Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-01
Sunday School Lesson
Commentary.
NEHEMIAH RE6UiLDS THE
WALL OF JERUSALEM
E. r. WALKER, D. D.
nehemiah 4:7-21)

Golden text, THE Lord is my helper
and will not fear what man shall do
unto me-"
After three days following his arrival
at Jerusalem, Nehemiah. accompanied
by few trusted ones, slipped out by
night to survey the condition of the
new wallis and gates of the city. They
found things in a deplorable plight, SO
far as these structures were con-
cerned: particularly there were great
piles Of stone and rubbish impeding
their way. SO that they with Difficult
ty were able to get around and inspect
as they wished
EXPLANATORY.
Time: About B. c. 445.
Place: Jerusalem.
| 1-6. Hearing that the Judeans were
building the wall, Sanballat and To-
biah were wrathful. and very indig
nant, and Knocked the Jews. and made
light Of the work. declaring that 1t
could be torn to pieces by fox. But
Nehemiah appealed unto Jehovah to
see how His people were despised. and
to turn the reproach of their foes
against themselves. and to let His
judgments fall on them. The builders
kept on building until the work was
finally completed; for the people had
mind to work." Thus Gods work
will always advance, when, regardless
of all opposition Gods people will work
and pray.
g. Nevertheless Nehemiah was
that sort of a man. Nothing could
intimidate him so as to deter the work.
In spite of men and devils he was de-
termined to finish the work which God
gave him to dove made our prayer
unto our God,-Feeling utter depend
ence upon the Almighty for wisdom
and ability to cope with such con-
spiracy of hate. That is the only safe
course for the church today. Preach
ing Is essential, and we must contin-
ually be enunciating Gods truth; but
the service Of prayer Is really more
necessary than the setting forth of
divine doctrine. The world is very
crafty and very powerful and the
church can not overcome it but in the
wisdom and strength of the God who
hears and answers prayers. Our help
cometh from the Lord. and our ex-
pectation Is from Him-and set a
watch against them-Watching and
|
are lifted in prayer they must also be
lowered and around In watching the
novements of the foe. And it was not
itching in general, but over against
..e enemies-at the points where they
might reasonably expect an attack
because of them. The opposition of
the enemy, instead Of making the
Jews to desist. but stirred them to
prayer and diligence-as it should al
ways be In the work of church build
ing that is so opposed by the world
H. And our adversaries said,-
They too were watching, and were do
ing all they could to discourage the
Jews. What they said was intended to
be heard by the builders. and the pur-
pose was successful-They shall not
know, neither see till we come in the
midst among them.--Threatened sur
prise. The Jews had been held in sub
lection for several generations, and
were far from being military, and such
talk of their foes was well calculated
to intimidate. Their imagination was
aroused and they were made to sud
denly see the hordes of opposers right
In their very midst-and slay them
Threat of death by the SURPRISE and
they had heard of the cruelties of their
foes over those very walls, and In that
very precinct in the past years-and
cause the work to cease. This was
the end they had in view. professedly.
and really. They opposed the rebuild
ing of the walls; and they tried to i'm
press the Jews this must cease. They
could not accomplish their purpose by
In, hn
attempt would spell dire disaster; and
it were better to save their lives with
out the walls than to lose their lives
and walls too.
49, Therefore-In view of ell these
things calculated to discourage, Nehe-
miah was stirred to greater diligence
and perseverance-set / in the lower
places behind the wall,-The places
farthest from completion, and therefore
most exposed to attack-and on the
higher places,-R. ", open places"
the points where the wall was still
down through which an entrance
might be easily made, so far as q wall
was concerned. These were. the weak
err places and where there was the
greater need Of being well guarded
I even set the people after their fam
lilies. There was wisdom In placing
his guards according to families; for
thus they would feel more personal
responsibility to protect their own
with their swords, their spears, and
bows. They were fully armed. and
there for the purpose of repelling at
tack from without. We ought to place
the best soldiers armed with the armoa
of God by the weak places OF the
church--the places most open to at
tack from the workplaces of bust
ness, of pleasure, Of politics. OF So
ciety-men of God armed completed,
to beat back the threatening inroadi
which would take the city Of our God
and make the church to be q common
for woridlings. Ministers. professors
teachers! Guard well the appoint.
ments assigned you In the providence