Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1920-04-15

ioNAL MATERIAL - Judges
sI-40, S:l-35
PRIMARY rop1c-cideon and Hi.
Three Hundred.
Victory.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Victory by Gods Help
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
--one With God a Majority.
so grievous was Israel's affliction
mat they hid In dens, caves and
strongholds tJudges 9: 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 unbeief, but to
modesty and cautiousness. When once
ne was convinced of duty he was
courageous and enthusiastic.
Z !. The Opposing Army ". y.
Gideon and his army arose early on
that eventful day and encampad by
the spring of Harod. Over against
them was the host Of the Midanites in
battle array. His army was insignifi-
cant In comparison with the Mldian-
ties.
II. The Sitting Of G.deon's Army
wv 2-S).
AT Gideon's call $4,000 men respond
ed. ready for the struggle. This
seemed small army to go agans. the
Midianite army. $4,000 strong, but
God said this was too many lest they
he led to Boosting and self-confidence.
Their real danger was not in their
small army. but in their pride. All
that were faint-hearted were allowed
to go hack, leaving only 10000. There
were 22,0O0 towards in that group Of
men. and, worst of all. they were not
ashamed to confess 1t. 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 fitness. Those who
Tapped the water showed alertness
and watchfuness. This test revealed
the quality and fitness of the men
whom God would use to win victory.
III. God Gives encouragement to
Gideon wv. 9-15.)
God babe Gideon go down to the
hidianite camp, where he would hear
which would cheer his
heart and strengthen his hands. When
ne came near he heard a man tell
lream, which was that of a barley cake
into the camp and shifting 1t. /
He also heard the Interpretation given
70 that dream, which made Gideon to
De that cake This greatly chcered
his heart and strengthened him for his
work. and caused his heart to burst
'orth In praise to God. A barley cake
s very ms gnificant thing, very
heap affair in itself. but with the
land Of God upon 1t, 1t would be suffi- |
.ient to spread CONSERVATION upon the
didianites and bring destruction upon
heir armies.
w. God Gives Victory to Gideon
W. 1929.
His army was very insignificant and
lis weapons most worthless. His at
ack was unique. The whole matter
vas Of faith (Heb. II 1927. The ground
+ his faith was Gods word and the
oxen which he had given him. God
oes not ask us to go forward without
God ground upon which to rest our
aith. Gideon with his 300 men formed
1to three companies, each man being
rovided with a trumpet and with q
imp concealed within pitcher, Thus
rmed, they surrounded the camps Of
ne Midianites. They were all instruct
to keep their eyes upon their leader
nd initiate him. We, too, are to keep
ur eyes on our leader. Christ, and to
YER do as he does. AT the proper mo-
lent they blew their trumpets and
roke their pitchers, giving opportun-
Y for their lights to shine out. This
wful crash Of breaking pitchers, fol-
wing the sound Of trumpets, accom-
anied by the shout, "The sword of
lie Lord and Of Gideon" threw the
idianites into q panic. causing them
fight among themselves. One hun
ed and twenty thousand were thus
ain, leaving but $4,000 of that mighty
my Judges 8:10).
In making the application to our.
Ives In this age, we can think OF the
unding of the trumpets as represents
G prayer, or calling to God: the
riches, as the light Of the gospel; the
tchers our human nature; and the
loIe, M this treasure in earthen yes
Is. Only as the pitchers were broken
allow the light to shine forth, and as
. sound loud ard long the trumpet OF