Andrew Stepp Nehemiah
Mo Ranch Just a few rooms left! July 12-15 in Hunt, TX VBS volunteers needed for June 11-15
How to Read the Bible for All It s Worth by Fee and Stuart (On Amazon, $16.84 for paperback, $13.99 for Kindle)
Review of Genesis Ezra! Weekly Readings
Genesis: Creation to Joseph Exodus: Crisis with Pharaoh to The Covenant at Mt. Sinai Leviticus: How everything is supposed to be organized Numbers: Preparation for invading Canaan. Mt. Sinai Wilderness Wandering encamped @ the Jordan River Deuteronomy The Patton/Rockne/Hoosiers Speech before they cross the Jordan
Joshua Israel invades and conquers the Holy Land. Judges Israel settles into the Promised Land; The wheels come off the bus BIG TIME! Ruth A small town of people choose to live faithfully to the covenant despite their culture and nation, and God uses them! 1 Samuel Israel gets a a king But it s Saul 2 Samuel King David s triumphs and trials
1 Kings Solomon leads Israel into idolatry; nation splits. 2 Kings Israelites are worse than the Canaanites who precede them! Assyria and Babylon invade. Chronicles The history of the throne with a focus on right worship and right leadership Ezra A Remnant Returns The focus is on the restoration of the Temple and reestablishing it as the center of Judah's culture
Israel is in exile in Babylon for 70 years Babylon (who defeated Assyria) is defeated by Persia in 539 BC God moves King Cyrus to send Israelites back to Jerusalem to restore the temple and Jewish worship
In 537 BC, a remnant returns to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel as their leader to rebuild the temple. It s completed in 516 BC. (Haggai 2:1-9). Roughly 49,000 people returned (UPDATED!)
Wave Two: In 458 BC, Ezra is sent to Jerusalem by Artaxerxes I, king of Persia. Ezra was a priest and scribe, an expert in the law of Moses and the covenant. (Ezra 7:25-26). Another 1,758 returned with Ezra (UPDATED!) Wave Three: Nehemiah leads a remnant back under Artexerxes to rebuild Jerusalem s walls and infrastructure. (445 BC) He also repopulated the city, built a governor s house, created administrative infrastructure, and restored the city in general.
Not many Jews returned to Jerusalem or to the old Promised Land. (only 50,000) They chose to stay in exile. The ones who never left Judah wanted nothing to do with Jerusalem. They were surrounded by enemies, namely the same old Canaanites and the Samaritans. They were a province of Persia, not an independent nation. This is a time of identity crisis for the Jews in the Persian Empire.
I Chr 22:19 29:17 2 Chr 6:38 7:10 15:12
1. God is Sovereign over all nations 2. God s is Faithful 3. The People are called to obey and worship Ezra 3:11-13 - And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
At your table read Neh. 1:1-2:8 and list five things you learn about Nehemiah.
A year in the life of Nehemiah Arrives in Jerusalem 458 Hears the report from Jerusalem Ch. 1 Asks permission from the king to go & acquires materials Rebuilds the wall (52 days!) Renews the covenant Serves as Governor for 12 years Travels to Susa for a short season Returns to find chaos in J-town!
I. God Given Vision (Chapter 1) II. The Great Wall Inspection and (2:11-16) Inspiration (2:17-20) Six Scenes of Hostility The Completion of the Wall (6:15-19) Final Touches on Jerusalem s security (7:1-4) III. Consecrating God s People, Renewing the Covenant (8-12) IV. Responding to Covenant Violations (13)
Ch. 9, 10:28-39 Vs. Ch. 13
I Chr 22:19; 29:17; 2 Chr 6:38; 7:10; 15:12
Rebuilds the city walls and gates Repopulates the city Builds a governor s house, Develops an administrative infrastructure Renews the spiritual life of the Jews, focusing on confession and recommitment to the Covenant and the Law
Effective leaders turn passion into action. Reliable leaders take the initiative in claiming responsibilities. If you attempt to turn something from mediocre and secular to excellent and holy, expect and prepare for opposition. Stable leaders do not overreact to or run away from opposition. Spiritual leaders depend on prayer for discernment and preparation. Planning complements passion.
Ch. 1-3 Nehemiah s 4-6:14 Opposition 6:15-7:73 Completion 8-10 Renewal 11-13 Rebuilding and Relapse
CSMITH@FPCHOUSTON.ORG