The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-29
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THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
November 30, 19O2-Judges vii, Is
Gideon and the Three Hundred.

Gideon and the Three Hundred.
The Hebrew church had a catacomb experience
as we'll as the Christian church. The herce OPP
preston of the Midanites drove them to the de-
vice of carving grottoes in the mountains ana
corridors onto which cell-like dwellings opened
dimly lighted with ''air-holes like windows
The Christian church ground beneath the
earth by the iron heel of Roman despotism' ana
that without cause. But the Hebrew church
richly deserved its afiction because of its black
apostasy. 1t was following greedily in the way
of Baal. The generation which had seen the
splendid deliverance OF Deborah and Barak was
still alive But these Iustrous characters and
their valorous deeds were already forgotten
and the land full of affairs to the sun-god
and the wanton groves Of his voluptuous consort'
the star-queen.
At length. after seven years, the apostate He
brews grew weary of raising harvests only to
see them ruthlessly burned or trampled by the
camel-droves OF the enemy. These exiies. in
mountain dens, sighed for their happy homes in
the luxurious valleys. Their hearts were broken
at sight of their sons slain and their daughters
meeting a worse fate. They cry Enough! 10
Gods punitive providence. Instantly Jehovah
prepared for their deliverance.
Gideon, the son of Joash. is engaged in the
homely task of threshing wheat. No moon
sinner ever ran his still more clandestinely.
q
beneath the wine press; and there. entirely
hidden from view, noiselessly as possible,
with a hoop-po perchance, he is whipping out
a few measures Of grain. The persistence and
inventveness of the man marks him as one well
qualified to outwit even willy foe.
Sarcasm was matter OF heredity with Gideon.
His Jehovah is not with me- 1 would not
be threshng wheat in wine press" is matched
by his fathers. IF Baal be a god. let him con-
tend for himself with the one who has cast down
his altar
Gideon was as humble and self-deprecating as
Moses. He deemed himself the least member of
an Insignificant house. and deprecatingly cried:
"Wherewith shall I Israeli
Religion, as well as charity, begins at home.
Gideon first reformed his fathers house. His
sanctihed artfuness is apparent again. Had he
taken the daytime to split up that big-breasted
idol pull down the altar and open the licentious
shade of the star goddess grove to the sunlight,
he would have had a fight on hand. and that,
too with his own kindred. When sunrise re-
vealed the thing done, it was no use crying
over split milk" The fathers Righteousness re-
vealed itself in the nickname he gave his son.
Jerubbasi-"Let BaaI have X out with him.
The first sign by which. at touch Of the rod
in the angels hand, the rocky table was con-
verted into altar, on which the savory meal
spread for his refreshment was suddenly con-
sumed by preternatural fre-that sign heart
ened Gideon for the first steps In his great task.
But when he looked down upon Esdraelon. that
battle plain OF Palestine. and saw the swarning
Midianites. he coveted further tokens; and the
signs of the fleece, and dry. were given to
him. In the Midianite soldiers dream Of the
contemplate barley-losf upsetting the camp.
and his comrades comment upon IL, both OF
which Gideon was permitted to hear he recon-
noitered the enemy by night, he was further
encouraged in his extremely exacting task.
Now came the double shifting of the petty
army of Israel, already inadequate. The
process reduced thrty-two regiments to three
companies. This paltry band had ridiculous
armament-each a pitcher. torch and a horn.
But under Gideons artful manipulation these
strange weapons were invincible- The haring
torch suddenly uncovered. the inexplicable sound
OF the crashing pottery. the trumpet blast and
utterance eof those awe-inspiring names OF
Jehovah and his captain. Gideon-it is enough.
Three companies throw 40 regiments into CON-
pletest panic. Each Midianite becomes his fell
lows foe. The remnants OF that proud army,
broken and wrecked. are holly pursued. Israeli
deliverance is complete. With bowed heads the
confession is deyoutly made that the OF 1.-The
Lord hath done it,
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
The Junkshops and staples OF back street in
Cork could not hide Theobald Mathew when
Providence wished to make apostle OF tenn
perance out OF him. The Lords best workmen
often come from most unlikely and unfriendy
environments Gideon the least member OF
the least family OF Israel and he was found in
the vat OF wine press.
The ideal reformer begins by reforming him
self He must first make kindling wood out OF
his own dearest idol. THE road to the hearts
of the congregation Is the ruins OF the min
ister's own Baal.'
movements much impeded by the members
who are with IL, but not OF ii. The next Gen.
eral Conference should give some legislation
which would enable the church to rid herself
more readily OF nonattending, roncontrlbuting
| nonenities. The conviction deepens that we
would be more efficient IL We not numer-
Gus.
Providence permitted Gideon to hear what an
enemy thought OF him. II put a new heart In
him Would the modern ministry be equally en-
couraged il it could overhesr the talk OF the
worlds camp?
Gideons conscious inadequacy made him lean
| hard upon Almighty Arm. The minister who
can 20 into the pulpit without tremor oush,
go at all The transeendent Importance OF