The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-11-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON W., NOV. 5-NEHEMiAH
1: ILL.
PRINCIPAL Text for the Day; Prosper, L
Pray Thoe, Thy Servant This Day
Neh. 1: 1.-The Prayer OF the
Prophet.

1. "In the month Chsleu," the ninth
month, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, varying ac-
cording to the moon. In the twentietn
year. of ArtaxerNes. At what time OF
the year the count begins we 90 nov
know, but the twentieth year inciuues
autumn and spring (chap. z: -. Shu-
shan" (See 'Pace.D 1.-THE palace or
castle. The stronghold and the royal resi-
dence. which made Shushan the capital
2. "IIanani, one of my brethren" His
own brother (Neh. Z: D.-Adeney. Others
take the word in the wider Specification
of relatives Game" From Jerusalem
And / asked them concerning the jews.
"Josephus tells us can't. IL: 81 that as
Nehemiah was walking one day OUTSIDE
the walls of Susa, some strangers, max
ing for the city. travel-worn as IL by
long journey, were overheard by him dis
coursing In his own language-the He
brew.
g. 1.-THE remnant (the escaped Jews)
that are left of the captivity l. e., the
Jews in the land of Judea as distin-
guished from those of Babylon ana dis
persed in other countries. They are
described as refugees, or as the children
of refugees, who had survived the cap
tivity (cf. Ezra 3: s; s: IS; Neh. s: d.
Cambridge Bible. Are in great affiiction
and reproach" 'The 'afiiction' denotes
the evil plight within the walls; the
'reproach' the scornful attitude or enc
mics without (cf. Pisa. 70: 4-0. Cam
bridge Bible. The wall of Jerusalem
also Is broken down" The walls
had, doubtless, been partially rebuilt aft
er their destruction by Nebuchadnezzar
in 5S6, one hundred and forty years be-
fore this time.
4. "Wept, and mourned." Over the evils
affecting his country and his religion,
and over the sins which had brought IL
upon them Certain days. About -FOUR
months elapsed between his hearing the
news and his interview with the King
(Neh /: /; 2: y. Whether this celay was
due to a struggle In Nehemiahs mind, or
to lack of opportunity. no one Gun TELL
Prof Beecher. And tasted naturai
expression Of deep grief; vain hypocrisy
when a mere form, but when the express
sion of deep grief, humiliation ana re-
pentance it becomes an aid to devotion,
and a part of the hearts prayer. ana
prayed" AS the mourning, so the pray
ing lasted four months. rms proved MS
earnestness and his faith.
S. 20 Lord" Jehovah, the self-existing
God, the God especially revealed to the
Jews But Jehovah was the GOD OF
heaven" the invisible, spiritual God VINO
dwelt in heaven, as distinguished from
the visible idol gods which were on
earth. 1.-THE great and terrible God. so
great as to inspire reVerentia! awe III
every worshiper and unspeakapie rear II,
his enemies "rThat keepeth covenant ana
mercy" That hath made covenants or
mercy and love, and never fails In Keep
ing them. What he has once promised
NAV be relied on forever. For them that
love him and observe his command
ments." With whom the covenant was
made, who fulfil the conditions on which
alone the blessings can be given.
G. Confess the sins of the chiidren Oh
Israel" O He recognizes that tne cau 1se
of their troubles lay in their SINS. W
That God was not to blame for their
troubles. He had kept his part OF the
covenant 90 Confession Is natural 10
a truly penitent heart. (D Notice now
he Joins himself with the people In TINS
confession. He does not say tney NAYS
sinned," but 1--WE have sinned. botn
I and my fathers house nave sinneo.
He had sinned with them in three ways.
7 1--WE have dealt corruptly."
Some of these sins are mentioned In Nep.
&. II. TO- Il; 13: Is; Ezra 8: /;
Chron. &c: 14-17. Commandments, -.
tatutes judgments: l. e., the d.
vine law from every point Of view,-what
God has commanded, the laws he mas en-
acted and recorded on the statute DOOR
his wise judgments on decisions as 10
right and wrong.
Fourth. Pleading the promises.
& "If We transgress," etc. This Is not
"a quotation. but reference to the gen.
eral sense Of various passages, as, ior
instance. Lev. rs: $3.50; Deut. rs: 4o-oI;
e2-67-Pulpit Com. The fact that Goo
had fulfilled his word of threatening was
a proof that he would fulfill his WORD Oh
promise. So that their very condltion oL
suffering was an argument LOT oeiie'ne
God would help them.
O. "But If We turn unto me- IL you
will so act as to make 1t possible ana
wise to bless. "Will l gather them from
thence" Gev. 26: 40-45; Deut ~: l-lo).
This had already been fulfilled to as many
as were willing to accept the PriVhese,
but the blessing would be In vain unless
tbn land was preserved for the people.
IN "Thv people, whom thou hast re-
deemed by thy great power SUCH as
the deliyerance from Egypt, victories py
Joshua. by Samson, by Deborah, inc
oyert brow of the Assyrian army Oh SEN
nacherib. and every triumph GOD gave
them during their whole history
II. prosper, l pray thee, tiny servant
this day." He proposed to make an ei
fort himself and he wanted Goo piess SIZE
upon 1t. This petition expresses the SUD
stance of his prayers for four months,
and the elimination on the DAY ne
nlanned to ask tho favor from the KING.
Re NAV have planned to ask 1t many
times. but at last the time came me
mercy or compassion he sought from
the king was not that the king would
interfere in behalf of Jerusalem. or send
somebody to interfere; it was not that
the king would permit him to give halr
his fortune to hire help for his people;
a. was In effect, that he might De per-
r,itted to surrender his brilliant position
and prospects, and sacrifice himself for
them. professor Beecher. 1t was dan
,orous to ask such a tyrant as Arta-
1erxes to give up his favorite cupbearer:
hence Nehemiah adds, For was the
kings cupbearer." 1t was hard ana
dangerous duty, IL the king granted ms