The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-11-22

how Ezra, the scribe, was aroused to
help the Jews at Jerusalem. He was
favored by the king at Babylon and
given men, money, treasure and we
learned how he prayed for success
and protection on his journey and how
he arrived in the city. He began a
revival of religion among the Jews,
made those who had married heather
wives put them away. He also led in
beginning to rebuild the city walls.
The rulers at Babylon were afraid
this meant a walled city which would
armies came and broke down what
walls there were standing, and burned
| the gates which was big loss to the
inhabitants. So again the Jews were
despair and woe.
The next three lessons will tell us
of another revival Of the strength of
the faithful Jews, and how this time
the walls of Jerusalem were actually
built, the gates set, and Gods favor
seemed indeed real. Now the leader in
the great movement was Nehemiah
and what he said and did will occupy
our attention until nearly Christmas
time. 1t would appear he was Jew,
but favorite of the great king Arta-
xerxes, being his coup bearer" His
duties brought him close to the king
Nehemiah heard with much sorrow of
the tearing down of the walls of Je-
rusalem, the burning of the gates, and
the hard lines his people there were
| in, and his heart was fired to help
them.
| The fourth verse of our present les
son tells how Nehemiah wept, tasted
and prayed. His prayer makes up the
special thing we are to consider. First,
he bowed in humbleness before the
all-wise powerful God, calling to mind
that He was true to His words of
bringing punishment on offenders and
again redeeming His promises of par
don, when there was genuine repent
ance. Nehemiah confessed that the
troubles of the Jews came from their
sins and wandering way from God
They did not obey the laws of Moses.
God was reminded that His promise
had been given that if the people
turned to Him they would be gathered
again at Jerusalem.
The strong verse of the lesson Is
the tenth, which declares that these
Jews after all were Gods people,
which He had redeemed by His pow
or and strong hand. This being SO,
His ear should be ready to listen to
their supplications. Nehemiah partic.
plarly asks that he may find favor in
the sight of the king, and thus win him
to help in rebuilding Jerusalem, and
giving the Jews their peace.
The golden text says that the fer
vent prayer of righteous man avail
eth much and further reading will dis
cover that Nehemiah succeeded in his
prayers. The great apostle, Paul, in
Acts 2O-2S tells how Christ has pur-
chased the church of christian believ-
ers with his own precious blood. God
had kept and upheld the Jews through
many years and was ready on the pray
err of Nehemiah to renew His protec-
ton. Jesus, when called on by our
prayers, will stand by and uphold us,
whom he hath redeemed with His own
blood.
Thus from the lesson of this date
we have presented a section of the
history of the Jews in way to be
ness brought punishment on the Jews
of old, and realized that we will be
treated the same way. We have seen
how Nehemiah confessed the sins of
his people and then prayed for mercy
and forgiveness. We have noted that
this is the way to pray If we want to
reach the throne, for self righteous
ness is not pleasing to Cod We have
further seen that the nowor of Jesus
has been used on our behalf. We have
been redeemed, as well as had been
the Jew of old. This being so we
are on praying ground" and we have
the promise that our fervent prayers
shall and will be heard. Just now the
christian people of Denison are pray
ing for the success of the revival
and their prayers are being
answered. Jesus prayed Himself. and