Assurance of Divine co-operation.
"The God of heaven, he will prosper us," etc. Nehemiah's reply to opponents who wished to deter him from the work he was undertaking.
I. WHEN WE MAY CHERISH THE ASSURANCE OF DIVINE AID AND BLESSING IN OUR ENDEAVOURS. In general when our endeavours are in accordance with the will of God—in the line of his plans and purposes. And this is the case when—
1. The work is good.
2. The Divine call to it is clear. This is ascertainable from
3. Our motives are pure and Christian.
4. Our methods right. Being according to the directions and in harmony with the spirit of Christ.
5. The blessing of God is relied upon and earnestly sought.
II. THE EFFECTS WHICH SUCH ASSURANCE WILL PRODUCE.
1. Confidence of success. Notwithstanding difficulties, misrepresentation, contempt, opposition (see verse 19), and occasional desponding thoughts.
2. Strenuous exertion. "Therefore," etc; not, "Therefore we need not work, or may be lax in our endeavours." Confidence which thus operates is presumption. God will do most when men do their best.
3. Rejection of alien interference. This took the form of opposition in the case of Sanballat, etc. Yet Nehemiah's language seems to imply that these objectors would have co-operated, if allowed to do so, on terms acceptable to them. "We his servants will arise and build; but ye have no portion," etc. So it was at least as to the erection of the temple (Ezra 4:1-3). And in our day many who are "of the world" arc willing to unite with the Church in her works. The peril is that in welcoming their aid the Church should imbibe their spirit, and so lose her own proper strength. We cannot, it is true, draw as sharp a line between the Church and the world as Nehemiah between Jews, and non-Jews. But we have great need to be on our guard against the insidious influence of the worldly spirit, and the adoption of worldly means of doing what professes to be, but then ceases to be, Christ's work. We may not be justified in rejecting the material aid of worldly men when proffered without conditions (Nehemiah had accepted that of Artaxerxes), but we must never accept their counsels. The world is more dangerous within the Church than in open opposition. Faith in Divine aid will preserve from such a policy. Cherishing this, we shall feel that whether the world smile or frown we shall succeed in the end; but that if God were to withdraw his help we must fail; and that he is likely to abandon us if we so rely on others as to be unfaithful and disobedient to him, by surrendering our distinctiveness as the disciples of Christ.