Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-07
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Nehemiah vi-Dec, 10.


The Lord is the strength of my life :,
of whom shall | be afraid Psalm
AXvif, |.
After many difficulties Nehemiah's
work had almost reached success when
d great wall OF distress went out. The
poor Jews had been giving all of their
time 70 the repairing of the walls and
had thus cut off their income from 9TH
er sources. In their zeal they went
into debt in mortgages on their proper
". When the tax collectors came and
the interest became due they We're un-
able to meet these and SO, restitution
staring them in the face, a great wall
went up. Disasters spread rapidly and
food riot was barely averted.
Nehemiah looked into the matter ana
found that the wealthy Jews had adj
Vanced money to their poor neighbors
on mortgages AT exorbitant interest
rates, and they were thus profiting by
the lealamities oil their brethren He
called them together and had a plain
but kind talk with them respecting the
brotherly obligations required by the
Law. Thou shalt love thy neichbor
as thyseH. lie gave them a practical
exenplification of his good exhorta-
ed. They acknowledged the injustice
of their course and reetiied matters.
Here We see the power of noble char
actef and good example in its influ-
ence upon others. As custom and eX-
ample foster unjust methods and usage
makes right in The minds of many. 50
likewise examples of justice are pow
erful in opposition to wrong. SO every
a. III IL
God and to the principles of righteous
ness He represents. not only to take
the proper stand, but also 10 let this
stand for righteousness be known to
others rs reproofs of unrighteousness
Treaehery and Siander In Opposition.
No sooner had the prevailing difficult
ties been successfully combatted than
q new foe arose. The outside enemies,
pereeiving that the wall was about fin
ished, ard that only the hanging iof the
gates remained to complete the defen-
ses of Jerusalem. tried new tactics
They professed a desire TO Reconsider
the whole matter-to meet with Nehe-
miah fer discussion of their business
and fresh examination of his papers of
authority from the King. But he re-
piled that ais work was a great one,
take time for discussion. He had time
10 discuss with his brethren he had
time to show them as the people of
God the right and wrong of each i'm
poFtant question, but he had no time
TO dispute about outside matters while
his important mission was unfinished
There is a lesson in this for Chris
tians we should always have time to
- W r.,.rg D.
the brethren We should always have
time to give to everyone that asks
reason for the hope that is in us. But
surely while important interests OF
Gods cause are needing our attention
We have no time to give to discussing
outside questions which st. Paul de-
nontnates science falsely 50 called
We are to have the same mind on the
subject rs ST. Paul expressed, saying,
II have determined to Know nothing
amongst yon save Jesus Christ and
Him. crucified Anything relating to
Jesus as Gods anointed Son, the Mes
siah. or anything relating to His cruel
fxion and the hopes built thereon, st
Paul was ready to discuss at any time.
The defense of this cause and subject
was his special business in life. AL
though he WAS wen tNuCdteu anu wen
informed on topics of general interest,
he acted as though he were Ignorant or
those things that he might give all his
influence and time to the one para
mount matter-to the cause for which
he was an ambassador
F'olir times the outsiders sought TO
converse with Nehemiah; four times
he- declined. not only because OF the
Importance of the work he was doing,
but-because additionally he perceived
that they were merely urging TINS as
pretext for the conference which was
to be held in a village twenty miles
from Jerusalem on neutral ground, ana
during Nehemiah's absence they might
oyerpower the garrison of Israel ana
destroy the work already accomplished
or TREY might do him violence at the
conference, or both.
Evil Speaking and SANDER.
Finally, the enemies resorted TO the
usual weapons of Islander. They ana