The citizen., 1915-01-21

hVeNss N'N"' W. - y
This was the period Of Israel's
transition from a nomadic 10 an ag.
ricultural life. The record we have
10 an alternate succession Of idolatry
and subjugation with a return to Je-
hovah and TO liberty.
!. "oldeon and All the People," w.
t-s. Rallying about him his ciansmen
Gideon chose a position at the spring
OF Harod near Jezreel. his back 10 Mt
Gllboa and the Midianites to the north
next TO Mt. Moreh. lie thus con-
trolled the fords 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 tho
danger was that the Ssmy was 10
large, since when tho victory was.
gained they might "vaunt themselves.'
individuals and churches usually
count their strength according TO num-
bers. (See II Cor. i2:s) II We desire
Gods strength II must be as We our
selves are weak lisa. 40:2s). God is
sometimes limited by having too many
and net enough OF the right sort.
When God delivers he leaves no room
for boasting (Eph. as. o: Rom. 3:27).
God can save as well by the few as
by the many Il Samuel 1850. and fire.
quently uses the weak and despised
things 10 confound the mighty q Cor
i:27, 2s). that no flesh should glory
in his presence" Il Cor. i:2sl. These
were two tests whereby Gideon was
10 select his warriors: OD Go TO.
proclaim whJsoever II fearful
let him return" ". 81. Il is
not well to criticize too severely the
$4,000 who returned: even In the Gar.
den not only Peter. but all the disci-
Piles forsook the Master and fed. God
does not choose men because they are
heroes. but TO make heroes OF them
by the power OF his might. t2) There
is yet another sitting. God gives Gid
con the clue ". ~, viz, TO decide by
their method OF drinking. Those who
drank "as a dog lappeth." we're those
not TO be taken OF guard even while
drinking.
~. oIdeon's Second Assurance. w.
s-i5. II was absurd. humanity speak
ing for 500 men to expect to defeat
1876 900. God strengthened" Gideon
". III. Gideon and Phurah. at Gods
command. entered the valley and drew
near the Midianite host. Avoiding the
guard. ~ any. they drew near enough
to hear a man telling his dream to
his fellow" The latter interprets
this as nothing else than the sword
OF Gideon" ". ip. Gideon worshiped
God and at once returned TO arouse
the camp OF Israel.
~. The Sword Of the Lord and OF
Gideon, w. 1928. In all probability
these men wore their usual weapons
rs soldiers and carried food for their
use in pursuing the enemy. However.
for this midnight attack they needed
only three weapons. lamps. pitchers
md trumpets. Each OF these have q
spiritual suggestion for the Christian.
lSee Matt. 2s:t; Ps. iis:i05; also II
Cor. i:6. 7. and Ezek. 33:3, Q: l. Cor
l4:sD Gideon's stratagem OF dividing
his men into three companies and
hen as the pitchers are broken to
blow the trumpet caused lively panic
among the Midianites. That Gideon
had faith and courage In himself. and
N the word OF Jehovah. is suggested
N mis- words, Look on me and do
ikewise." We are to look TO the cap
ain OF our salvation" (Heb. ls:2) and
by our lives OF obedience prove the
ieyotion OF our life (yohn 1914.
If2D AS already suggested. there r
we're probably no defenses surround
ng the enemy and In the darkness
iideon and his men easily approached
he camp. II Is easy 20 imagine the
'cene-the midnight hour. the army
awakened by a deafening
Ihout, the blasts OF trumpets. the 300
orches flashing forth amid the crash
u earthenware, and all OF this In
lense darkness. The Midianites In
he confusion turned the.. weapons
'gainst each other and fed toward
he Jordan and into the regions be-
'ond toward the desert. Others fol-
owed by the ten thousand. fleeing TO.
ward Succoth and Penuel. We OF
his day have our wars and battles
against the wrongs. the principalities
md powers Of evil. which are around
Is and within US. Such battles re-
luire the same courage. and skin. and
OF ourselves. as did the
vars OF those ancients against the
enemies that threatened the very ex-
stence OF the people Of God.
Gods work in this world 10 often
lone by a few persons who have had
vision OF him. who have grown In
character and devotion. and who use
he simple weapons OF lamps. pitchers
md trumpets. even as that small COM
'any OF one hundred and twenty on
he day OF Pentecost. filled with the
Spirit OF God. led the forces which
Ultimately overthrow invineibls Rome.
rhe reformation under Luther. the