(Nehemiah 13)

Recap the story

Two Problems

1.  The problem of Chapter 13.  What do we do with . . .

• The statements about the temple?
• The statements about the Sabbath?
• The statements about intermarriage?

2.  The problem with the book of Nehemiah

• A pretty pathetic way to end
• “Remember me oh God . . .” (Neh 13:15; 13:22; 13:31)

To solve the problems we have to read Nehemiah in a distinctly Christian way

The New Testament tells us how to do this.  A few examples . . .

• 1 Corinthians 10:11
  • The events of the Old Testament have relevance for us
  • They are for our instruction
• Matthew 5:17-19
  • The Old Testament still has authority
  • It has the kind of authority Jesus says it has
  • We must read the Old Testament as finding its fulfillment in Christ
• Hebrews 7:11-12
  • We have a different priest-Jesus
  • We follow a new law-the law of Christ

How can we understand Nehemiah in general and Nehemiah 13 in particular in a way that sees Christ fulfilling what happens?

Let’s examine the three sections . . .

Part One: Failure Regarding the Temple (Neh 13:4-14)

• Nehemiah grounds his account in the beginning of God’s story.
• How should Christians see the account pointing to the fulfillment of God’s story?
  • Jesus is greater than the temple (Matt 12:6)
  • The triune God comes to make his home in believers (John 14:23)
  • It is in this sense that believers are “temples” (Eph 2:19-22)
  • The Old Testament temple finds its fulfillment in the Spirit of Christ indwelling his people (1 Cor 3:16-17)

Part Two: Failure Regarding the Sabbath (Neh 13:15-23)

• Nehemiah grounds his account in the beginning of God’s story.
• How should Christians see the account pointing to the fulfillment of God’s story?
  • Jesus is greater than and Lord of the Sabbath (Matt 12:8)
  • The Sabbath principle in Old Testament points to the need people have to rest from their works in Jesus (Heb 4:8-10)

Part Three: Failure Regarding the Purity of the People (Neh 13:23-30; 1-3)

• Nehemiah grounds his account in the beginning of God’s story.
• How should Christians see the account pointing to the fulfillment of God’s story?
  • Jesus’ purpose is to secure a holy people (Titus 2:14)
  • In Christ, Believers are the holy people of God called to give testimony to the name of Jesus (1 Pet 2:9-12)

5 Implications of all this

1.    We must read the parts of the Bible in light of the whole Bible.

• The Bible is not a series of disconnected stories
• It is one, large story with many parts progressing over centuries

2.    We must read the whole Bible in light of Christ

• We must read the whole Bible as Christians
• Every part of the Bible points to him in some sense

3.    Our bodies are the temple of God and we ought not defile them, but use them for his service and glory.

4.    The Christian Sabbath is not Sunday, but Jesus and we rest from our works in him.

5.    We must guard the people of God from threats outside the Church

• Be careful who you marry
• Be careful who you let in the church
• Be careful who you keep in the church

(Nehemiah 12:27-47)

Where are we in Nehemiah’s story?

There has been a time of labor and struggle

Now there is a time of dedication

1.  Glad Thankfulness Demands our Time (Neh 12:27-47)

• The Example of Nehemiah
  • The wall has been built since Nehemiah 6
  • Everything since has been reflection on that completed work!
• The Exhortation of Scripture (Ps 118:1; Eph 5:4; 1 Thess 4:18)
• Our problem: we ask, want, beg, and plead and then aren’t thankful

2.  Glad Thankfulness Loves Music (Neh 12:29, 31, 36, 42, 46)

• In Scripture, Thankfulness is often accompanied by music and singing (Pss 30:4; 69:30; 147:7; Eph 5:19-20)
• Make this work in two ways
  • Sing to God when are alone
  • Sing to God when you are gathered with the saints

3.  Glad Thankfulness is Leader-Led (Neh 12:31)

• Pay attention husbands, dads, mothers, community group leaders, ministry team leaders!
• As leaders we must set the pace for thankfulness
• If our people aren’t thankful, we bear some responsibility
  • We must express thankfulness to them
  • We must remind them of all they have to be thankful for

4.  Glad Thankfulness Unites (Neh 12:27-28

• There are many different people in our community
• But we are all united by the fact that our great God is at work in all of us (Col 3:15-16)

5.  Glad Thankfulness is all of Grace (Neh 12:43)

• Glad thankfulness is a good work so it ultimately doesn’t come from us
• Glad thankfulness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)
• When was the last time you struggled in prayer to be a more thankful person?

6.  Glad Thankfulness Must be Seen and Heard outside our Community (Neh 12:43)

• Glad thankfulness isn’t meant to be held inside, but seen and heard
• As Christians we have more reason for glad thankfulness than anyone else
• We should have a reputation for this (2 Cor 2:14)  DO WE?

