Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
The hanging hands and feeble knees picture believers who are discouraged, weak, weary, faltering, and ready to fall, and who need compassionate support to keep going. The verse lays on the churches a shared duty not to stand aloof in superiority and self-righteousness, but to come into unison with Christ who left His throne to help the helpless. That lifting is done with pity, sympathy, tenderness, love, comfort, thoughtful words and helpful deeds, and prayer with and for the needy, and it forbids coldness, harsh criticism, contempt, and strife that turn the lame aside instead of healing them. With it goes making straight paths for the feet so that what is lame is healed rather than turned out of the way, by following peace with all and holiness, and by watching lest bitterness spring up to defile many. The discouraged themselves are to take courage and move steadily forward step by step, depending constantly on the sufficiency of Christ and lifting heart and hands to God in prayer for the Holy Spirit.
Meaning of the Images
The hanging hands and feeble knees picture believers who are discouraged, weak, weary, faltering, or ready to fall and who need compassionate support to keep going. The charge is to encourage and strengthen them so they continue in the right way, are healed rather than turned aside, and are prepared for holy, blameless character. This belongs with making straight paths for the feet, pursuing peace and holiness, and guarding one another against falling from grace and spreading bitterness that troubles and defiles many. It is applied especially to speaking gently to ministers and others trying to do duty under difficulty, rather than discouraging them by harsh, indifferent, or contemptuous treatment.
The weakness includes hands made feeble by discouragement or by yielding to temptation to do wrong actions, and people worn down by temptation, trial, and difficulty. It embraces faltering, helpless, needy, erring ones, faulty believers striving to do right under discouragement and darkness while finding it hard by temperament to overcome besetting evils, and wounded and bruised souls who have gone out of the way and long for help, comfort, and sympathy. To lift them is to refuse marked superiority and self-righteous aloofness, to come into unison with Christ who descended from His throne to help just such people, to sympathize as holy angels do, to pity as Christ has pitied, to uphold under darkness, to seek the wandering rather than abandon them, and to bid fearful hearts be strong even when the work is lightly esteemed. Every movement is to prayerfully ask whether it is the way of the Lord, to do His will, to start others rightly by example, to study prayerfully from cause to effect, and to remember that all conduct influences others with results eternity alone will reveal and that how the needy are treated is watched by all heaven and recorded as done to Christ Himself who identifies with suffering humanity.
Trembling knees and sliding feet also show believers who are wavering and not firmly grounded in present truth, and while they remain wavering the protective covering cannot be drawn over them in the sealing. Hands hanging down are a sign of neglected sincere prayer and weakened spiritual life, where lifting them means turning to God in prayer and receiving strength. Trust in one's own judgment and feeling no need to pray leaves ministers and people unequipped to resist the enemy, unarmed for spiritual battle, and unable to serve as channels for the Spirit and truth, so the call is for faith expressed in prayer. Those at ease who do nothing for God will finally lose the reward, for weak hands will be unable to cling to the Mighty One and feeble knees will fail to support in the day of adversity. By contrast, trials resolutely borne in the name and strength of Jesus give firmness to faith and renew courage, and in the path of humble obedience are safety and power, comfort and hope, so that prayerful, faithful workers sowing beside all waters, as Bible readers and Christian workers lifting hands and knees in service, receive the glorious prize.
Shared Duty to Strengthen
Hebrews 12:12 lays a shared responsibility on the churches to encourage and strengthen the weak and discouraged, making straight paths so the lame are healed rather than turned aside, together with pursuing peace and holiness and guarding against falling from grace and spreading bitterness. It forbids holding aloof from faltering, weak, helpless, needy and erring ones in marked superiority and self-righteousness, and requires coming into unison with Christ in pity, sympathy and help. Christ Himself descended from His throne to help just such people, and holy angels from pure heaven sympathize with them. To lift drooping hands and strengthen feeble knees is to pity the erring as Christ has pitied, to uphold the weak under discouragement and darkness, to show the same pity and forbearance Christ shows to faulty believers who by temperament struggle with besetting evils yet strive to do right, and to bid fearful hearts be strong even when the work is not rightly appreciated, as Christ's own work to save the lost was lightly considered, refused and repaid with death.
