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to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies？〃
Nehemiah showed them that he himself； being invested with authority from the Persian king； might have demanded large contributions for his personal benefit。 But instead of this he had not taken even that which justly belonged to him； but had given liberally to relieve the poor in their need。 He urged those among the Jewish rulers who had been guilty of extortion； to cease this iniquitous work； to restore the lands of the poor； and also the increase of money which they had exacted from them； and to lend to them without security or usury。
These words were spoken in the presence of the whole congregation。 Had the rulers chosen to justify themselves； they had opportunity to do so。 But they offered no excuse。 〃We will restore them；〃 they declared； 〃and will require nothing of them； so will we do as thou sayest。〃 At this； Nehemiah in the presence of the priests 〃took an oath of them； that they should do according to this promise。〃 〃And all the congregation said； Amen； and praised the Lord。 And the people did according to this promise。〃
This record teaches an important lesson。 〃The love of money is the root of all evil。〃 1。 Timothy 6：10。 In this generation the desire for gain is the absorbing passion。 Wealth is often obtained by fraud。 There are multitudes struggling with poverty； compelled to labor hard for small wages； unable to secure even the barest necessities of life。 Toil and deprivation； with no hope of better things； make
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their burden heavy。 Careworn and oppressed； they know not where to turn for relief。 And all this that the rich may support their extravagance or indulge their desire to hoard！
Love of money and love of display have made this world as a den of thieves and robbers。 The Scriptures picture the greed and oppression that will prevail just before Christ's second coming。 〃Go to now； ye rich men；〃 James writes； 〃ye have heaped treasure together for the last days。 Behold； the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields； which is of you kept back by fraud； crieth： and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth。 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth； and been wanton； ye have nourished your hearts； as in a day of slaughter。 Ye have condemned and killed the just； and he doth not resist you。〃 James 5：1； 3…6。
Even among those who profess to be walking in the fear of the Lord； there are some who are acting over again the course pursued by the nobles of Israel。 Because it is in their power to do so； they exact more than is just； and thus become oppressors。 And because avarice and treachery are seen in the lives of those who have named the name of Christ； because the church retains on her books the names of those who have gained their possessions by injustice； the religion of Christ is held in contempt。 Extravagance； overreaching； extortion； are corrupting the faith of many and destroying their spirituality。 The church is in a great degree responsible for the sins of her members。 She gives countenance to evil if she fails to lift her voice against it。
The customs of the world are no criterion for the Christian。 He is not to imitate its sharp practices； its overreaching；
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its extortion。 Every unjust act toward a fellow being is a violation of the golden rule。 Every wrong done to the children of God is done to Christ Himself in the person of His saints。 Every attempt to take advantage of the ignorance； weakness； or misfortune of another is registered as fraud in the ledger of heaven。 He who truly fears God； would rather toil day and night； and eat the bread of poverty； than to indulge the passion for gain that oppresses the widow and fatherless or turns the stranger from his right。
The slightest departure from rectitude breaks down the barriers and prepares the heart to do greater injustice。 Just to that extent that a man would gain advantage for himself at the disadvantage of another； will his soul become insensible to the influence of the Spirit of God。 Gain obtained at such a cost is a fearful loss。
We were all debtors to divine justice； but we had nothing with which to pay the debt。 Then the Son of God； who pitied us； paid the price of our redemption。 He became poor that through His poverty we might be rich。 By deeds of liberality toward His poor we may prove the sincerity of our gratitude for the mercy extended to us。 〃Let us do good unto all men；〃 the apostle Paul enjoins； 〃especially unto them who are of the household of faith。〃 Galatians 6：10。 And his words accord with those of the Saviour： 〃Ye have the poor with you always； and whensoever ye will ye may do them good。〃 〃Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you； do ye even so to them： for this is the law and the prophets。〃 Mark 14：7； Matthew 7：12。
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Chapter 55
Heathen Plots
Sanballat and his confederates dared not make open war upon the Jews； but with increasing malice they continued their secret efforts to discourage； perplex； and injure them。 The wall about Jerusalem was rapidly approaching completion。 When it should be finished and its gates set up； these enemies of Israel could not hope to force an entrance into the city。 They were the more eager； therefore； to stop the work without further delay。 At last they devised a plan by which they hoped to draw Nehemiah from his station； and while they had him in their power； to kill or imprison him。
Pretending to desire a compromise of the opposing parties； they sought a conference with Nehemiah； and invited him to meet them in a village on the plain on Ono。 But enlightened by the Holy Spirit as to their real purpose； he refused。 〃I sent messengers unto them；〃 he writes； 〃saying； I am
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doing a great work； so that I cannot come down： why should the work cease； whilst I leave it； and come down to you？〃 But the tempters were persistent。 Four times they sent a message of similar import； and each time they received the same answer。
Finding this scheme unsuccessful； they resorted to a more daring stratagem。 Sanballat sent Nehemiah a messenger bearing an open letter which said： 〃It is reported among the heathen； and Gashmu saith it； that thou and the Jews think to rebel： for which cause thou buildest the wall； that thou mayest be their king。 。 。 。 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem； saying； There is a king in Judah： and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words。 Come now therefore； and let us take counsel together。〃
Had the reports mentioned been actually circulated； there would have been cause for apprehension； for they would soon have been carried to the king； whom a slight suspicion might provoke to the severest measures。 But Nehemiah was convinced that the letter was wholly false； written to arouse his fears and draw him into a snare。 This conclusion was strengthened by the fact that the letter was sent open； evidently that the people might read the contents； and become alarmed and intimidated。
He promptly returned the answer。 〃There are no such things done as thou sayest； but thou feignest them out of thine own heart。〃 Nehemiah was not ignorant of Satan's devices。 He knew that these attempts were made in order to weaken the hands of the builders and thus frustrate their efforts。
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Again and again had Satan been defeated； and now； with deeper malice and cunning； he laid a still more subtle and dangerous snare for the servant of God。 Sanballat and his companions hired men who professed to be the friends of Nehemiah； to give him evil counsel as the word of the Lord。 The chief one engaged in this iniquitous work was Shemaiah； a man previously held in good repute by Nehemiah。 This man shut himself up in a chamber near the sanctuary as if fearing that his life was in danger。 The temple was at this time protected by walls and gates； but the gates of the city were not yet set up。 Professin