The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-04-17
LESSON FOR APRIL 10
THE VICTORY OF GIDEoNs eANo.


LESSON TEXT-Judees :.
EOLDEN TEXT-There Is no restraint
70 .he LORD to save By many or by few
l sam. I4:6
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL - Judges
s:l-40. Sis
PRIMARY TOPIC-G.deon and His
Three Hundred
Victory.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Victory by Gods Help.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-oAe With God a Majority.
80 grievous was ISraers affection
that they hid in dens. caves and
Strongholds (JudgeS Is: p. In their
distress they cried unto the Lori. and
again he heard them and sent deliver
ance. The angel of the Lord APPEARED
10 Gideon while at the post of duty.
"ou always calls men who are loins
something. GideOn's heSitaucy when
called was not due to uubelief, hut TO
modeSty and CautiOuSnesS. He came
IRON an obscure ana uninfuenrial fam
lily (Judges GID. Before going for
ward he wished to be doubly sure
tJudgeS G:3G-iO). Wheel once he was
convinced of duty he was courageous
and enthusiastic This is characicriS-
tic of all truly great men. outstanding
examples of which are Luther, Knox
and Calvin.
l. The Opposing Army e.. y.
Gideon and is army arose early On
that eventful day and encampci by
the spring of Haroi. Over against
them was the host of the Midianites in
battle array. His army was in~ignif.
cant in comparison with the MiCian-
ties.
u. The Sitting of edeon's Army
wv. 2-S).
At Gideon's call $4,000 men respond
ed. ready for the struggle. This
seemed small army to 20 againsr the
Midianite army, $4,000 strong, but
God said this was too many les. they
be led 10 Boosting and self-cOnfidcnce.
small army, but In their pride All
that were faint-hearted were allowed
TO go back, leaving only 10000. There
were 1000 towards IN that group of
men, and, worst of all, they were not
ashamed 10 confess it. Still this was
too many. When God was through With
his Sitting process only 300 remained.
The 10000 were brave men, but rot OF
proper quality and fitness. Those who
Tapped the water showed aler'ress
the quality and fitness of the men
whom God would use 10 win victory.
This sitting process. no doubt, was
trying to Gideon's faith, but h. need
ed To he taught that success In the
Lords work does not depend so Giuch
upon numbers as upon quality.
~. God Gives Encouragement to
Gideon wv. 9-lj)
God babe Gideon 90 down 10 the
Midianite camp, where he would hear
something which would cheer his
heart and strengthen his hands. When
he came near he heard mar tell
dream, which was that Of barley cake
tumbling into the camp and shifting II.
He also heard the Interpretation given
to that dream, which made GideCE TO
be that cake. This greatly cheered
his heart and strengthened him fJ~ his
work. and caused his heart to hurst
forth in praise 10 God. A barley cake
is very insignificant thing very
cheap affair in itself. but with the
hand Of God upon it. 1t would be suffi-
cient TO spread CONSERVATION upon the
Midianites and bring destruction upon
their armies.
w. God Gives Victory to Gideon
(vv 1929.
His army was very insignificant and
his weapons most worthless. H,s at
tack was unique. The whole matter
was of faith (Eeb. IL :32). The ground
of his fifth 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 formed
into three companies. each man t.ins
provided with trumpet and with a
lamp concealed within a pitcher Thus
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 keep
our eyes on our leader Christ. and 10
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 tire shout, "The sword Of
the Lord and of Gideon" threw the
into a panic. causing them
to fight among themselves. One hun
dred and twenty thousand were thus
slain. leaving but 1900 of that mighty
army Judges S:1O).
In making the application to our
selves In this age. we can think OF the
sounding of the trumpets as represent
ing prayer. CT calling to God; the
torches. as the light of tie gOspe' the
pitchers. our human nature; and the
hi in.