Conflict & Courage

He will go out before God in the spirit and power of Elijah--to reconcile fathers and children, and bring back the disobedient to the wisdom of good men--and he will make a people fully ready for their Lord. Luke 1:17, Phillips.  {CC 271.1}        God had called the son of Zacharias to a great work, the greatest ever committed to men. . . . John was to go forth as Jehovah's messenger, to bring to...

He will be one of God's great men; he will touch neither wine nor strong drink and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment of his birth. Luke 1:15, Phillips.  {CC 270.1}        On heaven's record of noble men the Saviour declared that there stood not one greater than John the Baptist. The work committed to him was one demanding not only physical energy and endurance, but the highest...

They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12.  {CC 269.1}        In the work of reform to be carried forward today, there is need of men who, like Ezra and Nehemiah, will not palliate or excuse sin, nor shrink from vindicatin...

I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Nehemiah 6:3.  {CC 268.1}        Nehemiah was chosen by God because he was willing to cooperate with the Lord as a restorer. . . . When he saw wrong principles being acted upon, he did not stand by as an onlooker, and by his silence give consent. He did not leave the people to c...

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, . . . thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need. Deuteronomy 15:7, 8.  {CC 267.1}        At times following the return of the exiles from Babylon, the wealthy Jews had gone directly contrary to these commands. When the poo...

Our God shall fight for us. Nehemiah 4:20. CC 266.1 The restoration of the defenses of Jerusalem did not go forward unhindered. Satan was working to stir up opposition, and bring discouragement.... But taunts and ridicule, opposition and threats, seemed only to inspire Nehemiah with firmer determination and to arouse him to greater watchfulness. He recognized the dangers that must be met in this w...

And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. Nehemiah 3:5.  {CC 265.1}        Among the first to catch Nehemiah's spirit of zeal and earnestness were the priests. Because of their influential position, these men could do much to advance or hinder the work; and their ready co-operation at the very outset, contributed not a little to its s...

Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me . . . and they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. Nehemiah 2:18.  {CC 264.1}        With sorrow-stricken heart, the visitor from afar gazed upon the ruined defenses of his loved Jerusalem. And is it not thus that angels of heaven survey the condition of the church of Christ? Like the dwe...

 It pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Nehemiah 2:6.  {CC 263.1}        While Nehemiah implored the help of God, he did not fold his own hands, feeling that he had no more care or responsibility in the bringing about of his purpose to restore Jerusalem. With admirable prudence and forethought he proceeded to make all the arrangements necessary to insure the success of the enterpris...

O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, ... and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Nehemiah 1:11.  {CC 262.1}        Nehemiah, one of the Hebrew exiles, occupied a position of influence and honor in the Persian court. As cupbearer to the king he was admitted freely to the royal presence. . . . Throu...

Chap. 255 - God Their Protector      For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. Ezra 8:22.  {CC 261.1}        Ezra's faith that God would do a mighty work fo...

Ezra ... was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. Ezra 7:6.  {CC 260.1}        More than two thousand years have passed since Ezra "prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it," yet the lapse of time has not lessened the influence of his pious example. Through the centuries the record of his life of consecration has inspired many with the det...

Ezra ... prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it. Ezra 7:10.  {CC 259.1}        Born of the sons of Aaron, Ezra had been given a priestly training; and in addition to this he had acquired a familiarity with the writings of the magicians, the astrologers, and the wise men of the Medo-Persian realm. But he was not satisfied with his spiritual condition. He longed to be in full h...

For who hath despised the day of small things? Zechariah 4:10.  {CC 258.1}        In rebuilding the house of the Lord, Zerubbabel had labored in the face of manifold difficulties. From the beginning, adversaries had "weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and  troubled them in building," "and made them to cease by force and power." But the Lord had interposed in behalf of the builders, and now...

That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, thy foundation shall be laid. Isaiah 44:28.  {CC 257.1}        The Lord has resources. His hand is on the machinery. When the time came for His temple to be rebuilt, He moved upon Cyrus as His agent to discern the prophecies concerning Himself, and to  grant...

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and  supplications with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: and I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession. Daniel 9:3, 4.  {CC 256.1}        Burdened in behalf of Israel, Daniel studied anew the prophecies of Jeremiah. They were very plain--so plain that he understood by these testimonies recorded in books "the number of the years,...

 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. Daniel 6:16.  {CC 255.1}        Daniel was high in command. The accusing host of evil angels stirred up the presidents and princes to envy and jealousy. . . . These agents of Satan sought to make his faithfulnes...

 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Daniel 6:4.  {CC 254.1}        Daniel, the prime minister of the greatest of earthly kingdoms, was at the same time a prophet of God, receiving the light of heavenly inspiration....

 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the  inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Daniel 4:35.  {CC 253.1}        The last dream which God gave to Nebuchadnezzar, and the  experience of the king in connection...

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. Daniel 3:17.  {CC 252.1}        The Lord did not forget His own. As His witnesses were cast into the furnace, the Saviour revealed Himself to them in person, and together they walked in the midst of the fire. In the presence of the Lord of heat and cold, the flames lost the...

     There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Daniel 2:28.  {CC 251.1}        Daniel sought the Lord when the decree went forth to slay all the wise men of the kingdom of Babylon because they could not relate or interpret a dream which had gone from the king's mind. Nebuchadnezzar demanded not only the interpreta...

Chap. 244 - Under God's Control      Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: and he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. Daniel 2:20,21.  {CC 250.1}        Behold the Jewish captive, calm and self-possessed, in the pres...

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27.  {CC 249.1}        As God called Daniel to witness for Him in Babylon, so He calls us to be His witnesses in the world today. In the smallest as well as the largest affairs of life, He desires us to reveal to men the principles of His ki...

Them that honour me, I will honour. 1 Samuel 2:30.  {CC 248.1}        In the experience of Daniel and his companions we have an instance of the triumph of principle over temptation to indulge the appetite. It shows us that through religious principle young men may triumph over the lusts of the flesh, and remain true to God's requirements, even though it costs them a great sacrifice.  {CC 248.2}  ...

Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God. 1 Chronicles 22:12.  {CC 247.1}        In acquiring the wisdom of the Babylonians, Daniel and his companions were far more successful than their fellow students; but their learning did not come by chance. . . . They placed t...