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d bear _heavy burdens_ for the sake of Jerusalem. If all the church were in this day to pray for an opportunity to bear burdens and make sacrifices, what do you think the effect would be on the advance of the kingdom of God on earth? No sooner did Nehemiah reach Jerusalem than he inspected the walls to see exactly the condition in which they were. Then he assembled the rulers and told them of his plans, and heartened them for the work. He divided the work among the families, thus giving each one a specific task, and encouraging the spirit of true rivalry. "To every man his work," seems to have been his excellent motto. So the people got to work with enthusiasm. #100. Opposition.#--Of course there was no lack of opposition, for all good causes have opponents. But none of these things in any way moved this grand man from his purpose, or abated in any degree his enthusiasm. With sword in one hand and trowel in the other the people pushed the work forward, while over all Nehemiah watched with unceasing care. His vigilance is apparent from the fact that for nearly two months he never put off his clothes. So in fifty-two days the work was completed, and the people's hearts were filled with joy. Under his rule was gathered what has sometimes been called the first Sunday-school on record (Neh. 8). He knew that it was on account of the ignorance of the people of the Word that they fell so easily into sin. So he gathered them all together, and Ezra read and explained the law of Moses in their hearing. In this connection, too, they celebrated the feast of tabernacles, in commemoration of the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness. #101.# Ever watchful of the spiritual welfare of his people, Nehemiah instituted reforms in the matter of Sabbath-keeping, and of usury, and of idolatrous intermarriages with the people of the land. His labors never ceased, for he seems to have realized that "eternal vigilance" was the price of true godliness, in the midst of idolatrous surroundings. #102. Results of the Captivity.#--In this matter of the captivity, the most important thing for us to bear in mind is that the people were cured by their experience of all forms of idolatry. Up to that time this had been their besetting sin, into which they were ever falling. From the time of the captivity and return onward to the present day the Jew has been a strict monotheist. Though scattered to the ends of the earth, never again has he fallen
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