Lesson Three Building and Guarding Nehemiah 3-4 The Rebuilt Life Studies in the Book of Nehemiah Last Week in Review Four months had passed since Nehemiah began praying about what to do with the burden God placed on his heart. Finally, the day presented itself almost unknowingly when the grief and strain of this burden began to show noticeably. When the king asked him about this, Nehemiah felt a surge of fear, but then faith took over, and he carefully presented the burden. Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah what he had in mind, and Nehemiah related specific plans and objectives he had been thinking and praying through. Artaxerxes gave him permission to go and begin the construction project. Opposition of course immediately arose, because the enemy was grieved that his plan to defeat and sideline the Jews was being challenged. Before Nehemiah even presented his burden to the people, he took time to observe the condition of the walls for himself, and further plan the way to begin this work. Then he was able to better present the plan to the people, and they gladly responded. More opposition was to arise, yet Nehemiah responded well to mocking and threats from the enemy by telling 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 (Nehemiah 2:20, NKJV). This week, we will pick up with the construction work s progress, and learn the important roles that both building and guarding our lives spiritually play in seeing spiritual success and God s glory accomplished. Day One: The Building Begins Briefly read Nehemiah 3 and answer the following questions. 1. How long before work began on the wall isn t recorded, but it was probably fairly soon. Chapter 3 demonstrates careful planning on Nehemiah s part to ensure success of the project, and in careful detail he recorded the construction and the workers involved. We won t take an in-depth look at this chapter, but as you read through it, what are some things you glean about: The variety of the types and backgrounds of people doing the work: 1
How Nehemiah set up the construction work so the people actually worked together more effectively: What else he did in arranging the workers to ensure they would do a thorough job (for example, vv. 28, 29)? 2. We did notice in verse 5 that some of the leaders of the Tekoites wouldn t participate in the work. Possibly since Tekoa was located closest to the area controlled by Geshem the Arab, they used fear of an attack if they participated as an excuse. 1 Just as likely, though, since they are described as nobles, they may have thought such work was below them. In the Body of Christ, we too are in a major construction project, serving in God s Kingdom, carrying out the work that He has for us. All of us need to fulfill our calling and work together. We saw here how everyone, from the High Priest to one man s daughters, was involved in building the wall. What do the following passages tell us about our calling in the Body of Christ, and how important it is for us to humbly fulfill it? Romans 12:3-8 I Corinthians 12:4-6, 11 1 Peter 4:10, 5:5-7 2
Scripture Memory: This week we will be memorizing Nehemiah 4:14. Review the passage several times throughout the day each day this week, and by the end of the week, you should have it memorized completely. And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." Nehemiah 4:14 (NKJV) Day Two: External Opposition Please carefully read Nehemiah 4:1-5 and answer the following questions. 1. Satan s first attempt to stop the work failed, so he began to turn up the external opposition through his puppets Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. What was Sanballat s reaction when he heard of the progress being made on the wall, and how did he seek to demoralize the workers (vv. 1, 2)? Notes The Hebrew Bible considers Nehemiah 4:1-6 to be 3:33-38. 2 The terms used for Sanballat s flying into a rage (NLT) describe the heat of anger after it had been kindled, and being so angry that it produced action as a result, 3 like a fire already burning will engulf things in its way. 2. How did Tobiah also add to this mockery (v. 3)? 3. It is crucial to remain unified as believers, especially when we are under attack like this. Satan will mock us, saying that we are nothing but a feeble (a word used to describe a withering plant, or someone without hope 4 ) group whose works are weak, and the slightest thing could make them crumble. Mocking from the enemy, though, usually signifies that God is going to bless His people in unusual ways, so we should expect such attacks to try and demoralize us. 5 How does remaining unified in Christ greatly help us face these things (Philippians 1:28, 29)? 3
