And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I [am] doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
Ver. 3. And I sent messengers unto them] He went not, but sent. This was to be wise as a serpent, Matthew 10:16. God calleth us not to a weak simplicity, but alloweth us as much of the serpent as of the dove, and telleth us that a serpent's eye in a dove's head is a singular accomplishment. Beware of men, Nehemiah 6:18, brutish persons, skilful to destroy, Ezekiel 21:31. Bless yourselves from Machiavellians (those matchless villanies), and pray, with David, to be delivered from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue, Psalms 120:2. The Cardinal of Lorraine (the chief engineer of the French Massacre) sent to Christopher, Duke of Wirtsberg, a prudent and a valiant prince, that he and his brethren, the Guises, would embrace the Protestant religion, and desired to be enrolled in the number of the Protestant princes; but they knew him too well to trust him.
I am doiny a great work, so that I cannot come down] I cannot intend it, as having my hands more full of employment than that I can give heed to your compliments. There is a curse to him that doth the work of the Lord negligently or deceitfully. And lata negligentia dolus est, saith the Civilian, Remissness is a kind of perfidiousness.
Why should the work cease?] As it would, or at least go but slowly on, in his absence; he was εργοδιωκτης, the driver on of tbe business; as was likewise Boaz, who, therefore, followed it so closely himself, Ruth 2:4; his eyes were upon the servants, reapers, gleaners; he lodged in the midst of his husbandry. Let the tempter ever find us busy, and he will depart discouraged, as Cupid is said to do from the muses, whom he could never take idle. Standing water soon stinks, empty stomachs draw the humour that is next it; so doth the idle heart evil motions. An industrious Nehemiah is not at leisure to parley with Sanballat; lest if he let any water go beside the mill, he should be a great loser by it. His employment is as a guard or good angel, to keep him both right and safe.