The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-29

"Oh, pshaw," calculated one OF Old.
cons captains TO whom he mentioned
the matter, that feeling will disap.
pear when WI begin our assault upon
the enemy"
This remark served to reassure CID
con, and he soon forgot his fears In
the active preparations which were
being made for the coming conflict.
At last everything in the little army
was brought into order. and Gideon
retired to his tent for a little rest.
His repose was suddenly broken by
q voice saying unto him:
THE people that are with thee are
too many for me to give the INDIAN
ties into their hands, lest Israel vaunt
themselves against me saying, Mine
own hand hath saved me. Now,
therefore so to. proclaim In the ears
of the people saying: whatsoever Is
fearful and afraid. let him return and
depart early from Mount Gilead.'"
Startled and amazed, Gideon stood
rooted to the spot, after the voice had
ceased. Surely, his army was small
enough now. What could he hope for
IL part were sent home?
But God hath spoken" at last he
exclaimed. "He who hath promised
victory will give 1t in his own way"
And in this spirit OF faith and sub
mission he went forth into the camp
and caused 1t to be proclaimed
throughout the ranks OF the Israelites
that whatsoever was fearful or afraid
should depart for home. And all dur.
Ing that night and until the early
morning there was a constant stream
OF men leaving the camp. glad to es-
cape the certain defeat. as they
thought, at the hands of the vast
hosts OF the enemy, until $4,000 had
disappeared down the slopes of Mount
Gilead, and left Gideon and his little
army Of 10000 standing there looking
with questioning glances into each
others faces.
but our God who hath promised us
the victory doth not depend upon
numbers shouted Gideon to his cap.
tains standing near him, and they
in turn took up the shout SO that tho
words echoed and reechoed all over
the camp, and the sound thereof was
waited out upon the clear morning air
to the very camp OF the enemy,
And while Gideon stood looking
upon the scene and the words were
still sounding in his ears, the voice
Of the Lord came to him again, say
ing:
THE people r yet too many:
bring them down to the water, and |
will try them for thee there; and
1t shall be that of whom / say unto
thee: This shall go with thee the
same shall go with thee; and Of
whomsoever l say unto thee, This
shall not go with thee the same shall
not 60"
Again came the questioning in Gid
cons heart; again the doubt as to
wisdom Of further reducing his army,
and then, as before, came the thought.
But God hath spoken. He know.
eth how he will do this thing"
And again In obedience to the com.
mand of the Lord, Gideon ordered the
advance Of his army down to the
stream.
Gideon reached the brink Of the
river in advance of his men,, and
turned to receive them, wondering
the while what the Lords purpose
was concerning them. And the word
Of the Lord came to him again, Jay
ing:
Everyone that lappeth of the wa.
ter with his tongue as a dog lappeth,
him shalt thou set by himself; like
wise every one that boweth down
upon his knees to drink"
Instantly Gideon saw the purpose
Of God. He would discover who was
so intent upon the Lords business as
to keep his eye upon the enemy while
he hastily refreshed himself with the
cool water. And instead OF being dis.
mayed when he saw the little band of
800 men. his faith laid hold Of God
with new power. and he knew that
victory was to be his.
The night Is dark, such a night as
brings oftentimes the f~orbodings OF
danger to the wicked, and to the
righteous the confident tone OF as.
urance that God rules in the dark.
ness as he does in the light. The
vast army OF the Midlanites are pass.
ing the hours in troubled dreams,
while Gideon and his faithful little
band is surrounding the camp.
Suddenly upon the quietness Of the
midnight there sounds the trumpet
blast; there comes the crash Of the
steel Of a mighty army; there flares
forth all around the mountain.side the
torch lights Of an advancing host. And
then there rings out the cry:
"The sword Of the Lord and OF
Gideon!"
In mad terror the hosts Of the Mid.
ianites fee In the frenzy Of despair,
and every mans sword Ia raised
against his fellow, SO that there was
slaughter In the camp OF the INDIAN.
ties such as was never known before
or since. Thus did Gideon and his
band prevail against the mighty en-.
envy and bring ~deliyerance to Israel.
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