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a fox might break down their walls is very suggestive. The entire congrega tion, ch. 7:66, is given as 42,360 with 7337 servants and 245 singers,. Com pare this with the time when Judah alone mustered 470,000 fighting men. 1 Chron. 21:5. During Nehemiah’s governorship of twelve years, he refused any salary’ be cause of the poverty of the people, he bought the freedom of those who were slaves, and entertained regularly at his own expense one hundred and fifty of the chief Jews. Ezra was the eccle siastical reformer of his times, Nehe miah was the civil reformer. The one re-organized the priesthood, the other society. Both strove to revive the practice of strict Judaism. Nehemiah has set the world an example of prayer in time of distress and need. He fasted and prayed until the path of duty be came clear. He came to God as a true suppliant. He came with deep humility, with genuine confession of sin, with earnestness and importunity, he showed no desire to spare himself. He acknowl edged that the blame for national sins rested on individuals and families and that the sad state of the nation was due to sin. He re-enforced his suppli cation by pleading the promises of God. He even has recourse to argument by urging that the Jews are included in the promise that he quotes. He goes back to the redemption from Egypt, which sealed forever the relation be tween Jehovah and His people. He ex pressed a willingness to do his part toward answering his own prayer. He stands beside Elijah as a master in the science and art of intercession and fur nishes an example of the effectual fer vent prayer of a righteous man. His prayer had a definite purpose and aim and was offered in simple faith. Of course it was answered. Such prayers always are. Nehemiah’s prayer was born of profound emotion. The emo-
his brethren. And the answer came ( 2 : 8 ) “And the kins granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.” PRACTICAL POINTS (1) The palace was no place for Nehemiah when his heart was In Jeru salem. (2) Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king, and a burden-bearer for his brethren. (3) He was true to his trust, but never bowed the knee to Baal. (4) World conditions should cause us to weep, and church conditions should make us mourn. (5) God can make a fast a feast for our souls. (6) By fasting ourselves, we could often feed others. (7) A tender conscience will lead to a true confession. (8) Confession is a real prepara tion for prayer. (9) It is a helpful thing to put your self in another’s place. The book of Nehemiah was formerly called the second book of Ezra as it is the continuation of that book. It is the last historical book of the Old Testa ment. For the next DEVOTIONAL four hundred years COMMENT prophecy was silent. F. W. Farr Malachi uttered his predictions amid the scenes described in the last chapter of Nehemiah. The next messenger of God who broke this long silence was John the Baptist, who said, “ Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.” Nehemiah records the circum stances attending the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the reforms which were introduced. He gives a vivid picture of the condition of the Jews at this time. The fewness of their numbers and their weakness are espe cially noticeable. Sanballat’s sneer that
Faith o f Young People? (See Page 863)
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