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Nehemiah: A Study in Community Building

A Guide for Reflection, Prayer, and Study

This guide has three stories in view:

  1. The biblical story of Nehemiah, a book that describes how communities flourish and prosper.
  1. Your story as you are probably part of various communities including CAP church.
  1. The story of those various communities.

Hopefully this guide will stimulate reflection, prayer, and study over the next few months.

Introduction

We are a church that is asking a lot of questions. Leadership? Community? Connectedness? Direction? Vision? Future?

Do you know a better biblical book for Cappers to study at this time than Nehemiah?

It not only records historical facts, it shows that God can raise up a group of people who are frail and broken. Illustrates the importance of competent leadership. Demonstrates the power of community when people pull together physically and spiritually. Provides an invitation to renew vision, revitalize energy, and restore that which is broken.

It may be one of the best books ever written on community building. Describes the reality of trying to work with other people. Excitement. Sadness. Criticism. Joy. Success. Gossip. Priorities. It is all there and a lot more. Tons of application for Cap at this time and in this season. But also good for any who are seeking to build community, large or small.

So be a part of this teaching series. Read through the whole book in its entirety. It will take you no longer than an hour. Commit to studying the passage yourself before the Sunday it is preached. Grab a group of friends, acquaintances, or strangers and see if they would like to join you for a 9 week small group commitment between January 17 and March 18.

If you are technologically savvy use this guide on line. If not, print it out. Carry it with you to church. Take notes. Dig deep. Pray for learning and doing. Information and transformation.

Overview

For many of us Nehemiah is an obscure Old Testament book. We are not sure where it fits into the overall course of history and the Old Testament in particular. This overview will focus on four issues that will better help us understand the book in its context.

  1. Place in the Old Testament

Of the 66 books found in the Bible, 39 comprise the Old Testament. There are many ways to divide up these books but one of the simplest is the following:

  • History
  • Poetry
  • Prophecy

If you use this breakdown there are:

  • 17 books on History (Genesis through Esther)
  • 5 books on Poetry(Job through Song of Solomon)
  • 17 books on Prophecy(Isaiah through Malachi)

This means that Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther make up the last three of the historical books.

  1. Place in History

There are six books that describe the time before the end of the Old Testament period. Three of these books are historical (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther) while three are prophetic (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi).

What happens prior to this period? If you read I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles a number of things will become clear:

  • Among a few successes God’s children had many failures.
  • Israel became a divided nation. Israel had ten tribes to the north and Judah had two tribes to the south.
  • God judged Israel for their sin in 722 BC when he allowed the Assyrians to take them captive (known as the Assyrian captivity). See II Kings 17.
  • God then judged Judah for their sin in 586 BC when he allowed Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar to take the people captive and bring them to Babylon (known as the Babylonian captivity). See II Kings 25.

In light of these realities it is important to understand the words of II Chronicles 36:18-20:

18He (Nebuchadnezzar) carried to Babylon all the articlesfrom the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of theLord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19They set fireto God’s templeand broke down the wallof Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyedeverything of value there. He (Nebuchadnezzar) carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the Kingdom of Persia came to power.

In 539 BC Cyrus, King of Persia, overthrew Babylon and became the great world power. One of his first policies was to allow conquered people to return to their land (II Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:2-4), meaning God’s people could go back to Jerusalem.

Three key leaders led the people back to their land:

  • Zerubbabel536 BCEzra 1-6
  • Ezra458 BCEzra 7-10
  • Nehemiah445 BCNehemiah

The move back represented a period of restoration with the book of Ezra focusing on the rebuilding of the house of God, and the book of Nehemiah describing the rebuilding of the wall. It is not surprising that the Hebrew Scriptures prior to AD 1448 had Ezra and Nehemiah as one book.

Cyrus got the process going originally and he was followed by five other Persian Kings:

  • Cambyses
  • Smerdis
  • Darius
  • Xerxes
  • Artaxerxes
  1. Purpose

Why was the book written? What can we learn?

