CURSE YE MEROZ! by S. C. Osborne

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 28, 1902

CURSE YE MEROZ!

By S. C. Osborne

WHY did the angel of the Lord say, “Curse ye Meroz”? We do not read of this people being very bad, or doing some fearful wicked thing; but on the contrary they seem to have been a good, quiet, peaceable class of people. Then, why curse them?—Because they failed to come and help their brethren break a yoke of bondage that had been imposed upon them by a heathen king. The Lord by his prophet said it was time for them to be delivered, yet it seemed like a hopeless task, for they were few in number while there was a great host of their enemies, heavily armed and well-prepared for war, having nine hundred chariots of iron. But there were a number that believed that the Lord would help them, and responded to the call, and went forth in the name of the Lord to fight against this great army. The Lord did help them, and with this little handful of faithful men he slew every one of that great heathen host. No one escaped. A song of praise and honor was sung in behalf of those who had taken part in the work, but a curse was pronounced upon those who failed to help.

Is there not a lesson in this experience of the children of Israel for us at the present time? The Lord has called upon us to do a great and mighty work, and it must be done quickly, for the time is short. He has also promised to be with us, and help us do the work. But to human eyes the task looks impossible, and it seems almost useless for a little handful of people to undertake such a great work. But we have the experience which is related above, and there are many more to inspire us with courage and faith, and help us to respond to the Lord’s call for help, no difference how hard and difficult the work may seem to us. And we see that a reward is sure to come to those that are faithful, and will do all they can for the advancement of the Lord’s work. On the other hand, there is a great loss sustained by those who fail to respond to the Lord’s call for help. In the case mentioned above, a bitter curse was pronounced upon those who failed to come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. It does not say why they did not come. They may not have had faith in the undertaking, or thought the others could fight better than they could, or possibly they thought it more pleasant to stay at home with their families than to march around over the country as soldiers. They may have thought they had good reasons for not going, but the angel said to curse them bitterly because they did not take part in the work.

We have a great message to give to the world, and the Lord is calling for more laborers, but many are acting like the people of Meroz. It is sad to see it so, for they can expect to receive the portion that fell to that people. But the Lord still gives us an opportunity for helping, and shall we not take hold and do so before the Lord pronounces a curse upon us? Help is needed in every branch of the message; especially is this the case in the canvassing work. A great and good work can be done in this way, for thousands can be reached with the message by this method that could not otherwise be enlightened.

The Lord has permitted us to see many souls brought into the truth through the canvassing work. Lately I visited a family that had been brought into the truth by “Bible Readings” and the efforts of the canvasser who sold it to them. The head of the family and two of his sons have done more or less canvassing since accepting the truth. Thus the work spreads, and only the judgment will reveal the amount of good that has been accomplished through this branch of the Lord’s work.

Now is the time for us to lay plans for the coming year, and may the Lord help all whom he is calling to give heed to that small voice within, and plan to enter the work early in the year, and to remain in it. It is a noble work, and there are many blessed and valuable experiences for those who engage in it.

May many begin now, and do what they can. We know not how soon the curse may come on account of our failure to come up to the help of the Lord. I am glad to see those that were once good canvassers taking up the work again, also to welcome those who never canvassed before. The outlook for the coming year is encouraging, and I expect to see a good work done.

S. C. OSBORNE, Traveling Missionary, P. U. C.