202
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
June, 1933
which is directly south across the plain from Tabor. The river Kishon drains the plain to the west, and flows gently out into the Mediterranean. The extreme eastern end of the plain drops rather abruptly down to the Jordan, and down it flows a stream from the Well of Harod, which is commonly called today, “ Gideon’s Foun tain.” Gideon’s Fountain is a copious spring of crystal-clear water that bursts from be neath an escarpment of weathered rocks at the foot of old Gilboa. A beautiful stream flows from it, wending its way down the Vale of Jezreel until it mingles its waters with those o f the historic.old Jordan. The Midianites were encamped to the north of this stream. Gideon, with his men, came down the slopes o f Gilboa from the south. As they reached the stream, they were in the danger zone, where they might be surprised at any moment by an attack from the Midian outposts. Those men who were alert to the situation dipped up water from the stream in their hands, and sipped it, ever keeping their eyes ahead. Those who were less in earnest, threw themselves down upon the banks of the stream, and throwing caution to the winds, drank their fill. These were sent back home, while the former were used by God to save His people. Outline and Exposition Because the children of Israel did “evil in the sight o f the Lord,” He delivered them into the hand o f the Midianites who placed them in bondage for seven years. Persisting in their evil ways, Israel brought upon herself this judgment. But we should remember that God’s discipline of His peo ple is remedial and corrective, designed to win them back into the paths of holiness. When Israel cried by reason of' the bon dage, after seven years o f it, the Lord raised up a judge, or deliverer. In this instance, the deliverer was Gideon. I. T he P reparation for D eliverance (4-6). When Gideon first sent out his cail for volunteers to rise against Midian, 32,000 men responded. But these were too many. Had that number been given the victory, they would have believed it was by their own strength that the enemy had been overcome (cf. Judg. 7 :2). Gideon was told to return to their homes all those who were fearful or afraid, j There thus returned home 22,000, leaving Gideon with an army numbering only 10,000. But even this num ber was too large, and the Lord proposed another test. The reason the army had to be cut down was that nature is ever ready to vaunt itself and steal the glory which belongs only to the Lord. There is no real power in mere numbers. We are too fond of making statistics to show how clever we are, and saying that “figures never lie,” , in order to feed our pride. Even in the face o f the known pow erlessness o f the church, many calmly look at statistics and declare the church is mak ing great progress. We are periously- near the time when the church will be saying, “I am rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing” (Rev. 3 :17). But it is an established principle in spiritual things that God can use only the weak things; He cannot give victory to the strong lest they unduly exalt themselves (2 Cor. 12:7-10). The second test proposed by the Lord was whether the people, when brought to water, would lap it up with their hands or get down upon their knees to drink. It was found that 9,700 of them fell upon their knees. They were more interested in pres ent comfort than in the deliverance o f the nation from the hand o f the enemy. Only
BLACKBOARD LESSON
they began to fight one another, mistaking their own men for the enemies they sup posed were rushing upon them. Thus was Israel delivered. There is an organization called “ The Gideons,” which has taken part o f verse 21 as its slogan: “They stood every man in his place.” It would be well if we could so arouse the whole church that every one called by the name o f Christian would ac cept this slogan for himself. While it may be impossible to accomplish this, we can at least see to it that we ourselves, as indi viduals, are found standing true in our own places whatever others may do. Here is a splendid opportunity for teachers to awaken the scholars who have accepted Christ to take a further stand for His honor. And for those who have not as yet accepted Christ, a splendid privilege is here presented to so appeal to the courageous spirit that they will be glad to join the army which stands for God. Lesson Questions Vs. 4-6. To whom were the children of Israel in bondage at this time, and for how long? What judge was instrumental in their deliverance? Who was it that tried, or tested, the members of the Israelitish army? Was it a fair test? Why? What does this lesson teach about following the example of the majority? V. 7. What did God promise Gideon? Who were to share in