THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS “In what place therefore ye hear t h e mo a ml of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto ns; onr God shall fight for ns.” There is an inspiration in this picture. A man of God’s choice for a leader,— one who laid aside a pleasant and profit able position in a king’s palace to work amidst the battered walls and rubbish; to toil amidst the ruins with undaunted faith; to cheer and encourage the work ers with the words of a warrior. Let us abandon the low ideals of Christian service, get a vision of our high and holy calling, and build upon the foundation in the faith once for all delivered to the saints. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) The enemy ridiculed the Jews, but they kept on rearing the walls, v. 2. (2) The “ Sanballats” are Satan’s servants. (3) Work for God always excites the wrath of His enemies. (4) The enemy was unaware that the eye of God was upon His people. (5) The threats of the enemy failed because of the faith and trust of Nehe- miah. (6) The builders were bulwarked and ready to fight for their families. (7) In church work there should be hearty co-operation. (8) Carry your sword by your side, and labor in love. For several months Nehemiah had mourned and prayed for his people in Jerusalem after learning of their sad condition. One day the king noticed his sadness and en- DEVOTIONAL quired its cause. Ne- COMMENT hemiah opened his F. W. Parr heart to the king and the result was that the king authorized him to go to Jeru salem for the relief of his people. He provided him with an escort and gave him all possible assistance. When Ne hemiah reached Jerusalem he found
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things worse than he supposed. He was not discouraged, for he was sus tained by a vision of God and duty. He called together the chief men of the Jews and laid his plans before them. With one accord they said, “ Let us arise and build.” Nehemiah had not come with a host of helpers nor with vast resources, but he had the assur ance that God was with him and had called him to the task. For months he had been waiting upon God and he was full of faith and zeal. Nothing is ever undertaken for God without opposition. Jerusalem had been in ruins for more than a hundred years and had been the prey of surrounding nations. When these people saw that the walls of Jeru salem were about to rise, they did everything in their power to discourage the undertaking. Nehemiah again be took himself to prayer and committed everything again to God. Thus far prayer had brought success to his enter prise and he believed that God would not fail him nor forsake him in this critical moment. Nevertheless, he did not neglect any possible precaution. The strongest trust in Divine protection does not preclude the use of every pos sible means of self-preservation and defense. Prayerfulness and watchful ness are mutually supplementary. On the part of the Jews’ enemies there was hatred, ridicule and conspiracy. On the part of the Jews there was prayer, watching and determination to carry out the Divinely appointed plan. “ God shall fight for us” comes fittingly from the lips of Nehemiah after he had done what he could and committed his cause to God. His confidence was not mis placed. Duty knows no compromise. The walls of Jerusalem steadily arose, and the work was carried to completion. The arrangements that Nehemiah made reveal the secret of efficiency- There was nothing desultory about the work.
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