Harvest Ingathering
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companies, each leader making himself responsible for the erection
of a certain portion of the wall. It was a sight well pleasing to God
and angels to see the busy companies working harmoniously upon the
broken-down walls of Jerusalem, and it was a joyous sound to hear
the noise of instruments of labor from the earliest dawn “till the stars
appeared.”—
The Southern Watchman, April 5, 1904
.
The Demonstration of True Leadership—Nehemiah’s zeal and
energy did not abate, now that the work was actually begun. He did
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not fold his hands, feeling that he might let fall the burden. With
tireless vigilance he constantly superintended the work, directing the
workmen, noting every hindrance, and providing for every emergency.
His influence was constantly felt along the whole extent of those three
miles of wall. With timely words he encouraged the fearful, approved
the diligent, or aroused the laggard. And again he watched with
eagle eye the movements of their enemies, who at times collected at a
distance and engaged in earnest conversation, as if plotting mischief,
and then drawing near the workmen, attempted to divert their attention
and hinder the work.
While the eye of every worker is often directed to Nehemiah, ready
to heed the slightest signal, his eye and heart are uplifted to God, the
great Overseer of the whole work, the one who put it into the heart
of His servant to build. And as faith and courage strengthen in his
own heart, Nehemiah exclaims, and his words, repeated and re-echoed,
thrill the hearts of the workers all along the line, “The God of heaven,
He will prosper us!”—
The Southern Watchman, April 5, 1904
.
Nehemiah and his companions did not shrink from hardships, or
excuse themselves from trying service. Neither by night nor by day,
not even during the brief time given to slumber, did they put off
their clothing, or even lay aside their armor. “So neither I, nor my
brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed
me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off
for washing.”—
The Southern Watchman, April 26, 1904
.
Counteracting Influence in Every Religious Movement—A major-
ity of the nobles and rulers of Israel also came nobly up to their duty;
but there were a few, the Tekoite nobles, who “put not their necks to
the work of their Lord.” While the faithful builders have honorable
mention in the book of God, the memory of these slothful servants