Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-11-10

| some INplNe OF IbuTlctH years after
! the revival of the worship of Jehovah J
! under the administration Of Ezra, Ne
hcmIah led Il company to Jerusalem to .
| restore the city walls and civil author
| ity. The walls and gates Of the city
| had lain in ruins ever since they were
broken down by Nchuchadnczzar. In
! This condition the remnant of the
| Jews who had gone back To Jerusalem
were exposed to the dangers of as
| -auItS from the surrounding enemies.
| Not only was this exposure dctrimen-
] tai to the peace and comfort Of the
] people. hut if was n matter of severe
| repr0ach to them ". -. Nehemiah
| was n man Of strong character. Though
| occupying n position of high honor and
| responsibility in the very center Of
! the great heather capitol. the desire to
honor God was uppermost in his heart.
lie Is an example to all young men,
demonstrating to them that It is pos
| Sihle TO he true 70 God regardless Of
| he environment IN which he may be
! compelled 10 live. In order for a man
! TO thus stand, his life must be rooted
| In Christ, and these r00ts-0ur faith
must be watcred and kept alive
| through vital communion with God In
prayer and study of His Holy Word.
!. Nehemiah Learns Of the Attic
ton and Reproach Of the Returned
| Remnant In Jerusalem (vv. Id.
I. The time ". ~. II was In a
winter month, November or December,
! in the Goth year of Artaxerxes. He
| was engaged In the performance Of his
| accustomed duties as cup-bearer to
the king, when the news came to him
| If the dcplorable condition of Jeru-
| salem and the remnant who had gone
| there.
2. The occasion Of wv. ., 81. The
| visit of Nehemiah'S brother md 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 ". A..
He was greatly moved by the story Of
the distress of his brethren. Though
j
iOying all that heart could desire, he
keenly took the misfortune of his
| brethren to heart. He not only shed
tears of sympathy, but took these bur-
dens In prayer to God. This is the
proper way to sympathize with the UNI
fortunate. 1t is manly to weep with
those In distress, and to pray for
those who -hnye need Jesus went over
Jerusalem and prayed for his own.
Nehemiah exhibited the spirit of true
'atriotism. The afliiction and shame
IT his own people went close to his
own heart National and racial soii-
larity constitutes the real basis of
'1triotism. The reproach and nfTlic-
ion Of nation IL the rcpronch and
'fliictiOn of every member thereof.
u. Nehemlah's Prayer for Israel
wv. BID, We are taught that I'm the
midst Of affection. we should pray.
Nehemiah I'm this early time practIced
his New Testament direction. A
study of his prayer Is most helpful.
]. IT was earnest ". ~. He tasted
and prayed for several days. When
men are willing to desist from food
and turn aside from their occupations
to pray to God, they are Enthusiastically
in earnest. This is true fasting.
2. The ground Of ". -. He plead
covenant relationship and the faith
fuiness Of God in keeping his covenant.
1t is good thing always In our pray
ing to plead thus with God. He Is
delighted when we come as children
for the things we need ON
the basis OF our relationship to him.
y. Unselffsh ". 81. He has as his
supreme object the welfare of Israel.
His personal interests were not af-
'ected, either for better or for worse.
~ the condition Of the Jews In Jeru-
salem. Many prayers do not count
With God because they are self-cen-
cred.
a. Penltent tvv. 9, y. He acknowl.
'dges that the state Of Israel WINS due
o disobedience TO Gods command.
nents and their corrupt dealings with
iod. So completely had he identified
imseff with his people TINT he includ-
d himself with Israel as having
lnned.
D. The prayer Of faith wv. 8. o..
le believed the word which God Ind
Doken to Moses touching his willing
ess to restore and bless his people.
lough he was Obliged to severely
ldge them. In our praying, we should
able to point TO some definite prom
e In Gods word, as we plead with
m. Faith takes God at his word.
I'D holds him to It.
8. Definite wv. 10, 11),
a. He pointed TO the specific people. 49,
those redeemed by Gods powerful
md.
b. He asked that God would pro,.
r his way and grant him mercy In
sight Of the king. This was a
TT OF wisdom on Nehemiah's part.
fore going before men for consldera.
n Of Important interests, we shouId
God to prepare their hearts, SO that
~ VIII listen sympatheticully "a onr
n. This we should do IN ali things.
we can dc It, when our own hpnrts
right and we see the good of 9th.
and not that Of ourselves