  • Records historical facts.
  • Shows that even after times of spiritual decline and disaster God can still raise up His people again.
  • Reminds us that God acts in the midst of circumstances that seem bleak.
  • Illustrates how leadership needs to work in community building.
  • Demonstrates the power of community when people pull together physically and spiritually.
  • Outlines God’s concern that His people maintain separation from His enemies.
  • Calls on broken communities to renew vision, revitalize energy, and clarify vision
  1. Map

Schedule

Sunday, January 17 1:1-11Surveying the Scene

Personal Study and Small Group Follow up on Sunday message

Sunday, January 24 2:1-10Confirmation by Others

Personal Study and Small Group Follow up on Sunday message

Sunday, January 31 2:11-20Laying the Foundation

Personal Study and Small Group Follow up on Sunday message

Sunday, February 7 3:1-32Formula for Success

Personal Study and Small Group Follow up on Sunday message

Sunday, February 14 4:1-23Opposition is Inevitable

Personal Study and Small Group Follow up on Sunday message and 5:1-19Expect the Impossible

Sunday, February 21 6:1-19Responding to Gossip

Personal Study and Small Group Follow up on Sunday message and 7:1-73aEveryone is Involved

Sunday, February 28 7:73b-8-18 Joy in Worship

Personal Study and Small Group Follow up on Sunday message and 9:1-38Lessons from History

Sunday, March 6 10-1-39Establishing of Priorities

Personal Study and Small Group Follow up on Sunday message and 11:1-36 Settling in Jerusalem

Sunday, March 13 12:1-13:3Dedicating the Wall

Personal Study and Small Group Follow up on Sunday message and 13:4-31Persevering in Difficulty

Sunday, January 17

1:1-11

Surveying the Scene

Summary

Nehemiah is in Susa when he is visited by his brother from Judah who gives him bad news. He has a strong emotional reaction and prays to God.

Pre-Sermon Preparation

  • Read the following section
  • What would you feel if you were in Nehemiah’s position?
  • How do you respond when you get bad news?
  • Is prayer one of your main responses in tough times?

1The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

10“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king.

Sermon Notes

Small Group Discussion or Personal Reflection

  1. Read 1:1-11
  1. What are the main themes and ideas that jump out at you either from the sermon or your own reading?
  1. Nehemiah expressed strong emotions and engaged in prayer. In the face of bad news some of us express strong emotion and do not pray. Some of us pray and think expressing strong negative emotion is wrong. Which way do you tend to respond?
  1. What is your personal response to Nehemiah’s prayer?
  1. We are a church community in pilgrimage experiencing some frailty and brokenness seeking to be attentive to God. How does this passage speak into CAP’s current circumstances? Do you know of any other communities where this story could be applicable?

Sunday, January 24

2:1-10

Confirmation by Others

Summary

Since Nehemiah worked for the King it was important that he received his favour if he was to make the trip to Jerusalem. God grants his request

Pre-Sermon Preparation

  • Read the following section
  • What feelings was Nehemiah experiencing?
  • Have you ever asked others to confirm your calling?
  • Have you ever demonstrated a willingness to be used?

2In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, 3but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

6Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

7I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? 8And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. 9So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

Sermon Notes

Small Group Discussionor Personal Reflection

  1. Read 2:1-10.
  1. What are the main themes and ideas that jump out at you either from the sermon or your own reading?
  1. What emotions was Nehemiah experiencing? Would you experience similar emotions in this setting?
  1. Have you ever asked others to confirm your calling? Ever asked your boss if you could take time off to do something specific for the Lord?
  1. We are a church community in pilgrimage experiencing some frailty and brokenness seeking to be attentive to God. How does this passage speak into CAP’s current circumstances? Do you know of any other communities where this story could be applicable?

Sunday, January 31

2:11-20

Laying the Foundation

Summary

Nehemiah inspects the walls at Jerusalem. The people realize the hand of the Lord is on him so they demonstrate a willingness to work while others mock.

Pre-Sermon Preparation

  • Read the following section
  • Do you assess situations carefully before you get involved?
  • Is your enthusiasm for service infectious?
  • How do you respond when others mock?

11I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days 12I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on.

13By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. 14Then I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool, but there was not enough room for my mount to get through; 15so I went up the valley by night, examining the wall. Finally, I turned back and reentered through the Valley Gate. 16The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work.

17Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”

Sermon Notes

Small Group Discussion or Personal Reflection

  1. Read 2:11-20
  1. What are the main themes and ideas that jump out at you either from the sermon or your own reading?
  1. Do you assess situations carefully before you get involved?
  1. Why do you think Nehemiah’s enthusiasm was so infectious?
  1. How do you respond when others mock?
  1. We are a church community in pilgrimage experiencing some frailty and brokenness seeking to be attentive to God. How does this passage speak into CAP’s current circumstances? Do you know of any other communities where this story could be applicable?

Sunday, February 7

3:1-32

Formula for Success

Summary

The project begins! All sorts of people chip in, in all sorts of ways, so that the building of the wall becomes the responsibility of everyone.

Pre-Sermon Preparation

  • Read the following section
  • What is your gut reaction to reading a chapter filled with all these names?
  • What images come to mind when you hear “next to him” repeated?
  • How would you define community based on this passage?

3Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

3The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 4Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. 5The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.