The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 138

Ver. 2:-Foes turned into friends. "Our God turned the curse into a blessing." Balaam, who was hired to curse Israel, and desired to do so, was compelled to bless them. A unique instance ; but suggesting the general truth that God makes the efforts of men to injure his people a means of doing them good, and of doing good to others through them, which is also a mode of blessing them. How does he effect this? I. BY HIS OVERRULING PROVIDENCE. The case of Joseph is a notable instance (see Gen. xiv. 5-8; 1. 20). The enmity and cruelty of his brothers, the anger of Potiphar's wife, issuing in his own exaltation, the preservation of his family, and their settlement in Egypt. II. BY THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT. 1. On those desiring to injure good men. Sometimes turning their hearts to friendship. Paul going to Damascus to persecute the Christians, but arriving to co-operate with them. 2. On those whose injury is sought. Turning the enmity of men, and even of Satan, into means of grace to his people ; promoting in them-(1) Compassion and good-will towards their enemies. So that they bless those who curse, pray for them, forgive them. (2) Trust in God, and experience of his supporting grace. (3) Patience and resignation. (4) Power to overcome temptation. ( 5) Christian character in general. And, as the result of all- ( 6) Power to do good. 3. On the hearts of others. The example and the utterances of Christians thus exercised and thus blessed being made more influential (1) to encourage and strengthen their fellow-Christians and (2) to promote the salvation of sinners. l!l11Strations abound in Scripture, biographies of Christians, and ordinary Christian life. David was fitted for the throne by the discipline which the enmity of Saul afforded ; and by the experience of varied trials was so enriched in spiritual life as to be able to write psalms meeting the wants of godly men throughout the ages. We owe the sublime death of Stephen to the rage of his malignant foes. If St. Pan! had not been persecuted he would not have been so great in goodness, or effected so much good in life, or written epistles so full of inspiring thoughts and powerful consolations for the benefit of the Church for ever. St. John, banished to Patmos, sees heavenly visions, hears heavenly voices, and writes the Book of Revel- ation. .And "tlie noble army of martyrs," how much they owed, how much we owe through them, to their persecutions. But the grand instance is that of the Lord himself, made "perfect through sufferings," and becoming thereby the Saviour of the world, the sympathising Friend and Consoler of his suffering people, the perfe?t example of meekness, resignation, and forgiveness of enemies. Note, however, m conclusion, that in the case of impenitent sinners blessings from God nnd man are turned into curses. What are meant for good-the gifts of Providence, enjoyments, sufferings, the gospel and the grace of God-all become evil. Vers. 4-9.-.An intruder ejeded. In these verses we have an account of a gross abuse of authority by the high priest, and how it was corrected by Nehemiah. I. THE OFFENCE. Turning rooms in the courts of the temple, intended and used o.s store-rooms for tithes and offerings, &c., into a residence for Tobiah on his visits to Jerusalem. In l"er. 5 we read of "a great chamber ; " in ver. 9 of "chambers." Pr.rhaps several rooms were thrown into one; or the word in ver. 5 may be, as in ver. 4, collecti've. 1. The perversion was itself disgraceful. It may have occasioned the 11eglect recorded in ver. 10. 2. The person for whom it was committed was not only Oil, XIII. 1-31.] THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 145