The call is a message from God to those who claim to be His servants in responsible positions and places of trust, including publishing institutions, to have humility and become learners in the school of Christ so the softening, subduing power of God can come into their lives and the Spirit can work with them. It cures a selfish, unsympathizing spirit toward brethren in hard places, and only then can the Spirit work with them. Leaders must encourage and strengthen the discouraged, weak, halting and lame instead of hurting or discouraging them through harsh decisions, contempt, unkindness, or lack of love, carefulness and tenderness in dealing with human minds. Work bears the approval of God and bears the divine credentials only when Jesus is revealed in it in winning souls for whom He gave His precious life, encouraging them and inspiring hope and faith to save and not destroy, with straight paths made for their feet so they are healed and find refuge in Jesus rather than turned out of the way or lost.
Ministers trying earnestly to do their duty under difficulty, temptation and criticism are to be met with gentle words, pity, comfort and practical help rather than harsh condemnation, discouragement, harsh or indifferent treatment, or added burdens. The same applies to faithful laborers who are honest and righteous, tried with fire, working in hard places and worthy of help, who are to receive words from the Lord so that instead of being weakened and divided they keep united in harmony, go straight ahead, follow their Leader, and carry their high and holy work forward under His guidance with success. False and bitter complaints, such as the Shannans' against Prismall, plant seeds of bitterness instead of helping, contrary to the call for straight paths, healing for the vulnerable, peace and holiness. The discouraged and spiritually weakened, like Brother and Sister Sanderson, are to be encouraged and strengthened to continue walking the straight and narrow path toward God's kingdom.
Support is reciprocal and mutual, since no one is wholly independent of others. The weak in serving God should not be discouraged or made to stumble but helped to take hold more firmly of Christ, to grasp His hand, and to keep working for the Master with hope. Others should reach out with encouragement and practical help to strengthen weak hands for work and weak knees lest they stumble. Those who strengthen the weak may later need their help, as fellow workers support one another.
The duty belongs also to the church's teachers to strengthen the discouraged and weak and help them regain spiritual firmness. It belongs to all to use God-given abilities and example to help others regain strength and walk in straight paths. Students who accept Christ are to cooperate with Him in saving others, using their influence to strengthen fellow students and lead them toward Christian character along the safe, upward path He has prepared. A father's family can strengthen and support his work so his hands do not hang down, by helping him gain strength from Christ through setting aside lesser concerns and seeking that strength.
Strengthening weak hands and confirming feeble knees is a special work to be done at this time, which is the last message of mercy to a fallen world. It is the same work foretold in Isaiah 35, to encourage those of fearful heart and to work with God as He works upon minds to transform the wilderness, giving God all honor and magnifying no men. It goes with making straight paths for the feet so the lame is healed rather than turned out of the way, following peace with all men and holiness, and looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God and lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble and defile many.
Ways to Lift Up
Lifting up is done with pity, sympathy, tenderness, love and comfort, with thoughtful words and helpful deeds, with prayer offered with and for the needy, with patient instruction that does not compare one person against another, and with practical help that restores hope and courage, especially toward those who have done wrong, gone out of the way, wandered, or been wounded and bruised in trial and temptation. Drooping hands and feeble knees describe those who are weary, discouraged and weak and need compassionate support to persevere in faith and hope, and the answer is to seek them, strengthen and encourage them, make the path ahead straight, and help them be healed rather than turned aside or abandoned. In labor for others this means approaching them with tenderness and love so they are encouraged and helped rather than driven away, taking hold to help a brother keep going and guiding him instead of withdrawing from him.
What turns the lame aside is forbidden: coldness, unkindness, harsh decisions, contemptuous words and looks, sharp criticism, accusations, kingly power pressed upon brethren, taking the judgment seat, gossip, censure, strife, dwelling on personal grievances, taking sides against those doing duty, and adding to burdens by false and bitter complaints that plant seeds of bitterness. Such ways lay stumbling blocks, cause trouble and defile many through a root of bitterness, injure spiritually weak souls, turn them from the way leading to Christ, and drive them toward the enemy instead of healing them. The call instead is to strengthen every weak and discouraged brother in faith as new creatures in lowliness of mind esteeming others better than self, to give courage to the discouraged, to make straight paths for the feet so what is lame is healed rather than turned out of the way, and to follow peace with all and holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Others are also lifted by example, by a well-ordered life and godly conversation carrying a fragrant, wholesome influence, by talking faith so that faith increases, by ceasing lamenting and gloom, and by working in Christ's lines with loving endeavor to please Him so that Christ's glory revealed through good works attracts others. This requires prayerfully asking in every movement whether it is the way of the Lord, doing His will and His way, starting others in the right way and encouraging them by example, since all conduct influences others with results eternity alone will reveal. It is done by loving God, meditating on His law day and night, abiding in Christ as branch to vine and bearing fruit, working for the Lord continually at every opportunity in every place, keeping one's own conduct on a straight path so the weak are not led astray, forgetting self to help perishing souls within reach, walking in the light, representing Christ in sweetness of character, and shining as lights in the world.
