Middletown transcript., 1899-12-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON x, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, DEC. 8.

Memory Verses, 15-17-GOlden Text,
Elk. II, s-Conmentary Prepared by
the Rev. d. III. Stearns.
Copyright. 1893. by D. NJ. stearns.l
It would seem that Nehemiah, after
being 12 years at Jerusalem compare
chapters ii. 1. and xiii, o, returned to
Babylon, and during his absence from
the holy city much evil was wrought by
the enemies of the Lord. The rulers for
sock the house of God, Tobiah was per-
mitted to occupy a chamber therein, the
Jews intermarried with Ashdod, Ammon
and Moab, and the Sabbath day became
greatly desecrated (verses 4. B, IL, 23).
Our lesson today has special reference to
the last of these.
Is, 16. The ordinary work of farm and
vineyard and the buying and selling Of
fish and other victuals and all manner Of
ware were common events in Jerusalem
on Gods holy day, notwithstanding that
Jehovah had said, ''Ye shall keep my
Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary;
am the Lord" Lev. xix, 30; XVI, p, and
those who read the law knew that one
reason for the long captivity through
which they had just passed was their dis
obedience in the matter Of the Sabbath
Lev. XVI, 43; II Chron. xxxVi 21).
When God gave the Ten Commandments
from Mount Sinai from the midst of the
FIRE, the people answered, "All that the
Lord hath said will we do and be obe-
dent" (Ex. xiv, 8, ., but Moses had
not been absent six weeks from them be-
fore they are seen worshiping q golden
proof that the carnal mind Is enmity
against God, that it is not subject to the
law of God, neither indeed can be from.
viii, n. In the lesson record both people
of Judah and men of Tyre took part in
the Sabbath breaking, and today both
Jews and Gentiles seem to vie with each
other in committing this same sin. Ey-
cry year sees an increasing amount Of
business and amusement on the Sabbath
day, and 1t has actually come to this:
There are ministers in so called eFangel-
ical pulpits who think it no harm to in
dulge in recreation on the Sabbath after
noon and teach the people so. The men
Of Tyre would not have continued to
bring their wares to Jerusalem on the
Sabbath if the men of Judah. Gods pro-
fessed people, had refused to. buy on that
day. How much sin the professed people
of God are responsible for in this world
today God only knows. There is one
thing that each individual believer can
do, and that is see that ones own life is
right before God in this matter of keep
ing holy Gods Sabbath day, for every
life made right will help to right others.
II, 18. "Then contended with the
mobiles Of Judah" He contended with
them about forsaking the house of God
(verse III and about breaking the Sab
bath, reminding them of the evils that
had come upon city and people because
of former sins. When it came to the
matter of strange wives, he not only con-
tended with them. but cursed them and
smote them and made them take an oath
before God that they would stop this sin
Verse 25). When he found Tobiah occu-
pying a chamber in the house of God, he
simply cast forth his household stuff and
cleansed the chambers, and when he
dealt with the son-in-law Of Sanballat he
chased him from him. and taga he cleans
ed the people from all Strangers trerses
8, 8, %. 3o). He was Gods witness,
comfort to Jehovah. ard he dealt with
sin with firm hand. Some Nehemiahs
are needed today.
10. II commanded that the gates
should be shut and charged that they
should not be opened till after the Sab,
BATH" Thus he took definite and very
decided action and appointed some of his
own servants to see that his orders were
carried out. ! do not know any better,
more full or more simple instructions as
to Sabbath keeping than those set forth
in Isa. lviii. 13. IA. which give no permis-
sion for CUR own words or ways or pleas
ure, but require the day to be wholly Civ
en- ND to God. assuring US that If we do
this then we shall delight ourselves in
s the Lord. In Ps. xxxvii. A, it is written,
delight athyseif in the Lord and He
shall give thee the desire of thine heart.
20 80 the merchants and sellers of all,
kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem
once or twice" If the servants of Christ
were always as persevering as the serv-
ants of the devil. there might be more
accomplished for our blessed Lord. II
believers were fully yielded to Christ and
jealous only for His glory, He might ac-s
complish more through them. When in
Calcutta two years ago. | heard Of an
old lady who once lived there who always
saw something good in every one. Some
children one day asked her II she ever
saw anything good in the devil. She re-
Piled We'll. children. he Is very perse-
rering." If we were as perseyering for
the good as he is for the evil, 1t would be
well.
q. "From that time forth came they
no more on the Sabbath He testified
against them aud threatened to lay hands
on them If they came again, and that
stopped them. liz wrong thing comes
under our notice that we have the power
toFstop or at least testify against it, and
We do nothing or say nothing. our silence
may make us partaker of the evil. The
Spirit through John says that II any one
comes bringing not the doctrine Of Christ
and another should give him greeting,
that one becomes partaker of the evil
doctrine II John TX, 11l. Nehemiah was
not partner in Sabbath breaking.
%. "And / commanded the Levites
that they should cleanse themselves and
that they should come and keep the gates
to sanctify the Sabbath day. Only the
clean can help to make clean. Those
who bear the vessels OF the Lord must
be clean. In the ordinance Of the red
heifer It required clean person both to
gather up the ashes and to use them In
sprinkling the uncIean. In II Cor. Vi,
IL. to vii, /, If we would know what It
means to be sons and daughters OF the
Lord Almighty and to have God as our
Father we are told that we must cleanse
ourselves from all flthiness OF the flesh
and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear
Of God. Nehemiah looks to God alone
for his reward and says, Remember me,
o my God. See also verses IA, 81. I'm
like former governors. he did not take
from the people that which he might have
taken. but from his own means he cared
for many ichapter \. 14-19. He might
have said with PAU, q have kept myself
from being husHlensome INTO you, and
be might hnre addrd. forgive ne this
wrong III Cor. Il. 3. xii, 1871 We may
rest assured that no labor for God IS n