The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Nov IL, 1S00-Nehemiah Nv, 7-1S-Re-
building the Walls of Jerusalem.

.Kings do not like the sight of unhappy faces"
II is discount upon their ability to confer hap
piness- Napoleon III would not Abd-eI- Kader
until II should be In his power 10 grant his re-
quest and thus change his countenance Louis
XIV, lie Grand. THE finest actor of royalty"
wanted every face to shine and be wreathed
in smiles when he appeared. 1t is a wonder
that Nehemiah did not go to the dungeon or
scaffold for marring the royal banquet with his
lachrymose vissgc. But in answer to prayer the
kings heart that moment in the Lords
hand like a brook of water lie turned it
whittier he would.
II is probable. too, that in answer to prayer,
Esther was the queen who sat beside the king
and aided her fellow-countrymen with her per-
suasive influence. In the crisis Nehemiah had
recourse once more TO prayer, that trusty wea-
pom he had used daily for four months. lie
breathed an inaudble momentary prayer.
The sequel is well known-the kings favorable
disposition; the letters to the pasrhas beyond the
river insurng safe conduct; the bodyguard of
captains and horsemen; the order to the kings
forester to honor Neheraiah's acquisitions for
timber; the successful journey and arrival: the
moonlight rido OF observance about the city,
and finally the address which inspired the Jews
TO rebuild the wall
Never was q great national enterprise under
taken under unfavorable circumstances
The laborerS were few comparatively and mex
perienced; enemies many ana exceedingly crafty !;
instead of clean ste, heap OF rubbish: con-
spiracy within the city, and threatening advances
OF the enemy
But the genius and zeal of Nehemiah were
more than match for even such d combination
OF adverse affairs Such organizing and admins
trative ability as he displayed has never been
erybody enlisted. They worked as families
and guilds. There good-natured rivalry.
Thoroughly armed. they stood ready to repel in
cursions. Whether they worked or mounted
guard their families stood in groups behind them
and in the more distant background stood their
homes and the temple. so that they had a con-
slant object lesson to remind them that the
work in which they were engaged was for God
and for home and native land.
In the incredibly short SPACE of fifty-two DAYS
the work was done Happy Nehemiah. as on the
night or the hfty-second day he closed and barred
huilt with twenty-one years OF toll and sacrifice
was now, with all its priceless contents after
seventy years of exposure, safe from Bedouin
incurson and the touch Of sacrilegious and plum
dering hands,
Thus terminated task which. in its magni-
the building OF the temple itself.
Analyst
a sad face and its effect
providenta conjunction.
fair-ninded king. an interested queen. a dis
The appeal and its sequel
The rebuilding Of the wall.
inception. continuance, completion of the enter
prise.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
The utility Of prayer has a remarka bic exem-
plication in the Book of Nehemiah. The under
taking OF rebuilding the wall was begun, con-
tnued and contaminated in prayer. Nehemiah
prayed four months before he So much as men
toned his matter to the king. His silent prayer
in the very presence of the king is artIessly de-
scribed: $50 1 prayed to the God of heaven
He prayed as the work continued and enemies
ridiculed and threatened.
The aggressive Christian must be ready TO en-
dure ridicue. Sanballat and Tobiah played a
game of battIedoor and shuttlecock within ear
shot of the inexperienced builders. They ban
died 1ibes at their expense. 'Ha ha. how in
dustrfous VIII they finish the work in a day %
The weight Of fox is enough TO break down
such a wall that" MOckeTy is no new wea-
pom The Christian must just be impervious
to it,
The advantage of thorough organization has n
fine illustration in this book The caption of the
third chapter is very significant. THE names
and order OF them that builded the wall" Each
family, order and guild, from the high priest
To the merchant, was given specific portion 10
DO. The laborers armed and instructed
The discretion OF Nehemiah masterfuI. ON
arrival at Jerusalem he did not handicap himself
by n premature admission Of the object of his
coming. Cnobserved, he made A personal in
spection OF the walls. No doubt he jotted down
a memoranda OF the workmen and materials re-
quired. He was foreaimed against the assertion
Of fmpracticability- At the proper moment he
set forth the disgrace and danger involved i'm the
make their rc-erection appear that when i'm his
fervor he cried Come and let MS build up the
walls OF jerusalem the people responded: al a.
| us rise up and buildi'