tlrn result of the people's sins, and in those stantly spoken of 1\8 effected "with a mighty sins nre included his own, nnd those of his ~and and w~th an outstretched arm" (Dent. ancestors. His own ml\y nut have been lX, 29 ; XXVI. 8, &c.). vory grievous, but those of his fathers weigh Ver. 11.-Prosper thy servant this day. upon him ns if his own, and oppress his "This day" does not perhaps mean more· spirit. than '' at this time" -in connection with this Vor, 7.-We have not kept the command- matter which is now in my thoughts. And ments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments. grant him mercy in the sight of this man. The ordinances of tho Law are frequently " This man" is, of course, Artaxerxes, summed up under these three heads (Dent. though as yet he has not been named. v. 31 ; vi. 1; xi. 1, &c.); but it would be a Nehemiah's thoughts have far outstripped mistake to regard them as constituting a his words. He has made up his mind th:tt, logical division of the various precepts con- in order to remove the reproach of Jerusalem, tained in the Pentateuch, or to suppose that he must go there in person ; that, to do so, every precept is to be referred absolutely to he must obtain the king's permission; and one or other of the three. that, to get his permission, he needs to be in Ver. 8.-If ye transgress, &c. This is very special favour with him. All depend- not a quotation, but a reference [to the ing on one man only, he has one man general sense of various passages, as, for only in his mind, who becomes to him, instance, Lev. xxvi. 27-45; Dent. xxx. therefore, '' this man." I was the k i.ng' s 1-5, &c. The sacred historians habitually cupbearer. Literally, "I was cup bearer refer to the older Scriptures in this way, to the king." Not his sole cup bearer, quoting them in the spirit rather than in but one of many. He mentions the fact the letter. here, ;partly to explain the meaning of " this Ver. 10.-Thy people whom thou hast man' to the reader, partly because it was redeemed by thy great po'\Ver. It would be his office which would give him access to better to translate, " Whom thou didst Artaxerxes, and enable him to profit bv the redeem." The reference is especially to the royal "mercy" or favour. deliverance from Egypt, which is so con-
HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-4.-A godl'!I patriot's sorrow. Israel was both a nation and a Church; a sacred nation representing and embodying the kingdom of God on earth. Hence such men ae Nehemiah may be regarded as examples either of patriotism or of zeal in the service of God and his Church. The latter aspect of their character is most suit- able, as a rule, for exhibition in the pulpit. Viewing Nehemiah in this light, observe- !. HIS SECULAR POSITION. l'rosperous, rich, occupying high office in the court of the Persian monarch, he nevertheless felt a deep interest in the condition of his brethren at Jerusalem. His warldly good fortune did not quench the flame of his piety or deaden his sympathies with God's people. Rather was he the more im- pressed with a sense of hie obligation to aid them ; which he was willing and even eager to do at the cost of much trouble, self-denial, pecuniary expense, and even peril to himself. An example to the rich and influential, who are not always the most ready to serve Christ and his people. II. THI!: INTl!:REST BE DISPLAYED IN THE WELFARE OF lsBAEL. Shown by-1. Inquiry ae to their condition. Concern for the prosperity of the Church of Christ will prompt to similar inquiries when like opportunities present themselves. 2. SorruW over their calamities. Public-spirited men have sorrows which others escape. Blessed are such sorrows. There is often much in the state of religion to grieve zealous Christians : coldness, indifference, inconsistencies, divisions, errors, opposition, reproach; "broken walls" through which the Church's foes enter to injure, to scatter, and destroy. These evils must awaken sorrow in the godly, on account both of the dishonour they do to God and the damage they inflict on men. 3. Praye·r for their deliverance. Genuine interest in the welfare of the Church cannot but express itself in prayer. The weakest can pray; tho most powerful need to begin, continue, and end their plans and labours for the good of God's people with prayer. 4. Det~r- mination to assist thorn, if possible (ver. 11). It is s worthless sympathy which only prays when it has power to help. That which ie real will move the hands as well as the feelings and the lips. From the whole let us learn to recognise and thankfully acknowledge God's care ll2 ' THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [CH. I. 1-11,