The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-09-01

erlv the inhabitants thereof, because they
came not up to the help of the Lord, to
the help of the Lord against the mighty"
This chapter is song of trump.
Israel had won a great victory over one
of her deadliest enemies, the Cana antics.
For many long years the Canaap,.tes had
overridden and oppressed the people.
With mighty armies they had des-
plated the land and forced the. people
to pay tribute. So great was the power
of Siera's armies that Israel had been
cosved and helpless before them twenty
years. A great baatle had BEEN fought.
The soldiers of Israel had been led by
Deborah and Bara& They had fought
against great odds, but Gsd had been
with them and had given them the vic
tory. But not all the men of Israel helped
in this battle. The men of Meroz folded
their arms and looked on. They didn't
lift hand to help. But when the VIC
tory had been won the men of Meroz
came 70 join in the rejoicing. They wan
ted to share the honor and glory of VIC
tory Deborah is pouring out her soul
in sare most beautiful strains. Around
her are the men who had fought with her
with blanched faces and many signs of
the awful conflict upon them. And right
In their midst she sees the men of Meroz.
Her soul is stirred with righteous indig-
nation and she pronounces the course of
the text upon them.
The spirit of Meroze lives everywhere
to-day. 1t lives in the church. We see
men and women who deliberately do moth
ing and yet expect to come up at the last
day and SHARE in all the joy and glory
of victory. But they are going to be
met with the indignation of Jesus, 'Te-
part from me, We cursed, for | never
knew yon.7 This course is against pure
lnaction. The men of Meroz gave no
help to the enemy. They were no trail
tors to their country. They :ust remained
at home and did nothing. rhis was the
sign that brought the course of God upon
them.
We are engaged in a great conflict
today There is place in this confiet
for every child of God. Are YOU filing
your place? Are you doing your duty
as good soldier OF Jesus Christ? How
few people are willing to bear the heat
and burden of the day.
Such people are mot SORRY when the
church prospers but they are nDt willing.
to lift a hand to make it prosper. Their
idea is not how much . they can do for
Jesus, but how little they car do and
still be saved. If you will stddy TIE
parable of the talests in the t.ventV-ffth
chapter of Matthew you will see how
Jesus feels toward the do-notifingI spirit.
The servant who hid his talent and did
nothing with it was cast. into oater dark
ness where there was weeping and gnash-
ing of teeth. Or, see Jesus fcursing the
fig tree in Matthew twenty-first chapter.
The thing thatnade their sin all the
greater was the position they occupied
Meroz stood at the head of the pass OUT
of the valley. The soldiers of Sisera
had TO pass out that way. The men of
Meroz could have destroyed them all.
They could have done more than any
other city in that days battle.
Their responsibility was great because
their opportunity was great. Let us no
tice some people who stand at Meroz to-
day. There is the father and the mother
in the home. More than any one else
they are responsible for the moulding
and the shaping of the destiny of their
children. Nine cases Out of ten children
go just as they are trained. "Train up
a child in the way he should go an6
when he is old, he will not depart from
it. "-Proverbs 22:6. The Sunday school
teacher stands at Meroz It is a place of
great opportunity, but also of great re-
sponsibifity.
Then, there are others, who by reason
Of birth and social station stand at Meroz
Great gifts also being great response
biIities
Meroz stands for the shirker wherever
and however conditioned in life Enlist
ment without service, profession without
sacrifice, receiving from the Lord and
giving back no service to Hifn-that is
Meroz.
There are joys in the victory that awaits
you. There are sweeter joys for the faith
full soldier of Jesus than Deborah knew.