Nehemiah 11:3-36 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Three elements in the Church of Christ.

In the first verse of this chapter Jerusalem is called "the holy city;" as such it was the type of the Church of Christ. In three respects it bore to the Christian Church a real and close resemblance.

1. It was a separated city; separated and fenced from surrounding idolatries and immoralities.

2. It was a distinguished city; distinguished by

3. It was a commissioned city; charged to hold and preserve a certain deposit of sacred truth against all the world. The Church of Christ is a body

I. THE ELEMENT OF ORDER . There were dwelling in Jerusalem "the rulers of the people" ( Nehemiah 11:1 ). Concerning these rulers, we are told who was "overseer" of the "sons of Benjamin" ( Nehemiah 11:9 ); who was "overseer" of the priests ( Nehemiah 11:14 ); who also of the Levites ( Nehemiah 11:22 ); we are told who was precentor, "the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer" ( Nehemiah 11:17 ); who had "the oversight of the outward business of the house of God;' ( Nehemiah 11:16 ), and who of the internal business ( Nehemiah 11:22 ). Everything was obviously ordered most carefully, and every one had his post at which to rule or serve. The "order" of the Church of Christ is something which has given rise to most serious differences and disputes—alas! to much bitterness and bloodshed. There are advocates of

But whatever the form which the Christian Church may take, whatever its method of organisation, order should always be conspicuously present. "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all Churches of the saints" ( 1 Corinthians 14:33 ). Everything is to be done "in order': ( 1 Corinthians 14:40 ). There are two complementary duties a Christian man may set before him: one,—the bringing about, in an orderly way, that form of Church organisation which, after diligent study and patient observance, he considers to be after the will of Christ; the other,—the taking his place in that particular Church of which he is a member, and filling it faithfully and peacefully. He who, in the name of order, brings about contention brings down on himself the condemnation of his Master ( 1 Corinthians 11:16 ).

II. THE ELEMENT OF VARIETY . Beside the governor were "rulers of the people" ( Nehemiah 11:1 ) generally; and, particularly, priests ( Nehemiah 11:10 ), and Levites ( Nehemiah 11:15 ), and porters ( Nehemiah 11:19 ), and singers ( Nehemiah 11:22 ); and, still more particularly,

III. THE ELEMENT OF UNSUSPECTED STRENGTH . To the eye of flesh Jerusalem seemed weak enough at this time. If we include "the residue of Israel" that were in the cites of Judah ( Nehemiah 11:20 ), and those in the villages with their fields ( Nehemiah 11:25 ), all in the outlying provinces of Judah and Benjamin, they make but a very feeble band compared with other places then or with other communities now. How easily might they have been crushed and extirpated by the Persian power, so far as human calculations go. Yet they were the Church of God on earth, the custodians of his holy oracles, the chosen company from which should come forth the Divine Redeemer, and from which should go forth the Divine mission that is to transform the world. The Church of Christ may still seem small as compared with the "un-possessed land" of heathendom; individual Churches may seem weak in the midst of an all-surrounding and overtowering iniquity; but "God is in the midst of her;" his" right hand" is On her side. There is an unsuspected strength in the truth she holds, in the weapons she wields, in the cause of which she is the champion. In ways and by means quite unsuspected by her enemies, and equally unexpected by herself, God will make his Church his agent for the redemption of the world.—C.