In ternationa l S. S. Lessons Exposition and Practical Application By R. A. Tprrey Outlines and Suggestive Points By T. C. Horton
Nehemiah Builds the Wall of Jerusalem DECEMBER 2, 1917. LESSON IX. Neh. 4:7-21. (Read 1-23, Memorize vs. 17, 18). G olden T ex t : “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”—Heb. 13:6.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS Mon., November 26—Neh. 4:7-20. (The Lesson). Tues., November 27—Neh. 4:1-6, 21-23. (The Lesson).
Wed., November 28—Neh. 5:1-13. Thurs., November 29—Neh. 5:14-19. Fri., November 30—Neh. 6:1-9.
i Sat., ■December 1—Neh. 6:10-19. Sun., December 2—Zech. 4:1-10. EXPOSITION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
vs. 7, 8. "But it came to pass, that (that,) when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the (add, repairing of the) walls of Jerusalem were made up (went forward), and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, (;) and (and they) •conspired all of them together to come and to (omit, to) fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it (cause confusion there).’’ Nothing so angers the enemies of God as the activity and progress of His people. As long as the remnant of the captivity were in great affliction and reproach and the walls of Jerusalem broken down (ch. 1:3), Sanbal lat and the whole host of Israel’s ancient enemies were quite content and left Jeru salem alone; but as soon as those enemies heard that a man was come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel “it grieved them exceedingly” (ch. 2:10). And now that success attended Nehemiah’s efforts they were “very wroth,” It is always a good sign when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the
Ashdodites, and all other anti-godites get mad: .it proves that there is something doing. Sanballat’s anger and that of his colleagues was a very practical so rt,o f anger, and they showed it in a very prac tical way, “they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusa lem, and to cause confusion therein.” These enemies of God and His people were not really at one among themselves, in fact they had great differences, but they were one in their hatred of God and His peo ple; so “they conspired “all of them together.’’ The same thing was seen when our Lord Jesus was here upon earth, when the Pharisees and Sadducees, who had bit ter enmity against one another, conspired together against the Lord Jesus. Just so today, the most antagonistic classes of society make common cause against Jesus Christ and His church (cf. Ps. 2T-5- Ha 8:9, 10). ‘ ’ v. 9. Nevertheless (But) we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” It is a wonderful “nevertheless” (or,
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