The Pulpit Commentary — Judges — Section 87

HOMILETICS. Vers. 22~5.-Prosperity. God has two ways of trying men: one in the furnace of ~ffiiction, that the trial of their f~ith, being much more precious than of gold that pensheth, may be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jes1IS Christ; the other in the fining-pot of prosperity, and this is much the harder trial of the two. Affliction tends to humble and soften and subdue ; but in pros- perity, self-esteem, self-reliance, self-satisfaction, self-will, pride, and security, are prone to spring up with a rank luxuriance. Disregard for the rights and feelings of others strengthens with the inordinate estimate of the regard due to o. man's self. The Scripture lessons as to the dangers of prosperity, and the snare which the possession of unbounded power is to men in general, are very many and very strik- ing, culminating in our Saviour's saying, "A rich man shall ·hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. xix. 23). The latter part of David's reign compared with the first part of his life, the latter part of Solomon's contrasted with the begin- ning, Uzziab (2 Chron. xxv:i. 16), Joash king of Judah (2 Chron. xxiv. 22), Amaziah after his successful campaign in Edom (2 Chron. x.xv. 14-16), even good Hezekiah (2 Chron. xx:xii. 27-31 ), all teach us the danger of prosperity, and the inability of the human heart to drink a full cup of success without intoxication. If we turn to Recular history it is still the same story. Men of diverse characters and temperaments have all alike deteriorated under the influence of too much success in life, and shown themselves unfit to be trusted with unlimited power. Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, Nero, Constantine, Charlemagne, Louie Quatorze, Napoleon Buonaparte, men of the most di1ferent characters, may all be cited as having shown in different ways and degrees how hard it is for man to pa~s through the fining-pot of prosperity without bringing to light more or lees the dross of a corrupt heart. It is an interest- ing and instructive inquiry how far Gideon passed through this fining-pot uninjured, and with hie religious character undimmed. We have already glanced (Homiletics, eh. viii. 13-21) at the brilliancy of Gideon'e success, and at the great qualities by which, under God, he obtained it. We had occasion too (Homiletics, eh. vii. 9-25) to notice the singular strength and perfectness of Gideon's faith, and the excellent fruits which it bore in practice. The humility and simplicity of purpose displayed by him, the docility and trustful obedience, the entire surrender of himself into the hands of God, without a thought for himself or a fear of the result, which marked his course, were of the highest calibre of human excellence guided o.n~ ii_iformed ~! the Holy Spirit of God. It ie_ not, ae we have already seen (Hom1letice, eh. vm. 13--:21), till hie wonderful victory was consummated by the capture of the two kmgs that we cnn see any flaw in his character at all. The fining-pot had not yet begun to do its work. But when we come to the incident of the severe punishment of the men of Succoth and Penuel, to the slaughter in cold blood of the captive kings, and the plunder of their spoils, even whe1, we have made every allowunce for the manners and opinions of the times, and given due weight to the circumstances of the case, it is impossible not to feel that certain donnant passions of pride, nnd CB. VIII. 22-35.] THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 93