Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-18
for SUNDAY Scboob.
STAR LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 10.
BY Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, DID,,
NrHEMrAH.s PRAYER, Nehemiah ,,1,,

INTRODUCTION-Er rendered
valuable service to the Jews. He not only
led the second expedition of esptives to
Jerusalem, B. C. 45S. of which we studied
last week, but he instituted important re-
forms after his arrival as related In the
book that bears his name. He is credited
with establishing the great synagogue,
composed of eminent scholars. He wrote
or supervised the writing of four books-I
Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra and Esther.
These books contained an eptome OF his
tory from Adam TO his own time. And yet,
great as this man was and great as was his
work. his proceedings end abruptly. (E..ra
MID, embarrassed doubtless either by
the instability and immortality of the
Jews or the malice and OPPOSITION of their
enemies. period elapsed during which
nothing is known of him. At length Ne
hemiah was raised up TO lead a third ex-
petition, 3. g. AL, to supplement what
Ezra had begun. His work, of which we
snail study for four weeks, was the last,
except that of Malachi, done by inspired
men under the old dispensation.
INQUIRY Oversees 1-2) - Nehemiah
was u cupbearer to Artaxerxes (Neh.
HID, the same king who had commits
stoned Ezra. He must, therefore, have
had both native talent and culture, for
none but men of superior ability entered
position after careful preparation.
(Dan. 1:4) But Notwithstanding the high
honor and privilege granted to him in the
public service, he was not Indifferent to
the interests Of his own people. It has
ever been peculiar and commendable
trait of the posterity of Abraham that
they have been loyal to their race 1t was
so with Moses exodus HID, and with
Daniel psalms cxii:S) and many others
Accordingly, when a brother and
tain other Jews came from Jerusalem to
the city of Shusham, the capital of the
empire, Nehemiah had long interview
with them, inquiring after the condition
of those who had returned from the cap
tivity, showing that his heart went out
in tender solicitude for his absent lSins-
men.
INFORMATION (verse 3)-various
brought, some of them possibly contra
dictory, and none of them altogether re-
liable. But the information in this in
stance. coming from such a source. could
not be doubted. Nehemiah learned that
of those who had returned from captivity
only remnant remained, many having
fallen by disease and many more slain by
enemies The Samaritans and other ad-
verSaries, provoked at being dispossessed
ezra iv:1). had opposed the good work
attempted by the Jews, and from the time
of Zerubbabel had cast innumerable OBJ
stacles in their way. The few who lin
gered in Jerusalem were in great affiic-
ton, deprived of the comforts of life and
reproached and despised by their neigh
bors. The walls of the city were broken
and the gates burned, just they had
been since Nebuchadnezzar invaded the
land, 100 years before, SO that there was
no security for life or property in the sa-
cred city. Whoever would might pass
through it by day or night, inflictine
damage at pleasure. This condition of
things shows that Ezra's work had ac-
complished but little
IMPORTANTLY oversees 4-6)-This re-
cital filed the heart of Nehemiah with sor-
row, proof of his affection for his people
He sat down and wept and mourned, prob
ably observing the ordinary methods of ex-
pressing grief employed in those days. But
his sorrow was not like that of those who
have nc hope OF better things q Thes. vi:
49,. After time he turned to God for re-
lief, and that in a way always appropriate
when greet things are to be undertaken.
He tasted and humbled himself and ac
knowledged his own unworthiness. Then
he prayed. His first petition was for audi
ence, as If he feared that the ear of God
might not be open unto his cry, or, rather,
as If the request he was about to make was
not worthy to be heard prov. i:2S). 1t is
not unusual for burdened heart to feel
that God will be deaf and Indifferent. He
approaches this importantly, however, with
most appropriate pleading, Lord God of
heaven, the great and terrible" he cried,
realizing the awful majesty of the AL
mighty, that keepeth covenant and mer-
Cyl he added, falling back the promises
to Abraham and the revelation to Moses
EXODUS, Xxx S).
CONFESSION oversees G-0.-Man IS a
sinner. He cannot rightly pray without con-
fesson. Whoever seeks the Lord without
acknowledging his fault will be rejected.
This was the offense of the Pharisee duke
xviii:1D. But he that confesses his sins
shall find mercy. q John, 1:9. Here is a
fundamental law of the spiritual life which
Solomon recognized in his prayer at the
dedication of the temple Il Kings viii:35).
And Nehemiah understood that this was
the way to the divine favor He included
himself and his fathers house in the trans
gressions which Israel had committed, that
had brought upon them all the evils by
which they had been afflicted His confess
sions were in the aggregate, yet with suffi-
cent detail to be available. The nation had
departed from the commandments the deca-
logue): the statutes Chose civil and eccle-