It is sin and lack of devotion that re tard the work of the Lord. Reading the Word Neh. 8:1-3 There never has been a real revival that did not stress the Word of God. They belong together. And so in the revival in the days of Ezra and Nehe- miah, the Word of God was listened to with consuming interest. The peo ple said, “Bring the Book and read it to us.” It was the only book in which they were interested. They were at tentive to its message and sought to understand its import. When such a condition prevails among God’s peo ple, revival is on the way. Nehemiah, one of the Israelites who was in captivity, had become a serv ant of the king in the foreign land to which he had been taken. One day Nehemiah heard that his beloved city of Jerusalem had its gates burned with fire and its walls broken down. Those Jews who had already returned to their homeland were suffering and discouraged. N e h e m i a h wept and asked God to enable him to help in some way to restore his beloved city. One day when Nehemiah came be fore the king, the king noticed his sad appearance and asked if he were sick. When the king asked what Neh emiah would like to do, Nehemiah quickly prayed for God’s wisdom and then asked the king if he might re turn to Jerusalem to help rebuild the city. The king granted his request and gave Nehemiah soldiers and horses for his trip, and also com manded the keeper of the king’s for est to provide the wood necessary for Nemehiah’s work. Secretly, at night, Nehemiah viewed the walls of the ruined city. Many enemies were anx ious to prevent the Jews from rebuild ing Jerusalem. Nehemiah did not tell even the Jews why he had returned to his homeland. The people rejoiced greatly when they knew Nehemiah’s plans for rebuilding the walls and gates of their city. When the enemies of the Jews heard of their working together to rebuild the walls of their city, they became angry. Some made fun of the Jews, saying that the work would be so poorly done that a fox could break down the wall. Nehemiah asked God to punish their enemies. Eagerly the people worked together. Guards kept enemies from destroying the work of Helps ior the Children Working Together Neh. 2:1-4,6; 8:1-3 Memory Verse: “They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage” (Isa. 41:6).
Pointers on the Lesson H omer A. K ent , T h .D.
Helps for the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon out lines of the International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education; used by permission.
June 3, 1951 REBUILDING A DEVASTATED HOMELAND Ezra 1:2, 3; 6:14-16; Neh. 4:6; 8:1-3
28; 45:1). This goes to show how God employs those who do not know Him to perform His will. Even Nebuchad nezzar is called the servant of Jeho vah (Jer. 25:9). In Ezra 6:14-16 we see how every thing worked together harmoniously for the completion of the restored temple. Then we read that there was great joy in connection with the dedi cation of the house of the Lord. When God is put first in the lives of His children, there is always joy. Joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). God’s children are expected to “ Rejoice in the Lord alway” (Phil. 4 :4 ). Rebuilding the Wall Neh. 4:6 “ So built we the wall.” How was this building operation accomplished? Two factors contributed vitally to ward this end. First, the wall was built in the atmosphere of prayer (w . 4, 5). Then it was built through the hearty co-operation of all the people (v.6). They had “ a mind to work.” The work of the Lord should always be characterized by these two things, prayer and earnest endeavor. These two things normally work together. The right kind of praying puts action into the hands and feet of God’s serv ants. The work in building the wall was completed in a remarkably short time (52 days, 6:15). When God’s people have a mind to do God’s work in His way, things happen in a hurry.
Pointers on the Lesson With the spiritual declension and subsequent captivities of the Northern and Southern kingdoms, the glory of the Lord departed from the land of Palestine. Saddest of all was the de struction that came to Jerusalem and the holy temple. But God was not through with His people. He 'had promised that at the end of seventy years there would be a restoration (Jer. 29:10). Thus some Jews re turned to Jerusalem under the edict of Cyrus and rebuilt the temple. Others came later and helped to rebuild the walls. Wise leaders sought to prevent the errors of the past by putting the law of God into the life of the people. With these related matters this week’s lesson is concerned. Rebuilding the Temple Ezra 1:2,3; 6:14-16 The temple stands for the presence of God in the midst of His people. If any restoration was to amount to any thing, God must be in the center of it. Thus in the divine plan it was ar ranged that before the walls of Jeru salem were restored, the temple should be built. If God’s people would always arrange the affairs of their lives with God at the center, their lives would be the blessing He intends them to be. Note how God worked upon the heart of a pagan king to accomplish the divine will (1:2, 3). In Isaiah’s prophecy Cyrus is referred to as God’s shepherd and his anointed (44:-
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