The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-11-01
NEHEMIAH'S PRAYER.
for November q, IsDO-Tesi. Nehe-
miah Iu-iI-Menory We. $40.


years after Ezra first went TO Jerusalem.
PLACE.-suss. or shushan ca n.y."
from the abundance Of lilies In the neigh
borhood). the chief OF the three capitals Of
the Persian empire. 200 miles south OF Ec-
BAHAMA. the summer capital in the noun
talns II was $50 miles east Of Babylon,
the third capital. and was situated on the
Choaspcs tmOdern KrekhahD, q branch OF
the Tigris.
EXPLANATORY.
]. Nehemiah and His Book.-Nehe-
miah c'compassion OF Jehovah") was
the son Of Hachaliah. and probably was
Of the tribe Of Judah. lie was coup
bearer" TO King Artaxerxes at Susa, the
capital The title "cupbcarer" Is mis-
leading TO us. II really implied that
Nehemiah was a councillor, statesman,
courtier and favorite. But IL was not a
political office. lie was man OF great
ability, wealth aud influence. The
Book OF Nehemiah IL regarded by many
critics as joined 10 Ezra, 40 as 20 form
one book. Indeed these two, with the
two books 81 the Chronicles, are re-
garded as one book and probably by
the same author or compiler. The main
part OF this book was doubtless writ
ten 10y Nehemiah, being in the first per-
son; but portions are evidently drawn
from the state archives, and part IL
written in the third person, as II by
some other historian.
II. Bad News from Jerusalem.-Vs.
i-3. V. !. I'm the month ChiSleu;" the
ninth month, November December.
varying according to the moon. in
the twentieth year" Of Artaxerxes. At
what time OF the year the count begins
we do not know. but the twentieth year
includes autumn and spring (chap. 2:D.
"Shushan:" (See "Place.D " 2. "IIa-
mani, one OF my brethren" His own
brother (Neh. 7-2).--Adeney. Same"
From Jerusalem. v. 2. THE remnant
(the escaped Jews) that are left OF the
captivity" /. e., the Jews in the land
OF Judca rs distinguished from those
In Babylon and dispersed in other coun-
tries. Are in great affection and re-
proach:" The affection denotes the
evil plight within the walls; the re
proach.' the scornful attitude OF enc.
mics without (cf. Psa. 79:4-9). Cam
bridge Bible. The wall OF Jerusalem
also Is broken down." The walls had,
doubtless been partially rebuilt after
their destruction by Ncbuchndnezzar in
$50, 40 years before this time.
Ill. Nehemiah's Prayer for Help
VS.. All.
First. The prayer grew out Of a deep
feeling of need and intense earnest.
ness. Va. "Wept, and mourned:" Over
the evils affecting his country and his
religion. and over the sins which had
brought it upon them. Certain days."
About four months elapsed between
his hearing the news ami his interview
with the king (Neh. i:l; 2:l,) And
tasted" \ natural expression Of deep
grief. "And prayed" AS the mourn
ing. so the praying lasted four months.
Second. There was a plea in the very
titles applied TO God. VS.. 20 Lord:"
Jehovah, the self-existing God. the God
especially revealed TO the Jews. But
Jehovah was the God OF Heaven, the
invisible, spiritual God, who dwelt In
Heaven, as distinguished from the Wis
lble idol gods which were on the earth.
"The great and terrible Gods" So great
as TO inspire reverential awe In every
worshiper, and unspeakabls fear In His
enemies. THAT keepcth covenant and
mercy" That hath made covenants OF
mercy and love. and never fails in keep
ing them. For them that love Him
and observe His commandments"
The sentence which Is borrowed from
Deut, $50 compare Y. l2) Is also found
in Kings s:23; Neh, 0;32; Dan. ga. in
each case. as here, being made use Of in
a prayer" Cambridge Bible.
Third. Confession OF sin. V. G. Con.
fess the sins Of the children Of Israeli"
lie recognizes that the cause OF their
troubles lay in their sins. Both and
my fathers house have sinned:" lie
had sinned with them. V. Z. I'VE have
dealt corruptiy:" Some OF
these sins are mentioned in Neh. 5:i-7,
10, II; 1878; Ezra 0;i, 2Chron. 36:li-
II. commandments, stat
utes, Judgments" |. e., the di-
vine law from every point OF view
Fourth. Pleading the promises. V.
5. III We transgress:" etc. This is not
quotation, but reference TO the gen
eral sense OF various passages, as, for
instance, Lev. 2G:27-30; Deut. 2s;45-52;
6l-67.-Pulpit Com. V. .. But II ye
turn unto me-" II you will so act as TO
make II possible and wise TO bless. "Nill
! gather them from thence:" (Lev. 20:
4O-45; Deut. 3O:l-l0).
Fifth. Pleading past mercies. V. 10.
Thy people, whom Thou hast re-
deemed by Thy great power:" Such as
the deliyerance from Egypt, victories
by Joshua, by Samson, by Deborah, the
overthrow Of the Assyrian army of
Sennach,rib, and every triumph God
gave them during their whole history.
Sixth. The prayer was specific, hav-
ing definite object. There was moth
ing vague in his petition. V. IL. Pros
per, pray thee, Thy servant this days"
lie proposed to make an effort himself
and he wanted Gods blessing upon It.
seventh. II was perseyering prayer
II was three or four months before he
received the beginning Of the answer
Tor his prayer (chop. 2;i; comp. with
Ihap. i:i), but the answer came.