Smileyberg: Calling All Blacksmiths

“And Jehovah showed me four blacksmiths.”
— Zachariah 1:18-21

Smileyberg, KS is now a ghost town. However, its history is unique and deserves some remembrance. As Kansas was being settled, there were two features necessary to develop a town: a mercantile store and a blacksmith. Someone to sell you goods and someone to fix the things you had (or make something new). In an effort to recruit people, the establishment of a town often came down to naming rights. In Smileyberg it came down to Thomas Smiley (who set up the mercantile store) and Barney Berg (the blacksmith). Thus, Smileyberg was born—1908.

In today’s world, the role of the blacksmith is far removed from our thoughts. We are consumers. We throw away old items and order new ones. We don’t return products to the seller, we return them to the manufacturer for an instant replacement. It wasn’t always thus. There was a day when we would take almost everything to the smith for repair.

In fact, it wasn’t possible to build a town without a blacksmith. Everyone needed them. Carpenters, farmers, leatherworkers and every profession and family depended on the smith to fix what broke. In our verse today, we see a vision (Zachariah 1:18-21) of four horns which scattered the children of Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. In response comes four blacksmiths to fix the problem. As the passage reads, “…but the blacksmiths are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

It is interesting the fix wasn’t a king, an army, a natural disaster, a supernatural warrior, a hero or a plague. It was honest workers. Those who fix practical problems. Those covered by soot and grim.

It is so easy to think the world revolves around charismatic, powerful and connected people. Yet, we live in a broken world with broken people. What could be more important than a smith? Someone who understands and is equipped for the “fix” people need: Jesus Christ.

Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:9-10, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

We often think that our little part doesn’t matter. How wrong we are! Song of Solomon 4:7 tells us, “There is no flaw in you.” The body of Christ is not like the vision of Babylon in Daniel 2 where the head was of fine gold, the chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron and feet of clay; where the weakest link brought down the whole construct. The body of Christ has no flaw. It is fine gold all the way through. There are no meaningless parts. Every part is vital and flawless. And often, those which are most vital and receive the least notice are the smiths. The problem solvers.

The smiths fix the horns of contempt, anger, jealousy, envy and all manner of division which rise up to scatter the body of Christ. They don’t give majestic sermons, lofty worship songs or major financial contributions. They are soot covered, down in the trenches and walking in the thick of life to beat back the horns of division by simply doing what is good.

Never underestimate these unsung heroes. Rather strive to be one! In the past, no community was built without a blacksmith. In the church today, smiths are needed more than ever. Those who stand in heat of the fire, hammer away and create the tools which enable the community to work. Not through their own efforts, but by allowing Christ to work through them. Simply facing the day and trusting Christ to work, speak and act through their lives. What heroes they are! How I long to be one!

Lord, let me be a smith through which you build your community!

“Behold, I have created the blacksmith / Who blows the coals in the fire, / Who brings forth an instrument for his work;…” (Isaiah 54:16) We need more instruments for unity, community and the upbuilding of the kingdom of God.

The blacksmith’s shop is open. Apprentices wanted. Long hours. Extreme heat. Dirty. Low pay and lower recognition. But without you, no community can be built. For those who do not weary while doing good, in due season, they shall reap the reward. Applications accepted in person. In persons willing to allow Christ to work through their lives as problem solvers. Apply today!

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.