Middletown transcript., 1920-04-17

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JUNIOR ToPIc-How Gideon Won .
Victory.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Victory by Gods Help.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Ono With God Majority.
So grievous was Israel's afflicti0n
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. He came
from an obscure and uninfuential fam
lily Judges 6:15). Before going for
ward he wished to be doubly sure
Judges 6:36-4O). WheL once he was
convinced Of duty he was courageous
and enthusiastic. This is characteris-
tic Of all truly great men, outstanding
examples Of which are Luther, Knox
and Calvin.
!. The Opposing Army ". u.
Gideon and his army arose early on
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 in comparison with the Mician-
ties.
u. The Sitting Of cideon's Army
wv. 2-8).
At Gideon's call $4,000 men respond
ed, ready for the struggle. This
seemed a small army to 60 against the
Midianite army, $4,000 strong. but
God said this was too many lest they
be led to boasting and self lf-confidence.
Their real danger was not In their
small army, but in their pride. All
that were faint-hearted were allowed
to 60 back, leaving only 10000. There
were 1900 towards in that group OF
men, and, worst Of all. they we're not
ashamed to confess 1t. Still this was
too many. When God was through With
his sitting process only 800 remained.
The 10000 were brave men, but not OF
proper quality and fitness. Those who
Tapped the water showed aler'ness
and watchfulness. This test revealed
the quality and fitness Of the men
whom God would use to win victory.
This sitting process. no doubt. was
trying to Gideon's faith, but h, need
ed to be taught that success In the
Lords work does not depend so much
upon numbers as upon quality.
III. God Gives Encouragement to
Gideon wv. 9-15.)
God bade Gideon 80 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 q man tell a
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 to: his
work, and caused his heart to hurst
forth in praise to God. A barley cake
is a very Insignificant thing. a very
cheap affair in itself, but with the
hand Of God upon 1t, 1t would be suffi-
cient to spread CONSERVATION upon the
Midianites and bring destruction upon
their armies.
w. God Gives Victory to Gideon
wv. 1929.
His army was very Insignificant and
his weapons most worthless. H:a at
tack was unique. The whole matter
was of faith (Heb. IL :32). The ground
Of his faith was Gods word and the
token which he had given him. God
does not ask us to 60 forward without
good ground upon which to rest our
faith. Gideon with his 800 men formed
into three companies, each man being
provided with a trumpet and with q
lamp concealed within pitcher. Thus
armed, they surrounded the camps OF
the Midianites. They were oil instruct
ed to keep their eyes upon their leader
and initiate him. We, too. are to keep
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
Midianites into panic, causing them
to fight among themselves. One bun.
dred and twenty thousand were thus
slain, leaving but 5000 Of that mighty
army Judges 8:1O).
In making the application to our
selves in this age, we can think Of the
sounding Of the trumpets as represent
ing prayer. or calling to God; the
torches, Us the light Of the gospel; the
pitchers our human nature; and the
whole, as this treasure in earthen YES
sells. Only as the pitchers were broken
to allow the light to shine forth. aid as
we sound loud and long the trumpet Of
prayer can we expect victory.
A God Who Works by Means.
"Shallow men," said Emerson, ''be
lieve in luck; strong men believe II
cause and effect" This general state
ment should be qualified or supple