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1 Samuel 26:19
Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but ifthey be the children of men, cursedbe they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

Jeremiah 48:10
Cursedbe he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursedbe he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

1 Corinthians 16:22
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

meroz.

Judges 2:1
And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

Judges 4:6
And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded,saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

Judges 6:11
And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak whichwas in Ophrah, thatpertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hideit from the Midianites.

they came

Judges 21:9,10
For the people were numbered, and, behold,there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there…

Nehemiah 3:5
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

to the help

1 Samuel 17:47
And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battleis the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

1 Samuel 18:17
And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

1 Samuel 25:28
I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in theeall thy days.

‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants;
The repetition of the curse emphasizes the gravity of the offense. Inhabitants of Meroz are singled out for their inaction, which is seen as a betrayal of their covenantal duty to support God's people. This reflects the communal responsibility in Israelite society, where collective action was often necessary for survival and success. The bitterness of the curse suggests a deep-seated disappointment and anger, akin to the curses found inJeremiah 48:10 against those who do not do the LORD's work with zeal.

for they did not come to help the LORD,
The phrase implies that aiding Israel in battle was equivalent to helping the LORD, highlighting the theocratic nature of Israel where God was seen as the ultimate leader and king. This concept is echoed in1 Samuel 17:47, where David declares that the battle is the LORD's. The failure of Meroz to assist is seen as a direct affront to God Himself, illustrating the expectation of loyalty and support among the tribes of Israel.

to help the LORD against the mighty.’
The "mighty" refers to the Canaanite forces led by Sisera, who were oppressing Israel. The call to help against such formidable foes underscores the need for unity and courage among God's people. This phrase also reflects the biblical theme of God using the weak to overcome the strong, as seen in1 Corinthians 1:27. The expectation was that all of Israel would rally to God's cause, as seen in the collective efforts during the conquest of Canaan in Joshua. The failure of Meroz serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of neglecting one's duty to God and His people.

- The judgment comes straight from “the Angel of the LORD,” the same divine messenger who speaks with God’s own authority (Judges 2:1-4). This underlines that the curse is not mere human frustration but a decree from heaven.

- In Scripture, when the Angel of the LORD speaks, it carries the full weight of God’s covenant faithfulness and holiness (Exodus 3:2-6;Joshua 5:13-15).

- The city of Meroz had witnessed God’s miraculous victory over Sisera yet remained indifferent. Their neutrality placed them in direct opposition to God’s purposes—echoingDeuteronomy 28:15, “If you do not obey the LORD your God, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you”.

- God’s people are never spectators in His redemptive work; by standing aloof, Meroz effectively opposed the Lord Himself, earning divine censure.

- The double emphasis (“curse… bitterly curse”) highlights the seriousness of their neglect. God’s rebuke is intensified because they were covenant people who knew better.

-Jeremiah 48:10 warns, “Cursed is he who is negligent in doing the work of the LORD”. Meroz illustrates this principle in real time.

- God’s anger is not arbitrary; it is the just response to willful apathy in the face of revealed duty. Those who ignore His call share the guilt of the enemy they refuse to resist.

- The sin is omission, not commission.James 4:17 states, “Whoever knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin”.

- Contrasted within the same song, “Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali also on the heights of the battlefield” (Judges 5:18). Obedient tribes receive honor; negligent Meroz receives a curse.

- The Lord graciously invites His people into His victories. Refusing that invitation is tantamount to refusing Him (1 Samuel 12:24-25).

- The battle against Sisera’s iron chariots looked formidable, yet it was the Lord’s war: “The battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

- When believers rally to God’s cause, He fights for them (2 Chronicles 32:8;1 Samuel 17:47). When they stand aside, they separate themselves from His protection and blessing.

- Spiritual battles today remain the Lord’s (Ephesians 6:12-13). Participation is a privilege; neglect invites discipline.

Judges 5:23 exposes the peril of passive disobedience. Meroz, fully aware of God’s call to stand with Deborah and Barak, chose comfort over commitment. The Angel of the LORD therefore pronounces a bitter curse, underscoring that neutrality in God’s kingdom is never neutral. Faithful obedience brings honor and victory; indifference aligns us with the enemy and invites judgment.

Said the angel of the Lord.--TheMaleak Jehovah,as inJudges 3:1. Here, as in that passage, some (referring toHaggai 1:13;Malachi 2:7) suppose that Deborah is herself the angel or messenger of the Lord. However that may be, she certainly speaks as the mouthpiece of Jehovah's messenger (Judges 4:4). . . .