Charles Spurgeon Commentary Nehemiah 1

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

This good man was, of course, one of the banished Jews, but he had greatly prospered. He had risen in the empire of Ahasucrus until he had become great—even one of the chamberlains of the empire; but his heart was towards his poor people—his brethren—who were in poverty.

Now, whenever God exalts a Christian man in a temporal position, he should not disown his poor brethren, but his heart should go out to them to see what he can do for them. It is a shame for any man to forget his country. Does not the Pole still say, "No, Poland, you shall never perish"? And we admire such patriotism. But a similar feeling should be in every Christian heart.

We should love the church of God just as Nehemiah loved the chosen race, from which he had descended. So when he met with Hanani, the conversation was all about the poor brethren who remained at Jerusalem.

And they said unto me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

A sad story they had to tell. Ezra had assisted in somewhat rebuilding the temple, but little had been done for the private dwellings, and for the walls and public buildings of the city. It was in a sad and wretched state; and the Jews were despised and reproached. Nehemiah was a great man, but he was sorry to hear this. He felt as if he was a fellow-sufferer with his poor brothers.

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

Was it his concern? Was it any more his concern than that of other men? Yes, he felt it to be his; and the tender heart which he had towards the people of God made him feel it to be especially his.

If nobody else did anything, he must.

And, oh! dear brothers and sisters in Christ, whenever you see the cause of God in a sad state, lay it to heart: weep, lament, and pray: feel that you have an interest in it.

Christ is your Saviour. Of the church you are a part. These blessed interests of sovereign mercy belong to you.

Take them to yourself and say, "By God's help, I will lay myself out for the progress of his cause. I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,"

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month, Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

Nehemiah was in a high office in Shushan the palace of King Artaxerxes, but his heart was at Jerusalem. He therefore remembered the very date, "in the month Chisleu," when some of his brothers came from Judah to visit him, for he was more interested in their coming than in any transaction of the court in which he was temporarily employed. Observe the subject of this good man's conversation: I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

Whenever Christian people meet together, they should make the subject of their mutual discourse an enquiry about the progress of the Kingdom of God in the place where they respectively live.

If you have come up from the country, we want you to tell us about the work of God in your village, or in the town to which you belong; are there many conversions there? We also will tell you about the work in London. Thus should Christian brothers commune with one another, and ask about Christ's kingdom among people, and the progress that His gospel is making.

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

They gave a correct description of the real state of affairs in Jerusalem; they did not colour it, but they stated the actual facts. It is well, sometimes, to tell our Christian brethren about the low estate of Zion; where things are not prospering as they should, it is best to say so, and not to try to cover up the truth, and give a false report.