Isaiah 41:7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smoothes with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying… I. THEY WERE ALL AT WORK. Many of us like activity. In the intellectual world all is life and go. In the political world it is the same. "Rest and be thankful" belongs to other days. It should be just like that in the Church of Jesus Christ. Here, stagnation means death. II. THE ENCOURAGEMENT WHICH THEY GAVE EACH OTHER. Men will work, and work well, when their efforts are appreciated. Even the dumb animals which have become the companion and worker for man seem to understand encouragement, and will, in many ways, show their appreciation of it. III. THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK. "It was fastened with nails, and could not be moved." Work done under the circumstances of the text was sure to be good — do your work well. Do not catch the spirit of the age. This is the day of the jerry builder. Quantity is often considered rather than quality. Outward show is the order of the day. It is important for us all to remember that what we can do for God depends upon what we are before God. We can only teach what we know. (C. Leach, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. |
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