Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-11-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson N.-Fcurth Quarter, For
Nov. rs, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Neh. i-Memory
Verse, e-Golden Text. Jas. W 49,
cemnentary Prepared by Rev. .. NJ
Stsurrs.

Commentary Preparsd BY Rev. D. NJ
Stsarns. -
The lesson today may include Chap
tiers 1 and II and might be entitled
. Nehemiah praying and God working
The name Nehemiah signifies comfort
OF Jehovah. and bis fathers name.
| Hachnlinh, signifies hidden OF Jehovah.
or perhaps Jehovah n hidden. the
former suggesting the safety OF His
people and the latter that His ways
| are n great deep. Verify, thou art
God that hidest Thyself. o God of Is
ruel, the Saviour" lisa xiv, 1oI The |
time OF the book IS supposed to be-
| about seventy years after the dedica-
ton of the temple that was rebuilt by !
Zerubbabel and thirteen years after
Ezra's reform. as recorded In FL. IN
and Z. For some reason Nehemiah
had remained at Babylon instead OF
returning with Ezra's company. but
his heart was at Jerusalem He was
a true Israelite ut gentle court. liz
Joseph. Moses. Daniel and Mordecal.
loving his people and burdened for
them He knew the God OF heaven
q, 4, 8; II. 4. 20l. and. although he
knew Him as the great and terrible
God he also knew Him as God keep
ing covenant and mercy for them that
love Him. ready To pardon. gracious
! and merciful. and he could call Him
my God" q. =: TX. Il. 81. 30; ii. s. j..
ISL. The Jews ut Jerusalem were not
vet as Isaiah had said they would be.
| and
ing from their sorrow and fear. but
were stin servants in the land. with
others ruling over them and having
dominion over them and their posses
sions at their pleasure (Neh. TX. &c. 3II
SO we know that the restoration from
Babylon did not fulfill lisa. Il. S-12; xiv.
1-3; XIV. 10, or any other Of the great
predictions concerning Israers glorious
future. all Of which will be fulfilled
when the Lord Jesus shall come the
second time IN power and glory to
restore all things OF which the proph-
cts have spoken (Acts III. 21). He has
said that He will not rest till these
things are fulfilled. and we are not as
right with Him as we should be un
less we take no rest and give Hin
no rest until He make Jerusalem 4
praise in the earth Qsa. xii. 10. Som'
one may say. Il am more interested II
our own Zion" meaning his Owl
church or denomination. not under
standing the purpose OF the Lord II
this nge to gather out from all nation
- an elect church. that so the marriag
OF the Lamb may take place and ii
NAV return with His bride to bles
Israel and through her all nations i
all the earth.
Reproach is brought upon the Lor
today by His people who are more II
terested in their own affairs than
His. When Nehemiah heard of tn
great afflicuon and reproach restin
upon Jerusalem he gave himself |
fasting and prayer. az did Dani'
dan. Z. 2. 81.
Nehemiah might truly be said to
4 man OF prayer. OF confidence in Go
and separation unto Him chapters 1.
IL: ii, 4, 8. 1920: iv. IA. 2O). He was al'
a man OF patience. for 1t seems to hay
been many months after he began
~ fast and pray before the opportul
time came 10 speak to the King. T
might perhaps have forced an oppC
- tunity. but he had learned better nj
knew that the Lords time and WI
were the best. In his prayer in o
lesson chapter let us learn from yer
alteration Compare Jer. Z. 6. I.
xxi, II: Acts iv. "a. In verses Q.
note the confession OF sin and cOmpa
Dan. tx. 40. 20. and see Prov. XVI
13: John |. 8: Ps. xxi. 5. See
verse bow he recalls the threat
o. %. naut " DR pI-
in verse o the promise Of forgi'
ness in Deut. Xxx. 1-3. See how
through he leans upon and pleads
word Of the Lord. AS God had do
as He said He would concerning tn
sins, SO he pleads that He would
member His word concerning their
pentance. Verse 10 in strong, be
pleading. See the stand he takes
spite Of all their sins. Now. these
'CE Thy servants. and Thy people. VIII
Thou hast redeemed by Thy gr
power, and by Thy strong hand"
are reminded of Moses pleading
Deut *. %. ''Yet they are Thy PEG
and Thine inheritance. which tt
broughtest out by Thy mighty poN
and by Thy stretched out arm"
. Watching day by day for IA,
able opportunity to speak to the X
and all the while In constant c.
munion with the King Of kings.
time came by q question from the K
concerning his apparent sorrow OF h'
80 In one breath he prayed to
God of heaven and spoke to the X
and the King granted him his req'
according to the good hand OF his