Let Us Come Willingly to Help the Lord (They Came Not)

This verse coming as it does in the midst of the song of victory of Deborah and Barak, after the wonderful victory that God gave them over their oppressors, seems almost out of place, as it is so different from the theme of the song.

Here we have a terrible, better curse in the midst of a glorious song of deliverance, and the curse is not for an active resisting of God openly, but for a sin of omission, not for something they did, but for something that they had refused to do. These sins of omission are thought by many to be things of little importance, because they are thought to be less noticeable. But the truth is that sins of omission are as noticeable as those of commission.

The absence of a man from his place is as noticeable as his presence in a wrong place. Sins of omission are particularly dangerous, as they place the offender in an entirely wrong light and allow him to take a high place. It is as though the matter on which the Spirit is dealing has never come to his notice, and he is able to take a place those unfortunate ones who sin actively and openly. But in the sight of God, his is the meaner place of the two.

In addition, those, who by their attitudes register indifference to those things that are stirring other men’s hearts, give the lie to the Spirit of God. These say, by their attitudes, that God may be leading others in the yieldedness way—the way of battle, and of risking all—but He has never spoken to them along that line.

There is room for differences of opinion along some lines, but in a time like the time of this Scripture, no difference of opinion was possible to those who were true to their God. The call had gone forth, and all who were true were to answer, come what may.

When it comes to yieldedness, loyalty, devotion and willingness to go through with God, the Spirit deals with everyone alike. As long as there is a need, or a needy one in the world, the Spirit of God will deal with saints, to answer the call and to supply the need in Jesus name.

In Our Lord’s account of the certain man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, we may be sure that the Priest and the Levite were dealt with even as was the Samaritan. The Priest “saw him”, the Levite “looked on him,” and both passed by. They possibly wished they hadn’t seen him, but God saw to it that they did. What a mean thing it was for these to pass by a wounded man, a man needing help, and they being of the very class from which the poor man might have expected assistance. But possibly the meanest part of the whole business was that after they had passed on, they appeared to men to be servants of God from the outward appearance though they had just committed something outrageous.

The Samaritan could have done the same, but this one had a different spirit in him. Instead of passing by his duty, he did that which gave him some trouble and expense, and was truly neighbor to the poor unfortunate, though quite likely he had never seen him before.

Today, we are faced with a condition that closely resembles that that existed in the time of the text. A call is going forth—urgent, insistent, not to be denied, nor put off easily. The reason for that call is a dying world, millions going down without Christ and with no hope. A real battle is raging, a battle by the powers of darkness to keep what advantages they have gained through hundreds of years of oppression and sin.

The challenge comes to every one of us. The call is ringing out: a call to go, to give, to pray, to take a real, a renewed interest in the work of God, to truly come to the help of the Lord. If the enemy is mighty, God is almighty.

Let us beware of disregarding the call, of thinking that these things are spoken to only a certain few. They are being spoken to everyone, and one day we must give an account to God as to how we have used our time, our money, our strength. That day will be a day of victory—for victory is certain, there is no doubt about that—but unless we are true and yielded, we will find in that day that our unfaithfulness will be remembered, and we shamefacedly will hear our Lord’s words of condemnation to us as unfaithful servants.

It is not enough just to have a sympathetic attitude. God is calling for soldiers in this great battle, calling for those who will act definitely and come to the help of the Lord. The condition of Colombia is one that should really move us to action, not only to tears or to talk, but to action. This land so near us is in great need of the Gospel, and God is seeing to it that his saints know of the need.

Some are responding, others, it seems, are letting their opportunities slip away. As God speaks to our hearts concerning this needy field, let us not take the attitude that someone will do it, that God will see to it. The fact that God is bringing this need to our attention is evidence that He desires to use us for this needy land—either to go, give, pray, or in whatever way He might desire.

Let us beware of disregarding the dealing of the Holy Spirit. Many grieve Him away by not yielding, and blame conditions, the pastor, someone in the assembly, or something else for their dry condition. But it is really because they have heard the call to battle and have not answered, and the curse of dryness has come upon them. Colombia is needy, God is calling, let us come willingly to the help of the Lord in any way that the Holy Spirit might lead.