Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-24
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For Aug. 27-Neh. 1
BYDR. MARION MICH. HULL

strong His hand had been in re-
deeming them before.
Now he was ready for business.
He wanted something definite. Pros
per him this day-not tomorrow, nor
at some indefinite future date, but
this very day-and grant him mercy
in the sight of this man. "ThiS day
this man."
Nehemiah made careful prepara-
ton by prayer before he even at
tempted to make any plans. For
when ArtaXerXes recognized that
something was wrong and wanted 10
know what he could do, Nehemiah
shot UP prayer to God like an ar
row out of a bow and then made
his request-that he be sent to Jeru-
salem to repair the walls. that an
escort be given him, that letters be
given him to governors to help him,
and to Aspah, the keeper Of the for
est, to supply all the lumber he
needed for the gates and for his
own house. It was a big order, but
ArtaXerxes ~"ok-ed" it, because God
made him in answer to Nehemiahs
prayers.
That f1ashlight prayer worked be-
cause of the four months of prayer
preparation. The prayer that comes
in a moment at the time of crisis
is effective because of the habit Of
prayer that has proceeded it. A
marksman hits the spot because of
the long practice he has had before
the tournament.
The Difference
Nehemiah's prayer was model
under the old covenant. It's basis
was the covenant which God had
made with His people. If they kept
the covenant God would keep His
part of it. The blessings were earth
ly blessings connected with the land
of promise; but they were real bless
ings. Those who would have us be-
lieve that the only influence. of pray
err is subjective, the reflex on the
prayer, miss the mark entirely. Mr.
FosdIcks book does not go far
enough. The blessing Nehemiah
prayer for and got was a very real
one, objective as we'll as subjective.
Nehemiah's prayer falls far short
of the model player of the new
covenant, the so-called Lords pray
er. In the Old Testament the basis
OF prayer was the covenant with
God; in the New Testament the basis
our
Father. The old covenant basis de-
pended upon the obedience of the
nation. The new covenant depends
upon the faithfulness of our Father,
and in no sense upon us. Even
though we are faithless, yet He
abideth faithful" wrote Paul to
Timothy.
It is exceedingly interesting to
1n1
ers Of the Old and New Testament
Only brief comparison can be sug.
gested here; work it out more III
detail for yourself. The first APP
proaches the God Of heaven, great
and terrible; the second, our Father.
The first claims the covenant based
on obedience; the second puts Him
first and asks Thy name, Thy king
dom, Thy will. The first confesses
sin; the second, realizing the rela-
tionship of child to Father, asks
for daily need. The first reminds
Him Of the promises of earthly bless
ings; the second asks for spiritual
blessings.
But even the Lords Prayer" is
not the highest type Of prayer; its
prayer for forgiveness is based on
our treatment of others, and God
forgives us now, not because of what
we do, but for Christ's sake. When
Jesus was leaving He told His
disciples, hitherto-up to this time
you have not asked anything in My
name. If you shall ask anything
in My name 1 will do it. God has
let down the bars and has admitted
us into His very presence to ask
and to receive. Prayer in Jesus
name is the highest form of prayer.
we began in the elementary school
Of prayer; we have been promoted
to the high school; we may enter
the Prayer university in Jesus
name.
Shall We not enter, since prayer
is Gods method of accomplishing
His plan. We can do more than
pray, but we cannot do anything
| until we DraV