Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Nehemiah 2:5, SS Lesson for 09/27/2009

Transcription

1 Devotional Scripture: Acts 4:36; Acts 9:26-28 Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Nehemiah 2:5, SS Lesson for 09/27/2009 OUTLINE INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO LESSON LESSON INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator MAJOR THEME ANALYSIS A MOTIVATOR WHO CAN COMMUNICATE (NEH 2:5) Opportunity to communicate goals (5) Communicate goals by proclaiming the whole will of God (Acts 20:27) Communicate goals by speaking using God's wisdom (1 Cor 2:6-7) Communicate goals by not distorting God's word or using deception (2 Cor 4:2-5) Communicate goals by having them revealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph 3:4-5) Communicate goals by having them spiritually discerned by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:13-16) Communicate goals by becoming mature in the knowledge of God and Jesus (Eph 4:13) Communicate goals by being made competent by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:6) A MOTIVATOR WHO PLANS (NEH 2:11-16) Planning through investing time (11) Investing time because God's time is vastly different from ours (2 Peter 3:8-9) Investing time because God's timing is Divine and beyond our comprehension (Isa 55:8) Investing time because God blesses us with time so that we may use it wisely (Eph 5:15-16) Investing time because God blesses us with time so that we may know that the end is near (1 Cor 7:29,31) Investing time because God blesses us with time so that we will number our days (Ps 90:12) Investing time because there is a time for everything (Eccl 3:1) Investing time by putting on the armor of God because the time is near (Rom 13:12) Planning through meditation time with God (12) Meditation on God's works (Ps 77:12) Meditation of the heart (Ps 19:14) Meditation on God's unfailing love (Ps 48:9) Meditation on God's wonders (Ps 119:27) Meditation on God's Word, as well as listening, brings insight and understanding (Ps 119:99) Planning through appraisal (13-14) Appraisal of the cost to ensure completion (Luke 14:28-32) Appraisal to ensure to be well-advised (Prov 20:18) Appraisal to find out God's will (James 4:13-16) Appraisal to check for danger and evil (Prov 22:3) Appraisal to be watchful and alert (1 Thess 5:6) Appraisal to be prepared to act based on God's Word (Heb 11:7) Planning how to secure helpers (15-16) Helpers to share the load (Exodus 18:13-23) Helpers to share the responsibility (Acts 6:3) Helpers to ensure everywhere is reached (Acts 1:21-26) Helpers called out by God (Acts 13:2-3) Helpers because two are better than one (Eccl 4:9-12) Helpers because sometimes the burden is too heavy for one (Num 11:14-17) On Being Secretive (from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary) A MOTIVATOR WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO LEAD (NEH 2:17-20) Lead by challenging (17) Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 1 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

2 A challenge to be worthy (2 Thess 1:11) A challenge that could require the giving up of treasures (Matt 19:21-22) A challenge that must be carefully considered (Luke 14:25-33) A challenge that could cost one's life (Matt 20:20-23) A challenge that may be like being sent out as lambs among wolves (Luke 10:1-3) Lead by giving God the glory (18) Give God the glory through thanksgiving (2 Cor 4:15) Give God the glory because in all things God should be praised (1 Peter 4:11) Give God the glory because we are owned by Him (1 Cor 6:20) Give God the glory because we are to give God the glory in all things that we do (1 Cor 10:31) God is glorified when we are in unity with the Holy Spirit and follow the example of Jesus (Rom 15:5-6) God is glorified when we live a good life before others (1 Peter 2:12) CONCLUSION AND OTHER THOUGHTS CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE NIV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR PRACTICAL POINTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR HEART OF THE LESSON FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR Nehemiah's request to the king of Persia (Neh. 2:5, 11) Nehemiah's inspection of the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 2:12-16) Nehemiah's challenge to the Jewish leadership (Neh. 2:17-20) Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 2 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

