Nehemiah, the Leader by Thomas J. Cummins

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 23, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 17.

Nehemiah, the Leader.

By Thomas J. Cummins

In the twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, Jerusalem lay in ruins; her gates were down, and the remnant of the Jewish dwellers were in great distress. The month Chisleu (which corresponds to our November) was at hand, a month which, if it brought nothing else, brought very cold weather—sometimes snow—to the already afflicted Jews. It was a sad sight to see this city of God shorn of her grandeur, open at all times to the invasion of the enemy. And as the pale moon arose over the hills, lighting up her ruined walls and temples, they must have mocked at her.

But a deliverer was at hand; for on such a night, clad in the dress of his rank, a young man of noble birth and bearing might have been seen urging forward the beast upon which he rode; his destination an elevation where he might get a better view of the city. His face was set, and his eyes shone with a steady light, bespeaking the great purpose that lay locked within his breast.

At last Jerusalem lay before him, not in all her splendor, as she appeared when the Son of God wept over her. Everywhere, to the north, south, east, and west, her walls were down here and there huddled the lights of the Jewish dwellers. The cold moon shone down on truly a ruined city and a humbled and afflicted people.

Nehemiah had been reared and educated in royal courts, becoming in time cupbearer to the king. He must have developed a bright and sunny disposition; for he mentioned that he had not been aforetime sad in the presence of the king, and he was in this office when we find him inquiring of certain of his kinsmen

and men of Judea concerning the Jews and Jerusalem.

It was at this period of his life that this captive, letting the sense of duty take possession of his being, steadfastly maintaining his trust in God, at last became endowed with authority from the king, and went to restore those walls that he now looked upon in sorrowful silence, and to gather again the scattered and afflicted Jews.

Simply he tells the story of inquiring of these visitors to the capital of his king. He said, “When I heard how that the walls of Jerusalem were down, and that the remnant were scattered and in great reproach; when I heard all these things, I mourned,” but his interest did not end there. He prayed to the living God that in some way he would move the heart of the king, so that he might have opportunity to go.

Some months elapsed. How he must have looked for some change in the attitude of the king. He must have chafed under the delay. How could this mighty monarch, with the care that is incident to a great kingdom, have time to notice the attitude of his cupbearer? He must have watched his every action, as day by day he gave the king his drink.

Still a change was going on. God was working a change—not to soften the heart of the monarch, but to strengthen the character of His servant—the captive. Finally his state of mind so stamped itself upon his features, so plainly marked the lines, that the king noticed the change in his young cupbearer, and inquired the cause. Now was the opportunity; yet he did not immediately go into detail as to his plans, of which he was to figure as head. No, he prayed to the God of heaven to direct his speech. And you know with what success. He received the signet of the king, and, with the secret locked within his breast, we find him at night and alone looking upon Jerusalem’s ruined walls.

Thus, my young friends, is briefly sketched the history of this young leader before he began active work in the restoration of Jerusalem—a work that ended so successfully; and as I read this history of the character and work of this young leader, I can not but exclaim, How much the world needs men like Nehemiah to-day to restore broken walls and to gather the scattered people,—young men and women who, when assaulted by flattery, envy, fear, are not dismayed, but, steadfastly maintaining their allegiance to God and duty, work on. You remember how powerful Nehemiah became in the hands of God. He was able to say to every discouragement, as he answered the servant of Sanballat and Geshem, “I am doing a great work, so that I can not come down.”

The experience of Nehemiah is full of help and instruction to us that, in time, must become leaders of either the forces of God or those of Satan. The same influences that surrounded him surround us. Here was a young man used to the elegance of court life; in favor with the king, his opportunities for self-aggrandizement were great. Yet, when the truth was presented to him, and he was brought face to face with duty, the forces of his whole nature were changed; even his very features were changed, and, denying self, we find him at last standing upon the restored walls of Jerusalem, a conqueror.

My young friends, how the truth we represent needs Nehemiahs to-day, not only for the cities, but for every home. Are not the people falling a prey to the deceptions of evil? Are not the walls of our homes down, and our loved ones passing beyond our control?

O, that the condition of the world would affect us as it did Nehemiah, not only to mourn, but to work; to do a great work that will end in the great restoration. Let us develop characters so in love with duty and work, that we can answer the temptations of evil as did Nehemiah, “I am doing a great work, so that I can not come down.”

THOMAS J. CUMMINS.

1330 E. Vernon Ave., Los Angeles, Cal.