The Strong Rebuked And The Weak Encouraged
“For who will hearken unto you in this matter? But so his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarried by the stuff.”—1 Samuel 30:24
There are many of God’s people, from various causes, who are not able to fight the battles of the Lord, or engage in active service for Him. They must not be overlooked. The Lord has a special regard for them, and in the tenderness of His love has made provision for them. Let us learn from this instance in David’s life to act as generously and kindly toward them as he did. Alas! all his followers were not of his mind. They had no sympathy for these weak ones. They who are strong should bear the burdens of the weak, and help them in their need, not seek to rob them of their rightful portion of the Lord’s spoil.
See their injustice! God gave them the victory, enriched them, gave power in battle, and sent them home with much spoil; but they had forgotten that it was God who gave them strength; flushed with their victory, they were proud of their prowess, took all the glory to themselves, and claimed as a right what God alone had given them power to obtain. No wonder they were unjust to their weaker brethren, filled as they were by such a spirit. They had forgotten the words spoken by their lawgiver long ago—“And thou say in thine heart, My power, and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth; but thou shalt remember the Lord thy God; for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth.” How many would not deal so unjustly as they do toward the weak if they remembered their more favoured circumstances were of God, and not of themselves so much.
Mark their unkindness. These were brethren of whom they spoke thus. Their weakness should have touched their hearts, and called forth a readiness of sympathy to share with them their recent gains. But not so, their unkindness would have left them destitute; their bowels of compassion were shut toward them; their ears were deaf to their need, although they were of the household of Israel, and their own kith and kin. They had no right to treat strangers thus, for they had once been strangers; but to act thus toward brethren is doubly unkind. But their king, like our glorious King Jesus, rebukes all such harsh treatment on the part of his followers toward their fellows.
We note their selfishness. They had more than they needed, but would keep all to themselves: a generous spirit delights to help others, and looks upon possessions as given and attained for that very purpose. They think of Him “Who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we, through His poverty, might be made rich.” But with such selfish spirits, Lazarus may lay at their gate uncared for, untended, unfed, although their coffers burst, and their barns are more than filled with plenty. Yet these were brethren, who had a claim upon them that they should share with them their spoils. Such a spirit is not a happy one, nor would the day of victory have brought them any real gain if their selfish ends had been gratified. They must have felt they had defrauded those who went not with them, through weakness, of their rights. A canker would have gnawed at their hearts, and spoiled all the pleasure in that which they had retained from others.
We see their ingratitude. The battle might have gone against them; instead of returning singing songs of victory they might have found a grave on the lonely hillside; instead of driving before them the lowing herds and bleating flocks they might themselves have been, like dumb-driven cattle, marched before their captors into exile and slavery; but their ingratitude does not lead them to think of that. They are exultant with victory, and filled with gains. They have almost forgotten their God, is it any wonder if they forget their weak and faint brethren? Alas! that even men of God, the more they get of earthly wealth should decline in godliness and Christian liberality. Ingratitude for mercies received is a fault from which few of us are clear.
But let us turn to the other side—the weak. We note—they were willing, but not able. How many of God’s weak ones would fain go forth on the Lord’s-day to tread His sacred courts, and serve Him in His house, if they could? As they clasp the hand of loved ones from their bed of pain, with the tear of regret glistening in their eye, they say, “Tell me all about the service when you return. Bring me back some of the precious truths uttered, I long to hear them. I shall count the time long while yon are away.” Shall these weak ones be denied? Shall we not charge our memories to retain what we hear for their sake, and derive a double pleasure in reciting for their benefit that which first brought joy and blessing to our own hearts? Only those who have spent weeks in a sick room know the eager longing to hear again the songs of Zion, and go with them who keep holy day. To some this privilege will never be granted again perhaps on earth. Let us share the spoils with them, and what they cannot go to obtain carry to them, and thus become ministering spirits out of our abundant stores to their longing hearts. They would join in active service but cannot; let all tenderness be shown toward them to cheer their lonely path of suffering and waiting.
We remark, These filled an important place. They guarded the stuff, though not fit for battle. Many a mother staying at home with the little ones, needs a word of cheer; many a nurse by the bedside is doing God’s work as much as those in public life. These loving ministries are very valuable, and are not forgotten by their Lord toward His little ones. The shepherd on the hillside tending his lambs, and the ploughman feeding his horses and supplying their needs, although these necessary services keep them from the house of God sometimes, shall they not share the spoil with those whose time and circumstances have allowed them the full freedom of the Sabbath for holy service in God’s house. Let those more favoured recount to these the deeds of the Lord, and thus make up in some measure for their enforced absence from the sanctuary by sharing with them the good things they have heard. It would do the hearers of the tidings good also, not only by givmg pleasure to others, but they would prize their own privileges more, and come up to God’s house in a more thankful spirit; and they would give more attention that they might remember more readily what they had heard.
We note, These valued the king’s return. They could not go with him, but they went eagerly forth to meet him. They felt as deep an interest m his success as those who had gone forth to the fight with him. And so there are many of God’s weak ones who take a deep interest in all that pertain to His kingdom. They take pleasure in His victories; they pray for those who are engaged in the fray against error and evil; they watch eagerly for success, and hail with delight the growing triumphs of their King. They look for the dawning of the day when the King shall return again, and long for His appearing; and in that day they shall be as fully recognised as those who have borne the burden and heat of the day. They have been faithfully watching where He placed them for His return, and they shall equally share with those who are with Him in His triumphs, His honours, and His everlasting joys. The weakest saint shall not be passed by in that day, but the Heavenly King shall salute them each, and share the spoils of victory with them in that day.
They had a right to share the spoil. It was by the command of the king that all his subjects should share alike. The weak, the faint, the weary—they were all in the king’s army. “They all serve, although some do but stand and wait.” It is not where we are, but what we are. If Israelites indeed, then the promises, the covenants, the inheritance is ours by union to our Lord. It is the King who has fought for all we possess, and He has a right to give it. He has decreed to share it with all His own, and this gives them a claim which cannot be disputed by any. Let the weak, the tempted, the tried be encouraged then. It needs as much grace to be faithful in your position as in the thick of the fight, and you shall have no less honour than they who have stood thus foot to foot with the enemy and have overcome. To those who suffer in loneliness; to those who labour in obscurity; to those who pray in secret with many an aching heart; to those who bear persecution unknown, the King says to each—“Be thou faithful unto death, and unto you, though unknown to earth’s fame, to you also will I give, at My appearing, the crown of life, which fadeth not away.”
Edwin White (1846-?) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. His first pastorate was with the church meeting at Orphington (1877-1879). After two years, the communion question cropped up, the majority of members deciding to throw the Table open. He forthwith resigned his office. His second pastorate was with the church meeting at Clare, Suffolk (1881-1887). After six years of blessed ministry, he resigned the office due to health reasons. His third pastorate was with the church meeting at Woolwich, Enon Chapel (1891-1919). In 1911 was elected president of the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches.
