prophets and kings-第94部分

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and　offerings　of　the　people。

Because　of　the　cruelty　and　treachery　of　the　Ammonites　and　Moabites　toward　Israel；　God　had　declared　through

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Moses　that　they　should　be　forever　shut　out　from　the　congregation　of　His　people。　See　Deuteronomy　23：3…6。　In　defiance　of　this　word；　the　high　priest　had　cast　out　the　offerings　stored　in　the　chamber　of　God's　house；　to　make　a　place　for　this　representative　of　a　proscribed　race。　Greater　contempt　for　God　could　not　have　been　shown　than　to　confer　such　a　favor　on　this　enemy　of　God　and　His　truth。

On　returning　from　Persia；　Nehemiah　learned　of　the　bold　profanation　and　took　prompt　measures　to　expel　the　intruder。　〃It　grieved　me　sore；〃　he　declares；　〃therefore　I　cast　forth　all　the　household　stuff　of　Tobiah　out　of　the　chamber。　Then　I　commanded；　and　they　cleansed　the　chambers：　and　thither　brought　I　again　the　vessels　of　the　house　of　God；　with　the　meat　offering　and　the　frankincense。〃

Not　only　had　the　temple　been　profaned；　but　the　offerings　had　been　misapplied。　This　had　tended　to　discourage　the　liberalities　of　the　people。　They　had　lost　their　zeal　and　fervor；　and　were　reluctant　to　pay　their　tithes。　The　treasuries　of　the　Lord's　house　were　poorly　supplied；　many　of　the　singers　and　others　employed　in　the　temple　service；　not　receiving　sufficient　support；　had　left　the　work　of　God　to　labor　elsewhere。

Nehemiah　set　to　work　to　correct　these　abuses。　He　gathered　together　those　who　had　left　the　service　of　the　Lord's　house；　〃and　set　them　in　their　place。〃　This　inspired　the　people　with　confidence；　and　all　Judah　brought　〃the　tithe　of　the　corn　and　the　new　wine　and　the　oil。〃　Men　who　〃were　counted　faithful〃　were　made　〃treasurers　over　the　treasuries；〃　〃and　their　office　was　to　distribute　unto　their　brethren。〃

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Another　result　of　intercourse　with　idolaters　was　a　disregard　of　the　Sabbath；　the　sign　distinguishing　the　Israelites　from　all　other　nations　as　worshipers　of　the　true　God。　Nehemiah　found　that　heathen　merchants　and　traders　from　the　surrounding　country；　coming　to　Jerusalem；　had　induced　many　among　the　Israelites　to　engage　in　traffic　on　the　Sabbath。　There　were　some　who　could　not　be　persuaded　to　sacrifice　principle；　but　others　transgressed　and　joined　with　the　heathen　in　their　efforts　to　overcome　the　scruples　of　the　more　conscientious。　Many　dared　openly　to　violate　the　Sabbath。　〃In　those　days；〃　Nehemiah　writes；　〃saw　I　in　Judah　some　treading　wine　presses　on　the　Sabbath；　and　bringing　in　sheaves；　and　lading　asses；　as　also　wine；　grapes；　and　figs；　and　all　manner　of　burdens；　which　they　brought　into　Jerusalem　on　the　Sabbath　day。　。　。　。　There　dwelt　men　of　Tyre　also　therein；　which　brought　fish；　and　all　manner　of　ware；　and　sold　on　the　Sabbath　unto　the　children　of　Judah。〃

This　state　of　things　might　have　been　prevented　had　the　rulers　exercised　their　authority；　but　a　desire　to　advance　their　own　interests　had　led　them　to　favor　the　ungodly。　Nehemiah　fearlessly　rebuked　them　for　their　neglect　of　duty。　〃What　evil　thing　is　this　that　ye　do；　and　profane　the　Sabbath　day？〃　he　sternly　demanded。　〃Did　not　your　fathers　thus；　and　did　not　our　God　bring　all　this　evil　upon　us；　and　upon　this　city？　yet　ye　bring　more　wrath　upon　Israel　by　profaning　the　Sabbath。〃　He　then　gave　command　that　〃when　the　gates　of　Jerusalem　began　to　be　dark　before　the　Sabbath；〃　they　should　be　shut；　and　not　opened　again　till　the　Sabbath　was　past；　and　having　more　confidence　in　his　own　servants

