The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:2

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Sorrow and its Consoler.

"This is nothing else but sorrow of heart."

I. SORROW OF HEART MAY CO-EXIST WITH EXTERNAL WELL-BEING. Nehemiah was healthy, honoured, rich, yet sad. So are many in similar circumstances. The sorrows of sympathy, patriotism, and piety, as Nehemiah's were; those of penitence or remorse; of wounded affection or disappointed confidence; those occasioned by family troubles, etc; may invade the hearts of the most prosperous. And it is well that they should. Prosperity without sorrow tends to moral ruin.

II. SORROW OF HEART IS GRACIOUSLY NOTICED AND ASSUAGED BY THE KING OF KINGS.

1. He observes the sorrowful heart. It will commonly reveal itself in the countenance; but if not, God sees it (Psalms 31:7; Psalms 38:9).

2. He delights to comfort the sorrowful heart. "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." He sent his Son "to heal the broken-hearted." The Spirit whom he sends is "the Comforter." By his providence, by the revelation he gives of his fatherly pity and the benevolent ends of affliction, by his assurances of favour and love, by his promises, by human sympathy and solace, he comforts now his children; and ultimately he will wipe all their tears away.

III. SORROW OF HEART SHOULD RECEIVE TENDER HUMAN SYMPATHY AND SUCCOUR. We should be sensitive to its signs, and prompt to feel with and for it, and to proffer consolation and relief. This course is—

1. Prompted by nature. To decline this duty is to do violence to ourselves. It is to "shut up our bowels of compassion" (1 John 3:17), unless, indeed, we are so far below the level of humanity as to have none.

2. Enjoined by religion. The law and the gospel coincide here.

3. Required by our relation to sufferers. The brotherhood of man to man, of Christian to Christian.

4. Enabled by our possession of the gospel. Which is a collection of cordials for all varieties of human sorrow. He who has this, though he has little besides, may be a comforter of many.

5. Illustrated by Divine example (see II.).

6. Enforced by the revelation of the last judgment (see Matthew 25:35-45; 1 John 4:17). Finally, there is sorrow coming on the impenitent which will receive no comfort from God, angel, or man (see Luke 16:24-26).

More for Nehemiah 2:2

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Matthew Henry on Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 2:1-8 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryOur prayers must be seconded with serious endeavours, else we mock God. We are not limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty to go to him at all times; approaches to the throne o…Nehemiah's Request to the King. (b. c. 445.)Nehemiah 2:1-8 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleNEHEMIAH'S REQUEST TO THE KING. (B. C. 445.) When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David's words (Psalm 51:18, Build thou the walls of Jerusalem), he did not sit still and say, "Let G…The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 2:1-8 · The Pulpit CommentaryPrayer answered. Three or four months bad passed since Nehemiah first heard of the distressed condition of his brethren at Jerusalem, and began to pray for them, and that he might be permitted to visit and relieve them.…The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 2:1-8 · The Pulpit CommentarySadness. I. THAT IT WAS THE OUTCOME OF A TRUE PATRIOTISM (Nehemiah 2:2). This sadness was not occasioned by temporal loss, by domestic bereavement, or by unfaithful friendship, but by the desolated condition of Jerusale…The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 2:1-8 · The Pulpit CommentaryGaining the cause. It was a time of great suspense, hardest of all things for human hearts to bear. The future of Jerusalem now hung on the building of the wall, and this depended on Nehemiah's personal interposition an…The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 2:1-8 · The Pulpit CommentaryThese verses describe the circumstances in which Nehemiah obtained his commission as restorer of Jerusalem. They show that he was prospered, and that his prosperity was due to the blessing of God. We may notice— I. The…

commentaryMatthew Henry on Nehemiah 2:1-8Our prayers must be seconded with serious endeavours, else we mock God. We are not limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty to go to him at all times; approaches to the throne o…Matthew Henry commentaryNehemiah's Request to the King. (b. c. 445.)NEHEMIAH'S REQUEST TO THE KING. (B. C. 445.) When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David's words (Psalm 51:18, Build thou the walls of Jerusalem), he did not sit still and say, "Let G…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Gaining the cause. It was a time of great suspense, hardest of all things for human hearts to bear. The future of Jerusalem now hung on the building of the wall, and this depended on Nehemiah's personal interposition an…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Sadness. I. THAT IT WAS THE OUTCOME OF A TRUE PATRIOTISM (Nehemiah 2:2). This sadness was not occasioned by temporal loss, by domestic bereavement, or by unfaithful friendship, but by the desolated condition of Jerusale…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8Prayer answered. Three or four months bad passed since Nehemiah first heard of the distressed condition of his brethren at Jerusalem, and began to pray for them, and that he might be permitted to visit and relieve them.…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:1-8These verses describe the circumstances in which Nehemiah obtained his commission as restorer of Jerusalem. They show that he was prospered, and that his prosperity was due to the blessing of God. We may notice— I. The…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 2:2The king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad? This "kindly question" put by the great king to his humble retainer is his best claim to the favourable judgment of later ages. History puts him before us as a weak mon…Joseph S. Exell and contributors