4. When we are mocked by others we tend to either become angry and tempted to strike back in the flesh, or crumble emotionally. Rather than doing this, how did Nehemiah react to this crisis (vv. 4, 5)? 5. This sort of prayer seems a bit unusual. Certainly we would pray for help in the midst of troubles like this, but to pray for the destruction and condemnation of our enemies seems to go against our grain as Christians. Yet we saw David do this repeatedly (for example, Psalms 69. 79, and 139:19-22). Also in a sense Nehemiah prayed according to the will of God in this, since these people demonstrated their opposition to God and His plans. Nevertheless, as Christians we should be praying for the salvation of those who oppose us, and look to God to be our vindicator in these situations, like Nehemiah did. What do you read about this in Matthew 5:43-45 and Romans 12:14-21? Scripture Memory: Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today. And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be of them. Remember the Lord, great and, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." Nehemiah 4:14 (NKJV) Day Three: Progress and Regress Please carefully read Nehemiah 4:6-12 and answer the following questions. 1. How did Nehemiah describe the progress after recommitting this to God s hands, and why was it so successful (v. 6)? 4
2. The word mind in Hebrew is the same word as heart, the inner being, our deepest most inmost self. 6 How will having such a heart prosper the work God has called us to carry out for Him (Deuteronomy 6:5; Galatians 6:9, 10; Colossians 3:23, 24)? 3. Once again the enemy was extremely upset, and these groups who were once at enmity with each other now plotted together to come and attack Jerusalem, trying to confuse and hinder the work. What was Nehemiah s two-fold response to this (v. 9)? 4. Opposition always starts externally, but then Satan knows it is just as effective to bring in discouragement and doubt internally, even using those who profess to be Christians partaking in the work! 7 Sadly, how did many involved in this work allow themselves to become down, discouraged, and even despairing, in the midst of this all and the increasing threat of the enemy (vv. 10-12)? 5. We will look at what Nehemiah did to counter this external and internal opposition over the next two days. The best way for us to dispel the fear the enemy tries to stir through either the enemy from outside or others inside is to not give into it, and remember that God is with us, and promises to see us through. What encouragement do you read about this in I Corinthians 15:58 and Philippians 1:6? Scripture Memory: Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today. And I looked, and arose and said to the, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be of them. the Lord, great and, and for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." Nehemiah 4:14 (NKJV) 5
Day Four: Building and Guarding Please carefully read Nehemiah 4:13-18 and answer the following questions. 1. There are two ways we can face any problem: reactively, just responding without any structured plan; or proactively, preparing ahead with set goals and plans, not just doing a repair job all the time! 8 Nehemiah modeled for us how we can proactively deal with difficult circumstances and be the people God has called us to be. What did he first do to counter external attacks from the enemy (v. 13)? 2. Nehemiah next addressed the fears and discouragement of the people. What did he remind them of, and what was the result of this (vv. 14, 15)? 3. How would this have reminded them of what Moses had told Israel when they were first entering the Promised Land (see Deuteronomy 3:21,22; 20:1-4; 31:6)? What is equally true for us today (Hebrews 13:5, 6)? 4. What were some other proactive steps Nehemiah took in facing possible attacks from the enemy (vv. 16-18)? 5. Building our lives and guarding our hearts and minds are the two necessary ingredients for a successful victory over the enemy. Nehemiah s workers who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other (NIV), as we must too in rebuilding our own lives, as well as carrying out the work God has called us to. What are some further things that the apostle Paul said about being equipped and prepared like this? 1 Corinthians 16:13, 14 6
2 Corinthians 6:6, 7 2 Timothy 2:1-5, 4:7, 8 Scripture Memory: Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today. And I, and arose and said to the, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be of them. the Lord, great and, and for your, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." Nehemiah 4:14 (NKJV) Day Five: Always Ready Please carefully read Nehemiah 4:19-23 and answer the following questions. 1. We saw in verse 18 that Nehemiah was always accompanied by the trumpeter. What did he instruct the people to do so that they could better stand against the enemy together (vv. 19-20)? 2. Our God will fight for us. We must remind ourselves of this whenever we are facing temptation, trial, and tribulation. It is true even if we can t see it at the moment; we must trust, obey, and rely on His help, fighting the battle for and through us. How do the following passages also exhort us to remember this? Exodus 14:14 7