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than　in　those　that　the　magistrates　of　Jerusalem　might　appoint；　he　stationed　them　at　the　gates　to　see　that　his　orders　were　enforced。

Not　inclined　to　abandon　their　purpose；　〃the　merchants　and　sellers　of　all　kind　of　ware　lodged　without　Jerusalem　once　or　twice；〃　hoping　to　find　opportunity　for　traffic；　with　either　the　citizens　or　the　country　people。　Nehemiah　warned　them　that　they　would　be　punished　if　they　continued　this　practice。　〃Why　lodge　ye　about　the　wall？〃　he　demanded；

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〃if　ye　do　so　again；　I　will　lay　hands　on　you。〃　〃From　that　time　forth　came　they　no　more　on　the　Sabbath。〃　He　also　directed　the　Levites　to　guard　the　gates；　knowing　that　they　would　command　greater　respect　than　the　common　people；　while　from　their　close　connection　with　the　service　of　God　it　was　reasonable　to　expect　that　they　would　be　more　zealous　in　enforcing　obedience　to　His　law。

And　now　Nehemiah　turned　his　attention　to　the　danger　that　again　threatened　Israel　from　intermarriage　and　association　with　idolaters。　〃In　those　days；〃　he　writes；　〃saw　I　Jews　that　had　married　wives　of　Ashdod；　of　Ammon；　and　of　Moab：　and　their　children　spake　half　in　the　speech　of　Ashdod；　and　could　not　speak　in　the　Jews'　language；　but　according　to　the　language　of　each　people。〃

These　unlawful　alliances　were　causing　great　confusion　in　Israel；　for　some　who　entered　into　them　were　men　in　high　position；　rulers　to　whom　the　people　had　a　right　to　look　for　counsel　and　a　safe　example。　Foreseeing　the　ruin　before　the　nation　if　this　evil　were　allowed　to　continue；　Nehemiah　reasoned　earnestly　with　the　wrongdoers。　Pointing　to　the　case　of　Solomon；　he　reminded　them　that　among　all　the　nations　there　had　risen　no　king　like　this　man；　to　whom　God　had　given　great　wisdom；　yet　idolatrous　women　had　turned　his　heart　from　God；　and　his　example　had　corrupted　Israel。　〃Shall　we　then　hearken　unto　you；〃　Nehemiah　sternly　demanded；　〃to　do　all　this　great　evil？〃　〃Ye　shall　not　give　your　daughters　unto　their　sons；　nor　take　their　daughters　unto　your　sons；　or　for　yourselves。〃

As　he　set　before　them　God's　commands　and　threatenings；　and　the　fearful　judgments　visited　on　Israel　in　the

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past　for　this　very　sin；　their　consciences　were　aroused；　and　a　work　of　reformation　was　begun　that　turned　away　God's　threatened　anger　and　brought　His　approval　and　blessings。

There　were　some　in　sacred　office　who　pleaded　for　their　heathen　wives；　declaring　that　they　could　not　bring　themselves　to　separate　from　them。　But　no　distinction　was　made；　no　respect　was　shown　for　rank　or　position。　Whoever　among　the　priests　or　rulers　refused　to　sever　his　connection　with　idolaters　was　immediately　separated　from　the　service　of　the　Lord。　A　grandson　of　the　high　priest；　having　married　a　daughter　of　the　notorious　Sanballat；　was　not　only　removed　from　office；　but　promptly　banished　from　Israel。　〃Remember　them；　O　my　God；〃　Nehemiah　prayed；　〃because　they　have　defiled　the　priesthood；　and　the　covenant　of　the　priesthood；　and　of　the　Levites。〃

How　much　anguish　of　soul　this　needed　severity　cost　the　faithful　worker　for　God　the　judgment　alone　will　reveal。　There　was　a　constant　struggle　with　opposing　elements；　and　only　by　fasting；　humiliation；　and　prayer　was　advancement　made。

