Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-11-09
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER II

Not only was this exposure detrllneh'
tai TO the peace md comfort OF the
people, hut II was n matter OF severe
reproach TO them ". -. nehemiah
was MN Of strong character Though
occupying n position OF high honor nnu
responsibility In the very center OF
the great heather cnpltol the desire To
honor God WAS uppermost In his h"art'
He Is m eXn,nble to MI young men,
demonstrating 10 them that 1t Is pos
slble TO lie true to God regardless ot
the environment In which he may be
compelled to live. In order for Il man
to thus stand. his life must be rooted
In Christ, and these roots--our faith
must be watered and kept alive
through vital communion with God In
prayer and study of His Holy Word.
!. Nehemiah Learns Of the Attic.
ton and Reproash Of the Returned
Remnant In Jerusalem wv. 1-4).
/. The time ". ~. II was In
winter month, November or December,
In the Goth year of Artnxerxes. lie
was engaged In the performance OF his
accustomed duties as cup-bearer 10
the king, when the news came to him
II the deplorahle condition Of Jeru-
salem and the remnant who had gone
there.
Q. The occasion Of wv. 2. 81. The
visit of Nelemiah's brother and certain
men Of Judah made II possible for him
10 inquire concerning the state OF the
remnant and the conditions OF Jeru-
salem. They informed him that they
were In great affection and reproach
3. The effect upon Nehemiah ". ~.
He was greatly moved by the story or
the distress of his brethren. THOUGH
occupying n position Of honor, and en-
joylne all that heart could desire, he
keenly took the misfortune OF his
brethren 10 heart. He not only shed
tears Of sympathy. hut took these bur
dens In prayer to God. This Is the
proper way 10 sympathize with the I'M
fortunate II Is manly TO weep with
those In distress. and to pray for
those who have need Jesus wept over
Jerusalem and prayed for his own.
Nehemiah exhibited the spirit OF true
patriotism. The nillction and shame
Of his own peonie went close to his
own heart. National and racial SOIL
darlty constitutes the real basis OF
PATRIOTISM. The reproach and nftilc-
ton Of a nation is the rerroadh and
affection Of every member thereof.
u. Nehemiah's Prayer for Israel
wv. BID. We are taught That In the
midst OF affection, we should pray
Nehemiah In this early time practlced
this New Testament direction. A
study Of his prayer is most helpful.
I. 1t was earnest ". ~. lie tasted
md prayed for several days. When
men are willing to desist from food
md turn aside from their occupations
10 prny to God. they nre Enthusiastically
in earnest. This is true fasting. Mere
" nhstainlng from food Is not neces
sarily fasting. II Is when our hearts
have entered Into sympathy with God
and his people and the desire for food
is removed that there is fasting wl@cf
Is worth while.
.. The ground Of ". ~. He plead
covenant relationship and the faith
fitness of God In keeping his covenant
II IL good thing always In our pray
Ing to plead thus with God. He Il
delighted when we come ms children
pleadlng for the things I'VE need OF
the basis Of our relationship to him.
2. Unselhsh ". o.. He has rs hi
supreme object the welfare OF Israel
His personnl interests were not af
fected, either for better or for worse
nv the condition Of the Jews In Jcru
solem. Many prayers do not coun
with God becnuse they are self-center
ed They display the utter selhshnes
OF the one who offers them.
4. Penltcnt ivy. q, y. He acknowl
edges TINT the state Of Israel was du
n disobedlence to Gods command
ments and their corrupt dealings witt
God. So completely had he Identifies
himself with his people that he includ
ed himself with Israel as havin
sInned.
& The prayer OF faith wv. s, o.
He believed the word which God In
sno,,cn TO Moses touching his Willing
moss 10 restore and bless his people
though he was Obliged TO severed
nudge them. In our praying. we shoul
no able TO point to some definite prom
,se in Gods word. MS we plead wit
him. Faith takes God at his wor,
and holds him to 1t.
q. Definite wv. 10, 1D.
a. He pointed to the specific peopl
us those redeemed by Gods powerf'
hand.
h He asked that God would pro
per his way and grant him mercy
the sight Of the king. This was
pnrt of wisdom on Nehemiah's par
Before going before men for consider
ton Of important interests, we shou
ask God to prepare their hearts, so thu
they will listen alphabetically to 81
plea. This we should do In all thing
; and we can do 1t. when our own hear
are right. and we see the good OF OF
ers and not that Of ourselves. II
prayer was answered. The XII
granted his request rs we shall see
Chapter 2.