LESSONS FROM THE HEATHEN WORKERS
Isaiah 41:5-7. The isles saw it, and feared. &c.
These verses indicate the state of feeling which was created among the heathen nations by the rapid and victorious career of Cyrus. They remind us—
1. That a sense of common danger promotes fraternal feeling and activity (Isaiah 41:5-6). This has been often witnessed in the history of communities. Persecution, oppression, danger, will frequently unite them in one great movement for defence and safety, and thus call forth and develop principles that are too little cultivated in times of prosperity and security.
2. Mutual help is best rendered when each man does his best in his own way (Isaiah 41:7). In the building of a house, in the rendering of a performance, in the manufacture of an article, in the ruling of a state, the general interest is secured, not by all doing the same things, but by each doing his own individual part in honesty and fidelity. Even when an idol was to be made, the carpenter may encourage the goldsmith, &c. A fine lesson is here taught to Christian Churches. See it fully reasoned out in 1 Corinthians 12.
3. Even the superstitions of heathendom are a witness to the spiritual cravings of men. We have here a pathetic example of the perversions amongst which idolatry grovels. In their panic-stricken state the people betake themselves for safety to gods that first their own fingers must fashion. Think of a human soul bowing down to an image that a few moments ago was “fastened with nails that it should not be moved!” Yet we do injustice to heathenism, and do not rightly interpret it, if we suppose its significance lies wholly in these material objects. In reality we see here the human soul crying out for Another, an Unseen, an Unknown. The very groping of heathenism is so far a testimony to God, that it proclaims God to be in the worshipper before the worshipper seeks Him elsewhere. Amongst all our modern idolatries, too, idolatries of wealth, pleasure, fashion, power, &c., we see the uneasiness of souls who can find no settled rest in the things that are touched, and tasted, and handled. Though not definitely expressed, the yearning is for God Himself, of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things.—William Manning.
Thus the heathen helped each other (Isaiah 41:6). There are many seasons in which encouragement from our fellow-Christians is peculiarly soothing and grateful to the mind; for as “ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so doth a man his friend by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9). This is true—
1. In the wintry day of adversity.
2. In the dreary night of affliction and bereavement. It is one of the privileges as well as the duties of religion to “feel a brother’s care,” to “weep with them that weep,” and to pour the balm of consolation into the bleeding hearts of our suffering friends.
3. In the stormy day of persecution. It was a saying of Martin Luther, that “the plough of persecution was yoked as early as the days of Cain; and it has been going upon the back of the Church ever since” (Galatians 4:29; 2 Timothy 3:12).
4. In the time of fierce conflict and strong temptation.
5. When entering the vale of death. The help we can thus afford we are bound to render.—R. Bond: The Christian’s Remembrancer, p. 162, &c.
Passages in the history of idolatrous worship may be turned to account. Here certain idolaters were alarmed, and ran to seek relief of their gods. They are making a shrine or an idol; they are all in earnest. This suggests what we shall always see whenever we find a model Church. Such a Church is—
I. A scene of activity. Every one is at work. Life is a scene of activity in the physical universe, in the business world. We rejoice that intellectual activity has disturbed the darkness and torpor of the Middle Ages; the printing-press does a nobler work than the old feudal castle; brute force, exclusiveness, have had their day. It is still more encouraging when spiritual life comes into a Church. Then a happy activity reigns.
II. A scene of cheerful, courageous toil. The carpenter encourages the goldsmith. Many Churches are scenes of recriminating discouragement. How much the minister is helped by a little encouragement now and then! It need not be flattery. Let every man do his own but let there be mutual encouragement.
III. A scene of prompt industry and thorough work. There are few worse things for the development of any kind of life than dilatoriness. Promptitude in Church worship and work is much needed. And thoroughness no less. “He fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.” We want cloths that will not rip; bridges that will bear; characters that will stand temptation; friendships that will last. The model Church does its work thoroughly.
IV. All are working—actively, cheerfully, courageously, promptly, thoroughly—for one common end (Jeremiah 7:18). They are all building a shrine or an altar. So the Church has one end. It is a unity, not a uniformity—a unity in spirit, in aim, in end.
V. Special marks of a model Church.
1. A common-sense sanctuary: central, easy of access, constructed so as to be a house of worship and instruction,—not of worship only, still less for spectacular effect.
2. Kindness to strangers.
3. Well-organised charities.
4. Truly sanctified, truly consecrated by the indwelling Spirit of God. This is the crown of all.—E. P. Thwing, Ph.D.: Christian World Pulpit, xxii. pp. 136–137.