patriarchs and prophets-第105章

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fords　of　the　Jordan；　thus　preventing　the　escape　of　the　fugitives。　By　this
means　a　large　number　of　the　enemy　were　slain；　among　whom　were　two　princes；
Oreb　and　Zeeb。　Thus　the　men　of　Ephraim　followed　up　the　battle；　and　helped
complete　the　victory。　Nevertheless；　they　were　jealous　and　angry；　as　though
Gideon　had　been　led　by　his　own　will　and　judgment。　They　did　not　discern　God's
hand　in　the　triumph　of　Israel；　they　did　not　appreciate　His　power　and　mercy
in　their

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deliverance；　and　this　very　fact　showed　them　unworthy　to　be　chosen　as　His
special　instruments。

Returning　with　the　trophies　of　victory；　they　angrily　reproached　Gideon：　〃Why
hast　thou　served　us　thus；　that　thou　calledst　us　not；　when　thou　wentest　to
fight　with　the　Midianites？〃

〃What　have　I　done　now；　in　comparison　of　you？〃　said　Gideon。　〃Is　not　the
gleaning　of　the　grapes　of　Ephraim　better　than　the　vintage　of　Abiezer？　God
hath　delivered　into　your　hands　the　princes　of　Midian；　Oreb　and　Zeeb：　and
what　was　I　able　to　do　in　comparison　of　you？〃

The　spirit　of　jealousy　might　easily　have　been　fanned　into　a　quarrel　that
would　have　caused　strife　and　bloodshed；　but　Gideon's　modest　answer　soothed
the　anger　of　the　men　of　Ephraim；　and　they　returned　in　peace　to　their　homes。
Firm　and　uncompromising　where　principle　was　concerned；　and　in　war　a　〃mighty
man　of　valor；〃　Gideon　displayed　also　a　spirit　of　courtesy　that　is　rarely
witnessed。

The　people　of　Israel；　in　their　gratitude　at　deliverance　from　the　Midianites；
proposed　to　Gideon　that　he　should　become　their　king；　and　that　the　throne
should　be　confirmed　to　his　descendants。　This　proposition　was　in　direct
violation　of　the　principles　of　the　theocracy。　God　was　the　king　of　Israel；
and　for　them　to　place　a　man　upon　the　throne　would　be　a　rejection　of　their
Divine　Sovereign。　Gideon　recognized　this　fact；　his　answer　shows　how　true　and
noble　were　his　motives。　〃I　will　not　rule　over　you；〃　he　declared；　〃neither
shall　my　son　rule　over　you：　the　Lord　shall　rule　over　you。〃

But　Gideon　was　betrayed　into　another　error；　which　brought　disaster　upon　his
house　and　upon　all　Israel。　The　season　of　inactivity　that　succeeds　a　great
struggle　is　often　fraught　with　greater　danger　than　is　the　period　of
conflict。　To　this　danger　Gideon　was　now　exposed。　A　spirit　of　unrest　was　upon
him。　Hitherto　he　had　been　content　to　fulfill　the　directions　given　him　from
God；　but　now；　instead　of　waiting　for　divine　guidance；　he　began　to　plan　for
himself。　When　the　armies　of　the　Lord　have　gained　a　signal　victory；　Satan
will　redouble　his　efforts　to　overthrow　the　work　of　God。　Thus　thoughts　and
plans　were　suggested　to　the　mind　of　Gideon；　by　which　the　people　of　Israel
were　led　astray。

Because　he　had　been　commanded　to　offer　sacrifice　upon　the　rock　where　the
Angel　appeared　to　him；　Gideon　concluded　that

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he　had　been　appointed　to　officiate　as　a　priest。　Without　waiting　for　the
divine　sanction；　he　determined　to　provide　a　suitable　place；　and　to　institute
a　system　of　worship　similar　to　that　carried　on　at　the　tabernacle。　With　the
strong　popular　feeling　in　his　favor　he　found　no　difficulty　in　carrying　out
his　plan。　At　his　request　all　the　earrings　of　gold　taken　from　the　Midianites
were　given　him　as　his　share　of　the　spoil。　The　people　also　collected　many
other　costly　materials；　together　with　the　richly　adorned　garments　of　the
princes　of　Midian。　From　the　material　thus　furnished；　Gideon　constructed　an
ephod　and　a　breastplate；　in　imitation　of　those　worn　by　the　high　priest。　His
course　proved　a　snare　to　himself　and　his　family；　as　well　as　to　Israel。　The
unauthorized　worship　led　many　of　the　people　finally　to　forsake　the　Lord
altogether；　to　serve　idols。　After　Gideon's　death　great　numbers；　among　whom
were　his　own　family；　joined　in　this　apostasy。　The　people　were　led　away　from
God　by　the　very　man　who　had　once　overthrown　their　idolatry。