the victory ? Vs. 16-21. With what equipment and by what method of procedure did the army of Israel advance? How were the men to re gard their leader? What was'to be their battle cry? What was the effect upon their enemies ? Study the verbs in verse 21 that present two contrasting groups; how may they apply to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and to unbelievers today? Golden Text Illustration A little boy was detained in a country home one stormy night by some fascinating stories that were being told. Finally he went to the door to start home, but it was so dark he was afraid to go. He asked his associates to go with him, but they, too, were afraid of the storm. It grew later, and he cried, saying, “ Oh, I wish I were home!” Presently he brushed back his tears and opened the door, as if he would brave the storm, but a flash of blinding lightning and a deafening roar of thunder fright ened him back. In a few minutes he went to the window and, looking toward home, his tears dried away and he turned with a smile and said, “Now I ain’t afraid to go home.” His friends said, “ But it is dark outside and still raining.” To this he replied, “ I ain’t afraid of the dark now, an’ I ain’t afraid o f the thunder an’ the rain, ’cause I see a lantern cornin’ an’ it’s my big brother cornin’ after me. I ain’t afraid o’ no storm when he holds my hand an’ carries a light, for he knows the way home, an’ nothin’ can hurt me when my big brother walks with me.” With gladness o f heart he joined his elder brother, who held his little hand, and he was soon safe home, where a prepared supper and anxious loved ones awaited his coming.— O. A. N ew lin . God Helping Gideon J udges 6:11-16; 7:4-7, 16-21 Memory Verse: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psa. 56:3). Approach : Besides Deborah, the woman judge o f Israel, there was a man who was also a famous judge and a great warrior. His name was Gideon.
300 stooped to lap up the water. These were eager, ready, whole-hearted. They remind one of Paul who said, “This one thing I do” -( Phil. 3:13,14). With these 300, all else was incidental to the main objective: deliverance from the Midianites. It was the Lord’s testing: “ I will try them for thee there” (v. 4). Nevertheless, it was the people themselves who decided the issue. The one who will serve the Lord is always tested before any real service may be rendered. This is not a question of salvation, but of service. In some measure, this principle is true in salvation also. To certain ones who refused the gospel, Paul had to say, “Ye judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life” (Acts 13:46). II. T he P romise of D eliverance (7 ). First, the promise was given to Gideon by the Lord Himself, and whatever might be the seeming impossibility of 300 men overcoming the great host of the enemy, the Lord’s word was behind His promise. “I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand.” Like all the promises of God, this was brief, simple, easily under stood, and backed by God’s honor to keep His word. Second, the promise called for implicit trust on the part o f Gideon and full obed ience on the part of the 300 under his com mand. Where trust and obedience are shown, the full power of God will be be hind those who possess them. These are the two absolute requisites of victory. When we allow the Holy Spirit to search us in the light o f God’s Word, we will dis cover that our powerlessness and lack o f spiritual progress lie in the absence o f these two things. Having discovered it, we should remember the promise that “ if we confess^ our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive” and start us out afresh to full victory (1 John 1:9). Third, the promise called for the putting away o f all upon which Gideon might lean; he must send to their homes the 9,700 men. While the number was small in comparison with the size o f the enemy’s army, there still might be some reliance placed upon them, and Gideon had to come to where all reliance was upon the Lord. III. T he P erformance of D eliverance (16-21). The 300 were divided into three compan ies o f 100 each and provided with trumpets, empty pitchers, and lamps (or torches) to place inside the pitchers. The three com panies were disposed in a sort o f triangle on three sides of the camp of the enemy and were instructed to do just as Gideon did, lifting up a shout: “ The sword o f the Lord, and of Gideon.” When darkness fell, the Midianites were suddenly aroused by the shout rising from all sides o f their camp, the alarm being blown from 300 trumpets, and the torches gleaming on all sides. They thought an immense army was descending upon them, and confusion seized them. They were thrown into panic, and in the darkness,
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs