Chapter 89. Judges 7:16-25. Gideon’s Victory.
GIDEON divided his little army into three bands of one hundred each to set them on three sides of the camp. He gave each man a trumpet, an empty pitcher. and a lamp in every pitcher. They had no swords, no spears, nor bows, nor arrows. They had God to fight for them, and needed no other arms. Gideon said to the men: Look at me and do as I do. When I blow my trumpet, you blow yours, and cry: “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.”
Gideon and the hundred men with him, soon came to the outside of the camp of the Midianites. It was still night, the beginning of the middle watch when Gideon blew his trumpet, and all his men likewise, and broke their pitchers, and the lamps which had been hidden, began to shine as they took them in their left hands, and all cried “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” They all stood in their places around the camp, but the Midianites hearing the noise, and the shouting, were very much frightened, for God had brought this fear upon them. They did not know what to do; they were like wild mad men, and fell upon one another, killing their own friends and neighbors. The whole camp was demoralized, and the Midianites who remained, fled away.
Then the men of Israel from the tribes of Naphtali and Asher and Manasseh pursued after them, and Gideon sent messengers throughout Mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites and take the waters of Jordan before them. The men of Ephraim took them and there killed two Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb, and brought their heads to Gideon.
However strange this means of obtaining a victory might seem to some, it was God’s way and proved the right way. The trumpets had been blown before Jericho fell, we remember. Before that time, in the wilderness, God had commanded Moses to make silver trumpets, and said to him: “If you go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresses you, then you shall blow an alarm with the trumpet; and you shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.” Numbers 10:9. It represented God’s word, the only weapon the Christian can use against his enemy, the world. It is sharper than a two-edged sword, God tells us; and if we boldly answer, when tempted, with a “God says so” the enemy will flee from us. Let us, then, study the Holy Scriptures that we may know what God says, and that we may have it at all times for our conduct in our daily walk.
Their pitchers and lamps also have a very great meaning. The apostle Paul speaks of us as “earthen vessels,” and if we are “broken,” that is, if our own will is completely set aside for God’s, then our light will shine, and the world can see it. “Ye are the light of the world.” Jesus said to his disciples, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:14, 16.
But the men of Ephraim were jealous of Gideon’s victory, and came to him saying: Why did you serve us in this way, and did not call us when you went to fight the Midianites? They seemed angry, but he answered them gently: What did I do in comparison of you? God delivered into your hands the princes Oreb and Zeeb, was that not more than I did? How kind of him to give them credit for all he could, instead of showing pride as some of us do very often. Their anger was turned away when they heard his answer; their pride was satisfied, but how much more beautiful, Gideon’s conduct! We may well imitate him, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “I am meek and lowly in heart.”
“A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.” Prov. 15:1.
ML 03/31/1912