The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-11-30


TfME-Nehemiah heard the bad news
from Jerusalem early in December, b. C.
AS
For four months he prayed, thought
and waited
The following April C4iD he obtained
permission to go to Jerusalem.
The journey occupied four months and
he arrived at Jerusalem in the first day
OF the fifth month. Alb = July-Aug. Nn
1911 the first day of Alb was August 6; i'm
1916 II will be July 12)
PLACE-Shushan and Jerusalem
RULERS-Arta xerxes, Emperor Of Per-
sian Empire; Nehemiah, governor Of
Judea; Ezra, the scribe. the religious
leader of the people I'm Babylon.
When the right time came, and Ne.
hemiahs heart was burning with sor-
row and desire, he found "opportuni-
ties concealed in apparent hindrances."
II was dangerous to show sorrow in
the presence of the king. Even mod
ern autocrat like Louis XIV. expected
everybody's face to shine II he did but
appear, and how much more an Artax.
erxes? What, wear a sorrowful face
when he was presiding over Joy and
gayety, gliding them with his pres.
ence? If he had ordered this melan-
choly visage away to prison or death,
It would have been justified by prece.
dent. A gloomy face might mean dis.
affection against the king The light
OF his favor ought to be enough to
drive all sadness away.
Nehemiah had hitherto been able
to keep a smiling face when before
the king; but one day at superb
banquet, when the queen was din.
ing with her husband, amid gold plate,
gorgeous silk dresses of every hue,
marble pillars, fountains, music, light s,
sultanas, courtiers resplendent as the
sun. and all worshiping their sun Ar.
taxerxes, smiling when he smiled, his
sorrow shone through his face in
spite of himself, so that the king no
ticed II and said:
Why is thy countenance sad see.
ing thou art not sick? this is nothing
else but sorrow OF heart" Then he
was very sore afraid, and said unto the
king Let the king live for ever: why
should not my countenance be sad
when the city, the place of my ia
Tiers sepulchres, lieth waste, and the
gates thereof are consumed of fire?
II 1t please the Fing and If thy serv.
ant have found favor in thy sight, that
thou wouldest send me unto Judah
unto the city of my fathers sepulchres
that l may build It,"
The kind was pleased to grant his
request, made him the Tirshatha, OF
governor of Judea, royal agent OIL
"plenipoteptiary." with full powers
He travelled to Judea in state, with a
military guard Of cavalry and with let
ters to the rulers fthe neighborine
provinces to give him whatever he
needed for his work.
Nehemiah was very wise. He lay
quiet for three days, doing nothing, but
learning everything He showed nc
credentials, he proposed no plans, he
told no one what he hoped to do. His
first business was to learn the whole
situation, the feelings of the people
who would oppose, and who would
help, how able the people were, what
obstacles must be overcome.
Nehemiah met the rulers, mobiles
priests and people, and told them oi
his purpose in coming, how he had
learned of their need, how he had
wept and tasted and prayed, and how
God had heard his prayer and caused
the great emperor to favor his plans
give him permission to come, and au
thority, with orders for the surround
ing rulers to give the needed help. He
told them of his midnight investiga
tions.
The business side of religion should
be done as Nehemiah did 1t in the
most skillful and ideal business man
ner. Nehemiah had layman's good
sense In religion. Walls were neces
sary to the safety of the city. They
were also necessary to true religion
The division of labor the noble com
petition, the interest In their work thai
kept them from taking time to even
put off their clothes, the giving each
his own work and over against his
own house, the union of watching and
praying and working the working to
gether Of old and young, rich and poor
form real master-stroke of genius.
The wall was parceled out among Al
working parties. 1t was like the re
building of the walls of Athens after
the Invasion of XerXes, like the build
ing OF the walls of Edinburgh after the
battle of Flodden. This plan made each
one more earnest and faithful as he
saw what others were doing, It ami
mated the work with a noble emula
tion, and a personal pride. See how
fast my work goes on See how we'll
my piece is done! Now, my sons, gird
up your tunic, or Rephaiah the son
OF Hur will get ahead OF us. True
emulation Is to do better than we
have done; to seek. not to get beyond
others, but to rise to the best possi
Bile for us; and to be inspired to this
by seeing what others have done.
Besides the hostility of the Samar.
itans the Jews themselves were becom.
ing worn out with the fatigue of such