Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-11-28
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Lesson 9.-Fourth Quarter, for
December 2, 1917.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text Of the Lesson, Neh. 4:7-2f-Mem-
DRY Verses, ~, te-Golden Text
Heb. 1s:s-commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. N. Stearns.

III IS sometimes heipfui to glance at
the end of a story and consider the sue
cessful issue, especially when there are
many difficulties TO be met along the
way. In these days to which we have
come and always ii is well TO live on
such words as these: "The Kingdom
shall be the Lords" ''He shall see of
the trevaiI His soul and shall be sat
isfied" (Obad. 81; Ps - %. IS:
Rev. IL rs; lisa. SO III. 1t will help
US in the lesson of today to keep before
us chapter 6:15. 16. $50 the wall was
finished; they perceived that
this work was wrought of our God"
Had those who wrought been all skilled
workmen they might have given the
credit to them. but when the wall was
built by merchants and goldsmiths and
apothecaries and women they had to
look to some power beyond the visible.
If we have special talent along any line
of service we may get~the credit Of
doing it. but If we are just ordinary
folks and God sees fit TO accomplish
something through us that we seem to
be wholly untitled for. then the glory
shall be all his. and that is the way II
should always be.
Before we consider the enemies and
their confusion LET us look at the work
ers with God and learn from them how
TO do, for believers are all builders ms
well ms building Il Cor. 80. 1O). We
must have mind to work fverse 81
like David. who prepared with all his
might because he had set his affection
upon the house Of his God Ct Chron
29:2. 81. The zeal of these workers
is seen in the fact that they were
armed while they wrought. they were
warriors as we'll as workers, and they
care1 little for their own comfort II
only they could accomplish their tasks
every one his work U5. Il. 23). Their
zeal reminds us of our Lord. Of whom
1t is written. 'The zeal Of thine house
hath eaten rae up Cps. co %: John
2:17). Being separated far from each
other on the wall. they listened as they
wrought for the sound of the trumpet
which would summon them TO Nehe-
miah. for the trumpeter was by him
(vv. 1920.
Our daily life is conflict as well as
service, according to Eph. 6. and we
should ever be listening for the sound
of the trumpet which shall call us To
meet in the air him whose we are and
whom we serve Il Thess. 4:16-1s).
The work is the Lords. and the battle
is his also, and he will work in MS both
TO win and to do and fight for Us
". 20; Phil. 2:13; Eek 1874: Josh.
23:10). We have only TO dwell with
him for his work. and remember his
words: 81 will work. and who shall him
der it," Every purpose of the Lord
shall be performed" Il Chron. 4 81:
lisa. 43:13: Jer II :29). The enemies
were very angry and Knocked the Jews
and cnnsrired to hinder the work
(chaptrr ~. Z, ~. hut Nehemiah
talked with God about ii, saying.
"Hear. oh our God. for We arc de-
spised," so they prayed unto God and
set a watch agninst the enemy day
and night wv. 4. 81.
We must expect to be reproached
and despised but We must Just tell
him as Nehemiah did and remember
his own word to US to watch and pray
and attend each one to his work while
we wait for his call MARK IL :22-31).
The enemy did all in their power to
hinder the work and to make the peo-
pie afraid. hut God brought their coun-
sci to naught. reminding ms Of these
words: "The Lord bringeth the coun-
sci of the heather to naught. He
- 49, -
none effect The counsel of the lord
standeth forever. the thoughts Of his
heart to all generations" ". IL: Ps.
81: 10. 11). The remedy for all fear
is to remember the Lord. as Nehemiah
told them in verse IA and ms Isaiah
said In chapters Al 10. II: 81 10. Ii:
-They that war against thee shall he
as nothing and as a thing of naught
Who art thou that thou should
est be afraid of man and
forgettest the Lord thy MakerT
The worst troubles are not always
from outsiders. hut often from within
the church or the business or the home.
and Nehemiah had troubles also from
within, for the men of Judah com
planned Of the much rubbish and little
strength for the work and said that
they were not able to build the wall.
They seem to have belonged TO the
same sort Of people as the mobiles who
put not their necks to the work Of
the Lord (vv 10 and $50. Then there
were those keen men of business
who, like some today. made q cor
ner in corn and compelled people
to mortgage their lands and houses
in order to buy food wv. 1-6). Ne
hemiah spoke severely to them and
made them cease their oppression.
and, while he as their governor should
have been cared for by them. he would
not accept anything from them but
cared for 1a0 Jews and rulers ut his
own table. besides many from outside