Thus we have very briefly examined the seven stages of opposition to God’s own work. The grief of the enemy (Neh. 2:1010When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. (Nehemiah 2:10)); the laughter of the enemy (Neh. 2:1919But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? (Nehemiah 2:19)); his wrath (Neh. 4:11But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. (Nehemiah 4:1)); mocking (Neh. 4:33Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. (Nehemiah 4:3)); fighting (Neh. 4:88And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. (Nehemiah 4:8)); subtlety without (Neh. 5:1-91And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 2For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live. 3Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. 6And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. 8And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. 9Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? (Nehemiah 5:1‑9)); subtlety and danger within (Neh. 6:1010Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. (Nehemiah 6:10)). And many a reader of this paper will say, “I have seen all seven in the opposition to God’s work in our own day.”
So the wall was finished. No amount of opposition could stay the work of God. It is so again – saints are gathered to Christ, the wall is built; the doors are set up, and God has raised up faithful men to keep the watch. The position has been assailed in sevenfold opposition; but God has preserved the sacred principle of being gathered to Christ. To Him be all praise! Surely we need to put on the whole armor of God. Our Sanballat is not dead, though his power is destroyed. These seven aspects, that is complete opposition, will continue until the coming of our Lord.
Someone now may say, If God has gathered souls to Christ as at the beginning, and if they find that the truth of the church of God being one, excludes every sect of men – yet, if this basis was large enough at the first to receive every obedient child of God – surely, then, it must be as broad, and be large enough now. Is it not a wonderful truth, that all believers form the one body of Christ – all are one? “There is one body.” And then if Christ has His place in the administration of the church, its gifts, and its worship in spirit, as at first, surely this is a large place to dwell in! Is it not large enough for every Christian on earth who desires to walk in the fear of the Lord, and according to His Word? When this truth is known, what need for all the sects that men have made? Surely no need. Then tell me, if the place is so large and so blessed, how is it that there are so few in it? Why, in some towns, there are none gathered thus to Christ, and in others, those thus gathered are in no reputation.
This was the case also at Jerusalem. “Now the city was large and great; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.” Yes, this is the very question of Nehemiah 7. Compared with the largeness of the city, there were but few in it; but the number was known, and left on record, of those who had come up out of the captivity (Neh. 7:6-606These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; 7Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this; 8The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. 9The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 10The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. 11The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. 12The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 13The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five. 14The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. 15The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight. 16The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight. 17The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two. 18The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. 19The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven. 20The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five. 21The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 22The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight. 23The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four. 24The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve. 25The children of Gibeon, ninety and five. 26The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight. 27The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. 28The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two. 29The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three. 30The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one. 31The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two. 32The men of Beth-el and Ai, an hundred twenty and three. 33The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two. 34The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 35The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. 36The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. 37The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one. 38The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. 39The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. 40The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 41The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 42The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. 43The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four. 44The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight. 45The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight. 46The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth, 47The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, 48The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai, 49The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 50The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah, 52The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, 53The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, 54The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, 55The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah, 56The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 57The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 59The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. 60All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two. (Nehemiah 7:6‑60)). But there were a great number which went up “from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Burner, but they could not show their father’s house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.” Many others also are named: “These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they as polluted put from the priesthood. And the Tirshatha (or governor) said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim” (Neh. 7:61-6561And these were they which went up also from Tel-melah, Tel-haresha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel. 62The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. 63And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. 64These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 65And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. (Nehemiah 7:61‑65)).
All this is exceedingly instructive. If mingling with the Gentile world had caused the Israelites to lose the certainty of their nationality, is there any wonder that the effect of the church being mixed with the world should have caused so many to be uncertain, whether they are the saved children of God or not? Even with the most evangelical there is much darkness and perplexity as to this. And this is one cause, if not the chief one, why so few take the happy place of the children of God gathered to Christ. Evidently there were many Israelites who could not show their genealogy; and there are many Christians who cannot show it; they are so confused with the false position they are in, that they cannot tell whether their names are written in heaven or not. Indeed, in human churches this is not an essential point. Until lately, many denied the possibility of any knowing with certainty that they are the children of God.
Is it not also most true, that if we do not know we are saved, we cannot eat of the most holy things? We must know Jesus, the Great High Priest in the presence of God – He who once bore our sins on the cross, but who is now crowned with glory. As our righteousness, raised from the dead, we now see Him, with Urim and Thummim. In His face shine the lights (Urim) and perfections (Thummim) of God. How can you enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus if you are uncertain whether you are saved? O, search the register; never rest, my reader, until this first question is solved.
Reader, ask yourself, Is my name written in heaven? How do I know that my very sins are all forever blotted out? Is it true that God in very deed is my Justifier? What, shall nothing ever separate me from His love in Christ? If I die, am I quite sure it will be to depart and be with Christ? If I live until the Lord comes am I quite certain that He will take me to be forever with Himself? Reader, you will never answer these solemn questions by looking within, at self, at feelings, or experiences. No, it must be the look of faith at the one who has been lifted up, and is now at the right hand of God. And, mark, I rarely ever met a soul yet that enjoyed this blessed certainty – that truly had peace with God – that could comfortably remain in the camp of Christendom away from Christ in rejection. Now is it not so? Do you not feel it far more consistent, if in uncertainty, to remain in the systems of men, rather than take a place outside the camp, bearing, the present reproach of Christ? I have no doubt this will soon be the real condition of the recent converts. Left in the camp, the uncertainty of the camp will fall upon them. The remnant were few in number, and feeble indeed; and so of those gathered to Christ in this day. But the one was the work of God, and so is the other.
(Continued from page 107)
(To be continued).