HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers: 14-19.-Self-regard and magnanimity. In each one of these verses N ehem1ah makes a personal reference. He, the writer, is the theme of his narrative. He writes of himself more than is customary with the sacred authors. We con- sider- 1. THE SELF-REGARD WHICH IS NOT SELFISHNESS. Though Nehemiah writes about himself, there is no painful egotism in his record. He does not obtrude himself. There is a self-regard which is not selfishness. It is right and needful that we 11hould (a) think much and highly of our spiritual nature. Not to do this is the sin of the thoughtless multitude. Every man's first duty is to consider how he himself stands before God, and whether he is entering in activity and life into all the holy possibility of moral character. It is sometimes right that we should (/3) speak or v:rite about ourselves. Onr Divine Master without egotism spake much concern- ing himself. He could not possibly have wrought his redeeming work with any completeness had he not so done. His great apostle had occasion to write much about himself in order to make clear the truth, and " for the furtherance of the gospel." So Nehemiah writes, using often the first person singular, but in no egotistic vein. We may sometimes aid the cause of Christ and serve our fellow-men by an effective personal narration of motive, experience, and work. Only we must remember that this is an alluring path, and we may easily go too far in it. It is not every one who can be as autobiographic and as unselfish as Nehemiah. Often it is our duty to (r) pray for ourselves (ver. 19). Often should we utter such a prayer as" Think upon me, my God, for good." Though assured that "the Lord thinketh upon us in our poverty 11 (Ps. xl. 17), and greatly encouraged thereby, we must ask him to have us in his gracious and bountiful remembrance. And it is right that we should (J) lwpe for a personal reward for our labours (ver. 19), "according to all that I have done for this people." We cannot be more evangelical than Paul, but v,ith him we may hope that after the "fight is fought" and the "course is finished," the "righteous Judge II will give the" crown of righteousness" (2 Tim. iv. 7). Like Moses, we may " have respect unto the recompense of the reward" (Heh. xi. 26). But we have our attention called also to- ll. THE MAGNANIMITY WHICH IS CHRISTUN (vers. 14, 15, 16, 17). Nehemiah was totally unlike those governors who had regarded their office as a means whereby to secure emolument. His thoughts rose high above the line of the mercenary and the perfunctory. There was a large-mindedness, and therefore an open- heartedness about him worthy of all admiration and imitation. He not only did his own appointed work faithfully and energetically (ver. 16), but he declined to receive the usual remuneration. For twelve years he "did not eal the bread of the governor" (ver. 14). Beside this, he kept a very hospitable table, entertaining daily "an hundred and fifty of the rulers of the Jews, beside those that came from the heathen" (ver. 17). Generosity may be shown in many ways: (1) in large and costly gifts, (2) in free expenditure of time and strength, (3) in a noble overlooking of injury, (4) in refusal to claim what is justly due. It is sometimes (a) the overflow of natural dis- poaitwn. We find in some ungodly men this open-heartedness and nobility of conduct. With Nehemiah it was partly, indeed largely, (.13) the outcome of genuine godliness (ver. 15). "So did not I, because of the fear of God." If animated by this motive, we shall not Jive to ourselves, but shall (1) give freely, and (2) forego gladly, that God may be glorified, and the welfare of his people promoted.-C.
Vere. 14-19.-.A man of public spirit. I. THAT HE HAS MORE REGARD FOR THE PUBLIC WELFARE THAN FOR PERSONAL REMUNERATION. "Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth ye111 OH, V, 14-19.] THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 61
even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor" (ver. 14). ' II. THAT HE HAS MORE RE0ARD FOR NECESSARY REFORMS THAN FOR TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS. " But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people" (ver. 15). Men are chargeable to their fellows-I. In the state. 2. In morals. 3. fn society. 4. In the family. 6. In the Church. Men have often to pay and suffer for their governors. III. THAT HE HAS MORE REGARD FOR POPULAR LIDERTY THAN FOR OPPRESSIVE EXACTIONS. "Yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God" (vers. 15, 18). Nehemiah would not allow the few to oppress the man'y; he made his servants work (ver. 16). IV. THAT HE HAS MORE REGARD FOR EARNEST INDUSTRY THAN FOR LUXURIOUS INDOLENCE. "Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall" (ver. 16). I. Personal work. 2. Contirruous work. 3. Effective work. 4. A good example. V. THAT HE HAS MORE REGARD FOR WISE BENEFICENCE THAN FOR A MEAN POLICY, "Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine : yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people" (ver. 18). VI. THAT HE HAS MORE REGARD FOR THE DIVINE BENEDICTION THAN FOR HU.UN PRAISE. "Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people" (ver. 19). 1. The Divine contemplation of man. 2. The beneficent regard of God for man. 3. God will reward those who aid his people. 4. The measure of the Divine favour not according to what we have done, but according to what Christ has done in, by, and for us.-E.
EXPOSITION.