Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-02-15
nae SUNDAY scnoo,
in'erustier.i Lesson To- Fsbrusry N
tsp7-t t~eunaing che wan-Nsh. sfD
"a

4 "e""t"a ne NaA--Neh. 80
CotrrS Trxr-wr r,a,. our rruv~r --,.
/ '..h 1nd 80 watch seairst them Nfh "a
4 Aihh - The sufatncf art early autumn - m
-. Nehemiah lrr susa aioui the nrst ~
| ArrM and 70 would ruoufro thrre 81 fnrr
months to maize thr iournrr. Ezra "a. f,ur
uaonfas soins frum babylon ueira s.N Us
! must have reached Jerusalem ~ th~ la M
S.s, 80 months hefcrv thc asth - Eiui
tAusust.septcmbcrl to.in n took about t.o
september
rLscn --susa. ana Jerusalem and viciui,y.
LESSON MOTHS
Tie HaF NsasmliAs Pn1vcr Wa An
S'rerfd Nehemiah had learned 81 the
grcat troubles ga Jerusalem Ina the
autumn ~ n 6. AS in the ninth month.
Chislcu November Dcccmbcrl u.n,
and IL was -FOUR months tnl Nissan. tho
first month March-ApriD before there
came any sign ~ an answer Perhaps
his soul was being wrought into tho
right frame ~ willingness a. "a There
were several cupbcarcrs, and during
this time Nehemiah was not ON duty.
The position ~ cppbcarcr was one
OF great personal influence and danger
| The kings 81 Persia were compelled &C.
live chiefly i'm great ISOLATION
The special duty 81 tho cuphcarcr~
was 10 all the royal winc-cup from tho
vase cor nagon, which stood ON or near
the royal board and 60 hand II dalntiiy
and gracefully 10 their august master
| tNcn. Cyrop. Ia. a. Before filling tho
cup they carefully washed IL out. and
before offering u t. their master they
ladlcd out a small quantity with their
left hand and swallowed 10. 70 show
that, 80 FAR as their knowledge went
i
In this, their main duty thcy guarded
the entrance o. the royal apartment,
add allowed persons u enter or for
babe them, az their discretion. Even
princes Of the blood royal AL 20 sub
init, and the power, thus practically OK
crciscd. Of allowing or preventing audi
cncos. made the oflicc one 81 high nc.
count, and probably enabled ia holder.
II hc were so inclined. 70 greatly en-.
rich himself
Tho constant access to the monarch.
and the close relations thereby eatab-
! lishcd, naturally led 10 mutual eon-
| hdcucc, aud cngcndcrcd friendly or
even nfcctionate feeling bctwccn the
/ two parties, In the isolation whcrcto
court etiquette condemns an oriental
sovereign, the royal heart ~ apt to 20
out 20 anyone brough within the rigid
circle. and made 10y force OF circum.
stances "a companion.
The four mont hs OF fasting aud PRAYER
and anxiety had left their ma rio upon
the fair countcnn nee OF Nehemiah when
In April hc again took mp his duties as
cupbearcr. The king noticed ~. why
IL your countcnnnco sad2" No reply.
! You arc not sick2" Still no reply.
| This Is sorrow pnd nothing else" Then
Nehemiah was sore afraid. "A nd ! will
tell you why. His life was I'm danger
Even modern autocrat like Louis
] XIV. expected evcrybody's face 70 shine
II he did but appear, and how much
more an ArtaxcrNes II lac had ordered
this melancholy visngc away 90 prison
or death ~ would have been justified by
precedent
But "out OF this cttlo danger he
| pluclscd the flower" success. lie opened
his heart 20 the king, and asked to be-
sent 10 Jerusalem as governor with full
/ powers. Says Rnwliuson; 1T H. not
| often that appointments ARE made 10
| posts Of such high responsibility from
The class 20 which Nehemiah belonged
the rank and file Of the palace officials
and IL was certainly bold act ON his
! part 90 propose himself for tho Office
But lac undoubtedly possessed a large
/ amount Of self-estccn. and nc had prob
| ably great reliance on the kings at
| tachmcnt and affection towards him
| Further, hc would have confidence IN
the rcctitude Of his motives" and In
/ Gods answer 30 his prayer. Perhaps
/ there was not 80 much "sclf-catecm" as
what "a certain bishop called "conscious-
ness Of power" and faith In God, and
in his destiny
| The king ga We him leave OF absence,
| appointment as governor, with letters
commanding the other governors i'm the
ncighborhOod of Jcrusal em % give him
all ncedful aid, together with "a milf
tary escort. ~ Is probable that Arta-
xcrxes gave the desired permission be-
cause 81 his liking for Nehemiah and
/ for the same reasons that led him ~
| grant permission 10 Ezra. in our last
/ lesson
IaresagatHg me Situation. Nehemiah
| probably reached Jerusalem after "a
/ three or four mon tbs Journey. the last
] ~ July. Three days after his arrival
/ he went out alone in the IA ight 20 inves-
\ tigate the truth Of the reports that had
reached him. IIo had not told any
one Of his purp osc ia coming ~ Jerusa-
i lem When hc had ridden around the
! city, and taken in the situation, he
summoned the leaders Of the Jews, told
them his plans, and they all agreed
! heartily o. enter upon the work
/ The Pun y Work The wall was par
| ccled out among forty-four working
/ parties, some Of whom were women. the
/ daughters ~ the ruler II the half part
~ Jerusalem fver iel. some mobiles.
/ others priests. Lcvitcs. merchants the
I eog ~ goldsmith. and Of pcrfumcr. 10
l was like the rebuilding ~ The wall Of
/ Athens after the invasion Of Xerxes
I like the building Of tho walls ~ Edin-
I burgh after the battle - Flodden.
/ Every class u society. every district la
the country took part in it. This may
seem "a small thing o. hasty readers.
/ but 10 was o master stroke ~ genius.
/ Not only wa 10 grand division Of "a.
/ sor. but animated the work with q no.
/ DE emulation.