There　are　few　who　realize　how　far…reaching　is　the　influence　of　their　words
and　acts。　How　often　the　errors　of　parents　produce　the　most　disastrous
effects　upon　their　children　and　children's　children；　long　after　the　actors
themselves　have　been　laid　in　the　grave。　Everyone　is　exerting　an　influence
upon　others；　and　will　be　held　accountable　for　the　result　of　that　influence。
Words　and　actions　have　a　telling　power；　and　the　long　hereafter　will　show　the
effect　of　our　life　here。　The　impression　made　by　our　words　and　deeds　will
surely　react　upon　ourselves　in　blessing　or　in　cursing。　This　thought　gives　an
awful　solemnity　to　life；　and　should　draw　us　to　God　in　humble　prayer　that　He
will　guide　us　by　His　wisdom。

Those　who　stand　in　the　highest　positions　may　lead　astray。　The　wisest　err；
the　strongest　may　falter　and　stumble。　There　is　need　that　light　from　above
should　be　constantly　shed　upon　our　pathway。　Our　only　safety　lies　in　trusting
our　way　implicitly　to　Him　who　has　said；　〃Follow　Me。〃

After　the　death　of　Gideon　〃the　children　of　Israel　remembered　not　the　Lord
their　God；　who　had　delivered　them　out　of　the　hands　of　all　their　enemies　on
every　side：　neither　showed　they　kindness　to　the　house　of　Jerubbaal；　namely；
Gideon；　according　to　all　the　goodness　which　he　had　showed　unto　Israel。〃
Forgetful　of　all　that　they　owed　to　Gideon；　their　judge　and　deliverer；　the
people　of　Israel　accepted　his　baseborn　son　Abimelech　as　their

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king；　who；　to　sustain　his　power；　murdered　all　but　one　of　Gideon's　lawful
children。　When　men　cast　off　the　fear　of　God　they　are　not　long　in　departing
from　honor　and　integrity。　An　appreciation　of　the　Lord's　mercy　will　lead　to
an　appreciation　of　those　who；　like　Gideon；　have　been　employed　as　instruments
to　bless　His　people。　The　cruel　course　of　Israel　toward　the　house　of　Gideon
was　what　might　be　expected　from　a　people　who　manifested　so　great　ingratitude
to　God。

After　the　death　of　Abimelech　the　rule　of　judges　who　feared　the　Lord　served
for　a　time　to　put　a　check　upon　idolatry；　but　erelong　the　people　returned　to
the　practices　of　the　heathen　communities　around　them。　Among　the　northern
tribes　the　gods　of　Syria　and　Sidon　had　many　worshipers。　On　the　southwest　the
idols　of　the　Philistines；　and　on　the　east　those　of　Moab　and　Ammon；　had
turned　the　hearts　of　Israel　from　the　God　of　their　fathers。　But　apostasy
speedily　brought　its　punishment。　The　Ammonites　subdued　the　eastern　tribes
and；　crossing　the　Jordan；　invaded　the　territory　of　Judah　and　Ephraim。　On　the
west　the　Philistines　came　up　from　their　plain　beside　the　sea；　burning　and
pillaging　far　and　near。　Again　Israel　seemed　to　be　abandoned　to　the　power　of
relentless　foes。

Again　the　people　sought　help　from　Him　whom　they　had　so　forsaken　and
insulted。　〃The　children　of　Israel　cried　unto　the　Lord；　saying；　We　have
sinned　against　Thee；　both　because　we　have　forsaken　our　God；　and　also　served
Baalim。〃　But　sorrow　had　not　worked　true　repentance。　The　people　mourned
because　their　sins　had　brought　suffering　upon　themselves；　but　not　because
they　had　dishonored　God　by　transgression　of　His　holy　law。　True　repentance　is
more　than　sorrow　for　sin。　It　is　a　resolute　turning　away　from　evil。

The　Lord　answered　them　through　one　of　His　prophets：　〃Did　I　not　deliver　you
from　the　Egyptians；　and　from　the　Amorites；　from　the　children　of　Ammon；　and
from　the　Philistines？　The　Zidonians　also；　and　the　Amalekites；　and　the
Maonites；　did　oppress　you；　and　ye　cried　to　Me；　and　I　delivered　you　out　of
their　hand。　Yet　ye　have　forsaken　Me；　and　served　other　gods：　wherefore　I　will
deliver　you　no　more。　Go　and　cry　unto　the　gods　which　ye　have　chosen；　let　them
deliver　you　in　the　time　of　your　tribulation。〃