7.  Glad Thankfulness Leads to Increased Faithfulness (Neh 12:44-47)

• Proud, arrogant, demanding hearts lead to more disobedience
• People who truly realize that the Lord has been more kind than they ever deserve will be people who are increasingly faithful

8.  Glad Thankfulness Demands our Careful Consideration (Neh 12:31-43)

• The context of Thankfulness in Nehemiah
  • Consider the many problems faced by Nehemiah and the people
  • Consider the many prayers lifted up to God
  • Consider the faithfulness of God in response to all of that
• In that context . . .
  • Descriptions of the wall and the people are far from worthless
  • They are a victory lap!
• When was the last time you really took time to consider the faithfulness of God in your life and respond with glad thankfulness?

“But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. Notice the first word.

Notice the strong language that is used to describe their posture and behavior. This sets the tone for the entire passage.

P: The human heart is capable of unbelievable, irrational evil.

Do I know this? Am I surprised by the sinfulness that happens in a fallen world? Do I know my own sin?

“But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. “Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness.  The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. “And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. “So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. Numerous reference to the Exodus events, wilderness wanderings and the fulfillment of His promise to put His people in the Promised Land.

P: Our God is merciful and gracious.

Mercy: He did not give them what they deserved.

Grace: He gave them what they did not deserve.

This is seen most clearly in the Cross.

Have I personally experienced these aspects of His character myself? Am I experiencing them regularly?

P: Our God is also ready to forgive, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

Again, this comes together most clearly in the Cross.

Do I have the full picture of the character of God? If not, which “side” do I need to fill in?

P: Our God does not forsake His people even when they forsake Him.

This is a truth to be accessed to moments of despair, not abused in moments of disobedience (Rom. 6:1-4).

Am I regularly accessing this truth? Am I abusing this truth? What needs to change?

P: Our God miraculously provides for His people and keeps His promises.

How have I experienced the miraculous provision of God? (Reflecting on this will strengthen your faith.)

“Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. “But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. “And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. The same pattern continues.

P: Disobedience always leads to discipline.

P: God’s discipline is always redemptive, purposeful and never the ”final word” for His people.

Do I know these truths? Do I keep them before me when I am experiencing God’s discipline?

Hebrews 12:5-11 is a key text in our understanding of this concept.

These truths are at work in the lives of all Believers, but need to be especially active in the lives of parents seeking to biblically discipline their own children.

“Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress. “Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.”

P: True confession of sin is thorough.

P: When true confession happens, we take full responsibility for our sin.

Could these things be said of my confession of sin? If not, what needs to change?

P: Sin leads to slavery.

Where am I on the road to slavery in sin? Where am I already experiencing its enslaving effects?

The Gospel frees us from slavery to sin and makes us slaves to righteousness and shows us the perfect covenant God has made with us in Christ.

Works Consulted: Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ESV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Be Determined by Warren Wiersbe, Numerous Resources from the Logos Electronic Library.

“Water Gate…they…” in front of temple. The people called for this. Both signs of renewal.

“Ezra the scribe” Priest and scribe, spiritual leader. Forerunner to Nehemiah. Ez. 7:10.

“to bring the Book of the Law of Moses…” The Scriptures.

“…on the first day of the seventh month.” Their equivalent of New Year’s Day.

“And he read from it…from early morning until midday…” 5-6 hours.

P: God’s people should be hungry for God’s Word.

Am I hungry for God’s Word? If not, what needs to change?

“And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”

P: God’s people should be attentive to God’s Word.

Am I attentive to God’s Word on Sundays and in personal study? If not, what needs to change?

“…a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose.” Both practical and symbolic.

“And beside him stood…” To show agreement and solidarity.

“And Ezra opened the book…as he opened it all the people stood.” Our of reverence.

P: God’s people should have a respect for God’s Word.

Do I have the proper respect for God’s Word? Most ultimately: read and obey what it says?

“…all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” Meaning “it is true.”

“lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Submission and worship before the Lord.

P: God’s people should respond to God’s Word.

Am I appropriately responding to God’s Word? If not what needs to change?

Also… the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. The goal is not information but transformation. This requires understanding.

P: God has given His people teachers to explain His Word.

Am I taking full advantage of the environments that God has given us to learn His Word?

And Nehemiah…said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. When we understand the Word of God, we also understand our violations of it.

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength…” “Fat” was a term for the best of foods. They were sharing with those who were less fortunate. This was a call to great joy in the Lord.

P: The Word of God leads us through a process of change.

Communication (of the Word).

Confrontation (of our sin and idolatry).

Conviction (that leads to repentance).

Consolation (being reminded that our sins have been paid for).

Celebration (that our sins have been paid for).

Am I experiencing all of the parts of the process? If not, there will be trouble, What’s missing?

On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. Heads of houses lead their families in the Scriptures both then and now.

And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, Looking back, looking around, looking forward. Tell the others so that we might be the City within a City we are intended to be.

P: The study of the Word of God should lead to a furtherance of the Mission of God.

Is my study of the Word of God further encouraging me on Mission with God?

“Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves…for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so.” This was real, honest transformation.

