Today, we continue our journey through the Bible with today’s study of Nehemiah. May we ask God to show us what He wants us to learn? Psalm 19:14; “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.”
As we study the Bible alone or in a group setting, there are several questions we can ask ourselves to help us dig deeper. The five questions are as follows:
- What does the scripture say about God?
- Then what does the scripture say about me?
- Does something in this passage challenge me?
- What gives me hope in this passage?
- Is anything unclear to me?
I hope these questions help you as much as they help me.
Nehemiah
Author: Much of the book is written in the first person suggesting Nehemiah wrote it with Ezra serving as editor
Audience: The exiles who returned from captivity
Date Written: Approximately 445-432 B.C.
Length: 13 Chapters
Key Words: Prayer and work
Key Verses: “So I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” (6:3)
Key People: Nehemiah, Ezra, Sanballat, Tobiah
Summary of Nehemiah:
Nehemiah, a Jew, was a high-level official in the Persian courts. While Ezra gives the account of rebuilding the temple under Zerubbabel, Nehemiah (Ezra’s contemporary) gives the account of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. His story begins in 445 B.C. in Susa, the Persian capital.
One of the powerful messages of Nehemiah is how much we can accomplish when we align ourselves with the will and plans of God. We see Nehemiah and his followers do the impossible because they do what God called them to do.
Nehemiah also wanted His people to be spiritually enlightened. So he helped the Jews take control of their lives, land, and destiny as the people of God by modeling righteous qualities: humility, self-motivated, confidence, a leader, faithful, fearlessness, organizer, obedient, and just.
Sections of the Book:
The book of Nehemiah has three sections which are:
- Rebuilding the Walls (Chap 1-6)
- Nehemiah registers the people (Chap 7)
- Renewal and reform (Chap 8-13)
Messages in Nehemiah:
Nehemiah started his career as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. He renounced this life of ease and comfort for God’s calling on his life. He exchanges his comfort for a life of toil, danger, and heart-breaking work.
The book of Nehemiah displays the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem and the revival of the people. However, we know that Israel still waited for the coming of her true King, Christ. Jesus will complete the restoration of Israel and all of us as the long-awaited King. (Matt 27:11).
We also see God’s characteristics displayed in the following ways in the book:
- Glorious – 9:5
- Good – 1:10; 2:8, 18; 9:35
- Kind – 9:17
- Long-suffering – 9:30
- Merciful – 9:17, 27
- Powerful – 1:10
- Provident – 9:6
- Righteous – 9:8
- Unified – 9:6
- Wise – 9:10
Final thoughts:
There is a great need today for faithful believers in leadership roles in the secular world. The world needs people who know God’s Word, pray before acting, and take calculated risks for the sake of God’s kingdom. We have a unique role to play in changing the course of history. We must learn how to inspire those around us to use their workplace to further the Kingdom of God.
But remember that Godly leaders will experience opposition to God’s work from this sinful world. Setbacks and difficulty don’t indicate that God has somehow lost control. On the contrary, these issues can be God’s way of achieving breakthroughs that may not have happened otherwise.
All Lessons from the Bible
Each book of the Bible contains lessons for us to learn and historical information. We must study God’s Word to see what to do and what not to do in life. Paul reminds us of the importance of the words within the text in 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3:14-17; “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Prayer
Grant me the understanding and knowledge of You and Your word. As I open my Bible to read the scriptures, it gives me wisdom and discernment. And even as I sit and listen to the pastor, preacher or apostle reveal what Your Holy Book is speaking into my life, help me see and understand. Help me know Jesus Christ and how He lived His life so I can follow in His precious footsteps.
A great reminder that our lives should be dedicated to God, not to self.
Thanks Melissa. Blessings
Great summary.
When I first began Bible study as a new Christian, I remember hearing that the way to remember Nehemiah’s focus was rebuilding the walls: NEE-hemiah repaired the knee-high walls! 🙂
Oh, I love that and never heard it before but will remember now. Thanks Ava. Blessings
I love the book of Nehemiah. There are so many rich lessons to absorb. Thanks for sharing this wonderful book.
It is full of great richness that’s for sure. Thanks Barbara. Blessings
Your Bible study and my Bible study are overlapping this week. You did an excellent job laying out the timing and recording what all the main characters are up to. Good job on this entire study, Yvonne!
Thanks so much Melinda. I appreciate all you do. Blessings
Nehemiah is a short but powerful book with excellent lessons for us today… and you are right! It makes a great point that Godly leaders are very much needed in the world.
I pray we find such Godly leaders for our churches and our country. Blessings
I’m in the book of Nehemiah in my daily Bible reading. I’m so glad your message focus is in Nehemiah this week. Your five questions for digging deeper are very helpful and I appreciate learning more about the background of this inspiring scripture.
Thank you very much Katherine. I appreciate your encouragement. Blessings
So enjoyed, with a few insights I hadn’t noticed/considered before. Thank you Ms. Yvonne.
Thanks JD. Blessings
Nehemiah is one of my favorite books, Yvonne. I enjoyed reading your insights and adding to my understanding.
Thanks so much Annie. I learned so much from the study. Blessings
Another wonderful summary on this book. Nehemiah is full of lessons for us in present culture. I particularly love what you say here, ” The world needs people who know God’s Word, pray before acting, and take calculated risks for the sake of God’s kingdom.” Thanks, Yvonne.
Think how much better our world if more people did those things daily. Thanks Karen. Blessings
“I can’t come down” is one of my favorite phrases in the Bible. I want to be so consumed with Gods work that I can’t come down.
That does paint a beautiful picture of we should feel about God’s work. Thanks Jennifer. Blessings