Part 4 (2/2)

Let me live in my house by the side of the road, And be a friend to man.

”I know there are brook gladdened meadows ahead, And mountains of wearisome height.

And the road pa.s.ses on through the long afternoon, And stretches away to the night.

But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice, And weep with the strangers that moan, Nor live in my house by the side of the road, Like one who dwells alone.”

Now that is good, but after all,--

”It's only a half truth the poet has sung Of the house by the side of the way.

Our Master had neither a house nor a home, But He walked with the crowd day by day.

I think when I read of the poet's desire That a house by the road would be good, But service is found in its tenderest form As we walk with the crowd in the road.

”So I say let me walk with the men in the road, Let me seek out the burdens that crush; Let me speak a kind word of good cheer to the weak Who are falling behind in the rush.

There are wounds to be healed, there are breaks we must mend, There are cups of cold water to give, And the man in the road by the side of his friend, Is the man who has learned how to give.

”Then tell me no more of the house by the road, There is only one place I can live.

It is there where the men are toiling along, Who are needing the help I can give.

'Tis pleasant to dwell in the house by the road, And be a friend, as the poet has said, But the Master is bidding us, Bear ye their load, Your rest waiteth yonder ahead.

”So I can not remain in the house by the road, And watch as the toilers pa.s.s on, Their faces beclouded with pain and with shame, So burdened, their strength nearly gone.

I will go to their side, I will speak in good cheer, I will help them to carry their load.

And I'll smile at the man in the house by the way, While I walk with the crowd in the road.

”Out there in the road that runs by the house Where the poet is singing his song, I'll walk and I'll work midst the heat of the day, And I'll help falling brothers along.

Too busy to dwell in the house by the way, Too happy for such an abode, And my glad heart will sing to the Master of all, Who is helping me serve in the road.”

And the beauty and glory of this lovely visit that Prince Jonathan made to David, the outcast, was that he walked with him in the road. He did not dwell in his princely palace and send him some money. He did not allow him, as Dives allowed Lazarus, to gather up the crumbs. He went to him. And because he went to him he helped him. Oh, heart, that is the secret of the salvation wrought by our Lord. He came to us. Had He merely come for the day and gone back to Heaven at night, He would never have saved us. He came into personal contact with us. That is how He lifts us.

This visit was beautiful, in the third place, because of its high and holy purpose. I see Jonathan as he is turning his face toward the forest where David is hiding. I say to him, ”Prince Jonathan, you are going down to see David, I understand. Why are you going?” This is his answer: ”I am going down to strengthen his hand in G.o.d. You know David has had a hard time recently. He has been sorely tried. He has been bitterly disappointed. He has pa.s.sed through one great sorrow after another. I am afraid his faith is going to be destroyed. I am afraid he will lose his grip of G.o.d unless I go to see him and help him and strengthen his hand in the Lord. And that is why I am going.”

And so Jonathan hurries on. And the angels must have crowded the windows of heaven to behold him as he walked upon this glorious errand.

I would go a bit out of my way any time to get to see a man who is going to see his friend, not to ask for help, but going for the one big purpose of making the man whom he is to visit a little stronger, a little better, a little more loyal to his Lord.

And not only did Jonathan go for that purpose, but he succeeded in it.

When he left David, he left him a stronger man. I do not know what he said to him. That is not recorded. I do not know that he quoted scripture to him or even prayed with him. He may have. He may not have. It is not absolutely necessary to have prayer always in order to strengthen our friend in the Lord. Sometimes all we need to do is just to talk to him and let him talk, and convince him that we sympathize with him, that we are interested in him. And having done that, somehow he comes more and more to believe in G.o.d's interest.

But whatever Jonathan said, David was stronger and better and braver after he had gone. I think I can hear him as he looks after the retreating figure going through the forest. And what he is saying to himself is this, ”Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” And I think when the books are balanced in Heaven that Jonathan will get quite a bit of credit for David's exquisite music. There are terrible clashes in his songs. ”He that did eat of my bread hath lifted up his heel against me.” Jonathan did not inspire that. But there is many a blessed pa.s.sage that might never have been written but for the loyal and loving and constant friends.h.i.+p of Prince Jonathan.

And last of all, this visit was beautiful in its self-forgetfulness.

Its beauty reached its climax here. Just think of the circ.u.mstances.

Samuel, the prophet, has declared that David is to be king. But in everybody's mind, the throne by right belongs to Jonathan. David is in perplexity. He is on the point of losing his faith. If he loses it he never will be king. This will give Jonathan his chance.

Now, why, I wonder, didn't Jonathan feel about this matter as many of us would? Why did he not hold aloof and say, ”If David fails and loses his chance it is no fault of mine. If he fails it will only mean that he will not take away the throne that by right belongs to me.” No att.i.tude would have been more human than this. I do not know how many nights Jonathan spent in prayer to be delivered from the bondage of his selfishness. But I do know this, that he was delivered.

And I want you to watch him as he goes down into this forest to see David to-day to strengthen his hand in G.o.d. I said we do not know his conversation with David. We do know a bit of it, and that is this, that he encouraged David to believe G.o.d, to believe this one particular promise at least, that G.o.d was going to see to it that David was king.

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