Nehemiah2

At first sight we may be tempted to miss this chapter out as simply a list of people and places but if we take note of the things picked out in the questions above, certain features or facets of the work start standing out to us. We note first of all that there were ten gates to Jerusalem that had to be reinstated. The work also included rebuilding considerable lengths of the walls of the city and even towers that had been broken down.

It is when we come to note WHO actually did the work that it becomes fascinating. First of all we note that the religious community got their hands dirty from the high priest down, which included all the other priests and the temple workers. They did not sit back and watch as you might have expected in that the Temple had been rebuilt. No, they realised that the gates and the walls when reinstated would provide protection for the Temple , so they were completely involved. But we also note that secular leaders from both Jerusalem and surrounding districts were not ashamed to get their hands dirty (with the exception of the noblemen of Tekoa). Then came the ordinary people and tradesmen and the goldsmiths, perfume-makers and general merchants all joined in. All recognised the value of building up and establishing the city. Men came from a number of districts even some distance from Jerusalem so important was the status of Jerusalem to them. Amazing!

D. Application:

1. People recognised the value of establishing the city of God .

2. Do we have the same sense about building the Church?

Chapter: Nehemiah 4

Passage: Nehemiah 4:1-6

A. Find Out:

1. What was Sanballat's response to the news of the rebuilding? v.1

2. Before whom did he mock the builders? v.2

3. How did Tobiah join in? v.3

4. What was Nehemiah's response? v.4

5. What further did he ask? v.5

6. So what did they do? v.6

B. Think:

1. What form does the opposition take at this stage?

2. What example of dealing with it are we given?

3. How might we apply this into daily life?

C. Comment:

We now find a third reference to opposition from this same group. We first heard about them when Nehemiah first arrived (1:16) when the opposition was simply disturbed. Then when the rebuilding plans were made known their opposition turned into derision (2:19). Now that the building work gets well under way the derision gets stronger (4:2,3).

Behind this opposition is anger (v.1) and anger is sometimes a defensive response to fear. It almost seems that in chapter 2 Sanballat and friends had come to Jerusalem but now we hear what has obviously been reported to Nehemiah who writes, and which happens in Samaria. Sanballat is obviously a leading official at Samaria and has some sort of armed force (an army v.2) under his command. Behind the bluster there may be the threat of physical force. Tobiah stands by his side egging him on (v.3) adding his weak addition to the mockery. Satan's initial opposition to the people of God is always to sow doubt (see Gen 3:1,3,4) and to discourage.

Nehemiah wisely turns to the Lord in prayer (v.4) and asks the Lord to deal with this enemy opposition (v.4,5). Having done that they continue with the rebuilding of Jerusalem and such is their effort that they are able to take the walls to half their height.

D. Application:

1. Be aware of the enemy's attempts to sow doubt and discourage you.

2. When it happens, turn to the Lord and give it over to Him.

Chapter: Nehemiah 4

Passage: Nehemiah 4:7-18

A. Find Out:

1. How did the opposition feel and what did they plot to do? v.7,8

2. What was Nehemiah's twofold response? v.9

3. What practical problem was occurring with twofold effect? v.10,11

4. What did others tell them so what did Nehemiah do? v.12,13

5. What did Nehemiah then do and say? v.14

6. How did they continue the work? v.15-18

B. Think:

1. How had the rebuilding now created a problem?

2. What was the threat now from the enemy?

3. How did they change their working practices to handle it?

C. Comment:

For a fourth time we hear of the opposition from Samaria . Now it is being stepped up a notch from derision, mockery and discouragement (i.e. words) to threats of physical attack (v.8). Verse 9 summarises what follows. When word gets through to Nehemiah, from the Jews in the vicinity of Samaria (v.12) Nehemiah did two things: prayed AND set guards.