Strengthening means stretching out a strong hand to clasp the hand of the discouraged, the wounded, the bruised, and those gone out of the way and longing for help, exercising a strong, living faith that helps them put trust in Jesus, helping people in need, and directing them to look to Jesus who gave His life for the life of the world. It follows His meek and humble example of love and sympathy, speaks words that bring peace and rest, deals with the needy in a way showing divine love burning in the heart, helps every other soul as far as possible in the heavenward way, and refuses to take the judgment seat to judge a brother or sister fallen into error. How such souls are treated is a test watched by all heaven, and every such effort is recorded as done for Christ Himself because He has identified Himself with suffering humanity.
It includes healing disunion by being reconciled to brother and sister, humbling the soul before God, confessing wrongs instead of vindicating hasty harsh actions, going directly to those thought to have erred or to hold a grudge, telling them the rubbish of disunion must be removed, anointing old wounds with the oil of grace so no obstruction remains to corrode and break out, clearing the King's highway, and supporting one another with sympathy so the harm of division is repaired. So cleared, straight paths are made for the feet so the lame is healed rather than turned out of the way or allowed to fall away, with peace pursued with all, holiness followed, and diligent watch lest anyone fail of grace and lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble and defile many.
Matter published for the church must do this same lifting work, strengthening and encouraging hanging hands and feeble knees so workers are lifted up and made courageous to keep working. Publications that bring reproach on God's people, give advantage to opposers, and expose believers to slander and discussion fail this standard, and instead of lifting up they bring distress of soul and body, agony, helplessness, intense grief and sorrow, crushing weight, pain of heart, loss of free breath, and loss of strength to write or work.
Straight Paths and Holiness
Lifting drooping hands and strengthening weak knees goes together with making straight paths for the feet, so that what is lame in experience and moral strength is healed rather than turned aside, turned out of the way, or lost, and is led to refuge in Jesus. This is a shared responsibility of the churches and part of the work given to God's people, to renew spiritual strength, walk a straight and careful course, and help and strengthen one another so the weak recover and continue in the right way and all are prepared for holy, blameless character. Conduct itself must not lead the lame astray but help them recover, which means drawing harder and still harder in God's service with every power, taking courage for earnest work because workers are not left alone, since angels minister to the heirs of salvation and Christ is helper. Spreading bitterness and discouraging fellow believers is condemned here because it harms the weak instead of healing them.
With this strengthening goes following peace with all and holiness of service and living, without which no one will see the Lord. These are direct, personally important commands requiring close attention to motives, actions, and daily influence, and to following Jesus' meek and humble example. They mean taking courage, accepting responsibility, and being spiritually strengthened, so that places dedicated to God are not defiled by improper conversation and lawless conduct, and no personal opinions are pressed upon those God has instructed nor kingly power exercised over brethren. The same work is the special work for this time, the last message of mercy to a fallen world, giving God all honor and magnifying no one.
Diligent watch must be kept lest anyone fall short of the grace of God and lest any root of bitterness spring up to cause trouble and defile many. Bitterness that troubles and defiles many works directly against healing the lame. Guarding one another in this way belongs to the churches' charge to encourage and strengthen the weak and discouraged.
Every movement should prayerfully ask whether it is the way of the Lord, doing His will and His way, starting others in the right way and encouraging them by example. All conduct influences others with results eternity alone will reveal, requiring time devoted to prayerfully studying from cause to effect. Hands are weakened by discouragement and by yielding to temptation to do wrong, and knees are made feeble, so the needy include discouraged and wounded souls who have gone out of the way, bruised by the enemy and longing for help, comfort, and sympathy. They are to be helped by stretching out a strong hand to clasp their hand and by exercising strong, living faith that helps them put trust in Jesus, speaking words that bring peace and rest and dealing with them in a way that shows divine love burning in the heart, helping every soul as far as possible in the heavenward way, without taking the judgment seat to judge a brother or sister fallen into error. How such souls are treated is a test watched by all heaven, and the Saviour records every such effort as done for Himself because He has identified Himself with suffering humanity.
Obedience requires coming very close to God by carrying the spirit and teachings of Christ into everyday life. It requires looking critically at self and comparing character with the only standard of righteousness, and strengthening hanging hands and feeble knees in faith and intelligent knowledge of the Scriptures, so that straight paths are made and the lame are healed rather than turned out of the way through want of faith.
