The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 46

II. THEIR RELATION TO EACH OTHER, 1. They are mutually helpful. Fighting or r?11din_ese .~or it, renders_ b~ildin~ poeeibl_e. If i~fidelity or sin get _the upper hanr( "ed1fication _ceases.. Bmldmg a!de fighting:. Give~ etre~gt_h for _,t, supplies with strongest mot.1vea to 1t. He who 1a well "bmlt up" m Chnstian faith and life has an experience of the preciousness of that which the enemy assails which will make him earnest and bold in contending for it. So with a Church established in all good- ness, and richly enjoying the privileges of the gospel. In the end, however (as when the wall was finished), building may render preparation for fighting unnecessary. The Christian who has arrived at great maturity becomes unassailable by either serioufl error or temptation to sin. Growth in grace renders the disciple more and more like his Master, who could say, "The prince of this world cometh and bath nothing in me." After many a conflict, he settles down in quiet enjoyment of what he has won; his walls so strong, his gates so secure, that no enemy can enter, even if he do not cease the vain attempt. A Church, also, well built up at once in Christian life and character and in numbers, needs not take much heed of enemies without. Her life and works speak for her more powerfully than arguments. 2. Readiness for fighting may hinder or atop building. The attitude of mind favourable to the former is in no small degree unfavourable to the latter. Besides, when men are armed for con- flict they may come to prefer it, and engage in it needlessly or excessively, to the neglect of edification. But no Church (or state) can live by fighting. This is partly true of direct battling with evil tendencies and habits in ourselves and others ; let good be nourished and strengthened, and evil will decay. It is especially true of religious controversy. It is very apt to injure Christian life and character. The antagonistic spirit which it engenders is unfavourable to meekness and charity, and even justice and truthfulness. A Church must be militant and ever ready to fight ; but a. Church ma.inly militant will effect little good. The lessons are-1. Be "ready, aye, ready" for battle. With the "whole armour of God " about you, and trained to the use of your weapons. But-2. Be mainly intent on building. Ver. 20.-Godfighting for liis people. "Our God shall fight for us." An inspirit- ing assurance. Grounds of it in the case of Nehemiah and the Jews. I. WHEN WE llfAY CHERISH THIS ASSURANCE, When we fight for God; which we do-1. When we contend in and for his cause. When our contest is against Satan, sin, and error; and on behalf of Christ and truth and righteousness nnd souls-our own and others. 2. When we are actuated by sincere and supreme regard for him. Desiring his glory, and trusting him for strength and victory. 3. When we employ the weapons which he has given us. Not using Satan's arms, but the weapons of truth and love (see 2 Cor. x. 4). 4. When we fight in the spirit which he prescribes and imparts (2 Tim. ii. 25; James i. 20). 5. When we battle with all our power. II. THE GROUNDS OF THIS ASSURANCE. 1. The relation of God to us. " Our God." 2. His interest in the contest. It concerns his II great name," the accomplishment of his purposes of love to mankind in Christ, the destruction of his enemies. 3. His summons to it. 4. His promises. 111. THE EFFECTS OF BUCH ASSURANCE. 1. Alacrity to engage in the combat. 2. Courage. 3. Confidence of victory. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Finally, take heed lest any of you fight against God. "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker." HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 7-23.-The wisdom of the Christian workman in the hour of pml. We are reminded here of- I. THE PROGRESS OF BIN IN ITS COURSE (ver. 8). From sneers the enemies of Israel passed on to plots; from taunts to a mischievous conspiracy. They II conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it." This advance of theirs was brought about by their hearing that the wnlls of Jerusalem were "made up." The steadfast labour of the good led, incidentally, to the development of evil in the unholy. The relations of David with Saul, and of the Apostle Paul with his  THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [CH, IV, 7--28, ------------------------------ -- unheli<',·ing countrymen, and, indeed, those of our Master himself with the religion& leadE'rs of his day, show that speaking the truth or doing the