Many　who　had　married　idolaters　chose　to　go　with　them　into　exile；　and　these；　with　those　who　had　been　expelled　from　the　congregation；　joined　the　Samaritans。　Hither　some　who　had　occupied　high　positions　in　the　work　of　God　found　their　way　and　after　a　time　cast　in　their　lot　fully　with　them。　Desiring　to　strengthen　this　alliance；　the　Samaritans　promised　to　adopt　more　fully　the　Jewish　faith　and　customs；　and　the　apostates；　determined　to　outdo　their　former　brethren；　erected　a　temple　on　Mount　Gerizim　in　opposition　to　the　house　of　God　at　Jerusalem。　Their　religion　continued　to　be

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a　mixture　of　Judaism　and　heathenism；　and　their　claim　to　be　the　people　of　God　was　the　source　of　schism；　emulation；　and　enmity　between　the　two　nations；　from　generation　to　generation。

In　the　work　of　reform　to　be　carried　forward　today；　there　is　need　of　men　who；　like　Ezra　and　Nehemiah；　will　not　palliate　or　excuse　sin；　nor　shrink　from　vindicating　the　honor　of　God。　Those　upon　whom　rests　the　burden　of　this　work　will　not　hold　their　peace　when　wrong　is　done；　neither　will　they　cover　evil　with　a　cloak　of　false　charity。　They　will　remember　that　God　is　no　respecter　of　persons；　and　that　severity　to　a　few　may　prove　mercy　to　many。　They　will　remember　also　that　in　the　one　who　rebukes　evil　the　spirit　of　Christ　should　ever　be　revealed。

In　their　work；　Ezra　and　Nehemiah　humbled　themselves　before　God；　confessing　their　sins　and　the　sins　of　their　people；　and　entreating　pardon　as　if　they　themselves　were　the　offenders。　Patiently　they　toiled　and　prayed　and　suffered。　That　which　made　their　work　most　difficult　was　not　the　open　hostility　of　the　heathen；　but　the　secret　opposition　of　pretended　friends；　who；　by　lending　their　influence　to　the　service　of　evil；　increased　tenfold　the　burden　God's　servants。　These　traitors　furnished　the　Lord's　enemies　with　material　to　use　in　their　warfare　upon　His　people。　Their　evil　passions　and　rebellious　wills　were　ever　at　war　with　the　plain　requirements　of　God。

The　success　attending　Nehemiah's　efforts　shows　what　prayer；　faith；　and　wise；　energetic　action　will　accomplish。　Nehemiah　was　not　a　priest；　he　was　not　a　prophet；　he　made　no　pretension　to　high　title。　He　was　a　reformer　raised　up

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for　an　important　time。　It　was　his　aim　to　set　his　people　right　with　God。　Inspired　with　a　great　purpose；　he　bent　every　energy　of　his　being　to　its　accomplishment。　High；　unbending　integrity　marked　his　efforts。　As　he　came　into　contact　with　evil　and　opposition　to　right　he　took　so　determined　a　stand　that　the　people　were　roused　to　labor　with　fresh　zeal　and　courage。　They　could　not　but　recognize　his　loyalty；　his　patriotism；　and　his　deep　love　for　God；　and；　seeing　this；　they　were　willing　to　follow　where　he　led。

Industry　in　a　God…appointed　duty　is　an　important　part　of　true　religion。　Men　should　seize　circumstances　as　God's　instruments　with　which　to　work　His　will。　Prompt　and　decisive　action　at　the　right　time　will　gain　glorious　triumphs；　while　delay　and　neglect　result　in　failure　and　dishonor　to　God。　If　the　leaders　in　the　cause　of　truth　show　no　zeal；　if　they　are　indifferent　and　purposeless；　the　church　will　be　careless；　indolent；　and　pleasure…loving；　but　if　they　are　filled　with　a　holy　purpose　to　serve　God　and　Him　alone；　the　people　will　be　united；　hopeful；　eager。

The　word　of　God　abounds　in　sharp　and　striking　contrasts。　Sin　and　holiness　are　placed　side　by　side；　that；　beholding；　we　may　shun　the　one　and　accept　the　other。　The　pages　that　describe　the　hatred；　falsehood；　and　treachery　of　Sanballat　and　To