Nehemiah 3:1-32 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it… Learn — I. THAT WHILE GOD GRANTS SUCCESS TO EARNEST EFFORT, THAT VERY SUCCESS WILL OFTEN AROUSE OPPOSITION. II. OPPOSITION TO EARNEST WORK GENERALLY COMES FROM "THE MIXED MULTITUDE" WHO HOVER ROUND THE TRUE PEOPLE OF GOD. III. WHAT ONE MAN DARE NOT DO ALONE, HE IS EMBOLDENED TO DO BY ASSOCIATION WITH OTHERS; and often men of diverse opinions and tastes are banded together to oppose God's work, their only bond of union being a desire to have it stopped. IV. TIMID AND FEARFUL ONES THERE ARE IN EVERY COMMUNITY WHOSE HEARTS READILY FAIL THEM, and who often think that the good cause is about to be worsted. V. IN ALMOST EVERY CHRISTIAN CHURCH THE ARDOUR OF THE FEW IS MORE OR LESS DAMPED BY THE APATHY OF THE MANY. VI. WE MUST WATCH AS WELL AS PRAY. A Russian proverb says, "When in a storm, pray to God and row to the shore." VII. THE ONENESS OF THE WORKERS, AND THAT THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER WHEN BESET BY FRIEND OR FOE. VIII. STEADY AND PERSISTENT WORK TELLS BEST IN THE LONG RUN. IX. THAT EVEN IN THE MIDST OF ARDUOUS LABOUR FOR THE LORD, THE DECENCIES AND PROPRIETIES OF LIFE ARE IN NO WISE OVERLOOKED. (W. P. Lockhart.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel. |
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