Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-07
Davenport Church.
Nehemiah and His Enemies-The Course hv Rav nTr. MaaarYA.

Nehemiah and His Enemies-The Course
 by Rev. MT. Meserve.
 Nehemiah and his enemies" was the sub- feet of Mir. Meserye's discourse at the Daven- port church last evening Gone of the course in progress at this church) and the following is an abstract of his sermon:
 We consider tonight conflict between good man and his enemies-evil hearted men who were determined to ruin him. It is an interesting story in itself; but even more so because it is SO often repeated 1n every day life Nehemiah was attending to his own business of governor of Jerusalem, under Artaxerxes and Sanballat of Samaria had no good reasons for being his enemy. Sanhal- lat was an ambitious, greedy and selfish man, cunning and able, who had plans for putting Samaria at the head of everything in the land and himself as the head of Samaria for life. Rv a quick instinct he saw in Nehemiah one who would prevent him from carrying out his I1lans to success. So he hated Nehemiah, and set to work to prevent the rebuilding or Jerusalem, and to disgrace it's governor In all this Sanballat was ably seconded by two men named Tobiah and Geshem In our day they would be called the ''henchmen' or .Iiterarv bureau" of the Governor of Samarla. They hated the Jews, as men of different race and religion know only too well how to hate Whatever mischief Sanballat failed to think of was sure to occur to Tobiah the Ammonite, or to Geshem the Arabian. These three compos- ed a satanic triumvirate equal in cunning, bitterness of spirit and ability to almost any other three we read of in history. Such were Nehemiah's s enemies; now let us eonsld- CT they tactics.
 They first attack Nehemiah with scorn and ridicule. This is very trying to man s feelings, but helpful to his purpose. To de- RrSf fio1o6 hn 10rn- vincial troops before the revolution, or the rebels the Union soldiers just after Bull Run battle, is not safe thing to do. A man is never so safe as when he is held in contempt by his foes. Nehemiah felt the sting and showed it but he was sensible enough to work right on. Any man in office of trust should do just the same. His vindication will come in time and in the meantime he can do his work and do it well. Failing in this, they attack Nehemiah, next, with insin. uations and threats, hoping to frighten him so much as to make him stop working at the walls of the city. Against this he has the armor of clear conscience and good name. He knows he is right and his reputation IS sc | good that in spite of the charges insinuated l against him the people continue to trust him | Here is the value of good name, posses sion to be won and defended, whatever else 1 is missed or lost Nehemiah also takei precautions against Sanballat's threats l He forms his men into two bands, one to work and tho 1 other to watch in attenuation, and so foils hil 1 enemy's attempt at force. He learns, how l ever, for he is a wise man, that the poison o l SanbaIIats insinuations will work mischief 1T | the minds of the people, for that is foolisE l and suspicious human nature. Marc Antony | turned the Romans against Brutus very adroitly after Csesar's death, and Iage turned l OthelIo against Desdemona in the same artf1 way. How easily it is done. A wink or | nod will sometimes do more mischief thar | towers of evidence could do The Governor 1 of Samaria is an accomplished sneak ani l plays his part well though not yet with per | feet success. He has written himself dowI | for the contempt of all succeeding ages O upright men, & fate which all liars and sian | derers jointly merit Nehemiah's work i more rapid than the working of Sanballat' poison in the minds of the people, so th l slanderer must come squarely out and use al | his energy if he wishes to succeed.
 l The last plan of attack is just 8 bold charg l of treason, pushed among the people in Jeru salem by lying prophets, hired workers anc | an influence secured by marriage (Tobiah ant 1 his son both marrying into priestly family and pushed also at the court of the King 0
 Persia. Dissension arises in Jerusalem, 1 dissension never afterwards healed, but Ne
 business living at his own charges | without salary, and with great hos
 pitality, having 15o Jews of the city an
 many strangers from abroad at his tabl
 every day. Had the Jews been one-half a
 pure minded as their Governor, Sanballa
 would have failed utterly. AS it was he ha
 only poor success. Nehemiah returned t
 Persia probably because his leave of absenc
 had expired. Somewhat later he reappear
 at Jerusalem, finishes the work, and dedicate
 the walls with great rejoicing and display
 In this history we have the triumph of her
 esty and uprightness over mean ambit1o
 and lying cunning. It is true that the rigf
 does not always win in this world, but in th
 long run it wins, and it is a fact for us all t
 remember. This history also tells us whi
 should be the motives and conduct {
 an office holder. Nehemiah is the mod
 placeman. It is true that his hospitality WI
 exceptional; his nobility of character, h
 courage and his incorruptiblenes should
 universal among those who hold office. An
 in this story we see the folly of believing tE
 lies told by interested and selfish men fc
 their own gain. Jerusalem was city (
 factions even after the days of Sanballat.
 man possessed of righteousness is fortife
 against islander. He will not believe it. I'll
 secret of Nehemiah's greatness, as of all trr
 greatness and enduring fame, is just that olC
 fashioned, blessed thing, the fear of God.