Harvest Ingathering
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ridiculed the efforts of the builders, declared the enterprise an impos-
sibility, and predicted a disgraceful failure.... The builders on the wall
were soon beset by more active opposition. They were compelled
to guard continually against the plots of their sleepless adversaries.
The emissaries of the enemy endeavored to destroy their courage by
the circulation of false reports; conspiracies were formed on various
pretexts to draw Nehemiah into their toils; and false-hearted Jews were
found ready to aid the treacherous undertaking.... Emissaries of the
enemy, professing friendliness, mingled with the builders, suggesting
changes in the plan, seeking in various ways to divert the attention of
the workers, to cause confusion and perplexity, and to arouse distrust
and suspicion.—
The Southern Watchman, April 12, 1904
.
Same Obstacles Confront Leaders Today—The experience of Ne-
hemiah is repeated in the history of God’s people in this time. Those
who labor in the cause of truth will find that they cannot do this with-
out exciting the anger of its enemies. Though they have been called
of God to the work in which they are engaged, and their course is
approved of Him, they cannot escape reproach and derision. They
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will be denounced as visionary, unreliable, scheming, hypocritical,—
anything, in short, that will suit the purpose of their enemies. The
most sacred things will be represented in a ridiculous light to amuse
the ungodly. A very small amount of sarcasm and low wit, united with
envy, jealousy, impiety, and hatred, is sufficient to excite the mirth
of the profane scoffer. And these presumptuous jesters sharpen one
another’s ingenuity, and embolden each other in their blasphemous
work. Contempt and derision are indeed painful to human nature; but
they must be endured by all who are true to God. It is the policy of
Satan thus to turn souls from doing the work which the Lord has laid
upon them.—
The Southern Watchman, April 12, 1904
.
Rallying the Dispirited Forces—In secrecy and silence, Nehemiah
completed his circuit of the walls. He declares, “The rulers knew not
whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews,
nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest
that did the work.” In this painful survey he did not wish to attract the
attention of either friends or foes, lest an excitement should be created,
and reports be put in circulation that might defeat, or at least hinder,
his work. Nehemiah devoted the remainder of the night to prayer;
in the morning there must be earnest effort to arouse and unite his