Courage for Present Work
The call is to the discouraged themselves to take courage, accept responsibility, and be spiritually strengthened to keep doing God's will when perplexity meets them in service. It means drawing harder and still harder with every power, because no one is left to work alone, with angels ministering to the heirs of salvation and Christ Himself as helper. When God's work languishes hands must not become slack or feeble, but each is to act in faith, do his part, and rely on heavenly helpers. Progress is to be steady step by step, helping and encouraging one another, for God wants neither impulsive action nor standing still. Rooms dedicated to God are not to be defiled by improper conversation and lawless conduct, but straight paths are to be made for the feet so the lame are healed rather than turned out of the way, with peace and holiness followed and diligent guard kept lest anyone fail of grace or any root of bitterness spring up to trouble and defile many.
No one need be hopeless or sink into discouragement, for rich grace is in store for laborers together with God. Though chastening is grievous for the present, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it. The highest incentives are presented to form character God can approve and to present Christ in all His fullness to those in the darkness of error. Drooping hands are lifted by learning to depend constantly on the sufficiency of Christ and gaining by experience the inner witness and actual knowledge that He is all-sufficient, faithful, and powerful, and that His grace is sufficient. Difficult prospects need not make anyone fainthearted, fearful, or discouraged, for God supplies help for every situation, perplexity, sorrow, and weakness, and Christ loves, heals, and gives strength to those whose hands hang down and whose knees tremble.
Lifting comes through prayer that raises heart, head, and hands to God for the Holy Spirit, keeping all uplifted while looking to Him in trust that He rewards seekers. Hanging hands picture spiritual weakness from neglecting sincere prayer and weakened spiritual life, and the remedy is faith expressed in prayer rather than trust in one's own judgment, so that resistance to the enemy is possible and lives become channels for the Spirit and truth. Opening the heart to the divine Spirit teaches the value of human souls. Backsliders who are unhappy and troubled are called to return to the truth and arise for prayer, bringing freedom and the softening and subduing of hearts, with gratitude and testimony of great blessing. Those proclaiming the third angel's message are to end listless indifference that robs God and give a living testimony of its power by seeking the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to work the works of God.
Obedience means being doers of Christ's words spoken through illustrations from nature, the sowing of seed, and the harvest, contemplating and searching those figures to become wise in eternal interests. It means loving God, meditating on His law day and night, abiding in Christ as branch to vine and bearing fruit, and working for the Lord continually at every opportunity in every place without limiting hours. It shows in a well-ordered life and godly conversation carrying fragrant, wholesome influence that gives others faith, hope, and courage. It includes mutual words of hope that lift the faint, sustain the discouraged, and strengthen the weak, so members share received light as missionaries and are prepared in Christ's school to become pure and noble and ready for heaven. Straight paths must be made because Satan is intensely earnest through manifold temptations to lead souls into paths not cast up, by-paths, and forbidden paths, where the lame would be turned out of the way instead of healed.
God's servants must themselves stand firm and be free in Christ so they can strengthen the wavering and encourage the fearful. Those not ready should first labor for themselves and pray for power from above until they receive it. Readiness means ever standing ready to lift discouraged hands and strengthen weak knees among fellow laborers and never weakening hands God appointed to work. It is done by talking faith so faith increases, ceasing lamenting and gloom, working in Christ's lines with loving endeavor to please Him, forgetting self to help perishing souls within reach, walking in the light, representing Christ in sweetness of character, and shining as lights so the brightness of His glory revealed through good works attracts others.
The verse means helping others while walking straight forward in the path of duty, refusing to turn from integrity for personal advantage, fixing the mind on heaven with resolve to see the King in His beauty, and refusing to exert influence against Christ's truth to please any human being. It means coming to the light, seeing where course and attitude have counteracted God's work and hindered reception of light given for the church, and correcting them to be closely connected with God. Stumbling blocks and harm done to those who did not want to believe the message or receive messenger and counsel are to be taken up, so the lame are not turned aside but healed of weakness and inefficiency, the work left in the Lord's hands, and triumph secured with the third angel's message with a certain trumpet sound to prepare a people for the great day of God. Christians who leave larger centers for small communities use strength and talents to build the kingdom, meet Satan's darts and power, lift the weak, strengthen feeble knees, and inspire hope in the sinking soul, growing stronger and more skilled the longer they labor, forgetting self and a thousand weaknesses and difficulties, receiving daily strength and grace as they prove the Master, and becoming better acquainted with God and Christ as co-workers. Spiritual idleness and faultfinding weaken the hearts and hands of those trying to advance the cause, while working to help souls strengthens others and gives vigor to one's own faith.
