The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-10-29

they were not prOSperlng very wen
since their return. Some of them on
a visit to Persia had been telling him
about it. They were in great affilc,
ton they said, and in great reproach
from their enemies round about. The
walls of Jerusalem had never been re-
paired since they had been burned
down by Nebuchadnezzar $50 years
before, and the result was they had
no protection against assault.
Man Deeply Affected.
This deeply affected Nehemiah, SO
that he sat down and actually wept.
When patriotism moves US to weep
for our country it looks like the real
thing, especially when it is followed
by something else as it was here.
The weeping was accompanied by
fasting also, so different from the
modern way Of showing patriotism,
which not infrequently takes the form
of a banquet with speeches. This fast
ing lasted for days, he must have been
alone in it; but at length it came to a
head in prayer. Oh, if our statesmen,
and politicians and reformers only
knew the secret! How much more
they could accomplish at the Throne
of Grace than by legislation, and con-
ferences, and harangues, and newspa-
per articles.
A Wonderful Prayer.
1t was a wonderful prayer this.
First, it was so unselfsh. He was not
praying for himself but for people,
who, for the most part, he did not
know and had never seen. They were
his countrymen, that was all, and they
were in sore need. How much do we
ever pray for our southern negroes, or
the mountain whites, or the detected
Indians on our western plains, or our
dependents in the Philippines? What
real interest have we in either their
material or spiritual condition?
Second, it was such a humble
prayer. Somehow or other he felt a
sense of personal responsibility for
the condition Of his countrymen afar
off though they were. He confessed
to sin in the premises, and included
his fathers house" in his confession.
If he and his ancestors had acted diff
ferently things would not have been
that?
Third, the prayer was helpful new
ertheless. Hopeful, because he had a
strong promise of God to rest upon.
Remember thy word he said, and
then he quoted that word. Can you
do that? You must know the prom
Uses to be able to do it, and you know
the promiser also. How much do you
search Gods word to discover it's
treasures for yourself or others, and
how much do you exercise yourself to
bring them down from heaven for life
on earth? Nehemiah just agreed with
God about this matter. All! that Is
power. Read the chapter for yourself
and see how he did it.
Fourth, the prayer was very def
mite. He didn't go round Robin Hood s
barn as the saying is. He didn't mouth
out lot Of fine phrases or pious MOTH
ings. He told God just what he want
ed and when he wanted it, if it would
please him to give it. He was going
to stand before the king on a certain
that would be a good time to ask a
favor of the king. He was going TO
ask him that be might be commits
stoned as governor of Jerusalem TO go
up there and build the walls and de-
liver his people out Of their affection.
the request, and he asked God SO to
dispose him. Why do not the rest of
us cultivate that simplicity and di-
rectness? How interesting it would
make both our private and public de-
votions, and how it would enhance
Gods glory as we thus came to look
for answers to what we asked.
Fifth, the prayer was successful. of
course. 1T pleased the king to send
me-" says he, land I set him time y
The God of Nehemiah still lives and
nothing is too hard for him. The prom
Use in Philippians reads: BE anx-
ious for nothing; but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanks.
giving, let your requests be made
known unto God" Our national
Thanksgiving day will soon be here
again. and if sincerely we count our
national blessings during the past
year, it will be the best preparation
for that earnest prayer we so much
need. Affections are upon US in Ger.
tain quarters and perils are ahead and
greatly do we as a nation need God
May he stir US up to lay hold of him in
prayer Some Of us cannot fight, but
who may not pray?