Nehemiah 1
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The prophet Nehemiah, and the book with his name, is known mostly for the wall he built.
Yes, the wall around Jerusalem is a big part of the story,
But if that is all we focus on, we will miss the blessings for the wall.
The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.
It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel, that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
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When Nehemiah first introduces himself, he identifies himself simply as the son of Hachaliah.
The name “Nehemiah” means “to regret”.
Has his father’s names means “to wait”.
We know he lives in Shushan the citadel,
The capital of the Babylonian empire.
It is the month of Chislev, the ninth month of the Babylonian calendar,
Roughly November or December.
Nehemiah’s story begins when a fellow Jew came from Judah,
And Nehemiah asks about those who survived the captivity and Jerusalem.
And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
The report is not good.
Those who have survived in Judah live in stress and shame.
They are humiliated, living as captives and subjects to a foreign king.
The wall around Jerusalem has been broke down and its gates burned.
Their capital city was pillaged,
And its gates burned.
The wall that defended the place where God placed his temple has been ruined.
Remember the pictures of Germany after World War II.
Everything is in ruin.
We learn about the British burning down the Whitehouse in the war of 1812,
While that was an important building, the wall means so much more.
In ancient times, a city’s primary defense was its wall.
It should display strength and power,
Yet Jerusalem’s wall was destroyed,
Displaying weakness and vulnerability.
So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah wept for his city,
He mourned for the place where God would meet his people.
He fasted and prayed before God for his homeland.
Look at the position Nehemiah takes in his prayer.
And lets compare it to the model pray Jesus gave His disciples in
And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,
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In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
First Nehemiah exalts God, he hallows his name.
And lets compare it to the model pray Jesus gave His disciples in
First Nehemiah exalts God, he hallows his name.
He admits that God is great and awesome.
He also remembers the God is merciful and keeps his covenant.
God doesn’t need to be reminded, Nehemiah is reminding himself.
please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
Nehemiah confesses not only his sins, but the those of all Israel.
He even specifically calls out his sins and those of his father’s house.
Just as Jesus reminded us of our need to be forgiven, Nehemiah reminds himself of the need of all of Israel of God’s forgiveness.
Nehemiah is fervent, praying day and night.
We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.
Nehemiah is specific,
His people have acted corruptly,
They have not kept the Lord’s commandments,
They have not kept the Law which God had given Moses.
In other words, their problems are their own fault.
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations;
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Nehemiah reminds God of His own words.
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Nehemiah reminds God of His own words.
Does God need reminding?
No, but Nehemiah does.
He is praying God’s Words back to Him,
Reminding himself not only of the curse, but the promise.
God has scattered Israel because of their unfaithfulness,
But God also promised to gather them back,
If they will return to Him.
How often do we pray only part of God’s Word back to Him?
How often to we claim a promise and ignore the conditions God has set?
We quote
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
But ignore verse 31
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
We ask God to do His will on earth, while we defy His will in our lives.
We claim we want His kingdom to come, yet how often to we kick against those who are trying to follow His words?
Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand.
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And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Nehemiah remembers that these are God’s people.
That He has redeemed them through His power.
Just as we ask God to redeem us from our temptations.
We claim that God is the kingdom and power and glory,
Yet how often to we treat him more like a kindly grandpa than a powerful ruler?
O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Lastly, Nehemiah asks for God to pay attention to his prayer.
Because Nehemiah is God’s servant,
Because he fears God’s name.
Nehemiah asks that God prospers his day,
That God grant him mercy.
Not just in a general sense,
But in the sight of this man.
But who?
Which man?
“For I was the king’s cupbearer.”
Nehemiah was before the king each and every day.
Serving his wine and tasting his food.
But it seems Nehemiah knows this day is going to be different.
So he asks for mercy in the sight of the king.
But that will have to wait until next time.
Conclusion
Conclusion
