Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-29

j.
Then Jerubbaal (Which means the chal-
le1ger or adversary OF BaaD. who is
Gideon and all the people that were with
him. rose UP early, and pitched oes'a+
indian was on the north side of them.
by the hill of Morch in the valley And
Jehovah said unto Gideon: The people
that are with thee. are too many tor me
to give the Midianites into their hand,
lest Israel vaunt themselves against me-
saying, Mine own hand hath saved me-.
Now. therefore. proclaim in the ears OF
the people. saying: whatsoever Is tear
full and trembling. let him return and
depart from Tor go round about Mount
Giiead.'" And there returned Of the peo-
pie twenty and two thousand: and there
said unto Gideon: The people are yet
TOO many; bring them down into the
water, and 1 will try them for thee there;
and it shall be- that of whom say unto
thee. This shall so with thee. the same
shall go with thee: and Of whomsoeTer
say unto thee This shall not go with
thee the same shall not 60. So he
brought down the people unto the water,
and Jehovah said unto Gideon: Every
one that lappeth of the water with his
tongue as a dog lappeth him shalt thou
set by. himself: likewise every one that
bowcth down upon his knees to drink.
putting their hand to their mouth was
three hundred men; but all the rest of
the people bowed down upon their knees
TO drink water. And Jehovah said unto
Tapped will ] save you, and deliver the
Midianites into thy hand: and let all
the people go every man to his place.
And he sent all the men of Israel
every man unto his tent, but retained
the three hundred men: and the camp
OF indian was beneath him In the val
ley.
1F Sc c<n, .of
triumphant faith. Faith was revived
in his heart by the angel of God speak
ing 10 him as he stood cringins from the
invaders in the rock pit trying to thresh
ties and much humiliation-a moral and
physical giant hampered by outward and
inward circumstances. Faith Is the act
Of getting and keeping ones self in the
confidence in Gods character. faithful
ness and word-the assurance of his
Righteousness, help, grace. and power;
and his purity and love ones own. I'm
belief separates from God and necessarily
brings disaster. Every mans soul is
DEPENDENT upon n God for its Of se
life and Niidianites Of all kinds OF world
illness will come in and plumber and OPP
press it. So 1.-The holy land of the soul
becomes overrun. Gideon and his three
hundred heroic followers were fired by
a great faith in Jehovah when they won
their battle over the Mioianites.
CALLED TO BE VICTOR.
God calls all men in a spiritual sense to
the world just as he called Gideon to be
victor over the Midianite invaders and
oppressors. God wants all men to be
conquerors over sin. sorrow. and death
itself. God is the great conqueror him
self. and he is continually creating and
seeking proper instruments to help him
conquer all the foes of his kingdom
God found in Gideon a proper nstru-
ment for his hand. Gideon was evidently
by nature noble-spirited man. He was
strong of spirit and self-reliant- He was
humble and industrious. He was cautious
as we'll as courageous. He believed God
He sought to carry out Gods will. The
Hebrew words. which are stronger than
.he English translation, says that God
clothed himself with Gideon. Gods
spirit came down upon and into Gideon
and used him to be a victor for the glory
Of righteousness. God will use every
soul to do great work if that soul
will let him. There are great battles TO
he fought and God is calling for vo1un-
Gers. There is a great work to be done.
and God is calling for laborers. There
are great heights Of holiness. love. joy,
,ower, service. and peace to be attained,
by all yet. In the secret chamber OF
every mans soul. through his reason,
through his conscience through his affec-
lions. God is calling to that soul to
be a spiritual coneueror and to lead
others and deliver the oppressed.
VICTOR OVER DOUBTS.
Gideon had TO conquer his own doubts
at rrst. He and his countrymen were
so far away from God that II was hard
for him to realize his presence with him.
and to understand his will towards him
and his people. God respects a doubt
that is really honest and not sealed IN
pride and selfishness. The apostle says,
prove ali things, and try The spirits to
see If they be Of God. True. strong.
faith wants a sure foundation on which
TO stand. 1t is credulty, not faith.
which accepts things true without
thorough examination and proof. Gideon
tested God and found him tue.
VICTOR OVER RAAL.
In the might OF the spirit OF God,