Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-11-16
INTERNATIONAL,
SUNlMS!0100L
LESSON
tBy REV. p. b. FiTZwATER, D. D..
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union. }
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 18
NEHEMIAH's PRAYER ANSWERED

~ NuS iuut HDHtHs ulleT N'ItI1iuu
learned OF the des0latlon Of Jerusalem
That he had the opportunity TO make
known his request to the king. Just
why he did not test the kings att.
tude toward hin and his project
earlier, W. have no information. Per-
maps there was no great function at
which he was called upon to minister
IN this interval, or his turn Of scrv-
Ice had not arrived, or his duties were
so exacting that no opportunity was
afforded for him to unbosom his grief
to the king.
!. Neh.miah's Request TO the King
wv. 1.S) 0) Its occasion, v. !. AS
cup.bearer he was mnlstering before
the king. The cup-bear,r was more
than n mere valet. He entered very
closely into the lIfe's interests of the
king, so thut the inner life and spirit
OF the cup-bearer was known. II was
expected OF such servants that they
manifest perfect happiness while In
the presence Of the king. To appear
In his presence otherwise would likely
be to the dlspleasure OF the king.
Nehemlah's sad c0untenance while
thus serving awakened the kings sus.
plcion. The matter was serious for
Nehemiah wan afraid under the cir.
cumstances.
(2) The kings inquiry. v. 2. The
King perceived that Neheminh's cOun
tenance was sad though he was not
sick. and he knew that something ex-
traOrdlnary had come into the life Of
his cup.bearer.
(3) The effect upon Nehemiah. Y. Q.
His heart was illed with fear. He did
not know but what this lmpropriety
was so great as 10 cause his dismissal.
His fear was more than that Of losing
his position; to be dismissed from be-
Ing cup-hearer would mean the loss Of
an opportunity TO present his request
to the king; and, without the kings
sanction and aid, his enterprise would
fall
! az Nehemlah's tactful reply, Y. 3.
He seeks TO concilinte the king by
expressing n deep interest In the royal
life and person. He says: May the
king live forever" and then tells that |
the cause Of his grief was the desola-
tlon Of the city where his fathers |
were buried. This note Of patriotism |
met response In the kings heart, |
causing him to inquire as to his wish.
(5) The contents of Nehemiah's re-
quest, Wv. 5-S (a) To he sent TO Judah |
10 build the walls Of Jerusalem. Wv.
8. @. This request virtually meant to
be granted a leave Of absence from
the Persian court and 10 be appointed
military governor of that part Of the
kingdom OF Artaxerxes The king,
doubtless. saw that such move would
he 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 hostllitles between
these powers, to have a fortified city
In Palestine would he OF immense i'm.
portnnce. AT the kings request,
definite time was set for this leave of
absence. V. G. He remained In Jerusa.
lem for twelve years. A side light on
the kings gracious attitude toward
Neh.minh is given In this: 1.-THE
queen also sitting by him. she Is
not named. hut In NIL probability u
was Esther. Her presence would en-
holden Nehemiah 10 ask. and lnnu.
ence The king In granting the request.
She had come TO the kingdom for
such n time as this" Esther Ala.
Oh For letters TO the governors he.
yond the river. v. O. Doubtless the
path Of his journey wus n dangerous
one. and the travellers safety depend.
ed upon having credentials from the
king. These letters were more than
mere credentials. They were orders
for 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 favor II was right In both
eases. but not eXpedient In that "
Ezra. Many problems IRE clear, II
we distinguish between that which II
lawful and that which Is cxpedlent.
tc) A letter OF requisltlon for sun.
plies Of timber v. 8. This timber was
needed. first for the palace or cas,le
,but is. for the fortress near the fem.
plc. second, for the walls ara potes
of The city: and third. for the kings
otncIol residence.
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