The threat came, as it so often does, at a most inconvenient stage in the rebuilding. The wall having reached half its height was thus now more difficult to work on, the builders having to keep climbing up and down were getting more tired (v.10a). More than that there was still a lot of rubble, either from that which was yet to be built into the walls or that which was burned and damaged and needed clearing away This meant that there were piles of rubble a) made working more difficult (v.10b) and which would be easy to hide behind if invaders came (v.11)

Thus when the threat of attack came Nehemiah prays and presumably gets wisdom to know what to do so he a) stations guards (v.9b,13,16a) and official watchers (v.16b) and b) arms all those working on the walls (v.17,18). Moreover he has a trumpeter near him to declare an alarm if need be (v.18b). Handling the threat required BOTH prayer AND action.

D. Application:

1. In difficulties? Pray for wisdom.

2. In difficulties? Use God's wisdom to bring practical answers.

Chapter: Nehemiah 4

Passage: Nehemiah 4:19-23

A. Find Out:

1. How long did they work each day? v.21b

2. What protection did they have? v.21a

3. What did Nehemiah suggest and why? v.22

4. What sign was there of their ongoing commitment to the work? v.23a

5. What sign was there of the perilous threats to them? v.23b

B. Think:

1. What do you think it must have been like to have been a guard here?

2. What do you think it must have been like to have been a worker?

3. What does all this say about these people?

C. Comment:

It is so easy to read words and fail to take in their significance. This passage is almost a repeat-summary of what has gone before, but when the Bible repeats itself it is so that we take it in.

The work continues (v.21a) despite the threats of attack, but because of those threats, it continues under different conditions. Half the men held spears (v.21b) in preparation to ward off possible attackers and we'll soon see who else carried weapons.

A measure of the urgency they felt about re-establishing Jerusalem is indicated by the fact that they worked (v.21c) from first light to darkness (beyond sunrise to sunset!).

As we have noted previously, many of the men had come from towns away from Jerusalem or from the surrounding countryside. And so now Nehemiah suggests they all stay in the city every night (v.22) both to act as guards at night and be there ready to work first thing in the morning.

The intensity that they all felt is further indicated by the fact that neither Nehemiah nor other leaders with him, nor guards (v.23) changed their clothes and even took them off at night. Even more, they remain armed the whole time, whatever they were doing. That was the reality of what was happening. They had heard the report of the possibility of being attacked and they took it most seriously.

D. Application:

1. Paul's weapons and armour (Eph 6) are for wearing all the time.

2. Are we fully aware that there is a spiritual battle?

Chapter: Nehemiah 5

Passage: Nehemiah 5:1-8

A. Find Out:

1. What was the first complaint? v.1,2

2. What were others having to do? v.3

3. What were others yet having to do? v.4

4. What had some even been pushed to do? v.5

5. Who did Nehemiah accuse of what? v.6,7

6. What did he face them with? v.8

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise the burdens that are being expressed here?

2. What does it say about the society of Jerusalem then?

3. Why do you think that might offend God?

C. Comment:

In the midst of the rebuilding, Nehemiah is suddenly faced with a social and economic crisis. Three main complaints are made with a horrifying consequence.

The first complaint was that there was a struggle to get enough food to live (v.1,2). This was the complaint of the ordinary people. The second complaint was by landowners who were having to mortgage their properties to buy food in a time of famine (v.3). The third complaint was that some were having to borrow money to pay the heavy taxes that were being imposed by the king (v.4)

The awful consequence of these complaints was that people were having to sell themselves as slaves or their sons and daughters as slaves, to find the money being demanded of them (v.5).