3 Introduction Overview and Approach to Lesson The concept of the lesson outline came from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator. The lesson examines Motivation. The study's aim is to demonstrate that one godly leader can motivate a people to join in the work of the Lord. The study's application is to learn that when we have a godly leader, we need to partner with him and his work for God. Lesson Introduction and Background From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary The military method for getting volunteers is familiar: I want three volunteers you, you, and you! It is more like coercion than volunteerism. Even so, there are benefits to this method of finding volunteers: the needed quota is quickly filled, the projects that are pending are finished in a timely way, and the drafted volunteers sometimes discover that they actually enjoy what they have been assigned to do. A second method is the normal procedure of announcing the nature of what needs to be done and then putting out a call for volunteers to accomplish it. The success of this approach varies greatly. Young ministers may have an idealized concept that if they announce the need for volunteers for church-related tasks then such needs will be filled easily. Reality, however, says that most people have already scheduled their time, or they do not want to be involved. The young minister soon comes to understand that this is not the best way to fill those empty slots of service. A third approach to finding volunteers is direct and usually produces good results: capable individuals are asked personally to accept a task. One benefit of this approach is that sincere but incapable people who would volunteer under the second approach will not be hurt or offended by having their offers of help declined since they will not be asked in the first place. Yet another type of volunteerism occurs when a talented individual perceives what needs to be done and then does it without being asked. This type of person can be a blessing. Nehemiah was such a one. He heard of a need, evaluated the circumstances, and decided that he was the best person to accomplish it. The excuses that he could have offered were many. But he sacrificed his comfortable position to do what needed to be done. Lesson Background Six books of the Old Testament were written after the Jews returned to their homeland from Babylonian captivity. The six books include three historical books (Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther) and the last three books of the Minor Prophets (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). Three Persian kings interacted with the Jews after the exile. Cyrus the Great captured Babylon in mid-october of 539 BC. The next year he gave his famous decree that all exiled peoples had permission to return to their native lands (see Ezra 1:2 4). Cyrus was named in a prophecy written in Isaiah 44:28; 45:1 over 160 years before he conquered Babylon and other nations of that region. During his reign, the Jews who returned built the altar of burnt offerings, and they laid the foundation for the temple. Then opposition began by the neighbors of the Jews, and the building programs ceased. Cambyses succeeded his father, Cyrus. Cambyses in turn was followed by Darius the Great in 522 BC. Two years later Haggai received four messages from God. That prophet exhorted the Jews to resume the work on the temple (Haggai 1:1; 2:1, 10, 20). The people again encountered opposition, but the work was allowed to continue while a search was made to see if the claim of the Jews was true that Cyrus had authorized them to build. The decree was found, and the temple was completed in early 515 BC (Ezra 5, 6). Xerxes (also given as Ahasuerus) followed Darius. Xerxes desperately wanted to avenge the defeat of his father by Greek forces at the battle of Marathon in 490 BC. The lengthy banquet recorded in Esther 1 may have been a planning session for the campaign that ended with a Greek victory at the sea battle of Salamis in 479 BC. Xerxes chose Esther as his queen when he returned from battle. Artaxerxes I came to the throne in 464 BC when his father was assassinated. He permitted Ezra to return in 458 BC with other Jews (Ezra 7, 8). See last week s lesson. About 13 years later, in 445 BC, Nehemiah s brother arrived in Susa and told him of the plight of the Jews back in Jerusalem. The walls were still broken down, and a city without walls had no respect or defense. Nehemiah evaluated the matter, developed a plan of action, and waited for the right opportunity to present it to the king. The last verse of Nehemiah 1 notes that he was Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 3 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

