The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1915-01-15

apostasy and servitude of Israel, one
which seems to have affected chiehy
the four northernmost tribes ". 35).
In preparation for the call and work
of Gideon, the sixth judge, 1.-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
t6:1-10). 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 Cal! to Gideon.
!. Gideon In Prayer, w. 1t-12. That
the "angel of Jehovah was mani
festation of Jehovah is clear from a
careful reading of verse 10. There the
first use of the word lord" is not cap
italized, whereas in second in
stance 1t is caritalized. This angel
was foreshadowing O. the incarna-
ton in Jesus of Nazareth. He Is clearly
identified with Jehovah (eee Judges
81, Q; Gen. 1910, 13, r. W. 1t was
thus that Abraham saw my day"
(John 1850. 1.-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 FPS. 1900.
The father of Gideon is passed by, for
he was a 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 a threshing floor. This
call came to him (2) as he was faith
fully performing his duty, that one
nearest his hand ". IL, Elk. 81, 2;
Luke 2:8, 81.
u. Gideon in Doubt, w. 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 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 1t, but
chiefly at the door of sin FPS. 77:7-9;
lisa. 49:1, q. 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 of
the angel looked upon him and said,
seeing all of his natural qualifications,
but with the emphasis upon the "P'--
go in thy might have not
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. 1926. His second one
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 fol-
deliverance. The tribesmen at once
light upon him as having performed
this act and demand his death from
Joash, his father, who seems to have
! been sort of caretaker of the Idol
". 25). These same men later become
Gideon's enthusiastic followers wv
"a, 35). Gideon thus translated theor,
into action and gained confidence. 4
was one man against the community
and to further rebuke them he erected
an altar to Jehovah ". 2S).
w. Gldeon's Caution, w. 36-4o. Spur
geon said that he never entered his
pulpit to preach without trembling
and Gideon would have been NOR;
than human, even after assembling hi
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 da!
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 800 men against thu
overwhelming force Of his enemies. l
such a demand was a weakness Coz
dealt with it with marvellous psttenc'
and tenderness, just as he conoesoend
to treat our weaknesses. The very lif
of the nation is at stake, everything dc
ponds upon ~ideon's success or failure
Caution and courage are never fla
apart. Caution II the soul OF courage
The fleece suggests figure Of for
Torn Israeli" the dew, the presence o
the Holy Spirit. In the old dispenss
ton the dew rested upon Israel Will
others were dry. In this dispensatiol
Israel is dry while the dew Of CO.
rests upon the nations
when God calls lift your soul Il
prayer and follow in the direction
leads AS you lift your soul befor
God 1t will wax or wane. II 1t wanes
abandon It; II 1t wakes. follow il
though all hell attempt to stay YOU