do
(Phil. H.. 10; Heb. xiii, 2D. The Lord
could as easily have delivered Israel without
Gideon, but He saw fit to use Gideon. So
with us. We are none Of us essential to Him,
but He is willing to use US II we are willing
to be used by Him as He shall please.
81. "And they stood every man in his
place." believe from Eph. H., ~, that God
has u place and work for each Of His re-
deemed (see also Mark kill, 81: Math. XIV,
15), and that, as one has said, a Cody man
is Gods man in Gods place doing Gods
work in Gods wav for Gods glory. AS in
the tabernacle and temple, neither Moses nor
David nor Solomon had any say in the plans,
but received all from God and had only to
be obedient, so believe it should be in all
the work of the church and in the individual
life Of every believer. We have the promise
of thoughts, words, steps and actions. all
controlled by Him who says, "Behold make
all things new" Let our motto, then, be
"Not I. but Christ, who liveth in me, the
Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself
for me" (Gal H., 20).
% THE Lord SET every mans sword
against his fellow" So it was in Sam.
xiv, 20, and in II Chron. xx., %. In the
later case the people won't out praising the
Lord rs they went to the battle for the vic.
tory that the Lord was going to give them,
for they believed God. In the storm at sea
Paul was of good cheer because Of the de-
liverance promised, though there seemed,
humanity speaking. no possibility OF fdeliver-
ance, but he believed God (Acts xvii. 35).
1t is safe to keep right on as God directs and
trust Him to manage all our enemies, our
reputation and all else. 'Be not afraid.
Only believe"
2S. "And the men OF Israel gathered them-
selves together and pursued after
the Midianites." Those mentioned in this
verse were such as responded to Gideon's
first call for helpers wi, 35). Then in the
next verse we read that Ephraim came also.
See in chapter VIII, Is, how wisely Gideon
appeased their anger at not being called
earlier, and remember that "a soft answer
turneth away wrath" prov. xv., y. May
the fact that God sends rs and is with US be
our constant strength (chapter VII, 14-i6).-