Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to Yahweh.
Let us now look at Gideon’s memorial. His fears being banished, and being at perfect peace, Gideon now goes to work. Are any of you questioning whether you are saved or not? Do not go out preaching yet, for you may, perhaps, put others into bondage. Are any of you half afraid that you are not at peace with God? Be careful what you do! Strive after peace, lest you weaken your testimony. I recollect the lesson which I learned from my Sunday-school class: I was taught, if the other boys were not. Though yet a youth, I was teaching the Gospel to boys, and I said, “﻿He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.﻿” One of them asked somewhat earnestly, “﻿Teacher, are you saved?﻿” I answered, “﻿I hope so.﻿” The boy replied, “﻿Teacher, don’t you know?﻿” As if he had been sent to push the matter home to me, he further inquired, “﻿Teacher, have you believed?﻿” I said, “﻿Yes,﻿” “﻿Have you been baptized?﻿” I said, “﻿Yes.﻿” “﻿Well, then,﻿” he argued, “﻿you are saved.﻿” I was happy to answer, “﻿Yes, I am﻿”; but I had hardly dared to say that before. I found that if I had to teach other people the truth I must know and believe its sweet result upon myself. I believe that you will seldom comfort others except it be by the comfort with which you yourself are comforted of God. God would have his people be at peace with him, and know that they are so, for if they are fretted within, and worried in reference to their God, how can they fight the battles of life?
