Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

work."SABBATH SCHOOL LESSONSeptember 11, 1955Rev. W. J. McBurney(Lessons based on International Sunday SchoolLessons; the International Bible Lessons forChristian Teaching, copyrighted by the International Council of Reliirious Education.)STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVALFor reading: Nehemiah 1; 2; 4; 6;12:27-31, 38, 43.iPrinted: Neh. 2:17, 18; 4:6-9, 15, 21-23;12:27, 43.Memory verse: Neh. 2:18 "And theysaid, Let us rise up and build. So theystrengthened their hands for the goodSince our last lesson, fifty-eight yearshave passed about which the Bible issilent concerning the Jews at Jerusalem.Ezra (7-10) had returned with a company of Babylonian Jews as teachers.This showed that the Jews, after building the Temple, had neglected to studythe Law, and teach their children. Thirteen years later Nehemiah came toJerusalem. He had heard, possibly hisinformers had been sent by Ezra, of thedeplorable neglect of the work at Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes, for whom hewas cup-bearer, a very trusted servantsince a part of his charge was to protect the King's life from poisoners, wastouched by his grief and gave him letters of authority and permitted him toreturn to Jerusalem (Neh. 2). We seeagain how faithfulness on the part ofcaptives in Babylon won the respect,confidence and favor of the Kings.Finding that his mission was not approved by certain groups in and aroundJerusalem, Nehemiah made his investigation alone at night. He found thewalls and gates in ruin. Since this washis first sight of Jerusalem,we wonderat his courage in attempting so greata task. Under the inspiration of his leadership some of the people took heart. Asthe work progressed, others followedand the work was organized.The Cost of VictoryEven without any opposition, the taskwould have been a big one. Perhaps theindifference of many and the appearance of enemieswithin and withouttheir city showed the people the needof the work, and the opposition becamea spur to urge them on. In chapter 2:7, 8 we have a list of those who didnot want to see Jerusalem strengthened.It is interesting to see how they changedtheir method of attack as the workwent on. First they were grieved thathelp had come from abroad (2:10). Thenthey tried to show indifference bylaughing at the work (2:19). As the122work went on they resorted to mockeryand ridicule (4:1-3). When the progressof the work proved to be beyond ridicule, they became very wroth, and combined to stop the work by force. Thisthreat had a good effect: it proved theneed of protecting the city, and boundthe people together in the consciousnessof a common need. Having seen the difficulty of the task, and having unitedin their effort to meet it, the victorywas half won.The Secret of Victory."Not by might nor by power . . Itwas not enough that the people wereunited and had a mind to work. Theyknew that it was the Lord's work, sothey took their cause to God in prayer.They claimed God's help; for what?The strength of their prayer was in thefact that they were working. They didnot ask God to come down and liftstones. Theyasked Him to give themstrength to do the lifting, and protectthem while they were doing it.Some have criticized Nehemiah'sprayer(4:5, 6), saying that he did notshow a Christian spirit in praying forthe destruction of his enemies. Nowtheir evil work must be stopped. Therewere two ways bywhich it couldbe brought to an end. The enemies couldaccomplish peace by turning from theirevil purpose. This they had refused todo. There was only one way left, andthat was to destroy the evil workers.Repeatedly God has shown that that isHis way. So Nehemiah's prayer was inline with God's plan. To every sinner,God is calling, 'Turn ye, turn ye, whywill ye die?"This was an emergency, and their"Union" was one of service, not forshortening the time. As long as the chiefend of man is to get for as little aspossible, there will be strife and waste.Nehemiah and his helpers used all thedaylight that God gave them for work.Equality of Honor and RewardMany, like Paul, have learned to becontent with what they have. That iswell. But it is not well to be satisfiedwith a condition which permits an unfair distribution of the earth and of thefruits of labor.There are very few who are satisfiedwith the present distribution of wealth.The "Haves and the Have Nots" eachwant more. There are a few who areseeking an honest solution of the problem,and are striving for justice. Nehemiah was in this class. He followed theordinance for Israel that David had set(I Sam. 30:25). When Nehemiah heardcomplaint that some of the stay-at-homeworkers were left without proper provision, he immediately investigated andsaw to it that all were both suppliedand protected. Of course it is likely thatthere will always be some who will complain even if they get more than justice.We have yet to learn the difference between getting and earning.We have not yet advanced far enoughto realize that the rustic who raises capons is as honorably employed as themagnate who eats them. Service is thehighest mark of nobility.The Disposition to Work"Let this mind be in you, which alsowas in ChristJesus."We know thatthose workers in Jerusalem were enjoying their task. They had a mind towork. We are fortunate if we can selectwork that appeals to us. We are morefortunate if we can set our minds towhatever task is ours to do. Anyone whotries to do his work well, and better every day, will find satisfaction and enjoyment in his work.The Privilege of a New StartIsrael had failed. The Temple wasdestroyed, they had to find the rock onwhich to build a new one. The wallsand the gates were broken and theybuilt new ones. We do not have to buildon our past failures. God asks us tomake a new start. "Forgetting thethings that are behindThe Joy of United Effort in God's WorkThe Bible speaks often of joy beingexpressed by singing. Joy deals strangely with arithmetic; it increases whenshared. When a company sings together,every voice responding to the sametime, we have a type, an illustration ofthe harmony that can be enjoyed whena company works together because eachone is following the leadership of JesusChrist.PRAYER MEETING TOPICSeptember 14, 1955"PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS"Psalms:Matt. 6:12, 14, 15Rev. P. D. McCracken, D.D.32:1-6, page 74130:1, 2, 5, page 32551:1, 4-6, page 132-133References:Luke 11:4; 7:36-50; Matt. 5:21-26;Rom. 3:9-22; Matt. 18:24-25; I John 1:8,10; Rom. 5:14; Heb. 9:22; Eph. 1:6, 7; IIPet. 1:2; Hos. 14:2; Jer. 14:7; Rom. 15:13.COVENANTER WITNESS