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THE CHRISTIAN NATION. Vol. B9.<br />
Mfe. To our mind this was the severest test<br />
cut off or the crop isl becoming a failure<br />
of his courage. Failing in all otber means, ^=°L*^ Sabbath School they should remember that they are prest)mingIio<br />
complain against'the wisdom and plan<br />
at last tbese enemies resorted to conspiracy. Lesson VIII. Aug. 24,1913.<br />
Pretending to have 'had a revelation from tbe<br />
By the Rev. W. A. Aikin.<br />
of the God of providence. 3rd. Because oi<br />
Lord, Shemaiah came to Nehemiah with the<br />
tbeir lack of faith. As jLuther has said, when<br />
THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN.—Ex.<br />
suggestion that tbey seek refugie in the temple.<br />
Going into the temple would of course<br />
come to an end. God's children so often<br />
our provision ceases, our faith is wont to<br />
16-.2 36.<br />
Golden Text.—^Jesus said unto them I am<br />
be a violation of itbe ceremonial law, but<br />
live by bread alone and not by every word<br />
the bread of life.—^Jno. 6:35.<br />
when in the interest of life, Shemaiiah felt<br />
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God<br />
Psalms.—105:23-26. C. M.; 36:6-8. C.<br />
that it would be justifiable.<br />
The cure for s,uch a lack of faitb is to take<br />
M.; 104:22-24 C. M.<br />
God soon opened the eyes of his servant.<br />
Christ as the example of life amd the surety<br />
Time.—Six weeks after tbe depanture from<br />
It was not long until Nehemiah saw through<br />
for all needed blessings. "He that spared<br />
Egypt.<br />
thie entire plot. Had he gone into the temple<br />
he would bave offended the more influ<br />
us all, how shall be not with him also freely<br />
not his own Son, but delivered him up for<br />
Place.—The Wlilderness of Sin, lying between<br />
EHm and Sinai.<br />
ential Jews as well as displayed the spirit<br />
give us all things?"<br />
ANALYSIS AND COMMENT.<br />
of cowardice. Instead of wishing to preserve<br />
his life, Shemaiah sought tbe very op<br />
This lesson sbould be studied in the light II. GOD HARKENS. (v. 4-12.) "^<br />
of Israel's experience at Marah, the place of "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven<br />
posite.<br />
bitter waters. After traveling for three days for you."—"I have! heard the murmurings<br />
How often today, brethren, our courage<br />
without water, Israel came upon this pool of of tbe children of Israel." The injury<br />
is put to the same test. As members of tbe<br />
water, which was bitter and undrinkable because<br />
of the nitre in .the soil at that place. against the providences of God, may be seen<br />
which those often suffer who compbim<br />
Covenanter Church, we are frequently urged<br />
to set aside our position as to purity of<br />
Israel murmured. And Gbd stilled their in the outcome of Israel's murmuring, God<br />
worship,ini order to unlite withi some other<br />
murmuringsl by directing Moses to a tree, granted their request. But they were greatly<br />
damaged thereby. "He gave them their<br />
churcb in a mass meeting of some kind.<br />
wbicb when cast into the waters made then.<br />
Equally the same lis true with our position<br />
sweet. It was a miraculous work. The help request; but sent leanness into their soul."<br />
on Voting. Occasionally we are urged to<br />
had come directly from heaven. Therefore, It should be a cause for gratitude that God<br />
set it aside ithat a bad man mght be kept<br />
wben it was, done it was understood as said, doesi not always grant our requests for the<br />
out of office. When we object saying tbat<br />
"there he made for them a statute and an ordinance,<br />
and there he proved them." By flesh. "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye<br />
things which we desire to_ minister to the<br />
such would be a violatiom of our profession,<br />
the assertion is made En reply that the end<br />
these words it is declared that God had by ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon<br />
fully justifies ithe means. What is all this,<br />
this aot at Marah and former acts of divine<br />
interposition, established in Israel the III. MANNA FALLS, (v. 13-15.)<br />
your lusts." James 4:3.<br />
brethren, but a repetition of Nehemiah's sore<br />
temptation ? Isit not a fledinginto the temple<br />
to save life? To flee abng such lines<br />
He "rained down manna upon them to<br />
principle that im all "seasons of need and<br />
'seeming impossibilty the Lord would send<br />
