He says: 'When I burnt the bull, it was with inward fear and trembling, but I look upon that act with more pleasure than upon any passage of my life.' For Luther felt, and felt rightly, that the glorious Reformation would never have been brought about unless he had used strong measures.
Nehemiah was the Martin Luther of his age, the great reformer of his nation, and never did he feel the need of strong measure to be so great, as when he came back to Jerusalem after his absence in Persia.
Four glaring evils were staring him in the face.
(1) In the temple itself a grand reception room had been prepared for Tobiah the Ammonite.
(2) The people had refused to pay tithes or contributions to the temple service, and the Levites had consequently all left the sanctuary.
(3) The Sabbath day was desecrated and profaned; trade went on as usual both within and without the city.
(4) So common had marriage with heathen people become, that even the very children in the street were chattering in foreign languages.
Four evils, all of them very serious and deep-rooted, all calling for instant reformation at his hand.
How does Nehemiah go to work?
Does he shrink from giving offence, or hurting people's feelings, or calling things by their right names?
No, he feels his nation have sinned; the disease of sin is spreading, mortification is setting in, nothing will do but strong measures.

The offending members must be cut off, that the whole body may be saved.
He begins first with the temple.

Going into the inner court, and taking with him a band of his faithful servants, he throws open the door of the great store-chamber and begins his work.

Indignantly he bids his servants to clear out all Tobiah's goods, nay, he himself gives a helping hand, and leads them in the work.

The grand divans, the elegant cushions, the elaborate mats, the bright-coloured curtains are all dragged out and cast forth outside.