The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-11-10

copyright, 1899, by ID. M. StearnsI
The topic of this lesson is "The Re
building of the Walls of Jerusalem" and
requires a study of chapters i-yi. When
the people of God are not an honor to
Him, walking worthy of Him, they are
reproach to Him. Nehemiah felt that
the condition of things at Jerusalem was
q reproach to God iii, II; V, 81, and his de-
sire was to take away this reproach.
z, 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 H. 10). The old serpent who
sought to mar the work of God in Eden
is ever the inveterate enemy of God and
man and will exert himself to the utmost
when he sees 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, ~.
g. Nevertheless we made our prayer
unto our God and set a watch against
them day and night" Nehemiah was
man of God and therefore man of pray
er chapters i, 4; ii, ~, but, while his
strength was in God and his whole reli-
ance upon Him, he failed not to use the
means within his reach. Our Lord taught
His disciples to watch as well as pray
MARK xiv, 3S). In Eph. vi, II, ID 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 III
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, 49,, and
so priests, Leyites, rulers, goidsmiths,
apothecaries, merchants and also women
went to work, each repairing over against
their own house, and so half the wall was
buided, for the people had mind to
work chapters iii and w. o.
10. "And Judah said, We are not able
to build the wall" 1t is bad enough to
have enemies outside to contend with
but when those who are within the foid
or the family get discouraged it makes
matters more difficult. In chapter iii,
we read that the mobiles of the Tekoites
put not their necks to the work of the
Lord, but here is a leading tribe, the one
from which our Lord came Heb viii IA,
talking of much rubbish and no strength
for the work. If Nehemiah had not been
staid upon Jehovah iii, 20), he might
have been sorely discouraged.
IL, IL. Not only did the adversaries
keep threatening that they would cause
the work to cease, but the Jews who
dwelt by them became filled with fears
Contrast Isa xii, 6. "They helped every
one his neighbor, and every one said to
his brother, Be of good courage" In the
story of Gideon all the people who were
fearful and afraid were sent home
Judges vii, -. The Lord wants His
people to be strong and of good courage
Josh. i, 6, Z, 8; Hag. ii, ~.
10, IA. "Be not We afraid of them. Re-
member the Lord" He appointed the
people to their places fully armed and
encouraged them with such words as
these In lisa. Ii, II, ID 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" If we are
afraid, we are forgetting God and not
trusting in Him. When we rely upon
Him, we 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
Oh Cor. X, n. We have the shield of
faith, the helmet of salvation and the
sword of the Spirit (Eph vi, I6, 10.
naught. We returned all of us to the
wall, every one unto his work" The
Lord bringeth the counsel of the heather
to naught He maketh the devices of the
people of none effect. The counsel of the
Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of
His heart to all generations (Ps. xxxiii,
10, III. See also lisa. xiv, "a; XVI, 10.
16. while some wrought in the work
others held the weapons, ready for an
emergency Although not written in
Scripture, it is Scripturally true that
They also serve who only stand and wait.
And it is written that, "As his part is
that goeth down to the battle, so shall
his part be that tarrieth by the stuff
they shall part alike q Sam. xxx, 24).
II. with one of his hands wrought in
the work, and with the other hand held
a weapon" Thus did the builders and
the burden bearers as they wrought in
the work and were not terrified by their
adversaries phil. i, 2S). Like David,
they prepared with all their might, and
set their affection to the work Il Cron.
xxx, 2, 81 Like Hezekiah, they did it
with all their heart and prospered Il
Cron. xxi, 2D. When the enemy sought
to entice Nehemiah away, seemingly, for
a conference, but really to do him harm,
he was led to send them this word, II am
doing 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
to ensnare Nehemiah, but see the wis
dom of God in him and in all his replies
to them, In due time the wall was fin
ished, and the enemies were much cast
down in their own eyes, for they per-
ceived 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 noe but see that God did it,
The more disqualified we feel for the
work to which God calls us the more
glory there will be to God as He accom-
plishes it through us.
IS. HE that sounded the trumpet was
by me-" And when they heard the sound
of the trumpet they were to resort thith-
er Verse POI Our glorious Captain has
all the work under His control He shall
not fail nor be discouraged. He shall see
of the travail of His soul and shall be
satisfied Qsa. xiii, 4; lii, ~, and when
the trumpet sounds how quickly and
gladly all His people shall resort to Him
Il Thess. iy, 1919. The work snail be
finished Notwithstanding all enemies; the