Nehemiah

Date Written: approximately 445 B.C. -432 B.C.

Author: Much of the book is written in first person, so it’s believed that Nehemiah is the author. He probably wrote the book with Ezra being the editor.

Setting: Zerubbabel led the first return to Jerusalem. Then Ezra led the second return. And now Nehemiah is leading the third group of exiles to Jerusalem. When he arrived after a three month journey, he saw the completed temple. He also found a disorganized group of people & a defenseless city with no walls to protect it. Before the exile, Israel had its own language, king, army & identity. But now it had none of these. What the Jews lacked most was leadership. There wasn’t anyone to show them where to start & what direction to go as they tried to rebuild their city. Nehemiah began to help by setting up a fair system of government & rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. He is a model of committed God-honoring leadership.

Key People: Nehemiah, Ezra, Sanballat, Tobiah

Purpose: This is the last of the OT historical books. It records the history of the third return to Jerusalem after captivity, telling how the walls were rebuilt & the people were renewed in their faith.

Key Verses: So the wall was completed on the 25^th of Elul, in 52 days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid & lost their self-confidence because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. 6:15-16

Nehemiah said, “Go & enjoy choice food & sweet drinks & send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 8:10

Chapter Outline:

1-2 Nehemiah Returns

3 Rebuilding of the Walls

4-7 Threats & Persecution

8-10 Renewal of Covenant

11-13 Dedication & Laws

Importance of reading Nehemiah:

What we read: Both Nehemiah & Ezra responded to problems with prayer. Nehemiah faced scorn, slander & threats from enemies. He faced fear, conflict & discouragement from his own workers. He prayed at any time, even while talking with others. He knew that God is always in control, is always present & hears & answers every prayer. He could confidently pray throughout the day because he had established an intimate relationship with God.  What we can learn: Prayer is still vital today. God still gives people guidance & wisdom today, so seek Him in prayer first. Talk with Him all throughout your day.

What we read: Chapter 1, Nehemiah fasted & prayed for several days. His prayer consisted of 1) praise 2)thanksgiving 3) repentance 4) specific request 5) commitment. What we can learn: This is a good pattern for us to follow.

What we read: Chapter 2:2-3, Nehemiah wasn’t ashamed to admit his fear, but he refused to allow fear to stop him from doing what God had called him to do. What we can learn: Fear is from our enemy. When you allow fear to rule you & your decisions are based on fear, you deny the power of God. Rebuke fear & remind yourself that you can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives you strength.

What we read: Nehemiah had position, power & many good organizational skills, yet he knew that without God’s strength, his efforts would be in vain. He knew he couldn’t do this task without the help of God each step of the way. What we can learn: Always give God the glory & acknowledge Him as your power source.   

What we read: All of the citizens of Jerusalem did their part in this huge job of rebuilding the city wall. They set their hearts & minds on getting this done. What we can learn: Your church needs you. The work of the church needs each person in order to function. Are you doing your part? Find a place to serve God in your church.

What we read: Chapter 8, after Ezra read God’s laws to the people, they studied them further & then acted upon them. We have seen a pattern, a cycle with the Israelites that started in Genesis & is still continuing. They promise to obey & worship God, then they turn away, He gets their attention, they come back to Him & the cycle starts over. What can we learn: There is no limit on how many times God will take us back. He is always willing to forgive a heartfelt repentance from a sinner. But from reading everything that the Israelites have went through, we see it is better to never turn away from God. After reading your Bible, ask yourself & God: what do I do with this knowledge, how should it change my life, change me?

Things to think about as you read Nehemiah:

• Notice how Nehemiah handled situations. How did he deal with the people, including those who opposed him? How did he relate to God in each situation? Do you find principles you can apply to your life?
• As you read chapter 9, think about the character of God & how He dealt with Israel. What can you learn about God & also about Israel’s behavior that you can apply to your own life?
• What do you think could happen if the congregation of a church gathered together & publicly confessed their sins & then the sins of their nation?
• What have you learned from Nehemiah’s life? How are you going to apply it to your life in a practical way?

Link to Teaching Video: https://youtu.be/kkQZtLIC7sA?si=-MLCGxojwD62kylF

Blessings,

Nichole Henson, Fullness of Joy Ministry