4 the king s cupbearer, a very responsible position of influence. Nehemiah could have used this opportunity to explain why he should stay in Susa in order to use his influence to help those in Judah. But this man of prayer decided that the task was his. From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Worldly power is a great temptation for a man. He may tell himself that he will use his position of influence to further the work of God's kingdom. And indeed there have been godly men in history who have also been great political leaders. But there have also been those who compromised their principles in order to cling to power. Nehemiah is an example of a political leader who remained faithful to God and His purposes. He had a great passion for God's people and for the nation to be in a right relationship with the Lord. Nehemiah did not seek to rule by brute force. He realized that if Israel was going to do a work for God, it had to come from a willing heart. Our lesson title refers to him as a motivator. Being able to inspire people to pursue God's will is the secret of true leadership, and this is not possible unless the leader is dedicated to the cause. A good and godly leader sets priorities and helps others follow them. The solid Christian values on which the United States was first founded are not the same values we have today as a nation. We have seen a gradual but steady erosion of our Christian values and an infiltration of unbiblical values in our society that are now often being condoned without question. Most of us will agree that some change is immediately needed. A godly leader can set a change in motion and motivate others to follow. This does not come without risk, but it will be worth it in the end. Our lesson this week shows us how Nehemiah did just that as he risked his life and faced opposition to fulfill God's calling on his heart. Major Theme Analysis (Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV) A Motivator Who can Communicate (Neh 2:5) 5 And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it." Opportunity to communicate goals (5) Communicate goals by proclaiming the whole will of God (Acts 20:27) 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Communicate goals by speaking using God's wisdom (1 Cor 2:6-7) 6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. Communicate goals by not distorting God's word or using deception (2 Cor 4:2-5) 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. Communicate goals by having them revealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph 3:4-5) 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 4 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

5 Communicate goals by having them spiritually discerned by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:13-16) 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. Communicate goals by becoming mature in the knowledge of God and Jesus (Eph 4:13) 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Communicate goals by being made competent by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:6) 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant- not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. A Motivator who Plans (Neh 2:11-16) 11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode. 13 And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass. 15 So I went up in the night by the valley, and viewed the wall; then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work. Planning through investing time (11) Investing time because God's time is vastly different from ours (2 Peter 3:8-9) 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Investing time because God's timing is Divine and beyond our comprehension (Isa 55:8) 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. Investing time because God blesses us with time so that we may use it wisely (Eph 5:15-16) 15 Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Investing time because God blesses us with time so that we may know that the end is near (1 Cor 7:29,31) 29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 5 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

6 Investing time because God blesses us with time so that we will number our days (Ps 90:12) 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Investing time because there is a time for everything (Eccl 3:1) 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: Investing time by putting on the armor of God because the time is near (Rom 13:12) 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Planning through meditation time with God (12) Meditation on God's works (Ps 77:12) 12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Meditation of the heart (Ps 19:14) 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Meditation on God's unfailing love (Ps 48:9) 9 Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. Meditation on God's wonders (Ps 119:27) 27 Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. Meditation on God's Word, as well as listening, brings insight and understanding (Ps 119:99) 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. Planning through appraisal (13-14) Appraisal of the cost to ensure completion (Luke 14:28-32) 28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. Appraisal to ensure to be well-advised (Prov 20:18) 18 Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. Appraisal to find out God's will (James 4:13-16) 13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 6 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

7 Appraisal to check for danger and evil (Prov 22:3) 3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Appraisal to be watchful and alert (1 Thess 5:6) 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. Appraisal to be prepared to act based on God's Word (Heb 11:7) 7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Planning how to secure helpers (15-16) Helpers to share the load (Exodus 18:13-23) 13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" 15 Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws." 17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21 But select capable men from all the people men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." Helpers to share the responsibility (Acts 6:3) 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them Helpers to ensure everywhere is reached (Acts 1:21-26) 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection." 23 So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. Helpers called out by God (Acts 13:2-3) 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 7 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

