And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 1 Samuel 17:10.

For forty days the host of Israel had trembled before the haughty challenge of Goliath, the Philistine giant. Their hearts failed within them as they looked upon his massive form, measuring six cubits and a span, or ten and a half feet [nearly 3.2 meters] in height. Upon his head was a helmet of brass; he was clothed with a coat of mail that weighed five thousand shekels, or about a hundred and fifty-seven pounds [more than 70 kilograms]; and he had greaves of brass upon his legs. The coat was made of plates of brass that overlaid one another like the scales of a fish, and they were so closely joined that no dart or arrow could possibly penetrate the armor….

For forty days, morning and evening, Goliath had approached the camp of Israel, saying with a loud voice, “Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us…. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” No one had dared to go against this boaster until David, stirred with indignation at the proud words of the idolater, offered himself to Saul as one who was willing to fight for the glory of God and the honor of Israel.

Saul decided to permit the shepherd to make the venture, but he had small hope that David would be successful in his courageous undertaking. Command was given to clothe the youth in the king’s own armor. The heavy helmet of brass was put upon his head, and the coat of mail was placed upon his body, while he was girded with the monarch’s sword. Thus equipped, he started upon his errand; but erelong he turned back and began to retrace his steps…. The first thought in the minds of the anxious spectators was that David had decided not to risk his life in meeting an antagonist in so unequal an encounter. But this was far from the thought of the brave young man.

When he returned to Saul, he begged permission to lay aside the heavy armor, and he said, “I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them.” …

What an inspiration of courage and lofty faith was displayed by the simple shepherd before the armies of the Israelites and the Philistines.—Signs of the Times, August 10, 1888.

From From the Heart

Nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net. Luke 5:5.

John was one of the first to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. He had listened to the preaching of John the Baptist and knew that he was sent as the forerunner of Him who was the Hope of Israel. To John and Andrew the Baptist pointed out Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” … Jesus saw them following Him and welcomed them to His humble abode. They remained with Him that night, and when they left His presence, it was with their faith in His divine character and mission fully confirmed.

Andrew went in search of his own brother, Simon, and brought him to Jesus with the welcome announcement, “We have found the Messias.” The next day Jesus called Philip to follow Him….

Andrew, Peter, James, and John were henceforth known as disciples of Jesus….

Though they attended upon the preaching of Jesus and were much in His society, they still pursued their humble calling; but the time came when they were to leave their nets and their fishing boats and be more closely associated with Jesus. Crowds now attended upon His ministry, and as He taught by the lake of Gennesaret, they so “pressed upon him to hear the word of God,” that He entered into Peter’s boat, and from it taught the people on the shore. When He had ceased speaking, He said unto Peter, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”

Peter answered that they had toiled all night and had taken nothing. Their labors had been fruitless in the usual time for fishing, and there was no human probability of success now; “nevertheless,” said Peter, “at thy word I will let down the net.” It was done, and the draft of fishes was so great that the net could not contain them, and James and John, the partners of Andrew and Peter, were called to their assistance….

An important and solemn work was before them. They were to give up their only means of support and spend their lives in unselfish efforts to save perishing sinners, but before He called them to this life of self-denial and dependence upon God, the loving Savior showed them that, as Lord of heaven and earth, He was abundantly able to provide for all their wants.—Signs of the Times, January 8, 1885.

From From the Heart

Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you.” Judges 7:7.

After the overthrow of the Midianites, the tidings spread swiftly far and wide that Israel’s God had again fought for His people. No words can describe the terror of the surrounding nations when they learned what simple means had prevailed against all the power and skill of a bold, warlike race.

Wherever the news spread, all felt that the victory must be ascribed to God alone. Thus the Lord’s name was glorified, the faith of Israel strengthened, and their enemies were brought to shame and confusion.

It is not safe for God’s people to adopt the maxims and customs of the ungodly. The divine principles and modes of working are widely different from those of the world. The history of nations presents no such victories as the conquest of Jericho or the overthrow of the Midianites. No general of heathen armies had ever conducted warfare as Joshua and Gideon had done. These victories teach the great lesson that the only sure ground of success is the help of God, working with human effort. Those who trust to their own wisdom and their own skill will surely be disappointed. The only safe course in all the plans and purposes of life is to preserve the simplicity of faith. Humble trust in God and faithful obedience to His will are as essential to the Christian in waging spiritual warfare as they were to Gideon and his brave associates in fighting the battles of the Lord.

