The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-01-08


GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed is the man
whom thou choOsest-Ps. 65-4.
We have before us now the fourth
apostasy and servitude of Israel, one
which seems to have affected chiefly
the four northernmost tribes ". 3d.
In preparation for the call and work
of Gideon, the sixth judge, the chill
dren of Israel cried unto heaven" and
God sent unto them prophet who en-
couraged their tagging faith in Jeho-
yah and turned them back to him
(6:1-1O). The now impoverished and
overridden Israelites, who had enjoyed
prosperity after their former deliver
ance, had again done evil and must
first Judge their sin and obey the voice
of Jehovah before they could receive
a message of hope and deliverance
through one of Jehovahs prophets.
Gods Call to Gideon.
I. Gideon in Prayer, w. 1t-13. That
the "angel of Jehovah was mani
festation of Jehovah is clear from
careful reading of verse Is. There the
first use of the word lord" is not cap
italized, whereas in second in
stance it is CAPITALIZED This angel
was a foreshadowing o. the incarna-
ton in Jesus of Nazareth. He is clearly
identified with Jehovah (see Judges
81, 2; Gen. 1910, 10, r. W. 1t was
thus that Abraham saw my day.
John 1850. THE angel of the Lord"
at no time appears after Jesus came,
as the revised text shows. The no.
madic Midianites brought ruin to Is
rael as the bitter fruit Of its sin. Then
was uttered the cry for relief Cps. 1907.
The father Of Gideon is passed by, for
he was worshiper of Baal ". 25).
They who bear the vessels of the Lord,
those through whom he works, must
have clean hands. Gods call to Gid
con came to him % while he was
alone, as he was threshing wheat in
the hiding place of a winepress, for
he dare not thresh in the customary
open place Of threshing floor. This
call came to him (2) as he was faith
fully performing his duty, that one
nearest his hand ". II, Elk. 81, 2;
Luke 2:S. 81.
II. Gideon in Doubt, w. 1916. Gid
cons thought must have been one of
amazement as we'll as Of doubt. His
question, "Why then is all this befal-
len us?" was a most natural one and
one that men even now are asking
when they are in great trouble. Suf-
fering and misery are not all to be laid
at Gods door, though he permit it, but
chiefly at the door of sin Cps. 77:7-9;
lisa. 49:1, q. 1t is possible that Gid
con had not yet recognized his heav-
emily visitor (cf. V. 2D. The name
Gideon means "Hewer" or "Treefeller'
and indicates, as all eastern names do,
something of his personal character
or appearance. Hence the significance
of V. IA. The Lord in the person of
the angel looked upon him and said,
seeing all of his natural qualifications,
but with the emphasis upon the p
go in thy might have not
sent thee?"
Gideon Was the Agent.
III. Gideon Assured, w. 1895. Gid
cons first act on being assured of this
heavenly communication was one of
worship wv. 1926. His second one
was to take ten picked men and over
throw the altar to Baal, thereby DEM
onstrating the impotence of Baal and
the futility of calling upon him for
deliverance. The tribesmen at once
light upon him as having performed
this act and demand his death from
Joash, his father, who seems to have
been a sort of caretaker of the idol
". 25). These same men later become
Gideons enthusiastic followers wv.
"a, 35). Gideon thus translated theory
into action and gained confidence 1t
was one man against the community,
and to further rebuke them he erected
an altar to Jehovah ". 2S).
W. Gideon's Caution, w. 36-4o. Spur
geon said that he never entered his
pulpit to preach without trembling,
and Gideon would have been more
than human, even after assembling his
army, had he been absolutely free from
doubts. We should never place an
if before any of Gods promises, and
Jesus reprimanded those of his day
when they demanded a sign" (won-
der), but Gideon proved his heroism
in part by his caution. Gideon was
afraid of himself but was sure of God.
Once assured of Gods leading he was
willing to lead 800 men against the
overwhelming force of his enemies. If
slch demand was a weakness God
dealt with it with marvellous patience
and tenderness, just as he condescends
to treat our weaknesses. The very life
of the nation is at stake, everything de-
pends upon ~ideon's success or failure.
Caution and courage are never far
apart. Caution il the soul of courage.
The fleece suggests a figure of for
Torn Israeli" the dew, the presence of
the Holy Spirit. In the old dispense
ton the dew rested upon Israel while
others were dry. In this dispensation
Israel is dry while the dew of God
rests upon the nations.
f''When God calls lift your soul in
prayer and follow in the direction it
leads. AS you lift your soul before
God it will wax or wane. II it wanes,
abandon it; if it WAKES, follow it.