The hanging hands and feeble knees picture believers who are discouraged, weak, weary, faltering, and ready to fall, and who need compassionate support to keep going. The verse lays on the churches a shared duty not to stand aloof in superiority and self-righteousness, but to come into unison with Christ who left His throne to help the helpless. That lifting is done with pity, sympathy, tenderness, love, comfort, thoughtful words and helpful deeds, and prayer with and for the needy, and it forbids coldness, harsh criticism, contempt, and strife that turn the lame aside instead of healing them. With it goes making straight paths for the feet so that what is lame is healed rather than turned out of the way, by following peace with all and holiness, and by watching lest bitterness spring up to defile many. The discouraged themselves are to take courage and move steadily forward step by step, depending constantly on the sufficiency of Christ and lifting heart and hands to God in prayer for the Holy Spirit.
Meaning of the Images
The hanging hands and feeble knees picture believers who are discouraged, weak, weary, faltering, or ready to fall and who need compassionate support to keep going. The charge is to encourage and strengthen them so they continue in the right way, are healed rather than turned aside, and are prepared for holy, blameless character. This belongs with making straight paths for the feet, pursuing peace and holiness, and guarding one another against falling from grace and spreading bitterness that troubles and defiles many. It is applied especially to speaking gently to ministers and others trying to do duty under difficulty, rather than discouraging them by harsh, indifferent, or contemptuous treatment.
The weakness includes hands made feeble by discouragement or by yielding to temptation to do wrong actions, and people worn down by temptation, trial, and difficulty. It embraces faltering, helpless, needy, erring ones, faulty believers striving to do right under discouragement and darkness while finding it hard by temperament to overcome besetting evils, and wounded and bruised souls who have gone out of the way and long for help, comfort, and sympathy. To lift them is to refuse marked superiority and self-righteous aloofness, to come into unison with Christ who descended from His throne to help just such people, to sympathize as holy angels do, to pity as Christ has pitied, to uphold under darkness, to seek the wandering rather than abandon them, and to bid fearful hearts be strong even when the work is lightly esteemed. Every movement is to prayerfully ask whether it is the way of the Lord, to do His will, to start others rightly by example, to study prayerfully from cause to effect, and to remember that all conduct influences others with results eternity alone will reveal and that how the needy are treated is watched by all heaven and recorded as done to Christ Himself who identifies with suffering humanity.
Trembling knees and sliding feet also show believers who are wavering and not firmly grounded in present truth, and while they remain wavering the protective covering cannot be drawn over them in the sealing. Hands hanging down are a sign of neglected sincere prayer and weakened spiritual life, where lifting them means turning to God in prayer and receiving strength. Trust in one's own judgment and feeling no need to pray leaves ministers and people unequipped to resist the enemy, unarmed for spiritual battle, and unable to serve as channels for the Spirit and truth, so the call is for faith expressed in prayer. Those at ease who do nothing for God will finally lose the reward, for weak hands will be unable to cling to the Mighty One and feeble knees will fail to support in the day of adversity. By contrast, trials resolutely borne in the name and strength of Jesus give firmness to faith and renew courage, and in the path of humble obedience are safety and power, comfort and hope, so that prayerful, faithful workers sowing beside all waters, as Bible readers and Christian workers lifting hands and knees in service, receive the glorious prize.
Shared Duty to Strengthen
Hebrews 12:12 lays a shared responsibility on the churches to encourage and strengthen the weak and discouraged, making straight paths so the lame are healed rather than turned aside, together with pursuing peace and holiness and guarding against falling from grace and spreading bitterness. It forbids holding aloof from faltering, weak, helpless, needy and erring ones in marked superiority and self-righteousness, and requires coming into unison with Christ in pity, sympathy and help. Christ Himself descended from His throne to help just such people, and holy angels from pure heaven sympathize with them. To lift drooping hands and strengthen feeble knees is to pity the erring as Christ has pitied, to uphold the weak under discouragement and darkness, to show the same pity and forbearance Christ shows to faulty believers who by temperament struggle with besetting evils yet strive to do right, and to bid fearful hearts be strong even when the work is not rightly appreciated, as Christ's own work to save the lost was lightly considered, refused and repaid with death.
