The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 26

8. Rejection of nlien interference. This took the form of opposition in the cnsc of Banballnt, &c. Yet Neheminh's language seems to imply that these objectorn would have co-operated, if allowed to do so, on terms acceptable to them. " We his ser- vants will arise and build; but ye have no portion," &c. So it was at least as to the erection of the temple (Ezra iv. 1-3). And in our day many who are "of the world" are willing to unito with the Church in her works. The peril is that in wel- coming their aid the Church should imbibe their spirit, and so lose her own proper strength. We cannot, it is true, draw as sharp a line between the Church and the world as Nehemiah between Jews, and not-Jews. But we have great need to be on our guard against the insidious influence of the worldly spirit, and the adoption of worldly means,of doing what professes to be, but then ceases to be, Christ's work. We may not be justified in rejecting the material aid of worldly men when proffered without conditions (Nehemiah had accepted that of Artaxerxes), but we must never accept their counsels. The world is more dangerous within the Church than in open opposition. Faith in Divine aid will preserve from such a policy. Cherishing this, we shall feel that whether the world smile or frown we shall succeed in the end; but that if God were to withdraw his help we must fail (however we may for a time appear to succeed); and that he is likely to abandon us if we so rely on others as to be un- faithful and disobedient to him, by surrendering our distinctiveness as the disciples of Christ. HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 9-11.-Ungodly (unchristian)jealousy. Nehemiah, attended by a Persian escort, came safely to Jerusalem. The Icing had dealt liberally with him; he pro- vided him with a military guard to protect him from the dangers of the road, and with letters of instruction to use at his journey's end (ver. 9). But the prophet soon found-what we all find soon enough-that the work we attempt for God can only be accomplished by triumphing over difficulty. The path of holy service lies over many a scorching plain, up many a steep mountain, along many a " slippery place." Nehemiah's great obstacle was to be found in the virulent enmity of San ball at and Tobiah. When these men heard of his arrival, "it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel" (ver. 10). Looking at this statement concerning these men, we notice- !. THEIR COMPARATIVE INNOCENCY WHEN JUDGED BY HUMAN STANDARDS. At first thought it seems almost incredible that they should have been "grieved exceed- ingly" because a man had come to seek the welfare of their neighbours. But when we ask if Sanballat and Tobiah were so very much worse than mankind in general, we are compelled to own that theirs was but an instance of ordinary human selfish- ness. In every land and through every age men have been jealous of their rivals' prosperity. These men concluded that the elevation of Jerusalem virtually meant the depression of Samaria; that, indirectly, Nehemiah had come to lower the dignity if not to lessen the prosperity of their state, and they counted him an enemy. So have men argued everywhere even until now. Wars that were avowedly waged on some small pretext were really fought because one strong nation was jealous of ths growing· vigour of some neighbouring power. Not only nations, but tribes, families, societies, and (it must be sorrowfully admitted) Christian Churches have allowed themselves to be jealous of the growth of other nations, other tribes, other Churches, and have been grieved when men "sought'' and promoted "their welfare." So general and widespread is this selfishness, taking the form of jealousy of the prosperity of others, that it is not for us to " cast the first stone" of bitter reproach. But we must see- II. THEIR AC'rUAL GUILT IN THE SIGHT OF GoD. A selfish jealousy like this of Sanballat and Tobiah, a grief at the prosperity of neighbours and competitors, whether in the civil or religious world, is in the sight of God (a) unrighteous. Our neighbours have every whit as much right to make the most of their powers and opportunities as we have of ours ; to rise above us by lawful means as we to remain above them. We, ns well as they, have received our heritage from men and from God, and we have no moral right to limit their success, or to object to their power, or be offended at their superiority. (/3) Short-si-ghted. We ought to understand  24 THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [cF!. II. 9-20,