as we have indicated would be a dishonor<br />
eat." A certain shrub of the desertj the<br />
deliverance straight from above, and that<br />
done to Christ, the Head of the Church, and<br />
tamarisk, is said to exude drops of white,<br />
Israel might expect this during their wilderness<br />
journey." But that the enjoyment of<br />
also a display of a cowardice of wblich no<br />
sweet, honey-Hike substance whenit is pricked<br />
disciple ever should be guilty.<br />
by a small insect. Tbis substance melts in<br />
this right and privilege would depend upon<br />
In closing, let us seek and pray that we<br />
the sun. lit is known as the natural manna.<br />
the constanit exerdise of their faith. In the<br />
may have a courage like that possessed by<br />
It is nothing like the manna which the children<br />
of Israel received however. This natural<br />
lesson before us, Israel is being tested according<br />
to this principle.<br />
Nehemiah. Although engaged in a difficult<br />
work, and alone 5n the task, surrounded by<br />
manna can be found only a few months in<br />
I. ISRAEL MURMURS, (v. 2, 3.)<br />
enemies, he refused to flee -Whtn even bis<br />
the year and is not capable of being baked or<br />
"And the whole congregation of the<br />
own life was at stake. Let us be of the same<br />
seethed. The supply of it is very small.<br />
children of Israel murmured ." The<br />
mind. "Tlierefore, my beloved brethren, be<br />
Enough of it could never have been found<br />
fault of murmuring was just as common<br />
ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding<br />
in a whole season to have supplied Israel for<br />
among the congregation of Israel as it is<br />
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye<br />
one day. The manna of our lessoni "was indeed<br />
a miraculous provision, given immedi<br />
among God's children today. And the<br />
know that your labour is not in vain in the<br />
grounds of their murmurings were the ately from God; and not the production of<br />
Lord."<br />
same as those of God's people in our day. second causes." The manner of its coming<br />
THE BIBLE.<br />
The causes of it were:— ist. Because of was to teach Isfael that "every good gift, and<br />
"Give the Bible to them unadulterated, pure, their f<strong>org</strong>etfulness of past favors and deliverances.<br />
Beginning witb the breaking of down from the Father of lights, with, whom<br />
every perfect gift is from above, and cometh<br />
unaltered, unexplained, uncheapened and then see<br />
it work its wholesome work through the whole the bonds of their servitude in Egypt, God is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."<br />
,,<br />
nature. It is very difficult, indeed, for a man or<br />
had wrought out for them a succession of<br />
a boy, who knows the Scripture, ever to get away<br />
from it. It haunts him like an old song. It<br />
wonderful deliverances within the weeks This bread also in its origin, adaptability<br />
follows him like the memory of his mother. It that had just past. And yet when their provisions<br />
began to get a little low, they could other features, served as a .type of Christ,<br />
to Israel's need, its sweetness and many<br />
reminds him like the word of an old and revered<br />
teacher. It forms a part of the warp and woof see nothing but starvation and death, ahead "the bread of life."<br />
of his life."—President Woodrow Wilson.<br />
of them. How short the memory of God's IV. ORDER OBSERVED. (16-21.)<br />
people often is! 2nd. Because of their "Gather it to every man according to his<br />
shortsigbtediness tbey failed to see hjebind eating." This food is given out to Israel<br />
this shortage of bread the presence and providence<br />
of God. Moses told them that wben each day, and that early in the morning.<br />
under wise regulations. It must be gathered<br />
H<br />
HAVE PATIENCE.<br />
In the warld there's tribulation<br />
In the warld there's wae;<br />
But the warldit is bonnie,<br />
For our Father made it sae;<br />
Then brichten up your armor,<br />
An' be happy as ye gang,<br />
Though your sky be often clouded.<br />
It winna be for lang. —Ex.<br />
tbey commplained that it was not against<br />
him but against the Lord that they murmured.<br />
When God's children murmur because<br />
the opportunity to bring in wages is<br />
was to be taken in according to the need of<br />
each bousehold. If one family found thai<br />
it had in store more than was need,it wai<br />
to be given to a family that did not hav(