Strengthening a Pastor's Hands
“And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the wood, and strengthened his hands in God.” — 1 Sam. xxiii. 16.
BEAUTIFUL friendship was that which warmed the heart of the tyrant’s son towards David the hunted fugitive; it was a “love passing the love of woman.” Jonathan went on no sentimental errand of romantic affection, hut from a lofty sense of duty, to strengthen the faith and to cheer the spirit of the noblest servant of God then living. David had a mighty work to do for Jehovah. When the faithful Jonathan went out to strengthen his hands in God, it was that those hands might yet hold Israel’s sceptre, and might pen the matchless psalms, and might protect the ark of the Lord. We can imagine these godly brothers kneeling down together amid the thickets of Ziph, and pouring out their hearts to Him who was their “refuge and stronghold in the time of trouble.”
That was probably the last time that these twin-spirits ever met on earth. The black surge of civil war soon rolled between them; and in a few weeks the mangled form of Jonathan was picked up on the bloody field of Gilboa. It must have been a sadly precious thought to David, that the last time he ever saw his friend was when he came, at the risk of life, to strengthen his hands in God.
Now, every true pastor is “anointed of the Lord,” as David was, to do a holy work. When his hands hang down through discouragement, or when he is in a “thick-wood” of troubles, and his work lags or fails utterly for want of helpers, then is the time when he needs the Jonathans. Paul found his in that noble committee who came down from Rome to Apii Forum, and gave him such a reception that he “thanked God, and took courage,” How many a minister is to-day crippled in his work and well-nigh crushed in spirit, just for the want of hearty, sympathetic, godly supporters. He can afford to wear a threadbare coat, and to go hungry for books, better than he can to “spend his strength for naught.” He can stand an empty purse better than an empty prayer-meeting.
How shall I strengthen the hands of my pastor “? cries some reader whose conscience is suddenly smitten within him. You can do it in many ways. Go, and give him your hand and heart. Talk over the affairs of your church (yours as much as his); help him to lay plans of usefulness, and then help him to push them forward. It is just as much your duty to work for the Master as it is your minister’s duty.
Perhaps your pastor has been often disheartened by the emptiness of your pew on the Sabbath. He prepared carefully more than one sermon especially for you; but you were not there to hear it; so both suffered from your absence. For one, I confess that I never yet preached a sermon loud enough to
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awaken a parishioner who was dozing away the day at home, or sauntering off to other churches. If a good reason keep you from your pew, send a substitute; invite some church - neglecting friend to go and occupy your place. Perhaps the sermon may save his soul.
When a discourse is adapted to the spiritual condition of your husband, your wife, your son, or other one dear to you, follow it up with prayer and with personal efforts for that friend’s salvation. While your pastor is endeavoring to draw your unconverted friend to Christ, pray don’t pull the other way. The backward pull of your unkind criticisms, or your inconsistent conduct, will avail more than the forward drawing of his sermon. If one of your family comes home from the sanctuary tender and thoughtful, try to deepen their impressions. Your pastor is drawing: draw with him. Strengthen his hands in God. We could name certain Sunday-school teachers who always bring the awakened inquirers in their classes immediately to their pastor for conversation: in those classes conversions are frequent, because they are looked for, and labored for too. Oh for more such Jonathans!
It is a happy thing to have even one worker in our churches. But it is far better to have an hundred. Aaron and Hur answered very well to stay up Moses’ hands for a few brief hours; but what if our “Aaron” is sick, and our “Hur” is out of townl Who then shall stay up the arms that hang down for want of help? We don’t call that a thrifty apple-tree which bears all its fruit on one limb: neither is that a thrifty church in which half-a-dozen persons do all the praying and all the working. Let every hand, even the youngest or the feeblest, be stretched forth to help the ambassador of Christ, and a revival is already begun.
Finally, the power your minister most needs is the power from on high. This comes through prayer. Peter’s eloquent sermon on the day of Pentecost was pioneered by the rousing prayer-meeting in the “upper-chamber,” and three thousand souls were converted before sunset. What the steam-cylinder is to the engine, that is the prayer-meeting to the Church. There let the life, the heat, the power be engendered. And when the place of prayer is thronged by fervid importunate souls, then how gloriously are the pastor’s hands strengthened in God!