1029
T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
To whom did Nehemiah ascribe these royal favors? v. 8 . What does God work out for them that love Him ? Rom. 8 :28. What protection was given Nehemiah for his perilous journey? v. 9. Why did Ezra reject what Nehemiah here accepted? Ezra 8:22. What specially chagrined the people of the land on Nehemiah’s arrival? v. 10. What will be the fate of such as hate the Jews? Matt. 25:40, 41. PRACTICAL POINTS I. Note the specific point of Nehemiah’s prayer, Neh. 1: God caused him to find ‘"mercy” in : (1) Making the king sympathetic instead of fearsome at his sad ness. (2) In opening the King’s heart to grant all his desire. (3) Making the King, willing to give him a long furlough. (4) In providing him passports through otherwise enemy coun tries. (5) In providing substantial material help for his enterprise. ( 6 ) In affording him military protec tion for his perilous journey. So Nehemiah’s prayer was fully answered. ?. .Sadness in a king’s presence implies the king’s inability to help: Therefore, Ps. 100:1, 2. 3. Nehemiah’s sickness was heart sickness because it was homesickness. 4. There is always time to call on God before answering man. Give the human mediator his due—but don’t forget the “good hand of God.” 6 . If you would make the Devil mad, seek the good of Israel.
What kind of sickness did the King con clude Nehemiah had? v. 2. Why was Nehemiah so afraid? Esther 4:2. Do Kings live forever? Ecc. 3:18-20. Is there a king who lives forever? 1 Tim. 1:17. What is the benefit of His endless exist ence? Heb. 7 :2S. What reason did Nehemiah give for his sorrow ? v. 3. Was the condition at Jerusalem so bad as he pictured it? Neh. 2:11, 12. How should we feel about desolate Jeru salem? , Ps. 137:1-6. What promise is made to thepi that sor row for Israel ? Ps. 122: 6 . What did the King ask of Nehemiah? r. 4. What did Nehemiah do in 'his heart before answering? v. 4. (3 ) Nehemiah’* Request, v. I. Can we expect God to respond to such a sudden uplift of the heart to Him? Isa. 65:24. What two things did Nehemiah beg of the King? v. 5. On what two conditions did he base his request? v. 5. On what condition •does God bless us ? Eph.2:7,K (4 ) The King’s Response, vs. 6, 7. How long a time did Nehemiah take? Neh. 5:14. What passports were issued to him by the king? v. 7. Among whom were those governors included? Dan. 6:1. What royal requisition was made oh the king’s forrester? v. 8 . Was this in line with the policy of Per sian kings toward the Jews? Ez. 6:6-12. What does that policy prefigure? Isa. 49:23.
Made with FlippingBook Annual report