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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 29, 1870

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 36, No. 24.

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“For our Learning.”

By James White

THE CURSE OF MEROZ.

“Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” Judges 5:23.
“He that gathereth not with me,” says the Saviour, “scattereth abroad.” There is no neutral ground to occupy on moral questions. To neglect is as to reject; and indifference is as hatred. Lukewarmness and formality are the evils of which we are specially warned in the last days. Rev. 3:14–18; 2 Tim. 3:1–5. There is a woe to them that are at ease in Zion. Amos 6:1. Says one, “You can point to no harm that I have done.” Question: Can you point to any good you have done? If not, you have done much harm; you have wasted your time; you have set a bad example; you have been unfaithful to the trust committed to you, and, like an unprofitable servant, hid your Lord’s money where it could bring no return.
More than all others, a careless, ease-loving minister must be offensive to God. Most to be feared and dreaded in the camp, is a sentinel sleeping at his post. For such an offense no excuse can be accepted. Eternity can only measure the evil done by a watchman sleeping “on the walls of Zion.” The scouts of the enemy are always on the watch; his forces ever stand ready to improve every advantage. “Be vigilant,” says our Captain. “Give all diligence,” is our order. “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently.” Jer. 48:10—margin. Said a sister, concerning a minister, “He came to our place on the evening of our prayer meeting, and we were much rejoiced to think of having such help in our meeting. After waiting a long time, he made a few cold remarks, and sat down and slept till our meeting ended.” Of course it was duly reported in his “time,” and Conference had to pay for his “labor” on that occasion. I do not wonder that a far-seeing brother said he feared our “Systematic Benevolence” was a curse to some. And I greatly fear that the curse of Meroz is upon more than one who hold license from their Conferences. Have we indeed the last message of mercy? are the plagues of God’s wrath impending? and is Satan working with great power to deceive the world? Where, then, are the Lord’s helpers against the mighty?
J. H. W.