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His sagacity and courage were markedly shown in th e arrangem ents by which he carried through th e re building of th e wall and balked the cunning plans of .the adversaries. His deeply religious spirit and constant sense of communion with, and absolute de pendence upon, God are strikingly ex h ibited,^ first, in th e long prayer re corded in chapter 1:5-11; and secondly, in what have been called his “ interjec tion al p rayers”— those sho rt bu t mov ing addresses to God which occur so frequently in h is, w ritings—-the instinc tive outpouring of a h eart deeply moved bu t resting itself upon God. There is no fanaticism in his religion; while tru stin g in God for th e issue, he omitd no necessary precauton. “Neverthe less,” he says, “we made our prayer unto God, and set a watch again st them day and n ig h t” (4 :9 ). Nor does he tru st to faith alone w ithout works. He is self denying, hospitable, active in deeds- of mercy, unresting, indefati gable.— P u lp it Commentary. On reviewing his character, we seem unable to find a single fau lt to counter balance his many and g reat virtues. F o r pure and disinterested patriotism he stands unrivalled. Every act of his dur ing his government bespeaks one who had no selfishness in his natu re. All he did was noble and generous, coura geous, and to th e highest degree up right. But to stern integrity he united g reat hum ility and kindness and a princely hospitality. In dealing, wheth er w ith friend or foe, he was u tterly free from favor or fear, conspicuous for th e simplicity w ith which he aimed only a t doing what was rig h t w ithout respect of persons. He seems to have- under taken everything in dependence upon God, w ith prayer for His guidance and blessing, and to have sought his reward only from God.-i—llervey. The deep sympathy w ith th e men of his race which inspires the tru e p atrio t is unm istakably shown in th e mourning and weeping and fasting for days and weeks when he first heard of th e ir dis tress; in the earnest prayer in which he associated himself and “ his fa th e r’s house” w ith the transgressors who had brought down judgm ent upon th e na tion; in th e “sorrow of h e a rt” which made his countenance sad, and could not be concealed from th e g reat king; in th e silent, almost solitary, ride for the purpose of exploring th e ruins; in the
Let us abandon th e low ideals of Christian service, get a vision of our high and holy calling, and build upon th e foundation in th e faith once for all delivered to th e saints. PERTINENT QUESTIONS (1) W hat is the most prom inent characteristic of Nehem iah? (1 :5 , 11). (2) W hat cheering challenge did he give to the Jews? (2 :17 , 18). (3 ) W hat kind of enemies did he have? (4 :1 -3 ). (4) W hat example in service did he and his followers set for God’s peo ple? (4 :16 -23 ). (5) W hat m issionary example did he give? (8 :1 0 ). (6) ' W hat example was given of generosity for th e Lord’s work? (7: 68-72). (7 ) W hat example was given of getting rig h t w ith God? (9 :1 -3 ). The circumstances of Nehem iah’s b irth and bringing up we do n o t know; bu t we may assume perhaps from th e high position whereto he ultim ately at- tained, and from SELECTED his evident fit- COMMENTS ness for it, th a t By K eith L. Brooks he belonged to th e upper class of the community, received the ordinary education of a Jew of th a t class, and even before he became attached to th e Persian court, held an honorable place among his countrymen.— Rawlinson. He was no prophet— he was no priest -—he made no pretension to possessing a divine commission, b u t he was a devout, resolute, sagacious man, with th e fear of God in his soul and Je ru sa lem graven on his inm ost.heart. Prompt and practical, and w ith a strong dash of organizing, governm en tal instinct, th ere was yet a vein of poetry in him. He was bold and cautious, prud en t yet daring, full of ready resource, able to hold his tongue and bide his tim e; and deep down below all th is th ere was a g reat fountain of enthusiasm which was called fo rth by th e thoughts of God and his land lying in desolation and ruin.—Maclaren.
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