The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-11-08
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAYS([IO0L
LESSON
By REV. T.. Is. FITZWATER. ID. d..
Teacher OF English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago.)
fCopyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Unionb
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER II
LESSON TExT-Nebemiah /.

commandments, ana 90 these tHlHBs tHht
are pleasing In his sight, John 3:22.
Some twelve or fourteen years after
the revival Of the worship Of Jehovah
under the administration OF Ezra, Ne
hemiah led company to Jerusalem to
restore the city walls and civil author
Ity. The wills and gates Of the city
had lain In ruins ever since they were
broken down by Nebuchadnezzar. In
this condition the remnant Of the
Jews who had gone back to Jerusalem
were exposed TO the dangers OF as
saults from the surrounding enemies.
Not only was this exposure detrimen-
tai to the peace md comfort OF the
people. hut II was matter OF severe
repronch to them ". ~. Nehemiah
was man Of strong character Though
occupying position of high honor ana
responsibility In the very center OF
the great heather capitol, the desire 10
honor God was uppermost In his heart
He Is nm example to all young men,
demonstrating to them that 1t Is pos
sible to he true to God regardless OF
the environment in which he may be
compelled to live. In order for 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.
I. Nehemiah Learns Of the Afflic-
tlon and Reproach OF the Returned
Remnant In Jerusalem (vv. 1-D.
1. The time ". ~. II was In n
winter month. November or December,
in the Goth year Of Artaxerxes. lie
was engaged In the performance OF MS
accustomed duties as cup-bearer 10
the king, when the news came to him
of the deplorable condition oil Jeru'
salem and the remnant who had gone
there.
Q. The occasion of wv. 2, 81. The
visit of Nehemiahs brother and certain
men of Judah made II possible for him
TO inquire concerning the state OF the
remnant and the conditions of Jeru-
salem. They informed him that they
were in great afIliction and reproach.
3. The effect upon Nehemiah ". ~.
He was greatly moved by the story OF
the distress of his brethren. Though
occupying position of honor, and en-
! joyinG all that heart could desire, ne
| keenly took the misfortune Of his
brethren to heart. He not only shed
tears Of sympathy, hut took these bur
dens in prayer TO God. This Is the
proper way to sympathize with the nm
fortunate. 1t 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
patrlotism. The nfIlictiOn and shame
of his own people went close to his
own heart. National and racial soil
darity constitutes the real basis OF
patriotism. The reproach and aflllc-
ticn of a nation Is the reproach ana
amictlon of every member thereof.
n. Nehemiah's Prayer for Israel
(vv. 5-1D. We are taught that In the
midst Of afIllctiOn. we should pray
Nehemiah in this early time practiced
this New Testament direction. A
study of his prayer Is most helpful.
1. 1t was earnest ". ~. He tasted
md prayed for several days. When
men nre willing to desist from food
md turn aside from their occupations
to pray to God. they are Enthusiastically
in earnest. This Is true fasting. Mere
ly nbstaining from food Is not neces
sarlly fasting. II Is when our hearts
have entered into sympathy with Goo
and his people and the desire for foot
is removed, that there Is fasting which
is worth while.
9. The ground Of ". -. He plent
covenant relationship and the faith
fulness of God In keeping his covenant
1t Is a good thing always In our pray
ing 10 plead thus with God. He II
delighted when we come as children
pleading for the things we need oI
the basis of our relationship to him.
3. Unselfish ". 6). He has as hi
supreme object the welfare Of Israel
His personal interests were. not af
fected, either for better or for worse
by the condition Of the Jews in Jeru
salem. Many prayers do not coun
with God because they are self-center
ed. They display the utter selishnes
of the one who offers them.
a. Penitcnt (vv. q, y. He aclnowl
edges that the state Of Israel was du
to disobedience to Gods command
ments and their corrupt dealings wit
God. So completely had he identifie
himself with his people that he inclut
ed himself with Israel as -havin
slnned.
3. The prayer Of faith (vv. g. o.
He believed the word which God ha
spoken to Moses touching his Willing
ness to restore and bless his people
though he was obliged to severel
nudge them. In our praying, we shodl
be able to point to some definite prom
ise in Gods word. as we plead wit
him. Faith takes God at his wor'
md holds him to 1t.
. g. Definite tvv. 10, 11).
n. He pointed to the specific peopl
as those redeemed by Gods powerf'
I hand.
, b. He asked that God would pro
, per his way and grant him mercy
, the sight of the king. This was
, pnrt of wisdom on Neheminh's par
BEFORE going before men for consider
, ton of important interests, we shou
ask God to prepare their hearts, so th'
they will listen sympathetically to Q'