Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

A iJ'AMijjx rArjffiJti,», and if so, whether we have a correct worn oilt, not able to stand the work; then, too, Christ stands among them ; and probably raising hislering. The revised reading of tire last' there is so much rnbbish. The rnins of the hand as he spoke, he sends forth his voice amoug the.se is, " every one went with h^ weapon to old walls are in their way. They can never people : " If any man thirst, let him come unto mewater." Whatever it means, it points out j getl}hrough. Nehemiah had two remedies for and drink."jgree of vigilance, which was commendable. \ the troubles which arose.What does Christ here promise? Water! Wewilltoo are often admonished to Watch. | 1. " We made our prayer unto our God." speak of this water in a general manner. It seems theII. The -Encoubagements to Persevere, j This was a never faUing source of help.Che presence and voice of a brave man, 2, " We set a watch." This, too, proved effectual,14. Nehemiah was everywhere. Amongfor when the enemies found tbey werenobles councelling them ; among the rulers prepared to meet them, they diBpersed withouting words of approbation and correction ; making an attack. -3ng the laborers encouraging them to work,I pointing out the success they were hav-Nehemiah placed the families of the workersnear to them that they might defend and encourageeach other. This removed the remainingNoth- .difficulties. The people labored with theirI. The defeat of their enemies, v. 15.; is so encouraging to an army as to come to swords girded at their sides or with their wea-.I camp of t'le enemy and find it deserted. pons in one hand, while they worked with thething so encourages the defenders of truth other. They divided into groups and tookmuch as to find that the foe has retreated. turns guarding at night, so they never removedtheir clothing except to be washed. Andis well to live on our guard. He who wouldre conquered by .killing, but could not, will the building of the wall, went on "from theb stop to capture by giving his daughter totbe wife of your son, He will be as treachmsas ever.i. The assurance that God was with them,15, God brought their council (Sanballati Tobiah ) to naught,^. 20. " God shall fight• us." This is always the believer's strong-Id. 'THE FRIMART LESSON.By Grace Hamilton George.VVe do not need to be remindad to read theitory which connectB_thi8 lesson witb thet; The narrative is so full of interest that itnpels attenti'on. Primary classes will bejatly inteiested in the story of Nehemiah'slurn. '''oday we find hina, having obtainedve of absence from Artaxerxes, hard at workthe broken walls of Jerusalem. Special inestin, and anxiety concerning a particularft of God's work, is often the Spirit of Godsparing the heart to undertake that work.it was in the case of Nehemiah; audit doest surprise U3 to find him appointed governorIsrael that he may carry out his desire. Thejple responded readily to his appeal for help1 to eaoh one was assigned a particularrk. But Nrhemiah found obstacles to hisrk, as did those who builded the temple.The were, first,the ridicule of the enemiesIsrael. Sanballet the Horonite, Tobiah theQonite, and Ceshem the Arabian, prominentinoJE heathen hations adjoining Israel,locked the Jews" " laughed us to scorn andspised us," said if but a fox shonld step on} wall it would fall down; charged Neheahwith plans to-rebel againat the kiug.ley went farther, they planned an assault ohJ workers. Since ridicule did notstop them,3y would try force.The second difficulty arose from tht Jews.0. lived ouiside Jerusalem, on the borderir the heathen nations. Many of these had.ponded to the call for workers, and weresy at the building. But those who remainedhome became terrified at the threats of their.ghbors, and now they came to Jerusalem to;reat their friends to return home. Thisager was more difficult to overcome thanI first;for men who would riotbe drivenm their work by threats might be indiicedleave it by those whom they loved. Tbis isfays ;true, and friends arfe taking a great remsibilityupon themselves when they atiptto persuade one to give up a bhosenrk for love's sake,or discourage those who »reoring in a difficult place. The third ob-Ao to the progress of the wall was the dis-.jrtened, feeling among the bmlders themres.They set to work vigorously at first,H iihey begin to complain. They are allrising of tte morning " until the stars appeared."_We would like to havebeen there and helpedwith the guarding, wouldn't we boys? HCheguarding we have to do at home is much moretiresome, and we don't like it when the story isdropped and the " practical application" comes we receive refreshn: ent by drinking of these waters.in. Nevertheless our enemies are about us We become weary as we work, as we travel, as weas surely as they were about Israel, and, like climb ; weary of the burden ol sin, of special sinfultheirs, the most dangerous are those which are tendencies, of temptation, of boreavement, of illness.within.We can get refresnment here at this spring. We canWe can complain as Israel did of tbe rubbishin the way Our old mistakes and failures failing source of clear, cool, sparkling water.secure alao peace, joy, strength. This is a full, never'are constantly tripping us. When Christ wason earth he ga,ve to his disciples the same advicethat Nehemiah gave to Israel: " Watch andPray." With these two weapons constantly in•use, even the hasty temper and fiery tonguemust disappear.PRAYERMEETING TOPIC.Eev. T. H. Acheson.Prayermeeting topic for Wednesday, February 15,1893 : Words for the thirsty. '' If any man thirst, letbetter way. Different things in tne Christian life areconnected.The blessings of the Holy Spirit came appropriatelyflrst; and these stand for about all the blessedness olthe Christian life. They are very