The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-11-15

II <hcN Rn0 II ahnI IA
y given unto you.-Matthew IN. ~ y
! 1t was four months after Nehem,o,
, learned of the d%esolation OF .Jerusolan
ina he had the oppt .tunity to max,
T known his request to the king Inc,
why ne did not test the kings otti
: tude toward him and his proiec,
{ earlier we have no information. Per
maps there was no great function al
!. which he was called upon to ministc,
: : In this interval, or his turn of sorry.
Ice had not arrived, or his duties were
so cNncting that no opportunity wns
afforded for him to unbosom his grief
to the king.
J.. Nehemlah's Request to the KIM
Wv. ~. () Its occasion, v. 1. AS
cup-hcarcr he was ministcring before
the king. The c%up-bearer was more
than Il mere valet. He entered very
closely into the life's interests OF the
king. SO that the inner life and spirit
OF the cup-hearer was known. II was
expected of such servants that they
manifest perfect happiness while in
the presence of the king. To Mpprnt
In his presence otherwise would likely
be to the d~ispleasure of the king.
Nehemiah's sad countenancc while
thus serving awakened the kings suS-
Wcton. The matter was serious for
Nehemiah was afraid under the cir.
cumStanceS
G" The kings inquiry. V. ,. The
King perceived that Nehcmia"'S coun-
i'nance n sad, though h vas NOT
sick, and ne knew that something X
traordinary had come into tho he Of
his cup-bearer.
G) The effect upon Nehemiah. v. y.
Ills heart was filled with fear, He did
not know but what this irproprirty
was 80 great as to cause his dismissal.
His fear was more than that Of losing
his position 10 be dismissed from be.
ing cup-bearer would mean the loss "
an opportunity to present his r'qneSt
10 the king: and, without the kings
sanction and aid. his enterprise would
fail.
{4b ScheEai6h's tSl.tul reply. v. 3.
He seeks tc c6aciliate the king by
expressing a deep interest In the royal
fife and person. He says: 'sMay the
! Sing Hive forever and then tells that
the cause Of his grief wns the desoln.
tson uf the city where his ~fati,ers
were buried.
80 The contents Of Nehnnliab's re-
F1est. w. rs. fa) To he sent 10 Judah
10 build the walls of Jerusalem. W.
,. +. This request virtually meant 10
De granted a leave of absence from
the Persian court and 20 be appointed
military governor Of that part Of the
Kingdom of A%rtaxerxes. The king.
doubtless. Jaw that such 8 move would
be of particular benefit 10 his king
dom politically. owing to The strategic
position Of Jerusalem. between Baby.
ION and Egypt. IN the case Of the
breaking out Of hostilitits between
7 th"S" l'owers. to have q fortified city
In Palestine would be Of immense i'm.
phrthnce. At the kings request. d
hefinite time was set for his leave Of
absence, v. 6. He remained in Jerusa-
lem for twelve years. A side light on
the kings gracious attitude toward
Nehemiah Is given IN this: "1The
queen MISC sitting by him" She il
not named, but in oil probability II
was Esther.
% For letters to the governors be.
You'd the river, v. 6. Doubtless the
path OF his journey vas q dangerous
one. and the travellers safety depend.
rd upon having. credentials from the
King. These letters were more than
mere credentials. They were orders
ior actually conveying him and his
party to Judah. Ezra, years before.
had desisted from asking n band OF
soldiers. but Nehemiah was free to
ask such n favor. 1t was right IN both
cases, hut not e%xpedient In that Of
r|rh.i Many problems are clear, If
we distinguish between that which is
awful and that which is expcdient.
tc) a letter of rcquisitiOD for sup
p'ics OF timber. ". g.. This timber was
needed, first for the palace or castle,
mar IS, for the fortress near the tenn
pi"' second, for the walls and gates
OF the city; and third, for the kings
"'hcinl residence.
u. Nehemiah's Request Granted, ".
c. Neheminh was a tactfnl diplomat.
II" exercised sound sense and pfn-
n'hce In all things, but he supremacy
ueprnded upon God md prayed for
Eods disposal of the kings heart as
y ne made his request known, v. 4. The
y KING granted his request "according
10 the good hand of my God upon
me-" y. 8. He ascribes the success OF
his undertaking to God.
III. Nehemiah's Journey to Jerusa.
lem, Wv. OIL. He journeyed from
Shnshan to Jerusalem under the pro
lection of a military escort. This was
'e or double value: protection and safety
Df when 1t was known that Neheinio'