Although this was a common practice in those days, and the Law made provision as to how to care for the welfare of such people and how they were to be eventually released from their obligations, clearly this is an unfair and unjust situation where Jew was oppressing Jew and this angered Nehemiah (v.6). It was clear that it was people in power – the officials and noblemen (v.7a) – who were putting these burdens on their countrymen and so Nehemiah faces them with this in a public meeting he called and denounced them (v.8)

D. Application:

1. God is concerned for the poor and for their welfare.

2. Oppression of the poor and weak makes God angry.

Chapter: Nehemiah 5

Passage: Nehemiah 5:9-12

A. Find Out:

1. What was Nehemiah's assessment? v.9a

2. What should these people have been doing and why? v.9b

3. What example was he able to show and what did he demand? v.10

4. What did they need to do? v.11

5. What response did he get from them? v.12a

6. How did he ensure that was kept? v.12b

B. Think:

1. What spiritual encouragement did Nehemiah give these men?

2. What tangible example did he give as encouragement?

3. What specific demands did he make to push it home?

C. Comment:

Nehemiah did not just sit back and say, “You are wrong!” He gave these offending nobles and officials (v.7) a spiritual reason, a practical example and practical directions to bring about change.

First he is abundantly clear: what they are doing is wrong! (v.9a) If their attitudes towards God were right (v.9b) then their behaviour would be different and other peoples would see it (v.9c)

Second, he makes clear that he is not speaking theoretically for both he and those who came with him were already sharing what they had with the people, both money and grain (v.10) and this making capital out of others must stop.

Third, he makes very clear what needs to happen: all the land that has been taken needs to be given back and the practice of charging interest needs to be stopped (v.11).

The good news is that he gets a positive response from these two groups of men who agree to do what he says (v.12a), but he doesn't leave it there, he makes them swear that they will do what they have said, to ensure it happens (v.12b).

In this process we have seen Nehemiah's wisdom. He not only confronts the wrong that has been going on and which has just come to light, but he lays down a clear path of how to get it put right.

D. Application:

1. Don't condemn; show a right path ahead to bring correction.

2. Look more for change than for retribution.

Chapter: Nehemiah 5

Passage: Nehemiah 5:13-19

A. Find Out:

1. What decree or ‘curse' did Nehemiah then employ? v.13,b

2. What followed? v.13c

3. What did Nehemiah not do? v.14

4. What had been done before him? v.15

5. But what does Nehemiah now do and why? v.15c,16

6. What further did he do? v.17,18

B. Think:

1. So how did Nehemiah further ensure the nobles do what they said?

2. How would you describe his example in v.16?

3. How would you describe his actions of v.17,18?

C. Comment:

Previously we saw Nehemiah ensure his clear instructions were kept by getting the nobles and officials to swear and oath. Now (v.13) he utters what is tantamount to a curse of what would happen to them if they did not follow through. The response is approval of this and obedience so the bad practices are stopped.

Nehemiah then goes on to tell us that for twelve years he did not take any of the perks of being governor (v.14) and so unlike his predecessors (v.15) did not put any financial load on the people, and this he did in reverence for the Lord.

Instead Nehemiah and his men devoted themselves to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (v.16). To further show his concern for the welfare of the people, in his role as governor he held a feast for 150 Jews and officials (v.17) – presumably on a rota basis or perhaps just those who were senior members of the community, we are not told. The amount of food and wine that is provided for the people is extensive and so there is nothing skimpy about this provision (v.18a). One assumes he purchased all this food and drink for he goes on to state that he did not, throughout his time as governor, demand the allowance of a governor, which would have had to have been provided by the people (v.18b). He concludes by asking for the Lord's favour on all he did (v.19).

D. Application:

1. Are we known as those who are diligent in their work?

2. Are we known for our generosity?

Chapter: Nehemiah 6

Passage: Nehemiah 6:1-9

A. Find Out:

1. How far had the rebuilding gone? v.1

2. What did his enemies suggest, with what desire? v.2

3. How did Nehemiah respond? v.3

4. How persistent were they & what next did they do? v.4,5

5. What accusations did they make? v.6,7

6. With what objective? v.9

B. Think:

1. What was the enemy's first strategy here?

2. What was their second strategy?

3. Why do you think they were doing this?

C. Comment:

The rebuilding of the walls is now complete although there were no doors in the gates yet (v.1b). The news of this progress gets back to Samaria and to those there who were opposed to Nehemiah (v.1a). We can, in all this, only suppose that they, being a rather mixed bunch, were envious of the unique identity of the Jews and didn't like the thought of them becoming a nation again in Israel .

