Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-31
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For Sept. 3. Neh. ri.
BY DIR. MARION MICH. HULL

BY DIR. MARIO
When Nehemiah, after four
months Of prayer and fasting, made
his request of the king, queen Esther
was sitting by him on the throne (ch.
2:6). Nehemiah and Mordecai had
been good friends, and he was inti-
mately acquainted with the queen.
She certainly must have known what
had been on his heart during these
months. Her presence no doubt had
something to do, under God, with the
generous compliance Of Artaxerxes
with Nehemiah's request.
After Nehemiah reached Jerusalem
he waited three days and then by
night took a ride around the walls
to see for himself just what their con-
dition was and how he could best
meet the situation. He told no one
of his mission until. he was ready to
accomplish it. Then he took the peo-
pie into his plans and secured their
hearty approval and cooperation. So
hearty was this cooperation that
those participating included seven
rulers, many priests, goldSmlths, ner-
chants, and even the daughters of
Shallum, the ruler of half of Jerusa-
lem. There is only one black side to
this part of the story-the mobiles of
the Tekoites would not do lick Of
work. Mobiles are often not noble.
These were like those in Deborah's
time when she sang, Curse we Me-
roz-because they came not up to
the help of the Lord, to the help of
the Lord against the mighty" With
this single exception every one did
his or her part in this work of the
Lord. To his honor be it said that
the very first to begin was Eliashib
the high priest.
There is an interesting suggestion
in the number of times the word ire
paired is used in this account of Ne
hemiah' Sit is used thirty-five times
Gx5-35). The factors of this num-
Der, Z and 5, express respectively per-
lection and grace. How marvelously
perfect Gods grace was to these peo-
pie will be seen as we study the mat
ter further. For no sooner had the
work been suggested than Sauballet
and Tobiah began to throw every OBJ
stacle in the way Of it's being done;
but by the grace of God every obsta-
Gle was overcome and the stupendous
lousy short time of fifty-two days.
Opposition
At first Sauballat just laughed at
the matter-it was utterly ridiculous
THAT such work could be done by
this people, said Sauballat. But he did
not reckon on God.
When he saw the work actually be-
gun Sauba1lat Knocked them, and To-
bah added, Well, if they do build a
wall, fox could knock it down
When Nehemiah heard this he just
prayed to God to bring to naught all
the plans Of His enemies-and went
on with the work.
Then Sauballat got mad and con-
spired with his allies to come against
Jerusalem and fight it. But Nehe-
.miah prayed to God again and set a
watch to discover any approach. Ne
|'hemiah's system Of secret service
men was so efficient that, no less
than ten plots were discovered to pre-
vent his accomplishing his task.
Perhaps, however, the greatest test
of Nehemiah's faith and pecsever-
ance came now; not from without,
but from within. The people them
selves became discouraged; they saw
the piles of debris tina: had to be
removed before the work Of building
could be carried on, they had grown
physically tired and they were afraid
Of the threatened attacks of their
enemies. Scattered as they were
along a great distance, one group
might be very easily overpowered
before help could come. This was
difficult task for Nehemiah, but
L. 4l14x 11-
were lowest land therefore more
easily attacked than where they ex-
tended over some high hilD, he put
the people in families, armed with
swords and spears and bows-weap-
ons suitable for distant, closer, or
hand-to- hand defense. Then he said
to them all: BE not afraid; remem-
Der Jehovah, who is great and ter
rible, and fight for your brethren,
your sons, your daughters, your
wives and your homes"
Well, it worked. 1t always will.
There can be no greater inspira-
ton to determined resistance than
! to know that God is on our side and
that our loved ones are depending
upon us.
Sauballat and his crowd withdrew
when they heard that their threat
had failed and that God had frus-
trated their attempts; and every
one went back to his work. How
ever, from this time on half of
them watched while the other
| worked, taking turn about; and those
who were working had a tool in one
hand and a weapon in the ether.
And trumpeter stood by Nehemiah
to call the scattered workmen quick
ly to any point that might be at
tackled. Their trust was neither in
the trumpet, nor in their weapons.
nor their organization, nor their own
strength-these they placed at Gods
disposal for it was in their conf
dence that "our God shall fight for
US" that they went on with their
work So diligently did they work
and watch that none of them took
off their clothes, except to wash
them, until the task was completed
Nor did they demand any eight-hour.
day. They worked from sunrise to
star-rise. The man who is interest
ed in his work does not watch the
clock or insist on his rights as to
the time limit.
oIo Il.