Chapter 4 1-8. Satan Still Uses Contempt and Derision—The experience of Nehemiah 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 without 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 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.{3BC 1137.3}

Kapitel 4

1-8. Satan bruger stadig foragt og hån. - Nehemias erfaring gentages i Guds folks historie i denne tid. Dem som arbejder i sandhedens sag vil finde at det kan de ikke gøre uden at være vred på dens fjender. Selvom de er blevet af Gud til det arbejde de er involveret i, og Han anerkender deres handlemåde, kan de ikke undgå hån og foragt. De vil blive udråbt som visionære, upålidelige, rænkefulde, hykleriske - kort sagt alt som vil passe deres fjenders mål. De mest hellige ting vil fremstilles i et latterligt lys, for at underholde den ugudelige. En meget lille sarkasme og lav vittighed, blandet med misundelse, jalusi, ugudelighed og had er nok til at oprøre den verdslige hånsmand. Og disse formastelige spøgefugle skærper hinandens snedighed, og giver hinanden mod til deres blasfemiske værk. Hån og foragt er faktisk smerteligt for menneskenaturen; men de må udholde alle, som er sande over for Gud. Det er Satans politik at således vende sjæle fra at gøre det arbejde som Herren har pålagt dem.