flight, were followed by the other troops that had been dis- missed, and were thus entirely destroyed '\
Thus have we taken a connected view of the most important circumstances, in order that we may have our minds fuUy pre- pared for such observations as naturally arise from them.]
We proceed then,
II. To suggest some instructions arising from them — Every part of the history is truly instructive : we may learn from it,
1. To undertake nothing in our own strength —
[Though God addressed Gideon as " a mighty man of valour," Gideon did not presume upon his character, or think himself competent to the undertaking : yea, though commis- sioned by God himself, he shrunk back from the undertaking, saying, " Oh, my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." We mean not to commend unbelief, but to express our approbation of humility. It is well to be diffident of our- selves, and to confide only in the Lord our God. We are all called to " wrestle, not only against flesh and blood, but against all the powers of darkness :" but " who is sufficient for these things?" Let us bear in mind that " we are not of ourselves sufficient even to think a good thought as of ourselves," and that " our whole sufficiency is of God" ]
2. To draw back from nothing to which we are called —
[When Gideon was assured that God had called him to the work, he cheerfully addressed himself to the performance of it. His question seems to have resembled that of the blessed Virgin, rather than of Zacharias', and to have flowed from a gracious, rather than an mibelieving, principle. Thus should we act : our great labour should be to ascertain the mind and will of God ; and being informed of that, we should, like Paul, when he was called to preach the Gospel, " not confer with flesh and blood," but set ourselves to discharge our duty to the uttermost. We indeed cannot expect our call to any particular office to be made as clear as Gideon's ; but, having discovered the duties of our respective callings, we should make no account either of difficulties or of danger, but determine instantly, and in all things, to approve ourselves faithful mito God ]
3. To doubt of nothing wherein God promises his aid —
[Gideon is particularly commended for his faith, to which
•i ver. 19—25. i Luke i. 18, 34.