#97. Ezra.#--Now comes a period of about 60 years, in which we have no knowledge of the condition of affairs in Jerusalem. At last, however, Ezra, the scribe, goes up to the Holy City, and with him a number of patriotic Jews. The work of Zerubbabel was the rebuilding of the temple. That of Ezra was emphatically the reformation of religion among those who were in Judah and Jerusalem. There was much danger that through intermarriages with the people of the land the Jews would again abandon the religion of their fathers. A large part of Ezra's effort was aimed against this evil. The people declared their willingness to do as Ezra dictated, and so the danger from this direction was for the time being avoided.
#98. Nehemiah.#--Soon after this we come to the story of Nehemiah. He was cupbearer to Artaxerxes, a position of much ease and wealth. But the welfare of Jerusalem lay near his heart, and he made it his business to know how matters were progressing in that city. Certain of his brethren at one time brought him evil tidings from there. In consequence he betook himself to prayer that God would give him such favor in the eyes of the king that he would allow him to go to Jerusalem and build the walls that had been thrown down. In those days a city without walls was in a pitiful condition, exposed to the assaults of all its foes. For four months Nehemiah prayed without any visible answer. Then it came at last in a moment. One day at the table the king noticed that the face of his cupbearer was sad. "Why is thy countenance sad?" he inquired. Then Nehemiah (after an instant of silent prayer) told the king all that was in his heart. At once the permission was given him for which he had waited and prayed for four months. So off he started as soon as possible.
#99. Nehemiah's Prayer.#--Note just here the nature of Nehemiah's prayer. It was not like so many modern prayers, one for _ease_. No, it was a prayer for opportunity to make _sacrifice_ and bear _heavy burdens_ for the sake of Jerusalem. If all the church were in this day to pray for an opportunity to bear burdens and make sacrifices, what do you think the effect would be on the advance of the kingdom of God on earth?