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Prophets and Kings
Nehemiah asked the people directly whether they would take advantage
of this opportunity and arise and build the wall.
The appeal went straight to their hearts. The thought of how
Heaven’s favor had been manifested toward them put their fears to
shame, and with new courage they said with one voice, “Let us rise up
and build.” “So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”
Nehemiah’s whole soul was in the enterprise he had undertaken.
His hope, his energy, his enthusiasm, his determination, were conta-
gious, inspiring others with the same high courage and lofty purpose.
Each man became a Nehemiah in his turn and helped to make stronger
the heart and hand of his neighbor.
When the enemies of Israel heard what the Jews were hoping to
accomplish, they laughed them to scorn, saying, “What is this thing
that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?” But Nehemiah answered,
“The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants
will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial,
in Jerusalem.”
Among the first to catch Nehemiah’s spirit of zeal and earnestness
were the priests. Because of their influential position, these men could
do much to advance or hinder the work; and their ready co-operation,
at the very outset, contributed not a little to its success. The majority of
the princes and rulers of Israel came up nobly to their duty, and these
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faithful men have honorable mention in the book of God. There were
a few, the Tekoite nobles, who “put not their necks to the work of their
Lord.” The memory of these slothful servants is branded with shame
and has been handed down as a warning to all future generations.
In every religious movement there are some who, while they cannot
deny that the cause is God’s, still hold themselves aloof, refusing to
make any effort to help. It were well for such ones to remember the
record kept on high—that book in which there are no omissions, no
mistakes, and out of which they will be judged. There every neglected
opportunity to do service for God is recorded; and there, too, every
deed of faith and love is held in everlasting remembrance.
Against the inspiring influence of Nehemiah’s presence the ex-
ample of the Tekoite nobles had little weight. The people in general
were animated by patriotism and zeal. Men of ability and influence
organized the various classes of citizens into companies, each leader
making himself responsible for the erection of a certain part of the