The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-01-15


the TOUR northernmost tribes w. $50.
IN preparation for the call and work
OF Gideon, the sixth judge, the chill
aren OF Israel cried unto heaven" and
COO sent unto them a prophet who en-
couraged their Tagging faith in Jeho-
van and turned them back to him
No:1-l0). The now impoverished and
oVerrldden lsraelites, who had enjoyed
| prosperity after their former deliver
ahce, had again done evil and must
ilrst Judge their sin and obey the voice
OF Jehovah before they could receive
message of hope and deliverance
through one of Jehovahs prophets.
Gods Cal! to Gideon.
]. Gideon in Prayer, w. 11-13. That
the angel Of Jehovah was a mani.
hesitation Of Jehovah is clear from a
careful reading of verse 10. There the
hrst use of the word lord" is not cap
ltaiized, whereas in second in.
stance 1t is car'talzed This angel
was foreshadowing O the incarna-
ton in Jesus of Nazareth. He is clearly
identified with Jehovah (see Judges
IL, 2; Gen. 1910, 10, 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.
madlc 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 (D while he was
alone, as he was threshing wheat in
the hiding place Of winepress, for
he dare not thresh in the customary
open place of a 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, wv. 1915. Gid. /
cons thought must have been one of
amazement as well 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.
ferlng 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. It 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 I
sent thee?"
Gideon Was the Agent.
III. Gideon Assured, w. 1885. Gid.
cons first act on being assured of this
heavenly communication was one of
worship wv. 1929. His second one s
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 t
deiiverance. The tribesmen at once ,
light upon him as having performed t
this act and demand his death from
joash, his father, who seems to have s
been sort of ecaretaker of the idol
". 25). These same men later become G
enthusiastic followers wv, a
81. 35). Gideon thus translated theory
INTO action and gained confidence. Il O
was one man against the community h
ana to further rebuke them he erected o
an altar to Jehovah ". 2S). p
w. Gidecn's Caution, w. 3s4o. snur.
seon said that he never entered bia
pulpit to preach without trembling
IND Gideon would have been more v
nan human, even after assembling his is
lrmy' mad he been absolutely free from
loubts. We should never place an "'
II before any of Gods promises and
esus reprlmanded those of his dav
'hen they demanded a "sign" (won. Il
er), but Gideon proved his heroism N
4 part by his caution. Gideon was fo
fraid of himself but was sure of Cod
'nee assured of Gods leading he was
'llllng to lead 800 men against the
Ver"helming force of his enemies. If ne
UGH a demand was a weakness God
eait with it with marvellous nationoo to
nd tenderness, just as he condescends
treat our weaknesses. The very life err
the nation is at stake, everything de-
ehds upon ~ideon's success or failnra All
caution and courage are never far tic
part Caution i" the soul of courage
Inc fleece suggests figure Of for.
I'm Israeli" the dew, the presence Of
lie Holy Spirit. In the old dispensa. wi
on the dew rested upon Israel while DO
hers were dry. In this dispensation
rael is dry while the dew of Cod ha
sts upon the nations. of
when God calls lift your soul in -
aver and follow in the direction if
ads. AS you lift your soul before
ID 1t will wax or wane. If it wanes
'andon it; If it wakes follow il