The Tupelo journal., 1911-12-01
Nehemiah Build. the
Wall Of Jerusalem

LESSON 1.

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II Cor. 1913. X
TIME-Nehemiah heard the bad news
from Jerusalem early In December, B. G.
AS.
For four months he prayed. thought
and waited.
The following April (44D ne obtained
permission to go to Jerusalem.
The journey occupied four months n
he arrived at Jerusalem In the first day
Of the fifth month. Alb : July-Aug. (In
1911 the first day of Alb was August 8; In
1916 1t will be July 12.)
PLACE-Shushan and Jerusalem.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., Emperor of Fer-
sian Empire: Nehemiah. governor Of
Judea; Esra, the scribe. the religious
leader of the people In Babylon.
When the right time came, and Ne
hemfah's heart was burning with BOT
row and desire, he found "opportuni-
ties concealed In apparent ~hindrances."
II was dangerous to show sorrow in
the presence Of the king. Even q mod
ern autocra& like Louis XIV. expected
everybody's face to shine II he did but
appear, and how much more an Artax-
ker1ee? What, veax . sorrovful face
when he was presiding over Joy and
gayety. gliding them with his pres
ence! II b had ordered this melan-
choty visAss away TO prison or death,
It would hare been Justified by pSece-
dent. A gloomy face might meal dis
affection against the 1ipf. The light
Of his favor ought to Be enough TO
drive all badness away.
Nehemiah had hitherto BEEN ablS
to keep . smiling face when before
the king; but one day at a superb
banquet, when the queen was din
ing with her husband, amid gold plate.
gorgeous silk dresses Of every hue.
marble pillars. fountains, music, lights,
Issultanas. courtIers rssplendent a the
sun, and all worshiping their sun Ar
taxerxes, smiling when he smiled, his
sorrow shone through his face in
spite Of himself. 20 that the king no
ticed II and said:
why Is thy c~ounte1aflce sad, See
ing thou art not sick? this II nothing
else but sorrow Of he4rt." Then he
was very sore afraid, and said unto the
king, LET the king live for ever why
should not my c~ountenance be sad.
when the city. the place Of my "a
TIERS sepulchres. neth waste. and the
gates thereof are consumed Of fre?
II It please the king, and II thy serr
ant have found favor in thy sight, that
thou wouldest send mo unto Judah,
unto the city OF my fathers sepulchres,
that I NAV hui1A 1t0
The kind was pleased to grant his
request, made him the Tifshatha, or
! eqyerh6f Of Judea, royal agent" Or
apIenipotentiary," with full powers.
He travelled to Judea in state, with .
military guard Of cavalry. and withNet.
ters to the rulers Q fthe neighboring
provinces to give him whatever he
needed for his work.
Nehemiah was very wise. He lay
quiet for three days, doing nothing, but
learning everything. He showed nc
credentials, he proposed no plans, he
told no one what he hoped to do. HIS
first business was to learn the whole
situation, the feelings of the people.
who would oppose, and who would
help, how able the people were, what
obstacles must be overcome.
Nehemiah met the rulers, mobiles,
priests and people, and told them Of
his purpose IN coming, how he had
learned Of their need, how he had
wept and tasted and prayed, and how
God had heard his prayer and caused
the great emperor to favor his plans,
give him permission to come, and au-
thority, with orders for the surround.
ing rulers to give the needed help. He
told them Of his midnight investiga.
lions.
The business side Of religion should
be done as Nehemiah. did it in the
most skillful and ideal business man.
ner. Nehemiah had q layman's good
sense in religion. Walls were neces.
sary to the safety of the city. They
were also necessary to true religion.
The division of labor, The noble com.
petition. the interest in their work that
kept them from taking time to ever
put OF their clothes, the giving each
his own work, and over against his
own house, the union Of watching and
praying and working, the working to-
gether Of old and young, rich and poor.
form q real masterstroke Of genius"
The wall was parceled out among A
working parties. It was like the re-
building OF the walls Of Athens after
the invasion Of Xerxes, like the build
ing Of the walls of Edinburgh after the
battle Of F1odden. This plan made each
one more earnest and faithful as he
saw what others were doing. It AMI
mated the work with a noble emula.
ton, and q personal pride. See how
fast my work goes on! See how well
piece is done! Now, my sons, grid
up your tunic, or Rephaiah the son
Of Hur will get Nahead Of us. True
emulation Is to do better than We
have done; to seek, not to get beyond
others, but to rise to the best posi-
bic for u.s.; and to be inspired to this
by seeing what others have done.
Besides the hostility Of the Samar-
49, 49, -. tA~-~-H-A. - 49,