Nehemiah 2:12-20 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem… I. THE HONOURABLE NAME NEHEMIAH APPROPRIATES TO HIMSELF AND TO HIS FELLOW-LABOURERS: a servant of God. To know God is the highest aim of science; to be like God, the highest ideal of humanity; to serve God, the joy of angels. A child of God is a more precious designation than that of servant of God. Yet there is a resemblance between them, for true liberty, greatness, salvation consists in this — serving God. II. THE HOLY PURPOSE Nehemiah had before him. "We will rise and build." The true servant of God must be building the house of God. 1. In his own heart. 2. In his home. 3. In society. 4. In the state. 5. In the Church. 6. In the world. III. HIS SEVERE STRIFE. His work does not prosper without conflict. The world and the kingdom of God are as opposed to one another as the Samaritans and Jews were of old. Ethics they hold to be of value still, but care nothing for the revelation of the saving grace of God to sinful men. IV. THE TRUE SUPPORT. V. A CONSCIOUS FIDELITY. Nehemiah was conscious of his own fidelity. The Lord still knows those who preserve their fidelity. For their fidelity they are responsible, not for the results. VI. A GLORIOUS TRIUMPH. The Lord causes the work to succeed. If we build and trust, pray and work, the like success will be ours. (J. J. Van Oosterzee.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. |
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