Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-01-23
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Gideon and the Three Hundred Judges =
Golden Text-Not by might. by power bul lv IN,
spirit. saith Jehovah of hoss-Zech 4 o

character. There was no place for tie
coward or cynic that doubted the power
OF Jehovah. The glor~ of thc victory
that Gideon would win must De on.
that should honor God. Faith is In.
victory that overcomcs the world" ""
can only maintain our position OF peace
as a neutral powet. BIZ loving all men.
and in all of our dealings with all ma
tons. whether be!ligcrcats or neu-
trails. exhibit the spirit Of Justice
by rractfcing tho principles of chris
| tiaa morality. If we should follow THE
practice Of some OF the protested fol
lovers of the Prince of Peace We would
be preparing TO spring at tho throats
result of Christian teaching. but be
cause men have departed from the prI'-
ciples of the Christ. whose battles arc
not carnal but spiritual II takes more
courage to live for God than TO prac-
tice The methods of men.
Jehovah. who was determined that
! the battle would be one that should
reveal His power. ordered the siftiuv
of the soldiers, that there could not
be Il faint -hearted coWa drarlonis them
to corrupt the others. One person alo'i"
may destroy by his attitude tho moral
tone Of any church or organization
When the towards E.cr" given the
privilege OF returning home 22.onn n,er
LETT whose patriotism and religious
fervor diminished beneath the influenr.
of seeing the few thousand Israelites
tHdl ndu assembled against the great
host of the enemy that had gathered
on the plain. It was folly to attempt
to win with such odds. so the towards
thought. who failed to count on til"
presence and power OF Jehovah. so
they returned home.
The elimination OF the faint-hearted
still left too many who could be count
ed upon to carry out Gods plan. The
next test was also !. revelation Of
character. tina. was shown by the man
CIlGncnnd
thirst. The small things of life con-
tinuously reveal our true self. the ur-
seen personality that determines our
life. labor and success. The men who
leisurely knelt to drink wer" think
ing only of their great thirst. while
those who stood and Tapped the water
from their hands Ike a dog showed
that they were cautious. and therefore
capable men for the UNIQUE battle thai
God proposed soon to order.
The 300 that had demonstrated their
fitness were picked for the contest.
while the 300 men We're held in re-
serve to Nait until the first clash Of
the battle had routed the enemies Be
fore ordering his chosen companies t"
take their position Gideon made =
accommodating expedition within the
lines of the enemy to understand NOR
thoroughly their position. so that he
might be guided in directi..c his men
in the coming conflict
Spying, Strategy. Success.
Gideon was accompanied OH his spy
ing expedition L.: a trusted servant.
They had not advanced far between the
lines of the tents ami caneis of til.
enemy before they heard the :.tory 90
the strange dream that WAS disturbing
the Midianitas. because its iaterpreta-
ton pointed to the overthrow OF the"
forces. The dream and IT'S lntelpreta-
ton was sufficient to show Gideon that
fFff f1rAh
if they surprised the enemy - once.
before the fanatic Midianites lad re-
covered from the effects of the dream.
they would win by strategy through
the spirit OF Jehovah
Equippinc the SEQ with torches. pitch-
ers and trumpets. Gideon ar:anE'"
them about the camp of thc sleeping
enemy in "A silent dark ring that vs.
invisible in the darkness OF the night.
because the pitchers concealed tie
lighted rope that would burn brightly
when the pitchers would he srla shed
upon the ground. At given signal
the truIipets v'er" blown, me ni'tnert
smashed. and rs the torches :llsned up
the A1idiantes We're tiled T-itil terror
at the cry OF The sword OF Jehovah
and Of Gideon Ii was the custom for
the captains o. co.. pa MES To carlN
torches. and possibly the lights may
have caused tire Midiantes TO belie'-
that they We're being attacked by am
army that greatly outnunlbered them
Aroused from their sleep. they were
thrown into Il panic by the battle CRY.
and soon commenced to destroy one
another.
The success q: Gideon and the 3n"
made a profound impression upon the
nation, so that Isaiah centuries later
made il the basis of - ma gniticcTlt
prop!i ac% 90 the co1lin~ Messiah III.
battle cid "a. trG in the plain Of Is
dTaeioi.. Toy Gideon. sending messengers.
summoned men who faint hearted had
returned to their homes and others to
guard the fords of the Jordan and
catch the fugitiyes. ;nat attempted 10
escape. while he pressed the battle into
the Strongholds of the Midiantes in the
desert.
The man who had conquered when
poor fell a victim to the riches of sue
cess. He refused the kingship, but fell
into the snare of Satan when he asked
that they give him the gold earrings.
with which he made an ephod that he
wore in place of the mantle of fleece
From that hour Gideon failed Whca
he died Israel was under heavier
heel that was crushing her life than
at the beginning OF his career :, rc-
former. He forgot the law of God.
Many a man fails in spiritual affairs
because he uses the mantle Of gold iu
stead Of that OF God. Gideon as long
as he obeyed God won by faith all OF
his contests. When he turned from
Him he failed. Let us always trust
and obey God,