Nehemiah, An Impressive History
Beginnings (Gen. 1:1-5:32), Flood (6:1-8:19), New Beginnings (8:20-11:32), The Great Patriarchs (12:1-45:28), The Egyptian Sojourn (Gen. 46:1-Ex. 14:31), Wilderness Wanderings (15:1-Deut. 34:12), Conquest of Canaan (Josh. 1:1-Judg. 3:11), The Judges (Judg. 3:12, Ruth, 1 Sam. 12:25), United Kingdom (1 Sam. 13:1, 2 Sam.-1 Kgs. 11:43, 1 Chron-2 Chron. 9:31), Divided Kingdom (1 Kgs. 12:1-2 Kgs. 18:12, 2 Chron. 10:1-28:7), Judah Alone (2 Kgs. 18:13-25:7, 2 Chron. 29:1-36:21), Babylonian Captivity (2 Kgs. 24:1-25:3, 2 Chron. 36:6-23), and Return from Captivity (Ezra 1-6, Esther 1-10, Ezra 7-10, Neh. 1-12). These are the thirteen general periods of time that make up the book we call the Old Testament.
It is in the period called “Return from Captivity” that we find the text for our study in this essay—the book of Nehemiah. By way of this study, we only want to make four observations.
A Book With an Impressive Historical Setting.
By impressive we mean, a vivid impression upon our minds. Following Israel’s deportation into captivity, Judah maintained the Southern Kingdom. Yet, they did not learn their lesson from their northern brethren. Therefore, Judah came under Babylon’s control, and the first captives were taken out of the land in 606 B.C. (Dan. 1:1-7). Two subsequent deportations of captives occurred in 597 and 586 B.C. Jeremiah, a contemporary of these events, prophesied that the captivity would last 70 years (Jer. 25:12). No details are given of those 70 years of captivity.
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah pick up the account of God’s people, the Jews, returning home from captivity. It began with the decree of King Cyrus in 536 B.C. (Ezra 1:1-4). This return home came in three groups. Zerubbabel led the first group home in 536 B.C. (Ezra 1:5-6:22). Under Zerubbabel’s leadership, the first group was to rebuild the temple. After having faced the adversaries, and overcoming complacency with the help of Haggai and Zechariah, the temple was finally built and dedicated (some 20 + years after returning to Jerusalem). Ezra led the second group home in 458 B.C. (Ezra 7:1-10:44). It was during this time that the Jews experienced a great spiritual revival. We have skipped nearly 60 years, and Ezra, with a commission from King Artaxerxes 1, leads a second group home. Ezra finds that God’s people have intermarried, compromising their spiritual devotion. He prayed for the people and began a series of reform. Nehemiah led the last group home in 445 B.C. Nehemiah would now lead home the last group of Jews in order that they might rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
A Book With an Impressive Historical Account.
Johnny Ramsey says, “Some critics of the Bible scoff at Nehemiah as being a bricklayer’s book. But there is a much deeper plot than that in this dramatic section of God’s word. The purpose of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall was to keep Abraham’s seed safe within and the world outside the confines of the city David had taken from the Jebusites (2 Sam. 6). It was imperative that Israel remain intact until the coming of the promised Seed (Gal. 3:16)” (Practical Bible Studies, p.p. 111-112).
Upon the recognition of Nehemiah's own errors and those of his people, he requested of the king safe passage back to Jerusalem (Neh. 1-2). Nehemiah’s request is granted. Nehemiah returns home, and under his outstanding leadership, and by the divine providence of God, Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days--and that in spite of the opposition of Sanballat and his followers (Neh. 2-6). Too, Nehemiah improved the religious character of his own people (Neh. 7-13).
A Book With an Impressive Historical Character.
Nehemiah was an impressive leader. But, what made him so? He had an unstoppable faith in God (Neh. 2:8; 2:18; 2:20; 4:14-15). He encouraged his Jewish brethren to cooperate (Neh. 2:18; 4:6; 4:17). Nehemiah knew how to prepare himself and his people (Neh. 2:12-18). Nehemiah was enthusiastic, and that enthusiasm was contagious (Neh. 4:6). He was a praying person (Neh. 4:9). Nehemiah was a watchdog--one who protected his people (Neh. 4:9; 4:17).
A Book With an Impressive Historical Message For Us.
We will only emphasize two messages that God, through Nehemiah has for us today in this great book. First, we learn how to be good leaders. Second, we learn more perfectly the importance of prayer.
Observe who a good leader is. A good leader is one who knows how to relate to his people. “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven” (Neh. 1:4). My question is why? Because his people were hurting. He knew how to sympathize with his people. Add to that, a good leader will inspire others to go to work. “Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach” (Neh. 2:17). They all went to work, and the wall was built in just 52 days. Then, a good leader will not give in to the opposition. “But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build...” (Neh. 2:19-20).
