Homilist 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. HE WORKS THOUGHTFULLY. Before he commences this tremendous task he spends some time in deliberation. Who can tell the thoughts of Nehemiah as he moved amidst the ruins of Jerusalem this night? Jerusalem was the home of his fathers, the centre of his most hallowed associations. Before we undertake a work we should gauge its magnitude and become convinced of its practicability (Luke 14:28-30). Men, from the impulse of the hour, put their hand to undertakings which they have never given themselves time to understand, and for which they are not fitted; and hence, when the excitement is over, they abandon the work in disappointment, if not in disgust. II. HE WORKS INDEPENDENTLY. "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." It is not thus that we are wont to act in this age. There are but few men who would take up any great work, and set about it themselves, without seeking the sympathy and counsel of their fellow-men. If we have some work which presses on us as a duty of general importance, almost the first thing we do is to call our friends together, get their sanction, and form a committee to aid us in carrying it out. We, in these days, work by organisations. Our individuality in work is scarcely seen or felt. We are the limbs of societies, wheels in organisations. What we want is more individualism in action, more of the independent man, and less of the society. Two things will show the importance of this. 1. The opinions of others cannot determine our duty. Duty is between us and God. It is something that is perfectly independent of men's thoughts. 2. The opinions of others may embarrass us in duty. Duty generally comes to us in very legible writing, wants no interpreter, speaks to us in a very distinct voice. Amid the din of human opinion there is danger of its losing its voice. Let us, therefore, cultivate the habit of acting independently; not proudly, not despising the opinions of others, or refusing their co-operation, but working ever from the force of our own convictions. III. HE WORKED INFLUENTIALLY. The next chapter shows that, under his influence, all classes, male and female, set to work in right earnest. 1. The people saw that he understood the matter. They recognised in him at once a man who knew what he was about, a man of intellectual grasp and might. 2. The people saw that he was thoroughly in earnest. What he said he meant. IV. HE WORKED HEROICALLY. 1. Look at the sacrifices he made. 2. Look at the enemies he encountered. He had, at least, three desperate enemies (ver. 19) — Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. These men showed their opposition — (1) By ridicule (ver. 19, Nehemiah 4:3). (2) By indignation (Nehemiah 4:7). 3. The labour he effected. He finished the work in fifty-two days, notwithstanding all the difficulties that seemed insurmountable. He overcame the enemies who were malignant, he triumphed over all. V. HE WORKED RELIGIOUSLY. "Then I told them of the hand of my God which was upon me," etc. (vers. 18-20). 1. His impulses to act he ascribed to God. 2. His rule of action he derived from Him (ver. 18). 3. His sacrifices in the work he made for Him (Nehemiah 5:15). 4. The spirit with which he performed his work was that of dependence upon Him (Nehemiah 4:9-12).This religion is the philosophy of his power. He felt himself the messenger and the servant of God. (Homilist.) 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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