And there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule. The recovery of God’s Word led ultimately to celebration.

The Written Word ultimately points us to the Incarnate Word – Jesus.

Works Consulted: Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ESV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Be Determined by Warren Wiersbe, Numerous Resources from the Logos Electronic Library, Message by Mark Driscoll.

“Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. These men were chosen because of their character.

P: Our character opens and closes doors for us.

Examples in Scripture:

1. Jesus – (Rom. 5:19, 2 Cor. 5:21)
2. Acts 6:1-7 – choosing of those who would help the Apostles’
3. Qualifications for Pastor/Elders – 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1

Steps Toward Developing Godly Character:

1. Immerse yourselves in the Scriptures.
   1. Your time in the Bible has got to become more important than whatever is keeping you from it. What is keeping you from sending quality time in the Bible? What needs to change?
2. Spend time with Jesus in prayer.

a.  His character will rub off on you.

3.  Spend time with Jesus’ people.

a.  He who walks with the wise grows wise (Prov. 13:20). Bad company corrupts good

character (1 Cor. 15:33). The opposite is also true.

b. Taking it to the next level:

1. People who are ‘in your life.’ Spouses. Pastors. etc. Fight Clubs.

2. Ask someone you trust to honestly assess your character.

i. Someone who sees your blind spots and can address them in the Gospel.

P: There is a direct link between our fear of God and our

faithfulness to God.

Definition:  The “fear of God” is the reverential awe, worship, and even trepidation before the holy Creator God. For us, it finds its fullness in the cross where we see the intersection of God’s holiness and wrath and God’s love.

Practically:  If we take the holiness of God seriously, we will take our sin and the Cross seriously. If we will see that our sin is so serious that it cost Jesus His life and Jesus is so loving that He willingly laid down His life, then we will be motivated to live our lives as people who are not our own but who were bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20)

Am I walking in an appropriate, biblical, fear of God that comes together in the Cross today? If not what, needs to change?

“And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes. “The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.” This would have been an adjustment to typical practice.

P: It’s not enough to be used by God to build something, we have to be ready to protect it as well.

*If you neglect it, the enemy will wreck it. If you ignore it, the enemy will destroy it. (John 10:10)

How is the enemy attacking you? How effectively are you protecting what God is rebuilding within you?

“Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:” Nehemiah was a man with an intimate relationship with God.

“These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile…”

About the List of Names (v. 6-73)

1. This list is comparable to another list recorded in Ezra 2, though there are some slight differences. This is not an “error” in the Bible, as some suggest. It is possible a copyist’s error or they counted and included things in different ways. No cause for concern.
2. There Are Ten Different Groups of People Listed Here: Leaders who returned with Zerubabel, families or clans, priests, gatekeepers, various temple servants, singers, etc.

All together, some believe the list references 50,000 names.

P: God’s work force is both unified and diversified.

The same is true today and seen in the church (Eph. 2:10, Rom. 12)

Do I know and am I content with the part God has given me to play? Am I playing it to the best of my ability? If not, what needs to change?

P: Nehemiah counted the people because the people counted.

Just like Nehemiah knew the names of his workers, God knows the names of His

workers as well.

Do I know that God knows my name today? How is that impacting my daily life?

P: Nehemiah counted their financial investment because their

financial investment counted (v. 66-72).

How would I feel if my giving was broadcast as theirs was? Encouraged or convicted?  Am I faithfully investing in the expansion of the Gospel through Crossing and beyond? What needs to change in this area?

P: Our vision needs to extend beyond our own generation (v. 8).

Do I recognize that the choices I make today can affect my grandchildren’s children someday? How might God use this fact to help influence my daily life for the better?

P: Being able to prove your bloodline matters (v. 61-65).

How am I leveraging my spiritual bloodline in my fight against the world, flesh and devil?

Through the Gospel, we join the most

Works Consulted: Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ESV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Be Determined by Warren Wiersbe, Numerous Resources from the Logos Electronic Library.

“Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates) The wall was almost finished. One final attempt.

Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” On the surface, this looked like a great opportunity to make nice.

But they intended to do me harm. But Nehemiah knew better.

P: Good leaders have good discernment.

How Do We Get This?

1. Immersing ourselves in the Scriptures.
2. Walking closely with Jesus in prayer.
3. Walking with wise people (Prov. 13:20).

How is your discernment today? What needs to change to improve it?

And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

P: Good leaders have a good handle on their priorities.

How Do We Do This?

1. Figure out what our priorities are according to Scripture.
   • Jesus. Spouse (if applicable). Children (if applicable). Ministry/Vocation.
   • When these get out of order, things always go wrong. Disordered priorities always eventually lead to destruction.
2. Learn your limits and learn to say “no.”
   • We all have different sized plates. Different sizes in different seasons.
   • “The secret to effectiveness is elimination.” – Howard Hendricks.
   • If you have trouble saying no, get to the bottom of what is driving it. Is it a fear of man? Misplaced identity? Pride?
3. Live in community – not just attend a community group.

