Heading into easter we are back in the OT with the book of Nehemiah. As with Easter this book is about new beginnings and the ‘commissioning’ of the Lord’s people and their building program, back in Jerusalem. We build on Christ.
Nehemiah 1: Report from Jerusalem
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital,
2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said to me, "The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire."
Nehemiah's Prayer
4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
5 And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.
7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.
8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,
9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.'
10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah 2: Nehemiah Sent to Judah
1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.
2 And the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart." Then I was very much afraid.
3 I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
4 Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
5 And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it."
6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), "How long will you be gone, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time.
7 And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah,
8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy." And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls
9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.
10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days.
12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.
13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.
14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.
15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and 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 was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
17 Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision."
18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, "Let us rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
20 Then I replied to them, "The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem."
Things to think about…
1. After the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem and its walls in 586BC, the Jews had lived in Babylon for 70 years. The captives finally return in 536BC. The Persians are now the superpower. There are no walls around Jerusalem, even though a smaller temple was completed by 516BC. As a result, the returned captives are still exposed and open to attack. The book of Nehemiah begins about 70 years after these events have occurred, around 445BC. Nehemiah sets the date of 20 years. This is 20 years under king Artaxerxes of Persia. He began reigning in 465BC. Nehemiah’s brother Hanani tells him how bad things are in Judah and Jerusalem, Neh 1:1-4. What do you do with distressing news, especially when you feel helpless and are so far removed from the situation? Before action is taken, our hearts must be broken and burdened for change.
2. Look at Neh 1:5-11. Nehemiah, like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel had done before him, acknowledges that he belongs to and identifies with the people who have rebelled against the Lord. He refers to the law of Moses about the judgement that would come upon Israel for disobedience, Dt 28:63. Solomon also quotes the same in 1 Kings 8:50. As a result, they have incurred His judgement, vss 6&7. He therefore uses the pronoun ‘we’, thereby saying that he also is part of the problem. When we consider the unbelief of Australia and the chasing after a lifestyle before the Lord, do we see that ‘we’ are also part of Australia’s unbelief and rebellion towards the Lord? If so, what should we do about it? Nehemiah didn’t just talk but acted, even when the city was a virtual wasteland. It takes someone to stand up and “Here I am, send me”. Ukraine will need such a man after this war. Possibly their current president.
3. How long do you think Nehemiah spent in prayer in Neh 2:4? This was an arrow prayer. Long prayers while we share the inner burdens and thoughts of our heart are important, God also hears a sigh. Such was Nehemiah’s prayer before he spoke to the Persian king. Clearly it worked, judging by the king’s response in verse 8. Jesus tells us to keep going back and to be persistent in our prayers, yet this does not seem to be the case with Nehemiah’s prayer before the king. Nehemiah seems to get a quick answer here? Consider what Nehemiah had already done in Neh 1:4-11. Our Lord’s timing is always perfect.
4. In Neh 2:9-20 Nehemiah accurately assesses the situation for himself without the input of either the Persians or the Jews. Why do you think he does this, by going up alone at night? Once he has accurately assessed the situation he mobilises the people into action. Of course there is immediate opposition. Can you see any parallels here with respect to the commissioning the Lord gives to His people (the church) and the work He has assigned for Christians in this world? Spiritual leaders assess the situation and have a personal burden before the Lord. Before they can motivate anyone, their heart needs to be challenged by the situation and spiritual climate.
5. Any work that is of a spiritual nature that intends to take ground from Satan, our spiritual enemy will always attack. Nehemiah finds out very quickly who his enemies are, Neh 2:19. But look at the promise in vs 20 “The God of heaven will make us prosper…” Jesus will build His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. If you are receiving some spiritual opposition, you are more than likely on the right track.
Vision Point for cell groups – Cell groups on break over the school holidays
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups on break over School holidays
Prayer Points
1. Pray for our Easter services.
2. Pray the Lord blesses the money sent to Polish Baptist Church in Chelm efforts to support Ukrainian refugees. This is the church we will be supporting.
3. Continue to pray for the flood clean-up and all those affected a second and third time round as well as the money donated to help.
4. Folk sick with Covid – relief and healing.
5. Ukraine to continue to repel Russia and peace to come. Pray for Mariupol and eastern Ukraine.
6. Christ to be seen through us in our community.
7. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
8. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. CBC has raised $2800 for Ukrainian refugees and $1200 in flood donations. I have been messaging Chelm Baptist Church and they are very appreciative of our support.
2. Russia seems to be gradually losing the war. Pray they are held accountable for war crimes.
3. The world is responding overwhelmingly to the war in Ukraine. It has united the west and others against Putin’s evil.
4. God’s word affecting people for Christ
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
6. Flood cleanup is restoring communities around Ipswich and Brisbane.
