The Tupelo journal., 1909-03-26

rusalem and complete his work.
oh, the Joy of that moment Until
then he had not realized how that
one ambition had through the years
consumed his very being.
Return to Jerusalem!" he ex-
claimed half in wonder half in joy
GUS exuberance. AT last! AT last!"
Then followed the busy days of
preparation, followed by the long jour-
ney. and at last the arrival in Jeru-
salem.
Nehemiah has returned! Nehemiah
has returned" was the glad cry which
rang through the city, and Sanballat
and Tobiah were filed with dismay
when they heard the news
Then the king had not believed ttelr
report Their plot had failed, and Ne
hemiah was present to reckon with
them.
Filled with fear, they raised no oppo-
sition when the gates were hung and
the city made secure.
Not since the city had been stirred
with the rebuilding of the wall had
there been such excitement through.
out the place, and Nehemiah found his
hands strengthened by the willing
spirit of the people. They were all
ready for the dedication of the walls
and were impatient for the ceremonies
to begin.
? "But there must be the preparation"
urged Nehemiah. "The God of Israel,
who has kept us to this day, and has
strengthened our hands in the build
ing of the walls, must be given the
praise and the honor and the glory for
what has been wrought"
Let us do so at once" exclaimed
the people, eagerly.
NAY, not So" replied Nehemiah.
There is much to be done ere we ded-
icate the walls How about Tobiah to
whom hath been given chamber in
the temple?" he demanded, turning to
Eliashib, the priest, who had in charge
these matters.
In great confusion the priest tried
to respond and explain that inasmuch
as he was related to the Ammonite he
had thought that it would help him
to give him place among his people.
yea, but what thinks God about it?
Shall he who has been as a thorn in
the flesh to Jerusalem and who is a
stranger to her God and her laws, be
suffered to remain to desecrate the
house of our God? Let him be cast
out at once and the chamber be re-
stored to its rightful service!" demand
ed Nehemiah. And then without paus-
ing he turned to the chief of the
Levites present and commanded that
the rest of the tribe should be sum
moned from the regions whittier they
had withdrawn themselves owing to
the lack of service for them in Jeru-
salem, for" exclaimed Nehemiah,
how can we proceed unless the af-
fairs of Gods temple be in the hands
Of those to whom God has consecrated
the work."
So the days passed in the hustle and
stir of preparations and Jerusalem be-
gan to fill up with those whose serv-
ices were needed to carry out the
elaborate plans Of the governor.
At last the great day came. Great
gladness filled the hearts of the peo-
pie, for goodness Is contagious and
revival of Cody services always awak-
ems the undercurrent of emotion and
sets the heart in tune.
Great was the excitement and i'm
posing was the procession of the
priests and Levites as they proceeded
with thanksgiving and singing, with
cymbals, psalteries, and with harps, to
the walls And Nehemiah with the
princes of Judah also came and ascend
ed to the wall, and divided in two
great companies as they passed, one
in one direction and the other in the
other direction, singing as they went.
And when they had returned to the
temple they offered great sacrifices
and rejoiced for God had made them
to rejoice with great JOY
So were the walls of Jerusalem dedi-
Gated.
Thus did Zion rejoice in her tri-
umph over those who would have done
her harm.
Surely, God hath wrought might
ily," said Nehemiah as he departed to
his house.