HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-B.-Divinely-ordained tests. What a contrast the present position of Gideon as Israel's leader, within a few hundred yards of the dreaded foe, from that in which we first find him, threshing wheat in the wine-press secretly I Thus far has the Lord brought him, but much has to be done ere the soldiery he has shall be rendered efficient. Both leader and men huve to puss through an ordeal such as must try them to the utmost. Not yet is the onset to be mado that shall defini- tively retrieve the fortunes of Israel. Truly God's thoug·hts are not as men's thoughts. Everything is in apparent readiness, but delay is observed, and two mysterious tests are enjoined. I. THE DESIGN OJ!' THESE TESTS. Although they must have seemed arbitrary, if not capricious, to m~ny concerned, there is evidently "method in the madness." A purtiul explamition is given in the words, "The people that are with thee are too 76 THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [cH. VII. 1--'J,
rnl\ny for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves l\gainst me, saying, Mine own hand l1ath saved me." The tests nre meant there- fore-I. To check {he unbel-ief and self-conceit of men. The vnst multitude is reduced to a few that men may give the praise to God, and his power be manifest, It is easy to suppose that such a tendency would show itself amongst the miscellaneous crowd. God could do the work by "many or by few," and it was well for them all to k!1o~· i_t. 2: To semre ejfic~y. This would coi:isist, ~rst,_in the tried courage and d1sc1plme of those who remained ; and, secondly, m their fmth and inspiration. II. THEIR ADAPTATION TO THIS DESIGN. By the adoption of the first expedient we are not to suppose that S? many as left _wer~ l_acking in ordinary courage. But they were not all heroes, and 1t was the heroic sp1nt that was needed. The anxious irre- solute, and timid were got rid of, and those who remained were men in earnest.' The second test revealed the presence or absence of rarer qualities. This seems to be its rationale: the Israelites were close to the camp of the Midianites who must have been watching the singular manreuvres of their foes. The water ~here they drank must have been within easy reach for I\ demonstration, but they remained inactive. This created carelessness, a spirit of bravado in most. When they came to the water, therefore, they thought only of their thirst, and either forgot or despised the enemy. Flinging themselves down, they abandoned themselves to the luxury of quenching their thirst, and by their attitude exposed themselves to surprise and panic. But the three hundred stood up whilst drinking, and so had to lap. In this way they kept themselves alert, and showed that duty, not self-indulgence, was upper- . most in their minds. It is the combination of prudence and self-denial with courage which is the most valuable thing in a soldier. The soldiers so tried are kept for the special effort, and the others who had not gone away are held in reserve to follow up the first blow struck. But over and above the special aim of each test, there was a discipline in the compulsory waiting and observing all that they involved-the loss of time, the trial of temper by apparent folly and arbitrariness, and the insignificant hnndful survi,ing the tests. So were Israel and its leader prepared. Is not all this like the discipline of life ? God is so dealing with his children. The revelation and guardianship of great truths are committed only to the tried few ; the signal move- ments and heroic duties of his kingdom are the care of elect souls, who when tested have been found true. The qualities requisite for a critical movement in a campaign are just those most valuable in life-faith in the leader, dauntless courage, superiority to self-indulgence, and constant prudence. We are to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. We know not what faults have to be corrected, what high service lies before us.-M. Ver. 2.-" Mine own hand hath saved me." Nothing more impressive than the secrecy observed by God in bringing on hie kingdom. He is not lavish of signs and wonders. Sufficient for the occasion, and no more. Not always asserting himself. So unobtrusive, that vain and empty minds are ready to conclude him non-existent or inoperative. "Verily thou art a God _th~t hidest ~hyself, 0 Go~ of Israel, the Saviour." The flace of God at the begmmngs of thmgs-;-the sprmgs and roots; and the spiritua nature of God accounts for much of this. He loves to work by despised instruments and obscure agencies. "Thy gentleness bath made me great." 1. How PRONE THE NATURAL MIND IS TO THIS IMPRESSION. Israel, as here stated, was constantly imagining it. The moral system~, ancient and_ mod_ern, social and political nostrumR and panaceas, of men show this. The glonfication of courage, intellectual gifts, material resources. JI. !Ts MISCHIEVOUS EFFECTS. Egotism ; materialism ; intellectual and morn] pride. "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteoueness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Rom. x:. 3). "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John v. 40). III. PROOFS THAT MAN CANNOT DE HIS OWN SAVIOUR. 1. The miraculous deliver- ances of Israel. The weakness of luxurious and materially enriched times. 'l'he providences of life. The soul's inner experiences. 2. The true conception of salva- tion. A spiritual more than 3: material fact. O~r relati?n t~_!he law of God. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, &c. (Titus m. 6). "And be found CB, VII, 1-8,] THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 77