These　solemn　and　fearful　words　carry　the　mind　forward　to　another　scenethe
great　day　of　final　judgmentwhen　the

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rejecters　of　God's　mercy　and　the　despisers　of　His　grace　shall　be　brought
face　to　face　with　His　justice。　At　that　tribunal　must　they　render　an　account
who　have　devoted　their　God…given　talents　of　time；　of　means；　or　of　intellect；
to　serving　the　gods　of　this　world。　They　have　forsaken　their　true　and　loving
Friend；　to　follow　the　path　of　convenience　and　worldly　pleasure。　They
intended　at　some　time　to　return　to　God；　but　the　world　with　its　follies　and
deceptions　absorbed　the　attention。　Frivolous　amusements；　pride　of　dress；
indulgence　of　appetite；　hardened　the　heart　and　benumbed　the　conscience；　so
that　the　voice　of　truth　was　not　heard。　Duty　was　despised。　Things　of　infinite
value　were　lightly　esteemed；　until　the　heart　lost　all　desire　to　sacrifice
for　Him　who　has　given　so　much　for　man。　But　in　the　reaping　time　they　will
gather　that　which　they　have　sown。

Saith　the　Lord：　〃I　have　called；　and　ye　refused；　I　have　stretched　out　My
hand；　and　no　man　regarded；　but　ye　have　set　at　nought　all　My　counsel；　and
would　none　of　My　reproof：　。　。　。　when　your　fear　cometh　as　desolation；　and
your　destruction　cometh　as　a　whirlwind；　when　distress　and　anguish　cometh
upon　you。　Then　shall　they　call　upon　Me；　but　I　will　not　answer；　they　shall
seek　Me　early；　but　they　shall　not　find　Me：　for　that　they　hated　knowledge；
and　did　not　choose　the　fear　of　the　Lord：　they　would　none　of　My　counsel：　they
despised　all　My　reproof。　Therefore　shall　they　eat　of　the　fruit　of　their　own
way；　and　be　filled　with　their　own　devices。〃　〃But　whoso　hearkeneth　unto　Me
shall　dwell　safely；　and　shall　be　quiet　from　fear　of　evil。〃　Proverbs　1：24…31；
33。

The　Israelites　now　humbled　themselves　before　the　Lord。　〃And　they　put　away
the　strange　gods　from　among　them；　and　served　Jehovah。〃　And　the　Lord's　heart
of　love　was　grieved　〃was　grieved　for　the　misery　of　Israel。〃　Oh；　the
long…suffering　mercy　of　our　God！　When　His　people　put　away　the　sins　that　had
shut　out　His　presence；　He　heard　their　prayers　and　at　once　began　to　work　for
them。

A　deliverer　was　raised　up　in　the　person　of　Jephthah；　a　Gileadite；　who　made
war　upon　the　Ammonites　and　effectually　destroyed　their　power。　For　eighteen
years　at　this　time　Israel　had　suffered　under　the　oppression　of　her　foes；　yet
again　the　lesson　taught　by　suffering　was　forgotten。

As　His　people　returned　to　their　evil　ways；　the　Lord　permitted　them　to　be
still　oppressed　by　their　powerful　enemies；　the　Philistines。

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For　many　years　they　were　constantly　harassed；　and　at　times　completely
subjugated；　by　this　cruel　and　warlike　nation。　They　had　mingled　with　these
idolaters；　uniting　with　them　in　pleasure　and　in　worship；　until　they　seemed
to　be　one　with　them　in　spirit　and　interest。　Then　these　professed　friends　of
Israel　became　their　bitterest　enemies　and　sought　by　every　means　to
accomplish　their　destruction。

Like　Israel；　Christians　too　often　yield　to　the　influence　of　the　world　and
conform　to　its　principles　and　customs；　in　order　to　secure　the　friendship　of
the　ungodly；　but　in　the　end　it　will　be　found　that　these　professed　friends
are　the　most　dangerous　of　foes。　The　Bible　plainly　teaches　that　there　can　be
no　harmony　between　the　people　of　God　and　the　world。　〃Marvel　not；　my
brethren；　if　the　world　hate　you。〃　1　John　3：13。　Our　Saviour　says；　〃Ye　know
that　it　hated　Me　before　it　hated　you。〃　John　15：18。　Satan　works　through　the
ungodly；　under　cover　of　a　pretended　friendship；　to　allure　God's　people　into
sin；　that