NEHEMIAH


A. "REMEMBER ME, O MY GOD, CONCERNING THIS AND WIPE NOT OUT MY GOOD DEEDS THAT I HAVE DONE FOR THE HOUSE OF MY GOD, AND FOR THE OFFICES THEREOF" - NEH. 13:14
  1. This is a portion of the prayer of Nehemiah the governor of the returning Jewish exiles:
    1. It is notable that Nehemiah's book begins with prayer and it closes with a prayer - Neh. 1:4-11; 13:14-31
    2. These supplications make Nehemiah a man of prayer in the fullest sense of the word
  2. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are most informative about Nehemiah:
    1. They portray him as a dedicated man, not one who could be swayed from doing his work either by threat or by bribery
    2. They show that he was a God-fearing man, who never thought of his own comfort, but rather of accomplishing the work of the Lord
B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER AND PRAYERFUL LOOK AT THE BIBLE STORY OF NEHEMIAH
  1. His family relationship:
    1. Nehemiah and Hanani were the sons of Hachaliah - Neh. 1:1; 2:5; 7:2
    2. Nehemiah, although born in exile, grew up in the faith of Israel's God
    3. His name appears as a prince, not a priest - Neh. 9:38; 10:1; and he was perhaps the chief man who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel - Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7
    4. He was the king's cup-bearer; he held a high place of honor in the palace of Shushan Neh. 1:11 having confidential access to the king
    5. His Persian name was Sheshbazzar - Ezra 1:8
  2. Nehemiah was well qualified for his job:
    1. He was a patriot in the highest concept of that word
    2. He was a true Israelite, labored untiringly to accomplish his mission
    3. He was an able soldier and general of his people
  3. He demonstrated his strength by being severely tested all the way:
    1. He was ridiculed by his enemies, but that did not daunt him - Neh. 2:19; 4:2
    2. His enemies sought to stop him by fear, delivering an ultimatum to him - Neh. 4:7-23
    3. They sought to beguile him, but in vain Neh. 6:2-4
    4. They brought up false accusations but in vain - Neh. 6:5-9
    5. He had temptations to tempt the Lord - Neh. 6:10-13
    6. But he endured and prevailed, and God honored him by memorializing his faithfulness
C. WHAT A LESSON FOR GOD'S WORKERS TODAY
  1. Make earnest and prevailing prayer the alpha and omega of every God-given assignment:
    1. Prayer connects us to God and keeps us connected with him; Examples: Abraham was a man of prayer all the way - Gen. 12:8; 18:23-33; Moses was a man of much prayer - Ex. 17:11-12; 32:31-34; Paul was a man given to much prayer - Eph. 3:14; Acts 16:25
  2. Have a God inspired purpose in life:
    1. Writes Paul to the Philippians, "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" - Phil. 3:13-14
    2. Said Jesus, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" - Luke 9:62
  3. Reproving the people for their departing from the Lord:
    1. That means for the servant of the Lord to preach the word in season or out of season reprove rebuke with all long-suffering and doctrine - Nehemiah did - Neh. 13; 2 Tim. 4:2
    2. But such a work may bring the wrath of the adversaries upon us; we think of Jeremiah and what they attempted to do with him
    3. Live an exemplified life ourselves, lest we be blamed; truly, Nehemiah was a man of the hour, true to his responsibility and was the inspiration to the returned exiles to build the walls in even troublesome times


Design © John Bryant 2011