Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-04-15

hESoON IEXT-JudgeS Z.
GOLDEN TEXT-There is no restraint
| to the Lord to save by many or by few
/ Sam. 14:6.
| ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Judges
6:1-4O: S:1-S5
PRIMARY ToPIc-Gideon and His
| Three Hundred.
| JUNIOR TOPIC-How Gideon Won a
| Victory.
| INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| Victory by Gods Help
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
| -One With God a Majority.
that they hid in dens, caves and
strongholds (Judges 6: p. In their
distress they cried unto the Lord, and
again he heard them and sent deliver
| ance. The angel of the Lord appeared
to Gideon While at the post of duty.
God always calls men who are doing
something. Gideon's hesitancy when
called WAS not due to unbelief, but to
modesty and cautiousness. When once
he was convinced of duty he was
courageous and enthusiastic.
!. The Opposing Army ". u.
that eventful day and encamped by
the spring Of Harod. Over against
them was the host of the Midianites in
battle array. His army was insignifi-
cant i'll comparison with the Mi1ian-
ties.
II. The Sitting of Gidecn's Army
(yv. 2-S).
at Gideon's call $4,000 men respond
ed, ready for the struggle. This
seemed a small army to so against the
! Midanite army, $4,000 strong, but
God said this was too many lest they
be led to Boosting and self-confdence-
| Their real danger was not in their
small army, but in their pride. All
that were faint-hearted were allowed
| to go back, leaving only 10000. There
were $4,000 towards in that group Of
men, and, worst of all, they were not
ashamed to confess it. Still this was,
too many. When God was through with
his sitting process only 800 remained.
The 10000 We're brave men, but not OF
! proper quality and fitness. Those who
Tapped the water showed alertness
and watchfulness This test revealed
| the quality and fitness of the men
whom God would use to win victory.
M. God Gives Encouragement to
Gideon wv. 9-15.)
God babe Gideon go down to the
Midianite camp, where he would hear
something which would cheer his
heart and strengthen his hands. When
he came near he heard a man tell q
dream, which was that of barley cake
tumbling into the camp and shifting it.
He also heard the Interpretation given
to that dream, which made Gideon to
be that cake. This greatly cheered
his heart and strengthened him for his
work, and caused his heart to burst
forth in praise to God. A barley cake.
is very insignificant thing, a very
cheap affair in itself, but with the.
hand Of God upon it, it would be suffi-
cient to spread CONSERVATION upon the
Midianites and bring destruction upon
| their armies.
| ~. God Gives Victory to Gideon
wv. 1929.
His army was very Insignificant and
his weapons most worthless. His at
tack was unique. The whole matter
was of faith QIeb. IL 1922. The grounG
of his faith was Gods word and the
token which he had given him. God
does not ask us to go forward without
good ground upon which to rest our
faith. Gideon with his 800 men forneH
into three companies. each man being.
provided with a trumpet and with a,
armed, they surrounded the camps of
the Midianites. They were all instruct
ed to keep their eyes upon their leader
and initiate him. We, too, are to Eeep
our eyes on our leader, Christ. and to
ever do as he does. At the proper mo-
ment they blew their trumpets and
broke their pitchers. giving opportun-
ity for their lights to shine out This
awful crash of breaking pitchers. fol-
lowing the sound of trumpets, accom-
panied by the shout. THE sword Of
the Lord and of Gideon" threw the
Mdianites into n panic, causing them
to fight among themselves. One hum
dred and twenty thousand We're thus
slain, leaving but $4,000 of that mighty
army Judges S:10).
In making the application to our
selves In this age, we can think OF the
. sounding of the trumpets us represent
ing prayer, or calling to Cod the
torches, as the light of the gospel; the
pitchers. our human nature; AMI the
. whole, as this treasure in earthen yes
sells. Only as the pitchers were broken
to allow the light to shine forth. and as
we sound loud and long the trumpet of
prayer can we expect victory.
Doing the Will of God.