The call is a message from God to those who claim to be His servants in responsible positions and places of trust, including publishing institutions, to have humility and become learners in the school of Christ so the softening, subduing power of God can come into their lives and the Spirit can work with them. It cures a selfish, unsympathizing spirit toward brethren in hard places, and only then can the Spirit work with them. Leaders must encourage and strengthen the discouraged, weak, halting and lame instead of hurting or discouraging them through harsh decisions, contempt, unkindness, or lack of love, carefulness and tenderness in dealing with human minds. Work bears the approval of God and bears the divine credentials only when Jesus is revealed in it in winning souls for whom He gave His precious life, encouraging them and inspiring hope and faith to save and not destroy, with straight paths made for their feet so they are healed and find refuge in Jesus rather than turned out of the way or lost.
Ministers trying earnestly to do their duty under difficulty, temptation and criticism are to be met with gentle words, pity, comfort and practical help rather than harsh condemnation, discouragement, harsh or indifferent treatment, or added burdens. The same applies to faithful laborers who are honest and righteous, tried with fire, working in hard places and worthy of help, who are to receive words from the Lord so that instead of being weakened and divided they keep united in harmony, go straight ahead, follow their Leader, and carry their high and holy work forward under His guidance with success. False and bitter complaints, such as the Shannans' against Prismall, plant seeds of bitterness instead of helping, contrary to the call for straight paths, healing for the vulnerable, peace and holiness. The discouraged and spiritually weakened, like Brother and Sister Sanderson, are to be encouraged and strengthened to continue walking the straight and narrow path toward God's kingdom.
Support is reciprocal and mutual, since no one is wholly independent of others. The weak in serving God should not be discouraged or made to stumble but helped to take hold more firmly of Christ, to grasp His hand, and to keep working for the Master with hope. Others should reach out with encouragement and practical help to strengthen weak hands for work and weak knees lest they stumble. Those who strengthen the weak may later need their help, as fellow workers support one another.
The duty belongs also to the church's teachers to strengthen the discouraged and weak and help them regain spiritual firmness. It belongs to all to use God-given abilities and example to help others regain strength and walk in straight paths. Students who accept Christ are to cooperate with Him in saving others, using their influence to strengthen fellow students and lead them toward Christian character along the safe, upward path He has prepared. A father's family can strengthen and support his work so his hands do not hang down, by helping him gain strength from Christ through setting aside lesser concerns and seeking that strength.
Strengthening weak hands and confirming feeble knees is a special work to be done at this time, which is the last message of mercy to a fallen world. It is the same work foretold in Isaiah 35, to encourage those of fearful heart and to work with God as He works upon minds to transform the wilderness, giving God all honor and magnifying no men. It goes with making straight paths for the feet so the lame is healed rather than turned out of the way, following peace with all men and holiness, and looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God and lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble and defile many.
Ways to Lift Up
Lifting up is done with pity, sympathy, tenderness, love and comfort, with thoughtful words and helpful deeds, with prayer offered with and for the needy, with patient instruction that does not compare one person against another, and with practical help that restores hope and courage, especially toward those who have done wrong, gone out of the way, wandered, or been wounded and bruised in trial and temptation. Drooping hands and feeble knees describe those who are weary, discouraged and weak and need compassionate support to persevere in faith and hope, and the answer is to seek them, strengthen and encourage them, make the path ahead straight, and help them be healed rather than turned aside or abandoned. In labor for others this means approaching them with tenderness and love so they are encouraged and helped rather than driven away, taking hold to help a brother keep going and guiding him instead of withdrawing from him.
What turns the lame aside is forbidden: coldness, unkindness, harsh decisions, contemptuous words and looks, sharp criticism, accusations, kingly power pressed upon brethren, taking the judgment seat, gossip, censure, strife, dwelling on personal grievances, taking sides against those doing duty, and adding to burdens by false and bitter complaints that plant seeds of bitterness. Such ways lay stumbling blocks, cause trouble and defile many through a root of bitterness, injure spiritually weak souls, turn them from the way leading to Christ, and drive them toward the enemy instead of healing them. The call instead is to strengthen every weak and discouraged brother in faith as new creatures in lowliness of mind esteeming others better than self, to give courage to the discouraged, to make straight paths for the feet so what is lame is healed rather than turned out of the way, and to follow peace with all and holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Others are also lifted by example, by a well-ordered life and godly conversation carrying a fragrant, wholesome influence, by talking faith so that faith increases, by ceasing lamenting and gloom, and by working in Christ's lines with loving endeavor to please Him so that Christ's glory revealed through good works attracts others. This requires prayerfully asking in every movement whether it is the way of the Lord, doing His will and His way, starting others in the right way and encouraging them by example, since all conduct influences others with results eternity alone will reveal. It is done by loving God, meditating on His law day and night, abiding in Christ as branch to vine and bearing fruit, working for the Lord continually at every opportunity in every place, keeping one's own conduct on a straight path so the weak are not led astray, forgetting self to help perishing souls within reach, walking in the light, representing Christ in sweetness of character, and shining as lights in the world.
