Middletown transcript., 1899-11-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VII, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, NOV. IL.

copyright. 1899. by D. NJ. Stearns.I
building OF the Walls Of Jerusalem" and
requires study Of chapters ii-vi. When
the people Of God are not an honor to
Him, walking worthy of Him, they are q
reproach to Him. Nehemiah felt that
the condition of things at Jerusalem was
a reproach to God iii. II; v, 81, and his de-
sire was to take away this reproach.
7, 8. 'They were very wroth and con-
spired to fight against Jerusalem and to
hinder It." This was the attitude and
conduct Of the enemies Of God, who were
grieved exceedingly that any one should
seek the welfare Of the children Of Israel
(chapter Il, 10). The old serpent who
sought to mar the work OF God in Eden
Is ever the inyeterate enemy of God and
man and will exert himself to the utmost
when he secs the people Of God jealous
for the glory OF God. In these chapters
we see many OF his wiles and may learn
from Nehemiah, comfort OF Jehovah, how
to stand against them Eph. vi, III.
o. Nevertheless we made our prayer
unto our God and set q watch against
them day and night" Nehemiah was
man of God and therefore q man Of pray
cr Chapters |, 4: Il, d. but, while his
strength was In God and his whole reli-
ance upon Him, he failed not to use the
means within his reach. Onr Lord taught
His disciples to watch as well as pray
MARK xiv, 38). In Eph. Vi, II, Ii we
are taught that the whole armor OF God
Is necessary, that we may be able to
stand against the evil one. As we saw In
last lesson, Nehemiah strengthened him
self In God by His word. Then he en-
couraged the people by telling them Of
the hand Of God upon him iii Ii. 1S), and
so priests, Levites, rulers, goldsmiths,
apothecaries. merchants and also women
went to work, each repairing over against
their own house. and 10 half the wall was
huilded, for the people had a mind to
work Chapters Iii and iv, g..
10. sand Judah said, We are not able
to build the wall" 1t IL bad enough to
have enemies outside to contend with,
but when those who are within the fold
or the family get discouraged It makes
matters more difficult. In chapter Iii. 5
we read that the mobiles of the Tekoites
put not their necks to the work Of the
Lord, but here Is q leading tribe. the one
from which our Lord came Heb. vii. l4).
talking Of much rubbish and no strength
for the work. II Nehemiah had not been
staid upon Jehovah Iii, 20). he might
have been sorely discouraged.
IL, II. Not only did the adversaries
keep threatening that they would cause
the work to cease, but the Jews who
dweit by them became filed with fears.
Contrast lisa. xii, 6. "They helped every
coid fn
his brother, Be OF good courage" In the
story Of Gideon all the people who were
fearful and afraid were sent home
Judges vii. 81. The Lord wants His
people to be strong and Of good courage
Josh. l, 8, Z. 0: Hag. ii, a.
13. H. "Be not ye afraid Of them. Re
member the Lord" He appointed the
people to their places fully armed and
encouraged them with such words a.
these. In lisa. Ii, u, Is we have the
words, afraid Of a man. and forgettest
the Lord. thy Maker" And in lisa. xii.
2, "Behold God is my salvation; will
trust and not be afraid" Ii we arr
afraid. We are forgetting God and not
trusting in Him. When we rely upon
Him. VIC cannot be afraid. The weapons
of our warfare are not carnal, not swords
and spears and bows, but might, through
God to the pulling down of strongholds
QI Cor. x, 4. We have the shield of
faith, the helmet Of salvation and the
sword OF the Spirit (Eph. Vi. l6. ID.
10. 'Gud brought their counsel to
naught. We returned all of US to the
wall. eyeFy one unto his work." The
Lord LF.n.rth the counsel Of the heather
to naugLi. He makcth the devices Of the
people of none effect. The counsel Of the
Lord staatleth forever. the thoughts Of
His heart to all generations FPS. xxxiii,
10, III. See also Isa. XIV, "a; XVI, 10.
IL. While some wrought In the work
others heiJ the weapons, ready for. an
Although not written in
Scripture. II is Scripturally true that
They also serve who only stand and wait.
And 1t Is written that "As his part Is
thai goeth down to the battle, so shall |
his part be that tarrieth by the stuff
they shall part alike Il Sam. XXX, 24).
II. with one of his hands wrought In /
the work, aud with the other hand keld /
the burden bearers as they wrought In
the work and were not terrified by their 4
Phil. |. 2S). Like David, |
they prepared with all their might. and 1
set their affection to the work Il Cron. |
xxx. 2. 81. Like Hezekiah. they did 1t |
with all their heart and prospered Il |
Cron. XXI. 2D. When the enemy sought l
to entice Nehemiah away, seemingly, for |
q conference. but really to do him harm.
be was led to send them this word, Il am |
doing q great work. SO that cannot /
come down." Four times they sent unto
him after this sort, but he always an
swered after the same manner (chapter
VI, 3, a. Read the whole of chapter vi
and see In how many ways they sought
10 ensnnre Nehemiah. but see the wis
dom OF God in him and IN all his replies
to them. In due time the wall was fn-
lshed, and the enemies were much cast
down in their own eyes, for they per
ceiYed that the work was wrought of
God. Had the wall been built by skilled
masons the credit would have been theirs,
but when such unlikely people as apothe-
carries. goldsmiths, ETC., built such a wall
they could rot but see that God did Il.
The more disqualified we feel for the
work to which God calls Us the more
glory there wiz be to God a. He accom-
plishes 1t through M.
18. He that sounded the trumpet was
BY me-" And when they heard the sound
II the trumpet they were to resort thith-
" (vefse 20). Our glorious Captain has
III the work under His control. He shall
not fall nor be discouraged. He shall see
1f the traYail Of His soul and shall be
satisfied Elsa. XIII. 4; Iii. III, and when
he trumpet sounds how quickly and
gladly al His people shall resort 70 Elm
4 Thess. ", 1918. The work shall be
inished notwithstanding all enemies; the
'hurch shall be compieted. the marriage
VI tho Lamb HhaIi come. the kingdom
hail be the Lords, and the whole earth
De hIled with His glory tEph. V, ~; Rev.
Eix, 4 Il, IS; Hab. 4, 14). Let rs not
some down from our great work Of living
2 I, complets Hla body and bring Him