Oxford eagle., 1909-03-18

dismal ruins. To a man OF less faith
and courage the project OF rebuilding
the walls would have seemed impos
sibIe. But not 20 TO Nehemiah
God hath put the purpose In my
heart to do this thing. and am not
going to turn back now that I have
come thus far upon my journey he
muttcred to himself as he sank upos
his couch after his long weary night
OF Inspection Of the ruins. and had re
turned Just as the dim gray light vas
beginning TO creep into the eastern
sky.
When God has a great project To ex-
ecnie and has inspired some noble
heart 10 the work. noe wonderfully
the plans unfold. and the one upon
whom the Divine commission rests
finds that Just at the rixh, time the
help he needs is extended. So 10 was
In the case OF Nehemiah.
As he lay on the couch there. no, TO
sleep but to lay out a definite work
ing pAn that the great purpose Of
his heart might be realized. he won.
dered whether he would be able to yin
the people to undertake the great york.
lie did not doub; God or himself but
he did doub, the way In which his
proposal would appear to the people
But | must make a beginning. for
without the help Of the people ne can
do nothing he exclaimed. nj last ris-
Ing resolutely and sunmoning one Of
his servants
In response % the messages which
he instructed the servant to deliver
there gathered a short time later all
the mobiles and rulers Of tn. city, to
sether With the priests and the
Levites. TO whom he frankly and fuIly
unfolded his plans
~re see the distress that ve are
In. he exclaimed. earnestly: how
jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates
thereof are burned with IRE: come.
and let 10 build up the vail OF Jeru.ar
lem. that ve be no more q rsproaeh.-
Looks OF wonder o'erspread the
faces Of the men before him. He could
read In their expressions how perfect
ly impossible seemed the project. But
pathy In his opening words when be
had Identified himself with the city
and its needs He made them feel
that In spite Of the high place be held
In the service OF the king and the
ease and luxury which we're his back
at Babylon he had Voluntarily made
the long journey thither, and In all
the words Of his appeal placed himself
as one Of them and indicating that he
felt the reproach upon jerusalem
the Zion Of the Jevs. the beloved city
OF their nation-as much as did they
perhaps more For long residence in
the presence Of the dixcoaraxirx con-
ditions had developed an attitude OF
indifference on their part towards
them And so the fact that Nehemiah
brought himself right down 10 the level
OF their needs impressed them deeply
and won their confidence
But with all the sympathy and con
fdence which they felt towards Ne
hemiah. how was the great task which
he proposed to be carried out,
Consider the vastnes. OF the under
taking" exclaimed one Of the mobiles
present, and think how weak ve are
in the presence OF the strong people
among whom We dwell
But do you not forget that God is
with US in this undertaking. demand
ed Nehemiah. confidently.
And he went on to tell them Of the
tidings which had come to him a.
he served in the presence Of the king.
Of how Jerusalem was In great dis
tress and the wall broken down. How
God had spoken TO his heart and had
prospered his way.
The hand Of our God Was good
upon me" he went on to say. and the
king spoke only words OF encourage
ment TO me. and as you all well know.
have authority with me TO gather
such material and such help as NE
shall need"
Silence followed the words spoken.
but God was working upon the hearts
Of the men before him
Come" exclaimed one Of the num-
Der. rising and turning an earnest fscs
towards his brethren. let US rise up
and build
Of every heart present aud they arose
as one man and eagerly pressed
towards the door.
That night Jerusalem vas In an up-
roar Of excitement over the announce
ment that work was TO begin upon the
walls. and everywhere the mobiles and
rulers and priests we're busy orgzni,-
ing the forces and assigning the por-
tons Of the work
So the work was begun and was be-
Ing pressed with vigor. when reports
were brought to Nehemiah that San
balIst and Tohiah we're organizing
force to descend suddenly upon the
workers upon the wall. and slay them
Then did great fear seize hold upon
those who laboEed on the wall. and
the work all but ceased. but Nehemiah
went among the people and said:
BE not ye afraid Of them: reren-
ber the Lord. which Is great and ter
rible. and hght for your brethren. your
sons and your daughters. your wives
and your houses"
And Il came to pass. when SanbaiIat
and Tobiah heard that their plot was
known unto Nehemiah aad that the
Jews were preparing to fight. that
they failed to carry out their rlan Of
attack. but nevertheless Nehemiah
caused half Of those who wrought upon
the wall to watch With spears ana
shields and bows and the habergeonx
while the others worked.
So was the wall completed
"A second later 5eard q snors
and felt the fiery breath OF a strangs
animaI-A looked round What was