How are you doing with your priorities today? What needs to change to bring improvement?

And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.

P: When our enemies are persistent, we have to be even more persistent to succeed.

Am I leaning on Jesus and His people to answer His call to persistence?

In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. Letters were carefully sealed at this time. It was was meant to spread rumors.

In it was written,”It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” There were multiple lies here intended to force Nehemiah to meet with them. Each of them could have brought serious consequences.

P: God’s enemies will use intimidation and lies to try to derail God’s work.

Are you aware of how the Enemy is using these in your life? How are you thwarting his attempts?

Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done. But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah didn’t answer all the threats, but he did these. He knew these were serious threats at a pivotal point in the work. Again, we see his consistent commitment to prayer.

P: Good leaders have the wisdom they need to know when and how to respond to their enemies.

Are you walking in this wisdom? What needs to change in this area?

Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.“ He was likely a family friend. Possibly a shut-in.

To go into the temple would have been a clear violation of the Law and seriously undermined Nehemiah’s ability to lead effectively.

And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid. As before, he prays for justice to be done.

P: Good leaders lead with integrity and courage even at the risk of their own safety.

Are these qualities evidenced in your leadership? If not, what needs to change?

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. The work is done.

Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them. For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife. Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid. An evil alliance from within.

P: Even though the war is over, the battle continues. The same is true for us.

Am doing my part to stand firm in the battle?

We can stand firm in our battle because Jesus stood firm in His battle and now stands with us.

Works Cited: Expositor’s Bible Commentary, MacArthur Study Notes, ESV Study Bible, Be Determined by Wiersbe, Messages by Mark Driscoll, Other Logos Resources

“Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.” The inclusion of the wives shows the significance of the problem. It was against their own.

For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.” There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5 Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

A Perfect Storm of Trouble:

1. There was a famine leading to starvation (v.1).People were having to mortgage their homes to buy just enough food to survive. In this agrarian culture, this was an even more significant problem because people were not only fed from the land but also made a living from it (v.2-3).
2. In addition to these difficulties, they were required to pay exorbitant taxes to the king on the land they could keep (v.4).
3. As if these weren’t bad enough, the poorer Jews had borrowed money from the wealthier Jews to pay the tax to keep their land. Because they couldn’t pay back their loans, they were having to sell their children into slavery and, likely, even prostitution. They could do nothing about it (v.5).

P: There is a always a price to be paid for doing God’s work.

Do I know this is true? Do I know Jesus has suffered before me? Do I turn to Jesus when I suffer?

“I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words.” This is significant anger.

P: God’s people should be angry at the things that make God angry.

Anger in the Bible:

1. Righteous Anger: Becoming angry about the things that make God angry but not sinning in the process (Eph. 4:25-27)

a.  Do the things that make God angry make me angry? If not, why not? What should change?

b.  We need to be careful to not assume everything is righteous anger.

2. Unrighteous Anger: Something in that process gets derailed.

a.  Examples: Nebuchadnezzar. Peter cutting off soldier’s ear.

3. Any time we find ourselves getting angry, we need to ask “Why am I Angry?”

a.  Is this righteous anger? If so, what righteous action is God leading me to take?

b.  Is this unrighteous anger? If so, repent and look for the “sin behind the sin.”

“I took counsel with myself…” Nehemiah stopped to think before he acted.

P: It is a wise person that takes stock before taking action.

Do I think before I speak or act or do I “act first and apologize” later?

“and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” This was called “usury.” Loaning money wasn’t a problem but charging interest to another Jew was a direct violation of the Law that God had established – a serious sin.

And I held a great assembly against them and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say. So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest. Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.” He lets them have it- appropriately.

P: Good leaders appropriately confront sin and call for repentance.

Do I do this in my own life? With others? Do I do this the proper, Gospel-centered way?

“Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and made them swear to do as they had promised.” They heard and responded accordingly.

“I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.” Public ceremonial gesture.

The Pathway to Change

1. Confrontation (Scripture: can be through sermons, group, personal conversations. etc.).
2. Conviction and Confession. (We recognize we are wrong and confess our sin.)
3. Repentance (A spiritual “U-Turn.” “Putting off” our sinful practice. )
4. Restitution (“Putting on” Christ. Making amends when we can. eg. Paying back the money))

What do you need to put off today? Put on?  Where have you “stopped short on this path?”

“Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.” Nehemiah shows profound character for a powerful reason.

P: Good leaders do the right thing for the right reason.

Is this kind of servanthood at work in my life? Do I do the right thing for the right reason?

“I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.”When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.” Even more profound character.

P: Nehemiah provides a profound picture of generosity, self-sacrifice and an eye toward Ultimate Reality.

Am I following this example of generosity, self-sacrifice and eye toward heaven?

The example of Nehemiah points us to the example and empowerment of Jesus.

15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” 21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand. Nehemiah 4:1-23 ESV

“When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.” Nehemiah knew that there was no time to lose. They would return.