Thus we now find them sending messages to Nehemiah inviting him to come and meet them in a place near the coast, nearly mid-way between Samaria and Jerusalem, but nearer Samaria (v.2). Nehemiah realises this can only be to cause harm to him and detract from the work and so he refuses their offer (v.3) but they keep on sending the invitation (v.4) until on the fifth time, we might say they ‘upped the ante', they also sent a letter of accusation (v.5,6).

This letter now accused them as a people of plotting to rebel against the king from whom Nehemiah had come (v.6a) and were planning to make Nehemiah king (v.6b), even having prophets declare him king (v.7a), and so they threaten to send this letter with its accusation to the king. Nehemiah rejects it as fantasy (v.8), realising they are simply trying to make them afraid (v.9) so that they will give up the work and leave Jerusalem vulnerable without its gates.

D. Application:

1. Beware enemy distractions to God's purposes for your life.

2. Reject the enemy's attempts to create fear in your life.

Chapter: Nehemiah 6

Passage: Nehemiah 6:10-15

A. Find Out:

1. Where did he go, to whom and what was suggested? v.10

2. What was Nehemiah's response? v.11

3. What did Nehemiah realise? v.12

4. What was the truth of this situation? v.13

5. So what does Nehemiah do? v.14

6. What then happened? v.15

B. Think:

1. How was this ‘attack' different from the previous ones?

2. What were they out to do?

3. Why do you think this was critical for the enemy?

C. Comment:

We aren't told exactly who this man Shemaiah is, apart from his parentage but he is obviously a) someone Nehemiah has got to know and possibly an official of some kind because he goes to his house (v.10a), b) someone with a home in Jerusalem (v.10b) which indicates he has been there some time, perhaps returning with Ezra with access to the Temple (v.10c) and therefore possibly a priest, c) a false prophet who says men are coming to kill Nehemiah by night (v.10d) and so he should shut himself away, d) a friend of the enemy (v.12,13) who had been hired by them to create fear in him.

In the face of this false prophecy (they are coming to kill you) and bad counsel (go to the Temple ) Nehemiah exhibits steadfastness as he rejects any view that means he will be taken away from the rebuilding of Jerusalem (v.11). He also shows discernment in realising that this ‘prophecy' is not from God but made up by those who are against him. He also shows wisdom in rejecting the counsel and understanding in seeing why it has come.

We then see that he turns to the Lord in prayer and asks Him to deal with his enemies who include a ‘prophetess' and various ‘prophets', of whom we know little, except that they had been speaking against Nehemiah trying to intimidate him, and who were therefore not of God.

D. Application:

1. When you know God's vision and purpose for you - hold on to it!

2. Use the gifts God gives you to counter the attacks of the enemy.

Chapter: Nehemiah 6

Passage: Nehemiah 6:15 - 7:3

A. Find Out:

1. How did their enemy react to the news of completion, and why? v.16

2. What communication went on and why? v.17,18

3. How did this include Nehemiah? v.19

4. Who were next appointed in Jerusalem ? v.1

5. And who was put in charge and why? v.2

6. How did they make the city secure? v.3

B. Think:

1. How was the land a problem to Nehemiah?

2. What do you think was significant about the people appointed first?

3. How, do you think, was the choice of city leaders significant?

C. Comment:

The wall has been complete in 52 days (v.15) and the gates are now in place. The news of this makes their enemies realise they are on the losing side and such success must be a sign of God being with them (v.16). The enemy had a whole network of communication within Judea reporting back to Samaria because, prior to Nehemiah coming, Judah was weak and had sworn loyalty to Samaria, partly through marriages (v.17-18) and that had been part of the trouble, the fact of these ‘whisperers' saying how good Tobiah was, trying to make Nehemiah feel weak (v.19). Once the wall and gates are complete, Nehemiah as the king's representative, goes about establishing people in roles that will sustain the city. Gatekeepers (v.1) are obvious because in those days when you had a walled city it was all about keeping out intruders.

