The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1895-10-09
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER t3.
Lesson Text: "Thc Triumph Of Gid
CON-" Judges viii, t3-23-GoId-
Oh Text: Psalm xvii,
u Commentary.

\ ] J
49, "And when Gideon was come, behold
there .h, was man that told adrcnm unto his
oourayed by tho lord to deliver Israel from
tho A1idiantes, thoir oppressors, his princi-
rnl strength being tho Lords assurances:
lave not sent thee2 Surely I will be with
thco' (chapier VI, II, .16). The lord, how
ever, gnve him three signs to strengthen him
yet furthnr-tho meat offering, accepted by
,lre, tho fleece wet and the necco dry. After
sitting tho army Of 80, 900 down to $50 by
sending home all tho fearful ones $4,000.
md out Of Tho remainder all thnt loyGd their
own case (9700) He Still furtlot strrngthons
MN Dy sending him down to tho Midianits
most Dy night to hear what tlloy talked about
III the camp. Just MS Gideon camo TO the
eamp ona soldier was telling another this
cream rho dream WIS ovidcntly from the
lord, and also tho telling Of 1t ut this time.
"a. This is nothing else save the sword OF
Gideon. the son OF Joash, II man Of Isrnel.
Tor into his hund hath God delivered AIidian.
9nu all tho host. The Interpretation OF this
dream by the soldier WAS also Of tho Lord as
surely ms were tho interpretations by Joseph
nnd Daniel. This does not prove, however tiiut
tho Midinnite soldier wns u man Of Cod for
tho Lord uso,l the mouth Of J3alanm, and
also tho mouth OF thc ,.ss OH which no rode.
TO uttor His messages. '
10. arise, for tho Lord hath delivered
into your hand tho host Of Midian." Gideon
wlls so strengthened by this dream and IFS
interpretation that he fastened mt once back
to tho camp Of Israel with those wor,ls.
Whntever God commands ua to do He is
ready to do also, ind when IIo asks us 10 do
what seems impossible it is tlut we mny SEQ
our weakness md trust Him to perfect His
strength IN our weakness. for Iln giveth
power TO tho faint. nnd to them that hnye no
might He incrcaseth strength.
1G. "IIe put Il trumpet in every mnn's
band. with empty pitchers, and torches
(margln) within tho pitchers" Thus Ho
did with tho throo companies Of 100 each.
think OF tho Holy Trinity and also of rcsur-
rcction. Tho trumpet is suggestive Of testl-
mony in connection with ntoncmcnt, for
both rams horns and silver speak Of atone
mcnt, and we overcome by tho blood of the
lamb and tho word Of our testimony ready
to lay down our iycs for Him (Rev XIII, 10.
Tho torch Is suggestive Of II constant life.
for "thc ifo is the light" To bo n good
soldier Of Christ there must bo good tcsti-
mony and u consistent life.
II. "Look on to mo and do likewise. As
do, so shall ye do" Tho secret Of victory
Is to SEQ Jesus only (NIsth. xviii, s; Heb Xii,
], ~ and follow Him fully. wallstng as Ho
walked q Pet H., 2l; !, John H., g.. "Do as
,.,na nayo done on. unto YOU was part OF His ad
thoro is no per Get example but Himself. we
maylwel say, "Who is sufIlcicnt for such
lifc?" But Ho answers, "My grace is sufIi-
cient for thee" "Our sutllciency is OF Godn
II Cor. H., 1G; ILL.,. s; Kill, 81.
IS. "Biow 80 tho trumpet and say. Tho
sword Of the Lord and OF Gideon" Tho
sound from tho mouth suggests tho two
edged sword which proceeds from Tho mouth
(Rev. l.. 16), tho word Of God which is
1?). the sword ofthc Spirit, which isthe word
pllshcd blythe Lord through Gideon, e Gideon's
part bcing simply that OF visible and obc-
dient partner. t was SO with all the
mouth woaO,e propbet's, esin II Snm. XxiIi
z; Jar. I. 3 Fyrn prr Lord Jesus ,lYcs HIS
lHth0r eiei't tor Al NiBwards una works (,
(JofnYI Ii,ili WwI 10,
/. -, g "a,id 90 three eompanias blew
ihc riuaDWS and brake the pitchers and
heil t!ip luups inthNir loi huDas ana Ito
,runp4ts N tnejr fight hun1S 10 blow, nnd
they cried, The sword vi tho Lord and OF
Gideon" do not know just how they man
aged with two hands to accomplish these
three things all ut once; but some day Gideon
will toll lis how they did itif wo ask him.
The principal item In the story is their ory
and Its results. The strength Of my life and
Its Joy, and peace isthc partnership with Him
who does all tho WORK. suggested by tho
who worketh in us both to Will and to do
Phil. ill.,. 13; Heb. xiii, 2l). The Lord
could rs easily have delivered Israol without
Gideon, but lIo saw fit to uso Gideon. SO
with us. Wo are mono Of MS essential to Him,
but He is willing to mse MS IL wo nro willing
to be used by Him rs Ho shall please.
81. And they stood ovcry man in his
place. believe from Eph. H., 10, that God
has place and Il work for each of His re-
deemed (seo also Mark xiii, 81; Math xxv.,
is Gods man in Gods place doing Gods
work in God's way for Gods glory. AS in
the tabernacle and temple Mother Moses nor
David nor solomon had nny say in tho plans,
but received all from God and had only to
be obe'lient, SO believe it should be. in all
tho work Of the church and in tho individual
lfe OF every believer We have thu promise
OF thoughts, words, steps nni actions. nl
controlled BY Him whosays, 'Eehold mako
gu gu things now" Lst our motto, then, DO
Son Of God, who loved me and gave Himself
for mo- (Gn!. H.. 20).
i y 80. "rhe Lord so' 50 every mans sword
later ease tho people went out praising tho
Lord as thoy went to tho baltic for the vic.
tory that tho Lord WAS going to givo them,
for thoy believed God. IN tho storm at sea
Paul VAS OF good cheer because Of tho de-
liyeranco promised, though there seemed,
humanity speaking, no possibility ofdcliver-
nncc, but ho believed God (Acts xvii. 35).
1t Is safe to keep right on rs God directs aud
trust Hin to MANAGE all Our enemies our,
reputation and I'LL else. ''Bo not afraid.
Only believe" E
%. "And the men o; Israel gathernd thom-
selves togrthor and pursued after
the Milianitcs" Those mentioned In this
ycrsu wore such ,,s responded to Gideon's
first call for helpers wi, 36). Then in tho
next verse we road that Ephraim came also.
SEQ in chapter viii, 1-3, how wisely Gideon
appeased their anger ut not being called
earlier, and remember that "a soft answer
lurnoth away wrath" prov. xy., y. May
tho fact that God sends MS aud is with lis be
our constant strength (chaptor vi, l4-lG).-
Lesson Helper.