Strengthening means stretching out a strong hand to clasp the hand of the discouraged, the wounded, the bruised, and those gone out of the way and longing for help, exercising a strong, living faith that helps them put trust in Jesus, helping people in need, and directing them to look to Jesus who gave His life for the life of the world. It follows His meek and humble example of love and sympathy, speaks words that bring peace and rest, deals with the needy in a way showing divine love burning in the heart, helps every other soul as far as possible in the heavenward way, and refuses to take the judgment seat to judge a brother or sister fallen into error. How such souls are treated is a test watched by all heaven, and every such effort is recorded as done for Christ Himself because He has identified Himself with suffering humanity.
It includes healing disunion by being reconciled to brother and sister, humbling the soul before God, confessing wrongs instead of vindicating hasty harsh actions, going directly to those thought to have erred or to hold a grudge, telling them the rubbish of disunion must be removed, anointing old wounds with the oil of grace so no obstruction remains to corrode and break out, clearing the King's highway, and supporting one another with sympathy so the harm of division is repaired. So cleared, straight paths are made for the feet so the lame is healed rather than turned out of the way or allowed to fall away, with peace pursued with all, holiness followed, and diligent watch lest anyone fail of grace and lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble and defile many.
Matter published for the church must do this same lifting work, strengthening and encouraging hanging hands and feeble knees so workers are lifted up and made courageous to keep working. Publications that bring reproach on God's people, give advantage to opposers, and expose believers to slander and discussion fail this standard, and instead of lifting up they bring distress of soul and body, agony, helplessness, intense grief and sorrow, crushing weight, pain of heart, loss of free breath, and loss of strength to write or work.
Straight Paths and Holiness
Lifting drooping hands and strengthening weak knees goes together with making straight paths for the feet, so that what is lame in experience and moral strength is healed rather than turned aside, turned out of the way, or lost, and is led to refuge in Jesus. This is a shared responsibility of the churches and part of the work given to God's people, to renew spiritual strength, walk a straight and careful course, and help and strengthen one another so the weak recover and continue in the right way and all are prepared for holy, blameless character. Conduct itself must not lead the lame astray but help them recover, which means drawing harder and still harder in God's service with every power, taking courage for earnest work because workers are not left alone, since angels minister to the heirs of salvation and Christ is helper. Spreading bitterness and discouraging fellow believers is condemned here because it harms the weak instead of healing them.
With this strengthening goes following peace with all and holiness of service and living, without which no one will see the Lord. These are direct, personally important commands requiring close attention to motives, actions, and daily influence, and to following Jesus' meek and humble example. They mean taking courage, accepting responsibility, and being spiritually strengthened, so that places dedicated to God are not defiled by improper conversation and lawless conduct, and no personal opinions are pressed upon those God has instructed nor kingly power exercised over brethren. The same work is the special work for this time, the last message of mercy to a fallen world, giving God all honor and magnifying no one.
Diligent watch must be kept lest anyone fall short of the grace of God and lest any root of bitterness spring up to cause trouble and defile many. Bitterness that troubles and defiles many works directly against healing the lame. Guarding one another in this way belongs to the churches' charge to encourage and strengthen the weak and discouraged.
Every movement should prayerfully ask whether it is the way of the Lord, doing His will and His way, starting others in the right way and encouraging them by example. All conduct influences others with results eternity alone will reveal, requiring time devoted to prayerfully studying from cause to effect. Hands are weakened by discouragement and by yielding to temptation to do wrong, and knees are made feeble, so the needy include discouraged and wounded souls who have gone out of the way, bruised by the enemy and longing for help, comfort, and sympathy. They are to be helped by stretching out a strong hand to clasp their hand and by exercising strong, living faith that helps them put trust in Jesus, speaking words that bring peace and rest and dealing with them in a way that shows divine love burning in the heart, helping every soul as far as possible in the heavenward way, without taking the judgment seat to judge a brother or sister fallen into error. How such souls are treated is a test watched by all heaven, and the Saviour records every such effort as done for Himself because He has identified Himself with suffering humanity.
Obedience requires coming very close to God by carrying the spirit and teachings of Christ into everyday life. It requires looking critically at self and comparing character with the only standard of righteousness, and strengthening hanging hands and feeble knees in faith and intelligent knowledge of the Scriptures, so that straight paths are made and the lame are healed rather than turned out of the way through want of faith.
