The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-01-14

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 prophet who en-
ccuraged their Tagging faith In Jeho-
yah and turned them back to him
C6:1t0l. The now impoverished and
overridden lsraelites. who had enjoyed
prosp ,rity 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 deliyerance
through one Of Jehovah's prophets.
Gods Call to Gideon.
!. Gideon In Prayer. w. it-i2. That
the "angel OF Jehovah was a mani
Hesitation OF Jehovah Is clear from
careful reading OF vers, 10. There the
first use Of the word lord" is not cap
italized, whereas In e second In.
stance Il Is CAPITALIZED This anrel
was foreshadowing the incarna.
ton in Jesus OF Nazareth. lie Is clearly
Identified with Jehovah tsee Judges
81. Gen. 1910. 10, u. W. II was
thus that Abraham saw my day"
John s 56l. "The angel Of the Lord"
at no time appears after Jesus came
as the revived text shows The no
madic Midianites brought ruin TO IL
rael as the bitter fruit OF It's sin. Then
was uttered the cry for relief FPS 1907
The father Of Gideon is passed by. for
he was a worsllper cf Ba1l ". 2jl.
They who bear the vessels of tie Lord
those through whom he works. must
have clean hands. Gods call to Gid
con came 10 him Ul while he was
alone as he was threshing wheat In
the hiding place OF wlneprr zs. for
he dare not Ihresh IN the customary
open place Of thresbing ilc1r This
call came TO him 90 ms be was faith.
fully PERFORMING his duty. that one
nearest his hand ". IL. IA 81. 2:
Luke rs. %.
u. Gideon In Doubt. w. 1915. Gid
cons thought must have been one OF
amazement as well rs OF doubt His
question. why then is all this befal
len us?" was a most natural one and
one that men even nov are asking
when they are in great troubls SUI
feriur nnd misery are not all to be laid
NJ Gods door, though he permit II. but
chiefly az the door Of sin cps. 77:79;
lisa. i9.l. q. II Is possible that Gid
con had not yet recognized bis heav.
enly visitor (cf v 2l. The name
Gideon means "Hewer" or 'Trcefellcr"
and indicates. as all eastern names do,
something Of his personal character
or appearance Hence the Significance
OF V. IL 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 r.
Go Ia 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 Cvy. 1890. His second one
was 20 take ten picked mon and over.
throw the altar to Baal thereby dem.
onstrating The impotence of Baal and
the futility OF calling upon him for
deliverance. The tHbcsmen at once
light upon him as having performed
this act and demand his death from
Joash. hts father who SENS 10 have
been sort of caretakUr of tine idol
". 25). These same men later become
Gideon's enthusiastic followers tyy.
a Ts.N. -
into action and gained confidence II
was one man against the community.
and TO further rebuke them he erected
an altar to Jehovah ". 2Sl
w. oideon'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
derl. 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 a demand was a weakness God
dealt with II with marvellous patience
and tenderness. just as he condescends
TO treat our weaknesses. The very life
OF the nation IL at stake. everything de-
ponds upon ,deon's success or failure.
Caution and courage are never far
apart Caution a. the soul OF courage.
The fleece suggests figure OF for
iorn 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.
when God calls lift your soul In
prayer and follow In the direction II
leads. As you lift your soul before
God II will wax or wane. II II wanes.
abandon Il: II IL WAKES. follow Il.
though all hell attempt TO stay you
". d. Meyer.