Ver. 8.-Success ascribed t.o God. " And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me." N ehemiab, like Ezra before him (Ezra vii. 6), ascribes the success of bis application to the king to the "good band of God ; " which had, indeed, been conspicuous. The circumstances which bad paved the way for the presentation of bis petition, the readiness of the king's consent to his requests, the largeness of the facilities granted him, all indicated that bis God,·whose aid he had sought, bad ordered events and influenced the monarch's heart. I. THE GOOD HAND OF GOD IS IN ALL THE SUCCESSES OF HIS SERVANTS. The hand of God is, indeed, in the successes of all ; an<l in their failures and reverses too; and it is always e. good band. For it is the band of him who is good, who seeks the good of his creatures, and will surely "do good unto those that be good" (Pa. cxx:v. 4). Nor is it easy to say whether the goodness of God's hand is most shown in successes or reverses. It is of success, however, that the text speaks; and this comes from God, as be-1. Arranges the events which conduce to success. 2. Supplies the qualities which contribute to it. Wisdom, power, goodness, in our- selves or others. 3. Overrules adverse circumstances or endeavours. 4. Works in ways inconcei"t"able and indescribable to render all efficient. II. THE GOOD HAND OF GOD 16 ESPECIALLY CONSPICUOUS IN SOME SUC0ESSES. We pass over those effected by the display of Divine power in miracles. Nehemiah records no miracle. The hand of God is especially apparent in successes obtained wnere (1) great difficulties are surmounted, or (2) strenuous opposition is over- come, or (3) feeble instruments have been employed, or (4) unexpected valuable help arises, or (5) many unlikely conditions concur, and (6) signal good is accom- plished. All these were combined in the successes of the gospel in early times, and in many a revival, reformation, or deliverance in later days. Ill. THE GOOD HAND OF GOD SHOULD EVER BE DEVOUTLY BECOGNIBED AND ACKN0W• LEDGED. With admiration, gratitude, and _praise. This is meet and right and pro- fitable. To be unable to see God's hand 1s to be in the condition of a brute. To shut our eyes and refuse to see it is the part of a determined infidel. To see, and not in suitable ways to acknowl~dge, is at least to be guilty of impiety, ingratitude, wd cowardice. arr. II. 1-8. J THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 15
1V. Trrm GOOD HAND 011' Goo WILL IlE RECOGNISED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY GODLY MEN. They ha.ve the fa.ith which discerns it, the love which delights to trace its operation, the gratitude which impels to the acknowledgment of it. Especially will this be the case when the success achieved is a manifest answer to their prayers.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-8.-Sadness. I. THAT IT WAS THE OUTCOME OF A TRUEPATIII0TISM (ver. 2). This sadness was not occasioned by temporal loss, by domestic bereavement, or by unfaithful friendship, but by the desolated condition of Jerusalem. The city was "waste." Many cities of our own country are laid waste by sin ; the good man cannot be indifferent, he must sympathise with and help the work of moral restoration. If men are anxious about the walls, they ought to be much more so about the morals of a city; if for the tombs of the dead, much more for the welfare of the living. Sin consumes a city as by fire. The desolation wrought by sin, in commerce, in society, in the home, and especially amongst the young, cannot but awaken deep sorrow of heart. II. TBAT IT WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE COURSE OF HIS DAILY AV0CATIO!,S. "And l took up the wine, and gave it to the king" (ver. 1 ). How many men go to their daily toil with a heart sorrow which occupation and industry cannot make them forget. Nehemiah was wont to be cheerful before the king; business should be done in joyous mood ; but there are times when sorrow will prevail. III. THAT IT WAS MANIFESTED IN THE APPEARANCE OF THE PHYSICAL FRAME. "Why is thy countenance sad?" (ver. 2). How much of the world's sorrow is concealed. In a very true sense it is sorrow of heart ; it is never vocal in explanation or complaint. But such sacred grief is not hidden from God. The face reflects the emotions of the soul; it revealed the sorrow of Nehemiah, the joy of Stephen. How many sorrowful faces do we meet in a day. A sad countenance should awaken tender inquiry, wise consideration, and willing aid. Let us not be heedless of the world's sorrow. Christ is only true consolation. IV. THAT IT WAS AIDED BY SECRET COMMUNION WITH THE DIVINE. "So l prayed to the God of heaven" (ver. 4). 1. Sorrow often has great opportunities opened up to it. " For what dost thou make request? " Nehemiah's sorrow open Pel up the king's resources to him. Our sorrows often make heaven rich to us. 2. Sorrow needs guidance, so as to make good use of the opportunities presented to it. 3. Sorrow finds in prayer the guidance and culture it needs to use aright its opportunity. (1) Memory is aided; (2) difficulty is anticipated; (3) preparation is i.ccomplished (ver. 7); (4) agencies are perfected (ver. 8). V. TIIAT I'l' WAS EMPLOYED IN THE WONDROUS PROVIDENCE OF HEAVEN. 11 And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me" (,er. 8). 1. The sorrow of Nehemiah was allied to the welfare of liis people. It led to the rebuilding of the broken wall of Jerusalem. Our trials are often the means of promoting the welfare of others. Christ's sufferings are allied to our best delights, and to our noblest achievements. It is indeed true that others build because we have suffered. 2. The sorrow of Nehemiah was allied to the beneficence of the king. It awakened the monarch's sympathy and help. The sorrows of men awaken loving ministries. 3. The sorrow of Nehemiah was allied to the providence of God. By its means Heaven opened the heart of the heathen king in sympathy and his hand in help. The pain of the world is made to achieve high moral ends ; a wise providence employs it in the building of broken walls.-E.
Vers. 1-8. Gaining the cause. It was a time of great suspense, hardest of all things for human hearts to bear. The future of Jerusalem now bung on the build- ing of the wall, and this depended on Nehemiah's personal interposition and upon Artaxerxes' pleasure. When g-reat events depend on a single circumstance, issues deep and grave on the charge of a regimcnt,·on the skill of a statesman, on the caprice of a king, we may well wait in anxiety. Nothing could be done now for Jerusalem, speaking humanly, without this Persian sovereign's consent. There was- I. ADSENOE OF OPPORTUNITY. More than three months intervened between Nehe- 16 THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [en. n. 1-8.