Nehemiah 7:1-4 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors… I. THE THINGS IN THE CHURCH WHICH NEED TO BE GUARDED. "Charge over Jerusalem" (ver. 2). 1. The doctrines of the Church. 2. The members of the Church. 3. The temporal interests of the Church. 4. The work of the Church. 5. The reputation of the Church. 6. The civil privileges of the Church. 7. The discipline of the Church. This defence is needed because infidelity, slander, bigotry, and laxity threaten to lay waste the Church. II. THE MEN WHO SHOULD BE THE GUARDIANS OF THE CHURCH. "For he was a faithful man, and feared God above many" (ver. 2). 1. They must be duly appointed. "And the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed." "That I gave" (ver. 2). 2. They must be truly sympathetic. The men who had helped to rebuild the city would be the most likely to defend it. 3. They must be wisely cautious. "Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot" (ver. 3). 4. They must be sufficiently numerous. "And appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem" (ver. 3). 5. They must he eminently pious. "And feared God above many" (ver. 2). 6. There is a sense in which all good men ought to be guardians of the Church. III. THE WAY IN WHICH THE CHURCH MAY BEST BE GUARDED. 1. By having regard to the Church in times of special danger. "Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot" (ver. 3). The Church stands in need of watchful care during the night of error and sin; then its gates must not be opened. 2. By having regard to the Church at points where it is most liable to attack. "Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened." 3. By having regard to mutual co-operation amongst the watchers. 4. By putting our trust in God to supply the necessary lack and imperfection of human vigilance. - E. Parallel Verses KJV: Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, |
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