The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 100

answer the design of punishment, and therefore be now terminated" ( comp. lea. :xl. 2). 2. Their present depressed condition (vere. 36, 37). A condition of subjeotion to the Gentiles, of spoliation, and of "great distress." III. AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DIVINE JUSTICE IN THEIR TREATMENT (vers. 33-35). IV. A DECLARATION OF THEIR MAKING A SOLEMN AND FAITHFUL UNITED COVENANT. ,!,- ~tti?g_ conclusion of the day's proceedi~gs. In conclusion-I. The justice of God m mfhcting chRStisement should be heartily acknowledged by those who implore its ceeeation or mitigation. 2. Review of our past lives is adapted to and should excite humiliation, penitence, and resolutions of amendment. Therefore- ' 'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours, And ask them what report they bore to hoaven, And how they might have borne more welcome news.• Ver. 33.-.The just-ice of God in punishing sinners. "Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us ; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly." The words express a just and salutary conviction, and make an acknowledgment suitable to accompany an appeal to the Divine compassion. I. THE CONVICTION EXPRESSED. Of very great importance that we should not only verbally utter it, but sincerely feel it. How may we arrive at this conviction ? 1. B_y faith in God's essential rectitude. That he cannot be unrighteous in any of his proceedings (see Deut. :xxxii. 4). 2. By considering the rectitude and good- ness of the laws against which we have sinned. 3. By remembering all that God has done to guard us against sin (see on ver. 29). If we sin notwithstanding, we are justly punished. 4. By calling to mind our sins. Their essential evil, their number and magnitude, and the circumstances which aggravate their guiltiness (God's varied kindness, our opportunities, advantages, knowledge, convictions, good resolu- tions, &c.). Such a review will lead us to exclaim with Ezra, "Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve " (Ezra ix. 13). 5. By comparing what we endure with the Divine threatenings. The Israelites had been warned of the consequences of their rebellion against God. He was only fulfilling his word. So it is with us. What we suffer is no more, is indeed less, than we were warned to expect. II. THE BENEFITS OF SUCH A CONVICTION. 1. It will prevent our murmuring at our sufferings. " Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?" (Lam. iii 39). 2. It will greatly aid in producing repentance. Suffering is likely to do its proper work in humbling us and making sin odious when we recognise the justice of God in inflicting it. 3. It will lead to an appeal to the mercy of God for deliverance. Such an appeal, made through Christ, "".ill be regarded, while an appeal to justice would be as futile as groundless. Fmally, observe that the goodness of God is as conspicuous as his justice in the sufferings ~e inflicts in this life. They have in view " our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness," and so of true and everlasting blessedness. But if through our perv~rsity they fail of this result, they are followed by the penalties of " judgment without mercy." HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-5, 16-18, 26, 28-30, 33-35.-Qonfession. The feast of tabe!??aclee, held in such wise as Israel had not known smce the days of Joshua ( eh. vm. 17), concluded, "according unto the manner" of that festival, with a "solemn assembly" on the eighth day (eh. viii. 18)-"the last day, that great day of the feast" (John vii. 37). After one day's interval, when nothing unusual was done, "on the twenty- fourth day of the month the children of Israel were asse1;fibled with fasting" (ver. 1), and a very great day was held of confession, adoration, and prayer•. ~his _was entirely an optional act on their part; it was not done to conform to any IIlJunct1on • it was felt to be a suitable and desirable thing. Under the law there was some-under the gospel is more-room for apontaneOUB service. Not on!y t~e ordinance~ . and services that are prescribed, but such and so many as the cultivation of our•spmtual life requires, are what the wise and the good will practise. These should not be CH. IX. 1-38.] THE BOOK OF NEBEMlAll. 106