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Saturday
The First
Lesson
Nehemiah 4:6-23
6
So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto
the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the
Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the
walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began
to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against
Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch
against them day and night, because of them.
10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is
decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to
build the wall.
11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see,
till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause
the work to cease.
12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them
came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye
shall return unto us they will be upon you.
13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on
the higher places, I even set the people after their families
with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to
the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of
them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight
for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives,
and your houses.
15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known
unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we
returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of
my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held
both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons;
and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens,
with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought
in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side,
and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the
rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated
upon the wall, one far from another.
20 In
what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort
ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears
from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every
one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night
they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.
23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men
of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes,
saving that every one put them off for washing.
1st Lesson Questions -
Nehemiah 4:6-23. Do I have a mind to work for God's greater glory? (V. 6) Do I believe God will fight for us? (V. 20) Am I likewise living my life doing God's work of restoration, while also being ready for the fight? With whom is the Church at war? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 13:26-43
26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever
among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because
they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are
read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning
him.
28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired
they Pilate that he should be slain.
29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they
took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
30 But God raised him from the dead:
31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from
Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise
which was made unto the fathers,
33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that
he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second
psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now
no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will
give you the sure mercies of David.
35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will
of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw
corruption:
37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through
this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things,
from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken
of in the prophets;
41 Behold,
ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your
days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man
declare it unto you.
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles
besought that these words might be preached to them the Next
sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews
and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking
to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Acts 13:26-43. Compare verse 41 with Habakkuk 1:5. Is it easy to identify when God is at work in the world? What work is He doing in my life? RESOLVE.