Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-11-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson VIl.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. II, 1907.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text Of Lesson, Jude. vii, s-23-Mems
DRY Verses, IL, 1s-colden Text, Deut.
Iii, 22-commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.

tuNt W GoSSOH, SubS' VIZ o-@S-Wotu
DRY Verses, II, 1e-Golden Text, Deus
Iii, 22-commentary Prepared b,
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
| copyright, 1907 by American Press Association
In Pauls sermon at Antioch, in Pi
sidia, he summarizes the four books Of
Exodus, Numbers, Joshua and Judges
in about as many sentences (Acts Kill
1920, giving an epltome of Judges IL
these words: "And after that He gave
unto them judges about the space OF
400 years until Samuel the pro. let"
Our lessons since the first of June
have covered about fifty years Of his
tory, and now we are to have two les
sons out of $50 years, with a temper.
ance lesson between, but as our aim is
to know God as we see Him working
the period of time covered by the les
son or lessons is not of primary impor-
lance. Throughout the whole Bible
these two facts seem always promi-
nent, the patience and love of God and
the rebellion and sin of man. In this
book of Judges these are very proml.
nent. an oft repeated sentence being
1.-THE children Of Israel did evil in the
sight of the Lord" Oh, II; i'll, Z; iv, 1; vi,
1; x, 6: xiii, u. A characteristic SEN
tence Is, "They ceased not from their
own doings, nor from their stubborn
way" iii, 19), and the last section of
the book begins and ends with 'There
was no king in Israel; every man did
that which was right In his own eyes"
xvii 6; xxi, 25). On the other hand,
we read that the Lord reasoned with
them, saying: 81 said | will never
break My covenant with you, and We
shall make no league with the inhab-
itants of this land; We shall throw
down their affairs, but We have not
obeyed My voice. Why have We done
this?" Nevertheless the Lord raised
up judges, and when the Lord
raised them up judges then the Lord
was with the judge and delivered
them out Of the hand of their enemies"
ances the lesson of today finds them in
the hands of the Midianites, greatly
impoverished and sorely oppressed,
crying unto the Lord in their distress
wi, g. A man named Gideon, of the
tribe Of Manasseh, while secretly
thrashing some wheat, hoping to save
1t from the Midianites, seems to have
had some thoughts of what he would
like to do to INDIAN. The Lord, whose
eyes are everywhere looking for such
as have eyes and hearts for Him, call
ed upon him and greeted him thus:
"The Lord is with thee. thou mighty
man of valor. Go In this thy
might and thou shalt save Israel from
the hand of the Midianites. Have not l
sent thee? Surely will be with
thee" wi, l11G: II Chron. xvi, 8; Eek.
XII, 81. Gideon was not quite as brave
as his thoughts and pleaded his I'M
worthiness. but was encouraged by
some signs from the Lord. and vi, "a,
says, 1.-THE Spirit of the Lord came
upon Tor clothed Himself with Gideon,
and he blew Il trumpet. and Abi-ezer
was gathered after him." The whole
story Of Gideon's offering, the over
throw of his fathers altar to Baal the
fleece and the dew, and the sitting of
an army Of $1,000 down to 800. Is most
and it is to be hoped that
all teachers will find some time for
each Incident. One Of our great weak
nesses is to think that nothing can be
without a lot of people or
a lot Of money or a lot of material. We
are slow to learn that the power and
wisdom and night and wealth Of man
may be Il hinGrance rather than help
to the Lorl AMI that He takes the fool
ish and tie weak and the base and the
thin~S which are not. to bring to
naught things that are. that no flesh
27-29) \ victory won by $1,000 might
tempt Israel to say. Mine own hand
hath saved rae" and thus lead them to
boast aE .nst God vii. p. First the
fearful or; are sent home, and $4,000
return. icn the 10000 are further
sifted by the way they take drink Of
water. AMI only 300 Jealous, self re-
PEOPLE are left. Let the ques-
ton search us. Where would come
In? Luke xiv. SO. seems to fit here.
See how wholly this victory is Of the
Lord. Where is there particle of hui
man wisdom or so called common
sense in what Gideon does? Three
of 100 men each, in one
hand of each man a trumpet and In
the other an earthen vessel containing
a torch. ana their marching orders,
"Look OH ne and do likewise" "As
DO, so shall We do" Oversees 1919. They !
evidently spread themselves out about
the hosts of the Midianites, and at the (
signal from Gideon each man blew his
trumpet. raised his torch, having bro
Ken h. vessel, and shouted, "The sword
IF the Lord and Of Gideon!" 1929
The enemy began to kill one another,
and the rest was easy. A sentence that |
catches my eye and reaches my heart
IS In verse 81, "They stood every man
N his place." reminding us Of Mark
KILL "a. "To every man his work." and
Cor. xii. II. 1.-THE Spirit dividing to
every man severally as He will" Our
Gideon (bruiser). the great bruiser Of
he enemy Gen. iii, 10; Rom. xvi, 20), |
says to each of His redeemed ones,
GO IN this thy might; | have sent
,hee; l will be with thee" LET your
light shine eye shall be witnesses
INTO Me Matt. xviii, 1920; v, 10;
John Xxx. 81: Acts I. 81. The trumpet |
n clear testimony as to the |
and the torch consistent |
life. In II Cor. ". Z. we are reminded ,
hat we have this treasure in earthen
Tessels that the excellency Of the pow
sr may be Of God and not of US.