Brian Fisher
Grace Bible Church
“The Beginning of a Great Work
Part 1: Nehemiah's Perspective”
Nehemiah 1:1-4
In biblical times, the walls of a city held great significance. They represented the local deity's concern for his people and his power to protect them. Broken walls... weak god... great dishonor for both the god and his people. Yahweh, the King, not just of a limited earthly location but of all the universe, was dishonored by the condition of His holy city, Jerusalem. The temple had been restored under the leadership of Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest and through the exhortation of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. However, the people were afraid to worship because the city afforded them no protection. Therefore God raised up another generation of leaders, headed by Nehemiah and Ezra and exhorted by the prophet Malachi, to rebuild the walls and reform the worship. As we study the books of Nehemiah and Malachi this semester, may God instruct us in lessons of spiritual leadership and may we discover how we can courageously bring Him honor in our own generation. Our God is strong! Our God deserves all honor and glory!
Review of background
Exile. Why were they cast off the land?
Deuteronomy 28:64; 30:1-5 – sin = removal; repentance = restored
1. Worship God alone – Dt. 5:7; 6:4; SABBATH
2. Sabbath rest for the land – Lev. 25:1-4, 11-14; 26:33-35
3. Dt. 7:3-4; Don’t intermingle; other nations invited to join Israel
Jeremiah’s prophecy – Jer. 25:8-11
Jer. 29:10-14 – promise to regather
Third Return – Neh. 1:1
Nov/Dec; 3rd month of Jewish calendar; 445 B.C. Covers 444-430 BC
Authorship; written 430-400 B.C.; along with Malachi, last words from the Lord before John the Baptist; last time God broke into human history
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol,
that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem.
They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire."
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
—Nehemiah 1:1-4
Nehemiah’s name = the Lord comforts; character; Your “servant”
Nehemiah was God’s servant; right man for this moment; two attitudes emerge right at the beginning of the book
I. Compassion for God’s people; same attitude as God
Nehemiah inquired; Nehemiah initiated
Living in comfort; luxury
Influential position; all that he needed was provided for self and family
Over 500 miles away from tragic situation
People’s condition - Great distress and reproach
Significance of walls; literal and symbolic
Protection from enemies; ability to conduct commerce
Ability to worship
Mocked in their own land
Economic hardship; physical threat
Favor from king apparently had collapsed; walls destroyed – not a reference to the initial destruction by Nebuchadnezzar but later destruction. Ezra 4:7, 11-16
Symptoms of compassion (not forced or contrived) – 1:4
1. Sat down
2. Wept – out of control
God is a God of compassion; His greatest servants
Jer. 9:1 (weeping prophet); Luke 19:41
3. Mourned
4. Fasted – meals were long affairs
Distress over a situation
Asking God to do something great
Joel 2:15-17
5. Praying
6. Days
Synthesis of his life for over 100 days
Living in comfort and prestige; willing to sacrifice everything
Compassion is God-like;
Mt. 9:36 – Christ had compassion on multitudes
1 John 3:17 – brother in need
How do you develop a compassionate heart?
1. Begins in your mind; How would I feel in a similar situation
Nehemiah had never been to Jerusalem; he could only imagine
Compassion is a capacity; a muscle
2. Direct involvement
Motivated not just by need, but by God’s reputation
II. Concern for God’s glory
Theme of the book – not leadership
God breaking into human history to glorify Himself through His people
Separation of God’s people
From evil influences
To His worship and glory
Significance of walls; literal and symbolic
Protection from enemies
Jerusalem was a special place – Is. 49:14-16
Favor of the local god – Ps. 79:1-5
Power of the local god
Broken walls – no glory; shame
Conclusion
God has caused His glory to dwell in you; in our church
Are your walls in disrepair? Hindrances to God’s glory in your life?
Physical addictions
Emotional walls – forgiveness
Spiritual – patterns of sin
Is He calling you to assist in reconstructing others’ walls?
Preoccupied with ourselves, we can’t be concerned for others
In what area of life is God calling you to build?