The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-11-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER (s.

Subject: Nehemiah's Prayer, Nch. Il. 1-7a
Golden Text, James ", 16--Menaory
Verses, 8, documentary on the Days
Lesson.
/. Nehemiah hears of the distress JIM
Jerusalem Tvs 1-3). / THE words oH
Nehemiah. Rather the narrative on
record. Son of HachaIiahp PrOba!
bly, the tribe Of Judah and Of the royal
family Of David He was cupbearer
TO King Artaxerxes at Shushan. the
capital. This title implied that Meme
miah was councillor, statesman cc1r-
tier and favorite For twelve years he
was Governor Of Judea, leading great
religious revival and rebuilding the
walls of Jerusalem. At the end of
twelve years he went back to Persia.
but after q time. he again returned to
Jerusalem and erected some reforms
there Month Chisleu.n Ninth month.
corresponding to the end of November
and the beginning Of December. The
Hebrew months varied according to
The moon. Twentieth year" OF the
reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, who
reigned from B. @. 465 to 423. 1t was
under this king that Ezra was granted
letters to go to Jerusalem. 2. Han
ami" His own brother, to whom he af-
terward gave the charge of the gates
of Jerusalem Chapter 7:2). Came
From Jerusalem to Shushan. Il asked
them" Respecting Jerusalem and its
people That had escaped" From
captivity (which were left TheA
word left points more specifically tON
such as survived the prosecutions td
h fch tho 4 lar
had been exposed.
3. In the province" OF Judea, now
a province of the Pc sian empires
"Great afiliction and reproach." Their
subsection to Persia fcrced itself on
the Jews at every turn ,vhe tribute
imposed on them was a heavy burdeua
to poor people. Jewish recruits had
doubtless been forced INTO the Persian
armies. The country was pillaged lin
open day, aud many Jews were carried
into slavery by nightly surprises, while
the corpses of murdered men we've Of>
ten found on the road "WaI.--down. z
The wall and houses had been de-
stroyed by Nebuchadnezzar more than
40 years before q Kings 25:10), and
their rubbish still lay in sight. They
were partially rebuilt at one time (Ezra
ALB. The neighbOring races, infHr-
lated at the rejection of their friendly
offers of assistance by Zerubbabels
years before and still more so by EZl
ra's recent act in sending back to their
homes all the wives of non-Je Jewish
races found in Jerusalem and Judea,
had attacked Jerusalem, and after
fierce struggles had broken down tho
newly built walls and burned the gatesi
II. Nehemiah prays for help Tvs. A.
III. A. "Wept" Perhaps now for the
first time a deep, keen sense of his peO4
pies woes came over his soul!
Mourned Over the condition Of his
people, the desolation of the holy ethyl
the reproach upon the name Of Cod
and the sins which had brought them
to this low estate, which had not ye1
been put away. Certain days" FROM
Chisleu to Nissan, four months, until
the King noticed his grief. TASTED. =
A token Of the genuineness of his sor7
row. Prayed" In earnest, protracti
ed prayer that God would favor thel>
purpose which he seems to have se-
cretly formed Of asking the royal perl
mission to go to Jerusalem.
5. "Beseech Thee" The prayer of
Nehemiah deserves critical study as al
model Of blended alteration, invocation,
confession, duplication and confident
appeal. covenant and mercy" C0ve-
nant refers to Gods definite promises1
Mercy refers to His loving characters
which gives more than is pledged. 6.
Observation-Disclosures open" Let Thina
ear hear our confession and mercifullY
pardon. Let Thine eye behold our suf-
fering and send speedy succor. 'DaN
and night" His grief was doubtless
increased at the thought that all this
evil existed in spite Of Ezra's work.
He withdrew from his court duties and
spent q time in retirement in most sin
cere sorrow. Il and my fathers
house." Nehemiah had a clear sense
of his identification with his people in
sin as in misery. Z Dealt very cor
ruptly." Some of these sins are mem
toned in Neh. 5:1-7, 10, II; 1915; Ezra
Oh; . Chron. 36:14-17. Command
ments." The moral precepts by which
out lives should be regulated. stat
utes." What refers to the rites and
ceremonies of thy religion "Judg-
ments" The precepts of justice rela-
tive to our conduct to each other.
s. IF We transgress.N This is not a
quotation. but reference to the gem
eral sense Of various passages, such as
Lev. 26:27-30; Deut. 2S;45-52, etc, The
fact that God had fulfilled His word of
threatening was a proof that He would
fulfil His word of promise g. Turn
unto Me. When we turn to sin God
turns to discipline; when we turn to
Righteousness, He turns to mercy.
Gather them" God had a place de-
voted to His people; this promise had
already been partially fulfilled.
10. Thy servants Who will de-
vote themselves to do Thy will And
Thy people, With whom Thou hast
made covenant They are the descend
ants of those whom Thou hast deliv-
cred from Egypt II. WHO desire"
True desires are: I. Constant, moi
flashes. 2. Hearty, strong and grove
ing. 3. Include the favor of God and
spiritual grace. 4. Regard the means
OF salvation "Prcsper-Thy servant
He had in mind to ask Of King Artax4
erxes that he might 60 to Jerusalem
and help his people. He asked defi4
nitely for exactly what he wanted.
"Grant him mercy" Nehemiah prayed
that he might have favor in the sight
of the king, Kings cqpbearer" An
important officer, having charge Of the
wines Of the royal household, standing
by the kings side at meals, and sip-
ping from the cup to prove that It was
not poisoned
HAIR crows on MANS Tongue.