cling the city of God with walls. The account of their building in this chapter reminrls us- I. THAT ALL WORK WE DO FOR GOD IS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT AND IS RF.CORDED BY HIM. We should hardly have expected, judging antecedently, that all these names would have appeared in the sacred Scriptures with the posts assigned them. We ~hould have thought that the space thus taken would have been better occupied with more of the miracles or parables of our Lord, or of the acts of the apostles. The fact that these names are inserted in this book, which is to go over all the wo1 lcl and down all the ages, is evidence that God counts of importance all work clone for him, and that he records it. Other books of remembrance he has (Mai. iii. 16. Cf. Ps. xl. 7; lvi. 8; cxxxix. 16; Rev. xx. 12) in which the endurances and the actions of his people are written. All is recorded there-the work in building the city wall, the offering the cup of cold water, the kind word of encouragement or sympathy. Om record is on high. 'rhe notable and famous deeds of wickedness will be forgotte11 when humblest actions of devout usefulness are immortalised in one or other of the books of God. II. THAT IF DONE RAPIDLY, GOD'S WORK SHOULD BE DONE REGULARLY AND DISCERN• INGLY. They proceeded with all speed, losing no time, but everything was done in otder. There was no hurry. Every man had his proper post, and took it without interrupting his neighbour. The priests "builded the sheep gate" (ver.1). "Next came the men of Jericho" (ver. 2); ... "but the fish gate did the son~ of Hasse- naah build" (ver. 3), &c. Certain priests and other individual workmen had assigned to them the wall" over against their house" (vers. 10, 23, 28-30), where they would least interfere with others, and in which they would naturally take the greatest interest. So also the Levites had for their share the part nearest the temple (ver. 17), where they would work with the greatest zeal. Ill. THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE RELIGIOUSLY. It is only too possible and too common to do religious work in an unreligious, if not positively irreligious, spirit -mechanically and thoughtlessly, if not sullenly and selfishly. Three things in this record point to religious earnestness. (a) The ministers of God took the lead. "The high priest rose up with his brethren the priests'' (ver. 1 ). When the leaders of religion take the front posts of danger, difficulty, and toil, there is a guarantee of some spiritual zest in the work. (b) They stopped to dedicate the work they had done. " They sanctified it" ( ver. 1 ). ( c) Of one of them we read, that " Baruch earnestly repaired," &c. He was conspicuous for the zest with which he laboured, outstripping and inciting the others. Workmen in the vineyard of Christ should often remind themselves why it is they labour, what it is they aim to do, for whom they are employed. IV. THAT THE CO-OPERATION OF ALL WHO WILL HEARTILY HELP SHOULD BE CHEER· FULLY ACCEPTED. Here we have in united labour-(1) priests (vers. 1, 22), (2) Levites (ver. 17), (3) Nethinims (v11r. 26), (4) outsiders (vers. 2, 5, 7), (5) rulers (vers. 16, 17, 19), (6) tradesmen (vers. 31, 32), (7) women-" he and his daughters" (ver. 12). All can lend service; what one cannot do another may. No sincere helper is to be despised. In crises, especially such as this, when great things depend on the success of a few days' labour, all distinctions should be laid aside. By those who have the kingdom of Christ at heart they will be laid aside, and all will join hands, not only consentingly, but enthusiastically. V. THAT NEGLIGENCE IS NOTED AND RECORDED BY THE DIVINE MASTER. "Their nobles ( of Tekoah) put not their necks to the work of their Lord." Whether it was from indolence or pride, whether they were unwilling to task themselves with unusual labour, or whether they shrank from associating with their social inferiors, we cannot tell. We know, however, that both indolence and pride do keep many from the work of the Lord, and we know that such refusal of help is both unwise and guilty. It is to witqhold the hand from that which is worthiest and most enduring ; it is to stand outside the blessing of those whom God most honours. It is to invite the curse of Moroz (Judges v. 23), the condemnation of the Son of man 1ot the day of judgment (Matt. v. 45).-C.
D2 86 nIE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [CR. IV. 1-6.
Vera. l-32.-Clmrch--w01·k. Notice several points in this record of tho laboun1 and the distribution of their work. I. DeYotion and effort in the cause of God are worthy of DISTINCTION AND nEMEM· llRAN~E. Names have great power, both among contemporaries and successor&. We are stimulated by individual examples. 1. The priests are mentioned.first • and God's minii,ters should be first ~nd ~oremost in every good. w~r½, especiaJ!y th~t which is most closely connected with lus house. 2. Not only md1v1duals are honoured in this record, but families. Our household life should be intimately bound up with our Church life. The best family title is that which is won in the field of holy enterprise. 3. "While all were innted, some refused. The "nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord." But over against that disgraceful idleness we can place the super- abundant zeal of others, who not only did their own work, but the work of others as well. JI. Even THE WOMEN WERE READY TO DO THEIR PAnT,and, understanding"daughters" in the sens_e of women, the daugh~e~ of Shallum, "ruler of the half part of Jerusalem," not too lugh or too weak to umte m such a cause. In the building of tha spiritual Jerusalem the" daughters" contribute no mean portion. III. SOME UNDERTOOK THE WORK "OVER AGAINST THEIR OWN HOUSE." We may find the opportunity close at hand. No greater honour can we attach to our own -house than to connect it with the praise and glory of Jerusalem. IV. The EFFECT of this general and contemporaneous effort of all the Lord's people ~o repair the ~1:1-s of_ ~eir city i'?- un!ting the1!1, effacing wrong distinctions, developmg great qualities, lifting up their faith to a higher platform. RejormatW11, both effect and cause of reuival.-R.