The Brinkley argus., 1915-01-22
hlIFIlNGIlONAL. SON'l6yS0lOOL
 LESSON
LESSON FOR JANUARY 24
(By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of
 Sunday School Course Moody Bible In-
 stitute. Chicagol


 LESSON FOR JANUARY 24 GIDEON AND THE THREE HUM
 DRIED.
 LESSON TExT-Judges 7:1-S. 1923.
 GOLDEN TEXT-Not by might. nor by power, but by my Spirit. saith Jehovah of hosts.-Zech. 4:6, R. V.
 This was the period of Israel's transition from a nomadic to an az ricultural life. The record we have is an alternate succession of idolatry and subjugation with return to Je- hovah and to liberty.
 l. "Gideon and All the People" w. 1-s. Rallying about him his clansmen Gideon chose position at the spring of Harod near Jezreel, his back to Mt. Gilboa and the Midianites to the north next to Mt. Moreh. He thus con trolled the lords of the Jordan and could prevent the enemy from return ing to their homes in the desert coun- try. Outwardly the great discrepancy of numbers made the situation look dubious for Israel, but in reality the danger was that the army was too large, since when the victory was gained they might "vaunt themselves. !" Individuals and churches usually count their strength according to mum bers. (See II Cor. 12:9.) If we desire Gods strength it must be as we our selves are weak (Isa. 4o:29). God is sometimes limited by having too many and not enough of the right sort. When God delivers he leaves no room for boasting (Eph. 2:8, g; Rom. 3:2D. God can save as we'll by the few as by the many q Samuel 14:6), and ire quently uses the weak and despised things to confound the mighty q Cor. 1:27, 28), that mo flesh should glory in his presence" q Cor. 1:29). These were two tests whereby Gideon was to select his warriors: CD "Go to. proclaim whosoever is fearful let him return (v. 3. It Is not we'll to criticize too severely the 22,00O who returned; even in the Gar den not only Peter, but all the disci- pies forsook the Master and fled. God does not choose men because they are heroes, but to make heroes of them by the power of his might. (2) There is yet another sitting. God gives Gid con the clue (v. Al, viz, to decide by their method of drinking. Those who drank "as a dog lappeth," were those not to be taken of guardi even while drinking.
 II. Gideon's Second Assurance, w. sis. It was absurd, humanly speak ing, for 300 men to expect to defeat 1855, 900. God strengthened" Gideon (v. 11). Gideon and Phurah, at Gods command, entered the valley and drew near the Midianite host. Avoiding the guard, if any, they drew near enough to hear a man telling his dream to This fellow" The latter interprets this as nothing else than the sword of Gideon. (v. 14). Gideon worshiped God and at once returned to arouse the camp of Israel
 III. The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon, w. f6-23- In all probability these men wore their usual weapons as soldiers and carried food for their use in pursuing the enemy. However, for this midnight attack they needed only three weapons, lamps, pitchers and trumpets. Each of these have a spiritual suggestion for the Christian. (See Matt 25c4; Ps. 119:105; also II Cor. 4:6, T., and Ezek. 33:3, 6; l. Cor. 14:8.) Gideon s; stratagem of dividing his men into three companies and then as the pitchers are broken to blow thestrumpet caused, a lively panic among the Midianites. That Gideon had faith and courage in himself, and in the word of. Jehovah, is suggested in his words, Look on me and do likewise" We are to look to the cap tain of our ssalvation" (Heb- 13:2) and by our lives of obedience prove the devotion fof our life (John l5:I4' 14:21). As already suggested, there were probably no defenses surround ing the enemy and in the darkness Gideon and his men easily approached the camp. It. is easy to imagine the scene-the midnight hour, the army suddenly awakened by a deafening shout, the blasts of trumpets. the S0o torches flashing forth amid the crash of earthenware, and all of this m dense darkness. The Mtdian1tes ID the confusion turned their weapons against each other and lied toward the Jordan and into the regions pc yond toward the desert. Others TOT lowed by the ten thousand, fleeing to ward Succothf and PenueI- We ol this day have, our wars and Datties against the wrongs, the prtncipaiitief and powers of sevil. which are around us and within us. Such battles re ,quire the same courage, ana skiu. ano consecration of ourselves, as did tnt wars of those ancients against tne enemiess that threatened the very ex istence ,of the ID eople of God.
 Gods work in this world is ofteI done by few persons who have nae a vision of him, who have grown II character and devotion. and who us' the simple weapons of lamps. pitcner' and trumpets, even as that small com pany of one hundred and twenty ol the day of Pentecost, filled with tn' Spirit of God. led the forces wnicl ultimately overthrow invincible Rome The reformation under Luther, tn work of the Puyitans, Carey In tnoss