P: When God delivers us, there’s often not much time to celebrate.

Do I walk in this truth or do I allow myself to ‘let my guard down’ spiritually? How are you doing this?

“From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.” Nehemiah had a well-thought-out plan.

P: Significant problems call for significant solutions.

Is this reflected in my planning or am I trying to take shortcuts that won’t lead to lasting change?

Practically Speaking:

1. It is likely that you didn’t get into the mess overnight, so it is likely you won’t get out overnight either.

2. The nature of our plan should reflect the nuances of our problem.

“And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.” The difficult reality.

P: The biblical perspective assesses the situation as it is, not how we wish it were.

In the Scriptures:

1. Abraham (Rom. 4)
2. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego (Dan. 3)
3. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemanae (Mk. 14)

Are we addressing ‘actual reality’ or are we living in some kind of denial?

“In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.“

Nehemiah drew their attention back to Ultimate Reality.

P: Ultimate Reality is that God is the Ultimate Defender of His people.

Practically Speaking:

1. Their hands built the wall drew their swords but it was God’s hand that ultimately protected them.

2. The same is true for us.. We may take action to defend ourselves, but it is ultimately God who defends us. We stand against the world, the flesh and the devil, but it is God who gives us the strength to stand. (Phil. 2:12-13)

3. This should give us great hope in our struggle against sins of all kinds and hope, for our marriages, parenting, mission, etc.

Am I viewing life from the appropriate perspective? If not, what needs to change?

“So we labored at the work…” Nehemiah was a co-laborer, not a consultant.“…and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” The workers would work by day and then sleep at their post at night. The need was great so the need for sacrifice was also great.

P: God’s work is hard no matter when or where it is done.

Have I wrongly expected God’s work to be easy? At home? At work? In relationships? Am I pressing into Jesus so that I can do the hard work that is my responsibility?

“So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.” Nehemiah and his team stayed the course.

P: Significant problems call for sustained solutions.

Do the solutions that I come up with reflect a ’spiritual stick-to-it-ive-ness?’

Through Jesus, we have the strength we need to live out what we have learned.

Works Consulted: Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ESV Study Bible, Numerous Resources from the Logos Electronic Library.

Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building-if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. 6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. 7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:1-14 ESV

“Sanballat… angry and greatly enraged…jeered at the Jews… in the presence of his brothers and of the army

of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that? Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building-if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” Insulting the workers and their work in numerous ways.

P: Any time we seek to do God’s work God’s way, there will always be opposition.

Three Enemies that Oppose Us All:

1. The world-the system of values on which the ‘kingdom of this world’ operates.
2. The flesh-the yet unredeemed part of us that we war against for holiness.
3. The devil-our spiritual adversary spoken of repeatedly in the Scriptures.

Do I know that this is true? Do I know how each of my enemies oppose me and do I have a plan for success?

“Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.” Nehemiah’s prayer.

P: When the opposition comes, our first response should be prayer.

Is prayer my first response or a ‘last resort’ when opposition comes in my life? What needs to change?

The Content of the Prayer:

1. It reveals that Nehemiah understood that they were working against God, not him.
   • Very reminiscent of the ‘imprecatory psalms.’
   • Our hearts are usually not so well-intentioned so we need to be careful.
2. This also reflects the unfolding nature of Redemptive History.
3. For us, this prayer is more descriptive than prescriptive.

“So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

P: God accomplishes His Sovereign will through the obedience of His people.

Am I walking in the appropriate balance between God’s sovereignty and my responsibility? If not, what needs to change?

“But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard…they were very angry…they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.

Rhetoric is becoming reality. Jerusalem is now surrounded and they are plotting an attack.

P: God’s enemies don’t let up so we can’t either.

Have I been wrongly expecting the Christian life to be easy?

“And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.” Another obvious partnership between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

“In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” Judah was another name for the area around Jerusalem. This shows that morale is weakening in the face of the greatness of the work.

“And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” Important to note that these weren’t idle threats.

“At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” Frightened wives and family members.

P: In accomplishing God’s work, sometimes well-meaning people - even your own family can become an obstacle.

“So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. Nehemiah gets creative.

P: Good leaders play the hand they are dealt, not the hand they wanted.

Am I able to make the needed adjustments as the situation changes or am I ‘playing the victim?’

And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” Nehemiah directed their attention heavenward.

P: When opposition arises we need to look to the greatness of God not the greatness of the opposition.

Is my tendency to focus on God or the opposition in my life?

The greatness of God is seen most clearly in the Cross.

Works Consulted : Expositor’s Bible Commentary, MacArthur Study Bible, Message by Mark Driscoll, Other works by Ware, Wiersby, Carson, Stanley, Getz, others. Logos Library: too many to list!

