Evening star., 1917-11-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

the Mount Of Olives can look DOWN 49,
western bank Of the Mount q oIIsss q
Jerusalem. a vast city Of dead Tns ~
hammedans bury close to the city WAllqt
while the Jews who have come from aal
to be buried in tho valley Of the KsdrOS.
are inferred on the opposite side from I'd
city. on the slopes Of the Mount Of Olive
II Is one Of the traditions OF tho oeufa&
salem that the last judgment win tA1pe
place there and that those who arc In.
TERED there will be given certain pefvis
Inscriptions cover the whole eastern Dor.
ton of the valley. Millions Of loyal, de-
yout and aged Hebrews have focked to
Jerusalem during the centuries from al
that when they arc called hence. they
might be buried in the sepulchers OF their
favorable unto him his patriotism never
wavered. for he did not try to turn 10
70 personal advantage. He boldly asked
for permission to return to Jerusalem to
that evidently had only recently been
wrought by the enemies Of his country
men In making this request he had the
support in all probability. of Queen Es.
her who was sitting by the king. Only
a short time before the king had been
influenced by false reports concerning the
work being done by the Jews in Jerusa-
lem. so that he had issued orders which
interfered with their rebuilding the city
walls The statesmanlilce presentation OF
the case secured for Nehemiah the COW
eted commission to cross the Euphrates
and secure safe conduct throughout the
western part of the empire as well a.
aid from the various governors in carry-
ing out his project to rebuild the city walls
of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah. owing to his credentials had
no difficulties en- route to Jerusalem. The
presence OF the armed guard filled Sane
ballat' who may have been a Moabite
tfrom Horonaim). but was more prob.
ably an Israelite tfrom Beth-horon), and
Tobfah. an Ammonite, who may have been,
renegade Jew, with great grief What
ever these men were. they represented the
local venomous hostility Of Judah's neisfa-
bors. Ezra was unprotected. dependine
absolutely upon God. but Nehemiah, who
also placed his faith on Jehovah's pro>
to''"n. found that the presence Of his
official guard enabled him to carry out.
-, >Viii....ssion without being molested.
Every successful man has to exer< 4
else great tact. Nehemiah exercised
his gifts in dealing with the Jewish
population of Jerusalem. He concealed
the purpose of his mission until he had
personally assured himself OF the exact
conditions of the city. 1t did not take
him long to ascertain for himself the
desolstion and disgrace Of Jerusalems
so that when he tactfully presented the
same in persuasive manner he won
their cooperation so that they helped
to bring the wood from the royal park,
which was under Asaph's control, and
to rebuild the broken-down ramparts %
the city.
Nehemiah recognized that It was due
to his supplications that he was sent
on his commission, and that through
prayer he succeeded in carrying out
his patriotic program for his country
men. His prevailing prayer points out
how all can obtain answers to their
prayers. He prayed according to Coo .
will. III we ask anything according
to His will. He heareth u.s." The fall
ure of the early disciples to recetvo
answers to their prayers was pointed
out by James, the Lords brother. who
was the first pastor OF the church ae
Jerusalem. to be due to causes that
still hinder Gods giving favorable an.
swers. They asked miss, to consums
1t upon their own lusts. for their per-
sonal pleasure and profit. Not so did
Nehemiah pray. He confessed the sins
of his nation and pleaded with Jeho>
vah to be gracious unto them. He
pointed out their needs and finally urged
God to send him to answer his own
prayer. Jesus taught that men should
pray in His name. When the Christians
world or individual turns unto God. IN
the Masters name. pleads for the things
that Jesus would desire, his prayer, tf
made In faith, will be answered