176 NEHEMIAH SILENCES required of him, either by the call of duty or of inclination. Four times did they send these messages; so anxious were they to get him, if possible, into their power. Nehemiah's answer was to the purpose: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" This Scripture narrative is given for our instruction: doubtless the perseverance of Nehemiah is recorded, to show the Christian how he must continue earnest in the work of his God, especially in that which concerns his own soul, and how he must stedfastly resist all attempts to entice him from his work, or to deter him from stedfastly pursuing it. In all such cases the answer of Nehemiah is appropriate, and should ever be borne in mind. Finding Nehemiah on his guard, the enemies added insult, sending a scoffing letter open in the hand of the messenger, instead of carefully sealed in a bag, as usual in the East; where letters, especially to persons in office, are sent with much ceremony, the omission of which shows studied contempt. These open enemies were supported by pretended friends, who increased the difficulty of Nehemiah's position. It is narder to guard against a pretended friend than an open enemy; especially does the believer find it trying to discover that those in whom he trusted, whom he thought to be followers of the same Lord, are opposed to him, and to the work of his Divine Master. The Psalmist felt it a deep aggravation of his sorrow, when his friend, his familiar friend, one with whom he had walked to the house of God, joined against him. The believer is taught to look for disappointment and opposition from the world, but he does not expect it from those who profess to be followers of the Saviour. Nehemiah had to experience this trial: a false prophet and prophetess confederated with his enemies, they sought to induce him to shut himself up in the temple for safety; thus to leave his work, and discourage those who were engaged in executing his orders. THE ENEMIES OF THE JEWS. 177 Nehemiah silenced these deceivers by an emphatic declaration, ch. vi. 11; And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in." He saw the danger of being betrayed to inconsistent conduct, and bravely stood his ground. Let every professed Christian do the same. When tempted to sin, let the thought be, "Shall I, a professed child of God, give way to the world, the flesh, and the devil? Shall I do that which would disgrace my profession, and bring down condemnation upon myself and others?" Still the correspondence with the enemy continued; more letters were sent to put Nehemiah in fear, but the enemies were cast down, "for they perceived that the work was wrought of God." The nobles of Judah, those who ought especially to have supported Nehemiah, were opposed to him; they maintained a constant correspondence with Tobiah, and evidently assisted that heathen stranger, in preference to their own ruler, by whom God had wrought wondrous things for them. They reported his good deeds before me," says Nehemiah. "good deeds of Tobiah!" of him who grieved exceedingly that one was come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel; and who sought, by every means in his power, to hinder the work of God! Yes, such is the effect of party spirit: preference is given, by many professed followers of Christ, to the deeds of worldly men, over those of the sincere believer, even in our own day! How often do we hear "the good deeds of a Tobiah" highly applauded; while the earnest zeal and unsparing exertions of a Nehemiah are censured, or at best, condemned by the faint praises with which they are noticed! But there is One who seeth not as man seeth; with Him the believer may leave his cause: Nehemiah did so. The When the wall was completed, it was solemnly dedicated to the Lord. This seems to have been in pursuance of the direction in the law given by Moses, 178 NEHEMIAH GOES TO PERSIA. to acknowledge the Lord's favour and mercy on the completion of any new building. Nehemiah was well aware of the declaration in Psa. cxxvii. 1: Except the Lord build the house, The manner of the ceremonial of dedication is described in Nehemiah xii. 27-43. The people were assembled, and moved along the wall in solemn procession, with instruments of music, also uttering vocal praises, rejoicing loudly so "that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off." Arrangements were then made for the appointment of officers, and the due discharge of the services of the temple. Having thus happily brought to a conclusion this very important work, Nehemiah appointed his brother Hanani, jointly with Hananiah, the ruler of the palace, to have charge over Jerusalem, and to cause the gates to be carefully watched. Observe the qualification for this office, "He was a faithful man, and feared God above many." Nehemiah then returned to the Persian court; but in a few months came back again to Jerusalem. Prideaux considers that Nehemiah's first return to the Persian court was in conformity to his promise to the king, and that he might give a correct report, both of what he had done in building the wall, and of what remained to be done in other matters; whereby he prevailed upon the Persian monarch to spare him, that he might continue ruler of the province, and promote the welfare of his people; and he continued to govern them for the next twelve years. NEHEMIAH'S CARE FOR THE PROSPERITY OF JERUSALEM THE PUBLIC READING OF THE LAW-A PUBLIC FAST AND HUMILIATION. ON Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem, which was in the same or the following year, he set himself with much energy to carry into effect various matters which were important for the settlement of the Jewish state. Among these, one of the first was the bringing a larger number of inhabitants to reside in Jerusalem. He prevailed upon some of the higher ranks to build houses there; others were induced by their example to do the same a further portion, a tenth of the people, residing hitherto in the country, allowed themselves 180 NEHEMIAH CLEARS THE GENEALOGIES. to be selected by lot to settle in the city. It was now fortified with walls and gates, making it a secure place of residence, which caused the people to be more willing to dwell there: thus Jerusalem again became a place of importance. It is spoken of as such by Herodotus, the earliest Greek historian, who visited it about the time under consideration; he describes it as nearly the size of Sardis, then the chief city of Lesser Asia; but it was far, very far below the Jerusalem of Solomon, for wealth and importance among the surrounding lands. The products of the East, and the riches of the West, were no longer brought to Judea as a central mart of the nations. No longer could it be said, For thee his ivory load Behemoth bore, Thine all the arts that wait on wealth's increase, The caravans passed beyond their borders; the Jews were as yet a people seeming to be struggling for their existence. They were dependent upon the Persian government for the timber needful for their sacred buildings. How different from the time when silver was in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as the sycamore trees that were in the vale, for abundance ! 1 Kings x. 27. Another important subject that engaged the attention of Nehemiah, was the examining and clearing up the genealogies of the people. By this measure, civil rights as to possessions were more correctly ascertained; also, several matters relative to the Levites, and the service of the sanctuary, were thereby settled. The inquiry was regulated by the genealogy or list of those who first returned with Zerubbabel, corrected according to some alterations which had taken place in the interim. This accounts for the similarity between the genealogies in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, with some differences which may be observed |