401
T HE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S work. Our salvation is of His own mercy, grace and power. It has pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.—^People’s Bible. God always saves men in a way that leaves no room for boasting. (Eph. 2: 8, 9; Rom. 3:27.) He can save by many as well as by few. (1 Sam. 14:6), but. He commonly chooses to save by the weak and despised things (1 Cor. 1:27, 28) that no flesh should glory in His presence. (1 Cor. 1:29.)— Torrey. v. 3. Whosoever is fearful. There are in every church timid members who never fail to see the difficulties and never apprehend the way to get over them. Many a pastor feels that his church would be strengthened if only be could have a weeding out time.— Brooks. Glorious subtractions are real additions.— Sawyer. Those that are fearful and trembling because they looked to the might of their enemies rather than to the eternal God, had bet ter depart to their homes. They are an impediment and may by any evil telep athy slacken the faith of others.— Meyer. Depart early from Mount Gil ead. It was far better to have ten thousand that could trust God than ten thousand times ten thousand who could not. And what are numbers if they be not energized by a living faith? God cannot trust those who do not trust Him and sink self.— McIntosh. v. 4. People are yet too many. I have heard God say, “ One shall chase a thousand and two shall put ten thou sand to flight” but I never heard Him Say, “ You must get more men or I can not do this work; you must increase the human forces or the Divine energy will not be equal to the occasion.”— Parker. These shall go with thee. God wants prepared men to fight God’s battles, with God’s weapons, in God’s way.— Bounds. v. 5. Everyone that lappeth the water. Faith’s way is often the unnat
ural way.— Eliott. Very often our un conscious and trifling acts disclose our real character. — Pettingil. Everyone that boweth down. Those who bowed down upon the knees and drank deep and full, were occupied with their thirst. It was for the moment the all- important thing to them. Those who lapped up the water testified that the gratification of thirst was a secondary thing to them. That which was upper most in their minds was the pursuit of the enemyi-—Haldeman. v. 6. Three hundred men. Those who were so eager for the battle that they just scooped up the water as they passed and could not stop to kneel and drink were the ones whom God would have fight for Him.—-Torrey. Has the percentage changed in the church to day? Multitudes have rushed to the standard of the church. How many are to be counted upon in the battle against sin and the work of winning souls?— Echoes. All the rest bowed down, Not one in a thousand in the church are really fitted for the day of battle.— McNeill. Those who put ease of body before the strenuous attitude of the soul are of no use to God for great exploits. — Devo. Com. v. 7. By the three hundred men I will save. Are you discouraged be cause the forces engaged in soul win ning work are small? Do not count heads. Do not fear being in the minor ity. God and one is a majority. Put your heart into the battle. By the few God will do the work if the few will be wholly surrendered to the Holy Spirit. What we really need is faith— un feigned, earnest, simple faith which connects the soul in living power with God and enables us to overcome all dif ficulties of the way. We cannot face the host of Midian unless we have full confidence in the living God.—McIn tosh. v. 16. He divided the three hundred.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker