Vers. 1-9.-The Chri,st:ian workman. Nehemiah was an instance, and will ever be the type, of a faithful workman in the cause of God ; from his conduct and career we may learn- I. How VALUAJILE ONE WORKMAN MAY PROVE (vere. 1, 2). Sin sometimes pays an unconscious tribute to integrity and worth. It acts on the assumption that righteous- ness is more than equal to its energy, and that, to gain its evil end, it must have recourse t-0 "poisoned weapons." Thus, e. g., Philip of Spain, striving vainly to extinguish Protestantism in Holland, concluded that it could only be done by" finishing Orange," and set plots on foot tu murder that noble patriot. Sanballat concluded that he could Jlot accomplish hie evil designs until Nehemiah was subdued; hence his murderous plans. What a tribute to one man's influence I Men "full of faith" are also "full of power" (Acts vi. 8). One single soul, animated by faith, love, and zeal, may defeat all the agencies of evil. II. WHAT NEED BE H.A.S OF WARINESS (vere. 2, 4). "The;v sought to do me mischief" (ver. 2) ; "they sent unto me four times after this sort' (ver. 4). The enemies of God endeavoured, with a persistency worthy of a better cause, to entrap Nehemiah and despatch him. But he, fearless as he afterwards proved, was not to be taken by their era.ft. Heroism is unsuepicious ; but it is not, therefore, credulous. It can dis- tinguish between the overtures of a friend and the machinations of an enemy. We read of "the deceitfulness of sin" (Heh. iii. 13) ; and both in the guarding of our own personal integrity, and in the defence of the Church of Christ, we must be on the alert against the enemy, who after the failure of open assault will probably resort to stealth. III. WHAT NEED HE HAB OF COURAGE (vers. 5, 61 7, 8, 9). Sanballat, failing to CH. VJ. 1-19.] THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 69
impoee on the charity of Nehemiah, e.clopte another e-0ur11e : he intimatee in an open letter which every one may read, that, if the interview be not given him, he will send an evil report to the king of Persia, putting the worst construction on the proceedings at Jerusalem (vers. 5, 6, 7). Nehemiah, feeling that ceremony would be out of place, charges Sanballat with direct falsehood (ver. 8). "Thou feignest them out of thine own heart." There are times when softness of speech is not courtesy, but weakness; when hard words are not rudeness, but faithfulness. But this ruse of the enemy threatened to succeed, notwithstanding the governor's un- vo.rnished retort. "For they all made us afraid" (ver. 9). Fear seems to have possessed the minds of many, and Nehemiah was driven to prayer. "Now therefore, 0 God, strengthen my hands." When other hearts are trembling, and timidity is within us, we must seek, and we shall gain, renewed courage at the throne of grace. " In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul " (Pa. cxxxviii. 3). "For this cause I bow my knees . . . . . to be IJtrength- ened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. iii. 16). IV. How EXCELLENT IS DEVOTEDNESS TO WORK (ver. 3). An admirable message was that of the patriot: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down," &c. His place was amongst his friends, encouraging and helping them to build, not out- side, parleying with the enemy. To have left his post of active duty, of useful work, for such discussion would have been to " come down " indeed. To forsake the good and great work of building for Christ in order to debate with those who are hostile to it is to" come down," is a descent from devotion to danger. We are safer and better employed in the high places of prayer and activity.-C. Vers. 1-14.-" God with us." The true safety of God's people in the midst of the world's opposition. Nehemiah represents the spirit of consecration, zeal, single- mindedness, dependence upon God, personal responsibility, and confidence in final issues, which should be the spirit of all God's people, and especially of those who hold prominent places in the Church. I. THE FACT OF OPPOSITION. 1. It is a constant/act. The form may change, but the substance is the same. Sleepless vigilance is necessary. When violent assault is out of the question, we must fear treachery. "Come, and let ue meet together" is the most dangerous shape of the world's mischievous attempt. Special watchfulness required in times like these, lest we forsake our work and put ourselves into the hands of the enemies of Christ and his people. 2. We must expect that times of special success and rapid advancement will be the times when we have most to encounter from the world. When the work of God is making no way his enemies will leave it to itself. When they see that it approaches completion (" the wall built, and no breach therein"), then they will make desperate efforts to circumvent us, and to overthrow our work ; and the more open our success, the more crafty will be their schemes. 3. In appreciating the dangers of our position, we should not be content with looking outside the Church ; look within it too. There will be traitors among the Lord's people. There will be lying prophets, timid friends, worldly- minded fellow labourers. The true heart must be strong in God. II. THE VICTORY OF FAITH IN THE TIME OF SPECIAL TEMPTATION. 1. It was a victory obtained by the Spirit qf God in the spirit of man. What Nehemiah needed was penetration, wisdom, seff-control, fortitude, fearlessness, devotion to his work. All these qualities are given by the Spirit of God and maintained by his grace. So long as they were uppermost in the individual man, the enemies had no chance. 2. It was a victory which was bestowed as a reward of faith, and in answer to prayer. The whole attitude of Nehemiah was that of dependence upon God. "My God, strengthen thou my hands." 3. It was o. very decided and definite faith which gained the victory. " I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down." The best defence against temptation is to be pledged to o. positive public life of active service. The spirit of work should be set o.gainst the spirit of compromise. To leave duty un- folfilled is ulways to come down, and to come down is to be in the hands of enemies. 4. The victory was renewed man'll_ times. Each occasion added strength to the true heart. If God helps us to say No once, we shall find it easier each time afterwards. Courage grows by action. The conscious resistance of evil is bcth the best pre- 70 THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [en. v1. 1-10.
paration to detect its presence, and the best uplifting of the heart above actual feara for life and safety.-R.