wide. We knowthat the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc.The water Christ will give seems specially to ba thelife-giving, refreshing, fruit-producinginfluence of theHoly Spirit, See verse 39. Yet this verse does notteach that if any of Christ's hearers that day shouldaccept him, they must wait til] Pentecost before receivingany of tue Spirit'siij fluencein their heaits.We get life when we oome unto Christ and drink.It is the water of iife ; to give life, to preserve life, tobuild up life. We are dead in sin, and the Spirit ofGod regenerates us. We receive righteousness ofcharacter when we come and drink. We are made thechildren of God in nature. Also from this fountainwe get knowledge. It is a spring of truest, purest,highest wisdora. We learn ot God, of Christ, of hisWord, of his Kingdom, of onr duty, of Heaven. AndWhat is the source of supply? Not the temple, notthe ceremonial law, not self, uot wealth and pleasure,not any false religion, but Christ. " Unto me." Goto no other source, O thirsty soul ! Turn yonr stepsin no other direotion. Listen to no other voice. Letnot the world by fair speecheg delude jyou. Go toChrist. "II any man thirst, . . . nnto me," etaBy His Spirit He sends it. By His Word Chriatgives it. 'This is a wondrous well; deep dug, alwaysfull. By His Sabbath Christ lurnishes tbis water.him corrie unto me and drink." John 7 : 37. By His sanctuary, and the communion table, and1. That which is here promised ; the water of life. prayer, it comes. Most important it is that we follow3. The scuroe to which we areinvited ; "unto me." no mirage of the desert. The great source pf supply3. The persona invited ; " If any inan thirst," is held before us in this invitation.4. The necessity of acceptance " Come . . drink." Who are invited ? Since this water is so desirable^Parallel passages : Ps. 23 : 2. Is. 35 : 6-7 ; 41:18 who ; can come? The thirsty soul; " If any man43 : 1920 ; 44 : 3 : 49-: , 10 ; 55 : 1 ; 58 : 11. Jei. thirst." Christ here seems to refer to those who have2 :13; 31: 12. Ezek, 47 : 9. Hos. 14: 5. Joel 3 :18. more or less distinct deaire after spiritual tbings ;Zech.l3:'L Matt, 5 : 6. John 4 :10; 4 :14. ICor. thongh, it is true, he may be even more general than10: 4. Bev. 7- 17; 22 : 1; 22 : 17.this; He may refer here to that more indeflnite feel­Suitable psalms : 42 : 1-4 ; 63 : 1-4; 36 : 7-10 : ing, if there be such, described by one as "That intenselonging for some supply to fillthe &onl, which72: 5-9; 23 : l-a 143: 6, 7, (6's).In the dry and parching heat of summer, what all men have in some shape," No matter how indefinitethe feeling, we are not shut out. Even if thethings ^re more refreshing to us than water and shade?How healthful and comfotting water is! In our thirst word " thirst" has the meaning flrstsuggested; evenhow we long for it! The little child tossing restlessly if we are not directly included among the ."thirstyin the night pleads for a drink. The harvest worker, ones," we can come, if we desire.with flushed and streaming face, often makes his way There remains the duty and necessity of participa-^to the water pail. The dusty traveler hails with deiligbtthe wayside spring or well. The kine linger "Drink." We must not sit still, must not fold theting. We both should and must partake. " Come."about the creek or pool, often standing breast-deep in hands, must not keep qniet. The thirsty kine mustthe cooling flood. We long for the mountain shade come to the pool. The little bird mUst dip its beakwhere we could hear the little streams rippling and iuto the stream. The weary harvest worker must godashing among the rocks. Or, we desire to dwell for to the water-pail, or to the spring or to the well.a time on the seashore, where the winds might blow We must oome to the fountain. Let us realize withover us from the water, bearing to us coolness and the utmost clearness and vividness that in order tomoisture, and speaking of refreshment and rest. enjoy the benefits of Y. the P. water S. C. §i E. life, we must accept,Water is one of God's great gitts to men, and one thatAuthorized receive, partake. subject He for who the will week not beginning drink from Februaryof water 12, 1893: might How as well to be Pray. in the Nehemiah's parched desert. example. Wea wellgives us special help and pleasure in the Summer'sheat. .Neh. must 1:4-9. use the means. There they are. Use them.Aud what a frequent figure of spiritual blessing Use the Word, the Topics Sabbath, for Remarks. the sanctuary, the sacraments,1. We and should prayer. come And before as we God come with to Christ, humiliation let ubwater is in God s Word We hear the ripple of thewater of life iu its vivifying, healing, cooling, strengtheningpower, in so many regions of ths Scriptures. never 2. We thirst." should Let oome us with come praise penitently, and leaving adoration. be­and CDme confession believingly. of sin. "He Verses that 4 and believeth 7. on me «hall"He leadeth me beside the still waters." As theV©rsG hind a'l 5 sin. And iet us come frequently. Do wehart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my not 3. eat We three should times come a day? with earnest Do animals petitions. not drink VeraeB fromsoul atter thee, O God. See parallel passages above.4. the Our stream petitions more than shonld once be a week enforced ? Often with we arguments.come to Verses this wondrous 8 and 10. fountain. Let the path beshouldWhen Christ uttered these words he was in Jerusalem.It was the Feast of Tabernacles, and this was well trodden.the last day, perhaps the eighth day. Many personswere gathered at the feast. The" opportunity wasbroadened by their presence. Eealizing their greatneed welfare, messenger of spiritual and to men, wishing good, moved to realizing reach with earnest as his many position desire as be as for conld. God's their