Evening star., 1917-12-08
N REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

Modern Sunday school and successful
svangelistio methods have received
their Inspiration from the events re-
corded In this weeks study. Tho COM
pietion of the wall under the aggres-
sfve leadership Of Nehemiah protected
Jerusalem from the danger Of raids and
robbery from her enemies Protection
from pagan foes did not protect the ma
tion from themselves Nehemiah real
ised that II his work was to be maze
permanent that there must necessarily
be given to 1t . religious foundation.
Every reformer turns to the Church OF
Jesus Christ for assistance in tho insti-
tuition of his ideals, because the church
furnishes the quickest and surest way
to establish any reformation among
men.
Nehemiah naturally turned to Ezra
who had preceded him and whose refor-
matory endeavors had opened the door
for his work. and sought to secure the
cooperation Of the patriotic priest IN IN
the effort to start religious services in
the restored temple as the surest way
to make permanent his work. The
heather party had secured the support
of the high priest. EliashiD, Ior tnelr
leader. Many of his subordinates sym
pathized with the pagan party Ne,
hemiah found in Ezra a willing and
capable helper In his endeavor TO instl,
tuts permanent reform in the nationai
religious and civil life. nehemiah
work was of a civil nature. but his mo-
ttyes were religious. Ezra Joined with
him in mapping out plan or campaign
that was destined to revoiutionize tne
Jewish faith and influence all suose-
Quent religious history.
They determined to commence their
work upon the first day of the seventh
month Of Tixra- This was wise move.
because 1t was a day set apart as
Sabbath, ushered in with trumpets.
marking 1t as a holy convocation. and
an altar of burnt offerings introducing
the sabbaticaI month with its day OF
atonement and feast Of ingatherings or
tabernacles. A campaign of publicity
brought all the people together as one
maE into the broad place before the wa
ter gate" The broad plaza gave Ezra
an Opportunity to read the law with
understanding to the large congrega-
tion. The first pulpit ever erected was
raised that day upon the public plaza
1t gave an advantage to Ezra and those
associated with him in teaching the
Word of God. In his exposition Of the
law he opened a new epoch in the
worlds religious history. Every preach
er or teacher of the Bible traces the
history of his method of public instruc-
tion back to Ezra's efforts to instruct
the people, who had perished before be-
cause of lack of knowledge. The form
aiiSm OF the priesthood mad caused
them to neglect giving the people in
struction in the law of Moses.
The influence of that expository SER
mon has nodded all subsequent history.
Every revival based upon God truth
10 lasting. The tremendous results
that have been attained by Billy Sun
day" have been due in q great degree
to his efforts to conserve the results
Of his meetings as well as to COM
mence the revival work in every city
by rousing an intense interest in the
study of. the word Of God. Another
element that entered into the success
of that Sabbath days work was the
personality Of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Their lives were known by many
who were scattered through the crowd.
Their personality gave power to the
message. for 1t was as true then as 1t
II today that preaching is the presen-
tation Of truth through personality"
The life OF every man gives power to
his work. 1t is the man back of the
sermon. as much as it is the man be-
hind the gun. that determines its ef-
fectfveness- s@'-7'as'
The temple had been destroyed dur
ing the destruction Of the city. Dur
ing the exile the Jews were without
an altar because only in Jerusalem
could they worship God with sacrifices
The study Of the law and its interpre-
tAtfon had remained for them the
only method by which they could per-
petuate their religious life in the syna-
gogues that grew ND during their exile
1t was as q student of the TEACHINGS of