The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 111

thiR we make a Rure covenant, und write it; nnd our princes, Levites, and priests, set their seal unto it" (eh. ix. 38). And Nehemiah and Zidkijah (Zadok) and many others, priests, Levites, and heads of families, formally signed and seal~d a solemn covenant, pledging themselves and the people generally to a purer and more loyal service of tho Lord. Feeling was running strong in Jerusalem. Many things concurred to call it forth. At the great gathering which followed the feast of taber- nacles it rose to its height; the multitude had to be cairned by the leaders (eh. viii. 9) ; then followed a day of fasting and confession, when all the people drew very near to God in humiliation. In what should it all end? Should it pass off in emotion, in religious excitement? That would have been a serious mistake. Nehe- miah wisely provided that they should formally and solemnly pledge themselves to the purer and worthier service of Jehovah, turning from evils which had grown up, and returning to duties which had been neglected. He was well sustained by all in this movement, and we have a long list of the influential men who added their sea\11 to his, committing themselves and all whom they represented to a renewed and revived national holiness. Let strong feeling in (1) the individual, in (2) the Church, in (3) the society or community pass soon into some definite shape; let it take tangible form; let it come to some deliberate resolution that can be formulated and written down, or it may pass away, leaving nothing but spiritual lassitude and demoralisation behind. We learn further- 11. THAT A RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT SHOULD BE lIEADi:D BY A FEW1 BIJT SHOULD HAVE THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF ALL (vers. 1-29). "Those that sealed" were less than a hundred (vers. 1-27); these were leading men, "nobles," few enough for their names to be attached to the roll and to be entered in our sacred Scriptures, there enjoying an honourable immortality which many that have taken great pains to ' secure it will assuredly miss ; but "the rest of the people," including "porters, singers, Nethinims," ... "their wives, thr.ir sons, and their daughters" (ver. 28), all these " clave to their brethren, the nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath " (ver. 29). They publicly and audibly swore to "walk in God's law," thus sustaining all that the leaders initiated. All movements of revival, and indeed of any religious action or undertaking, must be orderly; there must be leaders who will give direction and counsel ; also general followers who will give practical and cordial con- currence. God would not have an ill-regulated service, in which is confusion and haphazard, nor yet does he desire a mere representative service, in which a few act for the many without their sympathy. All must join-(1) the humblest classes -porters, Nethinims, &c.; (2) the weaker sex-the wives, the women; (3) the young-" the sons and daughters," "every one that has understanding" (ver. 28); for the service of God should be intelligent as well as general and orderly. We must serve him "with the understanding" (1 Cor. xiv. 15). III. THAT THE "vows OF Goo II SHOULD BE NOT ONLY GENERAL, BUT PARTICULAR. These Jews vowed "to walk in God's law, ... to observe and do all the command- ments of the Lord our God, and his judgments and his statutes" (ver. 29) ; but they were not content with such a general covenant: they undertook to refrain from particular evils-from forbidden marriage alliances (ver. 30), sabbath breaking, usury (ver. 31); and also to discharge particular obligations-they charged them- selves with (1) payment of money for the temple service (vers. 32, 33), with (2) provision of wood for the fire that never went out (ver. 34), (3) with rendering the first-fruits and tithes according to the law (vers. 35-39). There are times of revival and reconsecration in the lives of men and the history of Churches. These are irregular, coming in the grace of God we know not when or whence. 11 The wind bloweth where it listeth," &c. (John iii. 8). And regular: anniversaries, festivals, &c.-times when we are moved to consecrate or reconsecrate ourselves to the service of the Saviour. These should ho nsed for a solemn and thorough devotedness of ourselves and our possessions; and they should comprise the deliberate separation of ourselves from worldly entanglements (ver. 30), from neglect of ordinance~ (ver. 31), from injustice and hardness, from all pressure of legal right which is indistinguishable from unchristian severity (var. 31), and the deliberate resolution to worship the Lord and dedicate a good share of our material resources to hie service and the glory of his n11me.-C. I 2  i.16 THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [au. x. 1-39,