The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-02-09
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR SUNDAY. FEB. i9
'Nehemiah's Prayer" Neh. l., ILL Gold.
en- Toxt; Psalm XXX, 10. Com
mentary.

Dy AftaNefNeS, tne ferslan monarch. 10 I'LL
the Office OF cupbearer. He arrived at Jeru.
salem about thirteen years after Ezra was
governor OF Judea, remaining about twelve
years, and then returning to Artaxerxes
from whom he rec sived new commi ssion.
He went agein TO Jeru selem and ruled thers
for another twenty-five years B. G. A5.4sS.
He was one OF the greatest men OF ths
Hebrew Nation, renowned for his zeal,
patriotism, courage, humanity aud earnest
devotedness to Col aud 70 His service
C'5earching the Scriptures" by Dr.. Auder-
sonl. One OF the most interesting things in
the book is ths edict to rebuilt the city
tchapter H., ), 81, from wnici begins Diuis's
seventy weeks.
>. II asked them concerning the Jews that
had escaped, wnicI were left OF tho captiv.
ity, and concerning Jerusalem" The cnurch
of Today seems not to appreciate the fact
that Jerusalem was and is and shalt yet b.
city very dear TO Jehovah, and more dear
than We can understand % every loyal jew.
The Lord hath chosen Zion. tie hath de.
sired II for His hnbitation." "rhe Lord
shall yet comfort Zion and sh III yet chooss
Jerusalem" az that timc they shalt cali
Jerusalem the throne OF the Lord" (Ps.
cNNxt., g; Zsch. l., IL: Jer. iii. IN.
3. "And they said unto Me. Tne remnant
that are left of the captivity there IN ths
province are in great all ction AMI rs-
proach.' by comparing verse l AMI chap.
ter H.. !, with Va. vii., u, :, we tiud that this
deso'ation was the cDu1itIon of things Mt
the holy City thirteen years after the great
| reformation wruu yht throu yh Ezra. and we
| teel inclined to ask why it was SO. With
the temnle finished, the worship restored
and such purifying as Ezra hal accom-
| nlished. why was there not moro zeal for
| Godt IL one question can hop to answer
another we would ass Why, with all tbs
open doors OF this generation 10 carry ths
Gospel TO every creature md the vast
amount of money intha hand Christians.
are there Somany hun lreds millions still
without the Gospel,
4. And 10 came g. pass hen heorl
the.c words, that | sat down 'ui went. an
mourned certain days, ar fsstei an
| prayed before the God OF hi " a. Here is
man away Off IN Babyloal Interested in
the welfare o; Jerusalem an u the honor
oil the God oi Israel thi it or several
Gays hc gives himA up TO
| mourning and fasting drI prayinr.
Compare Daniel fasting and prayihs for
three iull weeks that ne m Int know ths
mind OF God dan. x. . 81: 5 Paul thre,
years at E)hesus, warning tb people nig 1t
and day with tears (Acts xx 3l), and re.
| member that God IL n rewarier OF them that
diligently seek Him tdeb. xi., o.
| D. And said, | beseech Thee - Lori God
OF heaven, the great AMI terrible GOD, that
keepeth covenant and mercy for them tlaJ
| love Him and observe His commaudments.'
| From here to tue end OF the lesson we have
| his prayer and 10 Is n prayer that was heard
| IN heaven and answered Observe tnat IN
chapter H., !, he one day prayei without
! uttering n word with his lips, for at the Same
| moment he prayed to God AMI sptSe 90 toe
king. Compare this verse with cnapter ix.,
| 81, and FIX. xxxiv,, u, Z, aud SEQ in Jer.
Sxxil., IL, the comfort u ce obtained trom
the God of heaven.
| d. II pray before Thee now day and
night for the children OF Israel, Thy ssr-
/ ut0 - .,l,t La.
OF Israel" Identifying himself witn this
nation, he contesses their sins He excuses
nothing, palliates nothing, but includes
= sHimseI siy.sg, 'Ec:s 4 1aS my Es'ss',s
house have sinned." "He that coveroth his
sins shall not prosper. but whose confesseth
and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy"
| lProv. xviii, 10. IL we confess our sins
He is faithful ana just TO forgive uso sins
and To cleanse us IRON all uurigiteousness
| Il John l., o.
:. 1--WE have dealt very corruptly against
| Thee, aud have not kept the command
ments.' Tho curses had come just as God
| had said in Deut. xviii, ~, %, and they
had brought it all upon themselves (lSa
/ hS., y. Nehemiah does well % make iull
confession; but on. think Of Him vino to)S
| all these SINS upon Himself, wno above all
sin 10 be heaped upon Hip, making II HIS
/ own that tie might give unto us His right.
! Cousnessl This tie does now Tor every IN
/
! 3s, 3D, and this he will yet 40 Tor Israel
] lisa. IT., 2U.
$. "Remember, | bescech Thee, tho word
| that Thou clmmandest Thy servant Mosss'
! He reminds God OF the curss which lie 10y
Moses had said should come aud which h vi
come. He did not question the authorship
| OF Moses, nor did he doubt that Moses spoke
tho words o. God. He believed God, con-
demned himself aud his people aud Jnstiliot
! God.
/. .. "But IL ye turl unto Ne, an | keep My
conmandmehts, and do them" lie is quot.
| ing now in his prayer from Deut. xxx, IL.
where Jehovah promised, on condition OF
true repentance and obedience, q restore
them 10 their land AMI bless thsn AMI giys
them heart u love Him supremcly; nut
the condition was, "lt thou turn unto tn
Lord thy Got with all thine heart and with
all thy sour lDeut. XXX, iO. As He chose
Jerusaem 10 put His name there and mag
nifty Himself from thence. 80 He chooses u
| TO bear His name and magnify Him in these
mortal bodies (Acts tx. 10 l6; Pail. H., 20.
10. "Now these are Thy servants and Thy
! people whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy
great power and by Thy strong hand" SC
pleaded Moses. reminding Col that not
| wthstandng all their sin still they wer'
! His people AMI His inheritance which H'
brought out OF Egypt tDsut. tx, 2G, 2tD. 30
| pleaded Daniel alsJ as he identified himself
with the sinful nation anl asked mercy in
these words 80 Lord. forgive for Thine own
sake, o my Goi, for Thy city and Thy
people are called by Thy name dan. tx,
Is, 1B. See what He will yet d o for then
Tor His names sake IN EzeS. xxxv l., 22-32.
H. "prosper, | pray Thee, Thy servant,
this day, ami grant him mercy in the sight
OF this man" Having poured out his soul
on behalf OF his people, he now asks specia
favor on his own behalf, and yet for Their
sakes as their benefactor. Every such inter
A.. A A.. A L..l laf af
Daniel or Nehemiah, suggests 10 US the grea
intercessor, our Lord Jesus Christ, who died
for us, lives for Us and will ia duo time come
again TO us. He, for His names sake, for
gives our sins Il John it,, IL; lsa. llii., 21l
| and tells us that whatsoever We sha II ask u
His name, that the FIther may b3 gloriiiec
in the Son. He will do il Joan xiv, IL, lA
| Lesson Helper