1. Nehemiah knew that this faithfulness should be
rewarded. He did not do these things in
order to obtain the reward, but he knew that the Lord was faithful and would
remember His servant. No doubt, he had
no right to anything from the Lord,
but he knew that the Lord takes account of the faithfulness of His own and that
He loves to tell them, when the moment of retribution is come: "Well, good
and faithful bondman, thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee
over many things". (Acts 25: 21)
In the same spirit Paul could say: "I have combated the good
combat, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth the crown of righteousness is
laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will render to me in that
day." (2 Tim. 4: 7-8)[i]
2. Thus the whole effect of Christ's coming, with regard to
the kingdom and to His messengers during His absence, is unfolded: with respect
to the Jews, as far as Verse 31 of chapter 24 Mat_24:31; with respect to
His servants during His absence, to the end of Verse 30 of chapter 25 (Mat_25:30),
including the kingdom of heaven in its present condition, and the heavenly
rewards that shall be given; and then, from Verse 31 to the end of chapter 25 (Mat_25:31-46),
with respect to the nations who shall be blessed on the earth at His return.[ii]
3. He carries off the victory by submission, and takes His
seat in a glory exalted in proportion to the greatness of His abasement and
obedience, the only just reward for having perfectly glorified God where He had
been dishonored by sin. The joy and the rewards that are set before us are
never the motives of the walk of faith — we know this well with regard to
Christ, but it is not the less true in our own case — they are the
encouragement of those who walk in it.[iii]