Courage for Present Work
The call is to the discouraged themselves to take courage, accept responsibility, and be spiritually strengthened to keep doing God's will when perplexity meets them in service. It means drawing harder and still harder with every power, because no one is left to work alone, with angels ministering to the heirs of salvation and Christ Himself as helper. When God's work languishes hands must not become slack or feeble, but each is to act in faith, do his part, and rely on heavenly helpers. Progress is to be steady step by step, helping and encouraging one another, for God wants neither impulsive action nor standing still. Rooms dedicated to God are not to be defiled by improper conversation and lawless conduct, but straight paths are to be made for the feet so the lame are healed rather than turned out of the way, with peace and holiness followed and diligent guard kept lest anyone fail of grace or any root of bitterness spring up to trouble and defile many.
No one need be hopeless or sink into discouragement, for rich grace is in store for laborers together with God. Though chastening is grievous for the present, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it. The highest incentives are presented to form character God can approve and to present Christ in all His fullness to those in the darkness of error. Drooping hands are lifted by learning to depend constantly on the sufficiency of Christ and gaining by experience the inner witness and actual knowledge that He is all-sufficient, faithful, and powerful, and that His grace is sufficient. Difficult prospects need not make anyone fainthearted, fearful, or discouraged, for God supplies help for every situation, perplexity, sorrow, and weakness, and Christ loves, heals, and gives strength to those whose hands hang down and whose knees tremble.
Lifting comes through prayer that raises heart, head, and hands to God for the Holy Spirit, keeping all uplifted while looking to Him in trust that He rewards seekers. Hanging hands picture spiritual weakness from neglecting sincere prayer and weakened spiritual life, and the remedy is faith expressed in prayer rather than trust in one's own judgment, so that resistance to the enemy is possible and lives become channels for the Spirit and truth. Opening the heart to the divine Spirit teaches the value of human souls. Backsliders who are unhappy and troubled are called to return to the truth and arise for prayer, bringing freedom and the softening and subduing of hearts, with gratitude and testimony of great blessing. Those proclaiming the third angel's message are to end listless indifference that robs God and give a living testimony of its power by seeking the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to work the works of God.
Obedience means being doers of Christ's words spoken through illustrations from nature, the sowing of seed, and the harvest, contemplating and searching those figures to become wise in eternal interests. It means loving God, meditating on His law day and night, abiding in Christ as branch to vine and bearing fruit, and working for the Lord continually at every opportunity in every place without limiting hours. It shows in a well-ordered life and godly conversation carrying fragrant, wholesome influence that gives others faith, hope, and courage. It includes mutual words of hope that lift the faint, sustain the discouraged, and strengthen the weak, so members share received light as missionaries and are prepared in Christ's school to become pure and noble and ready for heaven. Straight paths must be made because Satan is intensely earnest through manifold temptations to lead souls into paths not cast up, by-paths, and forbidden paths, where the lame would be turned out of the way instead of healed.
God's servants must themselves stand firm and be free in Christ so they can strengthen the wavering and encourage the fearful. Those not ready should first labor for themselves and pray for power from above until they receive it. Readiness means ever standing ready to lift discouraged hands and strengthen weak knees among fellow laborers and never weakening hands God appointed to work. It is done by talking faith so faith increases, ceasing lamenting and gloom, working in Christ's lines with loving endeavor to please Him, forgetting self to help perishing souls within reach, walking in the light, representing Christ in sweetness of character, and shining as lights so the brightness of His glory revealed through good works attracts others.
The verse means helping others while walking straight forward in the path of duty, refusing to turn from integrity for personal advantage, fixing the mind on heaven with resolve to see the King in His beauty, and refusing to exert influence against Christ's truth to please any human being. It means coming to the light, seeing where course and attitude have counteracted God's work and hindered reception of light given for the church, and correcting them to be closely connected with God. Stumbling blocks and harm done to those who did not want to believe the message or receive messenger and counsel are to be taken up, so the lame are not turned aside but healed of weakness and inefficiency, the work left in the Lord's hands, and triumph secured with the third angel's message with a certain trumpet sound to prepare a people for the great day of God. Christians who leave larger centers for small communities use strength and talents to build the kingdom, meet Satan's darts and power, lift the weak, strengthen feeble knees, and inspire hope in the sinking soul, growing stronger and more skilled the longer they labor, forgetting self and a thousand weaknesses and difficulties, receiving daily strength and grace as they prove the Master, and becoming better acquainted with God and Christ as co-workers. Spiritual idleness and faultfinding weaken the hearts and hands of those trying to advance the cause, while working to help souls strengthens others and gives vigor to one's own faith.