Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-01-15

the IOur nOrtnornmOSL LTlDGS w. oOJs
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-
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 and obey the voice
of Jehovah before they could receive
a message of hope and deliverance
through one of Jehovah's prophets.
Gods Call to Gideon.
/. Gideon in Prayer, w. 1913. That
the 'angel of Jehovah" was a mani
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 the second in
stance it is capitalized. This angel
was foreshadowing of the incarna-
tion in Jesus of Nazareth. He is clearly
identified with Jehovah (see Judges
2:1, 2; Gen. 1910, 1S. 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. Then
was uttered the cry for relief (Ps. 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 "a 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 threshing floor. This
| call came to him (2) as he was faith
fully performing his duty, that one
nearest his hand (v. IL, Elk. 81. 2;
Luke rs, 81. 1t was a strange word,
thou mighty man of valour," one of
fact and prophecy as well. 1t was a
brave thing. thus to be faithful and
to. receive this call CD in time of
great distress and danger. The sequel
which forms next Sundays lesson, is
the fulfillment of the prophecy
/ II. Gideon in Doubt, wv. 1916. 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
fering 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, 2). 1t is possible that Gid
con had not yet recognized his heav
emily visitor (cf. v. 21). 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 o.
the angel looked upon him and said
seeing all of his natural qualifications
but With the emphasis upon the "T'-
/ aGo in thy might have not
sent thee?''
/ Gideon Was the Agent.
| III. Gideon Assured, Wv. 1885. Gid
cons first act on being assured Of this
heavenly communication was one o.
worship (vv. 1920. His second one
was to take ten picked men and over
4 throw the altar to Baal, thereby dem
onstrating the impotence of Baal ant
the futility of calling upon him fol
deliverance. The tribesmen at ones
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 lido
w. 25). These same men later become
Gideon's enthusiastic followers (vv
"a, 35). Gideon thus translated theory
into action and gained confidence.
was one man against the community
and to further rebuke them he erected
an altar to Jehovah (v. 2S).
an altar to Jehovah ". 2S). No bias
from Baal struck him or any mark o
.displeasure. hence the suggestivenes'
of the words Of Joash (v. 81. Blu
now there is another raid (y. 33), ant
I God is about to strike blow on be
half of Israel. Whenever men ge
right with God Satan plans a specia
assault, 2 Tim, S:12. A literal rem
dering Of verse 81 is, ''the Spirit 0
the Lord clothed himself with Gideon.
Gideon was merely the agent, the in
strument through whom and by whom
Jehovah is about to do mighty work
The only satisfactory and safficien
equipment we can have for effectiv,
service is the enduement of the Hol,
Spirit, Luke 24:49, Acts IA, S, s. No
tice this enduement came upon, tool
charge of, Gideon after he had by ODE
dent service shown his trustworthi
ness. Men recognized in his trumpe
call note of the authority God hat
intrusted him with and of which hi
previous acts were a demonstration
w. Gideon's Caution, w. 36-4o. Spur
geon said that he never entered hi!
pulpit to preach without trembling
and Gideon would have been NOR,
than human, even after assembling hii
army, had he been absolutely free from
doubts. We should never place al
'if' before any Of Gods promises, ant
Jesus reprimanded those of his day
when they demanded "sign" (won
der), but Gideon proved his heroisn
in part by his caution. Gideon wal
afraid Of himself but was sure of God
Once assured of Gods leading he wal
willing to lead 300 men against tn,
overwhelming force Of his enemies.
such demand was weakness Got
dealt with it with marvellous patienc,
and tenderness. just as he condescend,
to treat our weaknesses. The very lift
of the nation Is at stake, everything de
pends upon Gideon's success or failure
Caution an6 courage are never fa
apart. Caution La the soul of courage
The fleece suggests figure Of for
lorn Israeli" the dew, the presence o
the Holy Spirit. In the old dispense
ton the dew rested upon Israel Will,
others were dry. In this dispensatiol
Israel is dry while the dew of Coz