Meroz

"Curse Meroz, says the Angel of the LORD; bitterly curse its inhabitants, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD with the valiant" (vv. 23). This is not a tribe, but a city in the very valley where the battle took place. These people received the most severe rebuke of all for their failure to go to the battle. I hasten to say that there will be no curse at the judgment seat of Christ. This is a type, giving us a figure of these things.

"Meroz" means "those who dwell in cedar palaces." Apparently, they were a wealthy class of people — at least that is what some researchers say about them. With the means these people had, they could have been a real help in this conflict. And the battle happened right at their door! They did not even need to go very far to take part in this work of the Lord, but they did not go out to help.

Paul tells Timothy to remind those who are "rich in this world" to use their riches to support the Lord's testimony. He says that they should "do good works," "be ready to distribute" (willing to give) and that they should "be willing to communicate." By doing this, they would "lay up" for themselves a good foundation in the coming kingdom (1 Tim. 6:17-19). It has been said that the financial support of the Lord's work usually comes from saints of ordinary condition, not from the rich. There are exceptions, of course. One of the old workers (brothers who take part in the Lord's work) said that he managed (to serve in the work) during the Great Depression with 10- and 25-cent coins that the poor saints gave him. And that was not from what those who possessed a little more could have given. I do not think it is much different today. A worker told me not long ago, "Bruce, if I had to write you a check for 500 dollars right now, I don't think I could do it!" I think we need to exercise ourselves about this.