God’s commands must be implicitly obeyed, irrespective of the world’s opinion. This lesson should not be disregarded by those who occupy positions of responsibility among their fellow men…. All should earnestly improve every religious privilege and inquire of God daily to learn His will. The life and words of Christ must be diligently studied and His instructions cheerfully obeyed. Those who will thus gird on the armor of righteousness need not fear the enemies of God. They may be assured of the presence and protection of the Captain of the Lord’s host….

The Lord is willing to give His people a precious experience…. He would teach them to submit their judgment and their will implicitly to Him. Then will they see and know that of themselves they can do nothing; that God is all and in all.—Signs of the Times, July 21, 1881.

From From the Heart

The sword of the Lord and of Gideon! Judges 7:18.

The Lord Himself directed Gideon’s mind in the adoption of a plan…. [Gideon] divided his three hundred men into three companies. To every man was given a trumpet, and a pitcher containing a lighted lamp. He then stationed his men in such a manner that they surrounded the entire camp of Midian. They had been previously instructed how to proceed, and at midnight, at a signal from Gideon, all the three companies blew their trumpets, uncovered their lamps, and broke the pitchers, at the same time shouting, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” The light of three hundred lamps piercing the midnight darkness and that mighty shout from three hundred voices suddenly aroused the sleeping army. Believing themselves at the mercy of an overwhelming force, the Midianites were panic-stricken. A terrible scene of confusion ensued. In their fright they fled in all directions, and mistaking their own companions for enemies, they slew one another.

As the news of Israel’s victory spread, many who had been sent to their homes returned and joined in the pursuit of their fleeing enemies. Gideon also sent messengers to the Ephraimites, requesting them to seize the fords of the Jordan that the fugitives might not escape eastward.

In this terrible overthrow, not less than one hundred and twenty thousand of the invaders were slain, and so completely were the Midianites subdued that they were never again able to make war upon Israel. A remnant of fifteen thousand who managed to escape across the river were pursued by Gideon and his faithful three hundred and utterly defeated, and Zebah and Zalmunna, two Midianite princes, were slain….

Because of the pride and ambition of the human race, God has chosen to perform His mighty works by the most simple and humble means….

His care for the works of His creation is unwearied and incessant. When men and women go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage in prayer; when they lie down at night, and when they rise in the morning; when the rich feast in their palaces, when the poor gather their children about the scanty board, all are tenderly watched by their heavenly Father….

With humble prayer and trusting faith, we would seek counsel from God…. Then all our acts would be governed by discretion, our energies would be rightly directed.—Signs of the Times, July 14, 1881.

From From the Heart

Go down to the camp with Purah your servant, and you shall hear what they say. Judges 7:10, 11.

When Gideon stood at the head of thirty thousand men to make war against the Midianites, he felt that unless God should work for Israel, their cause would be hopeless. At the divine command the Hebrew force had been reduced by successive tests until there remained with him only three hundred men to oppose that countless multitude. What wonder that his heart sank within him as he thought of the conflict of the morrow.

But the Lord did not leave His faithful servant to despair. He spoke to Gideon in the night season, and bade him, with Phurah, his trusty attendant, go down to the camp of the Midianites, intimating that he would there hear matter for his encouragement. He went, and waiting there in darkness and silence, he heard one soldier, just awakened, relate a dream to his companion, “Lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.”

The other answered in words that stirred the heart of that unseen listener, “This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.”

Gideon recognized the voice of God speaking to him through the words of these Midianitish strangers. His faith and courage were greatly strengthened, and he rejoiced that Israel’s God could work through the humblest means to abase human pride. With confidence and hope he returned to the few men under his command, saying, “Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.” …

As that loaf overthrew the tent upon which it fell, so would the handful of Israelites destroy their numerous and powerful enemies.

The Lord Himself directed Gideon’s mind in the adoption of a plan which the latter immediately set out to execute….

What lessons of humility and faith may we not learn as we trace the dealings of God with His creatures.—Signs of the Times, July 14, 1881.

From From the Heart