Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-15
Sunday School Lesson
Commentary.
NEHE MlAH ENFoRcEs THE
LAW OF THE SABBATH

(Nehemiah 13:15-22)

Golden text-Remember the Sabbath
Bay to keep 1t holy.-Ex. 20:S0.
INTRODUCTORY.
Nehemiah did much for the restora-
ton of the Institutions of the religion
Of Jehovah; but most that he did
practically all-was to restore what
had been before; and he came FAR
short of what had been In the palmy
days of Israel. No doubt 1t was in his
heart to restore completely, in every
way, all that had been before; but II
was not in his hand. The people were
comparatively few and poor, and they
were under the, supreme authority OF
an heather monarch; and many Of
them had become very much secular
lied by their fellowship with the
heather world; and they were given to
backsliding, being yet carnal." But
IF there be first a willing mind. It is
accepted according to that man
hath" and Nehemiah, faithful in that
which was least. was faithful In that
which was much; and will by no
kmeans lose his reward. He is as
much a hero Of righteousness as II he
had been an actual empire builder.
EXPLANATORY.
Time: B. c. 434.
Place: Jerusalem.
Verse is. In those days-The days
after his return to Jerusalem-the
days when degeneration had gone
quite a distance the final days OF
the efforts of this great man Of God
In behalf Of the people and the church
of God-saw I in Judah some tread
ing winepresses on the Sabbath.-Had
the wineries been in Judah what they
are in This country. any day would be
q wrong day in which to be at work IN
them; and assuredly had such a man
as Nehemiah been here now he would
have been a prohibitionist of the ex-
IRENE, in spite of every argument that
be used in favor of the winery. But In
those days the evils of wine were not
so evident as 1t is in these days, though
the Bible is very strong in condemning
the beverage which intoxicates. But
in that time wine was a common daily
beverage, and was as frequent at the
daily repast as are tea and coffee and
chocolate in these days among Chris
tians; and perhaps there were then no
more religious people opposed to the
use Of wine than there are religious
pSOple III LilcSO oiy oPpOoSN W sAS NS>
of our common beverages. But we are
not certain that fermented wine was
then in common use. 1t is quite evil
dent to say the least. that the pure
juice of the grape. unfermented ana
unintoxicating, and really refreshing
and nourishing, was much in use then.
But IL there was nothing wrong in the
use of that "wine." on any day and
nothing wrong in the treading of the
wine presses on other days-'work-
ing days"-it was certainly viola
ton of the Sabbath to engage in such
work during its sacred hours. There
surely could have been no excuse from
necessity" or mercy to engage In
extracting the Juice from the grape on
that day; and there is much Of work In
which the people engage on the Lords
day in these times which could be done
Just as we'll on another day. withou,
any violation of the law of necessity oil
the gospel of mercy; but people have
become so very lax that in matters OF
business, every day with many is es-
termed as like any other day. Blu,
Nehemiah, the statesman and man ol
God; had not so learned society ant
religion-and bringing in sheaves-
Possibly grain in the sheaf-hay OF
grain; but it may mean merely bring
ing grain to market. No excuse fol
that at all; for there was no danger
that either hay or grain be lost OF
even deteriorate from waiting anothel
day before marketing and using. AnC
there is much of such commerce NOV
ing in these days in lands professedl!
| Id E>rnfc
ing-the common way; and freigh
trains and steamers in these times ar
/ in constant operation-as also wine
. grapes and figs,-No necessity TO
, either If they could not reach tn
city the day before, surely they coul'
stop over day without any loss o
value or real ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS al
manner of Observation-Disclosures
movements of merchandise. like tn
long lines of freight trains which roa
through the broad Christian" land to
/. day-none having the foolish effronter
of pleading either necessity o
mercy" as excuse. Indeed the days c
1 offering any excuse, or even thinkin
of doing so, seem to be past-whic
:. they brought into Jerusalem on tn
: Sabbath day:-The surrounding foes {
Jerusalem had done all they could
stop its establishment: but Will
they could not make a breach in tn
walls by the military. they were no
making breaches in the holy city an
its holy Sabbath by commercialisn
Business then was getting above relie
ion. as in these days 1t seems by man
to be regarded as really more sacre
and necessary than faith in God an
worship of God and submission to Go
Is it not a fact that religion Is quit
generally being sacrificed to bushes
not to speak of pleasures-and I tel
titled against them In the day wherei
they sold Nistuals. od-stuffs. Neh'
iah would have thought 1t was wror
to keep grocery open on the sacrt
day. BY testified We are not to VI
derstand that there were any arres
for Sabbath breaking or any trial.
but the word Is used in the Quak'
sense of testimony; the sense OF pc
~, L~A hxro nj o.