The Tupelo journal., 1905-11-17
|NEHEMIAH'S
PRAYER
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. 19, 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper.
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

TIME-Nehemiah heard of desolations
Of Jerusalem in the month Chisleu, Novem-
Der or December, b. C. 445, In twentieth veal
of Artaxerxes, and thirteenth year after re
turn of Ezra. He obtained permission to &C
to Jerusalem in following March, b. c. 44
PLACE.-Susa,. or Shushan, the chief Of
the three capitals Of Persian empire, 2O
miles east of Babylon.
SCRIPTURE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
the prayers of Abraham Gen. 1S:23-33
Jacob Gen. 2S:10-22, compared with 1873
32:24-32). Moses eek. 32:11-14. 1875; 1872
23). Solomon q Kings S:12-61; 2 Chron
SLAP. Elijah Il Kings ~1s:36-3S; 19:4-1S)
Hezekiah Elsa. ~37:14-20; 3S:1-3). DAME
dan. 9:3-2O.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. 1. "The words of Nehemiah
Rather, the record Of Nehemiah. This
superscription to this portion of Ezra
Nehemiah was necessary to make
plain that what Immediately follows
is from the private diary of Nehe
miah. "Chisleu:" The month CORE
spending with our December. "Twen
tieth year" The twentieth year Of
the reign of Artaxerxes.
v. 2. Zone of my brethren" Ha
mani, an actual b~rotner, whom he aft
erward appointed to position in Je
rusalem (Neh. 1929. "Men of Judah
Rev. Yer. Men out of Judah" that
is, recently come from judah and Je
rusalem. THAT F.. were left OF the
captivity" That is, Jews who had
been left in their native land when
others were carried into captivity.
v. 3. in the province" In Judea
at this time, a province of the Persian
empire. Great affection and re
proach:" They were in a pitiable con
diiion, and subject to the scorn of their
neighbors. Wall broken down.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT had leveled the
walls when he burned the city LAC
years before. However, it is likely
these men referred to a recent burn
ing of walls which the returned exiles
were striving to rebuild ezra 4:12).
V. 4. when / heard" This recital
brought the condition of the city
wildly before him. "Wept, mourned,
tasted, prayed" After the oriental
fashion, Nehemiah gave free expires,
sion to his grief. But it led to prayer
to the God who hears and answers.
The most ancient pert of Jerusaiem's
wall still standing is, to this very day
a wailing place where Jewish patriots
lament the desolation of their loved
city. Certain days" Four months.
Tasted" Abstinence from %luxuries
is probably meant in this instance.
V. 5. 81 beseech thee" This prayer
is found to consist of alteration, con-
f~ession, pleading promises and petit
ton. 1t is offered in reverence and
humility, and with strong faitn. 20,
Lord" etc: Note the titles of God
which Nehemiah uses, and how he
bases his plea upon the character and
nature of God. Great and terrible"
God is great enough to supply all our
need. He is terrible to all that is evil.
"Keepeth covenant" Fulills the
gracious promises He has made as
Jehovah to His chosen people.
v. 6. "Mayest hear" Better,
"hearken unto" AS his prayer was
continuous, he would have Gods
h%earkening continuous. DAY and
night" Nehemiah was persistent in
prayer. 1--WE have sinned:" The sins
of his race weigh upon him as his
own.
v. Z. "Corruptly:" Wickedly.
Against thee" True repentance sor-
rows for sin, not because of its conse-
| uuences, but because it is against God.
Commandments, statutes, judg.
ments:" An inclusive phrase, viewing
Gods law from every point.
VS.. s, 8. The spirit of many threat.
| enings and promises is summed up in
these verses (Lev. 26:S3-45; Dent
4:25-31; 30:1-5). Turn, keep do"
| The verbs, keep, do, explain how to
| return-that is, by keeping His will in
our hearts and doing it in our lives.
v. 10. Thou hast redeemed" This
refers specially to Gods redemption of
His people from Egypt,
v. II. THE prayer of Thy servant"
| The use of this term may be taken as
| indication that Nehemiah stood ready
to be used in bringing answer to his
| prayer if God had need of him. ''Thy
| servants" All godly Jews were pray
ing to the same intent. "Desire:"
| Better in Revised Version, delight to
| fear Thy name" Prosper Thy serv-
| ant" Nehemiah seems to have formed
| the purpose to ask of the king leave
| of absence-from court, and permission
to go to Jerusalem and rebuild it's
walls. This would seem unheard-of
| presumption on the part of a depend
| ent. But recognizing that "the kings
heart is in the hand of the Lord" he
prays God to prosper his undertake
| ing. "This man." The king, who
has not yet been named in the book
| Of Nehemiah. Il was the kings cup
| bearer" The duty of a cupbearer was
to fill the royal wine cup. and. sup
| porting it gracefully on three fingers,
| to hand it daintily to the royal master.
Practical Points.
v. 8. Reproaches cast upon Christ
or upon His people are keenly felt by
| both. Ps. 69:9.
". 8. They only are safe who have
| Almighty God for their protection.
| Zech. 2:5.
v. 6. We show true faith and honor
God by persistence in prayer. Gen.
1926.
v. Z. We should not only confess
| our general sinfulness, but should
| mention before God our specific sins.
1 John 1:9.
v. 8. God loves to have us plead His
| promises. lisa. 1926.