widespread.” She continues, “If the eyes of our imagination were opened to see how hard that most human lives are, and how heavily the chill chord of discouragement presses upon hearts that seem cold and sullen, we would surely seek to strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees where now we stand aloof as critics.”23 That introduces the very word of our text. If David in the wood represents a mood of the soul, Jonathan reveals—
THE MINISTRY THE MOOD NEEDS
“Jonathan went to David into the wood and strengthened his hand in God.” In Isaiah’s words, God bids us “strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees.” The literal translation of these words, according to Moffatt is, “Put heart into the listless, and brace all weak-kneed souls, tell men with fluttering hearts, ‘have courage, never fear.’” Here is the mark that distinguishes true human beings. They are encouragers, and they will never lack compliment. The supply of encouragement is limited because few give it and everybody needs it. “Ninety-nine out of every hundred people,” says one writer, “want encouragement all the time, and the hundredth wants it for only twenty three hours and fifty nine minutes every day.”
If that sounds like hyperbole, it is a fact that thousands are hiding away discouraged and depressed, needing someone to do for them what Jonathan did for David. And I would enlist you all in the noble army of encouragers. But before we can render effective service we must realize—
WHAT IT IS WE HAVE TO DO
The sacred writer uses a striking and suggestive phrase to describe what Jonathan did for David. He “strengthened his hand in God.” He nerved him afresh for his task, turned him from despair and set him to work again. That is the art and the end of encouragement. Like all good things, it is imitated. There are substitutes which are not only worthless but harmful.
It is one of the easiest things in the world for sloppy sentimentalism to pass for sympathy. Even well-meaning people make mistakes. Instead of encouraging the diffident and depressed into confidence, we may simply flatter them into conceit. Instead of putting grit and grip into the man who has let go, we may only minister to his complacency. It is not our task to make people comfortable in the Slough of Despond, we must help them out. You haven’t finished your task when you’ve said, “I am sorry for you, old man, you are having a bad time.” The fact is there are few arts that need more mastering than the art of encouragement. “The Lord God,” said the prophet, “hath given me the tongue of a disciple, that I should know how to speak a word in reason to him that is weary.” Encouragement is a divine art and a secret of discipleship. We need training in the school to which the prophet went if we are not only to soothe and ease but revive and restore. And that is what we have to do—to put heart into the listless, help a man to gird himself afresh for his pilgrimage, and strengthen his hand for his work. Now let us try to realize—
HOW WE CAN TRULY ENCOURAGE
Jonathan did a great deal for David by just going to him in the wood. What distresses and depresses many is the thought that nobody cares or understands. Many a man would shake off his despondency and stand up to life if he knew someone was with him. Many a soul lets go and sinks through sheer loneliness. You can be the one man or woman who encourages with your presence and hand shake. It is so easily done and it means so much.
I spoke just now of the ailing old lady who cannot speak or walk. She lives under the shadow of our mission. The other day I heard it was her birthday and my wife and I just dropped in to wish her well. It didn’t take five minutes but I wish you could have seen the old face light up and the tears of joy that fell. That isn’t an isolated case. Some time ago, thinking of people who cannot get to the house of God, I started a little Home Service. No ministry of mine has brought me greater joy or more expressions of gratitude. It is just that lonely folk find the wood less lonely if someone visits them in it. It is so terrible to feel you are forgotten.
And if you can carry a word of honest praise so much the better. A bit of praise helps many a fainting heart and cheer the jaded spirit. There is no limit to the power of good cheer. Carry a bit of brightness and joy to a despairing man or woman and you will dispel foes and awaken brave resolves. Gladden a man’s heart, and you will strengthen his hand. Don’t be afraid to praise, most people get enough of the other thing to keep them humble.
In this noble sense, you can encourage by reminding people of what, for the moment, they are forgetting. Jonathan not only strengthened David’s hand, he “strengthened his hand in God.” He brought him the reminder of the truth David had often eloquently expressed, the truth that through rough and trying circumstances God works His sovereign will. “You will be king yet,” said Jonathan, “and my father knows it well.” Assure men and women that behind a frowning providence there is the smiling face of God, that God is working His purpose out, and you will do them real service. Open a man’s eyes and you will strengthen his hand. Restore his faith and you will revive his courage.
And you greatly encourage men when you pray with them and for them. It is recorded of David and Jonathan, in this incident, that “they two made a covenant before God.” What they covenanted we are not told, but my own picture is of those two men kneeling together before God there in the wood. No wonder David’s hand was strengthened. “We kneel, how weak, we rise, how full of power.” Get a man to pray. Kneel by his side and pray with him. And that is the surest way you will strengthen his hand and his heart in God.
23. I could not track down who Mrs. Herman is.
“THE GRACE OF HUMILITY”—2 Samuel 7.18
(Preached once at Spring Head Mission 7/2/39)
2 Samuel 7.18 “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house that Thou hast brought me hitherto?”
I wish to speak on the Grace of Humility. It is by no means the most popular of the virtues, but it is not a minor virtue. Indeed, it may be claimed that it is chief among the virtues because without it none of the others come to full beauty and power. It would have been easy to take a conventional text in which the word occurs and where it is emphatically stated that God Himself resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. But to see a grace embodied, to set it forth in a shining example, always seems to be a better way than arguing for it in the abstract.
In the incident before us, indeed in the whole life of David, humility has a lovely setting and makes a great appeal. It was the quality which gave balance and beauty to the king’s character. It was the grace which, despite his grievous falls, made him the man after God’s own heart and the beloved prince of his people. It was this virtue too which gave religious significance to his reign and made it so powerful. He held his throne from God and knew that he so held it. And he sought the guidance and help of his overlord.
THE INCIDENT SET FORTH IN OUR TEXT
David was at the zenith of his power and his throne was established. The prophet had just told him that his name was to endure and his glory to continue in his house. The son coming after him was to build a house for God’s glory. In a lesser man the promise of such glory would have erected pride and vanity. A meaner man would have said: “Look at me, at the success I’ve achieved, the glory I’ve won.” But David went in and set humbly before the God who had taken him from the sheepfold and set him on a throne. His words were not “Look at me,” but, “Who am I and what is my father’s house?” I know no picture of truer humility than this great king sitting in humility and giving the praise and the glory to God. Now we can turn to the lessons the incident has for us.
SUCCESS