But then we find he appoints singers and Levites (v.1b) which is interesting because they are to do with the Temple and ensuring worship is maintained. Ensuring a right, ongoing relationship with the Lord was maintained was obviously crucial to Nehemiah. Then there are the city leaders, the city administrators to be appointed and he needs people he can trust, men of integrity and so he chooses his brother and godly Hananiah (v.2). Finally, to ensure night security he requires the gates shut at night and guards posted (v.3). The city is now secure!

D. Application:

1. Practical administration is important.

2. Maintaining a right relationship with the Lord is even more important.

Chapter: Nehemiah 7

Passage: Nehemiah 7:4-73

A. Find Out:

1. What was the state of Jerusalem at that time? v.4

2. So what did the Lord do? v.5a

3. And what did Nehemiah find? v.5b

4. What was the list he found? v.6

5. Who had what sort of problem? v.64

6. How were they limited? v.65

7. How many people were counted? v.66

8. Who gave what? v.70-72

9. Who settled where? v.73

B. Think:

1. What do you think was the point of all this counting?

2. What does it show us?

C. Comment:

The city shape has been completed – the walls and gates are there – but inside the city they is still devastation (v.4) from Nebuchadnezzar's destruction decades before. But a city isn't just buildings, it is people and so the Lord puts it in Nehemiah's mind to record just who have come back (v.5a) and so he looks in the records and finds a record of the first people who came back (v.5b). This is essentially the same as that found in Ezra 2 with about 20% differences which may be explained by assuming that a cipher notation was used with vertical strokes for units and horizontal strokes for tens, which led to copying errors. Bearing in mind the circumstances at the time it is not terribly surprising!

Thus we see first of all lists of the people, then followed by all those who served in the Temple in some way and then, sadly, those who were Israelites but had no documentation to prove it (v.61-65). We thus assume that most had kept records. We see the total number but it would appear that most lived in the towns round about Jerusalem (v.73) rather than in the broken down city. Later (Ch.11) Jerusalem would be repopulated but for now few actually lived there.

D. Application:

1. People are important in God's economy.

2. A Christian - your name is in the Lamb's book of Life (Rev 3:5,21:27)

RECAP - "Building & Overcoming Opposition" - Nehemiah 3-7

SUMMARY :

In this second group of 11 studies we have seen:

- The different people rebuilding different parts 3:1-32

- Opposition by Mockery 4:1-3

- Nehemiah calling on the Lord 4:4,5

- The walls built to half height 4:6

- Opposition by plotting to fight 4:7,8

- Prayer made, guards placed 4:9

- Various difficulties 4:10-12

- Strategies for safe building 4:13-23

- Financial concerns expressed 5:1-5

- Nehemiah ensures justice & fairness prevails 5:6-19

- O pposition by demoralisation 6:1-9

- Opposition by demoralisation from within 6:10-14

- The building completed and tale-telling continuing 6:15-19

- The gates made secure 7:1-3

- Records of the returned exiles 7:4-73

COMMENT :

Any kingdom project is going to face opposition from outside and from within and God's leaders have to maintain their focus on Him and also seek Him for wisdom, how to overcome. There will also be natural difficulties along the way to be overcome and the same applies. This has been a record of overcoming opposition & natural difficulties.

LESSONS?

1. When opposition comes, seek God and hold to His word.

2. When difficulties arise, seek God for His wisdom to deal with them.

PRAY :

Thank the Lord that He is for us and will stand alongside us in any spiritual battles we may become involved in. Thank Him that His wisdom is there for us, to help us deal with problems and difficulties.

PART 3 : "Law, Repentance & Rededication" Neh 8-10

In this next Part we will see the Law systematically being read and then its impact on the people, bringing first repentance and then dedication to the Lord.