The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-11-30
KEEPING THE SABBATH.
International s. s. Lesson for Dec. 3,
1sg0-Text, Nehemiah 13:15-2.-
Memory vs.. I5-I7.

bath day TO keep 1t holy.--Ex. 2O:S
READ Nehemiah 10, and compare Isaiah
Sc: Is; jeremiah II! 1922.
TIME-Probably about l6 or is years
after the last lesson, summer or early au-
tumn uS: 15 of b. c. 426 or i27
THE IN ehemnh remained
at Jerusalem IL years. from the twentieth
year of Ar,aXerxes G.: ID, Il. G. 4ii to The
thirty-second year Q3: g. b. c. 4SS. Then
he was recalled. He was In Persia some
years. perhaps five. but returned before b.
c. 425, the year Artaxerxes died, for he re-
turned by permission of that king C3: g.
PLACE.-Jerusaiem and vicinity.
MALACHI the last of the prophets be-
longs to this period. Prof. Driver places
him shortly before, or during Nehemiahs
second visit"
EXPLANATORY.
I. The Floodgates of Evil Are
Opened.-Vs. 1-5. 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 a 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 12 years before
Nehemiah was recalled to Persia; but
doubtless in his absence, and after the
death of Ezra, those who had been si-
fenced and subdued by their presence
took courage to return to their evil
courses SO that a deluge of sins rushed
in upon the nation like an overwhelm-
ing torrent, carrying away the barriers
of law and religion and covenants and
promises.
ii. Undermining the Kingdom of God
Through Sabbath-Breaking.-V 1911.
Is. I'm those days." During Nehe-
miah's second visit to Jerusalem, while
making the other reforms. "Saw L."
He did not depend on hearsay, but ex-
amined for himself and found the facts.
Three Forms of Sabbath Breaking.
Il. Working on their farms and keep
ing their laborers at work. in Ju-
dah:" In the country around Jerusa-
lem. Threading wine presses on the
Sabbath" The wine presses were
large watts into which the grapes were
placed and the juice trodden out by the
feet of men. bringing in sheaves:" "
Gathering their harvests and bringing
them into the city.
| 2. BY transporting their goods. And
bringing in sheaves:" Into the city,
and into the other walled towns. wine,
| grapes and fgs:" For storage and sale.
This required a large working force,
and tempted the people to buy and trade
on the Sabbath.
3. BY the ordinary business and traf-
fic through foreigners, who had no care
for the Sabbath. v. 16. "There dwelt
men of Tyre also therein:" That is, in
the city, Jerusalem. Devoted to com.
merce, they had formed a little settle.
chandise, fish (they were q maritime
people) and other things.-Prof. Toy
"Sold on the Sabbath unto the chill.
dren of Judah" who were so contain
mated by their heather neighbors as to
yield to the temptation to buy.
The Evil Effects of Sabbath-Break
ing.-V.17. "What evil thing is this that
We do?" What they did was evil for
themselves and for their children.
III. Nehemiah Makes "A Sabbath Re.
form.--Vs. 1922. First. He reproved the
leaders. He did not reprove the weak and
let the rich and strong do as they would
V. II. II contended:" Argued and used
his official authority. "With the nobles:'
The higher classes. the people of prom
inence and influence, who were the most
to blame, since they had better knowl
edge and fuller control of their time
and who could have the most influence
in favoring or opposing the reform
Second. He warns them from theil
own past history. V. IS. Ibid not YOU
fathers thus?" Why was Jerusalem
destroyed? Where had the nation beer
carried into captivity? Why were they
now weak and poor and scattered? lie,
the prophets answer. One reason was
that their fathers had refused to obey
Gods Sabbath laws. A broken Sabbat tn
was the answer der. 1927: Eek. 20: 13
See also Isa. 5s:13 1D.
Third. He Exercises His Authority
". 10. Began to be dark before thu
Sabbath" At sunset of the previou.
day. because their Sabbath began then
1.-The gates should be shut as usual
only they SHOULD not be opened til
after the Sabbath" "My servants set
at the gates" His own armed body
guard. awhom he could trust. "Tha
there should be no burden brought in:
Foot passengers were, no doubt, al
lowed to enter and leave the city on th'
Sabbath.'-Pulpit Com. V. 20. 80 th'
merchants" Not believing that tn,
command would be strictly enforced
Lodged" Camped outside the walls
waiting for the gates to be opened OF
Sabbath morning, as formerly. V. FL
81 testified against them:" Rebuking
commanding. wee. II commanded tn,
Levites:" The "Levites" would be NOR
appropriate keepers of the city gate
on the Sabbath day than his servants
for whom he, no doubt. had other uses
The Levites were therefore ordered t,
"cleanse themselves"-that is, to purif,
themselves from ceremonial unclean
ness. and come and attend to guardin.
the gates on the Sabbath day as a reli
gious duty, as indeed it was; for it wa
to sanctify the Sabbath day, to keep i