The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1911-11-21
PRAYER Of
NEHEMIAH
Sss1aJ sshosl lsssSs fer Sov. rs. 1911
sssoisl Arranged fer ms PapsT
LESSON TENT NEHEMIAH /.

mrch. jas l.lh
TIME Thirteen years after the Return
81 the Exile under Ezra tour las. les
som. Ncheauah's prayer. H. e. az. No
vember, necrmher. lie went 20 Jeru-
salem the next spring, u. g. 49,.
PLACE hlshan. or susa. ons ~ the
three CAPITALS Of the Persian Empire AZ
the time Il this lesson It is now called
Sus. In southwest Persia. The ancieat
city has Aeen eXravated. AMI various in
scr.ptluas and remains OF buildings have
been brought to light
RULERS rtaNcrNes. called I.ongima-
nus (or lpng handed. began 20 reign H.
q. ssj: reignsi wi Dac l.. a. Athens
came under Pericles Hin. Military trio
unes IN Rome $50.
JEWISH LEADERS Nehemiah. who
became governor NJ Juaea, Ezra tho
scribe had returned To Bahyloa. Malachi.
the last prophet Of the old Testament,
must have been living ~ this time.
Ezra's home was In Babylon, Nehe.
miah's in Shushan. go miles further
east. with fewer persons of his own
natiosality. and farther away from
news OF what was going on In Jerusa-
lem. Ii is this separation OF homes
that explains why there was so little
working together OF these two men,
till both had been at Jerusalem.
Nehemiah was walking one day cut.
side the walls of Shushan, so Jose
phus tells us, when some strangers,
making for the city. trayel.worn as If
by long journey, were overheard by
him discoursing in his own language,
the Hebrew. Nothing touches the
heart in strange land more than
ones mother tongue. lie went up to
them. therefore, and. introducing him
self, found they were from Judah. and
one was his own brother, Hanani.
Naturally Nehemiah asked them
about the state OF things in Judca.
He learned that Ezra's reforms in re-
lation TO marriages with the heather,
made the surrounding nations very
bitter. The leaders on both sides
we're many of them allied b. mar
riage, and for the Jews TO repudiate
their foreign wives. as if claiming 10
be so much better than their neigh
bors. must have Infatuated them. 1t
struck the divorced women as cruel
and insulting outrage. Driven back
TO their paternal homes with their
burning wrongs, these poor women
must have aroused the utmost indig.
nation among their people. Thus the
reformer had stirred up a hornets
nest.
Nehemiah vas true patriot. lie
was deeply religious man. man of
prayer ard conservation, God-fearing,
true to his convictions. He showed
remarkable wisdom and shrewdness.
II any FAULT is recorded OF Nehe.
mieh. 1t is one which he himself re-
vealf. a fsnlt that for long time pre-.
vented Alexander Whyte from loving
him.-"ard, worst Of all, thought
him a man who was always we'll
pleased with himse
Max Muller, 10 his autobiography
says that the story of q man, which
leaves out biz faults. is like a picture
deficient In shadows, and fails to
bring out tie bright points OF his
character. I'VE want to know his
faults-that is probably the most In,
teresting part Of him." certainly often
very helpful.
Charles Reade calls him. Faithful
courtier. yet true patriot; child OF
luxury, yet patient of hardship; In
ventive builder. impromptu general
astute politician. high.splrited gentle
man. inspired orator. resolute reform.
er; born leader Of men yet humble be,
fore God"
The first thing, the absolutely nee
essary thing. for Nehemiah was to
find divine help, wisdom. guidance, for
himself. and the source of power over
the kings mind. For this he prayed
10 the only being who could answer
his prayer, and he kept on praying for
four months, while the double answer
was being prepared-in himself that
no. by deep thought, and new light
and divine wisdom, might be fitted to
receive the answer. and in the king
that he might be inclined to do his
part toward the answer.
That for which Nehemiah prayed
was like the first petitions in the
Lords prayer. THY kingdom come.
For his prayer was not for merely a
few people and the city that were In
danger, but for the kingdom OF God
on earth. The condition of things at
Jerusalem was dishonor to Jehovah
and to his religion.
His prayer had been so far answered
that he knew what he had to do, and
that the time had come for doing 1t
His prayer now at the end OF foul
months. was for guidance and helg
and success in this crisis.
The answer came through and In
the man who prayed. So Jesus bade
his disciples to pray for more labor
ers to gather in the spiritual harvest
The answer came through their own
work in that harvest field. 1t came
also in their being better laborers
wiser, more earnest. more self.deny
ing, more skilful. In all sincere pray
er one must be willing to do his part
toward the answer
The answer was coming during all