Nehemiah

Nehemiah


Explain the historical background and purpose of the prophet: A contemporary of Ezra, Nehemiah as a cup bearer to the King of Persia (King Artaxerxes), receives a report from Jerusalem that all is not well. The people are discouraged and worse, have given up repairing the walls of and instead are working on building their own homes. This news compels Nehemiah to get a leave of absence and lead the third and last return of exiles to Jerusalem in 444 BC. He accomplished the task of rebuilding the wall in 52 days, and was used to set a nation back on its feet.

What does this book show you about the character and nature of God? Nehemiah was the man God chose to "finish" the work God had in mind in this final era of Old Testament history. It is strange to word it like this, but the book and the work of Nehemiah is almost as if Nehemiah was God in human form. The reforms and rebuilding he accomplished for this fledgling group of Jews starting all over again is inspiring to read about. All the bases were covered. Building the wall and gates, defeating enemies, correction needed against certain sins, and the revival of Temple worship and feasts of the Lord.

What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind? God is faithful to his word spoken through the prophets. The Jews return, there is a Plan B for the nation of Israel, the people and families are re-established and listed, there is even a list of the men who had taken foreign wives and their act of obedience to divorce them. God still has a plan for there is still a Savior to come through the family line of Judah. Things are not the same as they had once been, but for God, it is enough to accomplish His purpose in the world.

Personal Application: I know there are prophets that enter this time period of Nehemiah, as well as some intertestament history, but the book reads to me as "the ending to the story." And so there is a feeling of God saying; "I have done what I have done," to it. One of the reasons I applied to this course was to find out why God did things the way He did. For instance, why 4,000 years before a savior? I have found that I was asking the wrong question. I was not understanding the greatness of God and His infinite wisdom. I still don’t understand it but I’ve had some peeks at it! My confidence in His knowing has revealed to me that some things I will never know, and even if they were explained to me, I would not be able to comprehend it. This is a wonderful thing to know before Jesus comes! It is what is coming that I need to know, and know it well . . .

Point of Passion: Nehemiah carried the burden of the Lord, he prayed, he moved on it, he engaged in major spiritual warfare, he depended upon God in all these crisis that God’s people were drowning in. He was a intercessor of the highest degree. To study this book for that topic alone could keep us busy for a long time! What an incredible example Nehemiah is to those of us who feel called to intercession.