The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-11-30
Nehemiah RebuiIds
Walls Of Jerusalem
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 3,lsss
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TEXT.-Nehemiah 4:7-20. Mem
ory verses 1s, 20
GOLDEN TExT.-"watch and pray
Matt 26:n
to Jerusalem, Nehemiah spent three days
examining the conditions in the city, and
following this 50 days were spent In repair
ing the wall.
PLACE.-shushan and Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. - The
Mind to Work.-The Tabernacle, Ex. 1920
y; 36:i-7 Hezekiah, q Chron. 20 :30-36; 81 A
~ Josiah. 2 Chron. S4:s-12; 1858. zerub-
babel, Ezra S:5. In the New Testament,
Mark 12:41-A; 2 Cor. s:12; 1863.
The Leaders Leading. Tabernacle, Ex.
35:N. 2S; Mum T. Solomon's Temple,
Chron. S;9; Chron. "a. Hezekah,
Chron. 29:20-3e. Josiah, 2 Chron @1-7, 2s-
3s; BILL Paul Rom. f5:25-2s; 1 Cor 40.
In Spite of Opposition from Sneers and
Ridicule.-Joseph. Gen. 6:19. 20. David, 1
Sam. i7:2s, ETC.; 2 Sam. 5:e-s. Christ, Matt.
13:54-57; Mark 1b:i6-20; Luke s:52-d Dis
ciples, Acts 212-1s.
From Slander.-David, Sam 612-23.
jeremiah. Jer S7:i1-15; SS:1-6 Jews, Esther
3:S, 8: Christ Matt 1884; 2659 Stephen,
Acts 6:11-15: Paul, Acts "a: SIS.
From Discouragement.--Israel in Egypt,
Elk. 5:10-23; Israel in the Wilderness, Mum.
1S:26-145. Elijah 1 Kings 19:4-1S.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
VI. "Sanballat:" The leader of the
Samaritan community. "Tobiah: !"
An Ammonite. THE Arabians: "
Arabs of the desert. "Ashdodites: /"
Philistines from Asndod, a city on
the Mediterranean coast. All these
natural foes of one another united for
the purpose of attacking the Jews.
When any good work is undertaken
Satan's allies for the time unite to re-
slst 1t.
V. 8. "Conspired: Meaning ito
breathe together" as singers may be
said to breathe in unison. II is the
word used for any secret treachery.
ITO come and fight" They arranged
to make an attack upon the city. ITO
hinder it," Rev. Yer, "cause con
fusion therein:" To terrify the timid,
and discourage those already disaf.
fected.
V. 3. Made our prayer set a
watch" Work and prayer were
united. as the blades of pair of
scissors. Watchfulness without prayer
is presumption, and prayer without
watchfulness is mockery. Because
OF them" Rather, "over against
them" Opposite to the point at which
attack was looked for.
V. 10. Nehemiah enumerates his
three sources of discouragement: ~
| Workers became weary and disheart.
ened, or were in secret sympathy with
the enemy ". 10. (2 The enemy
] al tp
surprise them ". III. CD Jews of
neighboring towns came repeatedly
with tales of the plots of the enemy,
and tried to draw away their towns
men who were assisting ". 12).
V. IL. Our adversaries said" etc.
The plan of the adversaries seems to
have been to watch and surprise, rath-
er than to make an open attack.
V. IL. (which dwelt said"
| Those Jews who resided in neighbor-
ing towns came repeatedly to tell
workers in Jerusalem of the threats
and plans of the enemy, and to eX-
hort their fellow-townsmen to return
for the protection of their own homes.
V. 13. Therefore" So many diff.
fculties beset Nehemiah that he was
compelled in part to suspend his
building alterations, and now showed
his ability as a general in preparing
for defense.
V. IA. Looked" Inspected the
guards. Rose up" Stood to order
the forces. as he saw the enemy ap.
preaching. Remember the Lord"
Nehemiah would have his people
rely wholly upon God, and for the
present occasion the thought that God
is great and terrible" to His foes
and the foes of His people would be
a most stimulating one.
V. Is. when our enemies heard"
etc. The enemies, finding themselves
unable to take the city unawares,
seemed for time to abandon their
purpose. God had brought their
counsel to naught:" Vain are the
counsels of those who plot against
God FPS. 2:1-4).
" 49, my servants" The gov
ernor's bodyguard, which probably
consisted of a large company of slaves
he had brought from Susa.
| v. 10. oWOTu SiTucu ny MS Sluc'
This weapon was used for fighting an
enemy at close range, and could be
borne at the side, and yet not hinder
the work of the builders
v. 10. Mobiles and rulers" He
seems to have given places of promi.
nence to recognized leaders among the
people, and to have endeavored to arouse
the patriotism and keep up the energy
of those that might encourage their
followers.
v. 20 'In what place resort
thither:" The agreement was that
when the trumpet should be heard,
work was to stop Immediately and all
gather to the point whence 1t sound,
ed, prepared for battle. A Divine
promise was connected with the use
OF the trumpet in battle Mum. 10: 81.
It's blast, therefore, reminded the com.
batants that God was with them.
Practical Points.
V. S. Not all the forces of earth
and hell can overthrow what God up.
holds.-Ps. 2:2-4.
" 8. Spiritual vigilance must be
exercised at the points most liable to
the attacks of the enemy,-Ps, 1873.
v. 10. God can show His power
and strength when men realize their
weakness.-lsa. 1929.