Deuteronomy 1:30, 31; 33:26, 27 Joshua 23:6-11 3. To what extent did Nehemiah and the people go to ensure they stood strong against the enemy s threats (vv. 21-23)? 4. Whenever the people heard the trumpet blast, they were to rally and work together as one against the enemy. We need to take the effort to do so as well, be active participants in the church, standing together, serving and battling, building and guarding, in unity. Perhaps you haven t really been fulfilling your role in the church well. In addition to what we ve already read this week, how can the following passages serve as your trumpet call to do so more effectively? Romans 12:10-13 I Corinthians 12:12-27 Hebrews 10:24, 25 8
Scripture Memory: Can you write out this week s passage by memory here below? Give it a try, and keep reviewing the passage several times throughout the day. Nehemiah 4:14 Day Six: Building, Guarding, Growing This week, we have seen how we need to have a mind to work, a heart to pray, and an eye to watch! 9 Consider the following questions, and how you can apply the things you have learned this week so you can better do so. 1. We are truly interdependent as Christians. Our cultural mythology tells us we must be independent, self-reliant, self-sufficient, competitive, and run over the next guy on the way to the top! That is not Christianity. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:43-45, NKJV). There are no Lone Rangers in the body of Christ. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto, and if nothing else, his horse! It is only when we walk and work in unity with others that we will be able to carry out the calling God has given us as His church. What are some of the things that the Lord spoke to you about this as you studied? Are there things you should start doing (or maybe stop doing) that would better allow God s work to be accomplished? Please share some thoughts here about how you can better fulfill your role in the church, as well as work together with others in this. 9
2. Not only are we interdependent as Christians, we are also locked together in the midst of a spiritual war. We must be prepared for battle. As we saw in 1 Peter 5:8,9, we must Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world (NKJV). Because of this, Paul said, we must always be ready for the battles we will face, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11, NKJV). We have seen some of his devices and techniques here in the attacks brought upon the wall builders. As you think through these, what are some of the things that God taught you about how to both prepare for and handle the battles that are yet ahead, based on Satan s devices of: External mocking, slander, and attack by spiritual terrorists from the outside: Internal fear, discouragement, and doubt: Keeping us isolated from praying and fighting together: 3. As we saw this week, we will live either reactively, always chasing around trying to pick up the pieces after failure, and having no specific plan to deal with things, or proactively, planning ahead for the types of situations we may face, with specific goals and techniques for handling these situations, thought out ahead of time. Many people spend their lives in defeat because they aren t taking the steps to be ready and plan ahead. This week, think of one thing you can set as a goal in handling the following situations you may come across. Record at least one way you plan proactively to be ready for situations such as these that you re likely to face: Time requirements trying to choke out your personal devotional life with the Lord: 10
Work or other commitments taking priority over family, church, etc.: Temptations at your place of employment or school to be dishonest or fudge a little on your duties, rather than doing all as unto the Lord: Temptations regarding the opposite sex distracting you from your personal purity, and if married, away from your spouse: 4. If there is anything else that God specifically spoke to your heart this week as you studied, please feel free to record it here and share it with your group. Scripture Memory: Hopefully you now can write out this week s passage completely by memory. Do so now, and keep on reviewing it so that you will be ready to share it wit others in your group time. 11
Nehemiah 4:14 Lecture Notes 12
Group Prayer Requests 13
1 F. Charles Fensham, The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. In R.K. Harrison (Ed.), The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982), p. 174. 2 Ibid., p. 179. 3 Spiros Zodhiates (Ed.), The Complete Word Study Old Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1994), pp. 2318, 2326. 4 Fensham, The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, p. 180. 5 Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Determined (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books/SP Publications, 1992), p. 51. 6 Zodhiates (Ed.), The Complete Word Study Old Testament, p. 2328. 7 Alan Redpath, Victorious Christian Service (Westwood, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1958), pp. 71, 72. 8 John C. Maxwell, Today Matters (New York: Warner Faith, 2004), p. 21. 9 Redpath, Victorious Christian Service, p. 77. 2004 Harvest Christian Fellowship; All Rights Reserved; Written by Thomas Klock for Men s Bible Fellowship, 2004-2005. www.harvest.org 14