The Tulsa star. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1913-1921, 1915-01-16


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 ". 35).
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 a prophet who en-
couraged their tagging faith in Jeho-
yah and turned them back to him
(6:1-10). 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 a. obey the voice
of Jehovah before could receive
a message of hope and deliverance
through one of Jehovah's prophets.
Gods Cal! to Gideon.
!. Gideon In Prayer, w. lila. That
festation of Jehovah is clear from
careful reading of verse 13. There the
first use of the word lord" is not cap
italized, whereas In second in
stance it is car'talized This angel
was a foreshadowing o the incarna
Ion in Jesus of Nazareth. He is clearly
Identified with Jehovah (see Judges
2:1, Q; Gen. 1910, 13, r. W. 1t was
thus that Abraham saw my day
John $3.50. 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. Their
was uttered the cry for relief (Ps. 1901
The father Of Gideon is passed by. fol
he was a 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 (1) while he was
alone, as he was threshing wheat in
the hiding place of a winepress, fol
he dare not thresh In the customary
open place of threshing floor Thii
call came to him (2) as he was faith
fully performing his duty, that one
nearest his hand ". IL, Elk. 81, q;
Luke 2:S. 81.
u. Gideon In Doubt, w. 1916. Gid
cons thought must have been one OF
amazement as well as of doubt. Hi,
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 1t, but
chiefly at the door of sin (Ps. 77:7-9;
lisa. 49:1, %. 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 "I'-
go in thy might have not |
sent thee?"
Gideon Was the Agent.
~. Gideon Assured, w. 1885. Gid.
cons first act on being assured OF this
heavenly communication was one of
worship (vv. 1920. 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
". z5). These same men later become
Gideon's enthusiastic followers wv.
"a, 35). Gideon thus translated theory
into action and gained confidence. II
was one man against the community,
and to further rebuke them he erected
an altar to Jehovah ". 2S).
~. 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 "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. II
such demand was weakness God
dealt with 1t with marvellous patience
and tenderness, just as he condescends