The Jasper news., 1920-04-15

LESSON TExT-yudgsn I.
GOLDEN TBxT-There 4 no restraint
% thu Lord to Save BY many Or By few
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL : Judge.
'I psil AIN rorro-ois..a and h.
JUNIOR ToPrc-How Gideon won
iNTERMEDIATn AND SENIOR TOPIC
Victory BY Gods Help.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
--ons with GOD Majority.
50 grievous was IsraeT's affliction
that they bid In dens. caves and
strOngholds Judges g: ~. In their
distress they cried unto the Lord. and
again be 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 eautlousness. When once
he was convinced Of duty he was
courageous and enthusiastic.
!. The Opposing Army ". ~.
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 MldIanites in
battle array. His army was insiguif-
cant In comparison with the Mician-
iteA
u. The Stirling Of olIeon's Army
(vV. 2-Sl.
At Gldeon's call $1,000 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 Boosting and self-conAdcnce.
Their real danger was not In their
small army, but In their pride. All
that were faint-hearted were allowed
to 90 back. leaving only 10000. There
were 1900 cowards%in that group Of
men, and. worst Of all, they we're not
ashamed to confess II. Still this was
too many. When God was through with
his sitting process only 300 remained.
The 10000 were brave men, but not Of
proper quality and 6tness. 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.
~. God Gives encouragement 10
Gideon wv. 0-1b.)
God babe Gideon 60 down to the
MldIanlte camp, where he would hear
something which would cheer his
heart and strengthen his hands. When
he came near he heard a man tell a
dream, which was that Of barley cake
tumbling Into the camp and smiling It.
He also heard the Interpretation given
to that dream, which made Gideon to
be that cake. This greatly chcered
his heart and strengthened him for his
work, and caused his heart to burst
forth In praise to God. A barley cake
il a very Insignificant thing, q very
cheap AFFAIR In itself. but with the
hand Of God upon II. It would be SUM.
Client to spread CONSERVATION upon the
: Midianites and bring destruction upon
their armies.
] ~. God oIvss Victory to Gideon
J wv. 1929.
His army was very Insignificant and
his weapons most worthless H.s at
tack was unique The whole matter
was Of faith (Heb. ii 1927. 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 trumpet and with q
lamp concealed within pitcher. Thus
armed. they surrounded the camps Of
the MIdlanites- They we're all instruct
ed to keep their eyes upon their leader
and initiate him. We. too. are TO keeT
our eyes on our leader. Christ. and t
ever do as he does. At the proper mo
ment they blew their trumpets ant
broke their. pitchers, giving opportun
Ity for their lights to shine out. Thii
awful crash Of breaking pitchers, FOL
lowing the sound Of trumpets. accom-
panied by the shout. 1.-THE sword o
the Lord and Of Gideon" threw tn,
MidIanltes Into a panic. causing then
to eight among themselves. One hun
dred and twenty thousand were thu
slain. leaving but 1900 Of that might,
army Judges s;iol.
In making the application to our
selves 10 thia age, we can think Of th
sounding OF the trumpets as represent
ing prayer, or calling to God; tn
torchaa a = fha ilOhf ~ the ROaral IN