Tag Archive - Nehemiah

God’s faithfulness shown to His people: Nehemiah Summary

September 3, 2010 in Bible Blog with 0 Comments

Does God answer prayer? What is true leadership? Is God faithful to fulfill His promises? These are the questions that are answered in the book of Nehemiah? The setting found in the post exilic time for Israel as different groups of refugees escape from Babylon and return home to Israel to the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah, the cup bearer for king Artaxerxes of Persia, leads one of these groups back.

Have you ever been moved to pray fervently for God’s help and deliverance? Nehemiah hears of the ruined wall and gates of Jerusalem and his spirit becomes downcast. He prays that God would help His people, Israel. When you pray to God do you actually believe that He exists, He hears you and that He is faithful? Did Nehemiah think that God would use him to answer his prayer? Was Nehemiah surprised when Artaxerxes showed concern for his servant? In the moment when some would have been fearful to speak up to the king Nehemiah trusted that God was working in his midst. Continue Reading…

Direction is found in the strength of leadership: Nehemiah 13

September 2, 2010 in Bible Blog with 0 Comments

“Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of My God and for His service.” Nehemiah 13:14

“Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of Your steadfast love.” Nehemiah 13:22b

“Remember me, O my God, for good.” Nehemiah 13:30b

Is leadership easy? Should anyone ever desire to lead people? Do people choose to be leaders because they desire power? Through the eyes of the world it is important to be a leader because it will add to what you have and it will help you to get more. What is Biblical leadership? In Nehemiah 13 we get a glimpse of a true leader. In this chapter the people of Israel have fallen back to the ways of their fathers while Nehemiah was absent from the city. Nehemiah had his eyes open to the evil that the people in Jerusalem were committing and he chose to take action. Continue Reading…

Joy returns when God is placed first: Nehemiah 11 and 12

September 1, 2010 in Bible Blog with 0 Comments

What is happening in Nehemiah 11 and 12? You are faced with many names again which may make you want to tune out the details of the text. What is happening in the story of Israel? “And they offered great sacrifices that and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with a great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.” Nehemiah 12:43 ESV Why are details given about the priests and Levites? Why was there such joy in Jerusalem? Why list the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel? Continue Reading…

God’s faithfulness and compassion never end: Nehemiah 9 and 10

August 31, 2010 in Bible Blog with 1 Comment

Do you realize how amazing and awesome God’s unfailing faithfulness and compassion are? I am humbled by His total faithfulness. In Nehemiah 9 and 10 the people of Israel have gathered together and in unison confessed their sin and renewed their desire to follow all of God’s commandments. Why do man’s passions and allegiances waiver so quickly? I am amazed that God remains faithful as we continually yo-yo away from Him. The legacy of mankind is one of inability and unfaithfulness that is thankfully delivered by God’s unfailing faithfulness. Continue Reading…

That which is shattered by God: Nehemiah 7 and 8

August 30, 2010 in Bible Blog with 0 Comments

These are my thoughts as I reflected upon my reading in Nehemiah with more questions presented than answers found. Nehemiah 7 and 8 has driven home the fact the Christians cannot live outside the community found within the church. When we perceive that we can live a life marked by solitude apart from the fellowship of believers I honest believe that we are living outside the intentions that God has for mankind. The journey that the Israelites progressed from being set apart by God to this moment where a remnant has returned to Jerusalem has always focused on the community of the people. Consistently the punishment for sinfulness and disobedience was either death or expulsion from the community. The culture of the Israelites is one where people were in contact with one another and living out life together. In society today we can go through our day with little regard and thought given to any other person other than ourself. We are surrounded with self serve, self improvement, and self help which only facilitate our solitude enabling behaviors. Continue Reading…

Leadership, giving up what was never ours: Nehemiah 5 and 6

August 29, 2010 in Bible Blog with 0 Comments

Is compassion towards other people who are going through difficult life moments easy to extend? When you have built up a reserve of wealth are you willing to give it up to help other people? In Nehemiah 5 and 6 the people who were less fortunate upon returning to Jerusalem were being taken advantage of by those who had greater amounts of money and status. Why do people prey upon the downtrodden, troubled and despairing people so that they can make money? What is to be done? Where will we look to find hope. Continue Reading…

Men, arise and take up the burden of leadership: Nehemiah 3 and 4

August 28, 2010 in Bible Blog with 0 Comments

As you read through stories in the Bible do you find yourself ignoring the chapters with long lists of names? It can be daunting to sift through all of the people listed that you can barely pronounce. In Ezra chapter 3 we have this exact issue of many names but I encourage you to take time to read through these names looking for details about the wall being rebuilt in Jerusalem. I’ll be honest that I was tempted to generalize the people that were rebuilding the wall but there is much more to be gleaned from the texts than the assumption that the wall was just rebuilt. What were these men thinking as they completed the work? Continue Reading…

Out of brokenness rebuilding can begin: Nehemiah 1 and 2

August 27, 2010 in Bible Blog with 1 Comment

What grieves your heart so much that you weep, fast and pray for God’s intercession? Zerubbabel and Ezra led the first two groups of exiles back to Jerusalem. Thirteen years after Ezra returned to Jerusalem, leading a remnant to offer sacrifices to God, Nehemiah, a cup bearer to king Artaxerxes of Persia, hears word from Jerusalem that grieves his heart. The news from Jerusalem that the walls and gates are in ruin after over ninety years of exiles having returned to Jerusalem breaks the heart of Nehemiah. Why is Nehemiah so concerned about the state of the walls of Jerusalem? He is living in comfort as the cupbearer of the king of Persia. Wouldn’t life be easier if he just pushed aside the feelings and remorse? Have you ever quenched the Holy Spirit’s prompting in your life because you were afraid to step out in faith? Continue Reading…

After your death how will people remember you: 1 Chronicles 9 and 10

July 18, 2010 in Bible Blog with 0 Comments

The detailed genealogies that are found in the first eight chapters of 1 Chronicles have come to completion and in 1 Chronicles 9 we are given a preview to the post exilic return of people of Israel from Babylon to Jerusalem. There are only scarce details given about the return from exile but the books of Ezra and Nehemiah will give greater details about the return to Jerusalem.  Why are the names of the people who returned from exile given at this point in 1 Chronicles? Why are the names and lineage of the people returning from exile important?

In 1 Chronicles 10 the death of King Saul during the battle with the Philistines and the faithfulness of Jabesh-gilead is retold. What does it mean when the most noted detail of your life is your death and unfaithfulness to God? The reminder of Saul’s life and death makes me thankful for Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for me. Because of Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross I will not die for my transgressions. We are so easily drawn away from God and it will only be by His grace alone that we can live and have hope.