The Washington herald., 1917-11-17
Sunday School Lesson
Nehemiah's Prayer Answered.

6iNCh yOb--hdVs
Lesson text: Nehemiah 2:1-I.
Nehemiah's idea Of prayer evidently
was that he should first pray for
Gods help and then 20 to work.
Following out this idea, he took ad-
vantage Of his position as cupbearer
to King Ar-tax-erx'es to gain his op-
portunity. Although Nehemiah by his
honesty and loyalty had earned the
reputation Of possessing an unassail-
able character, he took q long chance
for his people by appearing with sad
face in the presence Of the King.
Lightheartedness and complete free
dom of mind for the Kings wishes
were expected of all in attendance;
and the least preoccupation might
give rise to suspision Of treason.
Now Nehemiah's position. that of
cupbearer, called for q more than
ordinary amount of vigilance, because
through any laxity on his part it
would have been an easy matter for
an enemy to the throne to poison
the Kings wine. Thus any signs of
rreoccupatton were usually interpret
ed as treason and punished accord-
ipgly. namely, beheading, and then
Investigation.
oab 4NChCHlldh Idu pCCh VI
an opportunity to state his case and
secure the kings permission to go to
Jerusalem, so now he was ready TO
take any risk. Thus, while perform
ing his courtly duty, he let the ex-
preston on his honest countenance re-
veal what was on his heart. "And it
came to pass in the month OF Nisan,
in the twentieth year Of Ar-taN-e-x'es
. ~ Ii. vkaw, MI, AAf 4,
that took up the wine, and gave it
unto the king. Now I had not been
beforetime sad in his presence.
And the king said unto me. why
is thy countenance sad, seeing thou
sorrow of heart. Then was very sore
afraid.
"And I said unto the king. Let the
king live forever; why should not my
countenance be sad, when the city,
the place Of my fathers sepulchres,
lieth waste, and the gates thereof are
consumed with fire?
Then the king said unto me, For
what dost thou make request? So
prayed to the God of heaven.
And / said unto the king, II It
please the king, and IL thy servant
have found favor in thy sight, that
thou wouldst send me unto Judah,
unto the city of my fathers sepulchres
that may build 1t.
And the king said unto ne (the
queen also sitting by him): For how
long shall thy journey be? and when
wilt thou return? So 1t pleased the
king to send me; and set him a time.
Moreover I said unto the king, II
1t please the king. let letters be given
me to the governors beyond the river
that they may let me pass through
till I come unto Judah;
And letter unto Asaph, the
keeper Of the kings forest, that he
may give me timber to make beams
for the gates of the castle which
appertaineth to the house, and for
the wall of the city, and for the
house that 1 shall enter into. And
the king granted me. according to
the good hand of my God upon me.
Then 1 came to the governors be-
yond the river, and gave them the
kings letters. Now the king had
sent wit.i me captains of the army
and horsCmen.
SAnd when Can-bal'lat the Hor-o-
mite, and To-biah the servant, the
Am-monite, heard of it. 1t grieved
them exceedingly, for that there was
to come a man to seek the welfare
Of the children OF Israel.
80 I came to Jerusalem, and was
there three days"
The form of Nehemiah's request
shows that he has thought everything
out, and knows how he will go to
work IL he gets the permission. II
also shows the deep piety that actu-
ates him. lie owes this duty to
God and to the city Of his fathers
sepulchres.
1t is interesting to note that the
journey Nehemiah planned with such
farsightedneSs and preparedness COW
cred much of the same ground that
tho British expeditionary force which
conquered Bagdad, afted the surren-
der of Kut-el-Amara, covered: up
the Tigris River. then from Nineveh
or some lower point across the Mes
opotamian plains to Haran and south
through Damascus to Jerusalem.
The whole OF this lesson Is summed
up in a few words: God is with
the man no prays and plans and
does not finch"