Facts About the Text and the Wall:

• The list provides a counterclockwise ‘fly through’ around the wall and a list of the names of all the people who would have worked on it.
• 41 parties are named in the reconstruction of 42 sections. The project included rebuilding both the walls and the gates.
• The circuit of the walls would have been between 2-2.5 miles enclosing between 90-220 acres. Each of the 42 sections would have averaged about 250 ft. in length though there was one extraordinarily long section and a couple of sections were very short.
• The wall itself would have been 15-20 ft high and 3-4 ft wide.

Observations About the Text:

1. The fact that Nehemiah included these names is significant.

P: Nehemiah was a good leader who valued his people and the contribution that they made.

Do I value the people in my life or do I take them for granted? Who do I need to “appreciate?”

2. Who led the work and where the work began is significant (v.1).
   • Eliashib the high priest led the way. 1 Pet. 5:3 leader as example.
   • They began at the Sheep Gate which was named for where the sheep came in on their way to the temple to be sacrificed. By starting here there, they were “putting God first.”

P: Any time we undertake a task we should seek to “put God first.”

Can that be said for you when you take on a task-of any size? If not, what needs to change?

3. Some people are capable of doing more work than others (11, 19, 21,24, 27,30)
   • By divine design, we all have different gifting, abilities, limitations, etc.
4. The workers were strategically positioned where they would make the greatest impact (v. 10, 23, 28,30):
   • Most were positioned just outside their homes. People work harder when their hearts are in the work.
   • Think 1 Cor. 12-14. One body, many members.

P: Each of us have been strategically positioned for the greatest impact as well.

Am I making the most of my strategic placement? If not, what needs to change?

5. Some jobs are less desirable than others:
   • The Dung gate: It was like the ancient landfill/sewer system where all of the feces and trash were taken out to the dump. The man assigned there was some kind of ruler and showed great humility.

P: Faithfulness is not about which part you play, it is about how well you play your part.

Am I playing my part well? If not, what is standing in the way?

6. The nature of the work force:

• Highly diverse: Rulers and priests (1, 12-19), men and women (12), professional craftsmen (8, 32) even some outside the city (2,5,7).
• Unusually unqualified for building: From what we can tell, there were no expert builders here. Priests, priests’ helpers, goldsmiths, perfume makers, women, but no expert builders or carpenters are named.

P: God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

What is God using me to do? Do you see the significance of what you are doing for the Kingdom?

• Some of the workers had a checkered past (v. 4, 11)
• Meremoth’s grandfather had been excluded from the priesthood. Malkijah had married a foreign wife.

P: God can use anyone, no matter what his or her past.

Am I living in the good of this truth today or am I being shackled by my past?

• Some of the workers worked hard, others didn’t work at all (v. 20, 5)
  • Baruch: only worker said to work ‘zealously.’
  • The nobles: These aristocrats thought they were ‘above’ manual labor. Some of the common people had to do double duty because they didn’t do their part.

P: Our pride can hinder our effectiveness in Kingdom work.

Where is your pride keeping you from being used by God to your full capacity?

If someone were to describe your work (with the church and beyond) how would you be described? Like Baruch or the Tekoans?

The workers and their work point us to the Ulimate Worker and His Work on the Cross.

Works Consulted : Expositor’s Bible Commentary, MacArthur Study Bible, Message by Mark Driscoll, Other works by Ware, Wiersby, Carson, Stanley, Getz, others. Logos Library: too many to list!

9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. 11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work. 17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.” – Nehemiah 2:9-20 ESV

“the king’s letters… Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.” These letters, which came with an escort, would have ensured safe passage through what would have otherwise been dangerous territory. They came with a military escort.

These things are obvious evidence of the ‘good hand of God’ upon him.

“when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.” The foreboding appearance of the “Joker and Penguin” figures in the book. They were disturbed because Nehemiah’s arrival threatened the Samaritan governor.More on them soon.

“So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. Nehemiah took a break before he began work. This shows a great amount of discipline and that he understood his limits and the nature of the task at hand.

P: Before we lead others well, we have to lead ourselves well.

Do I have appropriate rest in my life or am I running at an unsustainable pace?

Steps Toward Change:

1. Ask “Why am I running so hard?” and apply the Gospel.

2. Consider the alternative.

P: There is a right way to cast vision (v.12-16).

Before the Vision is Cast (v.12-16):

Nehemiah “does his homework” secretly, silently and systematically before he ever goes public. This applies to all of us both at home and at work.

When It Comes Time to Cast the Vision (v. 17-18):

1. The timing matters.
   • Nehemiah casts the vision at the moment when it has the potential to make the greatest impact.
2. The language matters.
   • “the trouble…” “ruins…burned” “no longer suffer derision”
   • All strongly emotive words meant to move the people.
3. “let us build…”
   • Nehemiah is a co-laborer not a consultant.
4. The passion matters.
   • The need is the seed of vision. The vision is a solution to a problem.
   • He spoke passionately about what he was passionate about.
5. The facts matter.
   • Nehemiah didn’t spin the truth. Integrity and credibility are at stake.
   • The King is with me and God is with me.
   • When appropriate, we need to point out where God is at obviously at work.

