prophets and kings-第100节
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and bring discouragement。 Sanballat； Tobiah； and Geshem； his principal agents in this movement； now set themselves to hinder the work of rebuilding。 They endeavored to cause division among the workmen。 They ridiculed the efforts of the builders； declaring the enterprise an impossibility and predicting failure。
〃What do these feeble Jews？〃 exclaimed Sanballat mockingly； 〃will they fortify themselves？ 。 。 。 will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned？〃
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Tobiah； still more contemptuous； added； 〃Even that which they build； if a fox go up； he shall even break down their stone wall。〃
The builders were soon beset by more active opposition。 They were compelled to guard continually against the plots of their adversaries； who； professing friendliness； sought in various ways to cause confusion and perplexity； and to arouse distrust。 They endeavored to destroy the courage of the Jews； they formed conspiracies to draw Nehemiah into their toils； and falsehearted Jews were found ready to aid the treacherous undertaking。 The report was spread that Nehemiah was plotting against the Persian monarch； intending to exalt himself as a king over Israel； and that all who aided him were traitors。
But Nehemiah continued to look to God for guidance and support； and 〃the people had a mind to work。〃 The enterprise went forward until the gaps were filled and the entire wall built up to half its intended height。
As the enemies of Israel saw how unavailing were their efforts； they were filled with rage。 Hitherto they had not dared employ violent measures； for they knew that Nehemiah and his companions were acting under the king's commission； and they feared that active opposition against him might bring upon them the monarch's displeasure。 But now in their anger they themselves became guilty of the crime of which they had accused Nehemiah。 Assembling for counsel； they 〃conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem。〃
At the same time that the Samaritans were plotting against Nehemiah and his work； some of the leading men
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among the Jews； becoming disaffected； sought to discourage him by exaggerating the difficulties attending the enterprise。 〃The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed；〃 they said； 〃and there is much rubbish； so that we are not able to build the wall。〃
Discouragement came from still another source。 〃The Jews which dwelt by；〃 those who were taking no part in the work； gathered up the statements and reports of their enemies and used these to weaken courage and create disaffection。
But taunts and ridicule； opposition and threats； seemed only to inspire Nehemiah with firmer determination and to arouse him to greater watchfulness。 He recognized the dangers that must be met in this warfare with their enemies； but his courage was undaunted。 〃We made our prayer unto our God；〃 he declares； 〃and set a watch against them day and night。〃 〃Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall； and on the higher places； I even set the people after their families with their swords； their spears； and their bows。 And I looked； and rose up； and said unto the nobles； and to the rulers； and to the rest of the people； Be not ye afraid of them： remember the Lord； which is great and terrible； and fight for your brethren； your sons； and your daughters； your wives； and your houses。
〃And it came to pass； when our enemies heard that it was known unto us； and God had brought their counsel to nought； that we returned all of us to the wall； everyone unto his work。 And it came to pass from that time forth； that the half of my servants wrought in the work； and the other half of them held both the spears； the shields； and
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the bows； and the habergeons。 。 。 。 They which builded on the wall； and they that bare burdens； with those that laded； everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work； and with the other hand held a weapon。 For the builders； everyone had his sword girded by his side； and so builded。〃
Beside Nehemiah stood a trumpeter； and on different parts of the wall were stationed priests bearing the sacred trumpets。 The people were scattered in their labors； but on the approach of danger at any point a signal was given for them to repair thither without delay。 〃So we labored in the work；〃 Nehemiah says； 〃and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared。〃
Those who had been living in towns and villages outside Jerusalem were now required to lodge within the walls； both to guard the work and to be ready for duty in the morning。 This would prevent unnecessary delay； and would cut off the opportunity which the enemy would otherwise improve； of attacking the workmen as they went to and from their homes。 Nehemiah and his companions did not shrink from hardship or trying service。 Neither by day nor night； not even during the short time given to sleep； did they put off their clothing or lay aside their armor。
The opposition and discouragement that the builders in Nehemiah's day met from open enemies and pretended friends is typical of the experience that those today will have who work for God。 Christians are tried； not only by the anger； contempt； and cruelty of enemies； but by the indolence； inconsistency； lukewarmness； and treachery of avowed friends and helpers。 Derision and reproach are
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hurled at them。 And the same enemy that leads to contempt； at a favorable opportunity uses more cruel and violent measures。
Satan takes advantage of every unconsecrated element for the accomplishment of his purposes。 Among those who profess to be the supporters of God's cause there are those who unite with His enemies and thus lay His cause open to the attacks of His bitterest foes。 Even some who desire the work of God to prosper will yet weaken the hands of His servants by hearing； reporting； and half believing the slanders； boasts； and menaces of His adversaries。 Satan works with marvelous success through his agents； and all who yield to their influence are subject to a bewitching power that destroys the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent。 But； like Nehemiah； God's people are neither to fear nor to despise their enemies。 Putting their trust in God； they are to go steadily forward； doing His work with unselfishness； and committing to His providence the cause for which they stand。
Amidst great discouragement； Nehemiah made God his trust； his sure defense。 And He who was the support of His servant then has been the dependence of His people in every age。 In every crisis His people may confidently declare； 〃If God be for us； who can be against us？〃 Romans 8：31。 However craftily the plots of Satan and his agents may be laid； God can detect them； and bring to nought all their counsels。 The response of faith today will be the response made by Nehemiah； 〃Our God shall fight for us；〃 for God is in the work； and no man can prevent its ultimate success。
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Chapter 54
A Rebuke Against Extortion
The wall of Jerusalem had not yet been completed when Nehemiah's attention was called to the unhappy condition of the poorer classes of the people。 In the unsettled state of the country； tillage had been to some extent neglected。 Furthermore； because of the selfish course pursued by some who had returned to Judea； the Lord's blessing was not resting upon their land； and there was a scarcity of grain。
In order to obtain food for their families； the poor were obliged to buy on credit and at exorbitant prices。 They were also compelled to raise money by borrowing on interest to pay the heavy taxes imposed upon them by the kings of Persia。 To add to the distress of the poor； the more wealthy among the Jews had taken advantage of their necessities； thus enriching themselves。
The Lord had commanded Israel； through Moses； that every third year a tithe be raised for the benefit of the poor；
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and a further provision had been made in the suspension of agricultural labor every seventh year； the land lying fallow； its spontaneous products being left to those in need。 Faithfulness in devoting these offerings to the relief of the poor and to other benevolent uses would have tended to keep fresh before the people the truth of God's ownership of all； and their opportunity to be channels of blessing。 It was Jehovah's purpose that the Israelites should have a training that would eradicate selfishness； and develop breadth and nobility of character。
God had also instructed through Moses： 〃If thou lend money to any of My people that is poor by thee； thou shalt not be to him as an usurer。〃 〃Thou shalt no lend upon usury to thy brother； usury of money； usury of victuals； usury of anything that is lent upon usury。〃 Exodus 22：25； Deuteronomy 23：19。 Again He had said； 〃If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee； thou shalt not harden thine heart； nor shut thine ha
