p. 9 | S. N. HASKELL by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 30, 1908

S. N. HASKELL

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

Nehemiah — No. 4

S. N. HASKELL

The character of Nehemiah stands forth as a beacon-light in a stormy sea. Israel had lost faith in the literal statements of the prophets concerning the building of the wall of Jerusalem. They little realized that their own course for scores of years had stood in the way of their seeing accomplished what they most desired. They were confused and disheartened, and blinded by sin.

Nehemiah was a thorough business man. He did not set forth the claim of being a prophet, priest, or king; he did not sit down and complain because of Israel’s sins; but, in the name of the Lord, he arose and demanded that they put away their sins.

When he called upon the people to arise and build, there was a great cry from the people and their wives against their brethren, the Jews, because of oppression. They were held in bondage by financial claims of their brethren on lands and other property; even their sons and daughters were held in bondage by their brethren. This stirred the very soul of Nehemiah with anger,—not an anger born of self-interest, or because of a desire to retaliate, but because the spirit of oppression prevented the blessing of God from resting upon their efforts. This spirit of oppression God hates, and he will not suffer it, even when it is exercised upon those not of the household of faith. See 2 Samuel 21. God’s message is, “Unto the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free; and . . . break every yoke.” Isa. 58: 5-7.

Nehemiah feared the effect of this sin among the people of God more than the work of all the hosts of hell, or all of Satan’s emissaries. His first business was to purge the camp from the sin of oppression. This led to the work of restoring lands, vineyards, and olive yards; houses and money; corn, wine, and oil. When this was done, the people entered into a solemn covenant with God and with one another. This covenant they promised to keep, and, as afterward in the days of Zacchaeus, it brought to them the salvation of God. Luke 19: 1-9.

Nehemiah was a noble and generous-hearted man. He did not seek the highest place, or demand the highest wages. The former governors had been chargeable unto the people, and took from them bread, wine, and silver, and allowed their servants to rule over the people. Nehemiah purchased no land for himself, but fed at his own table one hundred fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those who came unto them from the heathen. He required not the bread of the governor because the bondage was heavy upon the people. He then could pray, “Think upon me, my God, for good according to all that I have done for this people.” “Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the office thereof.” Neh. 5: 19; 13: 14.

There is a marked contrast between the character of Nehemiah and that of Ezra; there were elements in Nehemiah’s character which Ezra did not possess. When Ezra saw the sins of the people that would separate them from God, he rent his own garment and mantle, and plucked off the hairs of his own head and beard, and sat down astonished until the evening sacrifice. He then arose and fell upon his knees and plead with God in behalf of the people; he was grieved because of their sins.

Another element was needed in the character of their ruler in order to bring forth repentance on the part of these hardened Jews. When Nehemiah was sent to them he was more like Joshua, when on a certain occasion the Lord commanded him saying, “Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them.” Joshua 7: 10, 11.

Because Israel had intermarried with the heathen around them until their children spoke both languages, and could not discern the purity of the Jewish tongue, Nehemiah contended with them. He plucked the hair from their heads, and “made them swear by God, saying, ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.” They had even defiled the priesthood, and Nehemiah felt that something should be done before God could pour out his Spirit upon them. Neh. 13: 25.

The walls of spiritual Israel are now to be built, and it becomes each one to build over against his own house. Only those who have clean hands and a pure heart will stand in this trying time. Now is the time for the law of God to be in our minds and written in our hearts. If worldly thoughts and interests, and the cares of this life, absorb the mind, we shall lose our interest in present truth; and the reading of other books will take the place of reading the Bible. We will look afar off for the coming of the Lord; Satan will enter the heart and erect his idols, which we will be led to worship.

Those who receive the seal of God in their foreheads will be protected in the time of trouble. It is now that we must reflect the image of Jesus fully. Now is the time to prepare to give the loud cry of the third angel’s message, “The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of deceitful hearts or

false tongues. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God.” “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. V, page 216.

The work of Nehemiah was not only to restore downtrodden truths, the importance of which had been lost sight of, but the restoring of those principles of righteousness that made them acceptable in the sight of God. He realized that it would be a fatal mistake for the Jews to even think they would have a part in the worship of God unless they first put away their sins, and had taken a part in the building of the wall.

In “Early Writings” we read: “O, how many in the time of trouble I saw without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation, therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. Those who refused to be hewed by the prophets, and failed to purify their souls in obeying the truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues and then see that they need to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be no time then to do it, and no mediator to plead their cause before the Father. Before this time the awfully solemn declaration has gone forth, ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing,’ unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer the Lord, and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy, and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in his presence.”

The rank and file of our people are called to action in this time of preparation to meet God. The living, straight, testimony is to be revived; and the spirit and characteristics of Nehemiah and Ezra combined, must characterize the remnant, if they ever enter in through the pearly gates, into the City of God.

Oakland, Cal.