The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-07-27

light and my salvation; whom shall
fear? the Lord is the strength OF my
life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:l.
PRIMARY TOPIC - God Helping
Gideon.
JUNIOR ToPIC-winning without
Swords.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Gideon and the Three Hundred.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Winning With Few.
After forty years of freedom, Israel
again passes under the cruel yoke OF
bondage at the hand of the Midianites.
So crievous was their affliction that
they hid in dens. caves. and strong
holds Judges 6:2). In their distress
they cried unto the Lord and He sent
deliverance. This deliverance was Ell
fected through Gideon. The angel OF
the Lord appeared to him while at
the post of duty. Gideon's hesitancy,
when called. was due to modesty and
caution, and not to unbelief. Before
going forward he wished to be doubly
sure Judges 6 :36-40). When once he
was convinced of duty he was not only
courageous. but enthusiastic.
!. The Opposing Army of the Midi
antics ". ~.
On that eventful day, Gideon and
his army arose early and encamped
by the spring of Harod. Over against
them was the Midianite host in bat
tie array. Gideon's army was insig-
nificant by comparison with the Midi
antics.
II. The Sitting Of cideon's Army
wv. 2-S).
At Gideon's call, $4,000 men re-
sponded ready for the struggle. This
seemed a small army to go against
the Midianite army of $4,000 strong
(Judges S:10). but God said this was
too many lest they be led to self-con-
fidence and boasting. 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 1t. This was still too many
When God was through with his sift-
ing process only 800 remained. The
10000 were brave men but not of the
proper quality and fitness Those who
tapped the water showed alertness
and caution. If a similar test were
made today in our churches and Sun
day Schools. would the percentage
stand any higher?
III. Eneouragements Given to Gideon
wv. 9-15.
God bade Gideon go down to the
Midianite camp where he would hear
something that would cheer his heart
and strengthen his hands. When Gid
con came near he heard a man tell
ing a dream which was that of bar
ley cake tumbling into the camp and
shifting it. He also heard the inter-
probation given to the dream which
made Gideon to be the cake This
greatly cheered his heart and strength
ened him for his work, and caused
his heart to burst forth In worshipful
praise to God. A barley cake is a
very insignificant thing, very cheap
affair in itself, but with the hand of
God upon it, 1t would be successful
TO spread CONSERVATION among the
MidaniteS and even bring destruction
upon their armies.
". Gideon's Victory tvv 1929.
His army was very insignificant and
his weapons worthless. His attack was
most unique. The whole matter was
of faith (Ieb. II 800. The ground of
his faith was Gods Word and the
not ask his servants to go forward
without good ground upon which to
rest their faith Gideon formed his
300 men into three companies and
provided each man with trumpet and
with lamp concealed in pitcher
Thus armed, they surrounded the camp
of the MidianiteS. They we're all in
Structed to keep their eyes on Gideon.
their leader, and initiate him. Believers
today are to keep their eyes on Christ,
their Leader. and ever to do as he
does. At the proper moment they
blew their trumpets and broke their
pitchers. giving an opportunity for
their lights TO shine out. This awful
crash of breaking pitchers. following
the sound of the trumpets accompa-
MED by the shout, THE sword of the
Lord, and of Gideon" threw the Midi
antics into panic. causing them to
fight among themselves. Thus 10000
were slain, leaving but $1,000 of that
mighty army Judges S:10).
In applying the teaching of this les
son to our age, we can think of the
sounding of the trumpets as represent
ing prayer or calling upon God; the
torches as the light of the gospel;
the pitchers. our human nature Only
as the pitchers were broken to al
low the light to shine forth and as
the trumpet of prayer sounds loud
and long. can victory be expected.