work of God may prove the occasion of the growth and outbreak of sin-the occa.sion, but not the responsible cause. We must not be deterred from speaking or doing the will nnd ,i;•ork of God by fear about incidental consequences on the part of the great enemy. II. THE rERIL TO THE WORK OF THE CHURCH (vers. 10, 11, 12). The good work of Nehemiah was in serious danger from two causes :-1. The craft and violence of it, foes. The enemy said, "They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease 11 (ver. 11). Here was force combined v.;th subtlety; the enemy would surprise and slay them. 2. Tha fai:nt-heart,e,dness of it,s friends. Judah, from whom better things might have been e.xpected, said, "The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed," &c. (ver. 10); and the neighbouring Jews who had come in to help kept saying(" ten times," ver. 12) that they must return, fee.ring the wrath of the Samaritans. In every work of God there are sure to be some if not II many adversaries 11 (1 Cor. xvi. 9). Tlris we must expect whenever we " put our hand to the plough " in the field of Christian labour. And happy she.II we be if we have not to contend with the feebleness and pusil- lanimity of our friends, fainting long before reaping-time (Ge.I. vi. 9), or even shrinking e.t the first alarm, and talking about II giving up." III. THE WISDOM OF THE CHURCH IN THE HOUR OF DANGER. The first thing to do when the work of the Lord is threatened is that which N ehemie.h did. 1. Mind- f,dness of God,. "We me.de our prayer unto our God 11 (ver. 9). "Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible 11 (ver. 14). An appeal to him for help, and the recol- lection of the fact that " greater is he that is for us than all they that can be against us. 11 11 Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee," &c. (Ps. I. 15). 2. Real,isation of the great issues which are at stake (ver. 14). 11 Fight for your brethren, your sons," &c. When we are working or fighting for the cause of God we are engaged on behalf of the truest, highe1c1t, and most enduring interests of those who are dearest to us, and of our own also. The cause of Christ is the cause of our- i;clves, of our families, of our country, as well as of our race. 3. Defence (vers. 16-18). We must fight as well as pray and work. Nehemiah's servants wrought with their weapon of defence in one hand and their instrument of labour in the other (ver. 17). Or, while one was building, his fellow stood ready behind with e. spear to put e.t once into the labourer's hand. Usually our work is rather to build than to strike, but there are times when we must be ready to fight our foes or aid those who are engaged in conflict. In the wide field of the Church's work there is always some work for the Christian soldier as well as for the Christian labourer. Let the one be the cheerful and appreciative co-operator with the other. The spear and the trowel are both wanted. The Rpologist and the preacher, the theologian and the evangelist, are both accepted servants of Christ. 4. Vigilance (ver. 9). We "set a watch against them day and night." The Christian motto must ever be the memorable words, " Watch and pray." 5. Industry. Patient (ver. 21): "We laboured in the work . . . from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared." United ( ver. 15) : " All of us, . . . every one to his work." Self-forgetting (ver. 23): "None of us put off our clothes," &c. 6. Order (vers. 13, 19, 20). Everything was done in perfect order. Men were placed where most required (ver. 13); those whose homes were outside came in (ver. 22); arrangements were made to concentrate in case of attack (vers. 19, 20). All must work cordially under the human as well as under the Divine leader.-C. Vers. 1-23.-The work and warfare of the Church. I. The WORK of the Church. 1. Derided. "And mocked the Jews" (ver. 1 ). 2. Under-estimated. "These feeble Jews" (ver. 2). 3. Misrepresented. "If a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall" (ver. 3). 4. Prayerful. "Hear, 0 our God 11 (ver. 4). 5. Hearty. "For the people had a mind to work" (ver. 6). 6. Advancing. "Heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped" (ver. 7). II. The WARFAllE of the Church. 1. Defensive. "And conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it 11 (ver. 8). 2. Watchful. "Set a watch against them day and night" (ver. 9). 3. Judicious. " I eve:c set the people with their families" (ver, 13). 4. Courageous. "Be not Yll OB. IV. 7-23.J THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 47