8 Helpers because two are better than one (Eccl 4:9-12) 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Helpers because sometimes the burden is too heavy for one (Num 11:14-17) 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now if I have found favor in your eyes and do not let me face my own ruin." 16 The Lord said to Moses: "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone. On Being Secretive (from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary) Some secrets need to be kept. Consider the growing problem of identity theft. A lost wallet may provide a thief with enough information to open bank or credit card accounts with the stolen identity and run up thousands of dollars of bills. Sometimes the theft is done by dumpster diving going through trash to find papers with sensitive personal financial information. The high-tech approach to identity theft is phishing usually an that throws out some bait in hopes of getting someone to bite and reveal financial information. Thus phishing is electronic fishing. An example is the purportedly from a wealthy political refugee whose accounts have been frozen by a dastardly government of a third-world country. The promises a substantial reward for allowing the deposit of millions of dollars in your bank account. But, of course, you must first reveal your account numbers! Those who do not know when to be secretive about their financial information and when not to will get into trouble. Nehemiah was secretive because a premature disclosure of his plan could have brought unthinking, knee-jerk opposition from his own people. Needed changes in the church are sometimes prevented because resistance builds as a result of partial information that gets out; when the grapevine takes over, watch out! There comes a time when people are to be informed, of course. As the old saying goes, timing is everything. A Motivator Who Has the Ability to Lead (Neh 2:17-20) 17 Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach." 18 And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, "Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?" 20 So I answered them, and said to them, "The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem." Lead by challenging (17) A challenge to be worthy (2 Thess 1:11) 11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 8 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

9 A challenge that could require the giving up of treasures (Matt 19:21-22) 21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. A challenge that must be carefully considered (Luke 14:25-33) 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters yes, even his own life he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. A challenge that could cost one's life (Matt 20:20-23) 20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." 22 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." A challenge that may be like being sent out as lambs among wolves (Luke 10:1-3) 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Lead by giving God the glory (18) Give God the glory through thanksgiving (2 Cor 4:15) 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Give God the glory because in all things God should be praised (1 Peter 4:11) 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. Give God the glory because we are owned by Him (1 Cor 6:20) 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. Give God the glory because we are to give God the glory in all things that we do (1 Cor 10:31) 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 9 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

10 God is glorified when we are in unity with the Holy Spirit and follow the example of Jesus (Rom 15:5-6) 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is glorified when we live a good life before others (1 Peter 2:12) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Conclusion and Other Thoughts Concluding Thoughts from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary A person may read about Nehemiah and be moved to take risks. Some make major purchases without any means of making the payments, for they have faith that God will somehow provide at the right time. There are incidents in which the funds did arrive at the last minute, but there are also the failure accounts in which people had to move or surrender what they bought. The failures do not make good illustrations in lessons or sermons! Nehemiah is an outstanding example of a person who had goals and plans, but he was also realistic. He planned and investigated in order to cause his dreams to become reality. Throughout his book he mentioned times when he prayed to God, for his was a reasoned faith. When the king of Persia granted him the unlikely request, he was on solid ground. Concluding Thoughts from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Our text begins with Nehemiah's narrative about what was going on once he had gone back to the land of Palestine to see what he could do about rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. He pointed out the significance of the matter (Neh. 2:17). Then he told the people that God was involved. Why are we as Christians often afraid to bring up the Lord in our daily conversations? We may go so far as to say that we are praying about such and such, but Nehemiah did not do that. He had prayed (Neh. 2:4), but now was not the time for prayer. Now was the time to show that this was more than a human endeavor. God was involved. How did Nehemiah know that God was involved? Notice that he said, "I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me." First, these are not just words of hope. He had confidence that God was in this. Second, he knew this because of what the king had said to him. Nehemiah referred to "the king's words that he had spoken unto me." He was referring to what King Artaxerxes had said to him earlier (vs. 6). He gave Nehemiah the time off to go to Jerusalem. In addition, at Nehemiah's request, the king gave him letters arranging passage through the kingdom and releasing some of the royal timber to him to take for the construction project (vss. 7-8). Was King Artaxerxes a believer? Certainly not. But he was sympathetic to Nehemiah because he had done a good job for him. That is something we always need to remember. Our job may be working for the most pagan of pagans, but if we work as unto the Lord (cf. Col. 3:23), we are in fact serving Him, and He will bless us for it. That is obviously what happened for Nehemiah. Once the rulers heard Nehemiah's assurance of God's involvement, they got behind him right away. "They said, Let us rise up and build." It is always amazing what people will do when they know without a doubt that God is involved. But the sad fact is that all too often they do not know of God's involvement because they do not see us getting excited about what God will do. How does that happen? We often fail for one or more of several reasons. First, we do not pray. Nehemiah was a man of prayer. Every saint in the Bible was a man or woman (note Esther) of prayer. We cannot treat prayer as just icing on the cake. It is the icing, but it is also the cake! Second, we often do not pray in faith. What causes that? When we do not have a regular prayer life, we are sure to lack faith in prayer. We just go through the motions. The Bible never stipulates how much we should pray each day, but Paul did say that we should "pray without ceasing" (I Thess. 5:17). Finally, we do not lead in faith. When we read the rest of the book of Nehemiah, we see how Nehemiah led the charge to rebuild the walls. But he could not have done it by himself. He needed the others. The others were faithful because Nehemiah was faithful. May God help us be faithful today. Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 10 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09

