Christian Unity
213
How were those punished who in olden time made light of what
God had chosen as sacred to Himself? Belshazzar and his thousand
lords profaned the golden vessels of Jehovah and praised the idols of
Babylon. But the God whom they defied was a witness of the unholy
scene. In the midst of their sacrilegious mirth a bloodless hand was
seen tracing mysterious characters upon the palace wall. Filled with
terror, king and courtiers heard their doom pronounced by the servant
of the Most High.
Let those who delight to trace words of calumny and falsehood
against the servants of Christ remember that God is a witness of their
deeds. Their slanderous touch is not profaning soulless vessels but
the characters of those whom Christ has purchased by His blood. The
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hand which traced the characters upon the walls of Belshazzar’s palace
keeps faithful record of every act of injustice or oppression committed
against God’s people.
Sacred history presents striking examples of the Lord’s jealous
care for the weakest of His children. During the journeying of Israel
in the wilderness the weary and feeble ones who had fallen behind
the body of the people were attacked and slain by the cowardly and
cruel Amalekites. Afterward Israel made war with the Amalekites
and defeated them. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a
memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will
utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” Again
the charge was repeated by Moses just before his death, that it might
not be forgotten by his posterity: “Remember what Amalek did unto
thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; how he met
thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were
feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not
God.... Thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under
heaven; thou shalt not forget it.”
If God thus punished the cruelty of a heathen nation, how must He
regard those who, professing to be His people, will make war upon
their own brethren who are worn and wearied laborers in His cause?
Satan has great power over those who yield to his control. It was
the chief priests and elders—the religious teachers of the people—
that urged on the murderous throng from the judgment hall to Calvary.
There are hearts today among the professed followers of Christ inspired
by the same spirit that clamored for the crucifixion of our Saviour. Let