“But when Sanballat… heard…they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” lit. ‘ridicule,’ strong language.

P: When we seek to do the right thing the right way, we will always be met with some kind of opposition (v.19).

Do I know the opposition is coming? Or do I expect that things to be easy?

“And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”

Nehemiah speaks with clarity and confidence but not cockiness.

P: Our confidence must be in God and not ourselves (v.20).

Where is my confidence today? Especially when I encounter opposition?

The Gospel is our hope for doing the right thing the right way.

Works Consulted : Expositor’s Bible Commentary, MacArthur Study Bible, Message by Mark Driscoll, Other works by Ware, Wiersby, Carson, Stanley, Getz, others. Logos Library: too many to list!

^2:1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. ²And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. ³I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” ⁴Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. ⁵And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” ⁶And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “how long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. ⁷And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, ⁸and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. (Nehemiah 2:1-8)

Nehemiah is EXTREMELY normal

• In a Bible full of prophets and miracle-workers Nehemiah is a just a guy
• He works hard and God blesses him and is pleased with him (2:8)
• Nehemiah is an encouragement to other normal people who want to serve God and be blessed.
• What did Nehemiah do that we can do?

1. Nehemiah had a broken heart over a serious need (2:1-3)

• The news of the broken walls led to Nehemiah’s broken heart (1:4)
• Where is your heart breaking? Is it breaking at all?

2. Nehemiah turned to God in prayer (2:4)

• Prayer is when we turn to God to speak to him and ask for his help
• Nehemiah is a man of prayer (cf. 1:4ff, 4:4-5; 5:19; 6:9, 14; 13:14, 22, 29, 31)
• Nehemiah did not keep his brokenness to himself but aimed it in a Godward direction

3. Nehemiah turned to God in Scripture (1:5, 7-9)

• Nehemiah’s life-all his prayers and plans were informed by Scripture
• The words of Nehemiah’s prayers and the foundation for his plans did not fall out of the sky but were rooted in texts of Scripture
  • The Great God who keeps a covenant of love (Deut 5:10)
  • The commandments, statutes, and rules (Deut 6:6)
  • The promise to scatter and return (Lev 26:33-45; 2 Chron 6:36-39)

4. Nehemiah meditated on the character of God (1:5)

• Nehemiah’s Scripture-soaked prayers reflect the thoughts of a man pondering God
• Nehemiah’s exalted view of God
  • The God of heaven (Deut 10:14-15)
  • The great and awesome God (Deut 7:21)
  • The God who keeps covenant and steadfast love (Deut 7:9)
• What does your brain sound like?

5. Nehemiah took time to think and plan (1:1; 2:1)

• From idea to implementation Nehemiah took 4 months
• This gave Nehemiah time to think, prepare, and pray about . . .
  • How do bring up the matter with the king (2:3; cf. Ezra 4:17-23)
  • How long the work would take (2:6)
  • What he would need to get the job done (2:7-8)
• Nehemiah didn’t rush in (Prov 14:8)
• But neither did he drag his feet (1:11)

6. Nehemiah acted, trusting God (2:4)

• All preparation finally Gave way to implementation
• Nehemiah was scared (2:2) but he trusted God and acted

All this met with God’s blessing (2:8)

• Be careful: God’s blessing ≠ Getting what you want!
• 3 cautions from Nehemiah
  • Nehemiah’s evaluation was based on the long-term
  • Nehemiah was self-sacrificing
  • Nehemiah was focused on God’s redemptive purposes

“4As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.” Nehemiah 1:4-11

“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days…” Tremendous

response for news that was 140 years old.

“and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” Going without physical food

for the purpose of being more focused in prayer. Sustained response as well

underscoring the deep affect that this had upon him.

P: God’s people should be broken by the brokenness of their city.

Is your heart broken for our city? If not, what needs to change?

P: When the bad news hits, we should PRAY!

What this does:

1. Enters God into the equation-better yet, it reminds you that He is already in the equation and already at work.
2. Gives you the spiritual resources you need to navigate this difficulty.
3. Puts things in perspective. Allows you to assess how big of a deal this is.

What is typically my response when I hear bad news? What needs to change?

“And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast

love with those who love him and keep his commandments…” He begins with adoration and a reminder of Who God is and highlights the ‘covenant keeping’ aspect of His nature (Deut. 7:9). This is his ‘hesed,’ a central theme of God’s faithfulness in the OT.

P: We should begin our prayers with worship.

What this does:

1. Makes sure that we are approaching God the right way.
   • Too often, we approach God as if He was a vending machine as opposed to the matchless King and Creator that He is.

“let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.” Note the appropriate thoroughness. “commandments” are directives like the Ten Commandments, “statutes” something prescribed in the Law like keeping the Passover, “rules” are legal decisions or judgments. He includes himself in the confession.

P: Confession should be a regular part of our prayers.

Is confession of my sin a regular part of my prayer life?