Observe what a good prayer life is. One should pray in earnest. “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them” (Neh. 4:9). Add to that, our prayer life should be continual (cf. 1 Thes. 5:17—“Pray without ceasing”).
Nehemiah—What a History. When we look through the telescopic lens of time back to about 430 B.C. we read the autobiography of a man who was a great servant of God. May we be like he was.
It is in the period called “Return from Captivity” that we find the text for our study in this essay—the book of Nehemiah. By way of this study, we only want to make four observations.
A Book With an Impressive Historical Setting.
By impressive we mean, a vivid impression upon our minds. Following Israel’s deportation into captivity, Judah maintained the Southern Kingdom. Yet, they did not learn their lesson from their northern brethren. Therefore, Judah came under Babylon’s control, and the first captives were taken out of the land in 606 B.C. (Dan. 1:1-7). Two subsequent deportations of captives occurred in 597 and 586 B.C. Jeremiah, a contemporary of these events, prophesied that the captivity would last 70 years (Jer. 25:12). No details are given of those 70 years of captivity.
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah pick up the account of God’s people, the Jews, returning home from captivity. It began with the decree of King Cyrus in 536 B.C. (Ezra 1:1-4). This return home came in three groups. Zerubbabel led the first group home in 536 B.C. (Ezra 1:5-6:22). Under Zerubbabel’s leadership, the first group was to rebuild the temple. After having faced the adversaries, and overcoming complacency with the help of Haggai and Zechariah, the temple was finally built and dedicated (some 20 + years after returning to Jerusalem). Ezra led the second group home in 458 B.C. (Ezra 7:1-10:44). It was during this time that the Jews experienced a great spiritual revival. We have skipped nearly 60 years, and Ezra, with a commission from King Artaxerxes 1, leads a second group home. Ezra finds that God’s people have intermarried, compromising their spiritual devotion. He prayed for the people and began a series of reform. Nehemiah led the last group home in 445 B.C. Nehemiah would now lead home the last group of Jews in order that they might rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
A Book With an Impressive Historical Account.
Johnny Ramsey says, “Some critics of the Bible scoff at Nehemiah as being a bricklayer’s book. But there is a much deeper plot than that in this dramatic section of God’s word. The purpose of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall was to keep Abraham’s seed safe within and the world outside the confines of the city David had taken from the Jebusites (2 Sam. 6). It was imperative that Israel remain intact until the coming of the promised Seed (Gal. 3:16)” (Practical Bible Studies, p.p. 111-112).
Upon the recognition of Nehemiah's own errors and those of his people, he requested of the king safe passage back to Jerusalem (Neh. 1-2). Nehemiah’s request is granted. Nehemiah returns home, and under his outstanding leadership, and by the divine providence of God, Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days--and that in spite of the opposition of Sanballat and his followers (Neh. 2-6). Too, Nehemiah improved the religious character of his own people (Neh. 7-13).
A Book With an Impressive Historical Character.
Nehemiah was an impressive leader. But, what made him so? He had an unstoppable faith in God (Neh. 2:8; 2:18; 2:20; 4:14-15). He encouraged his Jewish brethren to cooperate (Neh. 2:18; 4:6; 4:17). Nehemiah knew how to prepare himself and his people (Neh. 2:12-18). Nehemiah was enthusiastic, and that enthusiasm was contagious (Neh. 4:6). He was a praying person (Neh. 4:9). Nehemiah was a watchdog--one who protected his people (Neh. 4:9; 4:17).
A Book With an Impressive Historical Message For Us.
We will only emphasize two messages that God, through Nehemiah has for us today in this great book. First, we learn how to be good leaders. Second, we learn more perfectly the importance of prayer.
Observe who a good leader is. A good leader is one who knows how to relate to his people. “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven” (Neh. 1:4). My question is why? Because his people were hurting. He knew how to sympathize with his people. Add to that, a good leader will inspire others to go to work. “Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach” (Neh. 2:17). They all went to work, and the wall was built in just 52 days. Then, a good leader will not give in to the opposition. “But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build...” (Neh. 2:19-20).
Observe what a good prayer life is. One should pray in earnest. “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them” (Neh. 4:9). Add to that, our prayer life should be continual (cf. 1 Thes. 5:17—“Pray without ceasing”).
Nehemiah—What a History. When we look through the telescopic lens of time back to about 430 B.C. we read the autobiography of a man who was a great servant of God. May we be like he was.
posted by Neil Richey @ 5:24 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
To God be the glory. Blessed are those who use all that they have been given to bless others. Be blessed my brother.
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