The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-11-29
KEEPING TIE SABBATH.
.. .. Lessee. for nee. .,
isDO-Text, Nehemiah I8n5-21-
Memory We. aS-IT.


READ Nehemiah "a, and compare Isaiah
"a: is; jeremiah n; 1871.
TIME. Fl Probably about 10 or ~ years
after the last lesson, summer or early au-
tumn u5 iD Of 10. c. Cs or ,27.
THE INTERVAL Nehemiah remained
At Jerusalem u years. from the twentieth
year OF Artarerxes q: -, II. G. go. to the
thirty-second year ga; 81. u. c. tSs. Then
he was recalled. lie was IN Persia some
years. perhaps i've. but returned before II.
{. f25, the year ArtaIerTes died, for he re-
turned by permission Of that king "a; 81.
PLACE-Jerusalem and vicinity.
MALACHI. the last Of the prophets, be-
longs to this period Prof. Driver places
him shortly before. or during Nehemlah's
EXPLANATORY.
!. The FloodRates of Evil Are
0pened.-Vs is. The reforms Of Ne.
hemiah accomplished great things and
made an era in the progress OF the
kingdom OF God. But, as In all revivals
and reforms, there followed 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 ~ years before
Nehemiah was recalled 10 Persia; but
doubtless in his absence. and after the
death OF Ezra, those who had been al.
fenced and ,ubdu.d nv their presence
took coura0. 70 return 10 their evil
courses. 80 that deluge OF aims rushed
in upon the nation like an oyervbelm-
ing torrent. carrying away the barriers
OF law and religion and covenants and
promi,...
III. Undermining the Kingdom OF God
Through sabbath. breaking I,.l7
is. "In those days;" During Nebe.
miah'. second visit 10 Jerusalem. while
making the other reforms. "ssw L."
II. did not d.peud on bearsay. but ex.
amined for himself and found the facts.
Three Forms OF Sabbath. Breaking
II. Working on their farms and keep
ing their laborers At work. "In Ju.
dahl" In the country around Jerusa-
lem. Threading wine presses on the
Sabbath" The wine nresses v.r,
large wits into which the grapes were
placed and the Juice trodden out by the
Zee, OF men. "Bnp0ing I'm sheaves;"
Gathering their baryes,s and bringing
them into the city.
?. Nv TRANSPORTING their goods. "And
bringing In sheayes:" Into the clty.
and into the other walled towns. "Wine.
cranes and figs" For storage and sale.
This required n large working force,
and temp,ed the people 20 buy and trade
on the sabbath
4. Dy the ordinary business and traf-
fc through foreigners. who had no care
for the Sabbath. V. 10. There dwelt
men OF TYR. also therein" That IA. In
tn. CITY. JerusaIem. Devoted TO COM
merce they had formed n little settle
ment In ,Iudea for the sal. Of their mer.
chandise. fish uhey were n maritime
peoplel and other ,hIpgs-Prof. Toy.
.soid on the Sabbath unto the chill.
dren Of Judah" who were 40 contain.
mated nv their heather neIuhbor, as IN
Weld 10 The termination 20 bny
The Evil Effects of sabbath .Rreak.
inR-V.l7. "What evil thing n This ,ba,
We do?" What thew did wa. evil Tor
themselves and for their children
III. Nehemiah Mako. n Sabbath he.
1927. First. lie removed IN.
leaders. lie did not reproye The veal and
le, the rich and strong do n. ,bev would
Y. II. "I commended" Argued and u.ed
his official au,hori,v. .Wi,b the noble. :"
The higher classes. the peonle OF prom-
inence and influence. who were the mos,
20 blame. since they had better knowI.
edge and fuller control of their time
and who could have the mos, influence
In favoring or opposinp the reform.
Second. He warns them from their
own past history. V. Is. "Did NOT your
fathers thus?" Whv was Jerusalem
Where had the nation been
carried into ca,tivItvq Why were thew
now weak and poor and scatteredP Let
the prophets answer. One reason was
that their fathers had refused 10 obey
Gods Sabbath laws. A broken Sabbath.
was the answer CJer. 1927: Ezek. 20. "a.
See also lisa. 5s;i9. IA.
Third. He Exercises His Authority.
". 10. Began 10 be dark before the
Sabbath" Al sunset OF the previous
iay, 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
nj the gates" His own armed body.
4