Practically Speaking:

1. Confess your sins immediately.
2. Be as specific as possible.

“Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.” This is a restatement of the covenant promises of God. This was common in the OT. For us, this would be a modern equivalent of praying the Scriptures back to God. In his own “Old Testament” way, applying the Gospel.

P: The Scriptures should be a regular part of our prayer life.

Practically Speaking:

• Allow the Text to guide your prayers. Simply pray through a passage.

Are the Scriptures a regular part of my prayer life? If not, what needs to change?

“O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” A prayer of supplication. Foreshadowing for what is to come in the book.

P: Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.

Am I in the habit of asking God for what I need?

“Now I was cupbearer to the king.” Nehemiah’s statement about his job.

P: God strategically places us where He wants us to make a unique impact.

Do I recognize that I am where I am by the sovereign providence of God?

The Gospel is our hope for praying and serving rightly.

Works Consulted : NIV Application Commentary, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ESV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Message by Mark Driscoll, Other works by Ware, Driscoll, Getz, others. Logos Library

Quick Facts about the Book of Nehemiah:

Who wrote it? Some debate, but according to both internal and external evidence, it

appears to be a combination of Nehemiah and Ezra.

When and why was it written? Likely between 445-432 BC. Most of the action takes

place in Jerusalem. It serves largely historical & educational purposes.

What is it basically about? Human: It is the story of a man named Nehemiah who

rebuilt the walls around the city of Jerusalem so that God’s exiled people could

return to their city (Jerusalem), reinstitute their worship of God and get back to

being the kind of nation they were intended to be. Divine: God reveals

His continued faithfulness to His people.

What are some of its major themes?

1. God’s plans are always accomplished.
2. God gives vision and the strength to carry it out.
3. Prayer is an essential component of any successful endeavor.
4. Nehemiah provides a great example of leadership.
5. Nehemiah provides a great example of perseverance in the face of ongoing

difficulties and distractions.

1. God brings repentance and revival to His people through His Word.

Why are we studying Nehemiah?

1. It is a great book to address where we are as a community and individuals.

• Nehemiah set out to build a “City within the City.” So are we.
• “A City within the City” of Louisville built on the values of the Bible. Gospel. Community. Mission.

2. Nehemiah effectively accomplished a great building task. We hope to as well.

3. All of the themes in this book are things we need to learn about.

How to Get the Most Out of Our Study of Nehemiah:

Know:

1. This begins by reading Nehemiah rightly.

• We begin with its historical, grammatical, biblical context. Then we recognize that even though these texts are about Nehemiah first, they are not about Nehemiah only
• He is a ‘hero’ in the Bible that points us to the “Hero” of the Bible.

2. We must understand the Bible as one “Big Story” of Redemptive History.

• The Bible is not a loose collection of stories and pithy sayings but rather one, unified story that all points to Jesus.

Do:

1. Read (or listen to) the book in its entirety (www.esv.org).

• a. Use the study notes in your Bible. Repetition leads to retention.

2. Read the Text we will teach each week. (We include it in the email.)

• Write down some thoughts, questions, or observations.

3. Interact with your community group and on the City.

“The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” Nehemiah 1:1-3 ESV

“Nehemiah” The main human character of the book. At least, the partial writer of the book. Chapters 1-7 and 13 are likely his journal entries. Amazing man who loved God, His glory and His people. Not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture. Not a ’religious professional’ of any kind. Just a man, working a job that God used.

P: God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

Do I believe and live as if this is true?

P: God uses one man to make a world of difference.

What ‘world of difference’ is God wanting to make through my life?

“Chislev…twentieth year…Susa the capital” Winter. November/December. 20^th year of the reign of the king that Nehemiah worked for.

“Hanani…certain men from Judah” Some visitors came to see him from Jerusalem.

“Jews…exile…Jerusalem” God’s chosen people had been carried away and enslaved by the Babylonians.

Backstory: God had called out a people for Himself (the Israelites) who were ‘blessed to be a blessing’ to the nations around them. Sometimes they fulfilled this role, but many times they didn’t. In order to lovingly discipline them, God allowed their kingdom to be split in two and their people to be captured by the Assyrians and Babylonians. The Jews from Jerusalem had been living in exile in Babylon. Jerusalem, which was to be their archetypical “city within the city,” was, instead, in great disrepair.

“wall…broken down and gates are destroyed by fire.” The wall was of had both practical and spiritual significance. It protected them from other attacking nations but it also symbolized how seriously they did/n’t take their relationship with God.

P: Disobedience always leads to discipline.

How is God trying to get your attention today through his loving discipline?

P: The ‘externals’ in our lives reveal the condition of the ‘internal.’

What do the ‘externals’ in my life reveal?

All that we learn about Nehemiah reminds us of all that we love about Jesus.

Works Consulted : NIV Application Commentary, Life Application Bible, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, ESV Study Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Message by Mark Driscoll, Other works by Ware, Driscoll, Getz, others.