The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-29
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER 3.

Subject: Keeping the Sabbath, Neh- KILL,
15-22-Golden Text: Ex. Xxx, S-Mem.
ory Verses, Neh. kill, 15-17-Com1nen.
tary ON tho Lesson.
Is. I'm those days." Upon His return
10 Jerusalem, and while He was engaged
In making the reforms above mentioned.
"In Judah" The land Of the Jews, where
Gods law should have been most sacred.
The people had become 80 bold that no ef-
fort seemed to be made to conceal their
presses" These were large vats, about
eight feet square and over O foot deep, In
to which grapes wore thrown and trodden
by feet OF men, and tho juice flowed into q
lower smaller vat. Sometimes they were
hewn out OF rock In the side OF hill.
These were probably near Jerusalem,
where Nehemiah could observe them from
the wall. "On the Sabbath" A direct
violation OF the ancient law (Ex. 20:S.1D,
as we'll as OF the recent covenant made by
the people. bringing in sheaves." In
the East farmers live In villages and towns,
and 90 forth to cultivate the surrounding
country. It Is not unusual for them to
bring their harvest home to thresh 1t. The
farmers brought their grain into Jeru-
salem, at the time OF Nehemiah, to secure
1t from robbers, the country being In IN
unsettled condition. There Was an express
command against doing this on the Sab.
bath. Ex. 1921. "Lading asses" Re-.
gardless Of the law for animals. Deut. 5:14;
Jsr. 17:21. "Wlne, grapes and flgs." For
storage and sale. This required large
working force, and tempted the people to
buy and trade on the Sabbath. 81 testified
against them" Gave them the testimony
OF Gods Word against 1t.
16. "There dwelt men Of Tyre" Devoted
to commerce, they had formed little set.
tlement In Judea for the sale OF their mer-
chandise, fish and other things. They
were idolaters, with worship that was
full of sensual attractions; they were gay
and unrrincipled. Even Solomon had been
tainted by them q Kings 11:l-5), and Ahab
almost ruined Israel by marrying Jezebel,
the daughter Of their king. Such people,
dwelling In Jerusalem, making money
tempting those Of weak moral principles,
would be strong demorailzlng force.
II. IT contended with tho nohles." Not
the rulers OF v. II, but the higher classes
generally. Nehemiah was as quick to un.
dertake to remedy this fragrant evil as he
was to perceive It. he used his officia,
authority. They desired the freshest food
for their feasts and encouraged breaking
the law for the qualification Of their car.
nal appetites. "This that ye do" They
were responsible In that they permitted it.
1S. "Did not your fathers thus?" Why
was Jerusalem destroyed? Where had the
nation been carried into captivity Why
were they now weak and poor and scat.
27; Eek. 20:13; Isa. 55:19, Il. The dedica.
tion Of one day in the week to God gives
firmness to the framework on which the re,
liglous life was built. It was as important
for the national life rs for the individual:
1t made dividing line between Jews and
heathen; hence the stress that Nehemiah
placed upon the observance efthe day.
10. "Began to be dark" Their Sabbath
began at sunset the previous day. The
city gates would have been closed at sun.
down, but Nehemiah ordered them closed
earlier, when the shadows were lengthen-
Ing, that secular work should not be car.
"After the Sabbath" Next morning after
the Sabbath. "My servants" His own
body-guard, whom He could trust. "No
burden" Though the gates were closed
against traffic, foot passengers were ad-
mitted through the small wicket II they
carried no burden, that the people might
thus attend worship in the temple.
20. Merchants lodged without" Not
believing that the command would be
strictly enforced, they camped outside the
walls, waiting for the gates to be opened
on Sabbath morning as usual. They kept
open market for the dwellers outside the
walls and smuggled. goods through the
gates II the chance came. A crowd was
collected about tho gates, and the rest Of
the Sabbath broken.
81: ~ will lay hands on you Proceed
to violent measures; arrest and treat you
as criminals. Was Nehemiah too severe2
"They that forsake the law praise the
wicked; but such as keep the law contend
with them" Prov. 2s-4. We are to "have
no fellowship with the unfrultful works OF
darkness, but rather reprove them" Eph.
'5:11. It 1s not enough to withdraw from
evil doers; We must also rebuke them.
"Came no more" Vice connived at will
bid defiance to counsel and reproof, but
may be made cowardly II magistrates will
sit on the throne OF judgment. The cure
was lasting, for In our Savlour's time the
Jews were overscrupulous about Sabbath
sanctlty.
"a. Commanded the Levltes." Assign
ing the duty to His servants was but q
temporary arrangement. The permanent
charge was committed to the Levites, who
had been tntrusted with the duty when the
gntes were first set up. Chapter I'll.
"Cleanse themselves" That Is, to purify
themselves from ceremonial uncleanness
and come and attend to guarding the gates
as q religious duty. A reason for this may
have been the moral influence which the
sacred character OF the Levite5 would be
supposed to exert. Nehemiah was careful
to carry out the plan OF God. "To sanctlfy
the Sabbath" Secure its sanctity by pre-
venting further PROCLAMATION. Remember
me, my God" This prayer is not one OF
self-glorlacation, but Of faith in Gods
truth. A man who knows He Is doing right
In the sight OF God can say 80 to God with
out presumption. 1t Is o testimony of Gods
grace, and He can rejoice In 1t. This
prayer is repeated several times, each time
after some hard fought battle. Nehemiah
had made many enemies by his course, but
he looked beyond this life for his reward.
"Concerning this also." As he had in other
things before. Happy is he who at the
close OF eaeh undertaking can pray thus.
"Spare me-" From all dependence, upon
my own worth. Spare mo to continue
faithful. Here is no claim to honor for
faithful service, but humble desire to be
kept so devoted to God that he may still
be entrusted with Gods work.
TEACHINas.-When We are1doing Gods
viii we need have no fear OF men. II We
forsake Gods law we will forsake His wor.
ship. When God speaks through men sin.
ners are afraid. When we have been
obedient We must still depend upon Gods
mercy.