Chapter 52—A Man of Opportunity
This chapter is based on
Nehemiah 1
;
Nehemiah 2
.
Nehemiah, one of the Hebrew exiles, occupied a position of in-
fluence and honor in the Persian court. As cupbearer to the king he
was admitted freely to the royal presence. By virtue of his position,
and because of his abilities and fidelity, he had become the monarch’s
friend and counselor. The recipient of royal favor, however, though
surrounded by pomp and splendor, did not forget his God nor his
people. With deepest interest his heart turned toward Jerusalem; his
hopes and joys were bound up with her prosperity. Through this man,
prepared by his residence in the Persian court for the work to which
he was to be called, God purposed to bring blessing to His people in
the land of their fathers.
By messengers from Judea the Hebrew patriot learned that days of
trial had come to Jerusalem, the chosen city. The returned exiles were
suffering affliction and reproach. The temple and portions of the city
had been rebuilt; but the work of restoration was hindered, the temple
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services were disturbed, and the people kept in constant alarm by the
fact that the walls of the city were still largely in ruins.
Overwhelmed with sorrow, Nehemiah could neither eat nor drink;
he “wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted.” In his grief he turned
to the divine Helper. “I ... prayed,” he said, “before the God of heaven.”
Faithfully he made confession of his sins and the sins of his people.
He pleaded that God would maintain the cause of Israel, restore their
courage and strength, and help them to build up the waste places of
Judah.
As Nehemiah prayed, his faith and courage grew strong. His
mouth was filled with holy arguments. He pointed to the dishonor that
would be cast upon God, if His people, now that they had returned
to Him, should be left in weakness and oppression; and he urged the
Lord to bring to pass His promise: “If ye turn unto Me, and keep My
Commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto
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