Lessons from Nehemiah by P. J. Laird

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 26, 1907

Lessons from Nehemiah

By P. J. Laird

P. J. LAIRD

AFTER every great epoch there has usually been a time of quiet, in which but a few pages of history were written. It was so after the great advent cry in 1844; so it was after Ezra’s reform movement. The book of Ezra closes with the account of the great separation, which had involved all classes. Twelve years had elapsed when Hanani brought word to Nehemiah: “The wall of Jerusalem . . . is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.” Neh. 1: 3. Nehemiah, overwhelmed with grief that Satan should again have been allowed to triumph, “sat down and wept, and mourned certain days.” Verse 4. Well for us is it when our grief drives us to God.

A season spent in worshiping God always results in conviction, as with Nehemiah. “Both I and my father’s house have sinned” (verse 6), is the language of true repentance. Sin must be acknowledged before God, and faults confessed “one to another.” James 5: 16. This will of itself act as a deterrent. The great Australian revival came about after the ministers had met together and confessed one to another. Let our plea be based upon God’s promises, “If ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, . . . I . . . will bring them unto the place that I have chosen.” Neh. 1: 9. Nehemiah was zealous for God’s glory, as suggested by calling God’s attention to “thy servants.” Verse 10. Compare 2 Sam. 7: 26; 2 Kings 19: 19; Isa. 48: 11.

It is said that it was even a capital crime to appear sad in the Persian monarch’s presence. When the king asked of Nehemiah the reason for his sorrow of heart, Nehemiah was “very sore afraid.” But Nehemiah “prayed to the God of heaven.” Verse 4. Shall we not all learn to cultivate the habit of silent prayer for grace, guidance, and wisdom?

Permit a personal illustration: I was out on a book-selling trip in Kuangsi, alone as to foreigners, and of the coolies all were practically strangers to me and to the place. While dinner was preparing, some books were taken on the street, for sale. I had not been out long when the Chinese crowd suddenly took up the cry of an opium fiend, and shouted, “Kill the foreign devil! Kill!” It is one thing to write these words, but quite a different experience to hear them. As the crowd closed in around me, “God, help me!” I cried, in my distress. As I turned around, the people stood back on each side, and allowed me to pass. Believe God answers prayer? It has been proved that he does.

Now mark Nehemiah’s request: “Send me unto Judah.” He does not mention dangers by the way. Think what it meant to the king to “rebuild the wall.” However, Nehemiah, by his godly and consistent life, had won the king’s confidence. Treason was never thought of by Artaxerxes. God is calling loudly to many to-day, not to fill the needs of cities only, but national needs, such as those existing in China. Here the living stones need to be gathered out, the ignorant instructed, and error to be gently opposed. It should not be, where I can be useful, but most useful; not, where there is need, but the greatest need, or the danger of delay greatest. “Where can I lay out my life for God at highest interest?”

We have come to the point of seeing that the Orientals stand with the Occidentals with an equal claim to Christ as their Saviour. It is not favor that is asked for the heathen, but a more just approach to equality in the distribution of the gospel. God is always true and good. Given the man who says, “Send me,” the equipment—temporal and spiritual—surely will follow. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isa. 6: 8. Your answer to God’s question may find you among the Zulus in South Africa, whose needs are appealing to our people for the gospel; or among the fanatical Mohammedans; behind the fast-closed doors of Afghanistan, or among the hostile millions of Tibet.

On arrival at his mission station, Nehemiah spent three days in investigating and arranging his plans. The Foreign Mission Seminary at Washington will prove of inestimable advantage to our workers. Then there will be another time of survey when they reach their fields of labor. The language will call forth the best in them, even to tears. Then the heart will be fired, and the response will be unanimous, “Let us rise up and build.” It was so arranged that most of the people of the city built opposite or nearest their own houses.

Nehemiah had hardly got the people to work when fierce opposition assailed them. “They laughed us to scorn.” “If a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.” This will come wherever a Seventh-day Adventist worker goes. In China ministers write us: “It would be easy, I trow, to snap up your few converts if we should offer them employment.” “The missionary body could make short work of you. The Chinese government’s closing schools on Sunday . . . all militates against you.” Satan next brought slander, conspiracy, and treachery against Nehemiah. Chap. 4: 8, 11. Opposition to the third angel’s message will unite those hitherto at enmity. And hindrances will be found within, perhaps, as often as without. The “bearers of burdens” grew weary. Verse 10. “Actual service tests zeal, and much that promised well fails.”

“Our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.” Verse 11. Some who went out from us are now doing Satan’s work, in aiming at our organization. But let us trust in the assurance that God will vindicate his truth. Let us stand by our organization, as men of old rallied around their standard. Our Captain never lost a battle. “They said unto us ten times [the Chinese number for perfection], That from all places ye must return to us.” Verse 12. Nehemiah thereupon set a careful watch. A mission leader, on his way to the Shanghai Centenary Conference, told one of our workers, “It is a necessity of organization that all the smaller missions will have to join the federation”—evidencing the change of front of the speaker, who four years ago tabooed even attendance at a local conference of workers as being waste of time.

Nehemiah’s injunction stands good today for Adventists: “The work is great and large, and we are separated . . . one far from another;” but “our God shall fight for us.” Verses 19, 20. True prayer will not slacken energy; rather will it increase zeal and labor. We must “watch and pray,” if we would be overcomers. “They that be with us are more than they that be with them.” May God open our eyes to see him. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” “All the heathen . . . feared, . . . for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.” Chap. 6: 16, R. V. As a result of God’s blessing our organization, the increase in all branches of our work is being favorably commented upon and emulated by those not of our ranks.

At last the work was finished, and “the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” Chap. 12: 43. We in heathen lands praise God when we see our dear people giving over fifty thousand dollars in tithes and offerings for mission fields. Then they can raise the $150,000 fund, in addition. The way may sometimes seem rough, and the difficulties many; but soon God will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness. One secret of Nehemiah’s success was the fact that he believed. “The joy of Jehovah is your stronghold.” Neh. 8: 10, A. R. V., margin. Nehemiah’s experience is an illustration of what one man can do when linked to Omnipotence.

Chang-sha, China.