The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-12
THETRIUMPH OF GIDEON.
NON M DRODE THL MIDLfNITEs
OUT or CiSIiN.
Iut,rc.tIuv Deductions from the Victory
by DIR. Peli-One with God is
Majority.

Following IS the international Sunday
school lesson for tomorrow, as expounded
by Rev. Dr. Edward l.. Pen
october IS.-1he Triumph OF Gideon.-
Judges VII, Id--i.
Among the ridges whom the Lord
raised up" to denver Israel "Out OF the
hands OK those tAat spoued them Was
OiueOn, a man VINO STOOD ABOVE ms
brethren like the son OF KING. Ot NOBLE
person, yet modest, courageous yet eau
tiOIs enthusiastic yet cdiculatns, strong
in faith and in common sense-ne was
just auch a man as We Modid expect
the Lord 10 lay hands on il ne WahIed
a man.
me call came 10 Gideon while he was.
al Work. That Is the usual way. When
cod wants a man 10 90 q great Work
he looks Tor man MO is Dusy. re
does not ask man. as .ne 'hIich often
does, TO undertake mission because
he has plenty OF time ana nothing 10 90.
Angels visits never break into the life
OF "a sluggard.
And Gideon showed that he was called
and that he had heard the cali ai.sht
by beginning is mission at home The
altar of Baal ia his own home vas torn
down and the altar 10 the true COD
erected IN its place. II q mans nome
needs reforming. he may be sure that
ne is not called 20 begin his work away
from home. The tfOuDir WIN great
deal OF our modern reforms is tnat We
do not begin lnem ~ nome, we want
10 upset other people idoie
For several years the Midiaa. tes-tne
wandering lordes o the dcsert-nad been
Streaming across the Jordan, and set
fling down like lOcusts upon the richest
parts Of Canaan ID was Gideon pusl-
ness 10 drive them out Not 10 save
the ueOule's lands from the ehem! 20
much as 10 save them from thelr SINS.
IL was because of their sin That Goa
had removed his protecting arm ana let
in the enemy. II was TO DC "A ieh-ipu7
WarfJra and II was 80 be conducted Anf
the religious welfare OF the people. Inc
enemy must be driven out auu the sur
fering people restored 70 tlelf idilva iii
such a manner that the people Nvulu
hc also restored TO their OLD position Win
God They had not merely lost their
land. they rad lost their iaitn, ana inc
victory 10 Doe won was 10 be a Victory OF
faith as well as victory lot i"tH.
Therefore when Gideon had blown MS
frtnnef ana the people had come to-
gcfh.r To the number OF thirty. Two tnoh-
sand to drive out the enemy, COD de-
clared that there were 100 many. Ilo
knew Israel, he knew mat ii lhlr Two
thousand of them went out against y
hundred and fnirfy-fIFe thousand Milo
ianites and wen the battle, they Would
Naunu themselves against nlAl' ~! llr,
"My own hand hath saved me anu
thus the victory would bee piacucahy d
defeat. .,.,.....
The gathered hosts OF - Midianites
covered the valley and hiusldes or Moteh
/ like grasshOppcrs for mLiLlule' anu tle
little army OF Israel were IN luil si5u,.
DTeu the people that IT any or mem
are afraid. they may 90 home said the
Lord. And 300 OF tncini alItady on we
verge of "A panic, took 20 their httlH.
That showed how Little faith there was
in Israel. and tile great need OF "A naltie
conducted in such manner that no
one could doubt but that the victory was
The Lords But the 1888 that were leit
were still too many. l-cad the p.DP'.~,
down go the water ana lei lhtm 9ilhh'
was the next order. And wnen tne sol
| diers reached the water, 300 OF thchi
| Ieiaur.lv uubucklcd their swords ana
lOosened their armOr. and lay down 10
l drink. The remaining "h, nidf'' "l'' y
fellows. without breaking ranks ,Lpl,,.ll
I each his hand into the stream, ana Win
ono eve on the enemy, SeOopel up III
/ ne water and hastily swaiioWcd IT. 'Hthd
those 900 home" came order hummer
/ three The officers anonr those VINO
went home must nave left their trumpcis
behind them. for Gloou had enough for
/ each OF his noble 3l1 10 take one. ana
/ every man In the band was now leader;
J These 3pl We're chosen not because ''H
wanted 200 men who could overcome Il
/ great army. hf1f because when God choos-
I ea an instrumcrt he chooses the pest at
J hand. The thousands that had gone
! home were not ht for God t0 use
I'm order 90 strengthen the hands of
! Gideon still more. Do was told that %
! ne was afraid ne might $50 down as a
SOY 10 the cuomy's camp, and ma out
! what he could. Perhaps Gideon lacked
! faith. but he does not appear 10 nave ais.
I ploascd God. who is always patient ana
! kind 10 a weak faith, so long as 10 is
/ saw of this visit 10 the camp that God
! managed the whole matter.
Hut although inc battle was me lof4 $
! human instrumenialy was not 10 y,