The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-12-01
KEEPING THE SABBATH
lsvW-Text. Nehemiah i5si s-..-
Memory "a. I5-lT.

bath day to Keep u ho.y--LA. go
READ Nehemiah 10. and compare Isaiah
". Is. Jore miah II. 1871
TIME.-Probabiy about y or y year,
after the last lesson. summer or early AL
.umn az. 10 Of Is. G. ~ or ~.
THE DECENTRALIZATION remained
Al Jerusalem y years, from the tweniieth
year OF Ariaxerxes q: u. H. {. 80. 70 the
thiriy-second year u5 %. -. G. ~. Then
he was recalled Tie was ~ Persia some
years. perhaps i've. but returned before H.
Z. s25. the year Artax lrxes died. for he re-
turned by permission OF that king o.. %.
PLAcE.-Jerusalem and vicinity.
MALACHI. the last OF the prophets. be-
ongs 10 this period. Prot. Driver places
him shortly before. or during Nehenl4h's
second visit"
EXPLANATORY.
/. The Floodgaies of Evil Are
0pened.-Ns. -. The reforms Of Ne
hemiah accomplished great things and
made an era i'm the progress of the
kingdom of God. But, as in all REVEALS
and reforms. there followed "A reaction.
especially on the part of those who
were carried along by the current Of
popular feeling. but were not really
changed in heart. Doubtless the reac-
ton began during the L. years before
Nehemiah was recalled TO Persia; but
doubtless in his absence, and after the
death of Ezra. those who had been ST.
fenced and subdued by their presence
took courage to return to their evil
courses, so that delnge OF sins rushed
In upon the nation like an overwhelm-
ing torrent, carrying away the barriers
of law and religion and covenants and
promises.
III. Undermining the Kingdom Of God
Through Sabbath-Breaking.-Ns. l5-lT.
IS. I'm those days" During Nehe-
miah's second visit TO Jerusalem. while
making the other reforms. saw l."
He did not depend on hearsay. but ex-
amined for himself and found the facts
Three Forms of sabbath-Breaking
Il. Working on their farms and keep
ing their laborers at work. 'ln Ju-
laL:" In the country around Jerusa-
lem. threading wine presses on the
sabbath" The wine presses were
large watts into which the grapes were
placed and the juice trodden out by the
feet Of men. bringing in sheaves:
Gathering their harvests and bringing
them into the city.
2. By transporting their goods. And
bringing in sheayes:" Into the city,
and into the otner walled towns. Wine.
grapes and figs" For storage and sale
This required large working force,
and tempted the people 10 buy and trade
on the sabbath.
3. by the ordinary business and traf-
&c through foreigners. who had no care
for the sabbath Y. Is. There dwelt
men Of Tyre also therein" That is. in
the city. Jerusalem. Devoted To com
rnerce. they had formed little settle
ment in Judea for the sale II their mer-
chandise. fish (they were a maritime
people, and other things.-Prof. Toy.
sold on the sabbath unto the chill
dren of Judah" who Were so contain
mated by their heather neighbors as &c
yield TO the temptation TO buy.
The Evil Effects Of Sabbath-Break-
ing.-v.i-. "What evil thing Is this that
We do?" What they did was evil for
themselves and for their children.
i'll. Nehemiah Makes a sabbath Re
form.-Ns. 1922. First. Ilereproyed the
leaders. lie didn not reprove the weak and
let the rich and strong do as they would.
V. II. II conicnded:" Argued and used
ais official authority. with the mobiles"
The higher classes. the people of prom
inence and influence. who were the most
to blame. since they had better knowl-
edge and fuller control Of their time.
and who could have the most influence
in fayoring or opposing the reform
Second. lie warns them from their
own past history. Y. is. did not your
fathers thus?" Why was Jerusalem
destroyed? Where had the nation been
carried into captivity? Why were they
now weak and poor and scattered? Let
the prophets answer. One reason was
that their fathers had refused TO obey
Gods Sabbath laws. A broken Sabbath,
was the answer (Jer. 1921; Eek. 20:l3
See also lisa. 5s:l3. lD.
Third. lie Exercises His Authority
". 10. Began to he dark before the
Sabbath AT sunset of the previous
day. because their Sabbath began then.
"The gates should be shut as usual,
only they should not be opened till
after the Sabbath" MY servants set
at the gntes:" His own armed body
guard, whom he could trust. THAT
there should be no burden brought in:
Foot passengers were. no doubt. al
lowed TO enter and leave the city on the
Sabbath. Pulpit Com. V. 20. $50 the
merchants" Not believing that the
command would be strictly enforced.
Lodged" Camped outside the walls,
waiting for the gates 10 be opened on
Sabbath morning. as formerly. v. 2i
II testified against them" Rebuking
commanding. VI IL commanded the
Levites:" The "Lcvites" would he more
appropriate keepers OF the city gates
on the Sabbath day than his servants
Tor whom he. no doubt. had other uses
The Levites were therefore ordered &c
cleanse themselyes"-that is. 70 purif,
themselves from ceremonial unclean
ness. and come and attend TO guarding
the gates on the Sabbath dav as q reli