The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-11-29

-NRAN>y AAoH Tue jews WulGA
dwelt by them, !. e., in the Vicinity OF
Sanballat, and who warned the Jews
ten times. From all places" etc.
The Opposition Was Oyercome.-(1
BY prayer. g. I'VE made our prayer
unto our God" That reached the real
source Of victory God has many
ways Of influencing both friends and
enemies. (2) BY watching. "Set
watch against them day and night"
There was no relaxing the watchful-
ness. Another method OF watching is
shown in VS.. 10, 20. Watching and
praying are twin powers. (S) By prep
aration for defense.
1S. Therefore set in the lower
places etc. Rather. as in r. ", Sin
the lowest parts Of the space behind
the wall, in the open places" where
the wall had reached the least height,
and the places most exposed to the en-
emy, and where they could watch the
enemys coming, even while they we're
afar on. "Set the people after their
families" The men defended that
portion Of the wall where their fami-
lies were at work, so that the soldiers
need not be distracted by anxiety for
their absent families. Those whom
they were most anxious to defend
were at hand. This gave new EN-
phasis to Nehemiahs exhortation ".
Ia, Flight for your brethren, your
sons, and your daughters" etc. (4)
BY encouraging their faith They were
70 remember the Lord, which is great
and terrible AS He had shown him
self many a time in their history. They
could remember Pharaoh's host over
thrown in she Red Sea, the deliver
ances under Moses and Gideon and
Sampson and Hezekiah.
Is. The enemy saw that they were
outwitted and refrained from attack.
This was not the first nor the last
time when thorough preparation for
fighting removed the necessity of fight
ing. Prof. Beecher.
is. Half OF my servants" His per
sonal retainers, trained men. who had
guarded him on his journey. They
we're divided into two companies, who
alternately worked and acted as guard.
They could not work in their armor.
"Habergeons. Cid English for coat
of mail, from halo" (neck) and "ber-
gen" Ito protect. The rulers, rather
captains, were behind" with the
warriors. and in the best position to
direct the work and lead the soldiers
II. They that bare burdens" The
carriers. who could steady their load
with one hand and hold their weapon
in the other
IS. THE builders" required both
hands in laying the wall, so that they
carried their swords by their side,
ready to be grasped at a moments
warning.
Third -Slander.-Neh. 2:19; 6:6, 7.
Their enemies said that the Jews were
planning to rebel and that Nehemiah
was leading in the work that he might
become their king. Nehemiah denied
the accusations, and went on with his
work.
Fourth. Discouraged Workers.-V.
10. 10. "And Judah said" The Jew
ish community THE strength Of the
bearers OF burdens is decayed" The
task Of clearing away the rubbish and
Of carrying material for the wall had
exhausted the strength and courage Of
the workers. Despair and discourage
rnnnf had uaakpnad fhpm
Verse IA Is an answer to this. The
favor Of God, the safety of their fami-
lies at stake, work or perish, new in
terest in defense " 10, the tireless
example Of their leader.
Fifth.-The Selfish Oppression Of
the Poor by Some Of the Richer Jews.
--Neh. 5. mo wages were paid for
this work, SO that many were thus
reduced to the direst straits to sup
port themselves and their families and
pay the taxes exacted by the Persian
government. There were rich men in
Jerusalem, and in any western nation
a fund would have been raised by
these for the maintenance OF their
brethren. toiling Tor the common good.
But instead Of THIS. the wealthy seized
the chance Of driving shameful bar
gains with the starving workers. TAX
ing away their homes and their farms
and even selling their children into
slavery Geikie.
When Nehemiah heard Of these com
plants he Indignantly summoned the
oppressors, made them promise to re.
store. the property thus taken, and
shaking out his robe, declared that
thus God would shake cut from his
house" every one who did not keep his
promise.
Treachery. y.-Neh. 6:1-9. San
ballat next tried to get Nehemiah to go
out to Ono on the borders OF Benja-
min, % or 30 miles from Jerusalem,
to hold a conference with him, hoping
thus to get him into his power
This request was sent four times
and each time Nehemiah replied that
he was too busy building the wall
Seventh-An Appeal to Fear
Neh. 6.10-13. Sanballat then hired
two seeming prophets to persuade Ne
hemiah to shut himself up in the tenn
pie. as a refuge from the dangers that
-. ~,otorfuo, hin, Tho 1oodor.