11 Practical Points from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator 1. Faithfulness in daily duties often opens doors for greater work for God (Neh. 2:5) 2. What God puts in our hearts need not be shared immediately with everyone (vs ) 3. It is never wise to jump into a work or ministry without first learning the nature and scope of the work (vs ) 4. God shows us needs but also supplies plans and leaders to meet those needs (vs ) 5. Wherever God is at work, there will be opposition (vs. 19) 6. If we know we are in God's will, there is nothing to fear from others (vs. 20) Heart of the Lesson from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator Nehemiah performed a special service for the king of Persia as his cupbearer (Neh. 1:11). It was his duty to taste the wine for poison before he served it to the king. Nehemiah had been fasting and praying for several months (1:1; 2:1) for the restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland. The time for which he had been praying arrived suddenly. The king noted a change in Nehemiah's countenance. He surmised that since Nehemiah was not physically ill, he must be experiencing depression of some sort. Nehemiah courageously took advantage of the king's inquiry. Speaking earnestly from his heart, he told the king about his sadness over the desolate condition of Jerusalem. The city of his fathers was in ruins. Nehemiah's request to the king of Persia (Neh. 2:5, 11) The king asked Nehemiah what he could do about this matter, prompting a spontaneous prayer to God by Nehemiah (vs. 4). He expressed to the king the inner passion of his heart, which was to go to Jerusalem and restore its walls (vs. 5). Nehemiah made a bold request of faith that the king would send him to Jerusalem. Leaders must exemplify what it means to step out by faith to accomplish great things for God. Nehemiah not only asked the king's permission to go to Jerusalem; he also asked for the king's involvement. He requested the necessary authorization letters for safe passage and for the procurement of the building materials necessary to complete the construction project. The king granted the request, sending Nehemiah to Jerusalem along with all the official papers that he needed and a military escort (Neh. 2:6-9). Nehemiah journeyed to Jerusalem in 445 B.C. Once in Jerusalem, Nehemiah rested for three days before he put his plan into action (Neh. 2:11). While Nehemiah's personal qualities as a leader are obvious, God's favor was upon him for success. Nehemiah's inspection of the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 2:12-16) Nehemiah surveyed the ruins firsthand in order to develop his plan of action for reconstructing Jerusalem's walls. He first needed to assess the damage in order to ascertain what needed to be done. Once he had his plan in mind, Nehemiah met with the Jewish officials of the city to call them to the task. Nehemiah's challenge to the Jewish leadership (Neh. 2:17-20) Nehemiah first directed the leaders' attention to the desolate condition of the wall and gates of Jerusalem. He then rehearsed how God's hand was upon the project. The Persian king had allowed him to travel to Jerusalem with the necessary authority. God was actively involved on Nehemiah's behalf to take on this great task. Nehemiah provided a vision and decisive leadership. He was clearly a mover, a shaker, and a doer. Nehemiah successfully convinced the leadership that the project should go forward. This was God's project. The leadership immediately committed themselves to the task. The news of the rebuilding was met with ridicule and false accusations by the enemies of the Jews who lived around them. In response, Nehemiah asserted that God would give the Jews success in their efforts to rebuild Jerusalem. Their enemies had no share, claim, or historic right to Jerusalem. Nehemiah faced the opposition with the Godgiven confidence and resolve of a leader who inspires and motivates others. Nehemiah: A Motivator for the People Page 11 of 11 SS Lesson for 09/27/09